Proposed Rule2021-14406
Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Designation of Critical Habitat for Rufa Red Knot (Calidris canutus rufa)
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
July 15, 2021
Issuing agencies
Interior DepartmentFish and Wildlife Service
Abstract
We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), propose to designate critical habitat for the federally threatened rufa red knot (Calidris canutus rufa) under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). In total, approximately 649,066 acres (ac) (262,667 hectares (ha)) are proposed in 120 units (18 of which are further subdivided into 46 subunits) in Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas. We also announce a public informational meeting and public hearing and the availability of a draft economic analysis of the proposed critical habitat designation.
Full Text
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[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 133 (Thursday, July 15, 2021)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 37410-37668]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2021-14406]
[[Page 37409]]
Vol. 86
Thursday,
No. 133
July 15, 2021
Part II
Department of the Interior
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Fish and Wildlife Service
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50 CFR Part 17
Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Designation of Critical
Habitat for Rufa Red Knot (Calidris canutus rufa); Proposed Rule
Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 133 / Thursday, July 15, 2021 /
Proposed Rules
[[Page 37410]]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
50 CFR Part 17
[Docket No. FWS-R5-ES-2021-0032; FF09E21000 FXES11110900000 212]
1018-BF87
Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Designation of
Critical Habitat for Rufa Red Knot (Calidris canutus rufa)
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Proposed rule.
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SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), propose to
designate critical habitat for the federally threatened rufa red knot
(Calidris canutus rufa) under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as
amended (Act). In total, approximately 649,066 acres (ac) (262,667
hectares (ha)) are proposed in 120 units (18 of which are further
subdivided into 46 subunits) in Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey,
Delaware, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida,
Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas. We also announce a public
informational meeting and public hearing and the availability of a
draft economic analysis of the proposed critical habitat designation.
DATES:
Comment submission: We will accept comments received or postmarked
on or before September 13, 2021. Comments submitted electronically
using the Federal eRulemaking Portal (see ADDRESSES, below) must be
received by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on the closing date.
Public informational meeting and public hearing: On August 18,
2021, we will hold a public informational meeting from 6:00 to 7:30
p.m., Eastern Time, followed by a public hearing from 7:30 to 9:00
p.m., Eastern Time. See Public Hearing, in SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION,
for more information.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by one of the following methods:
(1) Electronically: Go to the Federal eRulemaking Portal: <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">http://www.regulations.gov</a>. In the Search box, enter FWS-R5-ES-2021-0032,
which is the docket number for this rulemaking. Then, click on the
Search button. On the resulting page, in the Search panel on the left
side of the screen, under the Document Type heading, check the Proposed
Rule box to locate this document. You may submit a comment by clicking
on ``Comment Now!''
(2) By hard copy: Submit by U.S. mail to: Public Comments
Processing, Attn: FWS-R5-ES-2021-0032, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,
MS: PRB/3W, 5275 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041-3803.
We request that you send comments only by the methods described
above. We will post all comments on <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">http://www.regulations.gov</a>. This
generally means that we will post any personal information you provide
us (see Public Comments, below, for more information).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Eric Schrading, Field Supervisor, U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service, New Jersey Ecological Services Field Office,
4 East Jimmie Leeds Road, Suite 4, Galloway, NJ 08205; telephone 609-
382-5272. Persons who use a telecommunications device for the deaf
(TDD) may call the Federal Relay Service at 800-877-8339.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Executive Summary
Why we need to publish a rule. Under the Act, when we determine
that any species is an endangered or threatened species, we are
required to designate critical habitat, to the maximum extent prudent
and determinable. Designations of critical habitat can only be
completed by issuing a rule.
What this document does. This document proposes a designation of
critical habitat for the rufa red knot, a threatened species of bird,
in portions of 61 counties (or parishes) in 13 States.
The basis for our action. Under the Act, if we determine that a
species is an endangered or threatened species we must, to the maximum
extent prudent and determinable, designate critical habitat. Section
4(b)(2) of the Act states that the Secretary shall designate critical
habitat on the basis of the best available scientific data after taking
into consideration the economic impact, national security impact, and
any other relevant impact of specifying any particular area as critical
habitat. The Secretary may exclude an area from critical habitat if she
determines that the benefits of such exclusion outweigh the benefits of
specifying such area as part of the critical habitat, unless she
determines, based on the best scientific data available, that the
failure to designate such area will result in the extinction of the
species.
Peer Review. In accordance with our joint policy on peer review
published in the Federal Register on July 1, 1994 (59 FR 34270), and
our August 22, 2016, memorandum updating and clarifying the role of
peer review of listing actions under the Act, we sought the expert
opinions of five appropriate specialists regarding the species status
assessment report (Service 2020a, entire) that informed this proposed
rule. The purpose of peer review is to ensure that the science behind
our critical habitat designation is based on scientifically sound data,
assumptions, and analyses. We received review of the Species Status
Assessment (SSA) report from two experts outside the Service. We are
also conducting a peer review of this proposed critical habitat
designation (including the supplemental ``Methodology'' document
available on the internet at <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">http://www.regulations.gov</a> under Docket
No. FWS-R5-ES-2021-0032) to ensure that this proposal is based on
scientifically sound data and analysis. We have invited peer reviewers
to comment on our specific assumptions and conclusions in this proposed
rule, and we will consider any comments received, as appropriate,
before a final agency determination.
Uncommon Acronyms Used in This Proposed Rule
For the convenience of the reader, listed below are some of the
acronyms used in this proposed rule:
Act = Endangered Species Act
ASMFC = Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission
CFR = Code of Federal Regulations
DDFW = Delaware Division of Fish and Wildlife
DEA = draft economic analysis
DHS = Department of Homeland Security
DMR = Department of Marine Resources
DoD = Department of Defense
DHS = Department of Homeland Security
EIS = environmental impact statement
FDEP = Florida Department of Environmental Protection
FGDC = Federal Geographic Data Committee
FR = Federal Register
GDNR = Georgia Department of Natural Resources
HCP = habitat conservation plan
IEc = Industrial Economics, Incorporated
IEM = incremental effects memorandum
INRMP = integrated natural resources management plan
IPCC = Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
LDWF = Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries
MLLW = mean lower low water
NASA = National Aeronautics and Space Administration
NCWRC = North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission
NERR = National Estuarine Research Reserve
NPS = National Park Service
NWR = National Wildlife Refuge
ORV = off-road vehicle
SCDNR = South Carolina Department of Natural Resources
SCDPRT = South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation & Tourism
[[Page 37411]]
Service = U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
SSA = Species Status Assessment
TNC = The Nature Conservancy
USCCSP = U.S. Climate Change Science Program
Information Requested
Public Comments
We intend that any final action resulting from this proposed rule
will be based on the best scientific and commercial data available and
be as accurate and as effective as possible. Therefore, we request
comments or information from other concerned governmental agencies,
Native American Tribes, the scientific community, industry, or any
other interested parties concerning this proposed rule.
We particularly seek comments concerning:
(1) The reasons why we should or should not designate habitat as
``critical habitat'' under section 4 of the Act (16 U.S.C. 1531 et
seq.), including information to inform the following factors that the
regulations identify as reasons why designation of critical habitat may
be not prudent:
(a) The species is threatened by taking or other human activity and
identification of critical habitat can be expected to increase the
degree of such threat to the species;
(b) The present or threatened destruction, modification, or
curtailment of a species' habitat or range is not a threat to the
species, or threats to the species' habitat stem solely from causes
that cannot be addressed through management actions resulting from
consultations under section 7(a)(2) of the Act;
(c) Areas within the jurisdiction of the United States provide no
more than negligible conservation value, if any, for a species
occurring primarily outside the jurisdiction of the United States; or
(d) No areas meet the definition of critical habitat.
(2) Specific information on:
(a) The amount and distribution of rufa red knot habitat;
(b) What areas, that were occupied at the time of listing
(specifically referring to January 12, 2015, which is the effective
date for the December 11, 2014, final listing rule (79 FR 73705)) and
that contain the physical or biological features essential to the
conservation of the species, should be included in the designation and
why;
(c) Special management considerations or protection that may be
needed in critical habitat areas we are proposing, including managing
for the potential effects of climate change; and
(d) What areas not occupied at the time of listing are essential
for the conservation of the species. We particularly seek comments
regarding:
(i) Whether occupied areas are adequate for the conservation of the
species; and
(ii) Specific information regarding whether or not unoccupied areas
would, with reasonable certainty, contribute to the conservation of the
species and contain at least one physical or biological feature
essential to the conservation of the species.
(3) Land use designations and current or planned activities in the
subject areas and their possible impacts on proposed critical habitat.
(4) Information on the projected and reasonably likely impacts of
climate change on the rufa red knot's proposed critical habitat.
(5) Any probable economic, national security, or other relevant
impacts of designating any area that may be included in the final
designation, and the benefits of including or excluding specific areas.
(6) Information on the extent to which the description of probable
economic impacts in the draft economic analysis is a reasonable
estimate of the likely economic impacts.
(7) Whether any specific areas we are proposing for critical
habitat designation should be considered for exclusion under section
4(b)(2) of the Act, and whether the benefits of potentially excluding
any specific area outweigh the benefits of including that area under
section 4(b)(2) of the Act, in particular those based on a conservation
program or plan, and why. These may include Federal, Tribal, State,
county, local, or private lands with permitted conservation plans
covering the species in the area such as habitat conservation plans,
safe harbor agreements, or conservation easements, or non-permitted
conservation agreements and partnerships that would be encouraged by
designation of, or exclusion from, critical habitat. Detailed
information regarding these plans, agreements, easements, and
partnerships is also requested, including:
(a) The location and size of lands covered by the plan, agreement,
easement, or partnership;
(b) The duration of the plan, agreement, easement, or partnership;
(c) Who holds or manages the land;
(d) What management activities are conducted;
(e) What land uses are allowable; and
(f) If management activities are beneficial to the rufa red knot
and its habitat.
(8) Ongoing or proposed conservation efforts that could result in
direct or indirect ecological benefits to the associated habitat for
the rufa red knot; as such, those efforts would lend to the recovery of
the species and therefore areas covered may be considered for exclusion
from the final critical habitat designation.
(9) Whether we could improve or modify our approach to designating
critical habitat in any way to provide for greater public participation
and understanding, or to better accommodate public concerns and
comments.
Please include sufficient information with your submission (such as
scientific journal articles or other publications) to allow us to
verify any scientific or commercial information you include. Also,
please note that submissions merely stating support for, or opposition
to, the action under consideration without providing supporting
information, although noted, will not be considered in making a
determination.
You may submit your comments and materials concerning this proposed
rule by one of the methods listed in ADDRESSES. We request that you
send comments only by the methods described in ADDRESSES.
If you submit information via <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">http://www.regulations.gov</a>, your
entire submission--including any personal identifying information--will
be posted on the website. If your submission is made via a hardcopy
that includes personal identifying information, you may request at the
top of your document that we withhold this information from public
review. However, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so. We
will post all hardcopy submissions on <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">http://www.regulations.gov</a>.
Comments and materials we receive, as well as supporting
documentation we used in preparing this proposed rule, will be
available for public inspection on <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">http://www.regulations.gov</a>, or by
appointment, during normal business hours, at the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service, New Jersey Field Office (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
CONTACT).
Public Hearing
Section 4(b)(5) of the Act provides for a public hearing on this
proposal, if requested. At this time, we have preemptively scheduled a
public informational meeting and public hearing on this proposed rule.
We will hold the public informational meeting and public hearing on the
date and at the times listed above under Public informational meeting
and public hearing in DATES. We are holding the public informational
meeting and public
[[Page 37412]]
hearing via the Zoom online video platform and via teleconference so
that participants can attend remotely. For security purposes,
registration is required. To listen and view the meeting and hearing
via Zoom, listen to the meeting and hearing by telephone, or provide
oral public comments at the public hearing by Zoom or telephone, you
must register. For information on how to register, or if you encounter
problems joining Zoom the day of the meeting, visit <a href="https://fws.gov/northeast/red-knot/">https://fws.gov/northeast/red-knot/</a>. Registrants will receive the Zoom link and the
telephone number for the public informational meeting and public
hearing. If applicable, interested members of the public not familiar
with the Zoom platform should view the Zoom video tutorials (<a href="https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us/articles/206618765-Zoom-video-tutorials">https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us/articles/206618765-Zoom-video-tutorials</a>) prior
to the public informational meeting and public hearing.
The public hearing will provide interested parties an opportunity
to present verbal testimony (formal, oral comments) regarding this
proposed rule to designate critical habitat for the rufa red knot.
While the public informational meeting will be an opportunity for
dialogue with the Service, the public hearing is not. Rather, the
public hearing is a forum for accepting formal verbal testimony. In the
event there is a large attendance, the time allotted for oral
statements may be limited. Therefore, anyone wishing to make an oral
statement at the public hearing for the record is encouraged to provide
a prepared written copy of their statement to us through the Federal
eRulemaking Portal, or U.S. mail (see ADDRESSES, above). There are no
limits on the length of written comments submitted to us. Anyone
wishing to make an oral statement at the public hearing must register
before the hearing <a href="https://fws.gov/northeast/red-knot/">https://fws.gov/northeast/red-knot/</a>. The use of a
virtual public hearing is consistent with our regulations at 50 CFR
424.16(c)(3).
