Perry County residents are trying to prove to the federal Fish and Wildlife Service that they can take care of a rare subterranean fish on their own.
The grotto sculpin is a small fish that is only found in Perry County’s cave system. The Fish and Wildlife Service might put the fish on the Endangered Species List or designate the area as a critical habitat. Area residents fear that would bring cumbersome regulations.
The federal agency is giving residents a chance to develop their own community plan for cleaning up the water supply. It describes policies and methods of best use to keep sediment and other contaminants out of Perry County’s vast cave system.
Frank Wideman is an engineering specialist with the University of Missouri Extension in Perry County. He says most farmers, industries, and the city of Perryville are already using best practices to keep contaminants under control. But some may have to update.
“The folks that have been doing things the way grandad did it, using science and management practices that really fit another geology better than this one, they’re going to feel a little bit of a pinch,” Wideman said.
Celeste Vanderbrugen is also with the University of Missouri Extension as a regional community development specialist. She says the community plan lists what individuals, businesses and local government have been doing well and how they can do more.
“The community’s argument has been, this isn’t about the fish. This is about the water,” Vanderbrugen said. “So if we approach it from that water quality standpoint, if the water quality gets better - it’s good now - so if it gets even better, then the fish would do better.”
The community plan will be submitted to the Fish and Wildlife Service on Friday.
