45806 Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 152 / Wednesday, August 6, 2008 / Proposed Rules 

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 

Fish and Wildlife Service 

[FWS–R8–ES–2008–0078; 99210–1117– 

0000–B4] 

50 CFR Part 17 

RIN 1018–AV03 

Endangered and Threatened Wildlife 

and Plants; Revised Designation of 

Critical Habitat for Cirsium loncholepis 

(La Graciosa Thistle) 

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, 

Interior. 

ACTION: Proposed rule. 

SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and 

Wildlife Service (Service), propose to 

revise the currently designated critical 

habitat for Cirsium loncholepis (La 

Graciosa thistle) pursuant to the 

Endangered Species Act of 1973, as 

amended (Act). In total, approximately 

38,447 acres (ac) (15,559 hectares (ha)) 

fall within the boundaries of this 

proposed revised critical habitat 

designation. The proposed revision is to 

critical habitat located in San Luis 

Obispo and Santa Barbara Counties, 

California. 

DATES: We will accept comments from 

all interested parties until October 6, 

2008. We must receive requests for 

public hearings, in writing, at the 

address shown in the ADDRESSES section 

by September 22, 2008. 

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments 

by one of the following methods: 

• Federal eRulemaking Portal: http:// 

www.regulations.gov. Follow the 

instructions for submitting comments. 

• U.S. mail or hand-delivery: Public 

Comments Processing, Attn: [FWS-R8– 

ES–2008–0078]; Division of Policy and 

Directives Management; U.S. Fish and 

Wildlife Service; 4401 N. Fairfax Drive, 

Suite 222; Arlington, VA 22203. 

We will not accept e-mail or faxes. We 

will post all comments on http:// 

www.regulations.gov. This generally 

means that we will post any personal 

information you provide us (see the 

Public Comments section below for 

more information). 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Diane K. Noda, Field Supervisor, 

Ventura Fish and Wildlife Office, 2493 

Portola Road, Suite B, Ventura, 

California, 93003 (telephone 805/644– 

1766; facsimile 805/644–3958). If you 

use a telecommunications device for the 

deaf (TDD), call the Federal Information 

Relay Service (FIRS) at 800–877–8339. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Public Comments Solicited 

We intend any final action resulting 

from this proposal to be as accurate and 

as effective as possible. Therefore, we 

request comments or suggestions on this 

proposed rule. We particularly seek 

comments concerning: 

(1) The reasons why we should or 

should not revise the designation of 

habitat as ‘‘critical habitat’’ under 

section 4 of the Act (16 U.S.C. 1531 et 

seq.), including whether the benefit of 

designation would outweigh threats to 

the species caused by the designation, 

such that the designation of critical 

habitat is prudent; 

(2) Specific information on: 

• The amount and distribution of 

Cirsium loncholepis habitat, 

• The importance of including habitat 

that provides connectivity between 

extant populations of C. loncholepis to 

the species’ conservation and recovery, 

and the amount and distribution of such 

habitat; 

• Which areas within the 

geographical area occupied at the time 

of listing that contain features essential 

to the conservation of the species we 

should include in the designation and 

why, and 

• Which areas not within the 

geographical area occupied at the time 

of listing that are essential for the 

conservation of the species and why; 

(3) Land use designations and current 

or planned activities in the subject areas 

and their possible impacts on proposed 

critical habitat; 

(4) Any foreseeable economic, 

national security, or other relevant 

impacts resulting from the proposed 

revised designation, and, in particular, 

any impacts on small entities, and the 

benefits of including or excluding areas 

that exhibit these impacts; 

(5) This proposed designation’s 

revised criteria for determining essential 

features and critical habitat boundaries; 

and 

(6) The existence of any conservation 

or management plans being 

implemented by California State Parks, 

Oceano Dunes State Vehicular 

Recreation Area; Vandenberg Air Force 

Base; County of Santa Barbara, Rancho 

Guadalupe Dunes County Park; 

Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes National 

Wildlife Refuge; or other public or 

private land management agencies or 

owners that we should consider for 

exclusion from the designation pursuant 

to section 4(b)(2) of the Act. Please 

include information on any benefits 

(educational, regulatory, etc.) of 

including or excluding lands from this 

proposed revised designation. 

(7) Whether we could improve or 

modify our approach to designating 

critical habitat in any way to provide for 

greater public participation and 

understanding, or to better 

accommodate public concerns and 

comments; 

(8) Whether there are areas that were 

previously designated as critical habitat 

that we are now removing from 

designation in this proposed rule, that 

should remain as critical habitat in the 

rule. 

You may submit your comments and 

materials concerning this proposed rule 

by one of the methods listed in the 

ADDRESSES section. We will not 

consider comments sent by e-mail or fax 

or to an address not listed in the 

ADDRESSES section. 

If you submit a comment via http: // 

www.regulations.gov, your entire 

comment—including any personal 

identifying information—will be posted 

on the Web site. If you submit a 

hardcopy comment that includes 

personal identifying information, you 

may request at the top of your document 

that we withhold this information from 

public review. However, we cannot 

guarantee that we will be able to do so. 

We will post all hardcopy comments on 

http://www.regulations.gov. 

Background 

It is our intent to discuss only those 

topics directly relevant to this proposed 

revised designation of critical habitat. 

Additional background information 

covering the general ecology of Cirsium 

loncholepis was published in the final 

listing rule on March 20, 2000 (65 

Federal Register (FR) 14888), the 

proposed rule to designate critical 

habitat published on March 30, 1998 (63 

FR 15164), and the final designation of 

critical habitat for C. loncholepis on 

March 17, 2004 (69 FR 12553). 

