Center for Biological Diversity

Protecting endangered species and wild places of western North America
and the Pacific through science, policy, education, and environmental law.

June 12, 2001

GROUPS FILE EMERGENCY ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT LISTING PETITION FOR SONOMA COUNTY POPULATION OF THE CALIFORNIA TIGER SALAMANDER

Petition demonstrates that the species is in imminent danger of extinction and merits immediate emergency listing.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Kassie Siegel (510) 841-0812
More Information: California Tiger Salamander, Goldenstate Biodiversity Initiative


Today the Center for Biological Diversity ("Center") filed an emergency listing petition under the federal Endangered Species Act ("ESA") for the Sonoma County population of the California tiger salamander. The Center was joined on the petition by Citizens for a Sustainable Cotati, a local Sonoma County grass-roots organization. The petition demonstrates that the species faces an imminent threat of extinction and requests that U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service ("Service") fulfill its mandatory statutory duty to promptly protect the species.

The Sonoma County population of the California tiger salamander is one of seven populations of the California tiger salamander (Ambystoma californiense) statewide. Recent genetics work indicates that the Sonoma County population may properly be considered a separate species. Under the ESA, both species and distinct population segments ("DPSs") of vertebrate species can be listed. The Sonoma County population of the California tiger salamander warrants listing either as a separate species or as a DPS. Last year, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service listed the Santa Barbara population of the California tiger salamander on an emergency basis as a DPS.

"The Sonoma County population of the California tiger salamander is one of the most imperiled species in the United States," said Kassie Siegel, an attorney with the Center and the primary author of the petition. "The Fish & Wildlife Service's inaction has ushered this species to the brink of extinction. This petition will force the agency to act to protect it."

Historically, the Sonoma County population of the California tiger salamander was distributed throughout the Santa Rosa Plain and adjacent lowlands in Sonoma County, and may have ranged into southern Marin and Napa counties. The species breeds primarily in vernal pools and swales, unique ecosystems that are inundated by winter rains and dry completely by summer. The California tiger salamander spends most of its lifecycle underground in adjacent valley oak woodland or grassland habitat. Research has shown that dispersing juveniles can roam up to two miles from their breeding ponds and that a minimum of 480 acres of uplands habitat is needed surrounding a breeding pond in order for the species to survive over the long term.
Today, the species has been eliminated from all but four small islands of habitat in Sonoma County. The four areas are west Santa Rosa, south Santa Rosa, west Cotati, and south Cotati. The primary threat to the species is conversion of land to urban development and vineyards. The majority of remaining populations could be eliminated in the near future due to these factors. The largest protected area that supports the Sonoma County population of the California tiger salamander is just over 100 acres in size, far less than is needed for the species to survive over the long term. The species also faces threats from a variety of other factors including introduced species and contamination for pesticides.

The species is threatened in the west Cotati area from the proposed South Sonoma Business Park, a massive strip-mall type development that will completely pave some of the last known breeding pools in the area and approximately 35 acres of adjacent habitat. The Draft Environmental Impact Report for the project, prepared pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act ("CEQA") denied that the species occurred on the site. Then, after an enormous public outcry including testimony from scientific experts on the species, 37 California tiger salamander larvae were discovered on the site. The larvae were removed from the site prior to project approval, in violation of CEQA. These actions may have already jeopardized the continued survival of the species in the west Cotati area. The Cotati City Council hears an appeal of the South Sonoma Business Park Project approval by the Center and Citizens for a Sustainable Cotati on Wednesday, June 13th at 7:00 p.m.

"We vehemently oppose the South Sonoma Business Park Project because of the harm it will cause to the California tiger salamander and to the environment," said Sally Tomlinson, one of the founders of Citizens for a Sustainable Cotati. "We believe that this project should not be approved, and that the site should be protected as part of a larger ecological preserve for the California tiger salamander, other sensitive species, and for educational purposes."

The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service has acknowledged, since 1994, that the Sonoma County population of the California tiger salamander warrants listing under the ESA. The species was classified statewide as "Warranted but Precluded" in 1994 in response to a listing petition filed by one of the leading scientific experts on the species. Since that time, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service has allowed the species to languish in administrative purgatory while habitat destruction has continued at a furious pace.

Today's petition is filed pursuant to the emergency listing provisions of the ESA that require the Service to promptly act to protect any Warranted but Precluded or "Candidate" species that faces a significant risk. Because the petition is filed under the emergency listing provisions of the ESA, it will not be affected by the Services' self-proclaimed "moratorium" on species listing. The Service has money set aside for emergency listings in 2001. "It shouldn't take a lawsuit to get this species listed," said Kassie Siegel, "but if the Service does not act promptly, we will file suit in U.S. District Court to compel action."

The Extinction Rider, a recent legislative attempt promoted by the Bush Administration and Gale Norton to remove the ability of public interest organizations and individuals to sue the government to compel the timely listing of species, was removed from an appropriations bill last week in the face of massive popular opposition.

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