SAN MARCOS & COMAL SPRING & ASSOCIATED AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS (REVISED) RECOVERY PLAN rI Us. San Marcos and Comal Springs and Associated Aquatic Ecosystems (Revised) Recovery Plan (Short tide: San Marcos/Comal (Revised) Recovery Plan) for San Marcos Gaxnbusia (Gambusia georgei) Fountain Darter (Etheostomafonticola) San Marcos Salamander (Eu~ycea nana) Texas Wild-rice (Zizania texana) Texas Blind Salamander (Typhiomolge rathbuni) (Original approved: April 8, 1985) Prepared by The San Marcos/Comal Recovery Team and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Austin Ecological Services Office 10711 Burnet Road, Suite 200 Austin, Texas 78758-4455 for Region 2 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Albuquerque, New Mexico Approved: Date: February 14, 1996 United States Department of the Interior FiSH AND WThDLIFESERVICE Eco1o~izai Serucd Field Q~ic 1071’. ~uxnerRe~ad. S.~ire 200 ~pJ~ Bank Bide. A.Lstin, Texas T8753 March 22, 1996 CORRECTION SHEET FOR SAN HARCOS/COI4A.L (REVISED) RECOVERY PLAN The following corrections should be noted to the San MarcoS & Comal Springs and Associated Aquatic Ecosystems (Revised) Recovery Plan (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1996): P.iv, the literature citation should read “U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 1996. ‘, not 1995. P.7, column 2, second paragraph, line 13: “atchment” should be “catchment” P. 33, column 1, under “Habitat”, first paragraph: the list given there should be numbered 1-6. P. 34, column 1, lines 4—5: For clarification, the “—“ on the end of line 4 is a negative number sign. P. 59, task 2.~: for clarification, the reference to task 2.11, actually refers to subtask 2.11 listed above task 2.3. P. 64, column 2, line 7: the sentence beginning “Some mechanism “ should read “Some mechanism for assuring adequate aquifer levels and springf lows is essential to assure success of this plan, otherwise all the efforts of the involved parties could be offset by parties who choose not to participate in the implementation of the Aquifer Management Plan.” P. 114, column 2, line 14: replace “without” with “which does not impose” p. 116, column 1, 7 lines from the bottom: “task 2.11” should read “subtask 2.12”. San Marcus & Comal Springs & Associated Aquatic Ecosystems Recovers’ Plan SAN MARCOS/COMAL RECOVERY TEAM Dr. Robert J. Edwards, Leader Ms. Jackie Poole Department of Biology Texas Parks and Wildlife Department University ofTexas-Pan American Endangered Resources Branch Edinburg,TX 78539 3000 So. IH-35 Suite 100 Austin, TX 78704 Dr. Gary P. Garrett Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Dr. Dianna D. Tupa Heart of the Hills Research Station 11102 D-K Ranch Rd. Junction Star Route Box 62 Austin, TX 78759 Ingram, TX 78025 Dr. Bobby G. Whiteside Dr. Glenn Longley Department of Biology Department of Biology Southwest Texas State University Southwest Texas State University San Marcos, TX 78666 San Marcos, TX 78666 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Liaison Ms. Alisa M. Shull USFWS, Ecological Services Field Office 10711 Burnet Road, Suite 200 Austin, TX 78758 Recovery Team H San Marcos &Comal Springs &Associated Aquatic Ecosystems Recovers Plan DISCLAIMER Recovery plans delineate reasonable actions that are believed to be required to recover and/or protect listed species. Plans are published by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, sometimes prepared with the assistance of recovery teams, contractors, State agencies, and others. Because of furloughs of Federal employees and ongoing litigation regarding the Edwards Aquifer and species covered by this plan, there was considerable urgency to finalize this plan. Therefore, the normal critique and input to the final version of the plan was minimal. The Service does, however, appreciate the Recovery Team s substantial efforts in completing the earlier drafts of this plan. As is customary, objectives will be attained and any necessary funds made available subject to budgetary and other constraints affecting the parties involved, as well as the need to address other priorities. Recovery plans do not necessarily represent the views nor the official positions or approval of any individuals or agencies involved in the plan formulation, other than the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. They represent the official position of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service only after they have been signed by the Regional Director or Director as approved. Approved recovery plans are subject to modifi- cation as dictated by new findings, changes in species status, and the completion of recovery tasks. Disclaimer 111 San Marcos & Cornal Springs & Associated Aquatic Ecosystems Recovers’ Plan LITERATURE CITATIONS Literature citations should read as follows: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 1995. San Marcos/Comal (Revised) Recovery Plan. Albuquerque, New Mexico. pp. x + 93 with 28 pages of appendices. Additional copies of this plan, when finalized, may be purchased from: Fish and Wildlife Reference Service: 5430 Grosvenor Lane, Suite 110 Bethesda, Maryland 20814 (800) 582-3421 