The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today designated critical habitat for the Oregon chub, a small fish native to Oregon’s Willamette Valley. The Oregon chub (Oregonichthys crameri) was listed as endangered under the federal Endangered Species Act (ESA) in 993.
The designation includes 25 units totaling 32 acres, including land under state, federal, other government and private ownership. As allowed under the ESA, all or portions of these units were considered but not selected for exclusion from the critical habitat designation. Exclusions could have been based on the relative costs and benefits of designating critical habitat, including information that was gathered during the public comment period on potential economic and other relevant impacts of the proposal.
The following table illustrates the land area designated as critical habitat by county and land ownership, in acres.
County
The Oregon chub’s population numbers and range are greater today than at the time it was listed as endangered, but it will take further conservation measures and time for the species to reach full recovery. Based on the recovery goals for Oregon chub outlined in the 998 Recovery Plan, as well as the extensive data collected through annual surveys for the species from 992 through 2008, the Fish and Wildlife Service has determined that this critical habitat designation will enhance and expedite the recovery of the species.
A copy of the final rule is available at /www.fws.gov
| Private | State | Federal | Other Govt. | Area |
