[mou] Southwestern Willow Flycatcher Needs You!
Fran Howard
fjhoward@ix.netcom.com
Mon, 26 Jan 2004 09:53:35 -0600
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MOU members have two opportunities to help the the Southwestern Willow
Flycatcher =8B either by attending a public hearing if lucky enough to be
birding or vacationing in the West or by taking a few minutes to write a
letter to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. See details below:
COMMENTS NEEDED ON REDESIGNATION OF CRITICAL HABITAT FOR THE SOUTHWESTERN
WILLOW FLYCATCHER BY MARCH 8, 2004
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is taking comments until March 8, 2004 o=
n
redesignation of critical habitat for the Southwestern willow flycatcher.
The flycatcher has been reduced to less than 1,000 territories spread acros=
s
southern California, Arizona, New Mexico, and extreme southern Nevada, Utah
and Colorado. The vast majority of populations consist of fewer than 10
pairs, placing the species, as a whole, at imminent risk of extinction.
A primary threat to the survival of the flycatcher is the destruction of
southwest riparian areas as a result of livestock grazing, water withdrawal=
,
groundwater pumping, urban development and other factors. Critical habitat
provides an additional level of protection requiring federal agencies to
consider the impacts of their actions or actions they permit on the
flycatcher
=92s habitat, even if that habitat isn't currently occupied by the flycatcher=
.
Critical habitat was originally designated for the flycatcher July 22, 1995=
,
but was set-aside by court order May 11, 2001, following a lawsuit by the
Southern Arizona Home Builders Association. The original designation
provided
increased protection for the flycatcher by ensuring a healthy ecosystem by
restricting livestock from hundreds of miles of southwestern rivers and
streams on federal lands.
ACTION: Please comment on the designation of critical habitat for the
endangered southwestern willow flycatcher either in person at the meetings
listed below or in written comments. Let FWS know that the people of the
Southwest want to continue to protect the flycatcher and the habitat that i=
t
depends on. A sample letter is pasted below.
Thanks for your help in this important matter!
NAME
Comments can be submitted in writing to
Steve Spangle, Field Supervisor,
Arizona Ecological Services Office
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
2321 West Royal Palm Road, Suite 103
Phoenix, Arizona 85021.
by facsimile to (602) 242-2513
by e-mail to WIFLcomments@fws.gov.
Comments can also be given at one of several public hearing on the issue:
1. January 26, 2004: Phoenix, AZ. 6:30 p.m. Fraternal Order of Police Lodge
No. 2, 12851 N. 19th Ave.,Phoenix, AZ 85029-2654.
2. January 27, 2004: Silver City, NM. 6:30 p.m. Flame Convention Center,
2800
Pinos Altos Road(West of 32nd St. & Hwy. 180), Silver City, NM 88061.
3. January 28, 2004: Albuquerque, NM. 6:30 p.m. Indian Pueblo Cultural
Center, 2401 12th Street NW., Albuquerque, NM 87104.
4. January 29, 2004: Alamosa, CO. 6:30 p.m. Alamosa Family Recreation
Center,
2222 Old Sanford Road, Alamosa, CO 81101.
5. February 2, 2004: Las Vegas, NV. 6:30 p.m. Bureau of Land Management
Building, 4701 N. Torrey Pines Drive, Las Vegas, NV 89130.
6. February 3, 2004: Lake Isabella, CA. 6:30 p.m. Lake Isabella Senior
Center,
Veteran's Facility, Room 1, 6405 Lake Isabella Blvd., Lake Isabella, CA
93240.
7. February 4, 2004: Corona/City of Chino, CA. 6:30 p.m. El Prado Golf
Course,
6555 Pine Avenue, Chino, CA 91710.
8. February 5, 2004: Escondido, CA. 6:30 p.m. Escondido Center for the Arts=
,
340 N. Escondido Blvd., Escondido, CA 92025.
Sample Letter:
Steve Spangle, Field Supervisor,
Arizona Ecological Services Office
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
2321 West Royal Palm Road, Suite 103
Phoenix, Arizona 85021.
