Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Draft Recovery Plan for Texas Hornshell, 81216-81218 [2020-27542]
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<![CDATA[
81216
Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 241 / Tuesday, December 15, 2020 / Notices
the survival and recovery of the species
in the wild.
implementing regulations (40 CFR
1506.6).
No Action Alternative
Amy L. Lueders,
Regional Director, Southwest Region,
Albuquerque, New Mexico.
We have considered one alternative to
the proposed action as part of this
process: No Action. Under a No Action
alternative, the Service would not issue
the requested amended ITP, and
applicant either would not continue
with the construction, operation, and
maintenance of Concordia University or
would conduct those activities in a
manner that avoids incidental take.
Therefore, the applicant would not
implement the conservation measures
described in the HCP.
Next Steps
BILLING CODE 4333–15–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[FWS–R2–ES–2020–N079;
FXES11130200000–201–FF02ENEH00]
Endangered and Threatened Wildlife
and Plants; Draft Recovery Plan for
Texas Hornshell
Fish and Wildlife Service,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability; request
for comment.
AGENCY:
We will evaluate the EA, HCP, and
comments we receive, to determine
whether the ITP application meets the
requirements of section 10(a) of the ESA
(16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.). We will also
evaluate whether issuance of an ESA
section 10(a)(1)(B) permit would comply
with section 7 of the ESA by conducting
an intra-Service section 7 consultation.
We will use the results of this
consultation, in combination with the
above findings, in our final analysis to
determine whether to issue an ITP. If all
necessary requirements are met, we will
issue the ITP to the applicant.
Public Availability of Comments
Authority
We provide this notice under section
10(c) of the ESA and its implementing
regulations (50 CFR 17.22 and 17.32)
and the National Environmental Policy
Act (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) and its
17:35 Dec 14, 2020
Jkt 253001
We, the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service, announce the
availability of our draft recovery plan
for Texas hornshell, a medium sized
freshwater mussel that is listed as
endangered under the Endangered
Species Act. This species is native to the
Rio Grande drainage in Texas, New
Mexico, and Mexico. We provide this
notice to seek comments from the public
and Federal, Tribal, State, and local
governments.
SUMMARY:
To ensure consideration, we
must receive written comments on or
before February 16, 2021. However, we
will accept information about any
species at any time.
ADDRESSES:
Reviewing document: You may obtain
a copy of the draft recovery plan, the
recovery implementation strategy, and
the species status assessment by any one
of the following methods:
• Internet: Download a copy at
https://ecos.fws.gov/ecp0/profile/
speciesProfile?sId=919 or https://
www.fws.gov/southwest/es/
TexasCoastal/.
• U.S. mail: Send a request to U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service, Texas Coastal
Ecological Services Field Office, 17629
El Camino Real, #211, Houston, TX
77058.
• Telephone: 281–286–8282.
Submitting comments: Submit your
comments on the draft recovery plan in
writing by any one of the following
methods:
• U.S. mail: Project Leader, at the
above U.S. mail address;
• Email: houstonesfo@fws.gov.
For additional information about
submitting comments, see Request for
Public Comments and Public
DATES:
Written comments we receive become
part of the public record associated with
this action. Before including your
address, phone number, email address,
or other personal identifying
information in your comment, you
should be aware that your entire
comment—including your personal
identifying information—may be made
publicly available at any time. While
you can request in your comment that
we withhold your personal identifying
information from public review, we
cannot guarantee that we will be able to
do so. All submissions from
organizations or businesses, and from
individuals identifying themselves as
representatives or officials of
organizations or businesses, will be
made available for public disclosure in
their entirety.
VerDate Sep<11>2014
[FR Doc. 2020–27582 Filed 12–14–20; 8:45 am]
PO 00000
Frm 00041
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
Availability of Comments under
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Chuck Ardizzone, Field Supervisor, at
the above address and phone number, or
by email at houstonesfo@fws.gov.
Individuals who are hearing or speech
impaired may call the Federal Relay
Service at 1–800–877–8339 for TTY
assistance.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: We, the
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,
announce the availability of our draft
recovery plan for Texas hornshell
(Popenaias popeii), a freshwater mussel
species listed as endangered under the
Endangered Species Act, as amended
(ESA; 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.). We
request review and comment on this
plan from local, State, and Federal
agencies; Tribes; and the public. We
will also accept any new information on
the status of Texas hornshell throughout
the species’ range to assist in finalizing
the recovery plan.