Species Description and Reproduction 

Cirsium loncholepis is a biennial to 

short-lived monocarpic perennial (a 

plant that blooms once, then dies) 

(Hendrickson 1990, pp. 20–22; Teed 

2003, p. 1). It is a spreading, mound-like 

or erect plant in the Asteraceae 

(sunflower family) that is well armored 

with spines on the leaves and flower 

heads. The plants range from 4 to 39 

(occasionally up to 59) inches (in) (10 to 

100 (occasionally up to 150) centimeters 

(cm)) tall, with one or more stems. The 

lower leaves are 4 to 12 in (10 to 30 cm) 

long, with spiny petioles (leaf stalks), 

and are usually deeply lobed with 

secondary lobes or teeth. The leaves are 

wavy-margined. The leaf bases of the 

middle and upper leaves form short, 

spiny wings along the petiole. 

Flowering heads are 0.8 to 1.6 in (2 to 

4 cm) wide in tight clusters at the tips 


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of the stems. The corollas (flowers) are 

1 to 1.2 in (25 to 30 millimeters (mm)) 

long and are nearly white with a 

purplish tube containing purple anthers. 

The achenes (fruit) are 0.01 to 0.02 in 

(3 to 4 mm) long and topped by an 

umbrella of long awns (0.6 to 1.0 in (15 

to 25 mm)) that are ideal for wind 

dispersal (Keil and Turner 1993, pp. 

232–239). Large individuals produce 

more flowering heads and more seeds 

per head (average = 473 seeds per plant) 

than smaller individuals (average = 168 

seeds per plant), and therefore 

contribute disproportionately to the 

future seedbank of the population (Lea 

2001a, unpaginated). 

Taxonomy 

In 2006, Dr. David Keil revised the 

treatment for the genus Cirsium in North 

America for the Flora of North America 

north of Mexico by taking a broad view 

of the genus and the overlap in ranges 

of variation in morphologic characters 

(visible plant characteristics) (Keil 

2006a, pp. 1, 57, 66, 82, 83, 93, 95–160). 

Dr. Keil synonymized (lumped) C. 

loncholepis with C. scariosum var. 

citrinum (La Graciosa thistle, same 

common name as the listed entity), a 

more widespread taxon whose 

distribution encompasses the following 

areas: The distribution of the C. 

loncholepis, at the mouth of the Santa 

Maria River; C. scariosum populations 

in the San Emigdio Mountains (Kern 

and Ventura Counties); and C. 

scariosum populations in the uplands 

and lowlands of the Peninsular Ranges 

of southern California (Riverside and 

San Diego Counties) that continue down 

into northern Baja California, Mexico 

(Keil 2006a, pp. 1, 57, 66, 82, 83, 93, 95–

160). Dr. Keil has since informed us that 

he is re-recognizing C. loncholepis as a 

distinct entity as a subtaxon of C. 

scariosum and that he will publish it in 

a journal article and in the upcoming 

second edition of The Jepson Manual: 

Higher Plants of California. (Keil 2007a, 

unpaginated; 2007b, unpaginated). We 

consider this to be the best available 

scientific and commercial information. 

Accordingly, we continue to recognize 

C. loncholepis as a distinct entity. 

Distribution 

Below, we define various terms that 

are used for different assemblages of 

plants that we use in discussing the 

status of Cirsium loncholepis. In this 

rule we use the term ‘‘occurrence’’ to be 

consistent with the definition used by 

the California Natural Diversity 

Database (CNDDB): A grouping of plants 

within 0.25 mile (mi) (0.4 kilometer 

(km)) of each other (CNDDB 2007, 

unpaginated). There may be (and 

occasionally are) one or more discrete 

polygons of plants within a single 

‘‘occurrence.’’ We use the term 

‘‘population’’ to refer to a group of 

interbreeding individuals, in the 

biological sense of the word. There may 

be (and usually are) one or more 

‘‘occurrences’’ within a single 

population. Our use of the term 

‘‘location’’ in previous rules for C. 

loncholepis was interchangeable with 

‘‘occurrence’’ and ‘‘population.’’ In this 

rule ‘‘location’’ refers only to a 

particular site, area, or region, as in ‘‘at 

that location,’’ with no relation to an 

assemblage of plants (e.g., polygon, 

occurrence, population). The terms 

‘‘site,’’ ‘‘area,’’ and ‘‘region’’ refer to 

physical places. 

Cirsium loncholepis historically was 

found in mesic areas (areas with 

intermediate or medium moisture 

conditions that are neither very wet nor 

very dry) in back dune and coastal 

wetlands along a 32-mi (52-km) stretch 

of the coastal region of central California 

between Arroyo Grande Creek in San 

Luis Obispo County to the north and the 

Santa Ynez River in Santa Barbara 

County to the south. In this range, it 

occurred up to 16 mi (26 km) inland 

where it was documented at the Can ̃ ada 

de las Flores area on the south side of 

the Solomon Hills. Most of the known 

occurrences are associated with mesic 

sites in two dune complexes (the Santa 

Maria Valley Dune Complex and the 

Santa Ynez Valley Dune Complex) and 

along the drainages and tributaries of 

four major watersheds in this area (from 

north to south: Arroyo Grande Creek, 

Santa Maria River, San Antonio Creek, 

and Santa Ynez River). 

Historically, Cirsium loncholepis has 

been reported or documented from a 

total of 25 occurrences that are grouped 

among 11 populations ranging from the 

dunes near Pismo Beach inland to 

hillside seeps at Can ̃ ada de las Flores 

south to the floodplains of the Santa 

Ynez River (CNDDB 2007, unpaginated; 

Consortium of California Herbaria 2008, 

unpaginated). These 11 populations are: 

Oceano, northern Callender Dune Lakes, 

southern Callender Dune Lakes, Oso 

Flaco, southern Guadalupe Dunes, Santa 

Maria River, Guadalupe, La Graciosa 

(type locality—the geographical location 

for the collection of the type specimen 

or the specimen that fixes a name to a 

species), Can ̃ ada de las Flores, San 

Antonio Terrace, and Santa Ynez River. 

See: 63 FR 15164, March 30, 1998; 65 

FR 14888, March 20, 2000; 66 FR 57560, 

November 15, 2001; and 69 FR 12553, 

March 17, 2004; and Hendrickson (1990, 

pp. 1–25) for more in-depth discussions 

on the historical habitats, distribution, 

and range of C. loncholepis. 

At the time of the listing in 2000, 

there were 17 recorded occurrences. 

After reviewing the historical records, 

we determined that 11 of the 17 

occurrences were extant (still in 

existence). These 11 extant occurrences 

were distributed among 7 populations. 

At the time of listing, the extant 

occurrences ranged from the northern 

Callender Dune Lakes in the Callender 

Dunes in the north to the seeps at 

Can ̃ ada de las Flores in the south (65 FR 

14888, March 20, 2000; CNDDB 1998, 

unpaginated). Since the time of listing, 

Cirsium loncholepis has experienced 

considerable declines throughout its 

range. Currently, C. loncholepis is 

considered to be extant at seven 

occurrences that are distributed among 

four populations: Southern Callender 

Dune Lakes, Oso Flaco, southern 

Guadalupe Dunes, and Santa Maria 

River. The seven extant occurrences 

consist of five occurrences that were 

identified in the final listing rule in 

2000 as well as two new occurrences 

that have been identified since that time 

(CNDDB 2007, unpaginated; Elvin 2006, 

unpaginated, 2007a, unpaginated). The 

extant occurrences currently range from 

the southern Callender Dune Lakes in 

the north to the Santa Maria River in the 

south. See Figure 1 for the current 

versus historical distribution of C. 

loncholepis. The points in this figure 

represent locations of polygons of C. 

loncholepis plants. Some C. loncholepis 

occurrences contain more than one 

polygon. 

BILLING CODE 4310–55–P 


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The Service has reviewed the most 

current information regarding 

occupancy at Cirsium loncholepis 

historically known to have been 

occupied, or occupied at time of listing. 

Cirsium loncholepis may still be extant 


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at Can ̃ ada de las Flores. It was last 

observed at this site in 1989 

(Hendrickson 1990, pp. 1–25). Based on 

this information at the time of listing, 

we considered Can ̃ ada de las Flores to 

be occupied. Since the time of listing, 

there have still been no observations of 

C. loncholepis at Can ̃ ada de las Flores. 

No plants were observed during surveys 

in 1990 (Hendrickson 1990, pp. 1–25), 

and no plants were observed by Mark A. 

Elvin and Jeanette Sainz when they 

visited the site in November 2007. This 

visit was conducted outside the optimal 

time of year to observe this plant in a 

dry year, and it was not an exhaustive 

survey (Elvin 2007b, unpaginated). 

While C. loncholepis may still be at 

Can ̃ ada de las Flores, we are considering 

Can ̃ ada de las Flores to be unoccupied 

for the purposes of this rule based on 

the continued lack of observation of C. 

loncholepis since 2000. Cirsium 

loncholepis has not been observed at the 

northern Callender Dune Lakes 

population (in the dunes just south of 

Pismo Beach and Oceano) since 1988, 

but no surveys have been conducted 

here since 1988 to our knowledge. 

Cirsium loncholepis may still be extant 

at this population. Cirsium loncholepis 

has not been observed at the Santa Ynez 

River population since 1958 (CNDDB 

2007, unpaginated; Consortium of 

California Herbaria 2008, unpaginated; 

Smith 1976, p. 282, 1998, pp. 153–154; 

Santa Barbara Botanical Garden 

Herbarium 2007, unpaginated). Surveys 

were conducted by the Biological 

Sciences Department at California 

Polytechnic State University between 

1992 and 1994, but no plants were 

found (Keil and Holland 1998, pp. 83–

84); no other surveys are known to have 

been conducted. Therefore, C. 

loncholepis is not currently known to 

occur along the Santa Ynez River. San 

Antonio Terrace is centrally located 

within the range of C. loncholepis. It is 

south of the Guadalupe and Callender 

Dune Sheets and the Santa Maria River, 

west of Can ̃ ada de las Flores, and north 

of the Santa Ynez River. San Antonio 

Terrace supports numerous dune 

wetlands and swales and has the same 

physical and geological features, 

habitats, and vegetation as the Callender 

and Guadalupe Dune Sheets (Hunt 

1993, pp. 5–72; CNDDB 2007, 

unpaginated; Consortium of California 

Herbaria 2008, unpaginated; Google 

Earth 2008, unpaginated). Cirsium 

loncholepis is reported from the dune 

swales on San Antonio Terrace, but it 

has never been documented here with a 

voucher specimen (CNDDB 2007, 

unpaginated; Henningson et al. 1980, 

pp. 15–120; Consortium of California 

Herbaria 2008, unpaginated). San 

Antonio Terrace is directly adjacent to 

the mouth of San Antonio Creek which, 

according to some researchers, is the 

most likely site for the type locality for 

C. loncholepis (Keil and Holland 1998, 

pp. 83–84; Oyler et al. 1995, pp. 1–76; 

Hendrickson 1990, pp. 1–25; Smith 

1976, p. 282, 1998, pp. 153–154). The 

type locality is the geographical location 

for the collection of the type specimen 

or the specimen that fixes a name to a 

species. In the case of C. loncholepis, we 

do not know the exact location of the 

type locality of ‘‘La Graciosa’’. There is 

a consensus among researchers that La 

Graciosa was at one of two places, one 

of which is the mouth of San Antonio 

Creek and the other along Orcutt Creek 

(see the final listing rule for a discussion 

on this location). Cirsium brevistylum 

has been documented at San Antonio 

Terrace. Some researchers speculate that 

the reports of C. loncholepis from the 

San Antonio Terrace population were 

pre-flowering C. brevistylum plants, 

which are very similar to pre-flowering 

C. loncholepis plants (CNDDB 2007, 

unpaginated; Consortium of California 

Herbaria 2008, unpaginated; 

Hendrickson 1990, pp. 1–25; Keil and 

Holland 1998, p. 82). 

