This new agreement includes 98,800 00 in U S fish and wildlife service USFWS grant funding for the multiyeargeorgia and tennessee trispot darter distribution assessment project in general, the…

This new agreement includes 98,800 00 in U S fish and wildlife service USFWS grant funding for the multiyeargeorgia and tennessee trispot darter distribution assessment project in general, the distribution and abundanceof the federally listed trispot darter etheostoma trisella is likely underestimated to an unknown extent, whichhas implications to recovery planning, endangered species act ESA consultations, and stream restorationinitiatives the fundamental objective of this project is to robustly assess the current distribution of thetrispot darter within its range in georgia and tennessee to guide future recovery planning and restoration work to accomplish this objective, the tennessee aquarium conservation institute tnaci will work in collaborationwith the USFWS and georgia department of natural resources GA DNR to collect genetic samples and scientificallydefensible count data throughout the species known and historical range in georgia and tennessee field samplingwill be conducted during the breeding season DEC MAR during two consecutive years either during FY2023 ANDFY2024 or FY2024 and FY2025 in each of the species current management units conasauga river system andcoosawattee river system and possibly historical management units cowans creek system, johns creek system, andwoodward creek system using the design developed and piloted by the USFWS trispot darter conservation actionteam during 2022 in general, USFWS and GA DNR staff will lead and conduct the sampling in the coosawattee riversystem management unit and the historical management units cowans creek system, johns creek system, and woodwardcreek system tnaci staff will be responsible for conducting the proposed sampling in the conasauga river systemmanagement unit and will assist with the sampling in the coosawattee river system management unit as needed andpossible the USFWS grant funding provided in this cooperative agreement will be used to support approximatelyfour tnaci staff covering salary, equipment, and travel expenses while implementing the project forapproximately 12 weeks JAN MAR each year for two consecutive years tnaci staff involved in the project will betrained by USFWS and GA DNR staff to implement the designed trispot darter sampling, collect tissue samples, complete datasheets developed by the USFWS, and enter the sampling data into the electronic database developed bythe USFWS at the end of each year of sampling, tnaci will provide the USFWS all completed sampling datasheetsand will ensure all sampling data are accurately entered into the electronic database developed by the USFWS tnaci will acquire all the permits required to have their staff complete the proposed sampling