The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced today that based on a review of the best available science, the Elk River crayfish is not in danger of extinction now or likely to become so within the foreseeable future, and does not warrant listing under the Endangered Species Act (ESA).
The freshwater crustacean, native to West Virginia, is still found in all five watersheds where it was documented historically, and in one additional watershed, all of which drain into the Elk River. Some of the species’ habitat is buffered by protected lands in Holly River State Park and Monongahela National Forest.
The West Virginia Division of Natural Resources, the U.S. Forest Service, and other partners, have taken action on both public and private lands that support the crayfish, such as controlling invasive species invasive species
An invasive species is any plant or animal that has spread or been introduced into a new area where they are, or could, cause harm to the environment, economy, or human, animal, or plant health. Their unwelcome presence can destroy ecosystems and cost millions of dollars.
Learn more about invasive species , improving aquatic habitat and implementing sediment-control measures during timber harvests. In addition, most of the watersheds that currently support the species are expected to continue to meet the species’ habitat needs in the foreseeable future.
This small crustacean depends on moderately sized streams with riffles, runs, or pools and some streambeds that feature unembedded gravel, cobble, boulders and woody debris to allow it to forage and seek shelter from predators.
While sedimentation from land-use change could threaten Elk River crayfish habitat, the West Virginia Logging Sediment Control Act mandates certain practices to protect aquatic resources and, when implemented and enforced, those practices can be effective at controlling sedimentation.
“The upper Elk River watershed continues to provide high-quality habitats for the Elk River crayfish and other aquatic resources,” said Barbara Douglas, fish and wildlife biologist at the Service’s West Virginia Field Office. “The ongoing efforts by partners to support the health of the Elk River not only benefits this species, but also the people who live and work in this region.”
In 2010, the Center for Biological Diversity petitioned for federal protection of the Elk River crayfish as part of a list of 404 aquatic, riparian riparian
Definition of riparian habitat or riparian areas.
Learn more about riparian and wetland species. The Service reviewed the petition and decided to conduct a more in-depth review of many of those species, including the crayfish. As part of that in-depth review, the Service initiated a biological species status assessment (SSA). The resulting SSA report was peer reviewed by academic experts and by state and federal agency partners. Scientists found that while stressors such as sedimentation and energy development can impact populations, the crayfish has maintained, and is projected to continue to maintain, resilient populations throughout its range.
Although ESA protection is not warranted for the Elk River crayfish, the Service will coordinate with the state on future monitoring efforts, as appropriate.
The effort to conserve America’s at-risk wildlife and recover listed species is led by the Service and state wildlife agencies in partnership with other government agencies, private landowners, conservation groups, tribes, businesses, utilities and others. The Service has drawn support for its use of incentives and flexibilities within the ESA to protect rare wildlife, reduce regulations and keep working lands working.
The notice of this finding is available in the Federal Register at https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2020-14454, and additional documents will be available July 23 in the docket number FWS-R5-ES-2020-0025 on regulations.gov, https://www.regulations.gov/docket?D=FWS-R5-ES-2020-0025.
Latest Press Releases
