Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Endangered Species Status for Black Creek Crayfish and Designation of Critical Habitat

Issuing agencies

Abstract

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), propose to list the Black Creek crayfish (Procambarus pictus), a crayfish species from Florida, as an endangered species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). We also propose to designate critical habitat for the Black Creek crayfish under the Act. In total, approximately 1,056 kilometers (656 miles) of streams in Clay, Duval, Putnam, and St. Johns Counties, Florida, fall within the boundaries of the proposed critical habitat designation. If we finalize this rule as proposed, it would extend the Act's protections to this species and its designated critical habitat. We also announce the availability of an economic analysis of the proposed critical habitat designation for the Black Creek crayfish.