Reasonable Accommodation
The Service is committed to providing access to the public
informational meeting and public hearing for all participants. Closed
captioning will be available during the public informational meeting
and public hearing. Further, a full audio and video recording and
transcript of the public hearing will be posted online at <a href="https://fws.gov/northeast/red-knot/">https://fws.gov/northeast/red-knot/</a> after the hearing. Participants will also
have access to live audio during the public informational meeting and
public hearing via their telephone or computer speakers. Persons with
disabilities requiring reasonable accommodations to participate in the
meeting and/or hearing should contact the person listed under FOR
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT at least 5 business days prior to the date
of the meeting and hearing to help ensure availability. An accessible
version of the Service's public informational meeting presentation will
also be posted online at <a href="https://fws.gov/northeast/red-knot/">https://fws.gov/northeast/red-knot/</a> prior to
the meeting and hearing (see DATES, above). See <a href="https://fws.gov/northeast/red-knot/">https://fws.gov/northeast/red-knot/</a> for more information about reasonable
accommodation.
Previous Federal Actions
It is our intent to discuss only those topics directly relevant to
the designation of critical habitat for the rufa red knot in this
document. For more information on the rufa red knot or its habitat,
refer to:
(1) The final listing rule published in the Federal Register on
December 11, 2014 (79 FR 73706), available online at <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">http://www.regulations.gov</a> (at Docket No. FWS-R5-ES-2013-0097).
(2) The November 2014 Rufa Red Knot Background Information and
Threats Assessment (Supplemental Document; Service 2014, entire),
available online at <a href="https://fws.gov/northeast/red-knot/">https://fws.gov/northeast/red-knot/</a> and <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">http://www.regulations.gov</a> (at Docket No. FWS-R5-ES-2013-0097). And
(3) The Species Status Assessment Report for the Rufa Red Knot
(Calidris canutus rufa), Version 1.1, available on the internet at
<a href="https://fws.gov/northeast/red-knot/">https://fws.gov/northeast/red-knot/</a> and <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">http://www.regulations.gov</a>
(Docket No. FWS-R5-ES-2021-0032).
For more information on previous Federal actions associated with
listing rufa red knot, please refer to the supplemental document
(``Previous Federal Actions'') on the internet at <a href="https://fws.gov/northeast/red-knot/">https://fws.gov/northeast/red-knot/</a> and <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">http://www.regulations.gov</a> (Docket No. FWS-R5-
ES-2013-0097).
On June 22, 2018, Defenders of Wildlife filed a complaint (Case
1:18-cv-01474-APM) alleging that the Service violated the Act by
missing the statutory deadline to designate critical habitat (i.e., 12
months following publication of the final listing rule on December 11,
2014). On February 1, 2019, the Service and Defenders of Wildlife filed
with the United States District Court for the District of Columbia a
joint motion to stay proceedings until June 30, 2021, whereby the
Service agreed to submit to the Federal Register a proposed critical
habitat designation. The court granted the motion on February 7, 2019.
This document constitutes the proposed critical habitat designation for
rufa red knot, and complies with the court order issued February 7,
2019.
Supporting Documents
An SSA team prepared an SSA report (Service 2020a, entire) for the
rufa red knot primarily to inform the development of a draft recovery
plan for the species (Service 2021, entire). The timing and
thoroughness of the peer-reviewed SSA report supported the analysis and
development of this proposed critical habitat rule. The SSA report
represents a compilation of the best scientific and commercial data
available concerning the status of the species, including the impacts
of past, present, and future factors (both negative and beneficial)
affecting the species. The Service sent the SSA report (which
accompanied the draft Recovery Plan) to five independent peer
reviewers; two peer reviewers provided a review of the document. The
Service also sent the SSA report and draft Recovery Plan for review by
more than 177 parties, which included both internal/Service biologists
and managers, and external partners, including scientists with
expertise in rufa red knot biology, habitat management, and threats. We
received review from 24 partners, including Federal and State agencies.
We are also conducting a peer review of this proposed critical habitat
designation (including the supplemental ``Methodology'' document
available on the internet at <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">http://www.regulations.gov</a> under Docket
No. FWS-R5-ES-2021-0032) during the open comment period to ensure that
this proposal is based on scientifically sound data and analysis.
Availability of Supporting Materials
The SSA report and other materials relating to this critical
habitat proposal, including coordinates or plot points or both from
which the maps are generated, are included in the administrative record
and are available at <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">http://www.regulations.gov</a> under Docket No. FWS-
R5-ES-2021-0032. Any additional tools or supporting information that we
may develop for the critical habitat designation will also be available
at <a href="https://www.fws.gov/northeast/red-knot/">https://www.fws.gov/northeast/red-knot/</a>, and may also be included in
the preamble of this proposal and/or at <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">http://www.regulations.gov</a>.
Background
Critical habitat is defined in section 3 of the Act as:
[[Page 37413]]
(1) The specific areas within the geographical area occupied by the
species, at the time it is listed in accordance with the Act, on which
are found those physical or biological features
(a) Essential to the conservation of the species, and
(b) Which may require special management considerations or
protection; and
(2) Specific areas outside the geographical area occupied by the
species at the time it is listed, upon a determination that such areas
are essential for the conservation of the species.
Our regulations at 50 CFR 424.02 define the geographical area
occupied by the species as an area that may generally be delineated
around species' occurrences, as determined by the Secretary (i.e.,
range). Such areas may include those areas used throughout all or part
of the species' life cycle, even if not used on a regular basis (e.g.,
migratory corridors, seasonal habitats, and habitats used periodically,
but not solely, by vagrant individuals).
Conservation, as defined under section 3 of the Act, means to use
and the use of all methods and procedures that are necessary to bring
an endangered or threatened species to the point at which the measures
provided pursuant to the Act are no longer necessary. Such methods and
procedures include, but are not limited to, all activities associated
with scientific resources management such as research, census, law
enforcement, habitat acquisition and maintenance, propagation, live
trapping, and transplantation, and, in the extraordinary case where
population pressures within a given ecosystem cannot be otherwise
relieved, may include regulated taking.
Critical habitat receives protection under section 7 of the Act
through the requirement that Federal agencies ensure, in consultation
with the Service, that any action they authorize, fund, or carry out is
not likely to result in the destruction or adverse modification of
critical habitat. The designation of critical habitat does not affect
land ownership or establish a refuge, wilderness, reserve, preserve, or
other conservation area. Such designation does not allow the government
or public to access private lands. Such designation does not require
implementation of restoration, recovery, or enhancement measures by
non-Federal landowners. Where a landowner requests Federal agency
funding or authorization for an action that may affect a listed species
or critical habitat, the Federal agency would be required to consult
with the Service under section 7(a)(2) of the Act. However, even if the
Service were to conclude that the proposed activity would result in
destruction or adverse modification of the critical habitat, the
Federal action agency and the landowner are not required to abandon the
proposed activity, or to restore or recover the species; instead, they
must implement ``reasonable and prudent alternatives'' to avoid
destruction or adverse modification of critical habitat.
Under the first prong of the Act's definition of critical habitat,
areas within the geographical area occupied by the species at the time
it was listed are included in a critical habitat designation if they
contain physical or biological features (1) which are essential to the
conservation of the species and (2) which may require special
management considerations or protection. For these areas, critical
habitat designations identify, to the extent known using the best
scientific and commercial data available, those physical or biological
features that are essential to the conservation of the species (such as
space, food, cover, and protected habitat). In identifying those
physical or biological features that occur in specific occupied areas,
we focus on the specific features that are essential to support the
life-history needs of the species, including, but not limited to, water
characteristics, soil type, geological features, prey, vegetation,
symbiotic species, or other features. A feature may be a single habitat
characteristic, or a more complex combination of habitat
characteristics. Features may include habitat characteristics that
support ephemeral or dynamic habitat conditions. Features may also be
expressed in terms relating to principles of conservation biology, such
as patch size, distribution distances, and connectivity.
Under the second prong of the Act's definition of critical habitat,
we can designate critical habitat in areas outside the geographical
area occupied by the species at the time it is listed, upon a
determination that such areas are essential for the conservation of the
species. When designating critical habitat, the Secretary will first
evaluate areas occupied by the species. The Secretary will only
consider unoccupied areas to be essential where a critical habitat
designation limited to geographical areas occupied by the species would
be inadequate to ensure the conservation of the species. In addition,
for an unoccupied area to be considered essential, the Secretary must
determine that there is a reasonable certainty both that the area will
contribute to the conservation of the species and that the area
contains one or more of those physical or biological features essential
to the conservation of the species.
Section 4 of the Act requires that we designate critical habitat on
the basis of the best scientific data available. Further, our Policy on
Information Standards under the Endangered Species Act (published in
the Federal Register on July 1, 1994 (59 FR 34271)), the Information
Quality Act (section 515 of the Treasury and General Government
Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2001 (Pub. L. 106-554; H.R. 5658)),
and our associated Information Quality Guidelines, provide criteria,
establish procedures, and provide guidance to ensure that our decisions
are based on the best scientific data available. They require our
biologists, to the extent consistent with the Act and with the use of
the best scientific data available, to use primary and original sources
of information as the basis for recommendations to designate critical
habitat.
When we are determining which areas should be designated as
critical habitat, our primary source of information is generally the
information from the SSA report and information developed during the
listing process for the species. Additional information sources may
include any generalized conservation strategy, criteria, or outline
that may have been developed for the species; the draft recovery plan
for the species; articles in peer-reviewed journals; conservation plans
developed by States and counties; scientific status surveys and
studies; biological assessments; other unpublished materials; or
experts' opinions or personal knowledge.
Habitat is dynamic, and species may move from one area to another
over time. We recognize that critical habitat designated at a
particular point in time may not include all of the habitat areas that
we may later determine are necessary for the recovery of the species.
For these reasons, a critical habitat designation does not signal that
habitat outside the designated area is unimportant or may not be needed
for recovery of the species. Areas that are important to the
conservation of the species, both inside and outside the critical
habitat designation, will continue to be subject to: (1) Conservation
actions implemented under section 7(a)(1) of the Act; (2) regulatory
protections afforded by the requirement in section 7(a)(2) of the Act
for Federal agencies to ensure their actions are not likely to
jeopardize the
[[Page 37414]]
continued existence of any endangered or threatened species; and (3)
the prohibitions found in section 9 of the Act. Federally funded or
permitted projects affecting listed species outside their designated
critical habitat areas may still result in jeopardy findings in some
cases. These protections and conservation tools will continue to
contribute to recovery of this species. Similarly, critical habitat
designations made on the basis of the best available information at the
time of designation will not control the direction and substance of
future recovery plans, habitat conservation plans (HCPs), or other
species conservation planning efforts if new information available at
the time of these planning efforts calls for a different outcome.
Prudency Determination
Section 4(a)(3) of the Act, as amended, and implementing
regulations (50 CFR 424.12), require that, to the maximum extent
prudent and determinable, the Secretary shall designate critical
habitat at the time the species is determined to be an endangered or
threatened species. Our regulations (50 CFR 424.12(a)(1)) state that
the Secretary may, but is not required to, determine that a designation
would not be prudent in the following circumstances:
(i) The species is threatened by taking or other human activity and
identification of critical habitat can be expected to increase the
degree of such threat to the species;
(ii) The present or threatened destruction, modification, or
curtailment of a species' habitat or range is not a threat to the
species, or threats to the species' habitat stem solely from causes
that cannot be addressed through management actions resulting from
consultations under section 7(a)(2) of the Act;
(iii) Areas within the jurisdiction of the United States provide no
more than negligible conservation value, if any, for a species
occurring primarily outside the jurisdiction of the United States;
(iv) No areas meet the definition of critical habitat; or
(v) The Secretary otherwise determines that designation of critical
habitat would not be prudent based on the best scientific data
available.
There is currently no imminent threat of collection or vandalism
identified under Factor B for the rufa red knot, and identification and
mapping of critical habitat is not expected to initiate any such
threat. In the proposed listing determination for rufa red knot (79 FR
73705, December 11, 2014) and our more recent SSA report (Service
2020a, entire), we determined that the present or threatened
destruction, modification, or curtailment of habitat or range is a
threat to rufa red knot and that those threats in some way can be
addressed by section 7(a)(2) consultation measures. Additionally,
although the species range occurs in other parts of North, Central, and
South America outside of the United States, the areas within the
jurisdiction of the United States serve a significant conservation
value to the species during both its northbound and southbound
migration to/from its breeding grounds and overwintering regions, using
these migration areas as key staging and stopover areas to rest and
feed. Some portions of the United States also provide significant
conservation value for certain populations of overwintering rufa red
knots. Our analysis of the best available scientific and commercial
information indicates there are areas within the range of the species
in the United States that meet the definition of critical habitat.
Therefore, because none of the circumstances enumerated in our
regulations at 50 CFR 424.12(a)(1) have been met and because there are
no other circumstances the Secretary has identified for which this
designation of critical habitat would be not prudent, we have
determined that the designation of critical habitat for rufa red knot
is prudent.
Critical Habitat Determinability
Having determined that designation is prudent, under section
4(a)(3) of the Act we must find whether critical habitat for the rufa
red knot is determinable. Our regulations at 50 CFR 424.12(a)(2) state
that critical habitat is not determinable when one or both of the
following situations exist:
(i) Data sufficient to perform required analyses are lacking, or
(ii) The biological needs of the species are not sufficiently well
known to identify any area that meets the definition of ``critical
habitat.''
