NOAA created a temporary special use area for coral restoration located approximately five miles southeast of Tavernier, on the island of Key Largo, within federal waters of Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary from September 6, 2023, to November 6, 2023.

NMFS proposed to change the status of pillar coral from threatened to endangered under the ESA, based on population declines and susceptibility to a recently emerged coral disease.

FWS determined endangered status for the South Sierra and South Coast distinct population segments (DPSs) of the foothill yellow-legged frog and threatened status for the species’ North Feather and Central Coast DPSs under the ESA.

NMFS designated and authorized the release of nonessential experimental populations of Sacramento River winter-run Chinook salmon and Central Valley spring-run Chinook salmon in the McCloud and Upper Sacramento Rivers upstream of Shasta Dam, California, and established a limited set of take exceptions for the experimental populations under the ESA.

FWS announced findings that nine species—Alexander Archipelago wolf, Chihuahua catfish, Cooper’s cave amphipod, Georgia blind salamander, minute cave amphipod, Morrison’s cave amphipod, narrowfoot hygrotus diving beetle, pristine crayfish, and Tennessee heelsplitter—are not warranted for listing as endangered or threatened species under the ESA.

FWS proposed to list the Tennessee clubshell, Tennessee pigtoe, and Cumberland moccasinshell as endangered species under the ESA.

FWS listed the sand dune phacelia as a threatened species with a rule issued under ESA §4(d), and designated approximately 180.8 acres in Oregon and California as critical habitat for the species.

FWS proposed to list the salamander mussel as an endangered species under the ESA, and to designate approximately 2,012 river miles spanning 10 states as critical habitat for the species.

FWS proposed to list the toothless blindcat and the widemouth blindcat as endangered species under the ESA.

FWS proposed to list the Brawleys Fork crayfish as a threatened species under the ESA, and to designate approximately 86.6 river miles in Tennessee as critical habitat for the species.