2013 USFWS Piping Plover Programmatic Biological Opinion

This document transmits the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s (Service) Programmatic Piping

Plover Biological Opinion (PPBO) for the effects of U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps)

planning and regulatory shore protection activities on the non-breeding piping plover

(Charadrius melodus) and its designated Critical Habitat in accordance with section 7 of the

Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act) (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.). The current status

of the federally listed piping plover is threatened, and the Service designated Critical Habitat for

wintering piping plovers on July 10, 2001. This PPBO is for the North and South Florida Ecological Services Office areas of responsibility (AORs).