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U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Designates Critical Habitat for the Alabama Sturgeon
Washington, DC. -(FishNLand.com)-The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today announced a final rule designating critical habitat for the Alabama sturgeon, a species listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act.

The designation for the sturgeon includes one contiguous unit of river channel in portions of the Alabama and Cahaba rivers in the Mobile River Basin, Alabama. The unit encompasses 245 miles of river channel in the Alabama River and 81 miles of river channel in the lower Cahaba River, for a total of 326 miles of river channel. A copy of the Federal Register notice announcing the designation can be viewed at http://www.fws.gov/policy/library/E9-12517.html

The final Economic Analysis estimated that the incremental economic impacts of the critical habitat designation to be $93,800 over the next 20 years. This estimate applies a three percent discount rate. At a seven percent discount rate, the incremental economic impacts of the designation are estimated to be $71,200 over the next 20 years. Water management accounted for 37.2 percent of incremental economic impacts, discounted at seven percent, followed by water quality at 32.9 percent, other activities at 19.7 percent, and dredging at 10.2 percent. No areas were excluded from the final designation due to economic or other relevant impacts.

When the Alabama sturgeon was first added to the list of threatened and endangered species in 2000, the Service determined that critical habitat was prudent, but not determinable due to lack of information on the species’ biological and habitat needs. Shortly after the listing, the Alabama-Tombigbee Rivers Coalition filed suit in federal court alleging several defects in the listing process, including failure to designate critical habitat at the time of listing.

As part of this case, the court ordered the Service to submit a revised prudency determination and, if prudent, a proposed rule designating critical habitat to the Federal Register by May 16, 2008, and a final rule by May 16, 2009. The Service reviewed available data on the Alabama sturgeon and two closely related species, the pallid and shovelnose sturgeons. It also considered historical and current habitat conditions where Alabama sturgeons have been collected to identify specific areas that meet the definition of critical habitat.

Critical habitat is a term used in the Endangered Species Act referring to specific geographic areas with features essential for the conservation of a threatened or endangered species and that may require special management and protection. A critical habitat designation does not establish a preserve or refuge nor does it affect individual citizens, organizations, states, local governments, or other non-federal entities that do not require federal permits or funding. Critical habitat does not include existing developed sites within the proposed unit such as dams, piers, or marinas.

As a listed species under the Endangered Species Act, the Alabama sturgeon is already protected wherever it occurs, and federal agencies are required to consult on any action they take that might affect the species. Designating critical habitat will provide non-regulatory benefits to the sturgeon by informing the public of areas that are important to the species’ recovery and identifying where conservation actions would be most effective. The designation of critical habitat also will help the sturgeon by ensuring that federal agencies and the public are aware of the habitat needs of the species.

After this designation of critical habitat, the Service’s consultations under the Endangered Species Act with federal agencies, such as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, are not expected to change substantially. The consultations will require assessment of potential impacts to critical habitat. However, these consultations were already required because of the presence of Alabama sturgeon in the rivers that are being proposed for designation. Recommended flows for the Alabama sturgeon remain the same as the levels the Service consulted on prior to the designation. Therefore, the Service does not anticipate that management of flows within the river will change as a result of the designation.

When determining areas to designate as critical habitat, the Service considers physical and biological habitat features that are essential to the conservation of the species. These features include space for individual and population growth and for normal behavior; cover or shelter; food, water, air, light, minerals, or other nutritional or physiological requirements; sites for breeding and rearing offspring; and habitats that are protected from disturbances or are representative of the historic geographical and ecological distributions of the species.

About:
The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working with others to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. For more information on our work and the people who make it happen, visit http://www.fws.gov/southeast/ or http://www.fws.gov/

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Washington Dept of Fish & Wildlife Starts Mandatory Boat Checks To Stop Aquatic Invasive Species

OLYMPIA, WA -(FishNLand.com)- Starting Memorial Day weekend, boaters heading to Washington waterways may encounter new mandatory stops by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) to check for aquatic invasive species.

The long-planned emphasis patrol, which will take place throughout the summer, coincides with the recent seizure of a boat in Spokane contaminated with quagga mussels from Nevada’s Lake Mead. A multi-state tracking effort and tips from alert citizens led to the seizure by WDFW enforcement officers.

The 24-foot boat has been decontaminated to avoid the spread of the tiny non-native mollusks, which are prohibited in Washington to protect native fish and wildlife and water systems.

