NC-G 97-37

Refer:

Patricia Foulk, Sacramento, California - 916/979-2710
Susan Saul, Portland, Oregon - 503/231-6121
May 5, 1997

PUBLIC COMMENTS INVITED ON PROPOSAL TO PROTECT BAY AREA NATIVE PLANT

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today reopened for public comment the proposal to list the pallid manzanita, a rare chaparral shrub found only in Alameda and Contra Costa counties in California, as a threatened species under the Federal Endangered Species Act. This plant is already listed as an endangered species by the State of California.

The pallid manzanita, a woody shrub in the heath family, can grow as tall as 13 feet. This plant, distinguished by its gray or reddish bark, displays dense, white, urn-shaped flowers from December through March and grows in manzanita chaparral habitat in the northern Diablo range. Thirteen populations are currently known to exist, mostly on property managed by the East Bay Regional Park District.

The plant is threatened by shading and competition from native and non-native plants, fire suppression, hybridization, herbicide spraying, disease, and habitat fragmentation. The small, isolated nature of its remaining populations also make it vulnerable to extinction from random events like severe weather or erosion.

The Endangered Species Act directs Federal agencies to protect and promote the recovery of listed species. Collection of listed plants on Federal lands is prohibited. Proposed Federal projects and actions, including activities on private or non-Federal lands that involve Federal funding or permitting, require review by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to ensure they will not jeopardize the survival of any listed species, including plants. The Endangered Species Act does not prohibit "take" of listed plants on private lands, but landowners should be aware of state laws protecting imperiled plants.

This plant was first proposed for listing in 1995. A new public comment period was held from February 25 through March 27, 1997.

The Service is seeking public comments concerning the known or potential effect of fire suppression and fire management practices on the species and its habitat, and additional information concerning the size, number, and distribution of populations of the species.

Public comments are invited until June 4, 1997. They should be submitted to the Field Supervisor, Sacramento Field Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 3310 El Camino Avenue, Suite 130, Sacramento, California 95821-6340.

An announcement of the reopening of the comment period for the pallid manzanita was published in the Federal Register on May 5, 1997.

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