83 FR 34155 - Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Draft Recovery Plan for the Southern California Distinct Population Segment of the Mountain Yellow-legged Frog (Rana muscosa)

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 139 (July 19, 2018)

Page Range		34155-34156
FR Document		2018-15362

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, announce the availability of the Draft Recovery Plan for the Southern California Distinct Population Segment of the Mountain Yellow-legged Frog (Rana muscosa) for public review and comment. The draft recovery plan includes objective, measurable criteria, and site-specific management actions as may be necessary to reclassify the species from endangered to threatened and also for removal from the Federal List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife.

Federal Register, Volume 83 Issue 139 (Thursday, July 19, 2018)

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 139 (Thursday, July 19, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 34155-34156]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-15362]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R8-ES-2017-N132; FXES11130000-189-FF08E00000]


Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Draft Recovery 
Plan for the Southern California Distinct Population Segment of the 
Mountain Yellow-legged Frog (Rana muscosa)

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of document availability.

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

SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, announce the 
availability of the Draft Recovery Plan for the Southern California 
Distinct Population Segment of the Mountain Yellow-legged Frog (Rana 
muscosa) for public review and comment. The draft recovery plan 
includes objective, measurable criteria, and site-specific management 
actions as may be necessary to reclassify the species from endangered 
to threatened and also for removal from the Federal List of Endangered 
and Threatened Wildlife.

DATES: We must receive any comments on the draft recovery plan on or 
before September 17, 2018.

ADDRESSES: Document availability: You may obtain a copy of the recovery 
plan from our website at http://www.fws.gov/endangered/species/recovery-plans.html. Alternatively, you may contact the Carlsbad Fish 
and Wildlife Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 2177 Salk Avenue, 
Suite 250, Carlsbad, California 92008 (telephone 760-431-9440).
    Comment submission: If you wish to comment on the draft recovery 
plan, you may submit your comments in writing by any one of the 
following methods:
     U.S. mail: Field Supervisor, at the above address;
     Hand-delivery: Carlsbad Fish and Wildlife Office, at the 
above address; or
     Email: [email protected]. For additional information 
about submitting comments, see the ``Public Comments Solicited'' 
section below.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mendel Stewart, Field Supervisor, at 
the above street address or telephone number (see ADDRESSES).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    Recovery of endangered or threatened animals and plants to the 
point where they are again secure, self-sustaining members of their 
ecosystems is a primary goal of our endangered species program and the 
Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act; 16 U.S.C. 1531 et 
seq.). Recovery means improvement of the status of listed species to 
the point at which listing is no longer necessary under the criteria 
specified in section 4(a)(1) of the Act. The Act requires the 
development of recovery plans for listed species, unless such a plan 
would not promote the conservation of a particular species.
    Pursuant to section 4(f) of the Act, a recovery plan must, to the 
maximum extent practicable, include (1) A description of site-specific 
management actions as may be necessary to achieve the plan's goals for 
the conservation and survival of the species; (2) objective, measurable 
criteria which, when met, would support a determination under section 
4(a)(1) that the species should be removed from the List of Endangered 
and Threatened Species; and (3) estimates of the time and costs 
required to carry out those measures needed to achieve the plan's goal 
and to achieve intermediate steps toward that goal.
    The Service has revised its approach to recovery planning; the 
revised process is called Recovery Planning and Implementation (RPI). 
The RPI process is intended to reduce the time needed to develop and 
implement recovery plans, increase recovery plan relevancy over a 
longer timeframe, and add flexibility to recovery plans so they can be 
adjusted to new information or circumstances. Under RPI, a recovery 
plan will include statutorily required elements (objective, measurable 
criteria, site-specific management actions, and estimates of time and 
costs), along with a concise introduction and our strategy for how we 
plan to achieve species recovery. The RPI recovery plan is supported by 
a separate Species Status Assessment, or in cases such as this one, a 
species biological report that provides the background information and 
threat assessment, which are key to recovery plan development. The 
essential component to flexible implementation under RPI is producing a 
separate working document called the Recovery Implementation Strategy 
(implementation strategy). The implementation strategy steps down from 
the more general description of actions described in the recovery plan 
to detail the specific, near-term activities needed to implement the 
recovery plan. The implementation strategy will be adaptable by being 
able to incorporate new information without having to concurrently 
revise the recovery plan, unless changes to statutory elements are 
required.
    The Service listed the southern California distinct population 
segment of mountain yellow-legged frog (Rana muscosa) (hereafter 
``southern R. muscosa'') as endangered in 2002 (67 FR 44382, July 2, 
2002), and critical habitat was designated for the species in 2006 (71 
FR 54344, September 14, 2006). Historically, southern R. muscosa was 
widely distributed in at least 166 known populations in watersheds 
across four mountain ranges in southern California. Currently, the 
species is restricted to 10 small, isolated populations in the 
headwaters of streams or tributaries within the San Gabriel, San 
Bernardino, and San Jacinto Mountains. Primary habitat for the southern 
R. muscosa includes streams with permanent (perennial) water that have 
steep gradients with numerous pools, rapids, and small waterfalls. The 
smallest creeks are likely not inhabited by southern R. muscosa

