Public comment period reopened on proposed critical habitat
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) today released a draft analysis that estimates the cost related to the conservation of the Santa Barbara County population of the California tiger salamander to range between $106 million and $418 million over the next 25 years, most of which is projected to be borne by the real estate sector as the demand for residential and commercial development grows. The economic analysis also estimates that since the species was listed as endangered in 2000, total economic impacts to the area have been less than $1 million.
The public comment period on the proposed critical habitat for the Santa Barbara County population of the California tiger salamander has also been reopened. The Service will accept comments on the draft economic analysis and proposed critical habitat until November 8, 2004.
This draft economic analysis - reflecting the $106 and $418 million figures - is the most recent, correct version of the California tiger salamander analysis. This version corrects a math error related to the appreciation of land value.
The Service is proposing 13,920 acres as critical habitat for the endangered Santa Barbara County population of the California tiger salamander. ShrutiMost of the critical habitat acreage is under private ownership. Small amounts of land are owned by Santa Barbara County Laguna County Sanitation District.
The real estate industry is expected to incur over 90 percent of the economic impact. The estimates include the cost of lands set aside for loss of tiger salamander habitat and measures needed to protect the salamander while construction is ongoing. Impacts are estimated to be most significant in the Western Santa Maria /Orcutt and Eastern Santa Maria proposed critical habitat units.
In addition to the estimated real estate sector costs, the economic analysis projects costs associated with grazing, agricultural and vineyard activities, road construction, utility and other infrastructure projects. Impacts to these sectors are estimated to be less than 10 percent of the economic impact.
Most of the estimated costs are expected to occur due to the listing of California tiger salamander and protective measures already in place as a result of the listing. The draft economic analysis? estimates do not separate costs associated with the designation of critical habitat from those already incurred by the listing of the tiger salamander as an endangered species, or from costs incurred on critical habitat lands due to compliance with other federal and state environmental laws.
When specifying an area as critical habitat, the Endangered Species Act (ESA) requires the Service to consider economic and other relevant impacts of the designation. If the benefits of excluding an area outweigh the benefits of including it, the Service may exclude an area from critical habitat, unless this would result in the extinction of a threatened or endangered species.
Comments on the draft economic analysis and proposed critical habitat may be submitted to: Field Supervisor, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; Ventura Fish and Wildlife Office, 2493 Portola Road, Suite B, Ventura, CA 93003; or faxed to 805/644-3958. Comments previously submitted on the proposed critical habitat need not be resubmitted as they will be incorporated into the public record as part of this comment period and will be fully considered in preparation of the final rule.
The California tiger salamander (Ambystoma californiense) is a large, stocky, terrestrial salamander with small eyes and a broad, rounded snout. Its habitat includes vernal pools and other seasonal ponds, as well as nearby grasslands and oak savannah from sea level to about the 1,500-feet elevation in central California. ShrutiThe salamander also occurs in California's Central Valley, Coast Range and Sonoma County.
The primary threats to the species are habitat loss and predation by non-native species. In August 2004, the Service reclassified the species from endangered to threatened.
Critical habitat is a term in the ESA that identifies specific geographic areas that are essential for the conservation of a threatened or endangered species and which may require special management considerations. 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.
