Newcomb's Snail - Conservation

Conservation

Newcomb's snails face a continued threat from human-caused changes to the hydrologic landscape of Kauaʻi, that causes severe degradation of natural aquatic environments. Such changes include large irrigation, extensive plantation style agriculture diverting water out of both surface waterbodies and groundwater sources.

In 1995, prior to Newcomb's snail being listed as threatened, the County of Kaua`i planned a major water diversion project to capture flow from Makaleha Springs for domestic use. The project construction and operation was expected to eliminate the entire subpopulation of Newcomb's snail at Makaleha Springs. The application process was continued by the Kaua`i Board of Water Supply and cleared a number of State and local regulatory reviews. Ultimately, the State Commission on Water Resource Management denied the applicable permits on the basis of numerous unresolved environmental issues, including impacts to aquatic life.

Erinna newcombi is listed as vulnerable species in 2006 IUCN Red List and also in 2009 IUCN Red List.

This species is listed as threatened on the United States Fish and Wildlife Service list of endangered species under the authority of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, since 26 January 2000. Such Hawaiian species are automatically added to the State of Hawaii's list of protected species.

Critical habitat (specific geographic area essential for the conservation) for the Newcomb's snail was designated 20 August 2002. The designation includes eight stream segments and associated tributaries, springs, seeps, and adjacent riparian areas totaling 1,812 hectares (4,479 acres), and including 19.76 kilometers (12.28 mi) of stream channel. Critical habitat for the Newcomb's snail includes the six stream locations known to be occupied and two sites where snails were observed historically but are now thought to be extirpated (Hanakoa Stream and Hanakāpī`ai Stream).

Newcomb's snail is the first and only freshwater organism found in Hawai`i listed under Federal and State law as threatened. The Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Aquatic Resources is building its capacity to undertake research and implement management directed towards conservation of rare and vulnerable aquatic species such as the Newcomb's snail. Interaction between the State Division of Aquatic Resources management and staff and our endangered species biologists will assist development of an institutional framework to accomplish effective conservation for the Newcomb's snail. To date, no conservation measures have been implemented.