Implications of Declining Ground Water and Water Quality in the Greater Okefenokee Swamp Basin for Survival and Recovery of Federally Endangered and Threatened Marine and Aquatic Species and Critical Habitat in the US Southeastern Coastal Plain Ecoregion—Part 2

The Floridan aquifer system underlies the United States (US) Southeastern Coastal Plain Physiographic Region. Anthropogenic groundwater declines in that regional karst system, via semi-confining zones, have been documented published literature for decades. These anthropogenic reduce surfacewater levels and flows, which increases saltwater intrusion alters physical, chemical, biological integrity of nation’s waters, violation US Clean Water Act (CWA) 1972. Historic from mining other withdrawals this already threaten survival recovery marine aquatic federally endangered threatened species, as well existing proposed critical habitat those species within Ecoregion. Examples their designated adversely affected by Greater Okefenokee Swamp Basin ecoregion include south Atlantic Distinct Population Segments (DPS) sturgeon (Acipenser oxyrinchus oxyrinchus), shortnose brevirostrum), oval pigtoe mussel (Pleurobema pyriforme), Gulf subspecies desotoi) Suwannee moccasinshell (Medionidus walkeri). In 2020, rules were adopted two federal agencies allowing significant further degradation waters are essential maintaining listed Fish Wildlife Service (USFWS) has acknowledged harm to these additional alterations, but no comprehensive Areawide Environmental Impact Statement (AEIS), similar AEIS required Peace River Basin, conducted any numerous projects expanding evaluate all indirect cumulative adverse impacts species.