VENTURA, Calif. -- The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has determined that the San Fernando Valley spineflower is likely to become endangered throughout all or a significant portion of its range within the foreseeable future. The Service is proposing to list the plant, located in Ventura and Los Angeles counties in southern California, as threatened under the Endangered Species Act (ESA).
In 2015, the Service conducted a thorough assessment of the best scientific and commercial information available regarding existing and potential threats to the plant and its habitat including habitat loss from proposed development, invasive non-native plants and animals, and potential impacts of climate change climate change
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The San Fernando Valley spineflower population in Ventura County exists on state protected and conserved lands that are part of the Upper Las Virgenes Canyon Open Space Preserve, which is managed by the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy and Mountains Recreation Conservation Authority. The Service is working with land managers to identify and implement conservation and management measures to continue to support this population.
The San Fernando Valley spineflower population in Los Angeles County exists on land owned by Newhall Land and Farming Company. The Service is working with the company to identify opportunities to conserve, protect, and mitigate for impacts of proposed development.
The Service will continue to work with land managers where the species occurs in Ventura and Los Angeles counties and our state counterparts, to protect and conserve this rare plant species and its habitat in addition to proposing ESA protections.
Presumed to be extinct by the botanical community for more than 70 years, the San Fernando Valley spineflower was rediscovered in Ventura County in 1999 and Los Angeles County in 2000. The species’ historical range stretches further south through the San Fernando Valley in Los Angeles County to near Santa Ana in Orange County in Southern California.
The Service designated the San Fernando Valley spineflower as a candidate species for listing under the ESA in 1999, and it has remained a candidate for listing since then. The Service conducted regular reviews of the species status, all of which determined the species to be warranted for listing under the ESA but precluded by other listing activities.
The Service will seek comments from independent specialists through a peer-review process to ensure the proposed designation is based on scientifically sound data, assumptions and analyses. A final determination will be made within one year of the proposed rule.
The proposed rule is available today in the Federal Register Reading Room under Docket No. FWS–R8–ES–2016–0078 and will publish on September 15, 2016. The Service will accept public comments on the proposal through the next 60 days until November 14, 2016. Comments may be submitted electronically or by hard copy.
(1) Electronically: Go to the Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. In the Search box, enter FWS–R8–ES–2016–0078, which is the docket number for this rulemaking. Then, in the Search panel on the left side of the screen, under the Document Type heading, click on the “Proposed Rules” link to locate this document. You may submit a comment by clicking on “Comment Now!”
(2) By hard copy: Submit by U.S. mail or hand-delivery to: Public Comments Processing, Attn: FWS–R8–ES–2016–0078; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Headquarters, MS: BPHC, 5275 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041-3803. All comments will be posted on http://www.regulations.gov.
Written requests for a public hearing on this proposed rule must be made in writing within 45 days by October 31, 2016. To request a public hearing please contact Mr. Steve Henry, Field Supervisor, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Ventura Fish and Wildlife Office, 2493 Portola Rd. Suite B, Ventura, California 93003. A copy of the proposed rule and other information about the San Fernando Valley spineflower is available at http://www.regulations.gov or at http://www.fws.gov/ventura.
The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working with others to conserve, protect, and enhance fish, wildlife, plants, and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. We are both a leader and trusted partner in fish and wildlife conservation, known for our scientific excellence, stewardship of lands and natural resources, dedicated professionals, and commitment to public service. For more information on our work and the people who make it happen, visit http://www.fws.gov/cno.