Texas hornshell is a medium-sized
freshwater mussel species native to the
Rio Grande drainage in Texas, New
Mexico, and Mexico. Currently, five
known populations of Texas hornshell
remain in the United States: Black River
(Eddy County, New Mexico), Pecos
River (Val Verde County, Texas), Devils
River (Val Verde County, Texas), Lower
Canyons of the Rio Grande (Brewster
and Terrell Counties, Texas), and Lower
Rio Grande near Laredo (Webb County,
Texas). After the species was listed, a
small population was discovered in the
confluence of Rio San Diego in Mexico.
The draft recovery plan includes
specific recovery objectives and criteria
that, when achieved, will enable us to
consider removing the Texas hornshell
from the Federal List of Endangered and
Threatened Wildlife (List).
Background
Recovery of endangered or threatened
animals and plants to the point at which
they are again secure, self-sustaining
members of their ecosystems is a
primary goal of the ESA and our
endangered species program. Recovery
means improvement of the status of
listed species to the point at which
listing is no longer appropriate under
the criteria set out in section 4(a)(1) of
the ESA. The ESA requires the
development of recovery plans for listed
species, unless such a plan would not
promote the conservation of a particular
species.
We used a streamlined approach to
recovery planning and implementation
by first conducting a species status
assessment (SSA) of Texas hornshell
(Service 2018). An SSA is a
E:\FR\FM\15DEN1.SGM
15DEN1
Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 241 / Tuesday, December 15, 2020 / Notices
comprehensive analysis of the species’
needs, current condition, threats, and
future viability. The information in the
SSA provides the biological
background, a threats assessment, and a
basis for a strategy for recovery of Texas
hornshell. We then used this
information to prepare an abbreviated
draft recovery plan for Texas hornshell
that includes prioritized recovery
actions, criteria for reclassifying the
species from endangered to threatened,
criteria for removing the species from
the List, and the estimated time and cost
to recovery.
Summary of Species Information
We published the final rule to list the
Texas hornshell as endangered (83 FR
5720) under the ESA on February 9,
2018. The Texas hornshell historically
ranged throughout the Rio Grande
drainage in the United States (New
Mexico and Texas) and Mexico. Overall
distribution has declined significantly,
with the species currently occupying
approximately 15 percent of its
historical range in the United States.
The resulting remnant stream
populations occupy relatively shorter
reaches compared to presumed
historical stream populations, and they
are isolated from one another primarily
by reservoirs and unsuitable water
quality (i.e., saline waters). There are
five known populations within the
species’ historical range in the United
States (Black River, Lower Pecos River,
Rio Grande—Lower Canyons, Rio
Grande—Laredo, and Devils River), and
one in Mexico (Rio San Diego).
Texas hornshell need seams of fine
sediment in crevices, undercut
riverbanks, travertine shelves, and large
boulders in riverine ecosystems with
flowing water and periodic cleansing
flows to keep the substrate free of excess
fine sediment accumulation. They need
water quality parameters to be within a
suitable range (Randklev et al. 2017, p.
5) (i.e., dissolved oxygen above 3
milligrams/liter (mg/L), salinity below
0.9 parts per thousand, and ammonia
below 0.7 mg/L (Sparks and Strayer
1998, p. 132; Augspurger et al. 2003, p.
2574; Augspurger et al. 2007, p. 2025;
Carman 2007, p. 6)), and phytoplankton
and bacteria as food. Finally, Texas
hornshell need host fishes to be present
during times of spawning.
The factors influencing the current
and future health of populations include
increased fine sediment, changes in
water quality, loss of flowing water, and
barriers to fish movement. These
influences pose the largest risks to the
future viability of this species and are
primarily related to habitat changes
such as the accretion of fine sediments,
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:35 Dec 14, 2020
Jkt 253001
low water flows, and poor water quality.
Furthermore, each of these factors is
exacerbated by changing climatic
conditions.
Recovery Plan Goals
The objective of a recovery plan is to
provide a framework for the recovery of
a species so that protection under the
ESA is no longer necessary. A recovery
plan includes scientific information
about the species and provides criteria
and actions necessary for us to be able
to reclassify the species to threatened
status or remove it from the List.
Recovery plans help guide our recovery
efforts by describing actions we
consider necessary for the species’
conservation and by estimating time and
costs for implementing needed recovery
measures.
