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Endangered Species






 Back to Species of Interest

Endangered Species

The Brazos River Authority’s Environmental Services Department regularly monitors the status different fish and wildlife species as a way of tracking the health of the Brazos River basin ecosystem.

There are different levels of protection that a species in danger may be placed under on a state and federal level. The state of Texas provides two levels of protection: threatened and endangered species listing. On the federal level, species can also be designated as threatened or endangered.

A plant or animal can be protected as endangered at both the state and federal levels at the same time. The level of protection provided by state and federal regulations is different, with federal laws providing stronger protections than the state level protections.

Endangered species are plants or animals in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of its habitat range.

Determining the reason for an ecosystem imbalance that is causing the number of plants or animals in a species to decline, allows natural resource agencies to develop a plan to correct the imbalance.

When the results of monitoring begin to show changes, state and federal resource agencies along with local stakeholders, work together to identify the cause and make improvements that can aid the continued health and quality of the basin’s water supply.

Maintaining a balance allows the planet to continue to provide clean air and water, a reliable food supply, and a positive economy.

When we work to save endangered species, we may just be saving ourselves.

Currently, endangered species known to occur in parts of the Brazos basin are:


Georgetown Salamander

Georgetown Salamander

Among the endangered plants and animals is the Eurycea naufragia, more commonly known as the Georgetown Salamander.

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Smalleye and Sharpnose Shiner

Smalleye and Sharpnose Shiner

The Notropois buccula, more commonly known as the smalleye shiner and the Notropis oxyrhynchus, known as the sharpnose shiner, both were listed as endangered in 2014.

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Golden-cheeked Warbler

Golden-cheeked Warbler

Among the endangered plants and animals is the Setophaga chrysoparia, more commonly known as the Golden-cheeked Warbler.

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Navasota Ladies’ Tresses

Navasota Ladies’ Tresses

Among the endangered plants and animals is the Spiranthes parksii, more commonly known as the Navasota Ladies’ Tresses.

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Houston Toad

Houston Toad

The Anaxyrus houstonensis, more commonly known as the Houston Toad, is just one of the species of interest considered threatened in the Brazos River basin.

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Click here to learn more about the threatened species and here to learn about the candidate species monitored by the BRA.