When critical habitat is not determinable, the Act allows the
Service an additional year to publish a critical habitat designation
(16 U.S.C. 1533(b)(6)(C)(ii)).
We reviewed the available information pertaining to the biological
needs of the species and habitat characteristics where the species is
located. This and other information represent the best scientific data
available and led us to conclude that the designation of critical
habitat is determinable for the rufa red knot.
Physical or Biological Features Essential to the Conservation of the
Species
In accordance with section 3(5)(A)(i) of the Act and regulations at
50 CFR 424.12(b), in determining which areas we will designate critical
habitat from within the geographical area occupied by the species at
the time of listing, we consider the physical or biological features
that are essential to the conservation of the species and that may
require special management considerations or protection. The
regulations at 50 CFR 424.02 define ``physical or biological features
essential to the conservation of the species'' as the features that
occur in specific areas and that are essential to support the life-
history needs of the species, including, but not limited to, water
characteristics, soil type, geological features, sites, prey,
vegetation, symbiotic species, or other features. A feature may be a
single habitat characteristic or a more complex combination of habitat
characteristics. Features may include habitat characteristics that
support ephemeral or dynamic habitat conditions. Features may also be
expressed in terms relating to principles of conservation biology, such
as patch size, distribution distances, and connectivity. For example,
physical features essential to the conservation of the species might
include gravel of a particular size required for spawning, alkali soil
for seed germination, protective cover for migration, or susceptibility
to flooding or fire that maintains necessary early-successional habitat
characteristics. Biological features might include prey species, forage
grasses, specific kinds or ages of trees for roosting or nesting,
symbiotic fungi, or a particular level of nonnative species consistent
with conservation needs of the listed species. The features may also be
combinations of habitat characteristics and may encompass the
relationship between characteristics or the necessary amount of a
characteristic essential to support the life history of the species.
In considering whether features are essential to the conservation
of the species, the Service may consider an appropriate quality,
quantity, and spatial and temporal arrangement of habitat
characteristics in the context of the life-history needs, condition,
and status of the species. These characteristics include, but are not
limited to, space for individual and population growth and for normal
behavior; food, water, air, light, minerals, or other nutritional or
physiological requirements; cover or shelter; sites for breeding,
reproduction,
[[Page 37415]]
or rearing (or development) of offspring; and habitats that are
protected from disturbance.
We derive the specific physical or biological features essential
for the rufa red knot from studies of the species' habitat, ecology,
and life history, which are described more fully in the final listing
rule (79 FR 73706, December 11, 2014) and associated supplemental
materials (Service 2014, entire). Additionally, these features were
most recently described in the SSA report (Service 2020a, entire), in
the context of the needs of individuals, populations, and the species.
With regard to ``space for individual and population growth and for
normal behavior; food, water, air, light, minerals, or other
nutritional or physiological requirements; and cover or shelter,''
these characteristics are captured by the summary discussion in the
following paragraphs. The characteristic of ``sites for breeding,
reproduction, or rearing (or development) of offspring'' does not apply
for this proposed critical habitat designation because the rufa red
knot does not breed in the United States. Regarding ``habitats that are
protected from disturbance,'' rufa red knots are particularly sensitive
to disturbance from human activities, which are nearly ubiquitous along
the U.S. coasts. Thus, management of habitats to ensure minimal human
activity during those seasons when birds are present is essential to
the conservation of this subspecies. Overall, rufa red knot requires
both an abundance of suitable nonbreeding habitats, as well as a
suitable distribution of those habitats across the landscape.
Habitat Features
Coastal habitats used by rufa red knots (i.e., for foraging and
roosting) are similar across both migration and wintering areas
(Harrington 2001, p. 9), and can be generally characterized as sparsely
vegetated coastal marine and estuarine habitats with large areas of
exposed intertidal substrates. Migration and wintering habitats include
high-energy ocean- or bay-front barrier island or mainland beaches, as
well as shorelines and tidal flats in more sheltered estuaries (e.g.,
bays, sounds, lagoons) (Harrington 2001, p. 9). Beaches used by rufa
red knots may be backed by dune fields, tidal waters, salt marsh,
mangroves, or human development. Unimproved tidal inlets (e.g., the
mouths of creeks or larger rivers) often provide an optimal mosaic of
preferred habitat types. Along the U.S. Atlantic and Gulf coasts,
dynamic and ephemeral features are important rufa red knot habitats,
including sand spits, islets, shoals, and sandbars, features often
associated with inlets (Harrington 2001, p. 8; Sitters 2005, entire;
Winn and Harrington in Guilfoyle et al. 2006, pp. 8-10; Harrington in
Guilfoyle et al. 2007, pp. 18-19; Harrington 2008, pp. 2, 4-5; Niles et
al. 2008, p. 30; Lott et al. 2009, pp. 18-19; North Carolina Wildlife
Resources Commission (NCWRC) 2013, entire).
In the United States, there has been considerable loss or
degradation of dynamic and ephemeral coastal features, including the
associated loss of rufa red knot habitat as a result of shoreline
stabilization and other engineering practices that support coastal
development (Nordstrom 2000, pp. 20, 98-107; Nordstrom and Mauriello
2001, entire; U.S. Climate Change Science Program (USCCSP) 2009, pp.
99-100; Defeo et al. 2009, p. 4; Kisiel 2009, p. 65; Titus et al. 2009,
p. 5; Rice 2012, p. 6; Rice 2017, entire). In some cases, however,
engineered or artificial features may be used as habitat, or may
enhance habitat (Botton et al. 1994, p. 614; Niles et al. 2008, pp. 40,
46; Schwarzer 2013, pers. comm.; Breese 2013, pers. comm.; Niles et al.
2013, entire; Firmin 2020, pers. comm.). In some localized areas, rufa
red knots will use artificial habitats that mimic natural conditions,
such as nourished beaches, dredge spoil sites, elevated road causeways,
rock structures (e.g., jetties, breakwaters), or impoundments. In other
areas, living shorelines or even traditional (``hard'') engineering
structures may enhance rufa red knot habitat, for example by
concentrating surf-cast prey items or by calming wave energies.
Notwithstanding these localized examples, rufa red knots generally
require areas where natural coastal processes (e.g., erosion,
accretion, overwashes, island migration, inlet migration) are allowed
to operate in order to create and maintain optimal habitat, which is
typically dynamic and ephemeral.
In all nonbreeding habitats, rufa red knots require sparse
vegetation and open landscapes, affording the birds good visibility of
the surrounding area in order to avoid predation (Piersma et al. 1993,
pp. 338-339, 349; Niles et al. 2008, p. 44). Rufa red knots tend to
migrate in large single-species flocks, and may also flock with other
shorebirds, particularly when roosting or staging for spring and fall
migration (Harrington 2001, p. 8). Thus, areas that provide foraging
and resting habitat capable of supporting large concentrations of birds
are especially important.
Foraging Habitat: In coastal areas, rufa red knot foraging habitats
include intertidal portions of beaches, islands, and shoals; tidal
flats; wind-exposed bay bottoms or oyster reefs; peat banks; brackish
ponds or impoundments; and ephemeral tidal pools. Foraging substrates
can include sand, mud, peat, and sand embedded with shell, gravel, or
cobble (Niles et al. 2008, pp. 30, 47; Harrington 2001, pp. 8-9;
Newstead 2014, pp. 13-14; Service 2014, pp. 63-67). Feeding birds may
be concentrated at higher tides, pushed into a smaller area by rising
waters and also attracted to higher food densities along the high water
line, where food may be concentrated in wrack material and where
horseshoe crabs (Limulus polyphemus) tend to nest. However, rufa red
knots have also been shown to spread out and forage across the full
tidal range (Service 2014, pp. 63-67; Service 2016a, pp. 76-82; Burger
et al. 2018, entire).
Roosting Habitat: In many wintering and coastal stopover areas,
quality high-tide roosting habitat (i.e., close to feeding areas,
protected from predators, with sufficient space during the highest
tides, free from excessive human disturbance) is limited (Kalasz 2008,
p. 9; Kalasz 2012, pers. comm.; Niles 2012, pers. comm.; Conseil
Scientifique R[eacute]gional du Patrimoine Naturel 2013, entire).
Typical roosting areas are relatively open and flat beaches between the
high water line and the primary dune line. In some locations, roosts
can include shoals, sand bars, areas of upper beach between/among
unstabilized dunes, overwashes, patches of mostly bare ground (e.g.,
blowouts, depressions, salt pannes) within salt marshes, dredge spoil
sites, rock structures (e.g., jetties, breakwaters), or among wrack
including atop mounds of seaweed deposited on the beach (Service 2014,
pp. 63-67). Such areas may have microtopographic relief offering
shelter from high winds, storms, and cold weather. Rufa red knots'
selection of high-tide roosting areas on the coast appears to be
strongly influenced by raptor predation (Niles et al. 2008, p. 28).
Inland Habitat: Rufa red knots use inland saline lakes as stopover
habitat in the Northern Great Plains (Skagen et al. 1999, pp. 80-81;
Newstead et al. 2013, p. 57). We have little information to indicate
whether or not rufa red knots may also use inland freshwater habitats
during migration, but certain freshwater areas (e.g., wetlands,
riverine sandbars) may warrant further study as potential stopover
habitats (Dovichin 2014, pers. comm.; Russell 2014, entire). Small
numbers of rufa red knots sometimes
[[Page 37416]]
use manmade freshwater habitats (e.g., impoundments) along inland
migration routes (Simnor 2012, pers. comm.; Russell 2014, entire;
Service 2014, pp. 68-70).
Diet: The rufa red knot is a specialized molluscivore, eating
primarily hard-shelled mollusks, though sometimes supplemented with
softer invertebrate prey such as arthropods, marine worms, and
horseshoe crab eggs (Harrington 2001, pp. 9-11; Piersma and van Gils
2011, p. 9). In most U.S. coastal habitats, rufa red knots feed
primarily on bivalves such as small clams and mussels (including mussel
spat) (Harrington 2001, pp. 10-11; Niles et al. 2008, p. 30; Service
2014, pp. 71-73). Prey size is approximately 0.16 to 0.79 inch (in) (4
to 20 millimeters (mm)) long, and up to 1.18 in (30 mm) in
circumference. Foraging activity is largely dictated by tidal
conditions, as rufa red knots rarely wade in water more than 0.8 to 1.2
in (2 to 3 centimeters (cm)) deep (Harrington 2001, p. 10). Due to bill
morphology, rufa red knots forage on only shallow-buried prey, within
the top 0.8 to 1.2 in (2 to 3 cm) of sediment (Zwarts and Blomert 1992,
p. 113; Gerasimov 2009, p. 227). Long-distance migrant shorebirds, such
as rufa red knots, must take advantage of seasonally abundant food
resources at migration stopovers to build up fat reserves for the next
nonstop, long-distance flight (Clark et al. 1993, p. 694). Although
migrating rufa red knots can be found widely distributed in small
numbers within suitable stopover habitats, birds tend to concentrate in
those areas where abundant food resources are consistently available
from year to year. The spatial distribution of rufa red knots in many
different stopover areas has been correlated with the distribution of
the primary prey species (Service 2014, p. 71).
A prominent departure from typical prey items occurs each spring
when rufa red knots feed on the eggs of horseshoe crabs, particularly
during the key migration stopover at Delaware Bay. Delaware Bay serves
as the principal spring migration stopover area for the rufa red knot
because of the abundance and availability of horseshoe crab eggs
(Harrington 2001, pp. 2, 7; Niles et al. 2008, pp. 36-39; Clark et al.
2009, p. 85; Service 2014, pp. 73-76). Outside of Delaware Bay,
horseshoe crab eggs are eaten opportunistically when available. In
several areas along the Atlantic coast, horseshoe crab eggs are a
preferred food resource and may be a locally important component of the
diet, particularly in spring (Service 2014, pp. 71-76).
Sensitivity to Disturbance
We define ``disturbance'' as any human activity that is audible or
visible to rufa red knots and that interrupts the normal behavior of
the birds. The daily and seasonal selection of non-breeding habitats by
individual rufa red knots represents an adaptive optimization of
several factors and the fitness trade-offs among them. These factors
include seasonal time pressures (particularly during migration)
(Hedenstr[ouml]m 2008, p. 287; Service 2014, pp. 249-250), food
availability (Service 2014, p. 71), predator avoidance (Niles et al.
2008, p. 28), tides (Newstead 2014, pp. 13-14; Burger et al. 2018,
entire), and weather. It is in this context that disturbance from human
activities occurs, such that interruption of normal behaviors can
result in reduced fitness of the affected birds (West et al. 2002, p.
319; Goss-Custard et al. 2006, p. 88). Typical rufa red knot behaviors
include feeding in intertidal areas, and roosting, resting, or preening
above the high water line. Rufa red knot reactions to human activity
that indicate disturbance typically include stopping or slowing
feeding, assuming an alert posture, calling, walking, running, or
flying (Koch and Paton 2014, entire). Rufa red knots are exposed to
disturbance from recreational and other human activities throughout
their non-breeding range (Niles et al. 2008, pp. 105-107; Service 2014,
pp. 266-272).