The recovery strategy for the Texas
hornshell involves stemming any
further range contraction in extant
stream populations, restoring and
managing watersheds and stream habitat
to support additional resilient stream
populations, and increasing redundancy
and representation within those stream
populations. The recovery strategy
primarily focuses on habitat restoration
and preservation, and is based on an
increased understanding of the
relationship of Texas hornshell life
history requirements within the
physical, chemical, and ecological
conditions of their environments.
Information on this species and its
habitats (e.g. population dynamics,
alterations in stream flow, and/or
responses to identified threats) is
important for providing for future
science-based management decisions
and conservation actions.
Implementation of the recovery plan
will necessitate adaptive management
strategies to use the most up-to-date
information as it becomes available.
Texas hornshell recovery will involve
cooperation among Federal, State, and
local agencies, private landowners,
academia, and other stakeholders.
Therefore, the success of the recovery
strategy presented below will rely
heavily on the implementation of
recovery actions conducted by, and
through coordination with, our
conservation partners in Texas, New
Mexico, and Mexico.
The recovery objectives of this plan
are to ensure long-term viability of the
Texas hornshell by stabilizing and
protecting existing and new Texas
hornshell stream populations, host fish
populations, and stream population and
habitat connectivity, and restoring and
enhancing the habitats and watersheds
necessary to support resilient Texas
hornshell stream populations.
PO 00000
Frm 00042
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
81217
The criteria for removing the species
from the List are based on the following:
• Protect and expand existing
populations and establish at least one
additional population so that there are
at least seven stream populations (four
with high resiliency and three with
moderate to high resiliency).
• Each of these populations should
exhibit evidence of recruitment,
persistence, and positive or stable
population trends over six generations
(90 years).
• Ensure there are adequate stream
flows and habitat features supporting
both the Texas hornshell and its host
fishes, within each of the populations.
• Ensure surface and ground water
quality through compliance with water
quality standards and implementation
of water quality controls within each of
the populations.
• Increase connectivity by
incorporating fish passages and removal
of anthropogenic barriers within each
population to allow for the free
movement of all life stages of Texas
hornshell host fishes.
Recovery of these species through
implementation of recovery actions is
estimated to occur in 2110; total costs
for all partners are estimated at
approximately $783 million over the
next 90 years.
Request for Public Comments
Section 4(f) of the ESA requires us to
provide public notice and an
opportunity for public review and
comment during recovery plan
development. It is also our policy to
request peer review of recovery plans
(July 1, 1994; 59 FR 34270). In an
appendix to the final recovery plan, we
will summarize and respond to the
issues raised by the public and peer
reviewers. Comments may or may not
result in changes to the recovery plan;
comments regarding recovery plan
implementation will be forwarded as
appropriate to Federal or other entities
so that they can be taken into account
during the course of implementation of
recovery actions. Responses to
individual commenters will not be
provided, but we will provide a
summary of how we addressed
substantive comments in an appendix to
the final recovery plan.
We invite written comments on this
draft recovery plan. In particular, we are
interested in additional information
regarding the current threats to the
species, ongoing beneficial management
efforts, and the costs associated with
implementing the recommended
recovery actions. The species status
assessment and recovery
implementation strategy are accessible
E:\FR\FM\15DEN1.SGM
15DEN1
81218
Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 241 / Tuesday, December 15, 2020 / Notices
as supporting documents for the draft
recovery plan, but we are not seeking
comments on those documents.
Public Availability of Comments
All comments received, including
names and addresses, will become part
of the administrative record and will be
available to the public. Before including
your address, phone number, email
address, or other personal identifying
information in your comment, you
should be aware that your entire
comment—including your personal
identifying information—will be
publicly available. If you submit a hard
copy comment that includes personal
identifying information, you may
request at the top of your document that
we withhold this information from
public review. However, we cannot
guarantee that we will be able to do so.
Comments and materials we receive will
be available, by appointment, for public
inspection during normal business
hours at our office (see ADDRESSES).
Authority
We developed our draft recovery plan
and publish this notice under the
authority of section 4(f) of the
Endangered Species Act of 1973, as
amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.).
Amy L. Lueders,
Regional Director, Southwest Region, U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. 2020–27542 Filed 12–14–20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4333–15–P
ACTION:
Notice of meetings.
The Federal Subsistence
Board (Board) announces the public
meetings of the 10 Alaska Subsistence
Regional Advisory Councils (hereafter,
Councils or RACs) for the winter and
fall cycles of 2021. The 10 Councils
each meet approximately twice a year to
provide advice and recommendations to
the Federal Subsistence Board about
subsistence hunting and fishing issues
on Federal public lands in Alaska.
