7781 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

~¢~COVQ1710/ w~c• ~~ • ~MM[IfOM1'J: eH~L~ F. rows, o.D., ~.., rRAP~C f~, .~-. Y~ MFL10N G. EVAAlS, FisgstalF G. fiENE 70LLE, Ma~niR WN.UAM H. r~RS. -+waAf ROtiERT ~. JAM2EDi ~/~ ~.Y~~., , . ;,: A,n. Dinaor, o~.p*, ~ .~>> .22.22 Ll/.~t ~+..,,.~ (~L i ~HiL M. COSPER ~` Aut. Dirclo., S.rw:c•, 2 3 ROGER J. GRUEt~EWAID W. 0. Nelson, Regional Director Fish €r Wildlife Service P. 0. Box 130fi Albuquerque, NM 87103 , Dear Bill: Sorry about siaply don't have t iarely canner . lie they are subaitted L- I :ii _ ,. -- , - ~EE d ~~ ~ ~d5 94.2 -3G~ - - --=`~S"`f-"`--- F~i.~: _.~_..__-------- February 1978V~ ~ °- ~~ ~RD ~, r, ~.~ ~_.__...I,~: _ . __~._ ~-i,CTIO ...___...i,ii~i+~ the delay in reviewing the woundfin recovery plan. We the staff to attend to endangered species issues in a hope our coaasiants can still be considered even though late. The recovery plan in general is well done and obviously represents a lot of thought and work on the part of teaseanembers. 1-e do, however, have several critical coawments to offer, mostly having to do with the transplant recommendation. One fact which the team has apparently not considered in determining the feasibility of a transplant is that if the waundfin vanished from historic habitat it probably did so because of habitat degradation. If A j habitat changes of a a~gnitude severe to cause extirpation of a species occurred sons time in the past, wh$t evideaace is there that the habitat has now improved to the point where it~can again supp©rt the woundfin?, We find it extremely difficult to believe any such improve~rent is likely to have taken place. The recovery plan atowhere addresses this question which we think is extremely basic to any reintroductiart attempt. 'ire fact that unsuccessful attests have already beers>fade tca reintroduce this species in several waters suggests that the species sap well r•®quire habitat coaseiitions not easily met. The teaas's recognitica that we prssiatly lack knowledge about habitat preferences and reeds would also seasi to suggest the desirability of making haste slowly with reintrod~tion attea~ts. The reca~very plan poiats up the A Z need for xesearch to provide aawJre data on such elesents as feeding habits, winter ha~aitat rega~airtts, spawning nreds, end hydrolo;ic corKiitions necessary for viable habitat. Ssrc~ rese~h iaa fact fa giveJn top priority ranking. Yet despite the recognized deficiency in the data base, reintro- ductions are being proposed to either precede or coincide with the studies that will, it is hoped, fill in the blanks. We are inclined to think the studies should come first. On page 29 it is ;recommended that habitat aranagement plans for the A 3 Virgin River should be developed by the BLM. It wears doubtful that the BLM could accomplish this without the close attention of the Recovi -. Thgc'~ r^.., R .., r, ~.