Salamander Gets Protection in 3 States

Federal wildlife officials have listed a salamander native to south Georgia, Florida and South Carolina as an endangered species. The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service also designated more than 27,000 acres in the three states as critical habitat for the reticulated flatwoods salamander and the threatened frosted flatwoods salamander.

The reticulated flatwoods salamander is endangered because of its small population sizes, loss of natural habitat to development and its limited ability to repopulate its historic habitat.

(Associated Press)

Georgia could welcome panther population

A new federal plans calls for reintroducing panthers in Georgia. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service report published Thursday says the goal is to establish new panther populations outside of South Florida, where the panther population has rebounded. Other states cited for possible relocation are Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mississippi. Even though panthers are thriving in the highest number in decades – 120 -- officials say the population is still too small and too geographically concentrated to ensure the panther's survival.

(Associated Press)

Florida officials call foul on Georgia over water management

Florida lawmakers are accusing Georgia of negligence in managing its water. Florida is calling on the federal government to intervene to prevent further damage downstream in that state’s Apalachicola Bay. Officials in Florida say a recently unveiled federal plan for the region’s river basin gives Georgia a free pass for failing to implement more stringent conservation measures. Just recently, U.S. Fish and Wildlife officials gave an opinion that keeping more water upstream in Georgia would not jeopardize the existence of four federally protected species downstream.

Key opinion today to affect water-sharing plan

An important opinion will be given today by officials with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. It involves how a proposed plan to keep more water in Georgia during times of drought might affect four downstream species in the Apalachicola Bay. Florida officials earlier had filed a letter voicing their opposition to the water-sharing plan. Florida environmental officials say the plan would decimate oyster populations, threaten mussel species and make it harder for sturgeon to spawn in the downstream waters.

Florida opposition to water plan to help Georgia

Florida officials sent a letter to federal officials detailing their objections to the newly-devised plan that would allow more water to be stored in Georgia--and less going into Apalachicola Bay. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Army Corps of Engineers received the Florida complaint, which says the plan will decimate oyster populations and threaten protected species in the river. The government is expected to finalize its plan on June 1st.

Corps of Engineers seeks 10% cut in flows from Lanier

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has announced a plan to decrease by 10 percent the amount of water released from Lake Lanier. The change would apply under most conditions.

The move is seen as an acknowledgement by the Corps that its current reservoir management plan is flawed.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife has until June 1 to review the new plan and its impact on federally protected species of wildlife.

Temporary fix brokered in water wars

Governor Sonny Perdue left Washington Thursday afternoon with some help for Georgia. It comes in the form of a 16-percent reduction in the release of water from Lake Lanier.

Perdue along with the governors of Alabama and Florida met with Bush administration and federal officials yesterday in what was described as sometimes "tense" meetings in trying to find solutions in the tri-state water wars. The Army Corps of Engineers' plan for water release reduction must still get approval from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The three governors plan to meet again in December in attempts to broker a longer-reaching deal.