Jami Westerhold

November 10, 2006

The United States Fish & Wildlife Service announced a final rule designating 1,841 square miles as critical habitat for the Canada lynx, which the Service listed as a threatened species since 2000. Although the Endangered Species Act (ESA) provides protection for its listed species, critical habitat designations offers an extra layer of review from federal agencies, providing an "extra dose of protection."

A species' critical habitat is a geographic area containing features essential for the conservation of a threatened or endangered species, which may require special management considerations or protections. A critical habitat designation ensures that when federal agencies undertake, fund, or permit activities in these areas, these actions will not result in the destruction or "adverse modification" of the designated land. For the Canada lynx, boreal forest habitat supporting snowshoe hares is essential.

The original proposal designated 18,031 square miles of critical habitat encompassing portions of northern Maine, northeastern Minnesota, the northern Rocky Mountains, and north-central Washington. The ESA requires the Service to balance economic and environmental impacts to determine the benefits of including or excluding the land. The Federal Register published the detailed description of the Service's assessment and reasons for the elimination of certain segments of land. Federal lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Forest Service were not included due to their commitment to the Lynx Habitat Conservation and Assessment Strategy (LCAS), another program implemented to protect habitat of the Canada lynx.

Although the Canadian lynx lives in fourteen of the lower forty eight states, it is estimated there are fewer than 1,000 lynx nationwide. Although the Service only designated critical areas in four of those states, many states have recognized the importance of protecting the lynx. Colorado already implements their own statewide programs to ensure the survival of the Canada lynx. Since 1999, Colorado's program has reintroduced 200 lynx and approximately 120 kittens have been born.

The Service's final rule was prepared pursuant to a court order resulting from a lawsuit filed against the Service by the Defenders of Wildlife. This critical habitat designation becomes effective on December 11, 2006. This designation remains in effect until the species is considered to be recovered, and is delisted from the ESA.

Resources & for more information:

Canada Lynx, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

http://mountain-prairie.fws.gov/species/mammals/lynx/criticalhabitat.htm

Information available:

Final Rule: 50 Fed. Reg. 17 (November 9, 2006).

Final Economic Analysis

National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Environmental Assessment

NEPA Finding of No Significant Impact

http://www.twincities.com/mld/twincities/news/local/15974516.htm?source=rss&channel=twincities_local

http://mountain-prairie.fws.gov/pressrel/06-49.htm

http://www.predatorconservation.org/get_involved/lynx_alert.html

http://forwolves.org/ralph/lynxinto.htm