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More Endangered Plants Proposed

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Guest KTMrad

Some of you may wish to comment prior to 6/7/04 others may want to use the following very useful statement in other comments:Based on US Fish and Wildlife documentation (Federal Register, Volume 69, No. 66) in which it is stated "the Service has found that the designation of statutory critical habitat provides little additional protection to most listed species, while consuming significant amounts of available conservation resources." Read on..... Friends:A sample letter:========================================================Ventura Fish and Wildlife OfficeAttention: Connie Rutherford2493 Portola Road, Suite BVentura, CA 93003Fax: 805-644-3958Dear Ms. Rutherford:I am writing you concerning the potential designation of critical habitat for the Astragalus jaegerianus (Lane Mountain milkvetch) associated with the Fort Irwin expansion north of Barstow, California. My biggest concerns center on three issues:1. Based on studies of endangered species, I am convinced the data does not always show a direct correlation between human activities and species decline. In addition, I am convinced many species are not in decline, but are being counted as subspecies and separate populations. As such, I am not convinced this species needs protection.2. Based on US Fish and Wildlife documentation (Federal Register, Volume 69, No. 66) in which it is stated "the Service has found that the designation of statutory critical habitat provides little additional protection to most listed species, while consuming significant amounts of available conservation resources." I am therefore led to wonder why you would consider providing critical habitat for the Lane Mountain milkvetch, a loco weed, if in your words, you find little benefit to such actions?3. A final concern against critical habitat designation for this weed is loss of accessible land in the Mojave Desert. Looking at the maps, I am not exactly sure where the land is located, but it may be in a highly desirable recreation area visited weekly by thousands of people. With more and more land set aside in restrictive zones, the land available for recreation becomes less and less, while public interest grows by leaps and bounds. While the public is seeking more recreations sites than ever, this counterproductive action doesn't make sense. Why would you consider closing this land to the tax paying public for admitted dubious results? This makes no sense and I ask you to not designate any land as critical habitat for this weed. Thank you.-----------------Another article leaves out a critical comment attributed to CBD. From another article:"Patterson said his group would work to get FWS to establish some connecting land for its final rule, but he was concerned the agency would instead decrease the proposed habitat."Habitat is in three separate locations. CBD and CNPS are highly focused on providing connections between those separate locations. This is the focal point of danger for recreation interests.One issue we need to address is impact on recreation which includes defining potential lost opportunities when critical habitat is designated.We know it happens, We need to start creating map overlays that visually display the progressive impact of critical habitat on recreation opportunity.We do need to submit a comment and have until June 7 to get the data together.It is only "too late" when comment periods at left unanswered.------------------------------------------------>OHV Friends:>>This information is not good. Looking at the maps (see link at bottom), it>really looks like they are going to close all of the East side of the>Rainbow>Basin riding area. Does anyone have any more information they could share?>Is>it too late to affect any of the outcome? Once again, it looks like we are>getting screwed.>============================================> This is from News.bytes, issue 151 - BLM California>>"Groups dispute plant habitat size" (San Bernardino County Sun, 04/07/2004)>"The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service proposes designating 29,522 acres of>critical habitat for the Lane Mountain milk-vetch on federal and private>lands on>or near Fort Irwin, north of Barstow." BLM manages public lands in the area,>and has been involved in discussions of expanding National Training Center>at>Fort Irwin.>>http://www.sbsun.com/Stories/0,1413,208%257E12588%257E2069384,00.html>>4/11/2004>>Groups dispute plant habitat size>Critics assert milk-vetch flourishes in larger space>>By CHUCK MUELLER, Staff Writer>>BARSTOW - Environmentalists say a federal proposal to create critical>habitat>for a rare plant in three Mojave Desert areas gives the plant a smaller>chance for survival than would creating one, larger habitat.>>The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service proposes designating 29,522 acres of>critical habitat for the Lane Mountain milk-vetch on federal and private>lands on>or near Fort Irwin, north of Barstow.>>"The (wildlife) service is proposing critical habitat only for those lands>that are essential to the species' conservation, based on the best>scientific>information,' said Diane Noda, Fish and Wildlife's field supervisor in>Ventura.>"We will continue to work with landowners to conserve this rare plant and>its>habitat.'>>But the plan to create three distinct "habitat islands' has drawn fire from>two environmental groups that have sued to designate critical habitat for>the>plant, a perennial in the pea family that grows only in the west Mojave>north>of Barstow.>>"Despite views of Fish and Wildlife Service, critical habitat does work,'>said Daniel Patterson, desert ecologist for the Tucson, Ariz.-based Center>for>Biological Diversity.>>"Species in critical habitat are less likely to decline and are twice as>likely to recover, based on our research and studies by Cornell University.'>>Ileene Anderson, regional botanist for the California Native Plant Society,>said fragmentation of habitat decreases the value of conservation efforts.>>"For a (wildlife) reserve, it is best to have one large parcel to provide>maximum protection for a species,' she said.>>Anderson and Patterson said the two groups filed the lawsuit to create>critical habitat for the milk-vetch because the proposed expansion of Fort>Irwin>appears imminent.>>"The issue is one of high priority,' Anderson said.>>The Army hopes to expand its National Training Center at the desert fort>from>642,000 to 775,000 acres to accommodate high-tech military equipment used in>10 annual maneuvers.>>Patterson also is critical of the plan to create three habitat units for the>rare plant, the reproductive rate of which varies dramatically depending on>conditions such as moisture and protection from dry-wash mining and off-road>vehicle use.>>"The proposed 'islands' make it more difficult for the milk-vetch to survive>and recover,' Patterson said.>>He also expressed concern that a final designation for the habitat is not>slashed when it is up for approval.>>"We intend to watch closely so that doesn't happen,' he said.>>Noda said Fish and Wildlife is working with the Army to determine whether>proposed military activities at Fort Irwin will have an impact on the>milk-vetch.>>But wildlife officials claim that designation of critical habitat provides>little additional protection to most species listed as endangered under the>Endangered Species Act.>>"In almost all cases, recovery of listed species comes about through>voluntary cooperative partnerships, not regulatory measures such as critical>habitat,'>Noda said.>>The Lane Mountain milk-vetch was listed as endangered in 1998. A draft>economic analysis has been launched to determine the economic impact of>designating>critical habitat for the plant in the region.>>A public comment period on the proposal will run through June 7. Comments>can>be sent to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 2493 Portola Road, Ventura,>CA>93003.>>=======================================>>And for a map, see:>>http://www.tortoise.org/conservation/ntc/ftirwin15.html

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