Fish & Wildlife Service reduces plover habitat by 40%

The US Fish & Wildlife Service has announced its new designated critical habitat for the western snowy plover, and they have reduced the area by 40% [USFWS Plover website]. None of the critical habitat in Half Moon Bay has been eliminated.

The reductions were taken primarily as a result of an economic analysis of the impact of the designation

Some 2,859 acres of proposed critical habitat in six units were deleted based on the projected cost of designating critical habitat. An economic analysis prepared by Industrial Economics Inc. projected that critical habitat could cost between $273 million and $645 million, with the biggest costs due to beach recreation losses. More than three-quarters of the loss was found to occur in five proposed California critical habitat units, located on Coronado’s Silver Strand, Morro Bay, Pismo Beach, and two on Monterey Bay.

In addition, 615 acres were deleted because of management plans and commitments—such as Habitat Conservation Plans—and 1,621 acres were deleted because they are covered by military land management plans or national security needs.

The Service also is conducting a status review of the Pacific Coast population of the western snowy plover, to comply with two petitions to de-list the species and also to comply with the requirement that species status be reviewed in five-year intervals. The Service expects to complete that review next spring.

The rule is scheduled to be published Thursday in the Federal Register, and will take effect 30 days after publication.