Many of the springs where this species formerly lived have been destroyed by development, including creation of Lake Georgetown.

Coloration is confined to the dorsal and lateral sides of the body; the ventral surface is usually translucent.

[3] The head is roughly shovel-shaped, broad but relatively short, and widest at the point where the upper and lower jaws meet.

The Georgetown salamander is associated with wet caves and springs in the San Gabriel River watershed in Williamson County, Texas.

However, the Georgetown salamander is permanently aquatic and retains its gills and flattened tail throughout its life.

Similar species live for five to 15 years, though the exact lifespan of the Georgetown salamander is unknown.

[5][7] All known populations of the Georgetown salamander occur in an area undergoing rapid urbanization.

The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality regulates activities affecting water quality for the Edwards Plateau; however, TCEQ's regulations do not address such aspects as land use, impervious cover limitations, nonpoint-source pollution, or application of fertilizers and pesticides over the recharge zone.

[5] In 2011, several groups, including WildEarth Guardians and the Center for Biological Diversity, sued the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) on the grounds that the Service had not met deadlines to decide on listings for a number of candidate species, including the Georgetown salamander.