Service Reopens Public Comment Period On 2007 Proposal to Delist Northern Rocky Mountain Population of Gray Wolves Under the Endangered Species Act
October 27, 2008
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today announced it is reopening the public comment period on its proposal to delist the gray wolf in the northern Rocky Mountains. The public will have until November 28, 2008, to submit their comments to the Federal eRulemaking Portal at http://www.regulations.gov
or via U.S. mail or hand delivery to: Public Comments Processing, Attn:Â RIN 1018-Au53; Division of Policy and Directives Management; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; 4401 N. Fairfax Drive, Suite 222; Arlington, VAÂ 22203.
Through a notice in the Federal Register scheduled to publish on October 28, 2008, the Service is asking the public to provide comments and any additional information on the 2007 proposal to delist wolves. The Service is seeking additional information on a variety of topics related to the delisting. More details are available in the Federal Register notice which will be posted along with associated materials at the Service’s northern Rocky Mountains wolf website: http://westerngraywolf.fws.gov
On July 18, 2008, the U.S. Federal District Court in Missoula, Montana, issued an order immediately reinstating Endangered Species Act protections for wolves in the northern Rocky Mountains. In September 2008, the Service requested the court vacate and remand the final delisting rule back to the Service. The court granted the Service’s request on October 13, 2008.Â
At this time, the northern Rocky Mountain population of gray wolves remains under the protection of the Endangered Species Act. The area affected by this ruling includes all of Montana, Idaho, and Wyoming and the eastern one-third of Washington and Oregon and parts of north-central Utah. Management of the northern Rocky Mountain population of gray wolves is now governed by the same Endangered Species Act protections that were in effect before wolves were delisted on March 28, 2008.Â
“The Service is committed to ensuring that wolves thrive in the northern Rocky Mountains and will continue to work with the states and the public to advance the recovery of the species,” said Steve Guertin, Regional Director for the Mountain-Prairie Region.
The minimum recovery goal for wolves in the northern Rocky Mountains is 30 breeding pairs and at least 300 wolves for three consecutive years, a goal that was attained in 2002 and has been exceeded every year since. The proposed northern Rocky Mountain population of wolves includes all of Montana, Idaho and Wyoming, the eastern one-third of Washington and Oregon, and a small part of north-central Utah. Gray wolves were previously listed as endangered in the lower 48 states, except in Minnesota, where they were listed as threatened. The wolf population in the Midwest was delisted in early 2007 but that decision was reversed in court in October 2008.Â
The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working with others to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. We are both a leader and trusted partner in fish and wildlife conservation, known for our scientific excellence, stewardship of lands and natural resources, dedicated professionals and commitment to public service. For more information on our work and the people who make it happen, visit www.fws.gov.
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The California and Nevada Region of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Awards $2.1 Million in Conservation Grants
October 6, 2008
The California and Nevada Region of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has awarded $2,101,027 to the California Department of Fish and Game, Nevada Division of Forestry and Nevada Department of Wildlife under Section 6 of the Endangered Species Act for conservation projects that protect candidate, proposed or listed species.
Because more than half of all species currently listed as endangered or threatened spend at least part of their life cycle on privately owned lands, the Service recognizes that success in conserving species will ultimately depend on working cooperatively with landowners, communities and Tribes to foster voluntary stewardship efforts on private lands. State agencies play a key role in these efforts. These Conservation Grants are available through the Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund.
The following grants have been funded:
California Department of Fish and Game:
Monitoring lead exposure in the California condor: $750,000
This is a new grant that funds research to document all sources of lead exposure in California condors following the July 2008 ban on lead in condor range.
Implementing recovery for federally-listed species in the state: $420,000
This grant funds recovery and conservation activities for a number of imperiled species.
Control threats to colonies of the California least tern: $250,000
From the Mexican border to the San Francisco Bay, provide surveillance and protection to tern colonies, as well as obtaining data to monitor their population and nesting success.
Santa Cruz Island fox recovery: $250,000
A multi-agency effort is under way to increase the population of the Island fox.
Management and recovery of endangered plants on the Santa Rosa Plains: $96,542
This funds an investigation of the reproductive ecology of Burke’s goldfields, Sonoma sunshine, and Sebastopol meadowfoam.
