- Location
- Desert Beach So Cal
While this is in relation to San Diego and Orange Counties, the
"Fairy Shrimp" is a growing "species du jour" for the extreme
environmental community. Like the Spotted Owl, it is magically
appearing in many places.
>
>April 22, 2003 NEWS RELEASE
>03-049
>
>Contact: Andy Yuen, or Jane Hendron - 760/431-9440
>
> SERVICE RE-PROPOSES SAN DIEGO FAIRY SHRIMP CRITICAL HABITAT
>
> Following a legal challenge to its October 23, 2000 designation of
>critical habitat for the San Diego fairy shrimp (Branchinecta
>sandiegonensis), the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced today it is
>re-proposing critical habitat for the endangered species and is preparing a
>new economic analysis.
>
> The new proposed critical habitat designation covers approximately
>6,098 acres of land in Orange and San Diego counties and includes Federal,
>State, local and private lands. Public comments on the proposed rule will
>be accepted until June 23, 2003 at 5:00 p.m. A draft economic analysis of
>the proposed rule will also be made available for public review and comment
>in the near future.
>
> In light of the current national security situation vernal pools that
>support San Diego fairy shrimp that occur within active training areas on
>Marine Corps Base, Camp Pendleton are not being proposed as critical
>habitat for the species.
>
> We considered but did not propose critical habitat on preserve areas
>within approved habitat conservation plans. Lands on Marine Corps Air
>Station, Miramar and the U.S. Navy's Radio Receiving Facility in Coronado,
>California are not being proposed as critical habitat because these areas
>are covered by approved Integrated Natural Resource Management Plans and
>the proposed designation of critical habitat could impair the
>installations' abilities to conduct military readiness activities.
>
> "We relied on the cumulative scientific and commercial information
>available to us in preparing this proposal," said Steve Thompson, Manager
>of the Service's California/Nevada Operations Office. "Our decision to not
>propose critical habitat on certain lands will not result in the extinction
>of the San Diego fairy shrimp, however, we are actively soliciting public
>review and comment on all aspects of the proposed rule."
>
> To ensure adequate public review of our proposal, maps delineating
>lands essential to the conservation of the San Diego fairy shrimp that
>occur on mission-essential training areas on Camp Pendleton are available
>for viewing on the Internet at http://carlsbad.fws.gov. The public may
>also visit the Carlsbad Fish and Wildlife, by appointment, during normal
>business hours to view these maps and maps of essential habitat for the San
>Diego fairy shrimp that lie within preserve areas of approved habitat
>conservation plans.
>
> Critical habitat identifies geographic areas that are 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 conservation area. It does not allow government
>or public access to private lands and does not close areas to all access or
>use. Rather, its impact is that Federal agencies must consult with the
>Service on activities they undertake, fund, or permit that may affect
>critical habitat.
>
> Vernal pools are seasonal wetlands that fill with water during fall
>and winter rains. They are home to many plants and animals that, in turn,
>form a valuable part of the food chain for a wide array of animals,
>including birds of prey, shorebirds, migratory waterfowl, frogs, toads,
>salamanders and pollinating insects.
>
> The San Diego fairy shrimp is a small aquatic crustacean that is
>found in shallow vernal pools from January through March, during years with
>adequate rainfall. Adult fairy shrimp have a delicate elongated body, large
>stalked compound eyes and 11 pairs of swimming legs. They swim or glide
>gracefully upside down by using complex wave-like beating movements of the
>legs that pass from front to back. Adult male San Diego fairy shrimp range
>in size from 0.35 to 0.63 inches; adult females are 0.31 to 0.55 inches
>long.
>
> As a result of urban development, agriculture, off-road vehicle
>activity, livestock overgrazing and other land uses, more than 90 percent
>of the vernal pool habitat in southern California has been destroyed or
>otherwise impacted. As the vernal pools have disappeared, populations of
>San Diego fairy shrimp and other species that rely on this habitat have
>declined.
>
> The proposed rule to designate critical habitat for the San Diego
>fairy shrimp was published in today's Federal Register. Written comments on
>the proposed rule should be submitted to the Field Supervisor, Carlsbad
>Fish and Wildlife Office, 6010 Hidden Valley Road, Carlsbad, California
>92009. Comments will be accepted until 5:00 p.m. on June 23, 2003. Requests
>for a public hearing must be submitted in writing to the above address no
>later than 5:00 p.m. on May 6, 2003. A separate announcement will be made
>when the draft economic analysis is released to the public.
>
>Comments may also be submitted by electronic mail to [email protected].
>Please submit electronic comments as an ASCII file and avoid the use of
>special characters or encryption. Please include "Attn: RIN-1018-AI71" in
>your subject header and your name and return address in the body of your
>electronic message. If you do not receive a confirmation from the system
>that we received your message, please contact the Carlsbad Fish and
>Wildlife Office at 760/431-9440.
>
> 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 95-million-acre National Wildlife Refuge
>System, which encompasses 540 national wildlife refuges, thousands of small
>wetlands and other special management areas. It also operates 69 national
>fish hatcheries, 64 fishery resource 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 governments with their conservation
>efforts. It also oversees the Federal Aid program that distributes hundreds
>of millions of dollars in excise taxes on fishing and hunting equipment to
>state fish and wildlife agencies.
>
--
John Stewart
Director, Environmental Affairs,
United Four Wheel Drive Associations, http://www.ufwda.org
Recreation Access and Conservation Editor, http://www.4x4wire.com
Moderator, MUIRNet - Multiple Use Information Resource Network
To SUBSCRIBE or UNSUBSCRIBE to MUIRNet, send email to [email protected].