SUMMARY:
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
DATES:
Forest Service
Winter 2021 Meetings: The Alaska
Subsistence RACs will meet between
February 9, 2021, and March 18, 2021,
as shown in Table 1. All meetings will
commence at 9:00 a.m. A teleconference
may substitute for an in-person meeting
if public health or safety restrictions are
in effect.
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[FWS–R7–SM–2020–N098;
FXRS12610700000 FF07J00000 201]
Alaska Subsistence Regional Advisory
Council Meetings for 2021
AGENCY:
Fish and Wildlife Service,
Interior.
TABLE 1—WINTER 2021 MEETINGS OF THE ALASKA SUBSISTENCE RACS
Regional Advisory Council
Dates
Southeast AK—Region 1 ........................................................................
Southcentral AK—Region 2 ....................................................................
Kodiak/Aleutians—Region 3 ....................................................................
Bristol Bay—Region 4 .............................................................................
Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta—Region 5 .......................................................
Western Interior—Region 6 .....................................................................
Seward Peninsula—Region 7 .................................................................
Northwest Arctic—Region 8 ....................................................................
Eastern Interior—Region 9 ......................................................................
North Slope—Region 10 .........................................................................
March 16–18 ..................................
February 24–25 .............................
March 9–10 ....................................
February 9–10 ...............................
March 3–4 ......................................
February 17–18 .............................
March 11–12 ..................................
February 18–19 .............................
March 4–5 ......................................
February 22–23 .............................
Fall 2021 Meetings: The Alaska
Subsistence RACs will meet between
September 27, 2021, and November 4,
Location
Juneau.
Cordova.
Kodiak.
Naknek.
Bethel.
Fairbanks.
Nome.
Kotzebue.
Fairbanks.
Utqiagvik.
2021, as shown in Table 2. All meetings
will commence at 9:00 a.m.
TABLE 2—FALL 2021 MEETINGS OF THE ALASKA SUBSISTENCE RACS
Regional Advisory Council
Dates
Southeast AK—Region 1 ........................................................................
Southcentral AK—Region 2 ....................................................................
Kodiak/Aleutians—Region 3 ....................................................................
Bristol Bay—Region 4 .............................................................................
Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta—Region 5 .......................................................
Western Interior—Region 6 .....................................................................
Seward Peninsula—Region 7 .................................................................
Northwest Arctic—Region 8 ....................................................................
Eastern Interior—Region 9 ......................................................................
North Slope—Region 10 .........................................................................
October 19–21 ...............................
October 13–14 ...............................
September 27–28 ..........................
October 27–28 ...............................
October 6–7 ...................................
October 13–14 ...............................
October 26–27 ...............................
November 1–2 ...............................
October 7–8 ...................................
November 3–4 ...............................
The meetings are open to the public.
For more information see FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION CONTACT, below.
See DATES above. Specific
information about meeting locations and
ADDRESSES:
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:35 Dec 14, 2020
Jkt 253001
the final agendas can be found on the
Federal Subsistence Program website at:
https://www.doi.gov/subsistence/
regions.
PO 00000
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Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
Location
Craig.
Anchorage.
Unalaska.
Dillingham.
Bethel.
Anchorage.
Nome.
Kotzebue.
Fairbanks.
Utqiagvik.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Chair, Federal Subsistence Board, c/o
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,
Attention: Sue Detwiler, Assistant
Regional Director, Office of Subsistence
E:\FR\FM\15DEN1.SGM
15DEN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 241 (Tuesday, December 15, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 81216-81218]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-27542]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[FWS-R2-ES-2020-N079; FXES11130200000-201-FF02ENEH00]
Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Draft Recovery
Plan for Texas Hornshell
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability; request for comment.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, announce the
availability of our draft recovery plan for Texas hornshell, a medium
sized freshwater mussel that is listed as endangered under the
Endangered Species Act. This species is native to the Rio Grande
drainage in Texas, New Mexico, and Mexico. We provide this notice to
seek comments from the public and Federal, Tribal, State, and local
governments.
DATES: To ensure consideration, we must receive written comments on or
before February 16, 2021. However, we will accept information about any
species at any time.
ADDRESSES:
Reviewing document: You may obtain a copy of the draft recovery
plan, the recovery implementation strategy, and the species status
assessment by any one of the following methods:
Internet: Download a copy at https://ecos.fws.gov/ecp0/profile/speciesProfile?sId=919 or https://www.fws.gov/southwest/es/TexasCoastal/.
