June 4, 2024 – The new U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) listing offers protections for seven central Texas freshwater mussels under the Endangered Species Act and designates 1,577 river miles of critical habitat for the species across the Colorado, Guadalupe, Brazos, and Trinity River basins.
The final listing was published today (6/4) in the Federal Register and will be effective 30 days later (July 5th).
- Guadalupe fatmucket, Texas fatmucket, Guadalupe orb, Texas pimpleback, Balcones spike, and false spike will receive the endangered listing.
- The Texas fawnsfoot will receive a threatened listing with a 4(d) provision.
In April 2024, the USFWS updated its Texas freshwater mussel page with additional resources on the life history, federal listing status, recovery efforts, Stream Groupings, and sampling recommendations for these species:https://www.fws.gov/library/collections/texas-freshwater-mussels
ECT’s National Aquatics Team is ready to help you interpret these changes and provide expert guidance for your projects in Texas. Our Texas-based team supported by species lead Ryan Blankenship, is qualified, supported nationally, and has the bandwidth to grow.
Connect today to learn how we can support you and your project.
CONNECT WITH US
