By Becky Fogel • 6/3/19, KUT.org
An environmental advocacy group has filed a
lawsuit against the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, claiming federal officials
are failing to protect threatened species of salamanders in Central Texas.
The Arizona-based Center for Biological
Diversity argues the federal agency has not taken steps to protect the habitats
of the Georgetown and Salado salamanders since they were first listed as
threatened five years ago.
"This lawsuit is all about making sure
that there will be clean water and habitat for these salamanders moving into
the future," said Elise Bennett, an attorney with the group.
The salamanders’ habitat includes springs,
wet caves, and groundwater around the northern part of the Edwards Aquifer.
"One thing that’s really unique about
them and I find particularly endearing is that their heads are crowned by these
beautiful fluffy gills," Bennett said. "They use these gills to live
their entire lives underwater, and that’s why it’s so important to protect
springs for these salamanders.”
Earlier this year, the Center for Biological
Diversity and the Save Our Springs Alliance announced plans
to sue the Texas Department of Transportation over highway construction in
Austin that they said threatened endangered salamanders living in cave systems
under the project.
An attorney with the Center for Biological
Diversity told KUT at the time the intent was not to stop the project but to
make sure the salamanders were protected going forward.
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