U.S. FWS
Environmental Conservation Online System
Conserving the Nature of America

Recovery Plan Action Status

Plan Name: Appalachian Elktoe
Plan Status: Final
Plan Date: 26-Aug-96
Lead Agency: USFWS
Lead Office: Asheville Ecological Services Field Office ( (828) 258-3939 )
Species Action Priority # Action # Action Description Action Status Est. Initiation Date Est. Completion Date Responsible Parties Work Type Labor Type Action Comments Implementation Activities
Appalachian elktoe (Alasmidonta raveneliana) 1 1 Utilize existing legislation and regulations to protect species and its habitat Ongoing Current FY 1995 - FY 1999 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Law Enforcement Division, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, State Conservation Agencies, Tennessee Valley Authority , U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of Endangered Species, USFWS Regional Office 4 Other: Law Enforcement, Other: Regulations Internal Technical Assistance, Internal Field Assistance, Internal Administrative ** For all tasks with Responsible Parties: SCA - In North Carolina, these are the North Carolina Department of Agriculture; North Carolina Department of Environment, Health, and Natural Resources; North Carolina Division of Parks and Recreation, and North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission. In Tennessee, the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, and Tennessee Department of Agriculture; This task is continuous and will be necessary, and cannot be completed, until species is recovered/delisted.
Appalachian elktoe (Alasmidonta raveneliana) 2 10 Develop artificial holding and propagation techniques; reintroduce species into historic habitat; and, if needed, augment existing populations Partially Complete FY 2012 USFWS Regional Office 4, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of Endangered Species, Contract Research: Habitat Requirements, Research: Propagation Graduate Student, Contract, Internal Technical Assistance, Internal Field Assistance 1998 - study to determine likely fish host; 1999 - additional host studies; 2004 additional hosts identified; 2006 initiated artificial propagation studies using surragote species; 2007-2008 began conducting genetic studies and evaluating need potential for augmentation of Cheoah River population. 2009 -2012, provided funding to NCSU and NCWRC in cooperative effort to to hold and conduct controlled propagation of the Appalachian elktoe; also, efforts to augment Cheoah River ppopulation were initiated in 2012.
Appalachian elktoe (Alasmidonta raveneliana) 2 11 Develop and utilize cryopreservation techniques Not Started USFWS Regional Office 4, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of Endangered Species, Contract Work type not yet selected Labor type not yet selected
Appalachian elktoe (Alasmidonta raveneliana) 2 12 Develop and implement a monitoring program Ongoing Current FY 2000 - FY 2004 U.S. Forest Service, State Conservation Agencies, Tennessee Valley Authority , U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of Endangered Species, USFWS Regional Office 4 Research: Population Surveys, Research: Habitat Status Species Expert, Contract, Internal Technical Assistance, Internal Field Assistance conducted as personnel and funding allow; will be necessary until species has been delisted
Appalachian elktoe (Alasmidonta raveneliana) 3 13 Annually assess recovery program and modify program and plan where required Ongoing Current FY 2007 USFWS Regional Office 4, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of Endangered Species, Tennessee Valley Authority , Natural Resources Conservation Service , State Conservation Agencies, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Work type not yet selected Species Expert, Internal Technical Assistance conducted yearly; 5-year review initiated in 2006
Appalachian elktoe (Alasmidonta raveneliana) 1 2 Work with appropriate Federal and State agencies to identify actions that could negatively affect the species and incorporate protective measures into such actions Ongoing Current FY 1995 - FY 1999 USFWS Regional Office 4, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of Endangered Species, Tennessee Valley Authority , Natural Resources Conservation Service , State Conservation Agencies, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Acquisition: Easement, Acquisition: Fee Title, Management: Habitat Maintenance and Manipulation, Management: Planning, Management: Land Use, Other: Information and Education, Other: Law Enforcement, Other: Regulations, Research: Population Surveys, Research: Habitat Status, Research: Habitat Requirements, Research: Management Techniques, Research: Demographic Studies, Research: Propagation, Research: Environmental Contaminants Volunteer, Graduate Student, Species Expert, Contract, Internal Technical Assistance, Internal Field Assistance continous - will be required and on-going until species is delisted
Appalachian elktoe (Alasmidonta raveneliana) 1 3 Encourage establishment of outstanding resource water designations and other protective strategies as a means of protecting the species Partially Complete FY 2007 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Forest Service, The Nature Conservancy, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, State Conservation Agencies, Natural Resources Conservation Service , Tennessee Valley Authority , U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of Endangered Species, USFWS Regional Office 4 Acquisition: Fee Title Contract Cost unknown; provided $2 million to NCWRC through RLA Grant to assist in purchase of lands in Little Tennessee River watershed; 2007 submitted draft technical support document to NCDWQ to assist in development of site-specific management plan for Nolichucky River basin.
