The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service proposed today to designate critical habitat for the Topeka shiner, a once common midwestern minnow. This proposal includes a total of 186 stream segments in the states of Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Nebraska, and South Dakota. The Service will hold informational meetings in the affected states this summer and early fall and take public comments before finalizing this proposal.
Proposed areas of critical habitat include only those streams currently occupied by the Topeka shiner that contain the physical and biological features essential to the conservation of the species.
Critical habitat, under the Endangered Species Act, refers to geographic areas that are essential for the conservation of a threatened or endangered species and that may require special management considerations or protection. A critical habitat designation does not create a preserve or a refuge, and only applies to situations where Federal funding or a Federal permit is involved. Designation of critical habitat does not affect private landowners undertaking a project on private land that does not involve Federal funding or require a Federal permit or authorization.
"The designation of critical habitat will help focus Federal, Tribal, State, and private management efforts in areas that are important to the conservation of the Topeka shiner," said Ralph Morgenweck, the Service
