Grotto Sculpin

 

May 7, 2013 - Comment Period Reopened

 

The grotto sculpin is a small fish found mostly in cave streams. Its entire range is within Perry County, Missouri, in an area with thousands of sinkholes and over 700 caves (collectively called a “karst system”). The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has proposed listing the grotto sculpin as endangered and proposed designating Critical Habitat. Contamination of cave streams where the grotto sculpin lives is the primary reason that this fish could become extinct.

 

May 7, 2013:

Comment Period Re-opened;

Draft Economic Analysis on Critical Habitat Available

We have reopened the comment period on our proposal to list the grotto sculpin as endangered and designate critical habitat.  This provides the public an opportunity for further input on the initial proposal, on a newly-released draft economic analysis of the proposed critical habitat designation and on a conservation plan prepared by the Perry County Community Economic and Environment Committeethat to address threats identified for the species.

 

Comments previously submitted need not be resubmitted, as they will be fully considered in preparation of the final rule.

 

The comment period will be open through June 6, 2013.

 

Federal Register Notice of Availability: Listing and Designation of Critical Habitat for the Grotto Sculpin, May 7, 2013. (6-page PDF )

 

News Release (May 7, 2013): Comment Period Reopened on Proposal to List Grotto Sculpin as Endangered with Critical Habitat

 

Draft Economic Analysis of Critical Habitat Designation for the Grotto Sculpin, March 2013 (93-page PDF; 1.3MB )

 

Draft - Protecting Our Water to Protect Our Community by the Perry County community Conservation Plan, April 7, 2013 (129-page PDF; 1.6MB )

 

Cottus specus, a new troglomorphic species of sculpin (Cottidae) from southeastern Missouri. A technical paper that officially names the species. (11-page PDF; 1 MB )

 

September 2012:
Grotto Sculpin Proposed as Endangered with Critical Habitat

 

News Release (September 26, 2012): Service Proposes to Protect the Grotto Sculpin Under the Endangered Species Act: Agency Seeks Information from the Public, Scientific Community Before Making Final Decision

 

Federal Register Proposed Rule: Endangered Status for Grotto Sculpin and Designation of Critical Habitat

 

Questions and Answers - Proposal to List the Grotto Sculpin as Endangered and Designate Critical Habitat

 

Grotto Sculpin Fact Sheet

 

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Midwest Endangered Species Home

 

Last updated: May 8, 2013