In addition to the apparent loss of 

occurrences and populations, there has 

been a decline in the status of the 

species and the number of individuals 

reported at the remaining extant sites 

identified in the listing rule (Chesnut 

1998a, unpaginated; Chesnut 1998b, pp. 

1–40; Hendrickson 1990, pp. 1–25; 

CNDDB 2007, unpaginated). Most 

notably, Service staff visited the western 

portion of the Santa Maria River 

population in November 2006, and 

fewer than 10 individuals were 

observed (Elvin 2006, unpaginated). 

While this was outside the optimal time 

of year, Cirsium loncholepis was fruiting 

and observable. This population (which 

includes two occurrences) was 

estimated to contain 6,000 individuals 

in 1986 (CNDDB 2007, unpaginated), 

more than 50,000 individuals in 1990 

(Hendrickson 1990, pp. 1–25), and 500 

individuals in the western portion in 

2001 (CNDDB 2007, unpaginated). 

Specific survey conditions are not 

known for these reports. Reports also 

indicate declines in status and numbers 

of individuals at the northern 

Guadalupe Dunes population with 

estimates in the 25–50 range for the 

1980s and early 1990s down to 7 

individuals in 1998 (Chesnut 1998a, 

unpaginated; Chesnut 1998b, pp. 1–40; 

Hendrickson 1990, pp. 1–25; CNDDB 

2007, unpaginated). Reports for the 

southern Guadalupe Dunes population 

have been fluctuating between 30 and 

137 individuals with Service staff 

noting greater than 50 individuals in 

November of 2006 (CNDDB 2007, 

unpaginated; Elvin 2006, unpaginated; 

Hendrickson 1990, pp. 1–25). 

In summary, Cirsium loncholepis may 

not currently be present at the Oceano, 

northern Callender Dune Lakes, 

Guadalupe, La Graciosa, Can ̃ ada de las 

Flores, San Antonio Terrace, and Santa 

Ynez River populations. This species 

has declined from 11 extant occurrences 

identified at the time of listing to 7 

remaining extant occurrences (in 4 

populations). The seven extant 

occurrences consist of five occurrences 

that were identified in the final listing 

rule in 2000 as well as two new 

occurrences that have been identified 

since that time. We believe that C. 

loncholepis may not persist if the Santa 

Maria Valley Dune Complex 

occurrences (including those along the 

Santa Maria River) are the only ones 

remaining. However, we believe that C. 

loncholepis could be conserved and 

recovered if additional populations exist 

or new populations arise in habitat with 

features (described below) that allow the 

populations to remain connected 

throughout the two dune complexes and 

four major watersheds where it once 

was known to occur. 

Previous Federal Actions 

A proposed rule to list Cirsium 

loncholepis and three other species as 

endangered was published on March 30, 

1998 (63 FR 15164). Cirsium loncholepis 

was listed as endangered under the Act 

in 2000 due to threats from groundwater 

pumping, oil field development, oil 

field remediation, competition from 

non-native plants, and grazing from 

cattle (Hendrickson 1990, pp. 1–25; 

California Department of Fish and Game 

(CDFG) 1992, pp. 111–112; 65 FR 14888, 

March 20, 2000). The State of California 

listed this species as threatened in 1990 

(CDFG 1992, pp. 111–112). The 

proposed rule to designate critical 

habitat for C. loncholepis and two other 

species was published in the Federal 

Register on November 15, 2001 (66 FR 

57560). In August 2002, we received a 

1-year extension beyond the statutory 

time limit on the publication date of a 

final rule for C. loncholepis critical 

habitat due to its taxonomic uncertainty. 

In September 2003, we sought an 

additional extension due, in part, to the 

continued uncertainty regarding its 

taxonomic status, but the court denied 

that request. We published a final rule 

designating critical habitat for C. 

loncholepis on March 17, 2004 (69 FR 

12553), in compliance with the court’s 

order. Please refer to the final listing 


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rule published in the Federal Register 

on March 20, 2000 (65 FR 14888), and 

to the final designation of critical 

habitat published on March 17, 2004 (69 

FR 12553), for additional or more 

complete information on previous 

Federal actions prior to that time. In the 

2004 final critical habitat rule we 

designated approximately 41,089 acres 

(ac) (16,628 hectares (ha)) of land in San 

Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara 

Counties, California, as critical habitat 

for C. loncholepis. The final critical 

habitat rule also contains information 

regarding the litigation history related to 

the listing and designation of critical 

habitat for this species (Southwest 

Center for Biological Diversity, et al. v. 

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service et al. (No. 

C99–2992 (N.D.Ca.)). 

On March 30, 2005, the Homebuilders 

Association of Northern California, et 

al., filed a complaint against the Service 

(Home Builders Association of N. Cal., 

et al. v. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 

et al., No. 2:05–01363, E.D. Cal.) 

alleging that the final rule designating 

critical habitat for Cirsium loncholepis 

(and 26 other species) violated the Act, 

the Administrative Procedure Act, and 

the National Environmental Policy Act. 

In March 2006, a settlement was 

reached to re-evaluate five final critical 

habitat designations, which included 

the 2004 critical habitat designation for 

C. loncholepis. The settlement 

stipulated that proposed revisions to the 

C. loncholepis designation would be 

submitted to the Federal Register on or 

before July 27, 2007. On May 17, 2007, 

the court approved a modification to the 

settlement timeframe to require that a 

proposed rule regarding any revisions to 

the C. loncholepis critical habitat 

designation would be submitted to the 

Federal Register on or before July 27, 

2008, and a final decision regarding any 

proposed rule would be submitted on or 

before July 27, 2009. This revised 

proposed rule complies with the May 

17, 2007, court order. 

