The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced today a proposal to designate approximately 1,200 miles of river and stream channel in the Southeast as critical habitat for seven species of freshwater mussels protected under the Endangered Species Act (ESA).
The proposed designations for these mussels encompass portions of river and stream channels in four northeast Gulf of Mexico drainages: the Econfina Creek drainage in Florida, the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint River drainage in Alabama, Florida and Georgia, the Ochlockonee River drainage in Florida and Georgia, and the Suwannee River drainage in Florida.
The seven mussels are the endangered fat threeridge, , , and the threatened .
Public comments on the proposed rule will be accepted until August 4, 2006. Written comments on the proposal should be submitted to the Panama City Field Office, addressed to Jerry Ziewitz, at the above address. Written comments can be delivered to the Panama City Field Office, 1601 Balboa Ave., Panama City, FL 32405 attention Jerry Ziewitz. Comments may also be faxed to 850/763-2177, or sent by electronic mail (e-mail) to http://www.fws.gov/panamacity/. Copies of the proposal and maps are available by contacting Jerry Ziewitz, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 1601 Balboa Avenue, Panama City, Florida 32405, telephone 850/769-0552, extension 223; facsimile 850/763-2177.The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is the principal federal agency responsible for conserving, protecting and enhancing fish, wildlife, plants, and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. The Service manages the 95-million-acre National Wildlife Refuge System which encompasses 545 national wildlife refuges, thousands of small wetlands, and other special management areas. It also operates 70 national fish hatcheries, 64 fishery resource offices, and 78 ecological services field stations. The agency enforces federal wildlife laws, administers the Endangered Species Act, manages migratory bird populations, restores nationally significant fisheries, conserves and restores wildlife habitat such as wetlands, and helps foreign governments with their conservation efforts. It also oversees the Federal Aid program that distributes hundreds of millions of dollars in excise taxes on fishing and hunting equipment to state fish and wildlife agencies. Visit the Service's website at http://www.fws.gov.
