Contacts
Robert T. Pine (512) 490-0057
Elizabeth Slown (505) 248-6909
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today released its final critical habitat designation for endangered, underground karst-dwelling invertebrates in Bexar County, Texas. The final designation has changed significantly from the original proposal based on public comment, additional scientific information, and two management plans for underground karst formations received during the public comment period.
"These species are especially vulnerable to groundwater pollution and are an indicator species for the health of the Edwards aquifer, which is the source of drinking water for more than one million people," said Dale Hall, Director of the Service's Southwest Region. "Designating habitat that is critical to their survival is another step toward ensuring their future and the health of the aquifer itself."
Overall, changes to the final rule resulted in:
C designating 1,063 acres in 22 units as critical habitat, as compared to the Service’s proposed designation of 9,516 acres in 25 units. Critical habitat originally proposed on Texas Parks and Wildlife’s Government Canyon State Natural Area and the Department of the Defense’s Camp Bullis were not included in the final designation as a result of karst management plans providing special management for the species that were approved during the comment period.
C designating critical habitat for seven species, as compared to nine in the Service’s proposed designation. Because the karst management plan for the Government Canyon State Natural Area was deemed adequate, no critical habitat was designated for two species, the Government Canyon Bat Cave meshweaver and the Government Canyon Bat Cave spider, known only from caves on Government Canyon State Natural Area.
The nine karst invertebrate species, including three beetles, one harvestman, and five spiders, were added to the Federal list of threatened and endangered species in December 2000. These cave-dwelling species are found only in karst limestone areas of Bexar County. Karst is a type of terrain formed by calcium carbonate that is slowly dissolved from the limestone bedrock by mildly acidic groundwater and is characterized by features such as caves, sinkholes, fractures, and fissures. Threats to these species and their habitat include destruction and deterioration of habitat by construction, filling of caves and karst features, and loss of permeable cover. The species are also threatened by contamination from septic effluent, sewer leaks, run-off and pesticides, predation by and competition with non-native fire ants, and vandalism.
Critical habitat is a term defined and used in the Endangered Species Act. It refers to specific areas that are essential for the conservation of a threatened or endangered species and that may require special management consideration or protection. Although the designation of critical habitat does not mandate any specific management or recovery actions, it does help focus Federal, State, and private conservation and management efforts. Designating critical habitat may also provide some educational or informational benefits.
Critical habitat designation does not set up a preserve or refuge and applies only to situations that involve Federal authorization, funding or permits. Federal agencies undertaking activities in designated critical habitat areas are required to review their actions to assess impacts on the karst habitat used by the invertebrates. Private land use activities that do not involve federal funding, oversight or authorization are unaffected. The protection provided by a critical habitat designation supplements protection already provided to these species by their inclusion on the Endangered Species List.
To obtain a copy of this final rule, or other information about these species and their habitat, please contact: Supervisor, USFWS, 10711 Burnet Rd., Suite 200, Austin, TX 78758; (512) 490-0057. The final rule and maps can also be viewed and downloaded on the internet at http://southwest.fws.gov Click on Hot Topics.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is the principal Federal agency responsible for conserving, protecting and enhancing fish, wildlife and plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. The Service manages the 95-million-acre National Wildlife Refuge System which encompasses 540 national wildlife refuges, thousands of small wetlands and other special management areas. It also operates 69 national fish hatcheries, 64 fishery resource offices and 81 ecological services field stations. The agency enforces Federal wildlife laws, administers the Endangered Species Act, manages migratory bird populations, restores nationally significant fisheries, conserves and restores wildlife habitat such as wetlands, and helps foreign governments with their conservation efforts. It also oversees the Federal Aid program that distributes hundreds of millions of dollars in excise taxes on fishing and hunting equipment to state fish and wildlife agencies.
http://Southwest.fws.gov
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