Proposed Designation of a Critical Habitat for Salado and Georgetown Salamanders

The Village of Salado is encouraging landowners, developers, business owners and the owners of private wells to offer comments relating to the proposed designation of a critical habitat by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (“USFWS”) for the Salado and Georgetown Salamanders.

On September 15, USFWS announced that it was proposing a critical habitat designation for the Georgetown and Salado salamanders. In total, the proposed habitat would comprise more than 1,500 acres of Central Texas land in Bell and Williamson Counties. If approved, the designation could result in the imposition additional regulations to protect the habitat and the threatened salamander.

The public comment period relating to the proposed habitat designation will end on November 16, 2020.

The Bell County Adaptive Management Coalition (“BCAMC”), which is comprised of officials from Bell County, the Village of Salado, the Salado Water Supply Corporation, and the Clearwater Underground Water Conservation District, believes the critical habitat designation is not prudent nor scientifically defendable under the statutory authority of USFWS.

Since 2012, the BCAMC has expended various resources on this topic, with the overall goal of increasing scientific knowledge of the Salado salamander, and adding to its conservation. The combined effects of the Coalition’s efforts have protected the Salado salamander and its habitat, rendering a critical habitat designation simply unnecessary and not prudent.

Below are the foundational beliefs of the BCAMC which are supported by legal and scientific understanding:

• Foundational science used in support of the designations is not consistent with available literature, and should not be used as the basis for designating critical habitat;
• Water quality degradation should not be a factor considered for this designation because the Coalition continues to implement and manage research efforts and regulations that have improved water quality to stable conditions;
• Water quantity degradation should not be a factor considered for this designation because the Coalition continues to implement research, regulations, and ordinances that maintain sufficient water quantity for the Salado Salamander;
• Public identification of sites could increase impacts to the species and its habitat (i.e. site disturbance, species harassment, etc.);
• The associated Economic Analysis was not inclusive for all anticipated impacts in Bell County; and,
• Salado salamander sites located on Solana Ranch, a conservation easement in Bell County monitored by The Nature Conservancy (TNC), should not be included in this designation because of the existing, successful management by TNC.

Coalition members and others are encouraging local businesses, landowners and well owners in the both the Village of Salado and the rural areas of Bell County understand the importance of this issue and submit comments to USFWS no later than November 16, 2020.

If you have questions or need additional information, please contact the Village of Salado at 254-947-5060 or via email. 

To assist those interested individuals interested in learning more on the issue and participating in the public comment process, the Coalition has prepared  the following document library: