FWS Agreement # PCFL-02-O1
FWC Agreement No.
MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT FLATWOODS SALAMANDER CONSERVATION IN FLORIDA WHEREAS the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) is the federal agency charged with the authority to conserve fish and wildlife nationwide, and to enforce compliance with the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (ESA), and WHEREAS the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is the state agency charged with the authority to conserve fish and wildlife in Florida, and to enforce compliance with the Florida statutes and rules regarding fish and wildlife, and WHEREAS the flatwoods salamander (Ambystoma cingulatum) is federally listed as Threatened, and is listed by the State of Florida as Species of Special Concern, LET IT HEREBY BE AGREED that the FWS and the FWC will commit to fulfillment of the following actions to further the conservation of the flatwoods salamander in Florida. The FWS will: 1. Serve as the lead agency for range-wide management and recovery of the flatwoods salamander. 2. Monitor breeding populations of the flatwoods salamander and its habitat on lands under its jurisdiction. 3. Cooperate in the monitoring of the breeding populations of the flatwoods salamander and its habitat on lands under other agency jurisdiction. 4. Keep the FWC apprised of its activities with flatwoods salamanders in Florida, and contribute data it collects, or causes to collect, to the comprehensive FWC-maintained database. 5. Provide timely review of population management plans for flatwoods salamander populations. 6. Administer the review of applications for federal scientific collecting permits and issuance of permits for developments or land uses that may impact flatwoods salamander populations. Opportunity will be allowed for review and comment by the FWC prior to permit issuance. Copies of reports submitted for permit compliance for work conducted in Florida will be sent to FWC. 7. Report to the FWC annually on flatwoods salamander conservation activities in
Florida and progress toward achieving the conservation objectives in the FWS fiatwoods salamander recovery plan. The FWC will: 1. Assume the lead role in coordinating or conducting: (1) survey and monitoring activities: (2) the development of population management plans: and (3) the designation of those agencies or landowners responsible for overseeing the implementation of population management plans for flatwoods salamanders on federal, state, county or local government, and private lands in Florida. Opportunity will be allowed for review and comment by the FWS prior to implementation of each population management plan. 2. Maintain a database (data and GIS) of information on the locations, extent, status, landownership, survey results, and survey plan for extant populations of flatwoods salamander in Florida. The database will be accessible real-time to the FWS. 3. Report to the FWS annually on flatwoods salamander conservation activities and progress toward achieving the conservation objectives in the FWC’s flatwoods salamander management plan. 4. Administer the review of applications and issuance of State of Florida scientific collecting permits for flatwoods salamanders in Florida. Annually, the FWC will supply the FWS with reports or other documentation received from permit holders. 5. Serve as the point of contact for non-federal public and private landowners with questions about flatwoods salamanders. In instances of potential effects to flatwoods salamanders. FWC will refer landowners to the FWS as soon as possible. Both the FWS and the FWC will: 1. Cooperate on the development of long-term adaptive management plans for the recovery of flatwoods salamander populations. These plans should include an assessment of known threats, a schedule of management activities that could be conducted to reduce or eliminate those threats, and a schedule for monitoring the populations by periodic
resurvey.
2. Cooperate on the development and dissemination of Best Management Practices (BMPs) for landowners with fiatwoods salamander populations. 3. Cooperate on the funding. development. and implementation of other materials. programs. or incentives to private landowners that would further the conservation of the flatwoods salamander in Florida. 4. Cooperate to resolve or accommodate any differences between the FWC’s flatwoods salamander management plan and the anticipated FWSs flatwoods salamander recovery
plan.
5. Coordinate relocation or translocation efforts should it be decided that these methods are appropriate for recovery of the flatwoods salamander in Florida. 6. Inform each other of activities that affect the flatwoods salamander in Florida, especially when activities outside the scope of the Memorandum of Agreement are being considered. This agreement shall be effective for a period of 5 years from the date of approval by all parties; upon expiration of such period, and of each subsequent 5-year period during which the agreement remains in effect, it will be automatically renewed. This agreement may be terminated by either party upon a 60-day written notice to the other party. Nothing in this Memorandum of Agreement shall be construed to place financial commitment upon either party. Actions taken and funds expended to implement this Memorandum of Agreement are contingent upon appropriations, priorities, and other constraints. In the event that funding is committed, any obligation of funds will be done under a separate contract, purchase order, grant, or cooperative agreement. No member of or delegate to Congress or resident commissioner, or any officer, employee, special Government employee, or agent of FWC or FWS shall be admitted to any share or part of this agreement or to any benefit that may arise therefrom, but this provision shall not be construed to extend to a corporation or unit of Government contracting for its or for the public’s general benefit. This agreement may be amended by mutual agreement of all parties. Project Officers Fish and Wildlife Service Mr. Hildreth Cooper U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1601 Balboa Avenue Panama City, Florida 32405 Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Mr. David Cook Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission 620 South Meridian Street Tallahassee, Florida 32399-1600
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In witness whereof, each party has caused this agreement to be executed by an authorized official on the day and year set forth below their signature.
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE By______________________ Gail A. Carmody Field Office Supervi r Date
BAND 9 FLORIDA WI DLIFE CONSERVATION COMMISSION ,tZF.Allan L. Egbert, Ph.D. Executive Director
Date
Approved as to form and legality:
FWC Attorney
/BVDC/FIatwoods salamander project/Agreements/1OA FWS & FWC
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