AUSTIN – The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today announced it is revising proposed critical habitat for the Georgetown and Salado salamanders. The two salamanders, found only in parts of Texas, were listed as threatened on February 24, 2014, due to the threat of degradation of their habitat and changes in water flow and quality. The public comment period will be open for 60 days starting on September 15, 2020.
For the Georgetown salamander, the Service is now proposing 732 acres of critical habitat in nine units in Williamson County. This represents a decrease of five units and approximately 300 acres over the previous proposal. For the Salado salamander in Bell and Williamson counties, the proposal includes 787 acres of critical habitat in 10 units. This represents an increase of six units and 415 acres over the previous proposal. All the proposed designations are of occupied critical habitat based on the determination of what was sufficient to conserve the species.
Healthy springs and spring-fed streams are important for salamanders and other aquatic life as well as human communities, businesses, and economic enterprises. Efforts and actions to protect and conserve the Edwards Aquifer will also benefit the human communities and businesses dependent on these water sources.
“The Service has carefully considered the information received during previous public comment periods, and based on that information, we have revised the critical habitat proposals for the Georgetown and Salado salamanders,” said Adam Zerrenner, the Service’s Austin Field Office Supervisor. “We believe that the revised critical habitat proposal better reflects the needs of the salamanders.”
Georgetown and Salado salamanders are entirely aquatic, living in springs and caves fed by the northern segment of the Edwards Aquifer. The current known range of the Georgetown salamander is south and east of Lake Georgetown in the North and Middle Forks of the San Gabriel River watershed. The Salado salamander occurs north of Lake Georgetown in the Salado Creek watershed.
Critical habitat is a term in the Endangered Species Act that identifies geographic areas containing features essential for the conservation of a threatened or endangered species, and which may require special management considerations or protection. Designation of critical habitat does not affect land ownership, establish a refuge or preserve and has no impact on private landowners taking actions on their land that do not require federal funding or permits.
The goal of designating critical habitat is to promote the conservation of the Georgetown and Salado salamanders by encouraging development to proceed in a way that conserves the species while enabling projects to move forward. Federal agencies that undertake, fund or permit activities that may affect critical habitat are required to consult with the Service to ensure such actions do not adversely modify or destroy designated critical habitat.
The Service does not anticipate significant negative economic impacts on private landowners and developers as a result of the proposed revised critical habitat designation for the Salado and Georgetown salamanders.
The revised proposed critical habitat for the Georgetown and Salado salamanders will publish in the Federal Register on September 15, 2020. The Service is requesting comments or information from other concerned governmental agencies, Native American Tribes, the scientific community, industry, or any other interested parties concerning this proposed rule. Comments must be received within 60 days, on or before November 15, 2020.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service works with others to conserve, protect, and enhance fish, wildlife, plants, and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. For more information on our work and the people who make it happen, visit http://www.fws.gov/. Connect with our Facebook page, follow our tweets, watch our YouTube Channel and download photos from our Flickr page.
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