Vernal Pools
Critical Habitat Designated
Editor’s Note: This important story has received incredible press across the state. The Interior Department (Interior) released their second, final Vernal Pool Critical Habitat (VPCH) Rule for 15 vernal pool species found in California and southern Oregon. This...
California Wetland Species Protected
A January 14, 2002 decision by the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the ruling by the District of Columbia Court of Appeals affirming the protection of four federally listed fresh water crustaceans under the Endangered Species Act. Three species were listed as endangered and one as threatened by the Interior Department's U.S. Fish and Wildlife...
Major Vernal Pool Species Victory!
BEC Lawsuit Adds Extra ProtectionUnder the terms of a settlement agreement approved Monday, July 23, 2001 by the U.S. District Court in Sacramento, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) will map critical habitat for 15 endangered and threatened species that are dependent on vernal pool...
BIA Appeal Denied
Wetland Species Win Again in CourtA May 8, 2001 decision by the District of Columbia Court of Appeals affirmed the protection of four federally listed fresh water crustaceans under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Two California nonprofits, the Butte Environmental Council (BEC) and the Environmental Defense Center of Santa Barbara...
Reforms Needed in Wetlands Regulatory Program
by the National Academy of Sciences WASHINGTON -- A government program that allows developers to fill in wetlands in exchange for restoring or creating others nearby needs to be improved to meet the goal of "no net loss" in size and function of wetlands, says a new...
Resource Agencies Reiterate Habitat Needs
New Letter Clarifies School Site IssuesThe U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (F&WS) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have stated again that the wetlands and endangered species in southeast Chico are treasures that have been entrusted to us. In a letter dated October 4, 2000 from EPA to Congressional Representative Wally...
Eastgate Ranch Subdivision vs. Wetlands
An application to destroy wetlands has been submitted to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) for the Eastgate Ranch subdivision by Drake Homes, Inc. This project site is environmentally sensitive, containing vernal pools and Butte County meadowfaom, an extraordinary, local...
Site once eyed for city's growth is now nature preserve
By STEVE SCHOONOVER - City Editor An area once eyed as a possible growth area for Chico has been purchased by the state as a vernal pool preserve and for deer habitat. Escrow closed March 8 on a 754-acre piece of the Stone Ridge Ranch, across Cohasset Road from the Chico Municipal Airport,...
Vernal Pools Protection Gets Wide Media Coverage
Check out the coverage of this issue in the Chico Enterprise-Record, San Diego Union...
Deal set to protect habitat
By Denny Walsh -- Bee Staff WriterTwo acres of vernal pool habitat will be purchased and preserved by the developers for every acre destroyed in building a planned-community addition in Roseville, under the terms of a legal settlement announced Monday. It is anticipated that 5,790 acres that are home to fairy...
Gillander Hit Piece Number One
John Gillander, the self-described "gadfly" who unsuccessfully attempted to have BEC's non-profit status revoked by the State of California, has ceaselessly pounded BEC in the media and in front of the Chico City Council. Recently, he has distributed flyers around Chico in the form of an "Environmental Alert," which most will readily...