(602) 242-2513 (fax)
WIFLcomments@fws.gov.
Dear Mr. Spangle,
Please accept the following comments on redesignation of critical habitat
for
the highly endangered southwestern willow flycatcher. Critical habitat is
absolutely necessary to ensure the survival and recovery of the flycatcher
and
should include:
* All presently or recently occupied flycatcher habitat, including those
areas protected by conservation plans or other measures. Critical habitat
adds protection even in cases where there is some existing protection.
* Sufficient habitat to allow recovery of flycatchers to a wider and more
viable portion of their historic range, prioritizing areas within 50 miles
of
existing territories, which is close to the observed maximum dispersal
distance of a flycatcher between breeding populations, followed by areas
that
would reconnect existing populations across the landscape.
* Designated critical habitat should encompass a minimum of the 100-year
floodplain.
* Constituent elements of critical habitat should include riparian
vegetation
utilized by the flycatcher, as well as the aquatic environment, which is a
primary source of insect prey for the flycatcher, and the streambanks that
provide a necessary structural component supporting flycatcher habitat.
Thank you for taking the time to consider these comments.
Sincerely,
YOUR NAME
YOUR ADDRESS
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<TITLE>Southwestern Willow Flycatcher Needs You!</TITLE>
</HEAD>
<BODY>
<TT>MOU members have two opportunities to help the the Southwestern Willow =
Flycatcher =8B either by attending a public hearing if lucky enough to be bird=
ing or vacationing in the West or by taking a few minutes to write a letter =
to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. See details below: <BR>
<BR>
<BR>
<BR>
COMMENTS NEEDED ON REDESIGNATION OF CRITICAL HABITAT FOR THE SOUTHWESTERN<B=
R>
WILLOW FLYCATCHER BY MARCH 8, 2004<BR>
<BR>
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is taking comments until March 8, 2004 o=
n<BR>
redesignation of critical habitat for the Southwestern willow flycatcher.<B=
R>
<BR>
The flycatcher has been reduced to less than 1,000 territories spread acros=
s<BR>
southern California, Arizona, New Mexico, and extreme southern Nevada, Utah=
<BR>
and Colorado. The vast majority of populations consist of fewer than =
10<BR>
pairs, placing the species, as a whole, at imminent risk of extinction.<BR>
<BR>
A primary threat to the survival of the flycatcher is the destruction of<BR=
>
southwest riparian areas as a result of livestock grazing, water withdrawal=
,<BR>
groundwater pumping, urban development and other factors. Critical ha=
bitat<BR>
provides an additional level of protection requiring federal agencies to<BR=
>
consider the impacts of their actions or actions they permit on the flycatc=
her<BR>
=92s habitat, even if that habitat isn't currently occupied by the flycatcher=
.<BR>
<BR>
Critical habitat was originally designated for the flycatcher July 22, 1995=
,<BR>
but was set-aside by court order May 11, 2001, following a lawsuit by the<B=
R>
Southern Arizona Home Builders Association. The original designation =
provided<BR>
increased protection for the flycatcher by ensuring a healthy ecosystem by<=
BR>
restricting livestock from hundreds of miles of southwestern rivers and<BR>
streams on federal lands.<BR>
<BR>
ACTION: Please comment on the designation of critical habitat for the<BR>
endangered southwestern willow flycatcher either in person at the meetings<=
BR>
listed below or in written comments. Let FWS know that the people of =
the<BR>
Southwest want to continue to protect the flycatcher and the habitat that i=
