Fish and Wildlife Service conducting five-year status reviews of 22 Southeastern species

August 30, 2016

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will conduct five-year status reviews of 15 endangered and seven threatened species occurring across the southeastern United States. The public is invited to provide information and comments concerning these species on or before October 31, 2016.

These reviews will ensure listing classifications under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) reflect the latest available information and data. In addition to reviewing the classification of these species, a five-year review presents an opportunity to track the species’ recovery progress, and may benefit species by providing valuable information to guide future conservation efforts.

Information gathered during a review can influence funding decisions, considerations related to reclassifying species status, conducting interagency consultations, making permitting decisions, and determining whether to update recovery plans and other actions.

The notice covers 15 endangered mussels, mice, plants, snails, a fish, and a woodrat listed here: Alabama beach mouse, Choctawhatchee beach mouse, Key Largo woodrat, Boulder darter, Oyster mussel, Turgid blossom, Georgia pigtoe, Interrupted rocksnail, Rough hornsnail, Alabama leather flower, Appalachicola rosemary, Crenulate lead-plant, Black-spored quillwort, Mat-forming quillwort,andGentian pinkroot.

It also includes seven threatened species including a mussel, a snail, and plants identified here: Louisiana pearlshell, Tulotoma snail, Little amphianthus, Lyrate bladderpod, Godfrey’s butterwort, Garber’s spurge, and Seabeach amaranth.

Specifically, this review seeks information on: (1) species biology, including population trends, distribution, abundance, demographics, and genetics; (2) habitat conditions, including amount, distribution, and suitability; (3) conservation measures that have been implemented; (4) threat status and trends; and, (5) other new information, data, or corrections, including taxonomic or nomenclatural changes; identification of erroneous information contained in the ESA list; and improved analytical methods.

Comments and materials received will be available for public inspection by appointment.

The Federal Register notice announcing the status review of these 22 federally listed species is available on-line at https://www.fws.gov/policy/frsystem/default.cfm.

Written comments and information on the specific species may be e-mailed, faxed, or sent via regular mail to:

Mammals

Alabama beach mouse

Alabama Ecological Services Field Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 1208-B Main Street, Daphne, Alabama, 36526; fax 251-441-6222. For information, contact Bill Lynn at the Ecological Services Field Office by telephone at 251-441-5181, or by e-mail at william_lynn@fws.gov.

Choctawhatchee beach mouse

Panama City Ecological Services Field Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 1601 Balboa Avenue, Panama City, Florida, 32405; fax 850-763-2717. For information, contact Kristi Yanchis at the Ecological Services Field Office by telephone at 850-769-0552, or by e-mail at kristi_yanchis@fws.gov.

Key Largo woodrat

South Florida Ecological Services Field Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 1339 20th Street, Vero Beach, Florida, 32960; fax 772-469-4265. For information, contact Sandra Sneckenberger at the Ecological Services Field Office by telephone at 772-469-4321, or by e-mail at sandra_sneckenberger@fws.gov.

Fishes, Clams, and Snails

Boulder darter, Oyster mussel, and Turgid blossom

Tennessee Ecological Services Field Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 446 Neal Street, Cookeville, Tennessee, 38501; fax 931-528-7075. For information, contact Stephanie Chance at the Ecological Services Field Office by telephone at 931-528-6481, ext. 211, or by e-mail at stephanie_chance@fws.gov.

Louisiana pearlshell

Louisiana Ecological Services Field Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 646 Cajundome Blvd., Suite 400, Lafayette, Louisiana, 70506; fax 337-291-3139. For information, contact Monica Sikes at the Ecological Services Field Office by telephone at 337-291-3118, or by e-mail at monica_sikes@fws.gov.

Georgia pigtoe, Interrupted rocksnail, Tulotoma snail, and Rough hornsnail

Alabama Ecological Services Field Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 1208-B Main Street, Daphne, Alabama, 36526. For information, contact Jennifer Grunewald at the Ecological Services Field Office by telephone at 251-441-6633, or by e-mail at Jennifer_Grunewald@fws.gov

Plants

Alabama leather flower

Mississippi Ecological Services Field Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 6578 Dogwood View Parkway, Jackson, Mississippi, 39213; fax 601-965-4340. For information on these species, contact Scott Wiggers at the Ecological Services Field Office by telephone at 601-965-4900, or by e-mail at marion_wiggers@fws.gov.

Appalachicola rosemary, Godfrey’s butterwort, and Gentian pinkroot

Panama City Ecological Services Field Office, Panama City Ecological Services Field Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 1601 Balboa Ave., Panama City, Florida, 32405; fax 850-763-2717. For information, contact Vivian Negron-Ortiz at the Ecological Services Field Office by telephone at 850-769-0552, or by e-mail at vivian_negron-ortiz@fws.gov.

Crenulate lead-plant and Garber’s spurge

South Florida Ecological Services Field Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 1339 20th Street, Vero Beach, Florida, 32960; fax 772-469-4265. For information, contact David Bender at the Ecological Services Field Office by telephone at 772-469-4294, or by e-mail at david_bender@fws.gov.

Lyrate bladderpod

Alabama Ecological Services Field Office, Alabama Ecological Services Field Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 1208-B Main Street, Daphne, Alabama, 36526; fax 251-441-6222. For information, contact Shannon Holbrook at the Ecological Services Field Office by telephone at 251-441-5181, or by e-mail at shannon_holbrook@fws.gov.

Little amphianthus, black-spored quillwort, mat-forming quillwort

Georgia Ecological Services Field Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 105 Westpark Drive, Suite D, Athens, Georgia, 30606; fax 706-613-6059. For information, contact Deborah Harris at the Ecological Services Field Office by telephone at 706-613-9493, ext. 224, or by e-mail at deborah_harris@fws.gov.

Seabeach amaranth

Raleigh Ecological Services Field Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, P.O. Box 33726, Raleigh, North Carolina 33726; fax 919-856-4558. For information, contact Dale Suiter at the Ecological Services Field Office by telephone at 919-856-4520, ext 18, or by e-mail at dale_suiter@fws.gov.

The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working 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 can make it happen, visit fws.gov. Connect with the Service on Facebook, follow our tweets, watch the YouTube Channel and download photos from Flickr.