U.S. mail: Send a request to U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service, Texas Coastal Ecological Services Field Office, 17629 El
Camino Real, #211, Houston, TX 77058.
Telephone: 281-286-8282.
Submitting comments: Submit your comments on the draft recovery
plan in writing by any one of the following methods:
U.S. mail: Project Leader, at the above U.S. mail address;
Email: [email protected].
For additional information about submitting comments, see Request
for Public Comments and Public Availability of Comments under
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Chuck Ardizzone, Field Supervisor, at
the above address and phone number, or by email at [email protected].
Individuals who are hearing or speech impaired may call the Federal
Relay Service at 1-800-877-8339 for TTY assistance.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,
announce the availability of our draft recovery plan for Texas
hornshell (Popenaias popeii), a freshwater mussel species listed as
endangered under the Endangered Species Act, as amended (ESA; 16 U.S.C.
1531 et seq.). We request review and comment on this plan from local,
State, and Federal agencies; Tribes; and the public. We will also
accept any new information on the status of Texas hornshell throughout
the species' range to assist in finalizing the recovery plan.
Texas hornshell is a medium-sized freshwater mussel species native
to the Rio Grande drainage in Texas, New Mexico, and Mexico. Currently,
five known populations of Texas hornshell remain in the United States:
Black River (Eddy County, New Mexico), Pecos River (Val Verde County,
Texas), Devils River (Val Verde County, Texas), Lower Canyons of the
Rio Grande (Brewster and Terrell Counties, Texas), and Lower Rio Grande
near Laredo (Webb County, Texas). After the species was listed, a small
population was discovered in the confluence of Rio San Diego in Mexico.
The draft recovery plan includes specific recovery objectives and
criteria that, when achieved, will enable us to consider removing the
Texas hornshell from the Federal List of Endangered and Threatened
Wildlife (List).
Background
Recovery of endangered or threatened animals and plants to the
point at which they are again secure, self-sustaining members of their
ecosystems is a primary goal of the ESA and our endangered species
program. Recovery means improvement of the status of listed species to
the point at which listing is no longer appropriate under the criteria
set out in section 4(a)(1) of the ESA. The ESA requires the development
of recovery plans for listed species, unless such a plan would not
promote the conservation of a particular species.
We used a streamlined approach to recovery planning and
implementation by first conducting a species status assessment (SSA) of
Texas hornshell (Service 2018). An SSA is a
[[Page 81217]]
comprehensive analysis of the species' needs, current condition,
threats, and future viability. The information in the SSA provides the
biological background, a threats assessment, and a basis for a strategy
for recovery of Texas hornshell. We then used this information to
prepare an abbreviated draft recovery plan for Texas hornshell that
includes prioritized recovery actions, criteria for reclassifying the
species from endangered to threatened, criteria for removing the
species from the List, and the estimated time and cost to recovery.
Summary of Species Information
We published the final rule to list the Texas hornshell as
endangered (83 FR 5720) under the ESA on February 9, 2018. The Texas
hornshell historically ranged throughout the Rio Grande drainage in the
United States (New Mexico and Texas) and Mexico. Overall distribution
has declined significantly, with the species currently occupying
approximately 15 percent of its historical range in the United States.
The resulting remnant stream populations occupy relatively shorter
reaches compared to presumed historical stream populations, and they
are isolated from one another primarily by reservoirs and unsuitable
water quality (i.e., saline waters). There are five known populations
within the species' historical range in the United States (Black River,
Lower Pecos River, Rio Grande--Lower Canyons, Rio Grande--Laredo, and
Devils River), and one in Mexico (Rio San Diego).
Texas hornshell need seams of fine sediment in crevices, undercut
riverbanks, travertine shelves, and large boulders in riverine
ecosystems with flowing water and periodic cleansing flows to keep the
substrate free of excess fine sediment accumulation. They need water
quality parameters to be within a suitable range (Randklev et al. 2017,
p. 5) (i.e., dissolved oxygen above 3 milligrams/liter (mg/L), salinity
below 0.9 parts per thousand, and ammonia below 0.7 mg/L (Sparks and
Strayer 1998, p. 132; Augspurger et al. 2003, p. 2574; Augspurger et
al. 2007, p. 2025; Carman 2007, p. 6)), and phytoplankton and bacteria
as food. Finally, Texas hornshell need host fishes to be present during
times of spawning.
