Lee County Cave Monitoring

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This is a NOTICE OF INTENT TO AWARD a Cooperative Agreement between the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, Division of Natural Heritage (DNH), for the purpose of defining the range and monitoring the Lee County cave isopod (Lirceus usdagalun), a federally endangered species and its habitat. The ultimate goal of this work is to provide sufficient monitoring and range data to determine the recovery status of the species. The DNH is uniquely qualified to conduct this work because: (a) The Service and DNH in joint effort have been monitoring the Lee County Cave isopod over the last 10 years. The proposed work is a continuation of this work and will complete a 5-year plan to comprehensively monitor populations of the Lee County cave isopod. (b) The DNH has a vested interest in this work and will provide voluntary support capacity and cost share, contributing partial funds to cover staff time. (c) Staff members conducting the work have the necessary permits to conduct the work and are intimately familiar with the species and the species’ habitat. (d) Populations of the Lee County cave isopod occur in highly sensitive cave environments of which the exact locations are confidential. The DNH is the Virginia State authority of karst resource information and manages conservation activities related to the protection of the Lee County cave isopod. (e) the DGIF is interested in a cooperative approach to accomplish the restoration activities resulting in a more cost effective outcome. THERE IS NO "FULL ANNOUCNEMENT" ASSOCIATED WITH THIS NOTICE.

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