The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today proposed to designate 29,522 acres of critical habitat for the endangered Lane Mountain milk-vetch (Astragalus jaegerianus) in the Mojave Desert in San Bernardino County. Frequently Asked Questions The 29,522 acres of proposed critical habitat is found mostly on Federal and private lands, with a small amount of acreage on state lands. Most of the Federally-owned acreage is managed by the Department of Defense and the Bureau of Land Management.
"The Service is proposing critical habitat only for those lands that are essential to the species conservation, based on the best scientific information currently available," said Diane Noda, field supervisor for the Ventura Fish and Wildlife Office. "We will continue working cooperatively with landowners to conserve this rare plant and its habitat."
The Service is working with the Department of Defense to determine whether proposed activities on Fort Irwin will impact the milk-vetch. The base is also amending its Integrated Natural Resources Management Plan (INRMP) to address conservation measures for the milk-vetch. Because these protections are not yet in place, the Service is proposing critical habitat on the base. During the public comment period, the Service will evaluate whether proposed protections for the plant are sufficient to remove certain areas from the final critical habitat designation.
A draft economic analysis is underway to identify economic impacts associated with the proposed critical habitat designation. It will be released separately for public review and comment.
Lane Mountain milk-vetch was listed as an endangered species in October 1998. At the time of the listing, the Service determined that designating critical habitat was not prudent because the potential benefit of the action did not outweigh the potential harm. The Service
