November/December 1980 Vol. V, No. II KIiill*WILI>LIFK SRRVK'K ENDANGERED SPECIES TECHNICAL BULLETIN Department of the Interior • U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service • Endangered Species Program, Washington, D.C. 20240 Snail Darter Discovered at a New Location Michael Bender The tiny snail darter {Percina tanasi), It is "extremely unlikely," Dr. Etnier from industrial and sewage wastes, re- an Endangered species of perch known says, that the newly found snail darters sulting In frequent fish kills. In addition, historically from only a short section of are migrants from a Hiwassee River biologists do not yet know whether or not the Little Tennessee River, has been transplant site some 80 miles down- the experimental transplantations of found in a 10-15 mile stretch of South stream. The Chickamauga darters are snail darters Into the Hiwassee and Chickamauga Creek straddling the Ten- apparently a natural population, and Holston Rivers will be a long-term suc- nessee/Georgia border. have always existed either in the creek or cess. Dr. David Etnier, a University of Ten- in nearby streams. They went unde- The only officially designated Critical Jnessee Ichthyologist who initially dis- tected for a number of years despite an Habitat for the snail darter was covered the species, made the new find intensive search by TVA, which took destroyed when Congress exempted on November 1 of this year while seining samples from at least 134 localities on 35 TVA's Tellico Dam Project from the pro- a portion of the creek just inside the Ten- streams throughout the Tennessee Val- visions of the Endangered Species Act nessee border, together with graduate ley which were thought to contain possi- (see October 1979 Technical Bulletin); student Andy Haines. Several days later, ble darter habitat. Further surveys will be however, the Service will now be study- Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) biolo- conducted on Chickamauga and several ing Chickamauga Creek for suitability as gist Charles Saylor accompanied several other streams in the area. additional Critical Habitat. According to University of Georgia biologists to a site Unfortunately, the snail darter is not TVA spokesman Louis Gwin, the agency upstream and across the State line, yet out of danger. Chickamauga Creek has no plans for any future projects on where more darters were captured and has a long history of pollution problems the creek. released. Reliable population estimates I for South Chickamauga Creek cannot yet be made, but Saylor suggests a mini- mum of about 200. ABOUT THIS ISSUE Dear Readers, As you may have noticed, this issue of the BULLETIN is dated November- December 1980. The reason for this combined issue is twofold—(1) the BULLETIN is presently understaffed, making it difficult to come out with a timely finished product, and (2) November was a slow month for rule- making activities, which means there would have been little to report in a separate December issue. Our next is- sue will be January 1981, Vol. VI, No. 1. Have a happy and safe holiday season! Morey Norkin The tiny snail darter, which became the focus of national attention when its Acting Editor presence in the Little Tennessee River temporarily halted construction of the Tellico Dam, was recently discovered at a new location. is fully recovered it will be released in an area near the Mississippi River. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is paying $2,500 of the reward money, the remainder is from the National Wildlife Federation. Region 4. In the absence of any known dusky seaside sparrow (Ammospiza maritima nigrescens) females, all plans for a captive breeding program have been cancelled. Another survey for remaining birds will be conducted in 1981, but only one presumed male is currently known to be left in the wild. A cooperative agreement has been signed with the Santa Fe Community College at Gainesville, Florida, to provide captive care for the five males now being held by the Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission. Service and State of Louisiana per- sonnel have recently completed a co- Endangered Species Program re- bald eagle in late October in Pierce operative project involving develop- gional staffers have reported the follow- County, Wisconsin. The bird was treated ment of an alligator population model to ing activities for the month of October. for a wing fracture at the University of aid in reassessing the status of the alli- Region 3. A $3,000 reward is being of- Minnesota's Raptor Rehabilitation gator in Louisiana and possibly other fered for information leading to the ar- Center, St. Paul. According to Dr. Patrick parts of its range. Use of this method to rest and conviction of tiie person or Redig of the Center, the fracture will take provide more accurate population es- persons who shot and wounded a young six to eight weeks to heal. When the bird timates should facilitate further delisting of the species. