[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 172 (Thursday, September 6, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51242-51243]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-17582]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
Copperbelly Water Snake (Nerodia erythrogaster neglecta) Draft
Recovery Plan
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of document availability for review and comment.
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SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce
availability of the draft recovery plan for the Copperbelly Water Snake
(Nerodia erythrogaster neglecta) for public review and comment. This
species is federally listed as threatened under the Endangered Species
Act of 1973, as amended (Act). The Copperbelly Water Snake is listed as
a Distinct Population Segment in Michigan, Ohio, and Indiana, north of
40 degrees north latitude. The purpose of this plan is to recover this
species so that it can be removed from the list of Threatened and
Endangered Wildlife. We solicit review and comment from the public on
this draft plan.
DATES: In order to consider your comments on the draft recovery plan,
we must receive them on or before November 5, 2007.
ADDRESSES: You may obtain a copy by the following means:
1. World Wide Web: http://midwest.fws.gov/endangered; or
2. U.S. mail or in-person pickup: Field Supervisor, U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service, Ecological Services Field Office, 2651 Coolidge Road,
Suite 101, East Lansing, MI 48823-6316; telephone, (517) 351-2555.
You may submit electronic comments on the recovery plan to this e-
mail address: [email protected].
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Mike DeCapita by U.S. mail, e-
mail, or telephone (see ADDRESSES). TTY users may contact Mr. DeCapita
through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
Recovery of endangered or threatened animals or plants is a primary
goal of our endangered species program. Recovery plans describe actions
considered necessary for conservation of the species, establish
criteria for reclassification and delisting, and provide estimates of
the time and costs for implementing the recovery measures.
The Act (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 opportunity for public
review and comment be provided during recovery plan development. We
will consider all information presented during a public comment period
prior to approval of each new or revised recovery plan. We and other
Federal agencies will also take these comments into consideration in
the course of implementing approved recovery plans.
The northern Distinct Population Segment (DPS) of the Copperbelly
Water Snake was listed as threatened on January 29, 1997. The northern
DPS occurs in Michigan, Indiana, and Ohio, north of 40 degrees north
latitude. The current distribution of the Copperbelly Water Snake is
limited to only a few small, scattered, and isolated population
clusters in south central Michigan, northeastern Indiana, and
northwestern Ohio. Surveys have indicated that the species is in
decline throughout these areas.
Copperbelly Water Snakes have both wetland and terrestrial habitat
requirements. The species is associated with wetland complexes
characterized by a preponderance of shallow wetlands, many of which
draw down
[[Page 51243]]
seasonally. Such complexes may predominantly occur as isolated wetlands
distributed in a forested upland matrix, floodplain wetlands fed by
seasonal flooding, or a combination of both. Fishless wetlands,
suitable for high anuran (frog and toad) productivity, are required to
provide habitat and a suitable prey base.
The principal limiting factor for copperbellies appears to be
sufficient extent of suitable habitat. Individuals move hundreds of
meters or more between wetlands and routinely use multiple wetlands
over the course of an active season. They also spend substantial
periods of time in upland habitat aestivating, foraging, and shedding.
Populations may require many hundreds of hectares of contiguous habitat
in order to persist.
Delisting Criteria
The objective of the recovery plan is to provide a framework for
the recovery of the Copperbelly Water Snake so that protection by the
Act is no longer necessary. Copperbelly Water Snake will be considered
for delisting when the likelihood of the species becoming extinct in
the foreseeable future has been reduced or eliminated by the
achievement of the following criteria. The population sizes and
metapopulation numbers and sizes needed for delisting and
reclassification may be updated based on further research (e.g.,
population viability analysis) on viable population sizes of
Copperbelly Water Snake or surrogate species.
(1) Multiple population viability is assured through the following:
(a) At least 1 population of Copperbelly Water Snake must exceed a
population size of 1000 adults;
(b) Either 5 geographically distinct populations have population
sizes of more than 500 individuals or 3 metapopulations must have a
total population size of 3000, with none less than 500; and
(c) Populations described in (a) and (b) above must persist at
these levels for at least 10 years.
(2) Sufficient habitat is conserved and managed such that for each
population described in Criterion 1:
(a) Wetland/upland habitat complexes sufficient to support each
population are permanently conserved, and
(b) Two suitable hibernation sites are permanently conserved within
one kilometer of all suitable summer habitat.
(3) Significant threats due to lack of suitable management, adverse
land features and uses, collection, and persecution have been reduced
or eliminated through the following means:
(a) Habitat management and protection guidelines will be developed,
distributed, and maintained;
(b) Adverse land features and uses such as row crops and roads and
accompanying traffic are removed, minimized, or managed within occupied
Criterion-1 landscape complexes to the extent possible; and
(c) A comprehensive education and outreach program that addresses
persecution and collection deterrence will be developed and
implemented.
These criteria will be met through the following actions: (1)
Identify and protect habitat landscape sufficient for recovery; (2)
Monitor known Copperbelly Water Snake populations and their habitat;
(3) Improve baseline understanding of Copperbelly Water Snake ecology;
(4) Develop recovery approaches to enhance recruitment and population
size; (5) Develop and implement public education and outreach efforts;
(6) Review and track recovery progress; and (7) Develop a plan to
monitor Copperbelly Water Snake after it is delisted.
Reclassification Criteria
Copperbelly Water Snake will be considered for reclassification
from Threatened to Endangered if surveys indicate either of the
following criteria have occurred:
(1) There are no metapopulations of more than 500 adults.
(2) The cumulative population size is less than 1000.
If classified as Endangered, the species may be reclassified as
Threatened when the reclassification criteria are no longer occurring.
Additional detail on delisting and reclassification criteria is
available in the draft recovery plan.
Public Comments Solicited
The Service solicits written comments on the draft recovery plan.
All comments received by the date specified will be considered prior to
approval of the plan. Written comments and materials regarding the plan
should be addressed to the Field Supervisor (see ADDRESSES). Comments
and materials received will be available for public inspection by
appointment during normal business hours at the above address.
Authority: The authority for this action is section 4(f) of the
Endangered Species Act, 16 U.S.C. 1533(f).
Dated: July 25, 2007.
Wendi Weber,
Assistant Regional Director, Ecological Services, Region 3, Fort
Snelling, Minnesota.
[FR Doc. E7-17582 Filed 9-5-07; 8:45 am]
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