Octoberl98l vol. VI NO. 10 Department of interior. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Technical Bulletin Endangered Species Program, Washington, D.C. 20240 Recovery Plan Completed For Commanche Springs Pupfish The Commanche Springs pupfish (Cyprinodon elegans), listed as Endan- gered in 1967, is expected to benefit from the Service's approved Commanche Springs Pupfish Recovery Plan, signed September 2, 1981. The plan identifies three major threats to this west Texas species and prescribes ac- tions to be taken to prevent or mitigate these threats. Mining of underground waters for municipal and agricultural purposes has severely altered the habitat of the spe- cies. The fish occurred historically in two isolated spring-systems 190 km apart in the Pecos River drainage of southwestern Texas; now its habitat consists mostly of irrigation canals near t • ^ Balmorhea, Reeves County, Texas. The large flow of Commanche Springs (up to 66 cfs), which the species used to inhabit, was utilized as early as 1875 to irrigate more than 6,000 acres I 0- of farmland in Pecos County. The The Commanche Springs pupfish pictured above is part of the captive population pupfish was extirpated from its type lo- being held by the Service at the Dexter National Fish Hatchery. This species ex- cality when Commanche Springs went hibits wide ecological characteristics: (1) it feeds mostly on the bottom, but also at the surface and at other levels in the water column; (2) based on consistent occur- rence of small specimens, it apparently breeds during most months of the year; (3) it spawns in areas of flowing water as well as stagnant ponds; and (4) it can sur- vive and reproduce in both stenothermal spring outflows and in eurythermal pools. dry in 1955. Human alteration of the pupfish habitat is principally in private system of artesian springs near Bal- ownership, and proposed improvements morhea began in the early 1900's. The must first consider the owners' needs. pupfish is sparse in most of the canal Construction of a pupfish refugium ca- system, concentrated into certain nal through Balmorhea State Recrea- optimal or permanent water reaches (up tion Area has been very successful in to 200 young-of-the-year and adults in producing C. elegans, and a second ca- single seine hauls). nal through a dry portion of Phantom Lake is recommended by the Plan as a Plan Addresses Threats method of expanding existing habitat. In addition to habitat loss from declin- The refugium canal would empty water ing springflow and reduced surface back into the present irrigation canal waters, competition with introduced and thus not reduce the natural flow to species and degradation of genetic in- the irhgation system. tegrity caused by hybridization with in- Effective management of the area will troduced congeners are also threats to depend on cooperative management the species. The recovery plan ad- agreements with the private landowners dresses these problems, outlining ways and government agencies involved in to improve the quality of presently land ownership. Many diverse interests occupied habitat, to increase the quanti- will have to be consulted in the develop- Cyprinodon elegans survives in the irri- ty of suitable habitat, and to establish a ment and implementation of any com- gation canal system pictured above sound management program. prehensive management plan. which is located near Phantom Cave. The existing Commanche Springs Continued on page 3 along with the five out of six eagles translocated in 1980, bring the total number of eagles on the island to ten. A transmitter signal from one of the 1980 birds was recorded near the mainland; neither the bird nor the transmitter has since been found. The Service has awarded a contract to J. L. Dobbins and Associates to map potential California southern sea otter {Enhydra lutris nereis) habitat on the west coast. The maps will be used by Federal and State agencies to imple- ment the Southern Sea Otter Recovery Plan which is now in the agency review draft stage. The maps will include the location of kelp beds and traffic lanes of petroleum carriers—information which could also be helpful for fisheries and other Federal and State programs. Region 2—Recovery teams were Endangered Species Program re- this year from Washington to Santa Cat- formed to direct the preparation of re- gional staffers have reported the fol- alina Island, California, was found shot. covery plans for plant species in Ari- lowing activities for the month of Each of the eagles had been fitted with zona, New Mexico, and Texas which September: radio transmitters—the dead bird was are listed under the Endangered Spe- located through the radio signal which cies Act of 1973. These teams will serve Region 1—One of the six bald eagles led researchers to a dumping area on as advisory/review boards; the actual Haliaeetus leucocephalus) transferred the island. The remaining five birds. plan preparation will be accomplished by scientists under contract to the Serv- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Robert F. Stephens, Assistant Re- ice. Washington, D.C. 