PRATHER – There will a town hall meeting tonight in Prather to discuss the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s proposal to designate some 2 million acres of the Sierra Nevada as critical habitat for the yellow-legged frog and Yosemite toad.
Opponents of the move cite the possible closure of vast areas in 14 counties and 9 National Forests to such human activities as grazing, dams and water diversions, logging, fire management, mining, travel, recreation, sport fishing, hiking, camping, rafting, pets and more.The meeting is being held on Wednesday, June 19, at 6 p.m., at Foothill Elementary School, 29147 Auberry Road, Prather.
Implementation of this proposal could have major impacts on the way the public is allowed to use and access these lands, and anyone interested in learning more or expressing their opinion is encouraged to attend.
The proposed rule listed in the Federal Register, reads as follows:
“We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, propose to designate critical habitat for the Sierra Nevada yellow-legged frog, the northern distinct population segment (DPS) (populations that occur north of the Tehachapi Mountains) of the mountain yellow-legged frog, and the Yosemite toad under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). In total, we propose to designate as critical habitat approximately 447,341 hectares (1,105,400 acres) for the Sierra Nevada yellow-legged frog in Butte, Plumas, Lassen, Sierra, Nevada, Placer, El Dorado, Amador, Calaveras, Alpine, Mariposa, Mono, Madera, Tuolumne, Fresno, and Inyo Counties, California; approximately 89,637 hectares (221,498 acres) for the northern DPS of the mountain yellow-legged frog in Fresno and Tulare Counties, California; and approximately 303,889 hectares (750,926 acres) for the Yosemite toad in Alpine, Tuolumne, Mono, Mariposa, Madera, Fresno, and Inyo Counties, California.”
For the entire text of the bill click here.