t<BR>
depends on. A sample letter is pasted below.<BR>
<BR>
Thanks for your help in this important matter!<BR>
<BR>
NAME<BR>
<BR>
Comments can be submitted in writing to<BR>
<BR>
Steve Spangle, Field Supervisor,<BR>
Arizona Ecological Services Office<BR>
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service<BR>
2321 West Royal Palm Road, Suite 103<BR>
Phoenix, Arizona 85021.<BR>
by facsimile to (602) 242-2513<BR>
by e-mail to <FONT COLOR=3D"#0000FF"><U>WIFLcomments@fws.gov</U></FONT>.<BR>
<BR>
Comments can also be given at one of several public hearing on the issue:<B=
R>
<BR>
1. January 26, 2004: Phoenix, AZ. 6:30 p.m. Fraternal Order of Police Lodge=
<BR>
No. 2, 12851 N. 19th Ave.,Phoenix, AZ 85029-2654.<BR>
<BR>
2. January 27, 2004: Silver City, NM. 6:30 p.m. Flame Convention Center, 28=
00<BR>
Pinos Altos Road(West of 32nd St. & Hwy. 180), Silver City, NM 88061.<B=
R>
<BR>
3. January 28, 2004: Albuquerque, NM. 6:30 p.m. Indian Pueblo Cultura=
l<BR>
Center, 2401 12th Street NW., Albuquerque, NM 87104.<BR>
<BR>
4. January 29, 2004: Alamosa, CO. 6:30 p.m. Alamosa Family Recreation Cente=
r,<BR>
2222 Old Sanford Road, Alamosa, CO 81101.<BR>
<BR>
5. February 2, 2004: Las Vegas, NV. 6:30 p.m. Bureau of Land Management<BR>
Building, 4701 N. Torrey Pines Drive, Las Vegas, NV 89130.<BR>
<BR>
6. February 3, 2004: Lake Isabella, CA. 6:30 p.m. Lake Isabella Senior Cent=
er,<BR>
Veteran's Facility, Room 1, 6405 Lake Isabella Blvd., Lake Isabella, CA 932=
40.<BR>
<BR>
7. February 4, 2004: Corona/City of Chino, CA. 6:30 p.m. El Prado Golf Cour=
se,<BR>
6555 Pine Avenue, Chino, CA 91710.<BR>
<BR>
8. February 5, 2004: Escondido, CA. 6:30 p.m. Escondido Center for the Arts=
,<BR>
340 N. Escondido Blvd., Escondido, CA 92025.<BR>
<BR>
Sample Letter:<BR>
<BR>
Steve Spangle, Field Supervisor,<BR>
Arizona Ecological Services Office<BR>
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service<BR>
2321 West Royal Palm Road, Suite 103<BR>
Phoenix, Arizona 85021.<BR>
(602) 242-2513 (fax)<BR>
<FONT COLOR=3D"#0000FF"><U>WIFLcomments@fws.gov</U></FONT>.<BR>
<BR>
Dear Mr. Spangle,<BR>
<BR>
Please accept the following comments on redesignation of critical habitat f=
or<BR>
the highly endangered southwestern willow flycatcher. Critical habita=
t is<BR>
absolutely necessary to ensure the survival and recovery of the flycatcher =
and<BR>
should include:<BR>
<BR>
* All presently or recently occupied flycatcher habitat, including th=
ose<BR>
areas protected by conservation plans or other measures. Critical hab=
itat<BR>
adds protection even in cases where there is some existing protection.<BR>
<BR>
* Sufficient habitat to allow recovery of flycatchers to a wider and =
more<BR>
viable portion of their historic range, prioritizing areas within 50 miles =
of<BR>
existing territories, which is close to the observed maximum dispersal<BR>
distance of a flycatcher between breeding populations, followed by areas th=
at<BR>
would reconnect existing populations across the landscape.<BR>
<BR>
* Designated critical habitat should encompass a minimum of the 100-y=
ear<BR>
floodplain.<BR>
<BR>
* Constituent elements of critical habitat should include riparian ve=
getation<BR>
utilized by the flycatcher, as well as the aquatic environment, which is a<=
BR>
primary source of insect prey for the flycatcher, and the streambanks that<=
BR>
provide a necessary structural component supporting flycatcher habitat.<BR>
<BR>
Thank you for taking the time to consider these comments.<BR>
<BR>
Sincerely,<BR>
<BR>
YOUR NAME<BR>
YOUR ADDRESS<BR>
<BR>
<BR>
<BR>
<BR>
<BR>
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