"Fairy Shrimp" is a growing "species du jour" for the extreme
environmental community. Like the Spotted Owl, it is magically
appearing in many places.
>
>April 22, 2003 NEWS RELEASE
>03-049
>
>Contact: Andy Yuen, or Jane Hendron - 760/431-9440
>
> SERVICE RE-PROPOSES SAN DIEGO FAIRY SHRIMP CRITICAL HABITAT
>
> Following a legal challenge to its October 23, 2000 designation of
>critical habitat for the San Diego fairy shrimp (Branchinecta
>sandiegonensis), the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced today it is
>re-proposing critical habitat for the endangered species and is preparing a
>new economic analysis.
>
> The new proposed critical habitat designation covers approximately
>6,098 acres of land in Orange and San Diego counties and includes Federal,
>State, local and private lands. Public comments on the proposed rule will
>be accepted until June 23, 2003 at 5:00 p.m. A draft economic analysis of
>the proposed rule will also be made available for public review and comment
>in the near future.
>
> In light of the current national security situation vernal pools that
>support San Diego fairy shrimp that occur within active training areas on
>Marine Corps Base, Camp Pendleton are not being proposed as critical
>habitat for the species.
>
> We considered but did not propose critical habitat on preserve areas
>within approved habitat conservation plans. Lands on Marine Corps Air
>Station, Miramar and the U.S. Navy's Radio Receiving Facility in Coronado,
>California are not being proposed as critical habitat because these areas
>are covered by approved Integrated Natural Resource Management Plans and
>the proposed designation of critical habitat could impair the
>installations' abilities to conduct military readiness activities.
>
> "We relied on the cumulative scientific and commercial information
>available to us in preparing this proposal," said Steve Thompson, Manager
>of the Service's California/Nevada Operations Office. "Our decision to not
>propose critical habitat on certain lands will not result in the extinction
>of the San Diego fairy shrimp, however, we are actively soliciting public
>review and comment on all aspects of the proposed rule."
>
> To ensure adequate public review of our proposal, maps delineating
>lands essential to the conservation of the San Diego fairy shrimp that
>occur on mission-essential training areas on Camp Pendleton are available
>for viewing on the Internet at http://carlsbad.fws.gov. The public may
>also visit the Carlsbad Fish and Wildlife, by appointment, during normal
>business hours to view these maps and maps of essential habitat for the San
>Diego fairy shrimp that lie within preserve areas of approved habitat
>conservation plans.
>
> Critical habitat identifies geographic areas that are 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 conservation area. It does not allow government
>or public access to private lands and does not close areas to all access or
>use. Rather, its impact is that Federal agencies must consult with the
>Service on activities they undertake, fund, or permit that may affect
>critical habitat.
>
> Vernal pools are seasonal wetlands that fill with water during fall
>and winter rains. They are home to many plants and animals that, in turn,
>form a valuable part of the food chain for a wide array of animals,
>including birds of prey, shorebirds, migratory waterfowl, frogs, toads,
>salamanders and pollinating insects.
>
> The San Diego fairy shrimp is a small aquatic crustacean that is
>found in shallow vernal pools from January through March, during years with
>adequate rainfall. Adult fairy shrimp have a delicate elongated body, large
>stalked compound eyes and 11 pairs of swimming legs. They swim or glide
>gracefully upside down by using complex wave-like beating movements of the
>legs that pass from front to back. Adult male San Diego fairy shrimp range
>in size from 0.35 to 0.63 inches; adult females are 0.31 to 0.55 inches
>long.
>
> As a result of urban development, agriculture, off-road vehicle
>activity, livestock overgrazing and other land uses, more than 90 percent
>of the vernal pool habitat in southern California has been destroyed or
>otherwise impacted. As the vernal pools have disappeared, populations of
>San Diego fairy shrimp and other species that rely on this habitat have
>declined.
>
> The proposed rule to designate critical habitat for the San Diego
>fairy shrimp was published in today's Federal Register. Written comments on
>the proposed rule should be submitted to the Field Supervisor, Carlsbad
>Fish and Wildlife Office, 6010 Hidden Valley Road, Carlsbad, California
>92009. Comments will be accepted until 5:00 p.m. on June 23, 2003. Requests
>for a public hearing must be submitted in writing to the above address no
>later than 5:00 p.m. on May 6, 2003. A separate announcement will be made
>when the draft economic analysis is released to the public.
>
>Comments may also be submitted by electronic mail to [email protected].
>Please submit electronic comments as an ASCII file and avoid the use of
>special characters or encryption. Please include "Attn: RIN-1018-AI71" in
>your subject header and your name and return address in the body of your
>electronic message. If you do not receive a confirmation from the system
>that we received your message, please contact the Carlsbad Fish and
>Wildlife Office at 760/431-9440.
>
> 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 95-million-acre National Wildlife Refuge
>System, which encompasses 540 national wildlife refuges, thousands of small
>wetlands and other special management areas. It also operates 69 national
>fish hatcheries, 64 fishery resource 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 governments with their conservation
>efforts. It also oversees the Federal Aid program that distributes hundreds
>of millions of dollars in excise taxes on fishing and hunting equipment to
>state fish and wildlife agencies.
>
--
John Stewart
Director, Environmental Affairs,
United Four Wheel Drive Associations, http://www.ufwda.org
Recreation Access and Conservation Editor, http://www.4x4wire.com
Moderator, MUIRNet - Multiple Use Information Resource Network
To SUBSCRIBE or UNSUBSCRIBE to MUIRNet, send email to [email protected].
