The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced today the re-opening of the comment period and availability of a draft economic analysis for its July 17, 2006, proposal to designate critical habitat for three invertebrate species, two beetles and an amphipod (a shrimp-like crustacean) in central Texas.
The three endangered species are the Comal Springs dryopid beetle, Comal Springs riffle beetle, and Pecks cave amphipod. These species are aquatic and are known to occur only in four spring systems associated with the Edwards aquifer in central Texas.
The Service has prepared a draft economic analysis that estimates the impacts of the Comal Springs dryopid beetle, Comal Springs riffle beetle, and Pecks cave amphipod conservation efforts in the proposed designated areas - not just those impacts exclusively associated with this proposed critical habitat designation - to be between $11.9 and $77.3 million over the next 20 years.
These species are aquatic and are known to occur only in four spring systems associated with the Edwards aquifer in central Texas. All three are quite small; for example, the riffle beetle is about as long as an uncooked spaghetti noodle is wide.
Critical habitat for the three species is being proposed at Comal Springs and Hueco Springs in Comal County, and Fern Bank Springs and San Marcos Springs in Hays County. Comal and San Marcos Springs have been impounded to form lakes. Critical habitat for these species encompasses lakes and spring openings and includes a 50-foot buffer zone around the waters edge. The proposal to designate critical habitat is part of a settlement agreement negotiated with the Center for Biological Diversity.
For the Comal Springs riffle beetle, the Service has proposed critical habitat on19.8 acres in Landa Lake, which encompasses Comal Springs, and 10.5 acres of Spring Lake which overlies San Marcos Springs, for a total of 30.3 acres. The Pecks Cave amphipod has a total of 38.5 acres proposed; 38.1 acres at Comal Springs and 0.4 acres at Hueco Springs. The Comal Springs dryopid beetle has 39.5 acres proposed; 38.1 acres at Comal Springs and 1.4 acres at Fern Bank Springs.
"We identified the physical and biological elements required to satisfy each species need for food, water, shelter and space to raise young," said Benjamin N. Tuggle, Ph.D, Southwest Regional Director for the Service. "Those elements form the foundation for a critical habitat designation. The three species are aquatic-adapted meaning they spend their lives in or around the spring waters. Our proposal highlights the importance of the springs."
The three freshwater species share something in common with the more than 180,000 residents of the two counties - they prefer their water unpolluted. Water quality and quantity are important concerns for the species, as well as the ecological health of the spring systems. Hazardous material spills, pesticide use, stormwater pollutants and increasing water use could damage the habitat.
"These species exist in the aquifer where the counties draw their drinking water. They act as an indicator of good water quality because they cant survive in polluted waters," said Tuggle. "All of us have a vested interest in the quality of the water in the Edwards Aquifer."
Under the Endangered Species Act, critical habitat refers to specific geographic areas that contain features essential for the conservation of a threatened or endangered species and may require special management considerations and protection. When specifying an area as critical habitat, the ESA requires the Service to consider economic and other relevant impacts of the designation. If the benefits of excluding an area outweigh the benefits of including it, the Secretary may exclude an area from critical habitat, unless this would result in the extinction of a threatened or endangered species.
Designation of critical habitat does not 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 designation comes into play when a federal permit is required, federal funding is involved or the land is federally managed.
A copy of the proposed economic analysis and the proposed critical habitat rule is available on the internet at http://www.fws.gov/southwest/es/ElectronicLibrary_Main.cfm or by telephoning 512-490-0057. Comments must be received by April 16. Send comments by facsimile to 512-490-0974 or by electronic mail to FW2Comal@fws.gov">. You may also mail them to Austin Ecological Services Office, USFWS, 10711 Burnet Road, Suite 200, Austin, Texas 78758.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is the principal Federal agency responsible for conserving, protecting and enhancing fish, wildlife and 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 69 national fish hatcheries, 64 fishery resources offices and 81 ecological services field stations. The agency enforces Federal wildlife laws, administers the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended, manages migratory bird populations, restores nationally significant fisheries, conserves and restores wildlife habitat such as wetlands, and helps foreign and Native American tribal governments with their conservation efforts. It also oversees the Federal Assistance program, which distributes hundreds of millions of dollars in excise taxes on fishing and hunting equipment to state fish and wildlife agencies. Visit the Services website at http://www.fws.gov.
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