Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Endangered Status for the Armored Snail and Slender Campeloma

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, determine the armored snail (Pyrgulopsis (=Marstonia) pachyta) and slender campeloma (Campeloma decampi) to be endangered species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). The armored snail occurs only in Piney and Limestone Creeks, Limestone County, Alabama. The range of the slender campeloma has been reduced (Aquatic Resources Center (ARC) 1997) by at least three-quarters from its historical distribution and the species now occurs only in Round Island, Piney, and Limestone Creeks, Limestone County, Alabama. These species are now in a particularly precarious position, being restricted to a few isolated sites along two or three short river reaches. Siltation and other pollutants from poor land-use practices and waste discharges are contributing to the general deterioration of water quality, likely affecting these species. This action implements the protection of the Act for these two snails.