Category: News
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Update
This week was the deadline for USFWS to decide whether the Salado Salamander and three other Central Texas-area salamanders should be listed and whether critical habitat relied upon by these species should be designated under the Endangered Species Act. USFWS announced a six-month extension of its deadline for the Salado and Georgetown Salamanders, but declared that the other two species (the Austin Blind Salamander and Jollyville Plateau Salamander) should be listed and habitat designated. USFWS cited disagreement among scientists and the need for more time to evaluate data as the reasons for delaying its decision on the Salado and Georgetown Salamanders.
DROUGHT: Study Finds Triple-digit Summers Will Become the Norm in Texas
Texas will be hotter and its summers will average triple-digit temperatures within a few decades, according to a study by the state climatologist.
John Nielsen-Gammon, who also is a professor of atmospheric sciences at Texas A&M University, said results of the study present a chilling outlook: Maximum temperatures could be up to five degrees higher by 2060.
Williamson County Explores Impact of Salamanders’ Status
On Tuesday, August 20, 2013, the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) listed the Jollyville Plateau salamander as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. The Jollyville Plateau salamander lives in springs in southwestern Williamson County and in Travis County. The USFWS also granted a six month extension on any listing action for the Georgetown and Salado salamanders, also affecting Williamson County. A 30-day comment period has been opened (closing September 19, 2013) for submission of additional information on the Georgetown and Salado salamanders.
Clearwater UWCD Expresses Concerns
“Clearwater Underground Water Conservation District has continued their very cautious position on remaining at the current Stage 2 Drought Status Declaration.” says Dirk Aaron, General Manager. Aaron stressed, “The District wants those businesses and utilities that have permitted wells to be supportive of this very conservative position. We are asking for a 20% reduction”. The permit holders and exempt well owners of the wells in the Edwards Aquifer are encouraged to remain actively conserving under this “Concern” Stage 2 Declaration Level. Both groundwater and surface water are limited at this time.
Stakeholders OK Lampasas River Watershed Protection Plan
Stakeholders in the Lampasas watershed district gave their resounding approval of the Lampasas River Watershed Protection Plan at a meeting hosted Thursday by Texas A&M AgriLife Research. About 15 stakeholders attended the meeting to discuss details of the plan, which was released in January and open for review and comments.
Although a quorum of the steering committee was not present, the group decided to move forward to explore outreach programs and funding opportunities, said Lisa Prcin, Texas AgriLife research associate at the Blackland Research & Extension Center in Temple.
