Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Proposed Rule to Remove the Northern Populations of the Tidewater Goby From the List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife

The Fish and Wildlife Service, pursuant to the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act), proposes to remove the northern populations of the tidewater goby (Eucyclogobius newberryi) from the list of endangered and threatened wildlife. The species is now classified as endangered throughout its entire range. We have determined that north of Orange County there are more populations than were known at the time of the listing, that the threats to those populations are less severe than previously believed, and that the tidewater goby has a greater ability than was known in 1994 to recolonize habitats from which it is temporarily absent. This proposal would remove the northern populations of the tidewater goby from protection under the Act. The Orange and San Diego counties population of tidewater goby, which constitutes a distinct population segment, is genetically distinct, is comprised of gobies from only six localities, and continues to be threatened by habitat loss and degradation, predation by non-native species, and extreme weather and streamflow conditions. Therefore, this distinct population segment will be retained as an endangered species on the List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife.