EuryceAlliance

advancing research and conservation of Texas Eurycea salamanders

Category Archives: development

Travis County commissioners asked to back staff recommendation to list salamanders as endangered

This article was published today in The Austin American-Statesman by staff reporter Farzad MashhoodTravis County commissioners asked to back staff recommendation to list salamanders as endangered

 

This week’s Austin Chronicle features history of Save Our Springs

Did you know that the specific name of the Barton Springs Salamander (Eurycea sosorum) is derived from the acronym SOS for Save Our Springs?

This week marks the 20th anniversary of the Save Our Springs ordinance, which was a “a voter-driven initiative to protect Barton Springs against unrestricted development in the Barton Creek watershed” (to quote Amy Smith’s Chronicle article today). The Austin Chronicle has produced a series of articles and timelines about the history of the SOS movement in Austin in this week’s issue. 

Cronkite documentary on non-point source pollution features Barton Springs

Pointless Pollution, a documentary hosted by [legendary journalist and UT Austin alumn] Walter Cronkite on the problems posed to the nation’s water supply by non-point source pollution, is being aired on local Travis County Cable Channel 17  as part of Travis County’s Texas Water Videos for August. One segment includes Lake Travis and Barton Springs.

These videos, presented by LCRA, will be broadcast together during the following time blocks on the Travis County Cable Channel 17:

Wednesday August 1, 2012- 10:00 p.m.
Thursday August 2, 2012- 12:30 p.m. & 6:30 p.m.
Friday August 3, 2012- 9:00 a.m. & 8:30 a.m.
Saturday August 4, 2012- 8:30 a.m.
Sunday August 5, 2012- 3:00 p.m.
Monday August 6, 2012- 12:30 p.m.

 

Other spring and salamander-related films in this series include:

Austin Underground: Four Part Series

This series is designed to provide viewers with a ‘virtual field trip’ into the Barton Springs Edwards Aquifer. The video is broken up into the following four segments:

Geology– Explores the passage of water over land to the recharge zone into critical environmental features including fractures, sinkholes, and caves. It also examines the dissolution of karst limestone.
Hydrogeology– Explores the underground flow of water through the cave/ aquifer system by means of dye trace studies, and the re-emergence of groundwater at local springs, particularly Barton Springs.
Salamander– Studies the aquifer and the springs as a habitat for aquatic species, including the Austin Blind Salamander and the endangered Barton Springs Salamander.
Threats/ Solutions– Explores threats to the aquifer (non-point source pollution).

These videos, presented by City of Austin, will be broadcast together during the following time blocks:

Wednesday August 15, 2012- 10:00 p.m.
Thursday August 16, 2012-  12:30 p.m. & 6:30 p.m.
Friday August 17, 2012-  9:00 a.m. & 8:30 p.m.
Saturday August 18, 2012-  8:30 a.m.
Sunday August 19, 2012-  3:00 p.m.
Monday August 20, 2012-  12:30 p.m.

Texas, The State of Springs

This video, presented by TEXAS Parks & Wildlife, explores the decline of our natural springs, issues that effect spring flow, and what can be done to save these resources.

It will be broadcast on the following dates/ times:

Wednesday August 22, 2012- 10:00 p.m.
Thursday August 23, 2012-  12:30 p.m. & 6:30 p.m.
Friday August 24, 2012-  9:00 a.m. & 8:30 p.m.
Saturday August 25, 2012-  8:30 a.m.
Sunday August 26, 2012-  3:00 p.m.
Monday August 27, 2012-  12:30 p.m.

Group forms to represent landowners in potential salamander listing

Click the title to read the article, “Group forms to represent landowners in potential salamander listing” which appeared in Community Impact News on March 9, 2012 by Samantha Bryant.

Round Rock resolution rails against Endangered Species Act

Click the title to read the article, “Round Rock resolution rails against Endangered Species Act”  which appeared in the Austin American-Statesman on March 8, 2012 by Benjamin Wermund.

Austin American-Statesman Reports on Georgetown Salamander.

An October 18, 2011 article from the Austin American Statesman entitled “Salamanders and their federal ‘red tape’ latest to vex Williamson County officials” discusses the impending listing of the Georgetown Salamander (Eurycea naufragia) and includes and interview with biologist and Eurycea researcher Dr. Ben Pierce of Southwestern University. I’m sure we fellow biologists might agree that E. naufragia is more than just red tape!

Biologist Ben Pierce of Southwestern University searches for the Georgetown Salamander (Eurycea naufragia). Photo by Andy Sharp, Austin American-Statesman.

The Georgetown Salamander (Eurycea naufragia). Photo by Andy Sharp, Austin American-Statesman.