Hi all:

Yesterday, June 6, the US Fish and Wildlife Service published their draft Endangered and Threatened Species Critical Habitat for seven species of mussels. The title is much longer but if you are interested in reading and commenting on this issue, you will find it in the Federal Register Vol. 71, No. 108, pages 32745-32796.

The critical habitat designation is less than I had anticipated, but could still have an impact on what goes on in the Southern half of Fayette County. Stream designation includes the Flint River as far upstream as the point where Horton Creek flows into the Flint. That is downstream from GA Hwy 92 about a mile or so.

The other portion is Line Creek upstream to it’s confluence with Whitewater Creek. That is approximately 1 mile upstream from GA Hwy 16 in the far South edge of Fayette County.

However, the Critical Habitat then follows Whitewater Creek upstream to the City of Fayetteville at Sherwood Road bridge (actually the Ginger Cake Creek confluence which is just above the bridge).

The main impact on activities in Fayette County will be for those developments, bridges (including replacements), and changes in water use in and along Whitewater Creek.

Local governments will have to consider the impacts of sedimentation and water quality changes from projects they build or approve. That will include projects even if there is no Federal permit or Federal money involved.

Just the potential for impacting the critical habitat will mean the Fish and Wildlife Service will have to be contacted to receive their evaluation.

At this point, it is hard to tell if Lake McIntosh will have to jump through another hoop on this issue. That portion of Line Creek listed as critical is a couple of miles downstream from GA Hwy 85, making it almost 10 stream miles (estimate) above the designated area. However, the Fish and Wildlife Service has been known to make more distant connections so we will have to wait and see on this issue.

Dennis Chase

[Dennis Chase, now retired, was a fish and wildlife biologist with the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service for more than 26 years. Since retiring, he has worked as a consultant for Fayette County on environmental concerns, is a volunteer with the Line Creek Association of Fayette County, and has published numerous newspaper columns.]