DFG News Archive

Status Report on State's Threatened and Endangered Species now Available

SACRAMENTO — The California Department of Fish and Game's (DFG) 2000 status summary of the state's 216 plants and 77 animals listed as threatened and endangered under the California Endangered Species Act is available. Copies of the report cost $10, and may be purchased from DFG's Wildlife and Habitat Data Analysis Branch, Information Services, 1807 13th St., Suite 202, Sacramento, CA 95814.

Developed by DFG's Habitat Conservation Division, the document summarizes research, management, and monitoring programs, participation in recovery planning, and cooperative efforts with the federal government and other state and local agencies, landowners, and the public to advance conservation efforts for California's listed species.

Highlights of DFG's involvement in species conservation efforts include:

• Satellite tracking of Swainson's hawk migration from the Central Valley to Mexico
• Completion of a draft strategic conservation/recovery plan for coho salmon populations south of San Francisco Bay
• Development of a draft recovery plan for the giant garter snake
• Rediscovery of the Ventura Marsh milk-vetch (a plant not seen since 1967).

In addition, DFG agreed to administer or manage more than 20,000 acres of habitat, much of which was acquired by the state Wildlife Conservation Board (WCB) specifically in the interest of protecting various threatened and endangered species.

The report provides information about each listed plant or animal, and includes a summary of other programs and accomplishments that benefit listed species. Some of those programs include:

• Significant large-scale habitat conservation planning efforts continued, focused primarily in coastal Southern California
• A number of regional or subregional natural community conservation plans (NCCPs) were approved in San Diego, Orange, and Riverside counties
• Planning agreements for northwestern San Diego County and western Riverside County were approved
• Assistance grants were made available to local jurisdictions for implementing urgent projects
• Seven conservation banks, consisting of 5,102 acres in Southern California were established or approved by NCCP staff
• The WCB acquired a total of 10,236 acres of land for the assembly of NCCP preserves
• DFG continued participation with the CALFED Bay-Delta Program, a collaboration among state and federal agencies to develop a long-term comprehensive plan designed to restore ecosystem health and improve water management for beneficial uses of the Bay-Delta system

Questions regarding the purchase of the report can be directed to Karen Bates at (916) 324-3812.