Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Determination of Threatened Status for the Jarbidge River Population Segment of Bull Trout

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), determine threatened status for the Jarbidge River distinct population segment of bull trout (Salvelinus confluentus) from the Jarbidge River basin in northern Nevada and southern Idaho, with a special rule, pursuant to the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). The Jarbidge River population segment, composed of a single subpopulation with few individuals, is threatened by habitat degradation from past and ongoing land management activities such as road construction and maintenance, mining, and grazing; interactions with non-native fishes; and incidental angler harvest. We based this final determination on the best available scientific and commercial information including current data and new information received during the comment period. This action continues protection for this population segment of the bull trout which was effective for a 240-day period beginning when we emergency listed this population segment on August 11, 1998.