[[Page 34156]]

because they lack adequate depth to provide refuge or overwintering 
habitat.
    Southern Rana muscosa is impacted by a number of threats, 
including: Recreational activities (hiking, mountain climbing, camping, 
swimming, stocking of trout resulting in predation, and suction dredge 
mining for gold), dumping of trash and release of toxic or hazardous 
materials into occupied stream reaches, wildfire, predatory nonnative 
species (trout), the potential for disease, threats associated with 
small population size (genetic, demographic, and environmental 
stochasticity, and natural catastrophes), illegal marijuana 
cultivation, fire management activities, nonnative plants, climate 
change, and contaminants.

Recovery Strategy

    The purpose of a recovery plan is to provide a framework for the 
recovery of a species so that protection under the Act is no longer 
necessary. A recovery plan includes scientific information about the 
species and provides criteria that enable us to gauge whether 
downlisting or delisting the species is warranted. Furthermore, 
recovery plans help guide our recovery efforts by describing actions we 
consider necessary for each species' conservation and by estimating 
time and costs for implementing needed recovery measures.
    The goal of this recovery plan is to control or ameliorate impacts 
from current threats to the southern Rana muscosa such that the taxon 
no longer requires protections afforded by the Act and, therefore, 
warrants delisting. Continued outreach with our partners is needed to 
ensure long-term protections are afforded to the southern R. muscosa 
and its habitat. The site-specific management actions identified in the 
draft recovery plan are as follows:
    (1) Conduct research to inform management actions throughout the 
range of the species;
    (2) Create and implement a protocol for rangewide surveys and 
monitoring;
    (3) Ameliorate Factor A threats associated with present or 
threatened destruction, modification, or curtailment of the habitat or 
range throughout each of the three Recovery Units;
    (4) Ameliorate Factor C threats associated with predation and 
disease in each of the three Recovery Units;
    (5) Ameliorate Factor E threats associated with other natural or 
manmade factors affecting the continued existence of southern Rana 
muscosa in each of the three Recovery Units;
    (6) Use reestablishment and population augmentation to increase 
abundance and expand distribution in the wild.

Public Comments Solicited

    We solicit written comments on the draft recovery plan described in 
this notice. All comments received by the date specified in DATES will 
be considered in development of a final recovery plan for southern Rana 
muscosa. You may submit written comments and information by mail, 
email, or in person to the Carlsbad Fish and Wildlife Office at the 
above address (see ADDRESSES).

Public Availability of Comments

    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 
ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying 
information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be 
able to do so.

Authority

    We developed this recovery plan and publish this notice under the 
authority of section 4(f) of the Act, 16 U.S.C. 1533(f).

Angela Picco,
Acting Regional Director, Pacific Southwest Region.
[FR Doc. 2018-15362 Filed 7-18-18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4333-15-P

Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 139 / Thursday, July 19, 2018 / Notices 34155

