Federal Threatened & Endangered Species in Missouri

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
There are currently 38 Federal listings of threatened and endangered (T&E) species in Missouri, which have the full protections of the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Of those, 28 species are animals and the remaining ten are plants. Understanding the Federal T&E species is important to Missouri Electric Cooperatives (MECs), because the construction of new projects and operations of existing facilities, such as transmission and distribution lines, microwave towers, substations, and even operations at power plants may potentially effect these listed species. It is imperative for MECs to understand when they may potentially be impacting a federally listed species and this can begin by having a reference to which species are relevant to your service area, especially when there are approximately 2,300 species listed under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). In order to provide a regional perspective for MECs, this section of the Environmental Compliance Assistance Manual (ECAM), will list each species according to Missouri’s six G&T electric cooperatives service territories. Providing a quick reference to each coop, when they may potentially be in a listed species habitat area. Once a coop understands that their
project may be located within a listed species habitat area, they can begin communication with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) early in the planning process to avoid lengthy project delays and increased costs.

Regulations & Compliance
 

Endangered Species Act (ESA)
Section 9 of the ESA prohibits “taking” of species listed as endangered or threatened under section 4 of the Act. The term “take” is defined as harass, harm, pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, kill, trap, capture, or collect, or attempt to engage in any such conduct. The term “harm” is defined as significant habitat modification or degradation that results in death or injury to listed species by significantly impairing essential behavioral patterns, including breeding, feeding, or sheltering. The term “harass” is defined as actions that create the likelihood of injury to listed species to such an extent as to significantly disrupt normal behavioral patterns, which include, but are not limited to, breeding, feeding, or sheltering. However, the USFWS may, under specified circumstances, issue permits that allow the take of federally listed species, provided that the take is incidental to, but not the purpose of, otherwise lawful activity. Non-federal entities may obtain an “incidental take permit” for the take of listed species under section 10 (a)(1)(B), after development and approval of a Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP). Although MECs, may often have a Federal Nexus in the form of the Rural Utilities Service (RUS), in which case consultation with USFWS occurs under Section 7(a)(2) of the ESA for obtaining an “incidental take permit” if required.

Listed Species by G&T Service Territory

All G&T’s:
Gray bat (myotis grisescens), Indiana bat (myotis sodalis), northern long-eared bat (myotis septentrionalis)

Bats: Gray bat- Fact Sheet Indiana bat – Fact Sheet Northern Long-eared bat – Fact Sheet

Birds: Least Tern- Fact Sheet  Red Knot – Fact Sheet Fish: Topeka Shiner – Fact Sheet  Pallid sturgeon – Fact Sheet Plants: Mead’s Milkweed – Fact Sheet Western prairie fringed orchid – Fact Sheet

Birds: Least Tern- Fact Sheet  Red Knot – Fact Sheet Clams: Fat pocketbook – Fact Sheet Higgins eye pearlymussel – Fact Sheet Sheepnose mussel - Fact Sheet Spectaclecase – Fact Sheet Fish: Topeka Shiner – Fact Sheet Pallid sturgeon – Fact Sheet Plants: Eastern prairie fringed orchid- Fact Sheet Mead’s Milkweed – Fact Sheet Western prairie fringed orchid – Fact Sheet

Birds: Least Tern- Fact Sheet  Red Knot – Fact Sheet  Clams: Scaleshell Mussel – Fact Sheet  Snuffbox mussel – Fact Sheet  Spectaclecase – Fact Sheet  Fish: Pink Mucket – Fact Sheet Niangua darter – Fact Sheet Topeka Shiner – Fact Sheet Pallid sturgeon – Fact Sheet Plants: Decurrent false aster – Fact Sheet Mead’s Milkweed – Fact Sheet Running buffalo clover – Fact Sheet

Birds: Least Tern- Fact Sheet Red Knot – Fact Sheet Red-cockaded woodpecker – Fact Sheet Fish: Neosho madtom – Fact Sheet Ozark cavefish – Fact Sheet Amphibians: Ozark hellbender – Fact Sheet Crustaceans: Cave crayfish – Fact Sheet Snails: Tumbling creek cavesnail – Fact Sheet Clams: Neosho mucket – Fact Sheet Rabbitsfoot – Fact Sheet Scaleshell Mussel – Fact Sheet Spectaclecase – Fact Sheet Pink Mucket – Fact Sheet Winged mapleleaf – Fact Sheet Plants: Geocarpon-Tiny Tim or Earth Fruit – Fact Sheet Missouri bladderpod – Fact Sheet Virginia sneezeweed – Fact Sheet Running buffalo clover – Fact Sheet Additional Species Listed in Oklahoma Service Territory Bats: Ozark Big-eared Bat – Fact Sheet Birds: Piping Plover – Fact Sheet Whooping Crane – Fact Sheet Clams: Ouachita Rock Pocketbook – Fact Sheet Fish: Arkansas River Shiner – Fact Sheet Leopard Darter – Fact Sheet Insects: American Burying Beetle – Fact Sheet

Birds: Least Tern- Fact Sheet  Red Knot – Fact Sheet  Fish: Niangua darter – Fact Sheet Pallid sturgeon – Fact Sheet Amphibians: Ozark hellbender – Fact Sheet Clams: Scaleshell Mussel – Fact Sheet Sheepnose mussel - Fact Sheet Snuffbox mussel – Fact Sheet Spectaclecase – Fact Sheet Pink Mucket – Fact Sheet Winged mapleleaf – Fact Sheet Plants: Running buffalo clover – Fact Sheet Virginia sneezeweed – Fact Sheet Insects: Hine’s emerald dragonfly – Fact Sheet

Birds: Least Tern- Fact Sheet Red Knot – Fact Sheet Red-cockaded woodpecker – Fact Sheet Fish: Grotto sculpin – Fact Sheet Pallid sturgeon – Fact Sheet Amphibians: Ozark hellbender – Fact Sheet Clams: Curtis pearlymussel – Fact Sheet Fat pocketbook – Fact Sheet Scaleshell Mussel – Fact Sheet Snuffbox mussel – Fact Sheet Pink Mucket – Fact Sheet Plants: Decurrent false aster – Fact Sheet Mead’s Milkweed – Fact Sheet Running buffalo clover – Fact Sheet Virginia sneezeweed – Fact Sheet Pondberry – Fact Sheet  Small whorled pogonia – Fact Sheet Insects: Hine’s emerald dragonfly – Fact Sheet