Among shorebird species, rufa red knots appear to be particularly
reactive to the presence of humans (Burger and Niles 2013, p. 657; Koch
and Paton 2014, p. 64; Hunt et al. 2018, pp. 18-19). Although
population-level impacts cannot be concluded from species' differing
behavioral responses to disturbance (Gill et al. 2001, p. 265; Stillman
et al. 2007, p. 73), behavior-based models can be used to relate the
number and magnitude of human disturbances to impacts on the fitness of
individual birds (West et al. 2002, p. 319; Goss-Custard et al. 2006,
p. 88). When the time and energy costs arising from disturbance were
included, disturbance could be more damaging to shorebirds than
permanent habitat loss (West et al. 2002, p. 319).
Excessive disturbance precludes rufa red knot use of otherwise
preferred habitats (Service 2014, pp. 267-270; Watts 2017, p. 72; Hunt
et al. 2018, p. 22). Disturbance can also impact shorebird energy
budgets (Service 2014, pp. 270-272; Hunt et al. 2018, pp. 26-29). Both
of these effects are likely to exacerbate other threats to the rufa red
knot, such as habitat loss from erosion and development, reduced food
availability, asynchronies in the annual cycle, and competition with
gulls. Disturbance that displaces birds from preferred habitats and/or
disrupts their behavioral patterns can impair the ability of rufa red
knots to gain or maintain sufficient weight, which can in turn impact
fitness. Studies have found a link between the weights of rufa red
knots leaving Delaware Bay after their spring stopover and subsequent
survival rates, and possibly also to reproductive success (Baker et al.
2004, p. 878; McGowan et al. 2011, p. 9; Duijins et al. 2017, entire).
Habitat Abundance and Distribution
Rufa red knots move among, and depend on, multiple foraging and
roosting habitat areas on local, regional, and rangewide scales. As
discussed above, habitat selection by rufa red knots represents trade-
offs among factors including seasonal time pressures, food
availability, predator avoidance, tides, weather, and human
disturbance. This complex suite of factors results in shifting patterns
of habitat use on daily, seasonal, and annual temporal scales. In
addition, the dynamic and shifting nature of the shoreline also
influences habitat selection over multiyear scales (e.g., through
natural cycles of erosion and accretion). Rufa red knots make regular
movements within (though not between) wintering regions (Niles et al.
2012, pp. 198, 200, 202; Newstead 2014, pp. 3, 6-8; Service 2014, pp.
43-44) and to use clusters of habitats as regional stopover complexes
during migration (Clark et al. 2009, pp. 87, 89; Watts 2009, entire;
Service 2014, pp. 54-55).
We define ``staging areas'' as those stopover sites with abundant,
predictable food resources where birds prepare for an energetic
challenge (usually a long flight over a barrier such as an ocean)
requiring substantial fuel stores and physiological changes without
which significant fitness costs are incurred (Warnock 2010, p. 622).
Staging areas are a subset of stopover habitats (Service 2020a, p. 31),
and they serve as vital stepping stones between wintering and breeding
areas. Shorebirds migrate along traditional routes characterized by a
chain of key staging areas that are essential to successful migration;
staging areas serve as vital stepping stones between wintering and
breeding areas (Myers 1983, p. 23; International Wader Study Group
2003, p. 10; Service 2014, p. 49). However, even a robust network of
staging areas is not sufficient to support recovery of this subspecies.
Rufa red knots also require an ample supply of other coastal and inland
stopover
[[Page 37417]]
habitats distributed across the range, allowing birds to shift among
habitat patches across multiple temporal and geographic scales in
response to a number of stochastic conditions. Because rufa red knots
require this flexibility, even some highly suitable and important
nonbreeding habitats may not be used every year, and, within a given
season, usage of particular habitat patches is likely to fluctuate
across days and months (Service 2014, pp. 53-60; Smith et al. 2017a, p.
3; Service 2020a, p. 32). One particular non-breeding habitat is that
used by juvenile rufa red knots. Rufa red knots do not reach adulthood
until 2 years of age, at which point they make their first full
northern migration to their nesting grounds. Where they spend their
first 2 years and their movement patterns are largely unknown. However,
Florida and the Caribbean are likely important for this stage of their
life (Kalasz 2021, pers. comm.).
Sea Level Rise
Due to background rates of sea level rise and the naturally dynamic
nature of coastal habitats, we concluded at the time of listing that
rufa red knots are adapted to moderate (although sometimes abrupt)
rates of habitat change in their wintering and migration areas.
However, we also concluded, based on overwhelming evidence, that rates
of sea level rise have increased beyond those that have occurred over
recent millennia and continue to accelerate (Service 2014, pp. 142-143;
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) 2013, pp. 11, 25).
These conclusions are further supported by newer information evaluated
in the SSA report (Service 2020a, pp. 32-36). Over the period 1902 to
2015, global mean sea level rose by 0.5 feet (ft) (0.16 meters (m))
(likely range of 0.4 to 0.7 ft (0.12 to 0.21 m)) (IPCC 2019, p. 42).
The rate of sea level rise since the mid-19th century has been larger
than the mean rate during the previous two millennia (high confidence)
(IPCC 2014a, p. 4). Extreme wave heights, which contribute to extreme
sea level events and coastal erosion, have increased in the North
Atlantic by around 0.3 in (0.8 cm) per year over the period 1985 to
2018 (medium confidence) (IPCC 2019, p. 42).
The rufa red knot is vulnerable to inundation of tidal flats and
erosion of sandy beaches, which are typically caused or accelerated by
climate-driven sea level rise (Service 2014, pp. 126-143; Vousdoukas et
al. 2019, entire). In most of the rufa red knot's nonbreeding range,
shorelines are expected to undergo dramatic reconfigurations over the
next century as a result of accelerating sea level rise (USCCSP 2009,
pp. 13, 44, 50). Extensive areas of marsh are likely to become
inundated, which may reduce foraging and roosting habitats. Marshes may
be able to establish farther inland, but the rate of new marsh
formation (e.g., intertidal sediment accumulation, development of
hydric soils, colonization of marsh vegetation) may be slower than the
rate of deterioration of existing marsh, particularly under the high
sea level rise scenarios (Nikitina et al. 2013, p. 11; Glick et al.
2008, p. 6). The primary rufa red knot foraging habitats, intertidal
flats, and sandy beaches will likely be locally or regionally inundated
or eroded, but replacement habitats are likely to re-form along the
shoreline in its new position (Scavia et al. 2002, p. 152; USCCSP 2009,
p. 186). However, if shorelines experience a decades-long period of
high instability and landward migration (i.e., under higher rates of
sea level rise), the formation rate of new beach habitats may be slower
than the rate of loss of existing habitats (Iwamura et al. 2013, p. 6).
Additionally, low-lying and narrow islands, such as those along the
U.S. Gulf and Atlantic coasts, may disintegrate rather than migrate
(Titus 1990, p. 67; IPCC 2014b, p. 15), representing a net loss of rufa
red knot habitat. Galbraith et al. (2002, p. 178) examined several
scenarios of future sea level rise and projected major losses of
intertidal habitat in Delaware Bay.
Superimposed on these changes are widespread human attempts to
stabilize the shoreline, which exacerbate losses of intertidal habitats
by preventing their landward migration, and human infrastructure that
blocks the landward migration of coastal habitats (Service 2014, pp.
143-159). The cumulative loss of habitat across the nonbreeding range
could affect the ability of rufa red knots to complete their annual
cycles, possibly affecting fitness and survival, and is thereby likely
to negatively influence the long-term survival of the rufa red knot
(Galbraith et al. 2014, p. 7 and Supplement 1).
Summary of Physical or Biological Features
We derive the specific physical or biological features essential to
the conservation of rufa red knot from studies of the species' habitat,
ecology, and life history as described below. Additional information
can be found in the SSA report (Service 2020a, entire; available on
<a href="http://www.regulations.gov">http://www.regulations.gov</a> under Docket No. FWS-R5-ES-2021-0032). We
have determined that rufa red knots need areas where natural coastal
processes will be able to continue well into the future to allow the
formation of ephemeral features and the landward migration of
coastlines in response to sea level rise. Therefore, based on the
information above, we identify areas that support natural coastal
processes, as well as localized areas where artificially created,
maintained, or enhanced habitat supports important concentrations of
red knots, as physical or biological features for the rufa red knot.
These features are as follows:
(1) Beaches and tidal flats used for foraging. This feature
includes high-energy ocean- or bay-front barrier island or mainland
beaches, as well as shorelines and tidal flats in more sheltered
estuaries (e.g., bays, sounds, lagoons). Foraging substrates can
include sand, mud, peat, and sand embedded with shell, gravel, or
cobble. Foraging areas are between mean lower low water and mean higher
high water. Suitable foraging habitats provide abundant quantities of
accessible and appropriately sized prey items (e.g., mussels and mussel
spat, clams, other mollusks, horseshoe crab eggs, crustaceans,
polychaete worms), timed to occur in high densities during those
seasons when rufa red knots are present. ``Superabundant'' prey
densities, typically bivalves or horseshoe crab eggs, are needed in
migration staging areas to support rapid weight gain following long-
distance flights. Large areas capable of supporting concentrations of
shorebirds are especially important.
(2) Upper beach areas used for roosting, preening, resting, or
sheltering. This feature includes unvegetated or sparsely vegetated
sand between the high water line and the primary dune line. Generally
these sites are open, with a large viewscape for predator avoidance.
Many sites have micro-topographic relief offering refuge from high
winds. Large areas capable of supporting concentrations of shorebirds--
close to foraging areas, with limited predation pressure and protected
from human disturbance--are especially important.
(3) Ephemeral and/or dynamic coastal features used for foraging or
roosting. This includes dynamic and ephemeral features such as sand
spits, islets, shoals, and sandbars, features often associated with
inlets. Other ephemeral features used by rufa red knots include tidal
pools; wind-exposed bay bottoms or oyster reefs; and unvegetated
overwash areas (e.g., among or behind dunes, as formed by storms or
extreme wave action).
(4) Ocean vegetation deposits or surf-cast wrack used for foraging
and roosting. This feature includes Sargassum (a species of macroalgae
in
[[Page 37418]]
oceans that inhabits shallow water and coral reefs), seagrass, or
seaweed deposits with mussel spat attached, or surf-cast wrack that
accumulates along beaches and supports or captures food items, such as
horseshoe crab eggs. In some areas, rufa red knots may also roost atop
wrack mounds.
(5) Intertidal peat banks used for foraging and roosting. In some
areas, exposed intertidal peat banks (e.g., along bay front beaches and
fronting tidal marshes) provide important foraging and roosting
habitat.
(6) Features landward of the beach that support foraging or
roosting. In some areas, rufa red knots use sparsely vegetated habitats
landward of the beach berm, such as unstabilized dunes, mangrove edges,
brackish ponds, and patches of mostly bare ground (e.g., blowouts,
depressions, pannes) within salt marshes.
(7) Artificial habitat mimicking natural conditions or maintaining
the physical or biological features 1 to 6 (above). Coastal engineering
that interferes with natural coastal processes is generally considered
a threat to the rufa red knot. However, in some cases, artificial
habitats mimic the natural conditions described in the other physical
or biological features described above. Such artificial habitats can
include nourished beaches, dredged spoil deposition sites, elevated
road causeways, jetties, or impoundments. Additionally, some
anthropogenic structures may promote or maintain the natural physical
or biological features. For example, in parts of Delaware Bay, rufa red
knot habitat features are enhanced by living shorelines (e.g., shell
bag reefs), and in one case by a rock breakwater.
Special Management Considerations or Protection
When designating critical habitat, we assess whether the specific
areas within the geographical area occupied by the species at the time
of listing contain features that are essential to the conservation of
the species and which may require special management considerations or
protection. The features essential to the conservation of the rufa red
knot may require special management considerations or protection to
reduce the threats to the species; these threats are described in the
final listing rule (79 FR 73706, December 11, 2014; pp. 73707-73708),
the Service's supplement to the proposed and final listing rule
(Service 2014, pp. 124-314), and an updated summary in the recent SSA
report (Service 2020a, pp. 15-18). For rufa red knot habitat, we
grouped the primary threats that may require special management
considerations or protection into seven threat categories:
(1) Disturbance of foraging and roosting red knots by humans, pets
and domestic animals (e.g., dogs (Canis lupus familiaris), cats (Felis
catus), horses (Equus ferus caballus)), vehicles (e.g., off-road
vehicles (ORVs), golf carts, segways, all-terrain vehicles,
automobiles, heavy equipment, beach rakes), ships/dredges, powered and
unpowered (e.g., kayaks) boats, personal watercraft (e.g., jet skis),
bicycles, surf kites, kite boards, dune surfers, surf fishing, paddle
boards, para-sails, low-flying aircraft, drones, and research
activities. Special management considerations or protection that could
reduce or ameliorate this threat may include (but not be limited to):
Managing access to rufa red knot foraging or roosting habitat during
different seasonal windows; reducing disturbance (e.g., managing
sources of disturbance that could include humans, pets, vehicles,
construction equipment, watercraft, and aircraft), such as through
restrictions on timing, locations, and types of activities; providing
designated beach access points that reduce conflict with rufa red
knots; enforcing or creating dog restrictions during key periods; or
minimizing boat or aircraft activity during key periods.
(2) Predation, especially by peregrine falcons (Falco peregrinus),
hawks (Buteo spp. or Accipter spp.), red fox (Vulpes vulpes), coyotes
(Canis latrans), raccoons (Procyon lotor), gulls (Larus spp.), feral
cats, and owls (Bubo spp. or Tyto spp.). Special management
considerations or protection that could reduce or ameliorate this
threat may include (but not be limited to): Conducting predator
control, controlling trash that may attract predators, or relocating
any unnatural perches that attract avian predators.
