On 22 May 2019 the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) published a notice in the Federal Register proposing to designate the Neuse River waterdog (Necturus lewisi, an aquatic salamander) and the Carolina madtom (Noturus furiosus, a freshwater fish) as threatened and endangered species, respectively, under the Endangered Species Act.  If finalized as proposed, these species would be added to the List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and extend the Act's protections to both.  Additionally, critical habitat is proposed to be designated for both (approximately 738 river miles for the Neuse River waterdog and 257 river miles for the Carolina madtom).  Both species are endemic to eastern North Carolina.  Comments on these proposed listings will be accepted until 22 July 2019.

Pete Benjamin is the Supervisor of the USFWS Field Office in Raleigh, NC.  He will provide an overview of the proposed listings and discuss some of the fine points of the process.  He will also provide an overview of both species' biology and take questions. 

DATE:   11 July 2019
             Social Hour starting at 5:30 PM
             Dinner at 6:30 PM
             Speaker at ~7:00 PM

LOCATION:  Lynnwood Brewing Concern 
                   (Barrel Room)
                   1053 E. Whitaker Mill Road
                   Raleigh, NC 27604

If you have registered for the event and would like to request a vegetarian entree, please contact wmarotti@wkdickson.com.