Candidate conservation agreement with assurances for the Trinity River Authority of Texas permit

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has approved a 10-year agreement with the Trinity River Authority of Texas (TRA) to conserve six imperiled species: four species of freshwater mussels (Texas heelsplitter, Trinity pigtoe, Texas fawnsfoot and Louisiana pigtoe) and two species of turtles (western chicken turtle and alligator snapping turtle).

The agreement and associated enhancement of  survival permit provides incentives for at-risk species protection. In return for implementing the specified activities, the agreement provides assurance that if a species becomes listed in the future, no additional conservation measures will be required without consent and the TRA will continue to meet the water needs for millions of residents of the Trinity River basin.