(3) Competition with gulls, especially laughing gulls (Larus
atricilla). Special management considerations or protection that could
reduce or ameliorate this threat may include (but not be limited to):
Controlling trash and removing any unnatural perches, both of which
attract gulls; and prohibiting the feeding of gulls.
(4) Modification or loss of habitat, or both, due to residential
and commercial development, uncontrolled recreational activities, beach
cleaning, hard and soft beach stabilization efforts (e.g., beach
nourishment, sediment backpassing, sand scraping, sand fencing, dredged
material disposal, inlet channelization or relocation, construction of
jetties, revetments, and other armoring structures), invasive species,
sand mining and dredging, erosion, and sea level rise. Special
management considerations or protection that could reduce or ameliorate
this threat may include (but not be limited to): Implementing
conservation measures (e.g., beach profiles designed to mimic natural
habitat, ensuring a close grain size match to the native beach,
limiting the frequency of activities to allow recovery of the prey
base, seasonal timing to allow habitat recovery before red knots
return) that help reduce modification or loss of habitat; managing
sediment to abate habitat impacts from coastal engineering projects and
sea level rise, and to maintain habitat features such as wide beaches,
tidal flats, overwash areas, and high prey densities; coordinating with
landowners and local managers to improve beach management practices,
such as beach cleaning and sand fencing; implementing best management
practices when conducting habitat restoration activities (e.g.,
creating living shorelines, raising marsh elevations, conducting
facilitated shoreline migration, maintaining and managing water control
structures to provide rufa red knot habitat); conducting public
outreach and education (especially on private and possibly State
lands); and addressing the impacts of potential oil spills or gas
drilling activities through facility placement, spill response plans,
and training.
(5) Threats to the rufa red knot's food supply that can be managed
or mitigated at the local or regional level (e.g., unsustainable levels
of marine crab harvest, excessive driving, and certain coastal
engineering practices). Special management considerations or protection
that could reduce or ameliorate this threat may include (but not be
limited to): Monitoring and managing beach invertebrates; limiting
vehicle use; implementing conservation measures for coastal engineering
projects (e.g., sediment grain size; frequency, timing, and scope of
sediment placement); and managing horseshoe crab fisheries, such as for
bait and biomedical uses.
(6) Insufficient water quality or pollution control that may
trigger or worsen harmful algal blooms. Special management
considerations or protection that could reduce or ameliorate this
threat may include (but not be limited to): Working with local
pollution authorities to limit those point discharges or non-point
sources that are substantially impairing water quality or contributing
to the frequency or severity of red tides or other harmful blooms.
[[Page 37419]]
(7) Human-caused disasters and response to natural and human-caused
disasters such as oil spills, oil spill response including beach
cleaning and berm construction, and response to natural disasters
(e.g., hurricanes). Special management considerations or protection
that could reduce or ameliorate this threat may include (but not be
limited to): Considering oil facility placement alternatives, preparing
spill response plans, conducting oil spill training, conducting debris
cleanup after a natural disaster while concurrently minimizing
disturbance to rufa red knots, and establishing protocols and
agreements to allow storm-enhanced habitats to persist.
Criteria Used To Identify Critical Habitat
As required by section 4(b)(2) of the Act, we use the best
scientific data available to designate critical habitat. In accordance
with the Act and our implementing regulations at 50 CFR 424.12(b), we
review available information pertaining to the habitat requirements of
the species and identify specific areas within the geographical area
occupied by the species at the time of listing and any specific areas
outside the geographical area occupied by the species to be considered
for designation as critical habitat. We are not currently proposing to
designate any areas outside the geographical area occupied by the
species because we have not identified any unoccupied areas that meet
the definition of critical habitat. Within areas of the species' range
under U.S. jurisdiction, we determined that occupied areas are
sufficient for the conservation of the species, following our
evaluation of all suitable habitat across the species range that has
documented use by rufa red knots.
The recovery strategy detailed in the species' draft Recovery Plan
(Service 2021, entire) is to prevent loss of the rufa red knot's
adaptive capacity by maintaining representation within and among four
Recovery Units: (1) Southern (Atlantic coasts of Argentina and Chile),
(2) North Coast of South America, (3) Western Gulf of Mexico/Central
America, and (4) Southeast United States/Caribbean, and improving their
resiliency and redundancy. Recovery efforts in the United States and in
other portions of the subspecies' range will focus on protecting,
restoring, maintaining, and managing important nonbreeding habitats for
adults and juveniles. Recovery actions are designed to directly abate
threats to rufa red knots in their wintering and migration ranges
(which includes those areas identified as proposed critical habitat in
this rule), and will also increase resiliency of populations to
withstand threats that stem from climate change on their Arctic
breeding grounds and elsewhere. These actions include monitoring and
safeguarding ample food supplies, preventing impacts from development
and shoreline stabilization, managing human disturbance, and restoring
key habitats. They may also include land acquisition, facilitated
migration of certain beaches or tidal flats, and restoring natural
coastal processes that create and maintain rufa red knot habitat.
Consistent with the Act and implementing policies, as well as recovery
needs throughout the species' annual cycles, the draft Recovery Plan
includes necessary recovery actions across the range of the rufa red
knot. Although many Service-led recovery actions will focus on the U.S.
portions of the range, the Service will also coordinate with and
support the recovery efforts of foreign governments and other partners
in portions of the range outside the United States.
Sources of data for this proposed critical habitat designation
include 2020 eBird data (eBird 2020, website), and multiple local and
regional sources as available (e.g., reports, databases, and
geolocator/resighting data maintained by State Fish and Wildlife
Departments, universities, local governments, and nonprofit
organizations across the range of the species (see SSA report; Service
2020a, entire)). For some areas where multiple sources of information
were available, we used either one or both sources, ensuring that
records used were not duplicated and included the best available
information. Our analysis included reviewing the best available
information that pertains to the habitat requirements of this species,
as presented in the ``Species Biology'' and ``Subspecies Needs''
sections of the SSA report (Service 2020a, pp. 4-14); sources of this
information include studies conducted at occupied sites and published
in peer-reviewed articles and agency reports, and data collected during
monitoring efforts, such as aerial surveys and tracking or resighting
data.
A detailed step-down methodology was developed for identifying
proposed critical habitat areas (see the supplemental ``Methodology''
document available on the internet at <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">http://www.regulations.gov</a> under
Docket No. FWS-R5-ES-2021-0032). In summary, for areas within the
geographic area occupied by the species at the time of listing, we
delineated critical habitat unit boundaries based on our evaluation and
consideration of the following:
(1) Migration patterns/locations across the range of the subspecies
within the United States, including migratory stopovers away from the
coasts. This includes the migration premise that 100 percent of rufa
red knots winter within or south of the United States and 100 percent
of the subspecies breed north of the United States. Therefore, 100
percent of rufa red knots migrate through the United States. However,
rufa red knots from the four different wintering regions (as described
in Service 2020a, p. 9) are differentially reliant on the various
regions of the U.S. coast for migration stopovers (Service 2020a, pp.
6-7).
(2) Landforms (e.g., islands, inlet complexes) and breaks in
suitable habitats (e.g., sections of high-density development, open
water), which are key factors in delineating units.
(3) Gaps between rufa red knot records (another key factor in
delineating units).
(4) Temporal metrics to delineate seasonal occurrence windows
(i.e., spring migration, fall migration, wintering) and to minimize the
potential for double-counting birds.
(5) Numerical metrics showing consistent habitat use by substantial
numbers of rufa red knots, as an indicator that the physical and
biological features of each area are essential to the conservation of
the subspecies. Regarding bird numbers, we adapted the approach of the
Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network, which designates as
``Sites of Regional Importance'' those areas that support at least one
percent of a biogeographic population. We used one percent as a key
indicator of a habitat's importance, and we applied the one percent
metric to derived estimates of regional population sizes. Best
available data from several sources were considered and used to
estimate the wintering and/or migration population sizes for each of
several U.S. regions. (The various regions were delineated based on
resighting and tracking data.) Consistency of use was indicated for
those areas that supported the minimum number of rufa red knots (i.e.,
at least one percent of the estimated population for that region in
that season) for at least 3 of the past 10 years. In some areas, 10-
year data sets were unavailable; in those cases, we used 1 year in 3 as
the minimum.
(6) Adjustments to account for differences between observational
data (e.g., ground and aerial surveys, eBird) versus population
estimates derived from modeling.
(7) Food availability, including the rufa red knot's need to take
advantage
[[Page 37420]]
of seasonally abundant food resources. This relates to the well-
documented correlations (e.g., Botton et al. 1994, p. 605; Karpanty et
al. 2006, p. 1,706; Niles et al. 2008, pp. 17, 19; Smith et al. 2008,
p. 15; Cohen et al. 2010a, pp. 659-661; Cohen et al. 2010b, p. 355;
Fraser et al. 2010, p. 97; GDNR 2013; SCDNR 2013, p. 37; Thibault and
Levisen 2013, p. 6) between the spatial distribution of rufa red knots
and the distribution of their primary prey species.
(8) The subspecies' need for flexibility in the selection of
wintering and migration habitats to respond to daily, seasonal, and
annual changes in conditions such as weather, tides, coastal processes,
predation pressure, competition, and disturbance from human activities
(Service 2014, pp. 71, 195, 259; Smith et al. 2017a, p. 3).
(9) Once areas were identified to meet the criteria summarized
above, the best available data was further evaluated to ensure that the
area(s) were occupied at the time of listing. For example, if all data
used to meet the numerical metrics were recorded after January 12, 2015
(i.e., the effective date of the rufa red knot final listing rule),
then a separate check was conducted to verify that the area was known
to be occupied by at least some rufa red knots at the time of listing.
Once this methodology was applied and evaluated across the regions
of the United States where concentrations of rufa red knots may occur,
units and subunits were then drawn based on the most recent available
aerial or satellite imagery. In deciding whether to draw a single large
unit or multiple units/subunits, we aimed to facilitate consistent
management of each unit and subunit through section 7 consultation by
distinguishing concentration areas of the same ownership or
jurisdiction. Additionally, we evaluated older imagery dating back as
far as 2010 to estimate the range of landform movement (e.g., landward
island migration, landward shoreline migration, cyclic patterns of
erosion/accretion, movement of shoals). Due to the dynamic nature of
the coastline, units and subunits inevitably include some areas that do
not currently, or may not in the future, contain the physical or
biological features such as densely vegetated marsh or open water. In
some instances, these areas are included to allow the dynamic physical
or biological features to move across the landscape, noting that where
they occur within a unit, they will be excluded by the unit
descriptions.
We propose to designate as critical habitat lands that we have
determined were occupied at the time of listing (i.e., specifically
referring to January 12, 2015, which is the effective date for the
December 11, 2014, final listing rule (79 FR 73706)), that contain one
or more of the physical or biological features that are essential to
support life-history processes of the species, and that may require
special management considerations or protection.
We propose to designate as critical habitat 120 units (18 of which
are further subdivided into 46 subunits) based on one or more of the
physical or biological features being present to support the rufa red
knot's life-history processes. Some units contain all of the identified
physical or biological features and support multiple life-history
processes, while other units contain only some of the physical or
biological features necessary to support the rufa red knot's particular
use of that habitat.
For the rufa red knot, most of the units contain highly dynamic
barrier beaches and intertidal seashore areas that are covered at high
tide and uncovered at low tide. This area has the potential to vary
year-to-year. In other words, the precise location of the physical or
biological features may shift daily as a result of tides, but also may
shift over time because of the intrinsically dynamic nature of
shorelines, and due to sea level rise. In general, the physical or
biological features we describe are the intertidal areas and sandy
beaches up to the vegetated areas that do not contain the physical or
biological features, noting that availability of different habitats
based on the tide cycle may also cause rufa red knots to vary foraging
or roosting locations throughout a day and/or forage at night.
The proposed critical habitat designation is defined by the map or
maps, as modified by any accompanying regulatory text, presented at the
end of this document. We include more detailed information on the
boundaries of the proposed critical habitat designation in the
discussion of individual units, below. We will make the coordinates or
plot points or both on which each map is based available to the public
on <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">http://www.regulations.gov</a> under Docket No. FWS-R5-ES-2021-0032.
When determining proposed critical habitat boundaries, we made every
effort to avoid including developed areas such as lands covered by
pavement, buildings, and other structures (e.g., docks, maintained
rights-of-way, work yards, and stormwater facilities) because such
lands lack physical or biological features necessary for the rufa red
knot. The scale of the maps we prepared under the parameters for
publication within the Code of Federal Regulations may not reflect the
exclusion of such developed lands. Any such lands inadvertently left
inside critical habitat boundaries shown on the maps of this proposed
rule have been excluded by text in the proposed rule and are not
proposed for designation as critical habitat. Therefore, if the
critical habitat is finalized as proposed, a Federal action involving
these lands would not trigger section 7 consultation under the Act with
respect to critical habitat and the requirement of no adverse
modification unless the specific action would affect the physical or
biological features in the adjacent critical habitat.
