Forwarded by Jane Clark at [log in to unmask] 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 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - For SC email list T-and-C, send: GET TERMS-AND-CONDITIONS.CURRENT to [log in to unmask]