KINGMAN SPRINGSNAIL SURVEY
General Information:
This contract is to fulfill the 2018 Kingman Field Office (KFO) need for surveying the Kingman Springsnail species populations and habitats. The Kingman springsnail is a BLM sensitive species and aligns with the Department of Interior's (DOI) first priority of "Creating a conservation legacy second only to Teddy Roosevelt" by working to develop and implement priority habitat monitoring and improvement projects. This project is in line with the guidance provided by BLM Manual 6840 - Special Status Species Management as it provides information about the habitat requirements and locations of the species to assist with management. This project furthers the objective detailed in 6840.02, which directs the BLM "B. To initiate proactive conservation measures that reduce or eliminate threats to Bureau sensitive species to minimize the likelihood of and need for listing of these species under the ESA." The authority lies under 6840.03 C. with the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.), as amended (FLPMA). The manual states in 6840.04 that "A. The Director is responsible for overseeing implementation of Special Status species policies on BLM-administered lands, coordinating as needed with State Directors on select, multi-State species conservation issues, and making any applications for project exemptions under Section 7(g) of the ESA to the Secretary of the Interior." This project further implements 6840.04, which gives the State Director the responsibility for "2. Coordinating the BLM special status species conservation efforts with adjoining BLM State Offices, State and other Federal agencies, various private organizations, and BLM stakeholders." Additionally to the DOI's first priority, having the data derived from this environmental research on hand will "streamline the environmental and regulatory review process" thereby enabling BLM to expedite processing requests for grazing use, mineral material extraction, etc. Streamlining and expediting the process is envisioned in Priorities 2 and 5c by "Utilizing our natural resources" and "Considering the impact of decisions on economic development and job creation."
Background:
The Kingman springsnail (Pyrgulopsis conica; springsnail) is an endemic aquatic mollusk located in the Black Mountains in Mohave County, Arizona. The Kingman springsnail is listed as a BLM sensitive species and in cooperation with other agencies is being monitored to develop and implement a statewide conservation agreement. WildEarth Guardians petitioned the Kingman springsnail in June 2007 for ESA listing under their 475-species petition, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) made a positive 90-day finding on the species in December 2009. The USFWS and Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies have identified the Kingman springsnail as one of 12 Arizona mollusks to be evaluated in the 2017 USFWS National Work Plan for ESA listing evaluations over the next seven years. The purpose of this project is to survey potential spring sites within BLM managed lands within the Black Mountains for the presence of springsnails and genetically identify any located snails to species. This information would be used in the development of a Springsnail Multi-species Conservation Plan, which may include public lands managed by the BLM.
Hetterly, David
