[PCA] Fw: Draft Economic Analysis of Critical Habitat Proposal Released for Two Endangered Plants in Oregon

Thu Jan 14 13:18:18 CST 2010

The comment period for proposed critical habitat designation for Limnanthes
floccosa ssp. grandiflora and Lomatium cookii reopens until Feb. 11, 2010.

Sam Friedman, Botanist
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Roseburg Field Office
2900 NW Stewart Pkwy Roseburg, OR 97471
(541) 957-3478; sam_friedman at fws.gov

----- Forwarded by Sam Friedman/SWO/R1/FWS/DOI on 01/14/2010 11:14 AM -----

             "Nancy Pollot"                                                
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                                                                   Subject 
                                       Draft Economic Analysis of Critical 
                                       Habitat Proposal Released for Two   
                                       Endangered Plants in Oregon         

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service                               NEWS RELEASE
January 12, 2010         10-02

Contact:           Joan Jewett, 503-231-6211
                   Sam Friedman, 541-957-3478

Draft Economic Analysis of Critical Habitat Proposal Released for Two
Endangered Plants in Oregon Public hearing scheduled for February 2, 2010,
in Medford
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today released a draft analysis of the
potential economic impacts of a proposal to designate critical habitat for
two rare plants found only in southwestern Oregon, the large-flowered
woolly meadowfoam and Cook's lomatium, also called Cook’s desert parsley.
Both plants were listed as endangered in 2002.
The Service is proposing to designate 4,521 acres in Josephine County and
6,517 acres in Jackson County as critical habitat for the plants, which
occur primarily in seasonal pools and wet meadows. The proposed critical
habitat is located in 25 separate units in various locations in the two
counties.

The draft economic analysis estimates that over the next 20 years potential
economic impacts in areas proposed as critical habitat could range from
$95,200 to $403,000.  Most of these potential impacts would be
administrative costs associated with additional consultation requirements
intended to reduce or mitigate impacts from development, road work and
conservation efforts in the plants’ habitat, which is also protected under
the federal Clean Water Act and state law. The analysis finds that the
proposed critical habitat for the plants is not expected to change the
amount, design or regulation of forecast economic activities in the area.

Comments on the draft economic analysis and the proposed critical habitat
will be accepted until February 11, 2010.
A public information session and public hearing is scheduled for February
2, 2010, at the Jackson County Library Services, Medford Library Branch
Conference Room, 205 South, Central Avenue, Medford, Oregon.  The
information session is from 3:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. and will include a short
presentation with a question and answer session. The public hearing will be
from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., and will be an opportunity for the public to
provide oral and/or written comments for the record.
The critical habitat proposal and the draft economic analysis are available
on the Internet at: http://www.regulations.gov.  Refer to Docket No.
FWS-R1-ES-2009-0046.  The draft economic analysis is also available at:
http://www.fws.gov/oregonfwo/Species.

Comments may be submitted by one of the following methods:
•            Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov.
Follow the instructions for submitting comments to Docket No.
FWS-R1-ES-2009-0046.
•            U.S. mail or hand-delivery:  Public Comments Processing, Attn:
FWS-R1-ES-2009-0046; Division of Policy and Directives Management; U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service; 4401 N. Fairfax Drive, Suite 222; Arlington, VA
22203.
•            Oral and written comments will be taken at the public hearing.
All comments and the public hearing transcript will be posted on
http://www.regulations.gov.  This generally means that any personal
information provided will be posted.
Large-flowered woolly meadowfoam (Limnanthes floccosa ssp. grandiflora) is
a small annual plant with creamy white flowers in the false mermaid family
(Limnanthaceae). Cook’s lomatium (Lomatium cookii) is a perennial
tap-rooted plant with pale yellow flowers in the parsley family (Apiaceae).
Both species are associated with relatively undisturbed vernal pool-mounded
prairie habitats in the Middle Rogue River basin, in an area known as the
Agate Desert in Jackson County.  Cook’s lomatium is also found in
seasonally wet meadow habitat in forest openings of the Illinois River
Valley, in Josephine County.

The most serious threats to the continued existence of large-flowered
woolly meadowfoam and Cook’s lomatium are posed by residential and
agricultural development and encroachment by invasive non-native plants.
Other threats include ground disturbance by off-road vehicles, habitat
fragmentation, garbage dumping, mining, incompatible grazing practices, and
forage by gophers and voles. Species profiles can be viewed at:
http://www.fws.gov/oregonfwo/Species/Data/Default.asp#Plants.

To meet the requirements of critical habitat protection, each of the areas
proposed must be determined to include essential habitat elements.  In the
case of both large-flowered woolly meadowfoam and Cook’s lomatium, the
essential elements are vernal (seasonal) pools and seasonally wet meadows;
soil moisture for growth, reproduction and seed dispersal, and soils that
provide nutritional and physiological requirements.

Critical habitat, a term in the Endangered Species Act, identifies
geographic areas that contain features essential for the conservation of a
threatened or endangered species and may require special management or
protection. Federal agencies are required to consult with the Fish and
Wildlife Service on actions that might affect critical habitat. 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. Designating
critical habitat on federal or non-federal land identifies areas that are
important to a species’ recovery.

The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working with others to
conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats for
the continuing benefit of the American people.  We are both a leader and
trusted partner in fish and wildlife conservation, known for our scientific
excellence, stewardship of lands and natural resources, dedicated
professionals and commitment to public service.  For more information on
our work and the people who make it happen, visit www.fws.gov.

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