Contacts
Jim Nickles, (916) 414-6572 or (916) 501-6885 (cell)
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – More than 4,300 acres have been designated as critical habitat for the endangered Baker’s larkspur and yellow larkspur, two endangered plants that are found only in California’s Sonoma and Marin counties, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced today.
The Endangered Species Act defines "critical habitat" as an area or areas with physical or biological features that are essential to the conservation of a species and may need special management or protection. A designation does not set up a preserve or refuge. However, Federal agencies must ensure that their actions do not destroy or adversely modify designated critical habitat. Estimated future costs associated with the critical habitat designation for the larkspur total $7,000 over a 10-year period.
Baker’s larkspur and yellow larkspur are native, perennial herbs in the buttercup family. They are found only in coastal northern Marin and southern Sonoma counties, north of San Francisco. Both have irregularly shaped flowers. Baker’s larkspur has dark-blue-to-purple flowers; yellow larkspur has bright yellow flowers.
Both Baker’s larkspur and yellow larkspur are threatened by road construction, over-collection by plant enthusiasts, grazing and development. Due to their extreme range restrictions and small populations, the two plants are also vulnerable to such natural events as fire and insect outbreaks.
As critical habitat for Baker’s larkspur, the Service designated 1,828 acres within two units in Marin and Sonoma counties. For yellow larkspur, the Service designated 2,525 acres within four units, also in Marin and Sonoma counties. All of the designated lands are privately owned. Based on comments received during a public-review period, one of the habitat units for yellow larkspur was reduced from 411 acres to 351 acres. This reduction was the result of refinements made in mapping so that some buildings and a wastewater treatment plant were not included within the area designated.
The Service must consider the economic impact of identifying any particular area as critical habitat. The Service may exclude an area from critical habitat if it is determined that the benefits – economic and otherwise – of excluding it outweigh the benefits of including it, unless failure to include it would result in the extinction of the species. This determination is based on the best scientific, economic, and commercial information available. The Service released an economic analysis on this critical-habitat designation in November 2002, then it conducted a 30-day public-comment period.
The Endangered Species Act directs Federal agencies to protect and promote the conservation of endangered and threatened plants and other species. When Federal projects or activities may affect listed species or their critical habitat, consultation with the Fish and Wildlife Service is required. For private and non-Federal landowners, however, consultations come into play only in cases where activities involving these species require Federal funding or permitting.
When endangered and threatened plants occur on private land, and no Federal permit or funding is involved, the Endangered Species Act does not provide the plants with any greater protection than they already receive under state law. The Endangered Species Act also does not prohibit "take" of listed plants on private lands, but landowners must still comply with state laws protecting imperiled plants. California landowners who may have these plants on their property are encouraged to contact the state Department of Fish and Game for further guidance.
Both species are listed as "rare" under California law.
Over the years, Baker’s larkspur has been found in only three locations: in Coleman Valley, in southern Sonoma County; near the town of Tomales, in northern Marin County; and approximately six miles east of Tomales Bay, also in northern Marin County. Botanists believe the plant has been eliminated from Coleman Valley and near the town of Tomales. The number of plants at the only known remaining location, east of Tomales Bay, has varied from 0 to 67 over the last 20 years. Plants at the site are threatened by road work, over-collection and sheep grazing. Many of the plants were accidentally mowed by a road-maintenance crew in May 2002. The yellow larkspur was never widely distributed, and most historical populations have been partially or entirely destroyed. The species is now found at only seven sites. A total of approximately 100 to 175 plants remain. The Service published in the Federal Register a final rule listing Baker’s larkspur and yellow larkspur as endangered on Jan. 26, 2000. Due to budget limitations, the Service did not designate critical habitat at that time. The Center for Biological Diversity brought suit, eventually leading to a settlement in which the Service agreed to propose critical habitat for the two species by June 10, 2002, and to make a final determination by March 10, 2003.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is the principal Federal agency responsible for conserving, protecting and enhancing fish, wildlife and plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. The Service manages the 95-million-acre National Wildlife Refuge System, which encompasses 540 national wildlife refuges, thousands of small wetlands and other special management areas. It also operates 69 national fish hatcheries, 64 fishery resource offices and 81 ecological services field stations. The agency enforces Federal wildlife laws, administers the Endangered Species Act, manages migratory bird populations, restores nationally significant fisheries, conserves and restores wildlife habitat such as wetlands, and helps foreign governments with their conservation efforts. It also oversees the Federal Aid program that distributes hundreds of millions of dollars in excise taxes on fishing and hunting equipment to state fish and wildlife agencies.
http://pacific.fws.gov/news/default.htm
|
