The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service issued letters on September 4,
2007, to Governor Rick Perry and the TCEQ concerning the agency's
Appendix A to RG-348: Optional Enhanced Measures for the Protection
of Water Quality in the Edwards Aquifer (Revised) and
Appendix B to RG-348: Optional Enhanced Measures for the Protection
of Water Quality in the Edwards Aquifer and Related Karst Features
that May Be Habitat for Karst Dwelling Invertebrates.
The letters are a concurrence that non-federal landowners and
other non-federal managers under the TCEQ Edwards Aquifer
Protection Program would have the support of the Service that no
take under the Endangered Species Act would occur if they make use
of the optional measures.
These optional measures, voluntary under the Edwards Aquifer
Protection Program, will protect certain federally listed species
from potential water quality impacts that may have otherwise
resulted from development over the Edwards Aquifer region.
The original concurrence letter was issued to Governor Rick
Perry on
February 14, 2005.
TCEQ approval letters issued to applicants who employ the
optional measures will include a statement that the optional water
quality measures were met. Some situations will still warrant
direct consultation with the USFWS, including projects located near
springs, those requiring a federal permit, those that are unrelated
to water quality and affect listed species, and those affecting
other listed species not covered by the measures.
