The reach of the Rio Grande that flows through Big Bend Ranch State Park, Big Bend National Park, and the Rio Grande Wild and Scenic River will play an important role in recovering a native fish that has been absent from Texas waters for nearly fifty years. According to a rule published on December 8, 2008, in the Federal Register, the Rio Grande silvery minnow will be reintroduced into its namesake river under a provision of the Endangered Species Act that places no burden on private landowners and water users, yet allows an opportunity to move this endangered species closer to recovery by reestablishing it in a reach of the Rio Grande where it was once common.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announces that the Concho water snake should be removed from the Federal list of threatened and endangered species. The proposed rule, published in the Federal Register on July 8, 2008, has a comment due date of September 8. The snake inhabits portions of the Colorado and Concho rivers in central Texas (see map).

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announces the availability of the draft Bexar County Karst Invertebrates Recovery Plan (draft Plan) for public comment. Nine Bexar County karst invertebrates were listed as endangered species on December 26, 2000 (65 FR 81419). These species inhabit caves and mesocaverns (humanly impassable voids in karst limestone) in Bexar County, Texas. Once finalized, the draft Plan is intended to identify objectives and tasks needed to remove these species from the endangered species list.

The closing date for receiving comments is July 15, 2008. Comments can be mailed to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 10711 Burnet Rd. Suite #200, Austin, TX 78758 or emailed to BexarKIrecplan@fws.gov.

To open the draft plan (Adobe .pdf format) Click here, or to simply save the document, right-mouse click on the link and select "Save Target as".

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announces the draft economic analysis for the proposed rule to designate critical habitat for the threatened Devils River minnow is available for public review. The Service proposed critical habitat for the fish, which occurs in Val Verde and Kinney counties, Texas, on July 31, 2007. The economic analysis evaluates the costs associated with the proposed critical habitat. The service is also reopening the comment period for the proposed rule and announcing an upcoming public hearing on the proposal.

The Service announces the opening of the public comment period for the draft Environmental Assessment/Habitat Conservation Plan (EA/HCP) for GDF Realty Investments, Ltd., and Purcell Investments, L.P., for an incidental take permit (TE?171255) pursuant to section 10(a)(1)(B) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act) for the golden-cheeked warbler(Dendroica chrysoparia) and five karst invertebrates: Tooth Cave spider (Neoleptoneta myopica), Bone Cave harvestman (Texella reyesi), Tooth Cave pseudoscorpion (Tartarocreagris texana), Kretschmarr Cave mold beetle (Texamaurops reddelli), and Tooth Cave ground beetle (Rhadine persephone). The proposed take would occur as the result of construction and operation of a residential, commercial, and/or retail development with associated streets and utilities on portions of the approximately 70-acre GDF property in Austin, Travis County, Texas.

The Service seeks comments from the public or any other interested party on the draft EA/HCP. All comments must be received by February 29, 2008. Written comments may be submitted to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Austin, Ecological Services Office, 10711 Burnet Rd. Suite #200, Austin, TX, 78758 or faxed to 512-490-0974, attention: Adam Zerrenner.

Click here to download Draft Plan.

On December 13, 2007, The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service published a 12-month finding on a petition to list the Jollyville Plateau salamander (Eurycea tonkawae) as an endangered species. Following a status review of the best available scientific and commercial data, we found that the threats to the continued existence of this species supported a positive finding that listing under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended, is warranted. However, given the large number of pending listing actions, we found that listing the Jollyville Plateau salamander is warranted, but precluded by other listing actions of higher priority. The Service now considers this species as a candidate for listing.

Click here to download the document.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service finalized its critical habitat designation for two beetles and an amphipod, a shrimp-like crustacean. The three endangered species are the Comal Springs riffle beetle, Comal Springs dryopid beetle, and Pecks cave amphipod.

The three freshwater species share something in common with the more than 180,000 human residents of the two counties ? they prefer their water unpolluted. Water quality and quantity are important concerns for the species, as well as the ecological health of the spring systems.

The Service seeks comments from the public and any other interested parties on any part of the EA. Comments must be received by the Service by October 19, 2006. Written comments may be submitted to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Division of Federal Assistance, 500 Gold St. SW, Suite 9019, Albuquerque, NM 87102, faxed to 505/248-7471, or e-mailed to HCSSC@fws.gov

The objective of this document is to identify survey methods that will produce sound scientific information upon which to base decisions and actions for the conservation of these endangered species. Using consistent survey methodology will also allow for greater comparison and analysis of results, and thereby increase our understanding of these species and their habitat requirements. Information that relates to the effectiveness of these survey guidelines in conserving endangered karst species is welcome.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is pleased to announce the availability of the approved Barton Springs Salamander (Eurycea sosorum)Recovery Plan. The Barton Springs salamander is a small amphibian known only from Barton Springs located in Zilker Park in Austin, Texas.

The final Recovery Plan for the threatened Pecos Sunflower (Helianthus paradoxus) has been approved by the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, New Mexico Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department and Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. A Fact Sheet is also available.

The Pecos sunflower occurs in seven populations; two occur in west Texas and five are located in New Mexico. Two Texas populations occur on desert springs within the same general Pecos Plain region in west Texas. Two ?opulations occur along the Rio San Jose and one on the Rio Grande in west-central New Mexico, comprising a second distinct region. Finally, there are two distinct populations on the Pecos River in eastern New Mexico, each constituting its own region. Thus, a total of four highly disjunct regional areas contain the entire genomic and ecotypical characteristics of Pecos sunflower.

The final Recovery Plan for the threatened Devils River minnow (Dionda diaboli) has been approved by the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Texas Parks and Wildlife. The Recovery Plan identifies specific, voluntary actions that will help recover the fish so it may eventually be removed from the list of threatened and endangered species. Objectives and criteria for delisting the species are spelled out. In addition, the fish?s status and current management practices are described.

Christina and Omar can be emailed at christina_williams@fws.gov and omar_bocanegra@fws.gov, respectively. CDs can be mailed to Christina Williams at the Austin, Texas Ecological Services: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 10711 Burnet Road, Suite 200, Austin, Texas 78758. Omar Bocanegra can be sent mail at the Arlington, Texas Ecological Services office: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 711 Stadium Drive East, Ste 252, Arlington, Texas 76011.

The following documents refer to data that some people collect and report, but are not required by the permit. If you do collect this information, we would like it reported in accordance with the following format: