Click here to read Monterey spineflower final rule
Click here to read robust spineflower final rule
Click here to read Scotts Valley spineflower final rule
Final Economic Analysis Also Published
After reviewing and evaluating public comments, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced today that it has designated critical habitat for three native California plants on about 19,585 acres in Monterey and Santa Cruz counties.
About 18,829 acres of critical habitat is being designated for the Monterey spineflower (Chorizanthe pungens var. pungens) and 469 acres for the robust spineflower (Chorizanthe robusta var. robusta). Both species arefound in southern Santa Cruz and northern Monterey counties. About half of the total critical habitat acreage for the Monterey spineflower is on federal land at the former Fort Ord Army Base near the city of Monterey. The remaining acreage for both species is on city, county, state and private lands.
In Santa Cruz County, about 287 acres are being designated as critical habitat for the Scotts Valley spineflower (Chorizanthe robusta var. hartwegii). This plant species exists only in small ecologically unique "wildflower fields" on private property in northern Scotts Valley in the Santa Cruz Mountains.
Critical habitat acreage in the final rules was reduced overall by 8,176 acres from the earlier proposal. About 5,000 acres of this acreage was removed from the Monterey spineflower critical habitat at the former Fort Ord site.
"These flowers are a unique part of the coastal ecosystem, and we will continue to work cooperatively with all landowners and local governments to protect and recover them," said Steve Thompson, the Services California-Nevada operations manager.
The Service continues to work with cities in Santa Cruz and Monterey counties, local agencies, and partners at the former Ford Ord on plans to conserve the spineflowers and has provided funding for research on the life history of the plants.
The Service today also released a final economic analysis that examines potential public and private costs over the next decade to designate critical habitat for the spineflowers. Costs attributable to Monterey spineflower critical habitat ranges between $185,000 and $225,000. Costs associated with critical habitat for the robust spineflower is about $107,000. For the Scotts Valley spineflower, costs are estimated from $164,500 to $566,500.
Critical habitat refers to specific geographic areas that are essential for the conservation of a threatened or endangered species and that may require special management considerations. These areas do not necessarily have to be occupied by the species when they are designated. A designation does not set up a preserve or refuge and only applies to situations where federal funding, a federal permit, or a federal project is involved.
In the final rule for the Monterey spineflower, 5,000 acres slated for development at Fort Ord were removed from critical habitat because the Service has determined these areas are not essential to the conservation of the species. The Service also eliminated 400 acres from the Naval Postgraduate School at the former Fort Ord because a natural resources management plan addresses the conservation needs of the plant. In addition, the Service is not designating critical habitat on non-federal lands when existing habitat conservation plans with established agreements cover the plant species.
About 977 acres of private land in the Salinas River channel flood plain south of the city of Soledad were removed from the critical habitat designation for the Monterey Spineflower because subsequent site visits by biologists determined that the area does not contain the species