or (301) 492-6403 The fee for the plan varies depending on the number of pages of the plan. Literature Citations iv San Marcos& Carnal Springs &AssociatedAquatic Ecosystems Recovery Plan ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The Service would like to express its appreciation for the many individuals, groups and agencies who have been actively working to resolve problems and gather information needed to achieve the goals of stabilizing the habitats and populations of these species, and making progress toward recovery. The Service looks forward to continued collaboration to achieve the conservation of these unique resources. Many individuals and groups have conducted or assisted in field research on the Comal and San Marcos rivers, including people from city departments, universities, state and Federal agencies, non- profit groups, local businesses, landowners, and interested individuals. Thanks to one and all. The Service gratefully acknowledges the Alabama Museum of Natural History and the Illinois Natural History Survey for use of the line drawing of the fountain darter found in Figure 4. In addi- tion, thanks is due the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department for permission to use the illustration of Texas wild-rice used in Figure 6. Adax,wkdgement3 v San Marcos & Comal Springs & Associated Aquatic Ecosystems Recovery lw EXECUTIVE SUMMARY RECOVERY CRITERIA CURRENT SPECIES’ STATUS Delisting is considered unattainable in the near future for all five species due to the The fountain darter, San Marcos gambusia, Texas blind salamander, andTexas wild-rice are potential for extinction from catastrophic events. endangered. The San Marcos salamander is Consequently, this plan calls for the establish- ment and continued maintenance of refugia threatened. Critical habitat is designated for all except the Texas blind salamander. The fountain capability for all five species in case of a cata- darter occurs in the San Marcos and Comal strophic event. Downlisting is considered fea- systems in centralTexas. The Texas blind sala- sible for the fountain darter, Texas wild-rice, and mander is restricted to the Edwards Aquifer. The Texas blind salamander and detailed criteria are other three species occur in the San Marcos given in the plan. The potential for downlisting system. Other species of concern also occur in the San Marcos gambusia is problematic. In- these ecosystems including three that have been terim objectives are given for that species to proposed for listing: Peck’s Cave amphipod, measure progress toward preventing extinction. Comal Springs riffle beetle, and the Comal ACTIONS NEEDED Springs dryopid beetle. 1. Assure sufficient water levels in the HABITAT REQUIREMENTS Edwards aquifer and flows in Comal and AND LIMITING FACTORS San Marcos Springs to maintain habitat for all life stages of the five listed All species are aquatic and inhabit ecosys- species and integrity of the ecosystem tems dependent on the Edwards Aquifer. All but upon which they depend. the subterranean Texas blind salamander occur in spring-fed systems. Loss of springflows due to 2. Protect water quality. drawdown of the aquifer is one of the primary 3. Establish and maintain populations for all threats. Other threats include nonnative species, five listed species in their historic habitats. recreational activities, predation, and direct or indirect habitat destruction or modification by 4. Conduct biological studies necessary for humans (e.g., dam building, bank stabilization, successful monitoring, management, and and control of aquatic vegetation) and factors restoration. that decrease water quality. 5. Encourage partnerships with landowners RECOVERY GOALS and agencies to develop and implement conservation strategies. The goals of recovery are: 1) to secure the 6. Develop and implement a regional survival of these species in their native ecosys- Aquifer Management Plan. tems; 2) to develop an ecosystem approach using strategies to address both local, site-specific, and 7. Develop and implement local broad regional issues related to recovery; and 3) management and restoration plans to to conserve the integrity and function of the address multiple threats. aquifer and spring-fed ecosystems that these species inhabit. 8. Promote public information and education. Executive Summary vi San Marcos & Comal Springs &Associated Aquatic Ecosystems Recovery Plan Costs (Dollars x 1000): Priority 1 Priority 1 Priority 2 Priority 3 Year Tasks Tasks Tasks Tasks Total 1996 256.0 506.5 234.5 5.0 1,002.0 1997 238.0 530.5 233.5 5.0 1,007.0 1998 205.0 439.5 182.0 5.0 831.5 1999- 2025 1,140.0 1,329.5 592.0 — 3,061.5 Total 1,839.0 2,806.0 1,242.0 15.0 5,902.0 Date ofRecovery: If continuous progress is made, downlisting the fountain darter and Texas wild-rice should be possible by 2025. Executive Summary vii San Marcus & Comal springs & ssoccsted Aquatic Bcosvsrersss Recovers Piais TABLE OF CONTENTS DisclailIIer iii Literature Citations IV ~~~flOwledgements Executive Summary vi Table of Contents viii List of Figures and Tables Overview of the Recovery Plan PART I - BACKGROUND INFORMATION A. THE ECOSYSTEMS 6 Physiography and Hydrology 7 B.