In compliance with a Court-approved settlement agreement, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today announced it is designating critical habitat for Deinandra conjugens (Otay tarplant) on approximately 6,330 acres of federal, state, county and private land in San Diego County, California.
Critical habitat identifies geographic areas that are essential to the conservation of a threatened or endangered species and that may require special management considerations or protection. However, a designation does not affect land ownership or establish a refuge, wilderness, reserve, preserve, or other special conservation area conservation area
A conservation area is a type of national wildlife refuge that consists primarily or entirely of conservation easements on private lands. These conservation easements support private landowner efforts to protect important habitat for fish and wildlife and major migration corridors while helping to keep agricultural lands in production.
Learn more about conservation area . It does not allow government or public access to private lands and does not close areas to all access or use. Rather, its impact is that Federal agencies must consult with the Service on activities they undertake, authorize, fund, or permit that may affect critical habitat.
The Service has designated critical habitat for the Otay tarplant in three separate units, as follows:
Unit 1 includes approximately 3,560 acres north of Upper Otay Reservoir. A portion of this unit is on the Service