Proposed Critical Habitat Designation
We are proposing 120 units (18 of which are further subdivided into
46 subunits) as critical habitat for rufa red knot, all of which were
occupied at the time of listing, and totaling approximately 649,066 ac
(262,667 ha). Table 1, below, shows the proposed unit or subunit names,
land ownership, and approximate acreage. The land ownership values in
many (but not all) proposed critical habitat units also include a
category called ``uncategorized lands.'' For the purposes of this
analysis and proposed critical habitat designation, this category
refers to open water. Although open water is not rufa red knot habitat
per se, it is an integral part of the habitat mosaic that these birds
require. Rufa red knots use the edges of certain coastal ponds, marsh
blow-outs, salt pannes, and sand or mud flats that may be classified by
some States as open water if they are submerged during high tides.
Additionally, open waters at inlets are regularly reshaped by natural
coastal processes that create and maintain dynamic and ephemeral rufa
red knot habitat features, such as shoals and spits.
The areas we propose as critical habitat for the rufa red knot are
presented below and organized by State, north to south. Brief
descriptions of all units and subunits are presented, including the
reasons why they meet the definition of critical habitat for the rufa
red knot. All units contain one or more of the physical and biological
features essential to the conservation of the species and that may
require special management considerations or protection. Also, many of
the proposed units overlap in part or whole with existing critical
habitat designated for other federally threatened species (i.e., the
piping plover (Charadrius melodus), the loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta
caretta), the Gulf sturgeon (Acipenser oxyrinchus desotoi), and the
West
[[Page 37421]]
Indian manatee (Trichechus manatus)), and one federally endangered
species (i.e., the aboriginal prickly-apple (Harrisia aboriginum)), as
specified below (Table 2).
Additional considerations include:
(1) Most of the units contain highly dynamic barrier beaches and
intertidal seashore areas that are covered at high tide and uncovered
at low tide. This area has the potential to vary year-to-year. In other
words, the precise location of the physical or biological features may
shift daily as a result of tides, but also may shift over time somewhat
because of the intrinsically dynamic nature of shorelines and due to
sea level rise. In general, the physical or biological features we
describe are the intertidal areas and sandy beaches up to the vegetated
or developed areas that do not contain the physical or biological
features.
(2) The availability of different habitats based on the tide cycle
may also cause rufa red knots to vary foraging or roosting locations
throughout a day and/or forage at night.
Table 1--Proposed Critical Habitat Land Ownership and Unit Size for the Rufa Red Knot
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Approximate Approximate
Critical habitat unit or subunit name (state) Land ownership by type acres hectares
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Massachusetts
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
MA-1 Pleasant Bay............................. Federal......................... 126 51
State........................... 0 0
Private/Other................... 1,596 646
Uncategorized................... 2,634 1,066
-------------------------------
Total........................ 4,357 1,763
MA-2 Monomoy and South Beach Islands.......... Federal......................... 4,047 1,638
State........................... 0 0
Private/Other................... 1,045 423
Uncategorized................... 0 0
-------------------------------
Total........................ 5,093 2,061
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
New York
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NY-1 Moriches Inlet........................... Federal......................... 78 32
State........................... 63 25
Private/Other................... 163 66
Uncategorized................... 697 282
-------------------------------
Total........................ 1,001 405
NY-2 Jones Inlet.............................. Federal......................... 0 0
State........................... 710 287
Private/Other................... 1,111 450
Uncategorized................... 0 0
-------------------------------
Total........................ 1,821 737
NY-3 Jamaica Bay.............................. Federal......................... 5,458 2,209
State........................... 0 0
Private/Other................... 0 0
Uncategorized................... 0 0
-------------------------------
Total........................ 5,458 2,209
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
New Jersey
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NJ-1 Brigantine and Little Egg Inlets......... Federal......................... 1,560 632
State........................... 3,187 1,291
Private/Other................... 10 4
Uncategorized................... 4,961 2,006
-------------------------------
Total........................ 9,719 3,933
NJ-2 Seven Mile Beach......................... Federal......................... 0 0
State........................... 0 0
Private/Other................... 536 217
Uncategorized................... 0 0
-------------------------------
Total........................ 536 217
NJ-3 Hereford Inlet........................... Federal......................... 0 0
State........................... 175 71
Private/Other................... 735 297
Uncategorized................... 721 292
-------------------------------
Total........................ 1,631 660
NJ-4 Two Mile Beach........................... Federal......................... 128 52
State........................... 0 0
Private/Other................... 0 0
[[Page 37422]]
Uncategorized................... 0 0
-------------------------------
Total........................ 128 52
NJ-5 Cape May Bayshore........................ Federal......................... 133 54
State........................... 44 18
Private/Other................... 167 67
Uncategorized................... 858 347
-------------------------------
Total........................ 1,202 487
NJ-6 Dennis Creek............................. Federal......................... 0 0
State........................... 279 113
Private/Other................... 0 0
Uncategorized................... 0 0
-------------------------------
Total........................ 279 113
NJ-7 Heislerville............................. Federal......................... 0 0
State........................... 524 211
Private/Other................... 459 186
Uncategorized................... 127 52
-------------------------------
Total........................ 1,110 449
NJ-8 Egg Island............................... Federal......................... 0 0
State........................... 1,908 773
Private/Other................... 32 13
Uncategorized................... 14 5
-------------------------------
Total........................ 1,955 791
NJ-9 Newport Neck............................. Federal......................... 0 0
State........................... 202 82
Private/Other................... 176 71
Uncategorized................... 93 38
-------------------------------
Total........................ 472 191
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Delaware
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DE-1A St. Jones North......................... Federal......................... 0 0
State........................... 37 15
Private/Other................... 3 1
Uncategorized................... 3 1
-------------------------------
Total........................ 43 18
DE-1B St. Jones South......................... Federal......................... 0 0
State........................... 1 0.5
Private/Other................... 2 0.6
Uncategorized................... 0 0
-------------------------------
Total........................ 3 1
DE-2A North Brokonbridge Gut.................. Federal......................... 0 0
State........................... 2 1
Private/Other................... 91 37
Uncategorized................... 0 0
-------------------------------
Total........................ 93 37
DE-2B South Brokonbridge Gut.................. Federal......................... 0 0
State........................... 0 0
Private/Other................... 70 29
Uncategorized................... 0 0
-------------------------------
Total........................ 70 29
DE-3A Main Harbor............................. Federal......................... 0 0
State........................... 32 13
Private/Other................... 0 0
Uncategorized................... 29 12
-------------------------------
Total........................ 61 25
DE-3B Rawley Island Roost..................... Federal......................... 0 0
State........................... 1,139 461
Private/Other................... 153 62
Uncategorized................... 6 2
-------------------------------
Total........................ 1,298 525
[[Page 37423]]
DE-3C Slaughter Beach......................... Federal......................... 1 0.25
State........................... 59 24
Private/Other................... 2 1
Uncategorized................... 528 213
-------------------------------
Total........................ 590 239
DE-4 Prime Hook............................... Federal......................... 480 195
State........................... 0 0
Private/Other................... 6 2
Uncategorized................... 63 25
-------------------------------
Total........................ 549 222
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Virginia
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
VA-1 Assateague Island........................ Federal......................... 2,817 1,140
State........................... 0 0
Private/Other................... 0 0
Uncategorized................... 0 0
-------------------------------
Total........................ 2,817 1,140
VA-2A Wallops Island North.................... Federal......................... 540 218
State........................... 0 0
Private/Other................... 0 0
Uncategorized................... 0 0
-------------------------------
Total........................ 540 218
VA-2B Wallops Island South.................... Federal......................... 31 13
State........................... 0 0
Private/Other................... 0 0
Uncategorized................... 0 0
-------------------------------
Total........................ 31 13
VA-3 Assawoman Island......................... Federal......................... 633 256
State........................... 0 0
Private/Other................... 0 0
Uncategorized................... 0 0
-------------------------------
Total........................ 633 256
VA-4 Metompkin Island......................... Federal......................... 64 26
State........................... 56 22
Private/Other................... 1,239 502
Uncategorized................... 110 44
-------------------------------
Total........................ 1,468 594
VA-5 Cedar Island............................. Federal......................... 203 82
State........................... 77 31
Private/Other................... 920 372
Uncategorized................... 1,074 434
-------------------------------
Total........................ 2,274 920
VA-6 Parramore Island......................... Federal......................... 0 0
State........................... 0 0
Private/Other................... 5,631 2,280
Uncategorized................... 1,171 473
-------------------------------
Total........................ 6,802 2,753
VA-7 Chimney Pole Marsh....................... Federal......................... 0 0
State........................... 1,224 496
Private/Other................... 285 116
Uncategorized................... 495 200
-------------------------------
Total........................ 2,004 811
VA-8 Hog Island............................... Federal......................... 0 0
State........................... 16 7
Private/Other................... 2,966 1,201
Uncategorized................... 253 101
-------------------------------
Total........................ 3,235 1,309
VA-9 Cobb Island.............................. Federal......................... 0 0
State........................... 16 7
Private/Other................... 1,778 720
[[Page 37424]]
Uncategorized................... 547 221
-------------------------------
Total........................ 2,342 948
VA-10 Little Cobb Island...................... Federal......................... 0 0
State........................... 0 0
Private/Other................... 82 33
Uncategorized................... 0 0
-------------------------------
Total........................ 82 33
VA-11 Wreck Island............................ Federal......................... 0 0
State........................... 1,270 514
Private/Other................... 0 0
Uncategorized................... 0 0
-------------------------------
Total........................ 1,270 514
VA-12 Myrtle Island........................... Federal......................... 0 0
State........................... 0 0
Private/Other................... 1,028 417
Uncategorized................... 388 156
-------------------------------
Total........................ 1,416 573
VA-13 Smith Island............................ Federal......................... 0 0
State........................... 0 0
Private/Other................... 2,529 1,024
Uncategorized................... 0 0
-------------------------------
Total........................ 2,529 1,024
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
North Carolina
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NC-1A Hatteras Island and Shoals.............. Federal......................... 4,940 1,999
State........................... 0 0
Private/Other................... 0 0
Uncategorized................... 814 329
-------------------------------
Total........................ 5,754 2,329
NC-1B Ocracoke Island......................... Federal......................... 1,427 577
State........................... 3,612 1,462
Private/Other................... 0 0
Uncategorized................... 575 233
-------------------------------
Total........................ 5,613 2,271
NC-2A North Core Banks........................ Federal......................... 6,534 2,644
State........................... 0 0
Private/Other................... 0 0
Uncategorized................... 1,654 669
-------------------------------
Total........................ 8,187 3,313
NC-2B South Core Banks........................ Federal......................... 3,094 1,252
State........................... 0 0
Private/Other................... 0 0
Uncategorized................... 0 0
-------------------------------
Total........................ 3,094 1,252
NC-3 Shackleford Island....................... Federal......................... 4,972 2,012
State........................... 0 0
Private/Other................... 0 0
Uncategorized................... 0 0
-------------------------------
Total........................ 4,972 2,012
NC-4 Emerald Isle-Atlantic Beach.............. Federal......................... 0 0
State........................... 1,908 772
Private/Other................... 122 50
Uncategorized................... 0 0
-------------------------------
Total........................ 2,030 822
NC-5 New Topsail Inlet-Topsail Beach.......... Federal......................... 0 0
State........................... 0 0
Private/Other................... 1,612 652
Uncategorized................... 0 0
-------------------------------
Total........................ 1,612 652
[[Page 37425]]
NC-6 Cape Fear-Fort Fisher.................... Federal......................... 0 0
State........................... 1,713 693
Private/Other................... 274 111
Uncategorized................... 0.00 0
-------------------------------
Total........................ 1,986 804
NC-7 Ocean Isle Beach......................... Federal......................... 0 0
State........................... 182 73
Private/Other................... 116 47
Uncategorized................... 0 0
-------------------------------
Total........................ 298 120
NC-8 Sunset Beach-Bird Island................. Federal......................... 0 0
State........................... 345 139
Private/Other................... 39 16
Uncategorized................... 0 0
-------------------------------
Total........................ 384 155
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
South Carolina
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SC-1 Garden City Beach........................ Federal......................... 0 0
State........................... 267 108
Private/Other................... 349 141
Uncategorized................... 0 0
-------------------------------
Total........................ 616 249
SC-2 Huntington Beach State Park/Litchfield Federal......................... 0 0
Beach.
State........................... 80 32
Private/Other................... 1,554 629
Uncategorized................... 0 0
-------------------------------
Total........................ 1,634 661
SC-3 Sand and South Island Beaches............ Federal......................... 0 0
State........................... 7,843 3,174
Private/Other................... 129 52
Uncategorized................... 283 115
-------------------------------
Total........................ 8,256 3,341
SC-4 Murphy Island Beach...................... Federal......................... 0 0
State........................... 8,312 3,364
Private/Other................... 0 0
Uncategorized................... 0 0
-------------------------------
Total........................ 8,312 3,364
SC-5 North Cape Island Beach.................. Federal......................... 775 313
State........................... 495 200
Private/Other................... 0 0
Uncategorized................... 0 0
-------------------------------
Total........................ 1,270 514
SC-6 South Cape and Lighthouse Island Beaches. Federal......................... 1,552 628
State........................... 485 196
Private/Other................... 0 0
Uncategorized................... 0 0
-------------------------------
Total........................ 2,037 824
SC-7 Raccoon Key Complex and White Banks Federal......................... 5,324 2,154
Beaches.