Appalachian elktoe (Alasmidonta raveneliana) 1 4 Conduct research necessary for species' management and recovery; i.e., habitat requirements, biology, and treat analyses Ongoing Current FY 1995 - FY 1999 U.S. Forest Service, State Conservation Agencies, Tennessee Valley Authority , U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of Endangered Species, USFWS Regional Office 4 Research: Population Surveys, Research: Habitat Status, Research: Habitat Requirements, Research: Management Techniques, Research: Demographic Studies, Research: Propagation, Research: Disease, Research: Environmental Contaminants, Research: Genetics Volunteer, Graduate Student, Species Expert, Contract, Internal Technical Assistance, Internal Field Assistance Continous; 2005 to date, NCWRC monitoring of Little Tenn. River population detected a significant and on-going decline of this population and several studies are underway in an attempt to determine the cause(s) (cooperators include the Service, NCWRC, USGS, NCSU, WNCU and others).
Appalachian elktoe (Alasmidonta raveneliana) 2 5 Meet with local government officials and business interests and elicit their support for recovery Ongoing Current FY 1995 - FY 1999 USFWS Regional Office 4, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of Endangered Species, Tennessee Valley Authority , Natural Resources Conservation Service , State Conservation Agencies, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, The Nature Conservancy, U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Management: Planning, Management: Land Use, Other: Information and Education, Other: Regulations Labor type not yet selected continuous
Appalachian elktoe (Alasmidonta raveneliana) 2 6 Develop information and education program and present Ongoing Current FY 1995 - FY 1999 USFWS Regional Office 4, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of Endangered Species, Tennessee Valley Authority , Natural Resources Conservation Service , State Conservation Agencies, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, The Nature Conservancy, U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Other: Information and Education Labor type not yet selected Task duration: 1 year to develop, then continuous
Appalachian elktoe (Alasmidonta raveneliana) 1 7 Based on biological and threat analyses, investigate need for management and implement where needed Ongoing Current FY 1995 - FY 1999 USFWS Regional Office 4, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of Endangered Species, Tennessee Valley Authority , Natural Resources Conservation Service , State Conservation Agencies, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Management Volunteer, Graduate Student, Species Expert, Contract, Internal Technical Assistance, Internal Field Assistance, Internal Administrative Priority 1,2, or 3, depending on result of 2.1, 2.2, and 2.3; will be continuous and necessary until species has been delisted
Appalachian elktoe (Alasmidonta raveneliana) 2 8 Determine number of individuals required to maintain viable population Not Started USFWS Regional Office 4, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of Endangered Species, Contract , U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Law Enforcement Division Work type not yet selected Labor type not yet selected Cost unknown
Appalachian elktoe (Alasmidonta raveneliana) 2 9 Search for additional populations and suitable habitat for reintroduction Ongoing Current FY 1995 - FY 1999 USFWS Regional Office 4, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of Endangered Species, Contract , State Conservation Agencies, U.S. Forest Service Work type not yet selected Labor type not yet selected conducted as funding and personnel availability allow.
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