Critical Habitat 

Critical habitat is defined in section 3 

of the Act as: 

(1) The specific areas within the 

geographical area occupied by a species, 

at the time it is listed in accordance 

with the Act, on which are found those 

physical or biological features 

(a) essential to the conservation of the 

species and 

(b) which may require special 

management considerations or 

protection; and 

(2) Specific areas outside the 

geographical area occupied by a species 

at the time it is listed, upon a 

determination that such areas are 

essential for the conservation of the 

species. 

Conservation, as defined under 

section 3 of the Act, means the use of 

all methods and procedures that are 

necessary to bring any endangered 

species or threatened species to the 

point at which the measures provided 

under the Act are no longer necessary. 

Critical habitat receives protection 

under section 7 of the Act through the 

prohibition against Federal agencies 

carrying out, funding, or authorizing the 

destruction or adverse modification of 

critical habitat. Section 7 of the Act 

requires consultation on Federal actions 

that may affect critical habitat. The 

designation of critical habitat does not 

affect land ownership or establish a 

refuge, wilderness, reserve, preserve, or 

other conservation area. Such 

designation does not allow the 

government or public to access private 

lands. Such designation does not 

require implementation of restoration, 

recovery, or enhancement measures by 

the landowner. Where the landowner 

seeks or requests federal agency funding 

or authorization that may affect a listed 

species or critical habitat, the 

consultation requirements of section 7 

would apply, but even in the event of 

a destruction or adverse modification 

finding, the landowner’s obligation is 

not to restore or recover the species, but 

to implement reasonable and prudent 

alternatives to avoid destruction or 

adverse modification of critical habitat. 

For inclusion in a critical habitat 

designation, habitat within the 

geographical area occupied by the 

species at the time it was listed must 

contain features that are essential to the 

conservation of the species. Critical 

habitat designations identify, to the 

extent known using the best scientific 

data available, habitat areas that provide 

essential life cycle needs of the species 

(areas on which are found the primary 

constituent elements, as defined at 50 

CFR 424.12(b)). Occupied habitat that 

contains the features essential to the 

conservation of the species meets the 

definition of critical habitat only if those 

features may require special 

management considerations or 

protection. Under the Act, we can 

designate critical habitat in areas 

outside the geographical area occupied 

by the species at the time it is listed 

only when we determine that those 

areas are essential for the conservation 

of the species. 

Section 4 of the Act requires that we 

designate critical habitat on the basis of 

the best scientific and commercial data 

available. Further, our Policy on 

Information Standards Under the 

Endangered Species Act (published in 

the Federal Register on July 1, 1994 (59 

FR 34271)), the Information Quality Act 

(section 515 of the Treasury and General 

Government Appropriations Act for 

Fiscal Year 2001 (Pub. L. 106–554; H.R. 

5658)), and our associated Information 

Quality Guidelines, provide criteria, 

establish procedures, and provide 

guidance to ensure that our decisions 

are based on the best scientific data 

available. They require our biologists, to 

the extent consistent with the Act and 

with the use of the best scientific data 

available, to use primary and original 

sources of information as the basis for 

recommendations to designate critical 

habitat. 

When we are determining which areas 

should be proposed as critical habitat, 

our primary source of information is 

generally the information developed 

during the listing process for the 

species. Additional information sources 

may include the recovery plan for the 

species, articles in peer-reviewed 

journals, conservation plans developed 

by States and counties, scientific status 

surveys and studies, biological 

assessments, or other unpublished 

materials and expert opinion or 

personal knowledge. 

Habitat is often dynamic, and species 

may move from one area to another over 

time. Furthermore, we recognize that 

critical habitat designated at a particular 

point in time may not include all of the 

habitat areas that we may eventually 

determine, based on scientific data not 

now available to the Service, are 

necessary for the recovery of the 

species. For these reasons, a critical 

habitat designation does not signal that 

habitat outside the designated area is 

unimportant or may not be required for 

recovery of the species. 

Areas that support populations, but 

are outside the critical habitat 

designation, will continue to be subject 

to conservation actions we implement 

under section 7(a)(1) of the Act. They 

are also subject to the regulatory 

protections afforded by the section 

7(a)(2) jeopardy standard, as determined 

on the basis of the best available 

scientific information at the time of the 

agency action. Federally funded or 

permitted projects affecting listed 

species outside their designated critical 

habitat areas may still result in jeopardy 

findings in some cases. Similarly, 

critical habitat designations made on the 

basis of the best available information at 

the time of designation will not control 

the direction and substance of future 

recovery plans, habitat conservation 

plans (HCPs), or other species 

conservation planning efforts if new 

information available to these planning 

efforts calls for a different outcome. 


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Methods 

As required by section 4(b) of the Act, 

we used the best scientific and 

commercial data available in 

determining specific areas within the 

geographical area occupied at the time 

of listing that contain physical or 

biological features essential to the 

conservation of Cirsium loncholepis and 

specific areas outside the geographical 

area occupied at the time of listing that 

are essential for the conservation C. 

loncholepis. This includes information 

from the final listing rule in 2000 and 

final critical habitat designation in 2004; 

data from research and survey 

observations published in peerreviewed articles; data from research 

and survey observations included in 

reports and other manuscripts (i.e., 

theses, monitoring reports); written and 

oral communications from species and 

other physical science experts; reports 

and survey forms prepared for Federal, 

State, and local agencies, and private 

corporations; regional Geographic 

Information System layers, including 

soil, species, aerial imagery, and 

wetlands coverages; information from 

herbarium specimens at the following 

institutions: University of California 

Santa Barbara Herbarium, University of 

California Berkeley Herbarium, the 

Jepson Herbarium at the University of 

California Berkeley, University of 

Minnesota Saint Paul Herbarium, 

Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden 

Herbarium, Herbarium of the California 

Academy of Sciences, California 

Department of Food and Agriculture 

Herbarium, Santa Barbara Botanical 

Garden Herbarium, San Diego Natural 

History Museum Herbarium, Robert F. 