State........................... 0 0
Private/Other................... 0 0
Uncategorized................... 0 0
-------------------------------
Total........................ 5,324 2,154
SC-8 Marsh Island............................. Federal......................... 415 168
State........................... 0 0
Private/Other................... 0 0
Uncategorized................... 0 0
-------------------------------
Total........................ 415 168
SC-9 Bulls Island Beach....................... Federal......................... 5,200 2,104
State........................... 941 381
Private/Other................... 0 0
[[Page 37426]]
Uncategorized................... 0 0
-------------------------------
Total........................ 6,141 2,485
SC-10 Capers Island Beach..................... Federal......................... 0 0
State........................... 2,534 1,026
Private/Other................... 0 0
Uncategorized................... 0 0
-------------------------------
Total........................ 2,534 1,026
SC-11 Dewees Island Beach..................... Federal......................... 0 0
State........................... 265 107
Private/Other................... 1,547 626
Uncategorized................... 0 0
-------------------------------
Total........................ 1,812 733
SC-12 Isle of Palms Beach..................... Federal......................... 0 0
State........................... 754 305
Private/Other................... 3,363 1,361
Uncategorized................... 0 0
-------------------------------
Total........................ 4,117 1,666
SC-13 Sullivan's Island Beach................. Federal......................... 83 34
State........................... 694 281
Private/Other................... 1,005 407
Uncategorized................... 0 0
-------------------------------
Total........................ 1,782 721
SC-14 Folly Beach............................. Federal......................... 0 0
State........................... 0 0
Private/Other................... 1,989 805
Uncategorized................... 0 0
-------------------------------
Total........................ 1,989 805
SC-15 Bird Key-Stono.......................... Federal......................... 0 0
State........................... 294 119
Private/Other................... 0 0
Uncategorized................... 0 0
-------------------------------
Total........................ 294 119
SC-16 Kiawah and Seabrook Island Beaches...... Federal......................... 0 0
State........................... 1,399 566
Private/Other................... 9,850 3,986
Uncategorized................... 0 0
-------------------------------
Total........................ 11,250 4,553
SC-17 Deveaux Bank............................ Federal......................... 0 0
State........................... 1,328 538
Private/Other................... 0 0
Uncategorized................... 0 0
-------------------------------
Total........................ 1,328 538
SC-18 Edisto Island Beaches................... Federal......................... 0 0
State........................... 650 263
Private/Other................... 1,093 442
Uncategorized................... 0 0
-------------------------------
Total........................ 1,743 705
SC-19 Pine and Otter Island Beaches........... Federal......................... 0 0
State........................... 6,296 2,548
Private/Other................... 6 2
Uncategorized................... 0 0
-------------------------------
Total........................ 6,302 2,550
SC-20 Harbor and Hunting Island Beaches....... Federal......................... 0 0
State........................... 3,246 1,313
Private/Other................... 820 331
Uncategorized................... 0 0
-------------------------------
Total........................ 4,066 1,645
SC-21 Fripp Island Beach...................... Federal......................... 0 0
State........................... 305 124
Private/Other................... 429 174
[[Page 37427]]
Uncategorized................... 0 0
-------------------------------
Total........................ 734 297
SC-22 Hilton Head Island Beach................ Federal......................... 0 0
State........................... 1,015 411
Private/Other................... 667 270
Uncategorized................... 0 0
-------------------------------
Total........................ 1,682 681
SC-23 Daufuskie Island Beach.................. Federal......................... 0 0
State........................... 0 0
Private/Other................... 6,370 2,578
Uncategorized................... 0 0
-------------------------------
Total........................ 6,370 2,578
SC-24 Turtle Island Beach..................... Federal......................... 0 0
State........................... 1,798 728
Private/Other................... 0 0
Uncategorized................... 0 0
-------------------------------
Total........................ 1,798 728
SC-25 Jones Island Beach...................... Federal......................... 785 318
State........................... 2,240 907
Private/Other................... 0 0
Uncategorized................... 0 0
-------------------------------
Total........................ 3,025 1,225
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Georgia
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
GA-1 Tybee Island Beach....................... Federal......................... 0 0
State........................... 6 2
Private/Other................... 1,721 697
Uncategorized................... 319 129
-------------------------------
Total........................ 2,046 828
GA-2 Little Tybee Island Complex.............. Federal......................... 0 0
State........................... 0 0
Private/Other................... 8,265 3,345
Uncategorized................... 0 0
-------------------------------
Total........................ 8,265 3,345
GA-3 Wassaw Island Beach...................... Federal......................... 3,001 1,215
State........................... 0 0
Private/Other................... 274 111
Uncategorized................... 1,020 412
-------------------------------
Total........................ 4,296 1,738
GA-4 Raccoon Key.............................. Federal......................... 0 0
State........................... 1,599 647
Private/Other................... 0 0
Uncategorized................... 0 0
-------------------------------
Total........................ 1,599 647
GA-5 Ossabaw Island Beach..................... Federal......................... 0 0
State........................... 28,621 11,591
Private/Other................... 0 0
Uncategorized................... 3,736 1,503
-------------------------------
Total........................ 32,357 13,094
GA-6 St. Catherine's Island Beach............. Federal......................... 0 0
State........................... 2,106 853
Private/Other................... 11,810 4,783
Uncategorized................... 2,046 824
-------------------------------
Total........................ 15,962 6,460
GA-7 Blackbeard Island Beach.................. Federal......................... 4,954 2,006
State........................... 80 32
Private/Other................... 0 0
Uncategorized................... 1,287 519
-------------------------------
Total........................ 6,321 2,557
[[Page 37428]]
GA-8 Sapelo Island Beach...................... Federal......................... 0 0
State........................... 2,481 845
Private/Other................... 0 0
Uncategorized................... 0 0
-------------------------------
Total........................ 2,481 845
GA-9 Wolf Island, Egg Island, Little Egg Federal......................... 2,975 1,204
Island, and Little Egg Island Bar.
State........................... 240 97
Private/Other................... 0 0
Uncategorized................... 2,093 847
-------------------------------
Total........................ 5,308 2,148
GA-10 Little St. Simon's Island Beach......... Federal......................... 0 0
State........................... 113 46
Private/Other................... 7,462 3,022
Uncategorized................... 1,479 596
-------------------------------
Total........................ 9,053 3,664
GA-11 Sea and St. Simon's Island Beaches...... Federal......................... 0 0
State........................... 4 1
Private/Other................... 3,448 1,395
Uncategorized................... 581 235
-------------------------------
Total........................ 4,033 1,631
GA-12 Jekyll Island Beach..................... Federal......................... 0 0
State........................... 5,944 2,406
Private/Other................... 0 0
Uncategorized................... 343 139
-------------------------------
Total........................ 6,287 2,545
GA-13 Little Cumberland and Cumberland Island Federal......................... 23,367 9,464
Beaches.
State........................... 1,685 682
Private/Other................... 0 0
Uncategorized................... 3,085 1,241
-------------------------------
Total........................ 28,137 11,387
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Florida
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FL-1 Nassau Sound-Fort George Sound-Fort Federal......................... 996 404
George Inlet Complex.
State........................... 522 211
Private/Other................... 27 11
Uncategorized................... 2,779 6,116
-------------------------------
Total........................ 4,324 6,742
FL-2 Ponce Inlet Complex...................... Federal......................... 16,660 6,742
State........................... 3,005 1,216
Private/Other................... 0 0
Uncategorized................... 18 7
-------------------------------
Total........................ 19,683 7,965
FL-3 Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge Federal......................... 6,947 2,811
Impoundments.
State........................... 0 0
Private/Other................... 0 0
Uncategorized................... 0 0
-------------------------------
Total........................ 6,947 2,811
FL-4A Cape Romano Complex..................... Federal......................... 13,138 5,321
State........................... 12,605 5,105
Private/Other................... 0 0
Uncategorized................... 470 182
-------------------------------
Total........................ 26,213 10,608
FL-4B Marco Island............................ Federal......................... 0 0
State........................... 408 165
Private/Other................... 8 3
Uncategorized................... 0 0
-------------------------------
Total........................ 416 168
FL-5 Marco Bay Complex........................ Federal......................... 0 0
[[Page 37429]]
State........................... 3,531 1,429
Private/Other................... 58 24
Uncategorized................... 0 0
-------------------------------
Total........................ 3,589 1,453
FL-6A Cocohatchee Inlet Complex............... Federal......................... 0 0
State........................... 9 4
Private/Other................... 0 0
Uncategorized................... 0 0
-------------------------------
Total........................ 9 4
FL-6B Barefoot Beach.......................... Federal......................... 0 0
State........................... 18 7
Private/Other................... 21 9
Uncategorized................... 0 0
-------------------------------
Total........................ 39 16
FL-7A Lovers Key.............................. Federal......................... 0 0
State........................... 4 1
Private/Other................... 0 0
Uncategorized................... 0 0
-------------------------------
Total........................ 4 1
FL-7B Estero Island........................... Federal......................... 0 0
State........................... 171 69
Private/Other................... 0 0
Uncategorized................... 0 0
-------------------------------
Total........................ 171 69
FL-8 Bunche Beach............................. Federal......................... 23 9
State........................... 264 107
Private/Other................... 47 19
Uncategorized................... 0 0
-------------------------------
Total........................ 334 135
FL-9A J.N. ``Ding'' Darling National Wildlife Federal......................... 3,451 1,397
Refuge.
State........................... 0 0
Private/Other................... 0 0
Uncategorized................... 0 0
-------------------------------
Total........................ 3,451 1,397
FL-9B Sanibel Island.......................... Federal......................... 307 124
State........................... 0 0
Private/Other................... 0 0
Uncategorized................... 0 0
-------------------------------
Total........................ 307 124
FL-10A Don Pedro.............................. Federal......................... 0 0
State........................... 147 60
Private/Other................... 0 0
Uncategorized................... 0 0
-------------------------------
Total........................ 147 60
FL-10B Stump Pass Beach State Park............ Federal......................... 0 0
State........................... 11 4
Private/Other................... 0 0
Uncategorized................... 0 0
-------------------------------
Total........................ 11 4
FL-11 Siesta Key.............................. Federal......................... 0
State........................... 53 21
Private/Other................... 0 0
Uncategorized................... 0 0
-------------------------------
Total........................ 53 21
FL-12A Lido Key............................... Federal......................... 0 0
State........................... 81 33
Private/Other................... 0 0
Uncategorized................... 0 0
-------------------------------
Total........................ 81 33
FL-12B Longboat Key........................... Federal......................... 0 0
[[Page 37430]]
State........................... 369 149
Private/Other................... 0 0
Uncategorized................... 0 0
-------------------------------
Total........................ 369 149
FL-13 North Anna Maria Island................. Federal......................... 56 23
State........................... 889 360
Private/Other................... 0 0
Uncategorized................... 0 0
-------------------------------
Total........................ 945 383
FL-14 Egmont Key.............................. Federal......................... 15 6
State........................... 0 0
Private/Other................... 0 0
Uncategorized................... 0 0
-------------------------------
Total........................ 15 6
FL-15A Fort De Soto County Park............... Federal......................... 0 0
State........................... 0 0
Private/Other................... 427 173
Uncategorized................... 0 0
-------------------------------
Total........................ 427 173
FL-15B Shell Key Preserve..................... Federal......................... 0 0
State........................... 322 130
Private/Other................... 0 0
Uncategorized................... 0 0
-------------------------------
Total........................ 322 130
FL-15C Saint Petersburg Beach................. Federal......................... 0 0
State........................... 107 43
Private/Other................... 0 0
Uncategorized................... 0 0
-------------------------------
Total........................ 107 43
FL-16 Indian Shores/Redington Beach........... Federal......................... 0 0
State........................... 196 79
Private/Other................... 0 0
Uncategorized................... 0 0
-------------------------------
Total........................ 196 79
FL-17 Belleair Beach.......................... Federal......................... 0 0
State........................... 123 50
Private/Other................... 0 0
Uncategorized................... 0 0
-------------------------------
Total........................ 123 50
FL-18A Caladesi Island........................ Federal......................... 0 0
State........................... 259 105
Private/Other................... 0 0
Uncategorized................... 0 0
-------------------------------
Total........................ 259 105
FL-18B Honeymoon Island....................... Federal......................... 0 0
State........................... 294 119
Private/Other................... 0 0
Uncategorized................... 0 0
-------------------------------
Total........................ 294 119
FL-18C Three Rooker Bar....................... Federal......................... 0 0
State........................... 335 136
Private/Other................... 0 0
Uncategorized................... 0 0
-------------------------------
Total........................ 335 136
FL-19 Anclote Key............................. Federal......................... 0 0
State........................... 1,547 626
Private/Other................... 0 0
Uncategorized................... 0 0
-------------------------------
Total........................ 1,547 626
FL-20 Cedar Keys Complex...................... Federal......................... 2,498 1,012
[[Page 37431]]
State........................... 7,792 3,153
Private/Other................... 5,928 2,293
Uncategorized................... 19,407 7,959
-------------------------------
Total........................ 35,626 14,417
FL-21 St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge...... Federal......................... 2,074 839
State........................... 0 0
Private/Other................... 0 0
Uncategorized................... 0 0
-------------------------------
Total........................ 2,074 839
FL-22A Mashes Sands........................... Federal......................... 0 0
State........................... 262 106
Private/Other................... 0 0
Uncategorized................... 0 0
-------------------------------
Total........................ 262 106
FL-22B Bald Point State Park.................. Federal......................... 0 0
State........................... 439 178
Private/Other................... 6 2
Uncategorized................... 0 0
-------------------------------
Total........................ 445 180
FL-22C Alligator Point........................ Federal......................... 0 0
State........................... 0 0
Private/Other................... 722 292
Uncategorized................... 0 0
-------------------------------
Total........................ 722 292
FL-23A Turkey Point Shoal..................... Federal......................... 0 0
State........................... 531 215
Private/Other................... 0 0
Uncategorized................... 0 0
-------------------------------
Total........................ 531 215
FL-23B Lanark Reef............................ Federal......................... 0 0
State........................... 805 326
Private/Other................... 61 25
Uncategorized................... 0 0
-------------------------------
Total........................ 865 350
FL-23C East Dog Island........................ Federal......................... 0 0
State........................... 0 0
Private/Other................... 771 312
Uncategorized................... 0 0
-------------------------------
Total........................ 771 312
FL-23D West Dog Island........................ Federal......................... 0 0
State........................... 0 0
Private/Other................... 751 304
Uncategorized................... 0 0
-------------------------------
Total........................ 751 304
FL-23E McKissack Beach, Carrabelle............ Federal......................... 0 0
State........................... 114 46
Private/Other................... 3 1
Uncategorized................... 0 0
-------------------------------
Total........................ 117 47
FL-23F East St. George Island State Park...... Federal......................... 0 0
State........................... 978 396
Private/Other................... 0 0
Uncategorized................... 0 0
-------------------------------
Total........................ 978 396
FL-23G St. George Island State Park and Federal......................... 0 0
Bayshore Shoals.