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Region 2, P.O. Box 1306, Albuquerque, Region 5. A draft recovery plan for the Washington, D.C. 20240 NM 87103 (505-766-2321): Jerry Virginia round-leaf birch (Betula uber) is Stegman, Acting Regional Director; being reviewed by the Regional Office. Robert F. Stephens, Assistant Regional Lynn A. Greenwalt, Director Region 6. In 1980, attempts were Director, Jack B. Woody, Endangered (202-343-4717) made to release 58 American peregrine Species Specialist. Ronald E. Lambertson falcons (Fa/co peregrinus anatum) Associate Director and Region 3, Federal BIdg., Fort Spelling, reared by the Peregrine Fund (Fort Col-, Endangered Species Program Manager Twin Cities, MN 55111 (612-725-3500); lins, Colorado) into the wild in fivej Harvey Nelson, Regional Director, (202-343-4646) western States. Problems with predators' Harold J. O'Connor Daniel H. Bumgarner, Assistant Regional Director, James M. Engel, En- at two sites resulted in 52 peregrines be- Deputy Associate Director ing released. It is believed that 43 birds (202-343-4646) dangered Species Specialist. John Spinks, Chief, Region 4, Richard B. Russell Federal survived to independence. Office of Endangered Species BIdg., 75 Spring St., S.W., Atlanta, GA An Illustrated Guide to Special Interest (703-235-2771) 30303 (404-221-3583): Kenneth E. Vascular Plarits of Wyoming has been Richard Parsons, Chief, Biack, Regional Director, Harold W. printed. Copies are available from the Federal Wildlife Permit Office Benson, Assistant Regional Director, Regional Office. (703-235-1937) Alex 8. Montgomery, Endangered Clark R. Bavin, Chief, Species Specialist. Division of Law Enforcement Region 5, Suite 700, One Gateway Center, (202-343-9242) Newton Corner, MA 02158 (617-965- 5100): Howard Larsen, Regional Direc- Hudsonia tor, Gordon T. Nightingale, Assistant i TECHNICAL BULLETIN STAFF Regional Director, Paul Nickerson, En- Morey Norkin, Acting Editor Protection dangered Species Specialist. (703-235-2407) Region 6, P.O. Box 25486, Denver Federal Center, Denver, CO 80225 (303-234- Fostered 2209); Don W. Minnich, Regional Direc- tor; Charles E. Lane, Assistant Regional Regional OfflcM By Local Director; Don Rodgers, Endangered Region 1, Suite 1692, Lloyd 500 BIdg., 500 Species Specialist. Cooperation N.E. Multnomah St., Portland, OR Alaska Area, 1101 E. Tudor Rd., 97232 (503-231-6118): R. Kahler Mar- Anchorage, AK 99503 (907-276-3800, Marshall P. Jones tinson, Regional Director, Edward B. ext. 495): Keith M. Schreiner, Area Chamberlain, Assistant Regional Direc- Director; Jon Nelson, Ass't Area Direc- tor, David B. Marshall, Endangered tor; Dan Benfield, Endangered Species A successful public meeting and the Species Specialist. Specialist. support of local community leaders con- tributed to the speedy adoption of a final U.S. Fish and Wildlife Regions rule listing mountain golden heather Region 1: California, Hawaii. Idaho. Nevada. Oregon, Washington, and Pacific Trust Territories. Region 2: Arizona, New {Hudsonia montana) as a Threatened Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas. Region 3: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, and Wisconsin. species and designated its Critical Region 4: Alabama. Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Ten- Habitat in North Carolina's Pisgah nessee, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. Region 5: Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, and West Virginia. Region R: National Forest (F.R. 10/20/80). Colorado, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming. Alaska Area: Alaska. In a way, Hudsonia's problems seem The ENDANGERED SPECIES TECHNICAL BULLETIN is published monthly by the U.S. to symbolize a great irony in today's Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior, Washington, D.C. 20240. natural resource conservation—an ever increasing crush of outdoor admirers Fish and Wildlife Service botanists, Nora Murdock and Ben Sanders, examine a population of Hudsonia montana. who threaten to smother fragile natural listed plants.) development of a management plan. areas with their love. Questions about possible closures of Hudsonia is one of many resource man- Thus the public support for Hud- areas were brought up at the meeting by agement problems the Forest Service sonia's listing is especially Important. It the North Carolina Bowhunters Asso- must address in attempting to strike a began with a letter from the Burke ciation and a local rock climbing group. balance between legitimate use and County Manager, Kenneth R. Thompson, This would be a Forest Service decision abuse of wilderness area. endorsing the proposal. Subsequently, which the Fish and Wildlife Service could Protecting Hudsonia may not always the County Board of Commissioners, not officially address, but it was pointed be easy, but consensus among affected after receiving a visit from Area Office out that Hudsonia conservation can likely agencies and Individuals is that it is staff to explain the effects of the pro- be achieved by trail rerouting and activity definitely worthwhile.