Species Listing and Critical Habitat Regulations Endangered Species Act

Listing Process How does a species get listed?  Petitions for listing  Surveys conducted by FWS and other agencies  Other substantiated reports on field studies Anyone may petition FWS to have a species listed or removed from the list. Findings are required before any proposal is published in the Federal Register.

Listing Process What are the criteria for listing? 5 Main Factors:  Present or threatened destruction, modification, or curtailment of a species habitat or range;  Overutilization for commercial, recreational, scientific, or educational purposes;  Disease or predation;  Inadequacy of existing regulatory mechanisms; or  Other natural or man-made factors affecting its continued existence.

Implications of Listing  Protection from effects from Federal activities  Restrictions on take  Requirement that the FWS develop Recovery Plans Critical Habitat

Implications of Listing Section 9  Illegal to take, possess, harm, harass, etc. any listed species Section 7  Applies to federal actions - listed species AND Critical Habitat  Consultation with USFWS is required  “Incidental Take” –provided that jeopardy is avoided Section 10  Applies to non-federal actions  Requires preparation of a Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP).  “Incidental Take” –provided that jeopardy is avoided

Definition: Areas of habitat believed to be essential to the species' conservation Purpose: Restricts the actions of federal agencies that have the potential to destroy or adversely modify critical habitat – regardless of whether the habitat is occupied. Critical Habitat

What are the criteria used in designating critical habitat?  Physical and biological features needed for life processes and successful reproduction of the species. Space for individual and population growth and for normal behavior; Cover or shelter; Food, water, air, light, minerals, or other nutritional or physiological requirements; Sites for breeding and rearing offspring; and Habitats that are protected from disturbances or are representative of the historic geographical and ecological distributions of a species

Delisting How can species be taken off the endangered and threatened species list?  Extinction  New evidence of additional populations  Recovery  Legislative action

Delisting Since 1973, Approximately fifty species out of 2,000 have been delisted  22 due to recovery  Nine due to extinction (seven of which were extinct prior to being listed)  The remaining due to other changes or listing errors

Santa Ana Sucker Biology and Endangered Species Regulations From USFWS From Moyle

Santa Ana Sucker (Catastomus santaanae) Biology  Appearance Small, less than 6 inches “sucker” mouth Blotchy on the back, silver belly  Food requirements Algae and some invertebrates (when adult) Forages by gleaning “sucking” algae off rocks From USFWS From Press Enterprise

Santa Ana Sucker (Catastomus santaanae) Biology  Reproduction Produce massive numbers of eggs Quickly repopulates streams  Life Span Short-lived: 1-2 years; max of 5 years  Habitat Small and shallow streams Cool water Varying currents : swift to sluggish Gravel, rubble, boulders Clean and clear water From Press Enterprise

Santa Ana Sucker (Catastomus santaanae) Biology  Distribution - historical L.A. Basin: L.A., San Gabriel, Santa Ana Rivers in L.A., Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino Cos From Pacific Ocean to S.B. National Forest  Distribution – Current Lower and middle Santa Ana River East, West, North forks of San Gabriel Lower Big Tujunga Also Santa Clara but considered to be introduced From ICE, UCDavis

Santa Ana Sucker (Catastomus santaanae) Listing History  Historical Population Size Considered to be “common” in the 1970s L.A. River: was historically present San Gabriel: common below Morris Dam Santa Ana River: abundant  Current population sizes L.A. River: extirpated Lower Big Tujunga: fluctuates widely from 0 to 1000s San Gabriel River: fewer than 5,000 Santa Ana River: few hundred to few thousand Lost 75 % of the native range  Listed as Threatened by USFWS in 2000 Reasons for listing: Massive habitat changes and introduced species

Santa Ana Sucker (Catastomus santaanae) Listing History  Critical Habitat Initially 2004 – 21,000 acres Final 2005 – 8,305 acres Revised final in 2010 – 9,331 acres  Critical Habitat Includes Lower and middle Santa Ana River East, West, North forks of San Gabriel Lower Big Tujunga

Santa Ana Sucker (Catastomus santaanae) Critical Habitat  Primary Constituent Elements Functioning Hydrological system with peaks and ebbs in water flow Loose sand, gravel, cobble, boulder with riffles, runs and pools Water depth greater than 3 cm Velocity greater than 0.03 m/s Non-turbid Temperature less than 30 C Habitat with algae, emergent and riparian vegetation

Santa Ana Sucker (Catastomus santaanae) 5-year Review  Ranked as 5C on a 1-18 scale High degree of threat Low potential for recovery Taxon is a full species “C” indicates construction activity is a threat  Threats (per the 5-year review) Loss of water Pollution Urbanized setting of the Santa Ana River From Orange Co. Water Dist.

Santa Ana Sucker (Catastomus santaanae) Other Protective Actions/Agencies  Western Riverside MSCHP – Species Specific and Landscape Considerations Main stem Santa Ana River and tributaries: 3,870 acres Adjacent habitat and vegetation for shade Assess how to restore connectivity Assess threats, implement management  Santa Ana Watershed Project Authority Santa Ana Sucker Conservation Team Goal is to determine the reasons for the decline Develop strategies for the recovery