Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Listing Roswell springsnail, Koster's springsnail, Noel's amphipod, and Pecos assiminea as Endangered With Critical Habitat

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), list the Roswell springsnail (Pyrgulopsis roswellensis), Koster's springsnail (Juturnia kosteri), and Noel's amphipod (Gammarus desperatus) as endangered and the Pecos assiminea (Assiminea pecos) as endangered with critical habitat under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). These four invertebrates occur at sinkholes, springs, and associated spring runs and wetland habitats. They are found at one site in Chaves County, New Mexico, and Pecos assiminea is also found at one site in Pecos County, Texas, and one site in Reeves County, Texas. These three snails and one amphipod have an exceedingly limited distribution, low mobility, and fragmented habitat. They are imperiled by introduced species, surface and groundwater contamination, oil and gas extraction activities within the supporting aquifer and watershed, local and regional groundwater depletion, severe drought, and direct loss of their habitat (e.g., through burning or removing marsh vegetation, or flooding of habitat). This final rule will implement the Federal protection and recovery provisions of the Act for these invertebrate species. We are also designating critical habitat for the Pecos assiminea in Texas.