Plant habitats proposed for Solano
Two species found in tidal wetlands are named in proposal.
By Jason Massad/Staff Writer/TheReporter.Com
Wednesday, April 12, 2006
Nearly 3,000 acres in Solano, Contra Costa and Napa counties could become critical habitat to help protect two federally endangered plants, the Suisun thistle and the soft bird's-beak, according to officials.
Both of the endangered plants are found in the tidal wetlands of Suisun and San Pablo bays.
A proposal regarding the habitats was published Tuesday by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The public has until June 12 to comment on the federal agency's recommendation.
"I would encourage people to gather information and get in touch with us if they have questions," said Jim Nickles, a spokesman for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Under the proposal, 2,119 acres of critical habitat could be set aside in Solano County for the Suisun thistle, a rare plant marked by its bright-red bloom.
Between Solano, Napa and Contra Costa counties, 2,313 acres of habitat for the soft-bird's beak, which blooms yellowish-white flowers, could be protected.
The total of nearly 3,000 acres of habitat proposed to protect the two species overlaps by approximately 1,700 acres, according to U.S. Fish and Wildlife maps.
In Solano County, the areas that could protect both of the fragile plants are pockets of acreage located in the upper reaches of the Suisun Marsh, a local environmental treasure known for its variety of wildlife and plants.
Nickles said that the possibility exists that the habitat proposed in Suisun Marsh could be extracted from the ruling because of ongoing efforts to restore the marsh.
State, federal and local efforts to restore portions of the marsh have been established since the 1970s, Nickles said.
"This is kind of a unique situation. No one is planning to build a house in the Suisun Marsh," he said. "Because they are actively working on conservation measures (in the marsh,) we may pull the critical habitat."
Proposals for critical habitat often follow on the heels of a listing of an endangered species. Both of the plants listed in Tuesday's announcement are considered endangered by the federal government.
But the listings remain contentious because the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service itself doesn't have a lot of faith in the efficacy of creating critical habitat, Nickles said.
A lawsuit was the genesis of the proposed listing of the two rare plant species, he added.
"Our opinion is that it doesn't do much for the species," he said.
Critical habitat, as a federal designation, means that special consideration has to be considered for development in critical habitat areas.
For instance, if a road were going to be built in critical habitat, the agency constructing the road would have to consult with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to find means to mitigate the project's impacts.
But critical habitat is criticized by some developers because it can encumber large swathes of land. Critics argue that endangered status for a species adequately protects it.
For instance, if a landowner in the Suisun Marsh were going to flood out an area with the Suisun thistle, that landowner already would need to consult with federal agencies because of the plant's endangered status, Nickles said.
"If the species are listed, they better come in to talk to us," he said.
The public has until June 12 to comment on the proposal. No meetings are scheduled to discuss the proposed listings.
Comments can be directed to SuisunplantsCH@fws.gov, or mail to: Field Supervisor, Sacramento Fish and Wildlife Office, 2800 Cottage Way, Room W-2605, Sacramento, 95285.
Jason Massad can be reached at county@thereporter.com.
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