Milk vetch ruling renews arguments By ERIC GALVAN, Staff Writer
Thursday, July 17, 2008 11:33 PM PDT
FILE PHOTO
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced that the milk vetch, an endangered desert plant will remain under that listing.
The fight to get the Peirson’s milk vetch off the endangered species list will have to continue for off-road enthusiasts.
On Thursday the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced the milk vetch would remain on the endangered species list, consequently keeping more than 12,000 acres of land closed in the Imperial Sand Dunes Recreational Area.
“From our standpoint, we believe we developed, along with the Bureau of Land Management, sufficient data that shows the plant isn’t threatened,” Bob Mason, president of the American Sand Association said.
The ASA has been one of the biggest and most vocal proponents of de-listing the milk vetch from the endangered species list. The ASA has funded research studies and lawsuits to support its efforts in getting the milk vetch taken off the endangered list.
“There are reports that indicate that (off-highway vehicle) activity has been insignificant in terms of impact on the milk vetch,” Mason said.
In February, the Fish and Wildlife Service approved reducing the critical habitat for the milk vetch by more than 9,700 acres in the Algodones Dunes in Imperial County.
The original critical habitat was designated in 2004 at 21,863 acres, but was reduced in February to 12,105 acres.
In November 2000, the Center for Biological Diversity, the Sierra Club and Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility sued the Bureau of Land Management to force it to close 49,000 acres of the Imperial County Sand Dunes Recreational Area to protect the milk vetch.
In November 2001, the American Sand Association, San Diego Off-Road Coalition and the Off-Road Business Association then sued the Fish and Wildlife Service to remove the plant from the endangered list.
In July 2002 a federal judge in San Diego ordered the Fish and Wildlife Service to designate critical habitat for the milk vetch and seven other endangered or threatened plants.
That year 52,780 acres were designated as critical habitat for the milk vetch. The next year that number was reduced to 21,836.
Imperial County Supervisor Wally Leimgruber said he believed OHV use has not had an impact on the milk vetch and believes the plant is thriving.
He also said the continued closure of land to protect the milk vetch has had a significant impact locally.
“It not only impacts our economy locally, but also the industries that support the recreational activity,” he said. “This is something where folks can only be place in confinement for so long.”
Cathy Kennerson, chief financial officer for United Desert Gateway, which has supported ASA in its efforts to get the milk vetch de-listed, said taking the plant off the endangered list would open a large section for the off-roading community.
“It gives off-roaders a larger area to recreate in,” she said. “It would diminish the congestion out there.”
The ASA will hold an informational meeting Aug. 9 in San Bernardino to further discuss the milk vetch situation.
Mason said he was unsure what the next step would be for ASA and said options would likely be discussed at the Aug. 9 meeting.
“I wouldn’t say this is a can’t-win situation,” he said of getting the milk vetch de-listed. “But, at best, it’s difficult.”
" This is an absolute absurdity and insanity! The Sierra Club and CBD are pathetic organizations. A weed has more right than a human being. And they find an eco friendly Federal judge in San Francisco of all places to hear and support their cause. Humans suffer, recreation suffers and the economy of Imperial County suffers. Time to fight this crap. "
farmallalfalfa wrote on Jul 18, 2008 12:09 PM:
" The dreaded Kangaroo Rat. Did you hear about that guy who was in danger of losing his entire farm because he accidently killed one of them with a tractor? "
holtville1 wrote on Jul 18, 2008 11:39 AM:
" Just like you do when you find an endangered species on your property: SSS.
Shoot it, shovel it, and shut up about it.
That's where the environmental movement has got us. Decent, law-abiding citizens thinking about destroying something they could care less about because leaving it along could be disastrous for them. There are many property owners who have had to sign over portions of their land after endangered spcies were found on it. "
farmallalfalfa wrote on Jul 18, 2008 10:53 AM:
" wtfru- Just so you know, I was being completely serious. "
wtfru wrote on Jul 18, 2008 10:48 AM:
" yea do that.. then everything gets closed.. & then where do we go play.. stop & think 4 a minute..
& even if they open up all the land.. the majority would still condense on the same areas..
Do what you can, with what u have, where u are. Theodore Roosevelt
something 2 help u think.. "
farmallalfalfa wrote on Jul 18, 2008 9:51 AM:
" I'm heading out there with some roundup so that they'll be nothing left to preserve... "
turnabout wrote on Jul 18, 2008 9:42 AM:
" holtville1...the irony of your idea is that if this weed (unknown what it looks like to most of us) were to be found in their carefully planted flora, it would be destroyed in a heartbeat. Makes you wonder huh? lol "
atfullcount wrote on Jul 18, 2008 8:09 AM:
" Nah dude, won't work. Because of their incredible paranoia and addiction to surveillance, you'll be caught on tape and subsequently busted for messing with the indangered vetch. It's a cool idea, preserving wildlife, but I think it's also a fair plan to START now to cultivate it elsewhere, so that in the following couple of years, it can thrive and the recreation folks can thrive, too. Now, that, I think is a novel idea, my dear WATSON! "
holtville1 wrote on Jul 18, 2008 12:52 AM:
" I've always had an idea that might make for some interesting implications.
What if someone were to dig up soome of these weeds and plant them outside the offices of the Center for Biological Diversity, the Sierra Club and Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility some weekend? Let them become well established and then point out they are growing there. Would those offices then have to be condemned and turned over to the government's control for the preservation of the weeds? "
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desert99 wrote on Jul 18, 2008 7:08 PM: