Comment period for proposed critical habitat also reopened
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today released an analysis estimating costs related to proposed critical habitat for Brauntons milk-vetch (Astragalus brauntonii) and Lyons pentachaeta (Pentachaeta lyonii), plants native to coastal Southern California.
The draft economic analysis estimates the economic value of real estate development in the proposed critical habitat area for Brauntons milk-vetch at $92 million over the next 20 years. The estimate for the Lyons pentachaeta is $121 million. In releasing the analysis, the Service also reopened the public comment period on a proposal of critical habitat for the plants. The Service will accept public comments until August 21, 2006.
The Brauntons milk-vetch and Lyons pentachaeta are protected under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) as an endangered species. Pursuant to a court order, the Service published in the Federal Register a proposal to designate 3,638 acres as critical habitat for the Brauntons milk-vetch in Ventura, Los Angeles, and Orange counties, and 4,212 acres for Lyons pentachaeta in Ventura and Los Angeles counties.
Critical habitat is a term in the ESA. It identifies specific geographic areas that contain features essential for the conservation of a threatened or endangered species and which may require special management considerations. The designation of critical habitat 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. However, Federal agencies that undertake, fund or permit activities that may affect critical habitat are required to consult with the Service to ensure such actions do not adversely modify or destroy designated critical habitat.
The proposed critical habitat for both plants is found on private lands, in city and regional parks, and on Federal lands in the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area. On state property, critical habitat for Brauntons milk-vetch is in Topanga State Park, Chino Hills State Park, and Coal Canyon Ecological Reserve. Critical habitat for Lyons pentachaeta is on State lands in Malibu Creek State Park.
When specifying an area as critical habitat, the 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 Secretary may exclude an area from critical habitat, unless this would result in the extinction of a threatened or endangered species.
Estimated annual costs of the designation for Brauntons milk-vetch is $8.11 million and $10.69 million for Lyons pentachaeta. The majority of these costs are associated with the economic value of future home development in the areas covered by the designation.
In 30 years of implementing the ESA, the Service has found the designation of critical habitat provides little additional protection for most listed species, while preventing the agency from using scarce conservation resources for activities with greater conservation benefits.
In almost all cases, recovery of listed species will come through voluntary cooperative partnerships, not regulatory measures such as critical habitat. Habitat is also protected through cooperative measures under the ESA, including Habitat Conservation Plans, Safe Harbor Agreements, Candidate Conservation Agreements and state programs. In addition, voluntary partnership programs such as the Services Private Stewardship Grants and the Partners for Fish and Wildlife program also restore habitat. Habitat for listed species is provided on many of the Services National Wildlife Refuges, and state wildlife management areas.
Brauntons milk-vetch is a perennial herb in the pea family that may reach heights of up to five feet, one of the largest in the genus. Lyons pentachaeta, an annual herb in the sunflower family, has small, golden and daisy-like flowers on a slender stalk.
The notice of availability of the draft economic analysis was published in todays Federal Register. The complete report and the proposed rule to designate critical habitat for the Brauntons milk-vetch and Lyons pentachaeta are available at http://www.fws.gov/ventura/. Copies may also be obtained by calling the Fish and Wildlife Service's Ventura office at 805-644-1766.
Comments may be sent via e-mail to fw82plantsch@fws.gov. Comments and information may also be mailed or faxed to Field Supervisor, Ventura Fish and Wildlife Office; 2493 Portola Road, Suite B; Ventura, Calif. 93003.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is the principal Federal agency responsible for conserving, protecting and enhancing fish, wildlife and plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. The Service manages the nearly 100-million-acre National Wildlife Refuge System, which encompasses 545 national wildlife refuges, thousands of small wetlands and other special management areas. It also operates 69 national fish hatcheries, 64 fishery resources offices and 81 ecological services field stations. The agency enforces Federal wildlife laws, administers the Endangered Species Act, manages migratory bird populations, restores nationally significant fisheries, conserves and restores wildlife habitat such as wetlands, and helps foreign and Native American tribal governments with their conservation efforts. It also oversees the Federal Assistance program, which distributes hundreds of millions of dollars in excise taxes on fishing and hunting equipment to state fish and wildlife agencies.
