Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Designation of Critical Habitat for Four Distinct Population Segments of the Foothill Yellow-Legged Frog
Published Date: 1/14/2025
Proposed Rule
Summary
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service wants to protect four groups of the foothill yellow-legged frog by marking about 760,000 acres in California as critical habitat. This means certain lands will get special care to help these frogs survive. People can share their thoughts on this plan until March 17, 2025, and an economic report is available to show how this might affect local communities.
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 2 costs, 0 mixed.
760,071 Acres in California Designated
The Fish and Wildlife Service proposes to designate about 760,071 acres (307,590 ha) in California as critical habitat for four foothill yellow-legged frog population segments. If you own land or plan a project in these areas and you request Federal funding or a Federal permit or authorization, the Federal agency must consult with the Service under section 7 of the Endangered Species Act to ensure the action is not likely to destroy or adversely modify the designated critical habitat.
Possible Management Measures and Upgrades
The proposed rule says some critical habitat areas may need special management like implementing best management practices (BMPs) for stream flows, protecting or restoring riparian vegetation, reducing sedimentation and erosion, and improving industrial and municipal water treatment or sewage systems. Entities managing or operating in these areas may be expected to adopt such measures to address threats like altered hydrology, nonnative species, disease, wildfire, and climate change.
No Change to Ownership or Access
The proposed critical habitat designation does not change who owns the land, does not create a refuge or reserve, does not allow the government or public to access private lands, and does not require non-Federal landowners to carry out restoration or recovery actions. These protections remain in place even if a property lies inside a proposed critical habitat unit.
Santa Clara Valley HCP/NCCP May Be Excluded
The Service is asking whether areas associated with the joint Federal and State permitted Santa Clara Valley Habitat Conservation Plan/Natural Communities Conservation Plan (HCP/NCCP) should be excluded from the final critical habitat designation under section 4(b)(2) of the Endangered Species Act. If the Service excludes such areas, landowners and projects covered by that HCP/NCCP could avoid critical habitat designation effects if the benefits of exclusion outweigh benefits of inclusion.
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Key Dates
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