Florida Intends to Sue to Protect Endangered Species in Apalachicola River

The state of Florida has put the Army Corps of Engineers on notice that it plans to sue if the Corps moves forward with its plan to cut water flows into the Apalachicola River basin. The Florida Department of Environmental Protection issued a letter Thursday stating its intent to sue because Florida believes the corps will violate the federal Endangered Species Act if it moves forward with a drought response that limits flows into the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint River Basin. Specifically the state is concerned about 4 species in the river system, including the Gulf sturgeon and three species of mussel. The Corps did receive a ruling last month from the US Fish and Wildlife Service that says the species would not be harmed by the lower water flows - the state says that decision does not match with the facts. The state claims that under the Corps of Engineers plan the Apalachicola River levels will reach unprecedented lows that will expose various populations of threatened and endangered mussels and reduce their chances of ever recovering. DEP said they hope the letter will provide the Corps with an opportunity to take corrective measures before the state has to file suit.

Get more Franklin County news now at Oysterradio.com