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.. .. ~ r fE~~ ~^J` OFH~- O~ TkE y~G10NAl DiiIECTOR r Mr. W. 0. Nelson, Jr. Regional Director Fish and tidildlife Service, US DI P.O. Box i30b L Albuquerque, New Mexico 87103 Dear Mr. Nelson: ~_r' .,. r ~ ...P ~ .. ~____~ .. .~ ~ --~ I,~_ _ .. I _ : ~Februar~y 21,E i978 - .. ~ - ' ~~ --Z-~..r,___ _ ~ ~ ~~ y~ We appreciate the opportunity of reviewing the final draft of the Woundfin Recovery Plan. The plan is well written and easily communicates an orderly progression of steps to recovery of 'the species. i.~..- :~ ~1 ~r Does the primar goal of restoring the Woundfin to non-endangered status (page 20~ mean that it would be reclassified as threatened after establishing these self-sustaining populations? If this is the case, we feel a primary goal which would lead to total de1isting is more desirable. The plan would be improved by estirr~ting Forest Service costs for identifying transplant sites, enhancing-and protecting habitat and habitat research. Priorities should be indicated. This would help insure adequate National Forest involvement in transplant site selection, while insuring lead time to accomplish any needed eni~lance-- 2 ment and protection of the sites and to coordinate plan objectives with other National Forest uses. With such rr~difications, we can support the plan. , No lead time was available to the Prescott National Forest when the Arizona Game and Fish Department introduced woundfin into Sycar~ore Creek, a tributary to the Aqua Fria drainage. After the introducaicrn, the Prescott National Forest took several actions at considerable cost to improve the habitat. Cattle were fenced out along four miles of ~ ~ the stream, riparian tree species were planted, and Prescott National Forest personnel assisted the Department in surveys and studies. I~~ appears the introduction failed, but if the coordination efforts by the Forest had begin done a year or two before the fish were planted, perhaps the effort would have succeeded. ~~ We hope this review will lead to a revision of the final draft and l ~~ thereby benefit the species. If we can be of assistance in this effort, please call on us. S' ~eirely, ~" YA S L Regional Forester UPIITELI STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE FOREST SERVICE Region 3 517 Gold Avenue, Sh1. Albuquerque, New Mexico 87102 SHOD-99 (1;E9) 43