State........................... 162 65
Private/Other................... 0 0
Uncategorized................... 0 0
-------------------------------
Total........................ 162 65
FL-24A Little St. George Island State Park- Federal......................... 0 0
West.
[[Page 37432]]
State........................... 953 386
Private/Other................... 0 0
Uncategorized................... 0 0
-------------------------------
Total........................ 953 386
FL-24B St. Vincent National Wildlife Refuge... Federal......................... 742 300
State........................... 0 0
Private/Other................... 0 0
Uncategorized................... 0 0
-------------------------------
Total........................ 742 300
FL-24C Flagg Island Shoals.................... Federal......................... 0 0
State........................... 517 209
Private/Other................... 0 0
Uncategorized................... 0 0
-------------------------------
Total........................ 517 209
FL-25A Cape San Blas to Indian Pass........... Federal......................... 0 0
State........................... 133 54
Private/Other................... 486 197
Uncategorized................... 0 0
-------------------------------
Total........................ 620 251
FL-25B St. Joseph Bay-Eastern Shore........... Federal......................... 0 0
State........................... 761 308
Private/Other................... 66 27
Uncategorized................... 0 0
-------------------------------
Total........................ 827 335
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Alabama
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AL-1 Dauphin Island........................... Federal......................... 484 196
State........................... 848 343
Private/Other................... 3,834 1,552
Uncategorized................... 0 0
-------------------------------
Total........................ 5,167 2,091
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mississippi
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
MS-1 Ship Island.............................. Federal......................... 2,452 993
State........................... 0 0
Private/Other................... 0 0
Uncategorized................... 0 0
-------------------------------
Total........................ 2,452 993
MS-2 Cat Island............................... Federal......................... 686 278
State........................... 1,305 528
Private/Other................... 129 52
Uncategorized................... 0 0
-------------------------------
Total........................ 2,121 858
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Louisiana
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
LA-1 Chandeleur Islands....................... Federal......................... 7,632 3,088
State........................... 0 0
Private/Other................... 0 0
Uncategorized................... 0 0
-------------------------------
Total........................ 7,632 3,088
LA-2 Barataria Barrier Islands and Headlands.. Federal......................... 0 0
State........................... 126 51
Private/Other................... 7,669 3,104
Uncategorized................... 0 0
-------------------------------
Total........................ 7,795 3,155
LA-3 Terrebonne Barrier Islands............... Federal......................... 0 0
State........................... 2,900 1,173
Private/Other................... 2,172 879
[[Page 37433]]
Uncategorized................... 0 0
-------------------------------
Total........................ 5,072 2,052
LA-4 Southwest Louisiana Beaches.............. Federal......................... 0 0
State........................... 1,497 606
Private/Other................... 4,633 1,875
Uncategorized................... 0 0
-------------------------------
Total........................ 6,130 2,481
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Texas
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TX-1 Rollover Pass to Bolivar Flats........... Federal......................... 0 0
State........................... 268 108
Private/Other................... 996 403
Uncategorized................... 0 0
-------------------------------
Total........................ 1,264 511
TX-2 West Galveston Island.................... Federal......................... 0 0
State........................... 307 124
Private/Other................... 282 114
Uncategorized................... 0 0
-------------------------------
Total........................ 590 239
TX-3 Cedar Lake to Colorado River............. Federal......................... 0 0
State........................... 1,075 438
Private/Other................... 128 52
Uncategorized................... 0 0
-------------------------------
Total........................ 1,204 487
TX-4 Mustang Island........................... Federal......................... 0 0
State........................... 395 160
Private/Other................... 253 102
Uncategorized................... 0 0
-------------------------------
Total........................ 648 262
TX-5 Mollie Beattie Coastal Habitat........... Federal......................... 0 0
State........................... 505 205
Private/Other................... 218 88
Uncategorized................... 0 0
-------------------------------
Total........................ 723 293
TX-6 North Padre Island....................... Federal......................... 2,487 1,007
State........................... 68 27
Private/Other................... 262 106
Uncategorized................... 0 0
-------------------------------
Total........................ 2,817 1,140
TX-7 Upper Laguna Madre/Nighthawk Bay......... Federal......................... 273 111
State........................... 816 330
Private/Other................... 68 28
Uncategorized................... 0 0
-------------------------------
Total........................ 1,157 469
TX-8 Dagger Hill/Yarborough Pass/Nine Mile Federal......................... 9,731 3,938
Hole.
State........................... 23,042 9,332
Private/Other................... 0 0
Uncategorized................... 0 0
-------------------------------
Total........................ 32,773 13,270
TX-9 Pintail Lake/Padre Island/La Punta Larga. Federal......................... 25,881 10,482
State........................... 34,165 13,826
Private/Other................... 34,125 13,802
Uncategorized................... 0 0
-------------------------------
Total........................ 94,171 38,110
TX-10 Peyton's Bay/Arroyo Colorado/Three Federal......................... 8,145 3,296
Islands/Gabrielson Island.
State........................... 25,316 10,245
Private/Other................... 2,190 886
Uncategorized................... 0 0
-------------------------------
[[Page 37434]]
Total........................ 35,651 14,427
TX-11 South Bay/Boca Chica.................... Federal......................... 5,536 2,242
State........................... 3,923 1,589
Private/Other................... 5,784 2,342
Uncategorized................... 0 0
-------------------------------
Total........................ 15,243 6,173
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note: Numbers may not sum due to rounding.
Table 2--Co-Occurring Critical Habitat Designations That Overlap Proposed Critical Habitat for Rufa Red Knot
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Area of overlap with designated critical habitat in acres (ac)/hectares (ha) (# of proposed rufa red knot Total overlap
units or subunits overlapping) (combined) for
State ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ each state in
Loggerhead sea Aboriginal prickly- acres (ac)/
Piping plover turtle West indian manatee Gulf sturgeon apple hectares (ha)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
North Carolina......... 10,621 ac/4,298 ha 3,523 ac/1,426 ha(3) N/A................. N/A................ N/A................ 13,874 ac/5,614 ha.
(10).
South Carolina......... 4,955 ac/2,005 5,315 ac/2,151 N/A................. N/A................ N/A................ 9,302 ac/3,764 ha.
ha(13). ha(12).
Georgia................ 15,369 ac/6,220 10,903 ac/4,412 N/A................. N/A................ N/A................ 21,698 ac/8,781 ha.
ha(12). ha(7).
Florida................ 7,617 ac/3,082 ha 7,114 ac/2,879 ha 20,720 ac/8,385 ha 8,970 ac/3,630 77 ac/31 ha (4).... 37,801 ac/15,297
(20). (17). (11). ha(11). ha.
Alabama................ 2,381 ac/963 ha (1). N/A................. N/A................. N/A................ N/A................ 2,381 ac/963 ha.
Mississippi............ 4,538 ac/1,837 ha N/A................. N/A................. 1,866 ac/755 ha (2) N/A................ 4,488 ac/ 1,816 ha.
(2).
Louisiana.............. 17,154 ac/6,942 ha N/A................. N/A................. N/A................ N/A................ 17,154 ac/6,942 ha.
(4).
Texas.................. 153,726 ac/62,211 ha N/A................. N/A................. N/A................ N/A................ 153,726 ac/62,211
(11). ha.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total.............. 216,361 ac/87,558 ha 26,855 ac/10,868 ha 20,720 ac/8,385 ha 10,836 ac/4,385 ha 77 ac/31 ha (4).... 260,424 ac/105,388
(73). (39). (11). (13). ha.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* Totals may not sum due to rounding.
We present brief descriptions of all units and subunits, and
reasons why they meet the definition of critical habitat for the rufa
red knot, below.
Unit MA-1: Pleasant Bay
Unit MA-1 consists of approximately 4,357 ac (1,763 ha) of highly
dynamic barrier beaches and intertidal (i.e., seashore that is covered
at high tide and uncovered at low tide) areas in the towns of Chatham
and Orleans in Barnstable County, Massachusetts. The unit includes
exposed intertidal flats, shoals, mudflats, and intertidal salt marsh
pannes in Little Pleasant Bay and Pleasant Bay, and ephemeral tidal
pools, primary sand dunes, and beaches associated with Nauset Beach
South (Orleans), North Beach (Chatham), and North Beach Island
(Chatham). The unit begins in the mid-section of Little Pleasant Bay
going east to ``mean lower low water'' (MLLW; i.e., the lowest of the
low tides per day averaged over a 19-year period) on the east side of
Nauset Beach South, continuing south along Nauset Beach South and North
Beach to North Beach Island at MLLW and terminating at the natural
channel between North Beach Island and South Beach Island (Chatham).
The western side of the unit runs offshore of the mainland, west of
small islands in Pleasant and Little Pleasant Bays (Little Sipson
Island, Strong Island, and Tern Island), incorporating intertidal lands
associated with the islands. Lands within this unit include
approximately 126 ac (51 ha; 3 percent) in Federal ownership, 1,596 ac
(646 ha; 37 percent) in private/other ownership, and 2,634 ac (1,066
ha; 60 percent) that are uncategorized. General land use within this
unit is primarily recreational, including off-shore and surf fishing,
shellfish digging, (both recreational and commercial), boating, over-
sand vehicle use, sunbathing, swimming, and walking.
Unit MA-1 is occupied by the species and contains one or more of
the physical or biological features essential to the conservation of
the species. The unit contains a high concentration of rufa red knots
during the spring and fall migration periods, serving as an important
northbound and southbound stopover site in the New England portion of
the subspecies range. Additionally, this location consistently supports
a few thousand migrating rufa red knots due to the large intertidal
areas and beach habitat that provides multiple foraging and roosting
habitat areas for the birds to build energy resources for migration.
Threats identified within Unit MA-1 include disturbance of foraging
and roosting rufa red knots by humans and human activities including
but not limited to, pets and domestic animals, ORVs, powered and
unpowered boats, surf kites, and surf fishing, predation (especially by
migrating raptors and owls), possible modification or loss of habitat
(e.g., dredging or mining of sand flats), and natural or human-caused
disasters (i.e., oil spills). Special management considerations or
protection measures to reduce or alleviate the threats may include
managing access to rufa red knot foraging habitat and adjacent
saltmarsh and upland roosting habitat during migration (through
restrictions on timing, locations, and types of activities), and
addressing the impacts of potential oil spills through protective spill
response plans and training (see Special Management Considerations or
Protection, above). The National Park Service (NPS) manages Cape Cod
National Seashore under a comprehensive shorebird management plan (NPS
2018, entire) (Shorebird
[[Page 37435]]
Plan). However, due to the small and isolated nature of NPS inholdings
in this unit, these areas are not actively managed under the Shorebird
Plan.
Unit MA-2: Monomoy and South Beach Islands
Unit MA-2 consists of 5,093 ac (2,061 ha) of highly dynamic barrier
beaches and intertidal areas in the town of Chatham in Barnstable
County, Massachusetts. The unit includes exposed intertidal sand and
mud flats and shoals, ephemeral tidal pools, saltmarsh, primary sand
dunes, and beaches associated with North and South Monomoy Islands,
Minimoy Island, and the South Beach Island complex (multiple islands
associated with South Beach as the island naturally grows and splits
over time). The northeastern tip of the unit incorporates the South
Beach Island complex and adjacent intertidal sand and mud flats and
shoals, and runs south to include North and South Monomoy Islands,
Minimoy Island (part of the Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge (NWR)),
and the extensive intertidal sand flats adjacent to the islands and
south of Morris Island (Chatham). Lands within this unit include
approximately 4,047 ac (1,638 ha; 79 percent) in Federal ownership and
1,045 ac (423 ha; 21 percent) in private/other ownership. General land
use within this unit is recreational, including off-shore and surf
fishing, shellfish digging, boating, sunbathing, swimming, wildlife
observation, and walking. Commercial shellfish harvesting and research
also occur.
Unit MA-2 is occupied by the species and contains one or more of
the physical or biological features essential to the
[…truncated; see source link]Indexed from Federal Register on July 15, 2021.
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