20240 gional Director; Jack B. Woody, En- The MEX-U.S. Gulf meeting, attended dangered Species Specialist by members of the Fish and Wildlife F. Eugene Hester, Acting Director Region 3, Federal BIdg., Fort Snelling, (202-343-4717) Twin Cities, MN 55111 (612-725- Service, National Marine Fisheries Ronald E. Lambertson 3500); James W. Pulliam, Acting Re- Service, and the Mexican Fisheries De- Associate Director and gional Director; Daniel H. Bumgarner, partment, was held in New Orleans in Endangered Species Program Manager Assistant Regional Director; James early September. The group reviewed (202-343-4646) M. Engel, Endangered Species Spe- past international cooperative programs Harold J. O'Connor cialist. and planned future activities, placing Deputy Associate Director Region 4, Richard B. Russell Federal special emphasis on sea turtle manage- (202-343-4646) BIdg., 75 Spring St., S.W., Atlanta, GA ment and protection. John L. Spinks, Chief, 30303 (404-221-3583): Walter O. Office of Endangered Species Stieglitz, Acting Regional Director; The Service stocked 8,100 additional (703-235-2771) John Christian, Assistant Regional Di- razorback suckers (Xyrauchen texanus) Richard Parsons, Chief, rector; Alex B. Montgomery, Endan- in Arizona streams, bringing the total to Federal Wildlife Permit Office gered Species Specialist. 15,000 individuals. (703-235-1937) Region 5, Suite 700, One Gateway Cen- The Service began moving the en- Clark R. Bavin. Chief, ter, Newton Corner, MA 02158 (617- dangered fish species being held at Division of Law Enforcement 965- 5100): Howard Larsen, Regional Willow Beach, Arizona, in order to con- (202-343-9242) Director; Gordon T. Nightingale, As- centrate the entire endangered fish TECHNICAL BULLETIN STAFF sistant Regional Director; Paul propagation program at the Dexter Na- Nickerson, Endangered Species Spe- Clare Senecal Kearney, Editor tional Fish Hatchery, New Mexico. (703-235-2407) cialist. Region 6, P.O. Box 25486, Denver Fed- Region 3—Endangered Species eral Center, Denver, CO 80225 Regional Offic«s Coordinator, Jim Engel, made on-site (303-234-2209); Don W. Minnich, Re- visits with U.S. Forest Service person- Region 1, Suite 1692, Lloyd 500 BMg., gional Director; Charles E. Lane, As- nel to various areas within the region to 500 N.E. Multnomah St., Portland, OR sistant Regional Director; Don 97232 (503-231-6118): Richard J. Rodgers, Endangered Species Spe- review their wildlife policies and proj- Myshak, Regional Director; Edward B. cialist. ects. Cooperative efforts and ongoing Chamberlain, Assistant Regional Di- Region 7, 1101 E. Tudor Rd., Anchor- Forest Service activities were dis- rector, Sanford R. Wilbur, Endan- age, AK 99503 (907-276-3800, ext. cussed. The Forest Service has done gered Species Specialist. 495): Keith M. Schreiner, Regional Di- extensive work in the region with the Region 2, P.O. Box 1306, Albuquerque, rector; Jon Nelson, Assistant Region- Kirtland's warbler {Dendroica kirtlandii), NM 87103 (505-766-2321): Jerry al Director; Dennis Money, Acting En- timber wolf (Canis lupus), Indiana bat Stegman, Acting Regional Director; dangered Species Specialist. (Myotis sodalis), bald eagle {Haliaeetus leucocephalus), and with plant surveys. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Regions Region 4—Surveys are presently Region 1: California. Hawaii. Idaho. Nevada. Dragon. Washington, and Pacific Trust Territories. Region 2: Arizona. New Mexico. Oklahoma, and Texas. Ragiofi 3: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota. Missouri, undenway to better determine the status Ohio, and Wisconsin. Region 4: Alabama. Arkansas. Florida. Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, and distribution of the snail darter. On North Carolina, South Carolina. TetHiessee. Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. Region S: Connecticut, Dela- ware. Maine. Maryland. Massachusetts. New Hampshire. New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, September 9, 1981, a Service crew was Vermont, Virginia, and West Virginia. Region 6: Colorado. Kansas. Montana, Nebraska. North Dakota, South seining at approximately river mile 16 of Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming. Region 7: Alaska. the Paint Rock River in Alabama and The ENDANGERED SPECIES TECHNICAL BULLETIN is published monthly by the found the first snail darter ever collected U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior, Washington, D.C. 20240. in that State. In a subsequent trip to the / Paint Rock River, four more of the fish to comply with the notice and public Canada Goose Recovery Team leader, were collected from the vicinity of river participation provisions of the Adminis- reported 150-250 geese flying strongly mile 19. Present plans call for returning trative Procedures Act. On August 13, both over Alaid-Nizki, the release is- to Alabama in October for a survey of the U.S. Attorney filed a Motion For Re- lands, and nearby Shemya Island. This the Flint River, another Tennessee Riv- consideration Of Order, which included report is favorable since it confirms that er tributary farther to the west.