Nevada Department of Wildlife:
Fish recovery: $194,102
This grant includes recovery activities for sensitive fish species in the White River Valley, Pahranagat Valley, Railroad Valley, Virgin River, Muddy River, as well as recovery actions for the Pahrump poolfish, razorback sucker and bonytail, Devils Hole pupfish and Lahontan cutthroat trout.
Bull trout assessment: $37,483
The grant funds recovery activities related to bull trout in the Jarbidge River and Lower Slide Creek.
Breeding bird surveys: $27,900
Funds survey and monitoring efforts related to the southwestern willow fly-catcher and yellow-billed cuckoo
Nevada Division of Forestry:
Seed Banking Program: $37,500
Funds long-term seed storage grant for sensitive plant species, including the Churchill Narrows buckwheat, which is a federal candidate species.
Nursery propagation for rare and sensitive butterfly host plants: $37,500
Funds the nursery propagation of rare plants and sensitive butterfly host plants for at risk species habitat restoration, including the Las Vegas buckwheat, which is a federal candidate species.
The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working with others to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. We are both a leader and trusted partner in fish and wildlife conservation, known for our scientific excellence, stewardship of lands and natural resources, dedicated professionals and commitment to public service. For more information on our work and the people who make it happen, visit http://www.fws.gov/cno.
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NOAA Seeks Comment on Recovery Plan for Middle Columbia River Steelhead
September 24, 2008
NOAA’s Fisheries Service, the federal agency charged with protecting salmon listed under the Endangered Species Act, is seeking public comment on a proposed recovery plan for steelhead in the middle Columbia River.
Today’s proposed plan, required under the act, is the product of a collaboration begun by NOAA with help from the Middle Columbia Recovery Forum, a bi-state group that provides guidance on the plan. The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, Yakima Basin Fish and Wildlife Recovery Board, and Snake River Salmon Recovery Board, along with tribal, state, federal and local stakeholders, were all involved in producing the plan.
“By involving so many local groups, all of which have a passionate interest in seeing that these steelhead once again thrive, we have a proposed recovery plan that’s scientifically sound and highly workable,” said Bob Lohn, the fishery agency’s northwest regional administrator in Seattle. “This plan has objective, measurable criteria to determine when this steelhead population is no longer threatened. It also contains specific actions needed to achieve the plan’s goals, and estimates of the time and costs of those actions.”
Today’s proposed plan is part of a larger commitment made by NOAA’s Fisheries Service to develop salmon recovery plans throughout the region. Elements of more than 60 sub-basin and watershed plans from across the northwest are being incorporated into larger regional recovery plans for salmon and steelhead in the interior Columbia basin, the Snake River basin, the Oregon coast and Puget Sound areas. Three of these plans and part of a fourth have already been completed and are now being implemented.
NOAA’s Fisheries Service listed these steelhead as threatened under the Endangered Species Act in 1999. They spawn in tributaries of the Columbia in central and eastern Washington and Oregon. The Middle Columbia Recovery Forum, which NOAA’s Fisheries Service will convene regularly, will help collaboration between scientists and recovery planners on both sides of the Columbia River.
See the proposed recovery plan and other helpful documents at: http://www.nwr.noaa.gov/Salmon-Recovery-Planning/Recovery-Domains/Interior-Columbia/Mid-Columbia/Mid-Col-Plans.cfm. The public may send comments on the plan to Lynn Hatcher, National Marine Fisheries Service, 304 S. Water Street, Suite #201, Ellensburg, WA 98926.
Comments may also be submitted by e mail to: MiddleColumbiaPlan [dot] nwr [at] noaa [dot] gov. Include in the subject line of the e mail comment the following identifier: Comments on Middle Columbia Steelhead Recovery Plan. Comments may be submitted via fax to 503–872–2737. Deadline is Dec. 23.
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Fishery Managers Reopen Columbia River Chinook Season in Oregon & Washington
September 22, 2008
CLACKAMAS, Ore. – Better than expected returns of Columbia River chinook salmon prompted fishery managers from Oregon and Washington to reopen the season below Bonneville dam starting Saturday.
Effective Saturday, Sept. 20 until Dec. 31, 2008 or further notice, anglers will be permitted to keep chinook salmon caught between the Warrior Rock-Bachelor Island line above the mouth of the Lewis River upstream to Bonneville dam. The Columbia remains closed to retention of chinook salmon below Warrior Rock-Bachelor line out of concern for Lewis River wild chinook, which are protected under the Endangered Species Act.
