USFWS Proposes Critical Habitat for Arroyo Toad in Southern California

October 13, 2009 – The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) has published a proposed rule to designate an additional 97,415 acres of lands in southern California as critical habitat for the arroyo toad.  If the proposed rule were finalized, the arroyo toad would have 109,110 acres of critical habitat.  11,695 acres of critical habitat was originally designated for the arroyo toad in 2005.  Affected lands are located in Santa Barbara, Ventura, Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Riverside, Orange and San Diego Counties.  USFWS sites OHV use, among other forms of recreation, as some of the threats to the arroyo toad’s habitat. 

Comments on the proposed rule will be accepted until December 14, 2009.  Comments should be submitted at www.regulations.gov by following instructions for submitting comments to Docket No. FWS-R8-ES-2009-0069 or by mail to:

Public Comments Processing
Attn: FWS-R8-ES-2009-0069
Division of Policy and Directives Management
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
4401 N. Fairfax Drive, Suite 222
Arlington, VA 22203 

Additional information found online:
Original Federal Register Notice

For general information on the proposed designation and information about the proposed revised designation in Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties, northern Los Angeles County and the desert portion of San Bernardino County, contact Diane Noda, Field Supervisor, or Michael McCrary, Listing and Recovery Coordinator, Ventura Fish and Wildlife Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 2493 Portola Road, Suite B, Ventura, CA 93003; 805-644-1766; fax: 805-644-3958.  For information about the proposed revised designation in the remaining portions of Los Angeles and San Bernardino Counties, as well as Riverside, Orange and San Diego Counties, contact Jim Bartel, Field Supervisor, Carlsbad Fish and Wildlife Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 6010 Hidden Valley Road, Suite 101, Carlsbad, CA 92011; 760-431-9440; fax: 760-431-9624.