The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announces the availability of the approved recovery plan for the endangered Illinois cave amphipod. Habitat loss and degradation of groundwater quality resulting from urbanization, agricultural activities, and an influx of human and animal waste are the principle threats to this small aquatic crustacean, which lives only in underground cave streams in west central Illinois. The recovery plan will help guide efforts to prevent extinction to the cave amphipod.
The quality and condition of groundwater in the amphipods habitats are tied to land use practices in areas surrounding cave systems. Surface activities may contribute to the degradation of groundwater and cave habitats. The recovery plan proposes to develop partnerships with Federal and state agencies, organizations, and private landowners that will provide mechanisms for protecting Illinois cave amphipod populations through voluntary and incentive-driven stewardship efforts.
Recovery plans are developed for federally endangered or threatened species. They present a blueprint or action by federal and state agencies, as well as other organizations and private landowners interested in helping to restore and recover imperiled species. The goal of this recovery plan is to bring populations to a point that protection of the Endangered Species Act is no longer necessary.
Historically, the Illinois cave amphipod was known to occur in six cave systems in Monroe and St. Clair Counties, Illinois. Its presence has not been reconfirmed in Madonnaville Cave, Monroe County and it appears to be extirpated from Stemler Cave, St. Clair County. Additional populations have been found in eight groundwater systems in Monroe County.
"The recovery plan identifies strategies and research needs that will help recover the species and preserve the values of the unique southwestern Illinois karst topography," said Joan Bade, Illinois Cave Amphipod Recovery Team Leader and biologist for the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. "In order to accomplish this," she said, "we will need strong support from the local landowners, organizations and governments."
A copy of the approved recovery plan may be obtained by contacting the Field Supervisor, Ecological Services Field Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 4469 48th Avenue Court, Rock Island, Illinois 61201, by contacting the Fish and Wildlife Reference Service, 5430 Grosvenor Lane, Suite 110, Bethesda, Maryland 20814 (telephone: 301-492-6403 or 800-582-3421), or by accessing the Services website at: http://midwest.fws.gov/endangered TTY users may contact the Fish and Wildlife Reference Service through the Federal Relay Service at 800-877-8339.
