Endangered status could delay WTP 4

AUSTIN (KXAN) - The Environmental Board has scheduled a forum tonight to discuss the possible impact to Water Treatment Plant 4 if the Jollyville Plateau Salamander is named an endangered species.

“If the salamander becomes listed (as endangered), we might have to stop projects temporarily while we meet the requirements of the endangered species act,” said Chuck Lesniak with the city’s Watershed Protection Department.

The only known location in the world for the salamander is in creeks and watersheds in and surrounding the Jollyville area. The amphibian’s numbers have been dwindling in recent years.

Right now, the species is a candidate for the endangered list and a Candidate Conservation Agreement with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service could specify which projects are halted. One habitat of particular concern to the city a location awhere the city intends to build a water transmission line from Water Treatment Plant 4 to northwest Austin. The Environmental Board will discuss the issue at its regular meeting tonight, which starts at 6 p.m. in Council chambers.

“There has never been an agreement like this in central Texas and there are maybe only a few dozen around the country,” said Lesniak.

If the salamander becomes endangered, some of the projects which could be affected are utility and road construction and maintenance, stormwater management and creek maintenance in the areas near the animal’s habitats.

Wednesday night’s forum was to discuss the effects of the proposed agreement with the public.