[Federal Register: March 5, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 43)]
[Notices]
[Page 10485]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr05mr03-70]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
Notice of Availability of the Final Southwestern Willow
Flycatcher Recovery Plan
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of document availability.
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SUMMARY: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announces the availability
of the Final Recovery Plan for the southwestern willow flycatcher
(Empidonax traillii extimus). The breeding range of this bird includes
southern California, southern Nevada, southern Utah, Arizona, New
Mexico, western Texas, southwestern Colorado, and possibly extreme
northern portions of the Mexican states of Baja, California del Norte,
Sonora, and Chihuahua. Within this region, the species breeds in dense
riparian tree and shrub communities associated with rivers, swamps, and
other wetlands including lakes (e.g., reservoirs). Most of these
habitats are classified as forested wetlands or scrub-shrub wetlands.
ADDRESSES: Persons wishing to obtain a copy of the Recovery Plan may
contact Greg Beatty, Arizona Ecological Services Field Office, U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service, 2321 West Royal Palm Road, Suite 103,
Phoenix, Arizona, 85021-4951 (602/242-0210 x247, Greg--Beatty@fws.gov).
The Plan is also available at http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/leaving.cgi?from=leavingFR.html&log=linklog&to=http://arizonaes.fws.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Greg Beatty (see ADDRESSES).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
Restoring an endangered or threatened animal or plant species to
the point where it is again a secure, self-sustaining member of its
ecosystem is a primary goal of the Service's endangered species
program. To help guide the recovery effort, the Service prepares
recovery plans for most of the listed species native to the United
States. Recovery plans describe actions considered necessary for
conservation of species, establish criteria for the recovery levels for
downlisting or delisting them, and estimate time and cost for
implementing the recovery measures needed.
The Endangered Species Act of 1973 (Act), as amended (16 U.S.C.
1531 et seq.), requires the development of recovery plans for listed
species unless such a plan would not promote the conservation of a
particular species. Section 4(f) of the Act, as amended in 1988,
requires that public notice and an opportunity for public review and
comment be provided during recovery plan development. On June 6, 2001,
the Service published in the Federal Register an announcement of the
availability for public review of the draft Recovery Plan for the
southwestern willow flycatcher. Public comments were accepted through
October 4, 2001. The comment period was subsequently reopened on
October 10, 2001, for a period of 60 days extending through December
10, 2001. Seventy-eight letters of comment were received during the two
comment periods. The draft Recovery Plan was revised and finalized
based on this input.
The Southwestern Willow Flycatcher Recovery Plan describes the
status, current management, recovery objectives and criteria, and
specific actions needed to reclassify the southwestern willow
flycatcher from endangered to threatened, and to ultimately delist it.
The Recovery Plan was developed by a Technical Subgroup comprised of 14
technical specialists, and geographically-based teams of stakeholders
(Implementation Subgroups), which include representatives of Native
American Tribes, State and local governments, ranchers, private land
owners and managers, agency representatives, and others.
The southwestern willow flycatcher is known to currently breed in
dense riparian vegetation in southern California, southern Nevada,
southern Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, and southwestern Colorado. Although
extreme northwestern Mexico and western Texas are considered part of
its breeding range, no nesting birds are presently known to occur in
these areas. The dense riparian vegetation that is needed for breeding
was historically rare and sparsely distributed, and is now more rare.
Destruction and modification of riparian habitats have been caused
mainly by: Reduction or elimination of surface and subsurface water due
to diversion and groundwater pumping; changes in flood and fire regimes
due to dams and stream channelization; clearing and controlling
vegetation; livestock overgrazing; changes in water and soil chemistry
due to disruption of natural hydrologic cycles; and establishment of
non-native plants. Concurrent with habitat loss have been increases in
brood parasitism by the brown-headed cowbird (Molothrus ater) and the
presence of nest predation which inhibits reproductive success and
further reduces population levels. Actions needed to recover the
southwestern willow flycatcher are those that would increase and
improve breeding habitat by restoring and/or re-creating natural
physical and biotic processes that influence riparian ecosystems, and
reducing other stresses on the flycatcher. Specific actions include:
Changing management of surface and groundwater where feasible;
restoring flood cycles; reducing impacts of domestic livestock, wild
burros, and native ungulates; improving metapopulation stability;
securing long-term protection of breeding habitat; managing exotic
plant species; reducing brood parasitism by brown-headed cowbirds; and
conducting research to refine management practices and knowledge of
ecology. The Recovery Plan was finalized based on comments received
during meetings with the Implementation Subgroups, as well as comments
received from the public.
Authority
The authority for this action is Section 4(f) of the Endangered
Species Act, 16 U.S.C. 1533(f).
Dated: September 19, 2002.
David A. Yazzie,
Acting Regional Director.
[FR Doc. 03-5124 Filed 3-4-03; 8:45 am]
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