goals, and objectives differ slightly, they recovery plan includes objective, estimates of the time and costs required
are substantively similar. measurable criteria, and site-specific to carry out those measures needed to
Mission: To support the Service’s management actions as may be achieve the plan’s goal and to achieve
mission by connecting people to fish, necessary to reclassify the species from intermediate steps toward that goal.
wildlife, and their habitats through endangered to threatened and also for The Service has revised its approach
strategic implementation of removal from the Federal List of to recovery planning; the revised
transportation programs. Endangered and Threatened Wildlife. process is called Recovery Planning and
Goals and Objectives: Each of these DATES: We must receive any comments Implementation (RPI). The RPI process
long-range transportation plans has six on the draft recovery plan on or before is intended to reduce the time needed
substantively similar goals: Safety; September 17, 2018. to develop and implement recovery
access, mobility, and connectivity; asset plans, increase recovery plan relevancy
ADDRESSES: Document availability: You
management; environmental protection; over a longer timeframe, and add
may obtain a copy of the recovery plan
visitor experience; and partnership. flexibility to recovery plans so they can
from our website at http://www.fws.gov/
Region 8 has an additional seventh goal: be adjusted to new information or
endangered/species/recovery-
Planning. Under each goal, each Region circumstances. Under RPI, a recovery
plans.html. Alternatively, you may
presents distinct objectives that move plan will include statutorily required
contact the Carlsbad Fish and Wildlife
the Service to the goal. Please see the elements (objective, measurable criteria,
Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,
individual draft LRTPs for more site-specific management actions, and
2177 Salk Avenue, Suite 250, Carlsbad,
information. estimates of time and costs), along with
California 92008 (telephone 760–431–
Next Steps 9440). a concise introduction and our strategy
Comment submission: If you wish to for how we plan to achieve species
After the comment period ends, the recovery. The RPI recovery plan is
Service will analyze the comments comment on the draft recovery plan,
you may submit your comments in supported by a separate Species Status
received and consider them in Assessment, or in cases such as this one,
preparation of final LRTPs. writing by any one of the following
methods: a species biological report that provides
Public Availability of Comments • U.S. mail: Field Supervisor, at the the background information and threat
Before including your address, phone above address; assessment, which are key to recovery
number, email address, or other • Hand-delivery: Carlsbad Fish and plan development. The essential
personal identifying information in your Wildlife Office, at the above address; or component to flexible implementation
comment, you should be aware that • Email: fw8cfwocomments@fws.gov. under RPI is producing a separate
your entire comment—including your For additional information about working document called the Recovery
personal identifying information—may submitting comments, see the ‘‘Public Implementation Strategy
be made publicly available at any time. Comments Solicited’’ section below. (implementation strategy). The
While you can ask us in your comment FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: implementation strategy steps down
to withhold your personal identifying Mendel Stewart, Field Supervisor, at the from the more general description of
information from public review, we above street address or telephone actions described in the recovery plan to
cannot guarantee that we will be able to number (see ADDRESSES). detail the specific, near-term activities
do so. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: needed to implement the recovery plan.
The implementation strategy will be
Gregory J. Sheehan, Background adaptable by being able to incorporate
Principal Deputy Director, U.S. Fish and Recovery of endangered or threatened new information without having to
Wildlife Service. animals and plants to the point where concurrently revise the recovery plan,
[FR Doc. 2018–15415 Filed 7–18–18; 8:45 am] they are again secure, self-sustaining unless changes to statutory elements are
BILLING CODE 4333–15–P members of their ecosystems is a required.
primary goal of our endangered species The Service listed the southern
program and the Endangered Species California distinct population segment
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Act of 1973, as amended (Act; 16 U.S.C. of mountain yellow-legged frog (Rana
1531 et seq.). Recovery means muscosa) (hereafter ‘‘southern R.
Fish and Wildlife Service muscosa’’) as endangered in 2002 (67
improvement of the status of listed
[FWS–R8–ES–2017–N132; FXES11130000– species to the point at which listing is FR 44382, July 2, 2002), and critical
189–FF08E00000] no longer necessary under the criteria habitat was designated for the species in
specified in section 4(a)(1) of the Act. 2006 (71 FR 54344, September 14,
Endangered and Threatened Wildlife The Act requires the development of 2006). Historically, southern R. muscosa
and Plants; Draft Recovery Plan for the recovery plans for listed species, unless was widely distributed in at least 166
Southern California Distinct Population such a plan would not promote the known populations in watersheds
Segment of the Mountain Yellow- conservation of a particular species. across four mountain ranges in southern
legged Frog (Rana muscosa) Pursuant to section 4(f) of the Act, a California. Currently, the species is
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, recovery plan must, to the maximum restricted to 10 small, isolated
Interior. extent practicable, include (1) A populations in the headwaters of
ACTION: Notice of document availability. description of site-specific management streams or tributaries within the San
actions as may be necessary to achieve Gabriel, San Bernardino, and San
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES

SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and the plan’s goals for the conservation and Jacinto Mountains. Primary habitat for
Wildlife Service, announce the survival of the species; (2) objective, the southern R. muscosa includes
availability of the Draft Recovery Plan measurable criteria which, when met, streams with permanent (perennial)
for the Southern California Distinct would support a determination under water that have steep gradients with
Population Segment of the Mountain section 4(a)(1) that the species should be numerous pools, rapids, and small
Yellow-legged Frog (Rana muscosa) for removed from the List of Endangered waterfalls. The smallest creeks are likely
public review and comment. The draft and Threatened Species; and (3) not inhabited by southern R. muscosa

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Document Created: 2018-07-19 01:35:07
Document Modified: 2018-07-19 01:35:07

Category		Regulatory Information
Collection		Federal Register
sudoc Class		AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106:
Publisher		Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
Section		Notices
Action		Notice of document availability.
Dates		We must receive any comments on the draft recovery plan on or before September 17, 2018.
Contact		Mendel Stewart, Field Supervisor, at
FR Citation		83 FR 34155

83 FR 34155 - Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Draft Recovery Plan for the Southern California Distinct Population Segment of the Mountain Yellow-legged Frog (Rana muscosa)

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIORFish and Wildlife Service

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 139 (July 19, 2018)

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service