Fishery managers from the Oregon and Washington departments of fish and wildlife made the decision to reopen the season at a joint state hearing Thursday after reviewing reports from biologists that upgraded the upriver bright run size to 212,500 chinook from the preseason estimate of 164,400 chinook.
Prior to the run upgrade, the fall chinook salmon fishing season below Bonneville had closed on Sept. 16.
“We’re pleased to be able to offer the additional opportunity in a year when we didn’t think we would have it available to us,” said Steve Williams, assistant administrator for the Fish Division of the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. “It wasn’t something that we anticipated going into the season. We thought we were going to be tighter than this. There was no plan to get us through to the end of the year, and here we are offering a one-fish bag limit below Bonneville until the end of the year. That’s a really good thing.”
Under the rules adopted at Thursday’s hearing, anglers may keep up to two adult salmon and/or steelhead in combination, but only one of those fish may be a chinook. Retained chinook do not have to be fin-clipped. However, any coho salmon or steelhead must be adipose-clipped in order to be retained, as prescribed under permanent fishing regulations. Adiplose-clipped coho and steelhead may also be kept in the Columbia River below its confluence with the Lewis.
Anglers should be prepared for in-season changes and check for the latest information, which is available on the ODFW website at http://www.dfw.state.or.us/resources/fishing/reg_changes/columbia.asp, or through the ODFW telephone hotline at 1-503-947-6000. In-season fishery modifications by the states of Oregon and Washington are also posted at http://www.dfw.state.or.us/fish/OSCRP/CRM/action_notes.asp.
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Draft Prairie Dog Conservation Plan Released by Colorado DOW
September 12, 2008
The Colorado Division of Wildlife (DOW) has released for public review its draft conservation plan for the white-tailed and Gunnison’s prairie dogs. This plan, when final, will be used as a guide to maintain these two species on native range on both public and private lands in Colorado.
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The Colorado Gunnison’s and White-tailed Prairie Dog Conservation Plan can be viewed on the Colorado Division of Wildlife website at: http://wildlife.state.co.us/.
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The Gunnison’s prairie dog is found mainly in southwest Colorado, the San Luis Valley and in South Park; the white-tailed prairie dog is found primarily in northwest Colorado; however, its range extends into the Uncompahgre Valley south of Montrose.
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Petitions have been filed to list both of the species under the federal government’s Endangered Species Act. The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service conducted a status review on Gunnison’s prairie dog and determined that listing protection for the species is warranted in a portion of its range. The status review is underway for white-tailed prairie dogs but a determination has not yet been made on this species. Implementation of the conservation strategies in the Division of Wildlife plan are designed to promote the long-term viability for both species and avoid the need for a federal listing.
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“With this conservation plan we identify tasks that will be put into action on the ground to help maintain these important species,” said Tom Nesler, chief of the DOW’s wildlife conservation section. “A vital strategy in this plan is to work cooperatively with private landowners, local communities and other government agencies.”
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Eleven other western states also are developing prairie dog conservation plans. The states will work together to share research and conservation techniques.
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Besides these two species, another prairie dog species exists in Colorado: the black-tailed prairie dog which inhabits areas of eastern Colorado. A conservation plan for the black-tailed prairie dog was developed by the DOW in 2003.
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Prairie dogs are known as a “keystone” species and their colonies are critical to the presence and abundance of numerous other species in their range. In Colorado, prairie dogs are an important source of food for raptors, badgers, black-footed ferrets and coyotes. Prairie dog burrows also provide shelter for a variety of insects, small mammals and the burrowing owl which is a state-listed threatened species. Due to the cumulative impacts of disease, development, poisoning and shooting over the last 100 years, prairie dog populations have declined overall.
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“The prairie dog is disparaged by some people as a destructive pest and source of plague. We acknowledge the undesirable nature of these prairie dog characteristics and always strive to manage populations in a way to enable affected stakeholders to address those problems,” Nesler said. “However, the fact remains that prairie dogs and their colonies are an integral part of wildlife in both sagebrush and grassland ecosystems. At this time, the white-tailed and Gunnison prairie dog need our conservation assistance.”Â
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The goals of the conservation plan are to:
- Develop and implement conservation strategies that will work to prevent the need to list the two species under the Endangered Species Act.
- Promote conservation of not only the two species, but also their habitats and associated wildlife species.
