Photo Courtesy Williamson County A decision announced Aug. 19 by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service places the Austin blind and Jollyville Plateau salamanders under protection of the Endangered Species Act and designates 4,451 acres for their critical habitats.
The Austin blind salamander is concentrated in areas near Zilker Park in Southwest Austin, and the Jollyville Plateau salamander has habitats in Williamson and northern Travis counties. The listing comes after more than a year of opposition from Williamson County officials who argued the listing would damper development, as the designation of critical habitats impedes construction in the areas until the projects can be reviewed to make sure they do not negatively impact the species.
"One thing that we do know and we are thankful [for is] that [the Jollyville Plateau salamander] is a threatened listing, because it provides additional flexibility to work with U.S. Fish and Wildlife in developing mechanisms and means to provide for preservation and conservation of the species," said Gary Boyd, Williamson County environmental program coordinator.
USFWS is listing the Austin blind salamander as endangered and the Jollyville Plateau salamander as threatened. The service cited concerns on reduced water quantity and quality and disturbance of spring sites that serve as the salamanders' habitats as reasons for the listings. An Aug. 19 news release from USFWS said increased population and development in areas where the Edwards Aquifer flows into the habitats as well as persisting drought conditions have put the species at risk.
