FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority Proactively Addresses Endangered Species Listing of Freshwater Mussels in the Guadalupe River Basin
NEW BRAUNFELS, TX – On June 4, 2024, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) issued a final rule designating three freshwater mussel species native to the Guadalupe River Basin as “endangered species” under the federal Endangered Species Act. These species include the Guadalupe fatmucket, the Guadalupe orb and the false spike.
In anticipation of this listing, the Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority (GBRA) has been diligently tracking and preparing for the eventual designation of these freshwater mussels since 2019. As a steward of the region’s water and natural resources, GBRA’s primary focus has been to ensure compliance with federal regulations while safeguarding its essential public services, including water supply and wastewater management.
Central to GBRA’s efforts is the development of a proactive, basin-wide habitat conservation plan, aimed at mitigating adverse impacts to species while facilitating continued operations and future expansion of water supply projects. This comprehensive plan leverages tools provided in the Endangered Species Act to obtain regulatory assurances and ensure compliance with federal regulations.
“We are committed to protecting the biodiversity of the Guadalupe River Basin while meeting the water supply needs of our communities,” said Nathan Pence, Executive Manager of Environmental Science at GBRA. “Our ongoing collaboration with local U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service staff emphasizes our dedication to responsible environmental stewardship.”
The habitat conservation plan, currently three years into a six-year planning process, is expected to culminate in the issuance of a Federal Incidental Take Permit in 2027. This permit will provide GBRA and qualifying second party participants with regulatory certainty and ensure compliance with the Endangered Species Act.
As part of its collaborative approach, GBRA invites community members and stakeholders in the Guadalupe Basin to learn more about the Habitat Conservation Plan. Keep up with the latest updates by subscribing to the GRHCP contact list at www.gbra.org/environmental/habitat-conservation-plan/
For more information about GBRA’s conservation efforts and ongoing projects, visit gbra.org.
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About the Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority
The Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority (GBRA) provides reliable high-quality water and wastewater treatment services, conserves and protects the Guadalupe River Basin, generates hydroelectric power, manages recreational areas, offers laboratory services, and creates educational programming while planning for community growth. Established as a water conservation and reclamation district by the Texas Legislature in 1933, GBRA has evolved to serve as a leader and steward of the water resources across a 10-county statutory district. GBRA’s district begins near the headwaters of the Guadalupe and Blanco rivers and ends at the San Antonio Bay, including Kendall, Comal, Hays, Caldwell, Guadalupe, Gonzales, DeWitt, Victoria, Calhoun and Refugio counties.