- Implement conservation strategies to help mitigate negative impacts to the two species.
- Â Identify research needs that will help guide appropriate conservation populations.
- Focus use of Colorado’s existing regulatory mechanisms to maintain species viability.
- Increase stakeholder and other agencies’ participation in prairie dog conservation.Â
In 2007, the DOW held a three-day workshop in Grand Junction to discuss conservation planning with landowners, other government agencies, recreational shooters and environmental groups. The workshop was attended by about 60 people.
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The public is invited to make comments on the DOW plan. Send comments to Amy [dot] Seglund [at] state [dot] co [dot] us. by Nov. 3. Comments via e-mail are preferred. For those who do not have access to the Internet, send comments to Seglund at 2300 S. Townsend Ave., Montrose, CO, 81401.
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NOAA Proposes Critical Habitat for Southern Population of North American Green Sturgeon
September 8, 2008
NOAA’s Fisheries Service is seeking public comment on a proposal that identifies critical habitat for a distinct group of North American green sturgeon that spawn in California’s Sacramento River but migrate along the west coast of Mexico, the United States, and Canada.
In April 2006, NOAA’s Fisheries Service listed what is known as the southern segment of North American green sturgeon as threatened under the Endangered Species Act and sought public input to assist in the identification of critical habitat for the species. The listing was due in part to the degradation of the primary spawning habitat in the Sacramento River and the declining numbers of green sturgeon.
The Endangered Species Act requires a review of critical habitat for designation whenever a species is listed for protection. A critical habitat designation only applies when federal projects, permits or funding are involved and does not apply to citizens engaged in activities on private land that do not involve a federal agency.
Using information previously provided by the public and the agency’s own data, NOAA’s Fisheries Service proposes the following areas as critical habitat:
- Coastal U.S. marine waters within 110 meters (361 feet) depth from and including Monterey Bay, Calif., north to Cape Flattery, Wash., including the Strait of Juan de Fuca, to the U.S. border with Canada.
- The Sacramento River, lower Feather River, lower Yuba River, the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and Suisun, San Pablo and San Francisco bays in California.
- The lower Columbia River estuary.
- Humboldt Bay, Calif.; Coos Bay, Winchester Bay and Yaquina Bay, Ore.; and Willapa Bay and Grays Harbor, Wash.
The areas proposed for designation comprise approximately 325 miles of freshwater river habitat, 1,058 square miles of estuarine habitat, 11,927 square miles of coastal marine habitat and 136 square miles of habitat within the Yolo and Sutter bypasses, part of the Sacramento River Flood Control Project.
Comments may be submitted for this proposed rule as listed below. All comments received are a part of the public record and will generally be posted to http://www.regulations.gov.
- Electronic: Go to the Federal eRulemaking Portal, http://www.regulations.gov, and follow instructions for submitting comments.
- Fax to 562-980-4027 Attn: Melissa Neuman
- Mail: Chief, Protected Resources Division, Southwest Region, NOAA’s Fisheries
Service, 650 Capitol Mall, Sacramento, CA 95814-4706 The proposed rule and supporting documents can be found at www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr, look under “Recent News and Hot Topics.”
NOAA understands and predicts changes in the Earth’s environment, from the depths of the ocean to the surface of the sun, and conserves and manages our coastal and marine resources. Visit http://www.noaa.gov.
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Montana Hunters Are Asked To Report Signs Of Wolves
August 20, 2008
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks requests that hunters report any sightings or signs of wolves. A gray wolf is, on average 2.5 feet tall; 5-6 feet long; 70-120 pounds with a broad snout, round ears and fur ranging from gray, black or tan to white.
FWP must prepare annual reports to document the recovered status and distribution of the Montana wolf population. Information provided by hunters will help aid in the management and ultimate delisting of wolves from the Endangered Species Act. Â
Hunters and others can enter reports of wolves online at fwp.mt.gov by searching for: “Report A Wolf Observation,” or contact the nearest FWP regional or state office. To report a dead wolf or possible illegal activity, contact the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service at 307-261-6365, or call 1-800-TIP-MONT.
