Judge declares Calif salamander endangered in two counties (Santa Barbara and Sonoma)

http://www.bakersfield.com/state_wire/story/5594886p-5570719c.html ^ | 8/19/05 | David Kravets - AP

[NormsRevenge]

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - A federal judge here on Friday declared the California tiger salamander an endangered species in Santa Barbara and Sonoma counties.

The decision by U.S. District Judge William Alsup, if it survives, might postpone, preclude or make it costlier to develop thousands of acres in the two counties.

The species is already listed as threatened across the state, meaning some development restrictions exist in its habitat surrounding certain wetlands and other areas.

Under Friday's decision, however, restrictions could be bolstered. The ruling does not become law for more than a month to allow for appeals.

"We do feel it will lead to increased protections and make it harder to justify the wholesale destruction of tiger salamander habitat," said Peter Galvin, conservation director with the Center for Biological Diversity, one of the groups that brought a lawsuit that led to Friday's ruling.

Jim Nickles, a spokesman for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, one of the defendants in the suit, said the agency had no comment on the decision. He would not say whether the service would appeal.

"The protections in place for an endangered species are a little more restrictive than a threatened species. Most rules apply to both," Nickles said.

The California tiger salamander is a black-and-yellow amphibian that grows up to 8 inches long and lives in grasslands, woodlands and vernal pools, where it breeds during the winter rainy season. The species has been threatened by urban sprawl.

Carolyn Wasem, a lobbyist for landowners and homebuilders, suspects the ruling won't have any large-scale impacts. She said both counties are working on plans limiting development on thousands of acres along the salamander's habitat.

"We feel pretty confident and pretty hopeful that this ruling won't have a real affect on us," she said. "We are already taking steps to deal with it."

Judge Alsup ruled that there was no scientific reason for the government to have at one time declared the species endangered and then to have downgraded its status to threatened last year.

"There was no scientific evidence for downlisting the Sonoma and Santa Barbara tiger salamanders," Alsup ruled, noting that U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service scientists supported the endangered status. "The agency did not supply any scientific evidence."

The case is Center for Biological Diversity v. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 04-04324.

[CROSSHIGHWAYMAN]

I declare the average American taxpayer an endangered species.

What special rules will I decree?

[JRP0322]

Did he actually go out and count them????????

[Uncle Hal]

I in laws own vacant land in Sonoma County where this is threatening development. Hate to see this hurt any chances of them selling this land for future housing.

[EagleUSA]

I declare the average American taxpayer an endangered species.
What special rules will I decree?
-----
Well if this leftist, whacko, activist judge will protect land for endangered species, and he has set a precendent here, then that should solve our illegal Mexican problem -- how soon do we file our class action suit ???

[muir_redwoods]

Here in Hartford County the polar bear, the Kudu, the dik dik and the gabon viper are seriously endangered

[claptrap]

Salamanders are very important, obviously, but did you know frogs eat salamanders so do fish. So unless they do something about the frogs and fish these salamanders are
going to get eaten !

[Khepera]

salamanders are going to get eaten !

Not by me I just step on 'em!

[decal]

A simple solution: make it economically desirable to preserve the California tiger salamander, by tax breaks for example.

Another simple solution: force the residents to kill every California tiger salamander they can possibly find.

Guess which one the judge chose.

[southernerwithanattitude]

I wonder what they would taste like if you added a few of them to a spotted owl stew?

[DTogo]

SB enviro-whacko *ping*

[Chode]

and Atlas PUKED!!!

[Alia]

bookmark

[holyscroller]

"Did he actually go out and count them????????

Yes, they've got little enviro-wacko spies out hunting for anything they can find, and if they don't find them, then they find some elsewhere and plant them on or transplant them to whatever they want to "protect." Believe me, they've been caught doing this many times. A friend of mine aught them planting endangered weeds on his place.

[holyscroller]

"Salamanders are very important, obviously, but did you know frogs eat salamanders so do fish. So unless they do something about the frogs and fish these salamanders are going to get eaten!"

Hey don't laugh. The National Park Service doesn't. Here at Mount Rainier, the Park Service has DELIBERATELY gone in and poisoned all the fish in all the lakes in order to save the salamanders. Of course the public was never asked which they preferred, fish or salamanders, but then again, the Park Service could care less. They're patting themselves on the back for saving the salamanders.

[Jonathan E]

If they are found in two counties they are not endangered.
And besides, clone all you want. Tip. Environmentalists play both sides. Because of habitat "needs" the more of a species you save the more endangered they become. Without common sense there can be no justice.

[Amerigomag]

The decision by U.S. District Judge William Alsup, if it survives, might postpone, preclude or make it costlier to develop thousands of acres in the two counties.

This is not a problem for much of Santa Barbara County. Land values already preclude all but the top 2% of earners and adding a little "salamander money" to the pot in these lofty income circles will not make or brake a real estate deal.

[Rabid Dog]

Ventura & Santa Barbara County Ping.

(Let me know if you want on/off this list)

[lowbridge]

Judge Alsup is a math graduate of Mississippi State who was appointed to the federal bench, from California, by President Clinton in 1999. In between his graduation from MSU and his appointment to the District Court, Mr. Alsup graduated from Harvard Law School, received an M.P.P. degree from the Kennedy School at Harvard, clerked for Supreme Court Justice William Douglas, served as Assistant to the Solicitor General of the United States under President Carter, and had a very successful legal career as a courtroom litigator in both the state courts of California and the federal courts (during which time he maintained a very active "pro bono" [for free] practice).

http://www.msstate.edu/dept/politicalscience/events/Alsup.html

[dalereed]

Kill all the useless salamanders and they won't be endangered any longer.