Notes: Tasks with no cost estimate include: "Secure essential habitat... through cooperative agreements, easements or other protective strategies," "Secure selected sites through cooperative easements or other protective strategies," and "Restore habitat sites." The plan states, "Public ownership of habitat does not necessarily imply that complex natural processes necessary for maintenance of the habitat and species will continue to operate." Common Name: Santa Cruz Long-Toed Salamander, amphibian Scientific Name: Ambystoma macrodactylum croceum Taxonomic Status: Subspecies Recovery Plan Goal: Downlisting Notes: Many tasks have no cost estimate. Recovery tasks include: “Acquire identified habitat," "Identify additional habitats for acquisition,” “Identify additional upland habitat and acquire,” and "Use zoning process and ordinances." According to the plan, "The former status of the Santa Cruz subspecies is not known since it was not discovered until 1954 and at that time the only known population was at Valencia." More have been found since that time. The plan also states, "The SCLTS is a relict form of a species that was probably widespread throughout much of California during and immediately after the last Pleistocene ice advance, 10,000 to 20,000 years ago..." Common Name: Shortnose Sturgeon, fish Scientific Name: Acipenser brevirostrum Taxonomic Status: Species Recovery Plan Goal: "The Plan is not an end in itself but is designed to serve as a "vehicle" to restore and maintain the shortnose sturgeon as a viable member of its ecosystem via accomplishments of specific Plan steps that may ultimately achieve the "Goal" of the Plan to remove the species from endangered status." Notes: The plan states, "Furthermore, estimating costs of primary plan steps is impossible..." No cost estimate is given for any of the plan's tasks which include: "Determine modifications to improve habitat," "minimize impact to habitat from new projects," and 16 others. Common Name: Small-Anthered Bittercress, plant Scientific Name: Cardamine micranthera Taxonomic Status: Species Recovery Plan Goal: Recovery. "The recovery objective is considered an interim goal, because of the lack of specific data on biology and management requirements of the species." Notes: There is no cost estimate to "Implement appropriate management techniques as they are developed from previous tasks." Common Name: Socorro Isopod, invertebrate Scientific Name: Thermosphaeroma thermophilus Taxonomic Status: Species Recovery Plan Goal: Delisting Notes: Plan tasks with no cost estimate include: "provide for permanent flow of water" which may require "fee title purchase," "Provide additional flows of water," and "Easement-acquisition of Ft. Harmony Spring." The species habitat consists of "1m x 2m x 0.03m cement-lined animal watering tank, a smaller pool and approximately 40 meters of open irrigation pipe." The plan states, “protection of habitat from harmful contaminants and other negative impacts cannot be guaranteed because the habitat is on private land." Common Name: Spikedace, fish Taxonomic Status: Species Recovery Plan Goal: "Protection of existing population. Eventual delisting, if possible." Notes: The plan states, "Cost of recovery estimated over a minimum 20-year period yields a minimum total cost of $115,000.00 per year. This estimate is in 1989 dollars. The estimate does not include land or water acquisition." Common Name: Stock Island Snail, invertebrate Scientific Name: Orthalicus reses reses Taxonomic Status: Subspecies Recovery Plan Goal: Delisting Notes: Tasks with no cost estimations include: “establish accord with habitat owners," "educate against collecting," "evaluate predation," "Identify and ameliorate social problems relative to reintroduction," and "Establish reserve populations and monitor." The plan states: “...hermaphroditic subspecies currently confined to a small area of about 4.8 acres on stock island, Monroe County, Florida," "Information relating to the snail's life ecology is scant," "Their heterospecific status is further supported by the fact that interbreeding between reses and nesodryas is restricted by geographic separation, although there is a small degree of overlap between the two," "Although no estimates of historical population sizes are available, the extant population is presumed to have been moderately stable in the recent past because its present habitat has been stable and composition for the last 40 years. However, current and planned developments and renovations on the golf course will eliminate 1.6 acres of the 4.8 acres of remaining essential habitat. Some new habitat is also being created which may eventually offset this loss." Recovery criteria call for expanding the snails population from the only historically known 4.8 acre habitat to 20 acres and establishing 30 new populations. The plan states, "Hopefully, the 'recovered' population would then be able to withstand the major stress of a severe hurricane." Common Name: St. Thomas Prickly-Ash, plant Scientific Name: Zanthoxylum thomasianum Taxonomic Status: Species Recovery Plan Goal: "guidance for reversing the decline... and restoring... stable, secure, and selfsustaining status, thereby permitting... reclassified... and perhaps eventually allowing its removal." Notes: Twenty of 25 tasks have no cost estimate and include: "Establish conservation easements," "Select sites for population introduction," "Assure site protection," and "Determine additional actions necessary." The plan states, "It appears that even the largest populations are not sufficient to allow regular pollination and viable seed production" and "If sites proposed are not already on protected land, steps must be taken to alter the status of such land to provide protection for new species' populations." Common Name: Swamp Pink, plant Scientific Name: Helonias bullata Taxonomic Status: Species Recovery Plan Goal: Delisting Notes: $25,000,000 is allocated to habitat purchase. The plan states, "The majority of extant populations are found on private property." According to the plan there are 122 sites, one site with 10,000-25,000 clumps, and "Botanists are optimistic that new populations will be found." Accord ing to the plan, "In addition, the enforcement capability of existing regulations will be strengthened where possible, and non-traditional avenues for endangered species protection that may benefit Helonias (through wetlands legislation, soil erosion control requirements, etc.) will be investigated." Common Name: Tar River Spinymussel, invertebrate Scientific Name: Elliptia steinstansana Taxonomic Status: Species Recovery Plan Goal: "Though the ultimate goal is to recover the species