The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced today it has issued a new proposed rule to designate critical habitat for the Riverside fairy shrimp. This proposal follows the Oct. 23, 2000 legal challenge to its previous designation of critical habitat for the species. Public comments on the proposal will be accepted until 5:00 p.m. on May 27, 2004.
The Riverside fairy shrimp (Streptocephalus woottoni) is a small, freshwater aquatic crustacean that inhabits vernal pools in portions of southern California. Approximately 5,795 acres of land in Ventura, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside and San Diego counties, encompassing a mix of Federal, State, local and private lands, are being proposed as critical habitat.
Six separate critical habitat units that cover the species
