Conservation Measures and Supporting Documents

The documents below [Updated September 21, 2020] identify survey methods and reporting guidelines to be used for conducting presence/absence surveys for Houston toads (Bufo houstonensis) under a section 10(a)(1)(A) scientific research and recovery permit. Sound clips of Houston Toad are saved as zipped files.

This collection contains documents relating to care, maintenance, and interaction with sea turtles. Including telemetry protocols, necropsy forms, etc.

The Texas Statewide Determination Key (DKey) is a tool that helps streamline the review of projects for potential effects on federally listed threatened and endangered species and their critical habitats within Texas. Using a logically structured series of questions, the DKey guides users to determine whether a proposed project qualifies for a predetermined consultation outcome based on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s standing analysis. The DKey is available through the Service’s Information for Planning and Consultation website for projects that are located entirely within the state of Texas.

Below is a compilation of documents and resources used to support completion of the Texas Statewide DKey, including the standing analysis that supports its development. The library also includes resources used to support site‑specific project verification under programmatic consultations incorporated into the Texas Statewide DKey, including the U.S. Forest Service’s Oil and Gas Leasing Availability Analysis consultation on National Forests and Grasslands in Texas.

The resources below contain documents pertaining to the "Candidate conservation agreement with assurances for six species in the Trinity River Basin".

This Candidate Conservation Agreement with Assurances (CCAA, agreement) for Six Species in the Trinity Basin is a voluntary conservation agreement between the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and the Trinity River Authority of Texas (TRA). Both the Upper Trinity River Water Quality Compact (Compact) and the Tarrant Regional Water District (TRWD) have assisted in the development of this CCAA and intend to sign onto the agreement upon its completion. The Covered Species for this CCAA include four species of freshwater mussels, 1) Texas Fawnsfoot (Truncilla macrodon), 2) Texas Heelsplitter (Potamilus amphichaenus), 3) Trinity Pigtoe (Fusconaia chunii), and 4) Louisiana Pigtoe (Pleurobema riddellii); and two species of turtles, 1) Alligator Snapping Turtle (Macrochelys temminckii) and 2) Western Chicken Turtle (Deirochelys reticularia miaria).

Candidate Conservation Agreement with Assurances (CCAA) for the Texas Kangaroo Rat between Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Southwest Region Screening Form for Low-Effect CCAA Determination and NEPA Environmental Action Statement documents are available below.

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD), with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service cooperation, has developed a programmatic Candidate Conservation Agreement with Assurances (CCAA) for the Texas kangaroo rat (Dipodomys elator) as part of TPWD’s application for an Enhancement of Survival Permit (Permit) under section 10(a)(1)(A) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (ESA). The Permit would authorize take of Texas kangaroo rat (TKR), should it become listed as “endangered” or “threatened” under the ESA during the 10-year term of the CCAA. The permitted take would result from activities undertaken in accordance with the CCAA entered into by eligible non-Federal landowners (Participants) who are willing to engage in voluntary conservation actions on their properties for TKR and abide by the terms and conditions of the Permit as well as a Cooperative Agreement developed in coordination with each Participant. TPWD will hold the Permit and issue Certificates of Inclusion (CI) authorizing incidental take to each Participant.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) launched the post-delisting monitoring period for the black-capped vireo, which was removed from the List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife on May 16, 2018, due to recovery. The FWS, in cooperation with our partners, developed a post-delisting monitoring plan for the species that will track its progress over a 12-year period. These newsletters follow annual recovery highlights.