to the point where it can be removed from the Federal List of Threatened and Endangered Wildlife and Plants, full recovery of the Tar Spinymussel may not be possible." Notes: Several plan tasks with no cost estimate include: "Consider use of land acquisition to protect species" and "encourage establishment of mussel sanctuaries, high quality resource water designations, and other protective strategies..." According to the plan, the mussel “.....has apparently always had a limited distribution." Common & Scientific Names: invertebrates Tuberculed-Blossom Pearly Mussel, Epioblasma torulosa torulosa Turgid-Blossom Pearly Mussel, Epioblasma turgidula Yellow-Blossom Pearly Mussel, Epioblasma floretina floretina Taxonomic Status: 1 Species and 2 Subspecies Recovery Plan Goal: According to the plan, "The ultimate goal... is to locate, maintain, and enhance any known populations....." and "it is highly improbable, if and when living specimens of any one of the three subject species are found that... the species can ever recover to the point of delisting." Notes: The plan states, "Task costs have not been estimated for this plan." Common Name: Utah Prairie Dog, mammal Scientific Name: Cynomys parvidens Taxonomic Status: Species Recovery Plan Goal: De listing Notes: Recovery criteria include: "To establish and maintain the species as a self-sustaining, viable unit with retention of 90 percent of its genetic diversity for 200 years." The plan states: "Much of the increase in total prairie dog numbers can be attributed to the phenomenal increase in prairie dog numbers on private lands in the Cedar and Parowan valleys in the West Desert region," "In 1977, 73 percent of all Utah prairie dog colonies and 81 percent of the prairie dogs were located on private lands," and "Private land colonies will contribute to the survival of this species but cannot be counted for long-term survival [of] multigenerational populations due to the inability to ensure their continued protection from human disturbance." Common Name: Virginia Fringed Mountain Snail, invertebrate Scientific Name: Polygyriscus virginianus Taxonomic Status: Species Recovery Plan Goal: Delisting Notes: The plan states: "Acquisition costs may be incurred in future years by contract," "Since publication of the original description in 1947, this peculiar land snail has eluded study because of its rarity, highly limited distribution and secretive habits. As a result, little is known about the life history of this species," "Almost nothing is known about the numbers, population dynamics or 99 64 reproduction of P. virginianus,” “P. virginianus does not appear headed toward extinction through any known natural process despite the fact that burrowing habits, a cumbersome shell, small size, probable low reproductive capacity, and stenotype seriously impact its ability to disperse," "...a single dynamite blast or scoop by a bulldozer could erase the entire colony from its only known station," and "Once the owners of this area have been identified, alternatives for protection will be evaluated and the most practical method of protection, with the funds available, will be determined." Common Name: Virgin Islands Tree Boa, reptile Scientific Name: Epicrates monensis granti Recovery Plan Goal: Downlisting Notes: Several plan tasks have no cost estimates including “acquisitions to be determined from future surveys." The plan states: the boa "...has been rarely encountered by scientists, and only 13 specimens are recorded...." "The species' absence from Puerto Rico is best explained by widespread extinctions of xeric-adapted herptefauna on Puerto Rico during the Pleistocene," and "Population trends cannot be determined because of lack of data." The plan also states: “lack of available information on this secretive, nocturnal snake precludes formulation of a quantitative recovery level" and "On small islands with boa populations, mongooses and cats should be eliminated using grids of live traps and other appropriate methods." Common Name: White Cat's Paw Pearly Mussel, invertebrate Scientific Name: Epioblasma sulcata delicata = obliquata perobliqua Recovery Plan Goal: "...protect only extant population... With such a low population level and restricted distribution, recovery to the point where the species no longer requires protection under the Act is unlikely." Notes: The plan states, "Costs of land protection (fee acquisition, easement, management agreement) are to be identified." According to the plan, "Since 1970 only three living specimens and only three recently deceased individuals have been collected," and "The life history of the white cat's paw pearly mussel is unknown." Common Name: Wyoming Toad, amphibian Scientific Name: Bufo hemiophrys baxteri Taxonomic Status: Subspecies Recovery Plan Goal: Downlisting Notes: According to the plan, "The Wyoming toad is a glacial relic known only from Albany County, Wyoming" and "...no definite cause of decline has been identified." The plan calls for "compensating landowners for income loss from protective and enhancement measures," and states, "Landowners should not be expected to incur major income losses to implement protective or enhancement measures..." as well as that land trades could reduce cost of land acquisition. SUGGESTIONS FOR IMPROVEMENT OF ENDANGERED SPECIES POLICIES • Establish scientific standards more strict than 'best available data' for the listing of plants and animals. In order to add a species to the endangered species list, information should be verifiable, reliable, accurate and sufficient for making a reasonable judgment as to the status of the plant or animal in question. • Establish attainable recovery criteria in the law and in recovery • Allow citizens to file lawsuits to challenge a decision to add a • Subject the recovery plan process to FACA, the Federal Advisory Commission Act. Currently, the recovery plan process is specifically exempt. FACA would force meetings to be announced and open to the public on recovery plans which include individuals outside of government service, and it requires certain types of record keeping. • Use incentives rather than punitive regulations to encourage • Establish mechanisms to prevent conflict of interest so that • Base listing decisions solely on science. Remove "inadequacy of • Prohibit the future addition of subspecies and populations to the • Place moratoria on listing, and freeze the FWS recovery, consultation, permitting, law enforcement and listing budget until FWS demonstrates success at recovering species and removing them from the threatened and endangered list rather than simply employing the Endangered Species Act for national land use control. |