Hoover Herbarium at California 

Polytechnic State University San Luis 

Obispo, University of California 

Riverside Herbarium, and University of 

California Irvine Herbarium; site visits 

by Service biologists to several 

population sites of C. loncholepis in 

2006 and 2007; and data submitted to 

the CNDDB. We have also reviewed 

available information that pertains to 

the ecology, life history, and habitat 

requirements for this species. This 

material included information and data 

in peer-reviewed articles; reports of 

monitoring and habitat 

characterizations; reports submitted 

during section 7 consultations; and 

information received from local species 

experts. 

Primary Constituent Elements 

In accordance with section 3(5)(A)(i) 

of the Act and regulations at 50 CFR 

424.12, in determining which areas 

within the geographical area occupied at 

the time of listing to propose as critical 

habitat, we consider the physical and 

biological features that are essential to 

the conservation of the species to be the 

primary constituent elements (PCEs) 

laid out in the appropriate quantity and 

spatial arrangement for conservation of 

the species. These include, but are not 

limited to: 

(1) Space for individual and 

population growth and for normal 

behavior; 

(2) Food, water, air, light, minerals, or 

other nutritional or physiological 

requirements; 

(3) Cover or shelter; 

(4) Sites for breeding, reproduction, 

rearing, or development of offspring; 

and 

(5) Habitats that are protected from 

disturbance or are representative of the 

historical, geographical, and ecological 

distributions of a species. 

We derive the specific PCEs required 

for the Cirsium loncholepis from its 

biological needs. 

Space for Individual and Population 

Growth 

Cirsium loncholepis generally grows 

in association with mesic areas on the 

margins of dune swales, dune lakes, 

marshes, estuaries, coastal meadows, 

seeps, springs, intermittent streams, 

creeks, and rivers (CNDDB 2007, 

unpaginated; Consortium of California 

Herbaria 2008, unpaginated; Elvin 2006, 

unpaginated, 2007a, unpaginated, 

2007b, unpaginated). Cirsium 

loncholepis occurs in a series of 

dynamic systems of dunes and riparian 

floodplains. Cirsium loncholepis can 

appear and disappear from particular 

sites appearing to ‘‘move’’ from place to 

place in areas with suitable habitat on 

a fairly regular basis (this has been 

observed several times over the past 50 

or more years (CNDDB 2007, 

unpaginated; Chesnut 1998a, 

unpaginated; Hendrickson 1990, pp. 1–

25)). New suitable sites are continuously 

created throughout the dynamic 

ecosystems where C. loncholepis grows 

over time (i.e., floods remove vegetation 

and create new sites; dunes move and 

suitable sites open up). The 

conservation of C. loncholepis depends 

not only on maintaining suitable sites 

for germination and growth as they exist 

at the present, but it also depends on 

maintaining the dynamic nature of the 

habitat (the dune and riparian 

complexes) where it grows, which will 

ensure that suitable sites for 

germination and growth will develop in 

the future. 

Nutritional and Physiological 

Requirements Including Soils, 

Communities, and Dispersal 

Soils 

Soils where Cirsium loncholepis are 

found are somewhat variable, but 

include a large component of sand. 

Coastal populations occur on dune 

sands, Oceano sands, Camarillo sandy 

loams, riverwash, and sandy alluvial 

soils at elevations of less than 31 meters 

(m) (100 feet (ft)) (Hendrickson 1990, 

pp. 1–25; CNDDB 2001, unpaginated, 

2007, unpaginated). Occasionally, 

individuals have been found on dune 

slopes or ridges, rather than in the more 

typical dune swale habitat; more stable 

dunes have been shown to act as 

reservoirs of moisture, and these 

individuals may be tapping into this 

moisture (Thomas 2001, unpaginated). 

Plants at an inland population have 

been found on Camarillo sandy loam at 

an elevation of 183 m (600 ft) (CNDDB 

2001, unpaginated). 

Communities 

The vegetation communities 

associated with Cirsium loncholepis are 

rather diverse and include central dune 

scrub, coastal dune, coastal scrub, 

freshwater seeps and springs, coastal 

and valley freshwater marsh and fen, 

riparian scrub (e.g., mule fat scrub, 

willow scrub), riparian forest, chaparral, 

oak woodland, intermittent streams, and 

other wetland communities 

(Hendrickson 1990, pp. 1–25; CNDDB 

2007, unpaginated). Cirsium loncholepis 

is often growing in and amongst a mat 

of low-growing, herbaceous, wetland 

plants including Juncus spp. (rush), 

Scirpus spp. (tule), Carex praegracilis 

(sedge), Distichlis spicata (salt grass), 

Cynodon dactylon (Bermuda grass), 

Trifolium wormskioldii (clover), 

Anemopsis californica (yerba mansa), 

Potentilla anserina (silverweed), and 

Lotus corniculatus (birdfoot trefoil) 

(Langford 2001, unpaginated; CNDDB 

2007, unpaginated; Chesnut 1998b, pp. 

1–40; Elvin 2006, unpaginated, 2007a, 

unpaginated; Reed 1988, pp. 15–51). 