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Critical Habitat Identified For Threatened Texas Minnow
August 17, 2008
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has designated 16.5 miles of streams in Val Verde and Kinney counties as critical habitat for the Devils River minnow. Five and a half miles of San Felipe Creek, including the outflow of East and West springs, and 11 miles of Pinto Creek make up the critical habitat designation. The fish is protected as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act (ESA).Â
The Devils River minnow spends its entire life in spring-fed streams. It requires nursery areas for raising young, general space for population growth, plant material for food and places in which to seek shelter. A critical habitat designation identifies geographic areas that contain the specific habitat elements essential for the conservation of the species. The designation has no influence on private land unless the work being accomplished is federally permitted or funded.Â
The Service identified segments in five creeks considered important to the recovery of the minnow. It then analyzed whether the conservation benefit for the Devils River minnow was greater if the segment was included or excluded. Devils River, Sycamore Creek and Las Moras Creek were dropped from the final critical habitat rule because excluding them allows for more productive partnerships with private landowners and a greater variety of conservation tools to be employed. San Felipe Creek and Pinto Creek segments remain in the designation.Â
“Our primary purpose is to conserve species and we can do this best by maintaining and promoting opportunities for non-federal partnerships,” said Benjamin N. Tuggle, PhD, Regional Director for the Service’s Southwest Region. “Working with local officials and landowners is a key component for conservation of the minnow.”
Much of the fish’s habitat occurs in streams that flow through private lands. Since being listed as threatened in 1999, the Service, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, the City of Del Rio, private landowners and others have worked cooperatively to implement voluntary conservation measures and to develop strategies that will benefit the minnow and its habitat. These cooperative efforts can continue in all river areas, including those designated as critical habitat.
“We have a variety of tools available to us to promote voluntary cooperation for conservation projects. Incentive-based programs, such as our Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program or Safe Harbor Agreements, have been used successfully to conserve other listed species in Texas,” said Tuggle.
The Devils River minnow is usually less than three inches long with hatched markings along the sides and a lateral line that extends through the upper lip. The species only lives in the spring-fed streams of the western Edwards Plateau that flow into the Rio Grande in Texas. The fish inhabits shallow areas with moderate to swift currents. They use the stream?s gravel bottoms to deposit their eggs for spawning. The small fish are most often found amongst aquatic vegetation - presumably for cover to avoid predators. The primary threats to the species include habitat loss and degradation (both in terms of water quantity and quality) and impacts from non-native species.
Critical habitat is a term in the Endangered Species Act that identifies geographic areas containing features essential for the conservation of a threatened or endangered species, and which may require special management considerations or protection. Federal agencies that undertake, fund or permit activities that may affect critical habitat are required to consult with the Service to ensure such actions do not adversely modify or destroy designated critical habitat. The designation of critical habitat does not affect land ownership or establish a refuge, wilderness, reserve, preserve, or other conservation area. It does not allow government or public access to private lands or limit public access to public or private lands and waters.Â
This final rule was prepared pursuant to a court order resulting from a lawsuit filed in 2005 against the Service by Forest Guardians (now WildEarth Guardians), the Center for Biological Diversity and Save Our Springs Alliance.
The final rule is available on the internet at http://www.fws.gov/southwest/es/Library or contact the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Austin Ecological Services Field Office, 10711 Burnet Road, Suite 200, Austin, Texas 78758 or via fax at 512-490-0974 to request a copy.
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Chinook Fishing in Marine Areas 9 and 10 Will Close at End of the Day Friday
August 15, 2008
OLYMPIA – The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) is reminding anglers that the recreational fisheries in marine areas 9 (Admiralty Inlet) and 10 (Seattle/Bremerton) will close to the retention of chinook salmon at the end of the day Friday, Aug. 15.
The closure of the mark-selective fisheries for hatchery chinook does not affect recreational fisheries for hatchery coho salmon and other species in marine areas 9 and 10.
“Fishing was slow compared to last year, but it was still a great opportunity for anglers to catch and keep hatchery salmon near a major metropolitan area,” said Steve Thiesfeld, Puget Sound recreational salmon manager for WDFW.
As of Aug. 12, anglers had harvested an estimated 4,767 fish in the marine areas 9 and 10.
Earlier this year, WDFW scheduled the chinook selective fisheries in those two areas to run through Aug. 15, or until a combined quota of 7,000 hatchery chinook salmon is reached. The quota for the two areas reflects constraints established under the Endangered Species Act.
Thiesfeld reminds anglers fishing in marine areas 9 and 10 that regulations vary for inner Elliott Bay, Sinclair Inlet and public