The Service is proposing to designate approximately 199.5 river miles of critical habitat for this species in Brewster, Terrell, and Val Verde counties, Texas. The Salina mucket historically occurred in the Texas portion of the Rio Grande drainage in the United States and Mexico, but today can only be found in the Lower Canyons and Martin Canyon portions of the Rio Grande just downstream of Big Bend National Park. The primary factors that influence the species’ viability include accretion of fine sediments, the loss of flowing water, and impairment of water quality. “Because the single existing populations of both species have low abundance, limited recruitment, and no ability to disperse into new areas, they are extremely vulnerable to extinction.”Īfter examining the best available scientific information available for the two freshwater mussels, the Service determined that both mussel species meet the definition of endangered under the ESA. “In making this proposed listing determination, the Service carefully assessed the status of the Rio Grande mussels, including the past, present and future threats that they face,” said Amy Lueders, the Service’s Southwest Regional Director. The mussels historically ranged throughout the mainstem Rio Grande and select major tributaries in Texas and Mexico, but today have been reduced to single populations that occupy only a fraction of this area. Fish and Wildlife Service is proposing to list two species of freshwater mussels – the Salina mucket and Mexican fawnsfoot - as endangered under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and proposing to designate critical habitat for each.
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