Other closely associated riparian plants 

include Salix spp. (willow), Rubus 

(blackberry), and Baccharis douglasii 

(Douglas’ baccharis) (CNDDB 2007, 

unpaginated; Chesnut 1998b, pp. 1–40; 

Elvin 2006, unpaginated, 2007a, 

unpaginated, 2007b, unpaginated; Reed 

1988, pp. 15–51). Upland plants that 

occur adjacent to or nearby include 

Toxicodendron diversilobum (poison 

oak), Baccharis pilularis (coyote brush), 

Solidago californica (California 

goldenrod), Isocoma menziesii (coast 

goldenbush), and Corethrogyne 

filaginifolia (California aster) 


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(Hendrickson 1990, pp. 1–25; CNDDB 

2007, unpaginated; Elvin 2006, 

unpaginated, 2007a, unpaginated, 

2007b, unpaginated). Plants at the most 

inland site for Cirsium loncholepis have 

been found primarily around gently 

sloping hillside seeps within a grassland 

community, at the edge of willows 

around a seep bordering an oak 

woodland community (Hendrickson 

1990, pp. 1–25, Elvin 2007b, 

unpaginated). Cirsium loncholepis does 

occasionally occur in non-mesic 

conditions such as on ridges or dune 

tops such as in the Guadalupe Dunes 

(Elvin 2006, unpaginated) or throughout 

meadows (temporally and spatially) on 

flat valley bottoms, which are rather dry 

compared to the mesic seeps in these 

area (Elvin 2007b, unpaginated). 

Dispersal 

Genetic material can move both 

within a population or between 

different populations. In plants this can 

be accomplished through the movement 

of pollen, seeds, plants, or plant parts to 

other plants or sites within the same 

population or to another population. For 

Cirsium loncholepis, the main agents for 

gene flow are pollen and seeds. 

Pollinators move pollen from one flower 

to another. Most pollinators move 

pollen within the same population, but 

it can be moved to another population 

if it is close enough and the pollinator 

is capable of moving the pollen across 

that distance. Cirsium loncholepis seeds 

are capable of being moved within the 

same population and to another 

population by animals, wind, and water. 

Pollinators: Cirsium loncholepis is 

capable of both self-fertilization 

(pollination events on the same 

individual) and cross-fertilization 

(pollination events between two 

individuals). Other similar, riparian, 

monocarpic Cirsium species self- and 

cross-pollinate (Hamzo and Jolls 2000, 

pp. 141–153). Cirsium loncholepis 

flowers produce nectar and copious 

quantities of pollen and are visited by 

birds and a wide variety of insects (Keil 

2008, unpaginated). Cirsium loncholepis 

and other Cirsium taxa with similar 

heads are pollinated by bees (i.e., 

solitary, mining, (families Andrenidae 

and Anthophoridae), mason (Osmia 

sp.), carpenter (Xylocopa sp.), and leaf 

cutter bees (family Megachilidae) and 

the introduced honeybee (Apis 

mellifera)), butterflies (order 

Lepidoptera), flies (order Diptera), 

beetles (order Coleoptera (e.g., darkling 

ground beetles (family Tenebrionidae))), 

black ants (family Formicidae), and 

hummingbirds (family Trochilidae) 

(Keil 2001, unpaginated, 2008, 

unpaginated; Moldenke 1976, pp. 305–

361; Krombein et al. 1979, Vol. 2, pp. 

1751–2209; Lea. 2001b, unpaginated). 

Specialist-feeding bees (solitary bees, 

which are known to visit Cirsium 

species (Krombein et al. 1979, Vol. 2 pp. 

1751–2209)) commonly develop coevolutionary relationships with 

particular host plants (Moldenke 1976, 

pp. 305–361). While we do not have 

comprehensive information on the 

home ranges and species fidelity of 

these pollinators, we do have some data. 

A number of the insects noted above 

that are known to visit Cirsium flowers 

(i.e., ants, some beetles, butterflies, flies, 

and many bee taxa) live, nest, and 

reproduce in upland habitats (e.g., 

coastal dune scrub, coastal scrub, 

chaparral, oak woodland, grassland) 

within the range of C. loncholepis 

(Moldenke 1976, pp. 305–361; Hogue 

1993, 446 pp.; Krombein et al. 1979, 

Vol. 2 pp. 1751–2209; Thorp et al. 1983, 

pp. 1–79). Alternative pollen source 

plants may be necessary for the 

persistence of these insects when C. 

loncholepis is not in flower seasonally 

or annually because of poor 

environmental conditions. 

The main dispersal vectors for 

Cirsium loncholepis pollen include ants, 

beetles, butterflies, flies, bees, and 

hummingbirds. Some of these visitors 

(e.g., bumble bees, hummingbirds) can 

fly large distances and are therefore 

capable of transferring pollen longer 

distances, from plants in one population 

to plants in another population. Studies 

to quantify the distance that bees will 

fly to pollinate their host plants are 

limited in number, but the few that exist 

show that some bees will routinely fly 

from 328 to 984 ft (100 to 500 m) to 

pollinate plants (Thorp and Leong 1995, 

pp. 3–7; Schulke and Waser 2001, pp. 

239–245). In a study of experimental 

isolation and pollen dispersal of 

Delphinium nuttallianum (Nuttall’s 

larkspur), Schulke and Waser (2001, pp. 

239–245) report that adequate pollen 

loads were dispersed by bumblebees 

within control populations and in 

isolated experimental ‘‘populations’’

from 328 to 1,312 ft (100 m to 400 m) 

distant from the control populations. 

One of the several pollinator taxa 

effective at 1,312 ft (400 m) was Bombus 

(bumblebee), which has also been 

documented to visit Cirsium (Ascher 

2006, unpaginated). Studies by SteffanDewenter and Tscharntke (2000, pp. 

288–296) demonstrated that it is 

possible for bees to fly as far as 3,280 

ft (1,000 m) to pollinate flowers, and at 

least one study suggests that 

bumblebees may forage many kilometers 

from a colony (Sugden 1985, pp. 299–

312). Hummingbirds can fly long 

distances while foraging for nectar or 

food or migrating. Using area rather than 

distance, an Anna’s hummingbird 

(Calypte anna), for example, will hold a 

core territory of about 0.25 ac (0.1 ha) 

and a ‘‘buffer zone’’ of variable size, but 

usually 10–15 ac (4–6 ha) (Russell 1996, 

pp. 1–13). Hummingbirds are not 

restricted to these territories, but may 

venture greater distances crossing 

through neighboring territories to feed. 

