# 2024-29641: Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Designation of Critical Habitat for the San Francisco Bay-Delta Distinct Population Segment of the Longfin Smelt

2024-29641, Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Designation of Critical Habitat for the San Francisco Bay-Delta Distinct Population Segment of the Longfin Smelt, is a Federal Register proposed rule from an unnamed agency published 2025-01-15, effective Comments must be received or postmarked on or before March 17, 2025. Requests for a public hearing must be received by March 3, 2025.; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-06-11).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2024-29641
- As of: 2026-06-11
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Document number: 2024-29641
- Title: Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Designation of Critical Habitat for the San Francisco Bay-Delta Distinct Population Segment of the Longfin Smelt
- Type: Proposed Rule
- Agencies: unknown
- Citation: unknown
- Published: 2025-01-15
- Effective: Comments must be received or postmarked on or before March 17, 2025. Requests for a public hearing must be received by March 3, 2025.
- Comments close: not stated
- Significant: no
- Touches household money: yes
- Regulation identifier numbers: none
- Last updated: 2026-06-11

## Summary

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service wants to protect the longfin smelt, a special fish living in the San Francisco Bay-Delta, by marking about 91,630 acres as critical habitat. This means certain activities in these areas might change to help the fish survive. People can share their thoughts by March 17, 2025, and an economic report is available to show how this might affect local businesses.

## Abstract

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), propose to designate critical habitat for the San Francisco Bay-Delta distinct population segment (DPS) of the longfin smelt (Spirinchus thaleichthys), a fish species from the San Francisco Bay estuary in California, under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). In total, approximately 91,630 acres (37,082 hectares) in California fall within the boundaries of the proposed critical habitat designation. We also announce the availability of an economic analysis of the proposed designation of critical habitat for the species.

## Effects PRIA read

- 91,630 Acres Proposed as Critical Habitat: cost, medium. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service proposes to designate about 91,630 acres (37,082 hectares) in the San Francisco Bay-Delta as critical habitat for the longfin smelt. If finalized, the designation will apply to specific mapped areas in California and could affect projects or activities within thos…
- Federal Section 7 Consultation Requirement: cost, medium. When critical habitat is designated, any Federal agency that authorizes, funds, or carries out an action in the designated areas must consult with the Fish and Wildlife Service under section 7 to ensure the action is not likely to destroy or adversely modify critical habitat. This consultation requ…
- No Change to Land Ownership or Access: benefit, low. The proposed critical habitat designation does not change land ownership, does not create a refuge or reserve, does not allow government or public access to private lands, and does not require non-Federal landowners to carry out restoration or recovery actions. Landowners would only be drawn into c…
- Possible Changes to Water and Habitat Management: cost, medium. The Service identifies special management needs in designated areas — such as modifying bank hardening, levee maintenance, channel dredging, sand-source reductions, and water management to mimic functional flow regimes and maintain temperatures — to address threats like altered flows, higher water…
- Economic Impacts May Influence Final Map: mixed, medium. The Service will consider economic impacts when finalizing the designation and may exclude specific areas under section 4(b)(2) of the Endangered Species Act if the benefits of exclusion outweigh the benefits of inclusion and excluding the area will not result in extinction. The Service has release…

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## Sources
- [2024-29641 on federalregister.gov](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/01/15/2024-29641/endangered-and-threatened-wildlife-and-plants-designation-of-critical-habitat-for-the-san-francisco)
- [2024-29641 as published (PDF)](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2025-01-15/pdf/2024-29641.pdf)

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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2024-29641 (as of 2026-06-11).