The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today announced the designation of 1,315 acres of critical habitat for the Georgetown and Salado salamanders in Bell and Williamson counties, Texas. Both species were federally listed as threatened in 2014 due to changes in water flow and quality and disturbance of spring sites.
“The Georgetown and Salado salamanders are found nowhere else in the world but in springs and caves fed by the northern segment of the Edwards Aquifer,” said Adam Zerrenner, the Service’s Austin Field Office Supervisor. “Identifying and protecting areas essential to their survival is an important step in the recovery process. We will continue to work with our federal, state and local partners and private landowners to address threats across the two species ranges in the San Gabriel and Salado Creek watersheds.”
Critical habitat is defined by the Endangered Species Act as the geographic areas containing features essential for the conservation of a threatened or endangered species, and which may require special management considerations or protection. Of the 1,315 acres of designated critical habitat, 732 acres are occupied by the Georgetown salamander and 583 acres are occupied by the Salado salamander.
After receiving public comments on the critical habitat proposal published in September 2020, the Service removed three units totaling 204 acres from Bell County. These units were removed due to an existing conservation easement conservation easement
A conservation easement is a voluntary legal agreement between a landowner and a government agency or qualified conservation organization that restricts the type and amount of development that may take place on a property in the future. Conservation easements aim to protect habitat for birds, fish and other wildlife by limiting residential, industrial or commercial development. Contracts may prohibit alteration of the natural topography, conversion of native grassland to cropland, drainage of wetland and establishment of game farms. Easement land remains in private ownership.
Learn more about conservation easement that protects three springs with known Salado salamander populations.
Critical habitat protections for the Georgetown and Salado salamanders will promote their conservation by supporting sustainable development that also benefits the species. 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.
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 critical habitat for the Georgetown and Salado salamanders will publish in the Federal Register on August 18, 2021. The rule becomes effective on September 17, 2021.