The factors influencing the current and future health of
populations include increased fine sediment, changes in water quality,
loss of flowing water, and barriers to fish movement. These influences
pose the largest risks to the future viability of this species and are
primarily related to habitat changes such as the accretion of fine
sediments, low water flows, and poor water quality. Furthermore, each
of these factors is exacerbated by changing climatic conditions.
Recovery Plan Goals
The objective of a recovery plan is to provide a framework for the
recovery of a species so that protection under the ESA is no longer
necessary. A recovery plan includes scientific information about the
species and provides criteria and actions necessary for us to be able
to reclassify the species to threatened status or remove it from the
List. Recovery plans help guide our recovery efforts by describing
actions we consider necessary for the species' conservation and by
estimating time and costs for implementing needed recovery measures.
The recovery strategy for the Texas hornshell involves stemming any
further range contraction in extant stream populations, restoring and
managing watersheds and stream habitat to support additional resilient
stream populations, and increasing redundancy and representation within
those stream populations. The recovery strategy primarily focuses on
habitat restoration and preservation, and is based on an increased
understanding of the relationship of Texas hornshell life history
requirements within the physical, chemical, and ecological conditions
of their environments. Information on this species and its habitats
(e.g. population dynamics, alterations in stream flow, and/or responses
to identified threats) is important for providing for future science-
based management decisions and conservation actions. Implementation of
the recovery plan will necessitate adaptive management strategies to
use the most up-to-date information as it becomes available.
Texas hornshell recovery will involve cooperation among Federal,
State, and local agencies, private landowners, academia, and other
stakeholders. Therefore, the success of the recovery strategy presented
below will rely heavily on the implementation of recovery actions
conducted by, and through coordination with, our conservation partners
in Texas, New Mexico, and Mexico.
The recovery objectives of this plan are to ensure long-term
viability of the Texas hornshell by stabilizing and protecting existing
and new Texas hornshell stream populations, host fish populations, and
stream population and habitat connectivity, and restoring and enhancing
the habitats and watersheds necessary to support resilient Texas
hornshell stream populations.
The criteria for removing the species from the List are based on
the following:
Protect and expand existing populations and establish at
least one additional population so that there are at least seven stream
populations (four with high resiliency and three with moderate to high
resiliency).
Each of these populations should exhibit evidence of
recruitment, persistence, and positive or stable population trends over
six generations (90 years).
Ensure there are adequate stream flows and habitat
features supporting both the Texas hornshell and its host fishes,
within each of the populations.
Ensure surface and ground water quality through compliance
with water quality standards and implementation of water quality
controls within each of the populations.
Increase connectivity by incorporating fish passages and
removal of anthropogenic barriers within each population to allow for
the free movement of all life stages of Texas hornshell host fishes.
Recovery of these species through implementation of recovery
actions is estimated to occur in 2110; total costs for all partners are
estimated at approximately $783 million over the next 90 years.
Request for Public Comments
Section 4(f) of the ESA requires us to provide public notice and an
opportunity for public review and comment during recovery plan
development. It is also our policy to request peer review of recovery
plans (July 1, 1994; 59 FR 34270). In an appendix to the final recovery
plan, we will summarize and respond to the issues raised by the public
and peer reviewers. Comments may or may not result in changes to the
recovery plan; comments regarding recovery plan implementation will be
forwarded as appropriate to Federal or other entities so that they can
be taken into account during the course of implementation of recovery
actions. Responses to individual commenters will not be provided, but
we will provide a summary of how we addressed substantive comments in
an appendix to the final recovery plan.
We invite written comments on this draft recovery plan. In
particular, we are interested in additional information regarding the
current threats to the species, ongoing beneficial management efforts,
and the costs associated with implementing the recommended recovery
actions. The species status assessment and recovery implementation
strategy are accessible
[[Page 81218]]
as supporting documents for the draft recovery plan, but we are not
seeking comments on those documents.
Public Availability of Comments
All comments received, including names and addresses, will become
part of the administrative record and will be available to the public.
Before including your address, phone number, email address, or other
personal identifying information in your comment, you should be aware
that your entire comment--including your personal identifying
information--will be publicly available. If you submit a hard copy
comment that includes personal identifying information, you may request
at the top of your document that we withhold this information from
public review. However, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do
so. Comments and materials we receive will be available, by
appointment, for public inspection during normal business hours at our
office (see ADDRESSES).
Authority
We developed our draft recovery plan and publish this notice under
the authority of section 4(f) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as
amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.).
Amy L. Lueders,
Regional Director, Southwest Region, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. 2020-27542 Filed 12-14-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4333-15-P
