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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 18, 2000
Contact:
Georgia Parham 812-334 4261x203
E-mail: "mailto:[log in to unmask]"
Gerald Bade 309-793-5800 x 520
E-mail: "mailto:[log in to unmask]"
EA00-14
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Corps of Engineers Determine Measures to
Conserve
Endangered Species on the Upper Mississippi River
Two Federal agencies are working together to ensure that federally-listed
endangered and threatened species in the Upper Mississippi River can be
protected while allowing other activities, such as commercial shipping, to
take place as well. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) and the
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) have completed a process under the
Endangered Species Act known as formal Section 7 consultation to address
threats to endangered species resulting from operation and maintenance of
the 9-foot navigation channel and its associated locks and dams over the
next 50 years.
The stretch of the river studied by the agencies extends from Minneapolis,
Minnesota, to Cairo, Illinois. Within that area, the Service and the Corps
examined the impacts of operating the lock and dam system, channel
maintenance dredging and material disposal, construction/maintenance of
channel training structures, and of activities such as navigation, on
several endangered and threatened species. These species included two
endangered freshwater mussels, the Higgins' eye pearlymussel and the winged
mapleleaf; two listed birds, including the threatened bald eagle and the
endangered least tern; the endangered Indiana bat; the endangered pallid
sturgeon; and one threatened plant, the decurrent false aster.
"By resolving threats and ensuring the continued survival of these rare
species, we're seeing the Endangered Species Act work the way it is
designed to," said William Hartwig, the Regional Director of the Service's
Great Lakes/Big Rivers region. "We will see benefits not only to these
species but to other fish and wildlife within this ecosystem, and
ultimately, to its human inhabitants as well."
Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act requires all Federal agencies to
help conserve listed species, and to consult with the Service when
activities they fund, permit, or undertake may have adverse affects on
threatened or endangered plants or animals. The Corps determined that
operation and maintenance of the 9-foot navigation channel might impact
several listed species, and requested formal consultation. That process
began August 6, 1999, and the completed biological opinion was provided by
the Service to the Corps on May 15, 2000. The entire biological opinion may
be viewed at "http://www.fws.gov/r3pao/pdf/umrfinal.pdf"
During consultation, the Service examined information provided by the Corps
on the expected impacts on listed species, and determined whether those
impacts were likely to affect, or possibly jeopardize the continued
existence of, those species. The Service prepared a biological opinion
outlining expected impacts.
The Service's biological opinion concluded that operation and maintenance
of the 9-foot navigation channel is likely to jeopardize the continued
existence of the Higgins' eye pearlymussel and the pallid sturgeon. Because
of this finding, the two agencies developed alternatives that would both
conserve the species and allow continued operation of the 9-foot channel.
The Higgins' eye pearlymussel is jeopardized because of continued
commercial barge transportation in the Upper Mississippi River with vessels
and equipment infested with zebra mussels. Zebra mussels are a
nonindigenous aquatic species that have infested the Upper Mississippi
River.
The "reasonable and prudent" alternative for the Higgins' eye pearlymussel
includes development of a Higgins' Eye Pearlymussel Relocation Action Plan
(i.e., relocate Higgins' eye to suitable zebra mussel-free, historically
occupied habitats) and conducting a reconnaissance study to control zebra
mussels in the Upper Mississippi River.
The pallid sturgeon is jeopardized because of the expected continued
degradation of its habitat. The reasonable and prudent alternative for the
pallid sturgeon includes: implementation of a long-term habitat restoration
program and conducting a pallid sturgeon habitat/life history study in the
Middle Mississippi River.
The Service's biological opinion also concluded that incidental take is
anticipated for the winged mapleleaf mussel and least tern. "Take" under
the Endangered Species Act means harming, harassing, or killing an
endangered or threatened animal. Incidental take is that which is
incidental to but not the purpose of an activity. A biological opinion
often allows some incidental take as long as measures are in place to
minimize its impacts.
These "reasonable and prudent" measures to minimize the impact of
incidental take for the winged mapleleaf mussel and least tern would allow
the Corps to continue its navigation program with a limited amount of take,
as long as overall conservation of the species is ensured. Some of the
measures identified in this biological opinion are: evaluation of dredge
material disposal practices and modification of channel training structures
to enhance/protect least tern nesting and foraging habitat.
The opinion also found that while the project may affect individual bald
eagles and Indiana bats, the impacts will be offset by management actions
proposed by the Corps or will be negligible and will not rise to the level
of incidental take. Adverse effects will result for the decurrent false
aster, but the species will not be jeopardized. Because plants are
considered private property, take is not prohibited if the project does not
jeopardize the continued existence of the plant.
"With hard work and the cooperative spirit that has been shown by both
agencies to date, we're confident that we can work with the Corps and the
affected States to ensure the survival of some of this country's unique
natural resources," Hartwig said.
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 Services manages the 93-million-acre National Wildlife Refuge
System of more than 520 national wildlife refuges, thousands of small
wetlands and other special management areas. It also operates 66 national
fish hatcheries, 64 fish and wildlife management assistance offices, 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.
For further information about the programs and activities of the U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service in the Great Lakes-Big Rivers Region, please visit our
HomePage at: "http://midwest.fws.gov"

Phone: 612/713-5360
V/TTY: 800/657-3775

Address: 1 Federal Drive
BHW Federal Building
Fort Snelling, MN 55111

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