The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has published a final rule designating approximately 431 acres of land as critical habitat for two plants, Vail Lake ceanothus and Mexican flannelbush. The lands designated as critical habitat are in portions of Riverside and San Diego counties and are managed by the U.S. Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management.

Critical habitat is a term in the Endangered Species Act. It identifies geographic areas that contain features essential for the conservation of a threatened or endangered species and may require special management considerations or protection. The designation of critical habitat does not affect land ownership or establish a refuge, wilderness, reserve, preserve, or other conservation area. It does not allow government or public access to private lands. Federal agencies that undertake, fund or permit activities that may affect critical habitat are required to consult with the Service to ensure such actions do not adversely modify or destroy designated critical habitat.

Vail Lake ceanothus is found in a few locations in the interior foothills of Riverside County, within chamise-chaparral. Mexican flannelbush grows in seasonal drainages and associated slopes within closed-cone coniferous forest dominated by Tecate cypress and chaparral in the interior foothills of San Diego County and northwestern Baja California, Mexico.

Potential costs associated with conservation actions for these two plants are estimated to be from $385,000 to $659,000 over the next 20 years, using undiscounted dollars.

Approximately 213 acres originally proposed for critical habitat designation were excluded from the final designation because conservation of the plants on those lands are covered by either the Western Riverside County Multiple Species Habitat Conservation Plan or the San Diego County Multiple Species Conservation Program.

A copy of the final rule, economic analysis and other information about Vail Lake ceanothus and Mexican flannelbush is available on the Internet at http://www.fws.gov/carlsbad, or by contacting the Carlsbad Fish and Wildlife Office at  760-431-9440.