[PCA] Endangered Spring Creek Bladderpod Recovery Plan Notice

[Megan_Haidet at fws.gov]

Federal Register: September 6, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 172)

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service

Notice of Availability of the Recovery Plan for the Endangered
Spring Creek Bladderpod (Lesquerella perforata)

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of document availability.

To view the entire FR Notice, visit: 
http://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/EPA-SPECIES/2006/September/Day-06/e14689.htm

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, announce the
availability of the final recovery plan for the endangered Spring Creek
bladderpod (Lesquerella perforata). This species is an annual plant
endemic to the Central Basin in Tennessee. It is currently known from
only three watersheds (Spring Creek, Bartons Creek, and Cedar Creek) in
Wilson County, Tennessee. The recovery plan includes specific recovery
objectives and criteria to downlist this species to threatened status
and delist it under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act).

ADDRESSES: Printed copies of this recovery plan are available by
request from the Tennessee Field Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service, 446 Neal Street, Cookeville, Tennessee 38501 (telephone 931/
528-6481). An electronic copy of the recovery plan is available on the
World Wide Web at http://www.fws.gov/endangered/recovery/index.html.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Timothy Merritt, Recovery Coordinator,
at the above address and telephone number.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

The Spring Creek bladderpod was listed as endangered on January 22,
1997 (61 FR 67493). This annual plant, endemic to the Central Basin in
Tennessee, is restricted to the floodplains of three creeks (Bartons,
Spring, and Cedar) in Wilson County, Tennessee. It can be found in
agricultural fields, pastures, glades, and disturbed areas. The Spring
Creek bladderpod requires some degree of disturbance, such as scouring
from natural flooding or plowing of the soil, to complete its life cycle.
Factors contributing to its endangered status are an extremely
limited range and loss of habitat. The main threat is the loss of
habitat by conversion of land to uses other than cultivation of annual
crops, primarily rapid commercial, residential, and industrial
development occurring throughout Wilson County. Encroachment of more
competitive herbaceous and woody plants also presents a threat.
The objective of this recovery plan is to provide a framework for
the recovery of this species so that protection under the Act is no
longer necessary. The recovery plan includes specific recovery
objectives and downlisting and delisting criteria. As recovery criteria
are met, the status of the species will be reviewed and it will be
considered for removal from the Federal List of Endangered and
Threatened Plants (50 CFR 17.12). Actions needed to recover the Spring
Creek bladderpod include: (1) Protect and manage existing occurrences
and habitats; (2) develop and implement management strategies for the
species; (3) develop communication with local officials to coordinate
county planning; (4) utilize existing environmental laws to protect the
plant and its floodplain habitat; (5) conduct monitoring at all sites;
(6) conduct seed ecology studies; (7) search for new populations; (8)
establish new occurrences within the historic range; (9) maintain seed
source ex situ; (10) develop and implement public education plans; (11)
annually assess the success of recovery efforts for the species.
The authority for this action is section 4(f) of the Endangered
Species Act, 16 U.S.C. 1533(f).

Dated: July 12, 2006.
Cynthia K. Dohner,
Acting Regional Director, Southeast Region.
[FR Doc. E6-14689 Filed 9-5-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.plantconservation.org/pipermail/native-plants_lists.plantconservation.org/attachments/20060908/59dc5dff/attachment.html>