“These invasive mussels, first found in Lake Mead in 2007, have already spread to other waterways in several western states, and continue to move closer to Washington every year,” said Allen Pleus, WDFW aquatic invasive species coordinator. “That’s a big concern, because if they get into our waters, they will likely spread rapidly and cause much damage.”

Importation of aquatic invasive species is a gross misdemeanor punishable by up to $5,000 in fines and up to a year in jail. Knowingly bringing such species into Washington is a felony and can result in even greater fines and jail time.

The Spokane case is still under investigation and no charges have been filed, said Sergeant Eric Anderson, WDFW aquatic invasive species enforcement coordinator.

“To avoid more close calls like this, our enforcement emphasis this year will be to conduct random, mandatory road stops of people hauling any size boat,” Anderson said.

Since Washington passed a law in 2002 prohibiting importation of aquatic invasive species, WDFW, in cooperation with the Washington State Patrol, has mainly worked to inspect commercially hauled watercraft at the state’s port of entry weigh stations. But that only stopped a handful of very large vessels, Anderson said.

“In the last few years we’ve conducted more periodic vessel inspections during fishing seasons at our water access sites where information about these species is posted,” Anderson said. “Now we’re moving to an even more aggressive enforcement effort. Boats found with banned species could be seized for decontamination.”

Recreational boaters and anglers should always carefully inspect and clean their boats and equipment before moving their vessels from one body of water to another, Pleus said.

“Boat owners must take responsibility for their vessels if Washington is going to be successful at keeping aquatic invasive species from spreading to state waters,” Pleus said.

Once established, non-native mussels and other aquatic invasive species can multiply quickly and threaten native fish and wildlife by consuming available food and smothering other species. They spread by attaching to boats or other water-based equipment, and clog water-intake systems at power plants, irrigation districts, public water suppliers, and other facilities.

“If these species become established in the Columbia River system it could result in billions of dollars of economic damage to everything from hydro-electric dams to municipal water systems and put further strain on ESA-listed species that live there,” Pleus said.

Zebra and quagga mussels are native to the Caspian Sea. They entered the Great Lakes in the mid 1980s in ship ballast water, and have since spread to more than 20 states, including California, Colorado, Nevada and Utah, and two Canadian provinces. Both zebra and quagga mussels are easily transported on boats and trailers because they can live out of water for up to a month.

For more information on all aquatic invasive species, visit WDFW’s website at http://wdfw.wa.gov/fish/ans/index.htm .

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Fishing Closure For Kress Lake Safety Day Event

Olympia, WA -(FishNLand.com)- WDFW Announces Fishing Closure For Kress Lake Safety Day Event

Action: Close Kress Lake to fishing by the public for two days.

Effective Dates:

May 15 – 12:01 a.m., entire lake closed to public fishing
May 16 – Lake closed to public fishing until 6:00 p.m. – the lake is open for juvenile anglers participating in the Safety Day Event from 10 a.m. through 3 p.m.

Location: Kress Lake is located near Kalama, Washington in Cowlitz County. Kress Lake is owned by The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.

Reason for action: This rule change is necessary to assure a safe and successful event. The reason for closing the lake is to ensure safety for the public as well as the event participants. There is expected to be over 600 people participating in the Safety Day program.

Boats will be used for teaching safety classes to kids and adults. Closing the lake will alleviate any boat traffic from anglers.

Other Information: This is the fifth year the event has been held. The public is welcome to attend.

Information Contact: John Weinheimer, District 9 Fish Biologist, (360)906-6746

Fishers must have a current Washington fishing license, appropriate to the fishery. Check the WDFW “Fishing in Washington” rules pamphlet for details on fishing seasons and regulations. Fishing rules are subject to change. Check the WDFW Fishing hotline for the latest rule information at (360) 902-2500, press 2 for recreational rules. For the Shellfish Rule Change hotline call (360)796-3215 or toll free 1-866-880-5431.

About:
The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) is dedicated to preserving, protecting and perpetuating the state’s fish and wildlife resources. The department operates under a dual mandate from the Washington Legislature to:

* Protect and enhance fish and wildlife and their habitats.
* Provide sustainable, fish- and wildlife-related recreational and commercial opportunities.

Department policy is guided by the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission composed of nine citizen members appointed by the Governor. Department operations are led by a Director and an Executive Management Team. The Director is appointed by the Fish and Wildlife Commission.

The department is headquartered in Olympia and operates six regional offices throughout the state.

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