Possible designation of critical habitats for the Jollyville, Georgetown, Salado and Austin Blind salamanders could cost $29 million in developmental impacts during the next 23 years, according to a draft economic analysis released by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on Jan. 25.
Critical habitats are defined by USFWS as areas containing essential features to the conservation of a threatened or endangered species and call for additional considerations in development and construction. Under the federal Endangered Species Act, USFWS must consider the economic impact of designating an area as a critical habitat.
"If the benefits of excluding an area outweigh the benefits of designating it, the [service] may exclude an area from critical habitat [classification], unless that would jeopardize the existence of a threatened or endangered species," according to a USFWS news release.
The designation of critical habitats has been a concern throughout Williamson County as officials fear the measure could hamper development in the area. The $29 million figure accounts for impacts to possible development, transportation, mining, and species and habitat management activities in the proposed habitats, but it does not cover water management activities, utility projects and livestock grazing activities, according to the analysis.