Additionally, because extant 

populations of C. loncholepis are 

located within the Pacific flyway for 

migratory birds, while migrating, 

hummingbirds could forage in one 

population one day, and in another 

population later that day or the next 

day, thereafter, until either reaching 

their breeding or wintering grounds, or 

traveling beyond the range of C. 

loncholepis. 

Seed Dispersal Vectors: According to 

Craddock and Huenneke (1997, pp. 

215–219), Cirsium seeds are usually 

wind-dispersed, but birds and small 

mammals also disperse Cirsium seeds 

(Burton and Black 1978, pp. 383–390; 

Bent 1940, pp. 332–352, 1968, pp. 447–

466). According to Keil and Turner 

(1993, pp. 232–239), wind is a likely 

dispersal vector for C. loncholepis seeds 

based on the architecture of their 

achenes, which are topped by an 

umbrella of long awns that are ideal for 

wind dispersal. The distribution of 

plants within a population (often an 

elongated pattern) is consistent with 

seed dispersal caused by the prevailing 

coastal winds (Lea 2002, pp. 1–84; Teed 

2003, pp. 1–58). Additional dispersal 

vectors for C. loncholepis include small 

mammals and birds. Several small 

mammals that feed on seed of Cirsium 

species and move them among their 

seed caches live in the range of C. 

loncholepis. These include such species 

as kangaroo rats (Dipodomys spp.), 

pocket gophers (Thomomys bottae), 

California ground squirrels 

(Spermophilus beecheyi), and pocket 

mice (Perognathus spp.) (Blecha et al. 

2007, pp. 1–354; Burton and Black 1978, 

pp. 383–390). Some small mammals, 

such as mice, use Cirsium tufts or down 

(the achene and pappus) as nest 

material (Root 2008, unpaginated). 

Various mammals such as mule deer 

(Odocoileus hemionus) and cattle occur 

in the Callender-Guadalupe Dunes and 

have been documented grazing on 

thistle here (Nellis and Ross 1969, pp. 

191–195; Theo et al. 2000, pp. 73–80; 

Blecha et al. 2007, pp. 1–354; Elvin 

2007a, unpaginated). Some bird species, 

such as American Goldfinch (Carduelis 

tristis) and hummingbirds, some of 

which live within the range of C. 


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loncholepis, use its tufts (or down) for 

nest construction (Bent 1940, pp. 332–

352, 1968, pp. 447–466; Weydemeyer 

1923, pp. 117–118; Blecha et al. 2007, 

pp. 1–354). 

Water has been shown to be an 

important dispersal vector for seeds in 

another thistle, C. vinaceum, which also 

occurs in spring and streamside habitats 

(Craddock and Huenneke 1997, pp. 

215–219). Cirsium seeds disperse via 

water ‘‘considerable distances along 

streams’’ (Craddock and Huenneke 

1997, pp. 215–219). Cirsium loncholepis 

populations have been documented 

from the upper reaches of drainages and 

watersheds outlined below to suitable 

sites near the mouths of the rivers and 

creeks (within 1,000 ft (300 m)) of the 

Pacific Ocean (CNDDB 2007, 

unpaginated; Santa Barbara Botanic 

Garden Herbarium 2007, unpaginated; 

University of California Santa Barbara 

Herbarium 2007, unpaginated). 

Sites for Reproduction, Population 

Growth, and Dispersal 

Cirsium loncholepis has been reported 

from one or more polygons within 25 

occurrences that are part of 11 

populations distributed throughout 2 

dune complexes and 4 drainages. All of 

these groupings are connected to each 

other in one or more ways. Cirsium 

loncholepis is closely associated with 

wetlands and mesic sites on the margins 

along four drainages that end in the 

Pacific Ocean (Arroyo Grande Creek, 

Santa Maria River, San Antonio Creek, 

and Santa Ynez River) (CNDDB 2007, 

unpaginated; Consortium of California 

Herbaria 2008, unpaginated). Cirsium 

loncholepis has not been seen along 

Arroyo Grande Creek since 1910, so this 

area is not considered to be essential 

and will not be discussed further in this 

rule. The dynamic nature of these 

drainages is an essential part of the life 

cycle for C. loncholepis. The habitat 

along these creeks and rivers is 

constantly changing. It is under a 

constant state of succession and 

renewal. A mosaic of habitat occurs 

along these drainages with new suitable 

sites being created with every storm or 

flow event. The flows of water are also 

an important mechanism to move seeds 

from currently occupied sites to these 

newly created suitable sites. 

Orcutt Creek runs from the southeast 

to the northwest parallel with wind 

direction in the area. The headwaters for 

Orcutt Creek are southeast of the town 

of Orcutt on the northwest face of 

Graciosa Ridge. The stretch of Orcutt 

Creek near the town of Orcutt is one of 

the two likely sites where the type 

specimens were collected (see 

discussion in Background section). 

Orcutt Creek flows to the northwest and 

enters into the Santa Maria River near 

the Pacific Ocean. Cirsium loncholepis 

seeds that are deposited in the waters of 

Orcutt Creek would flow downstream 

from Orcutt toward the Santa Maria 

River. This stretch of the Santa Maria 

River has historically contained the 

largest population of C. loncholepis. 

Most of the records for C. loncholepis 

are from within the historical 

boundaries of the Santa Maria River 

floodplain. 

Graciosa Ridge is the dividing line 

between the headwaters of Orcutt Creek 

(in the Santa Maria River watershed) 

and Can ̃ ada de las Flores (in the San 

Antonio Creek watershed). Because the 

prevailing winds in this area are from 

the northwest, Cirsium loncholepis seed 

in the Orcutt area would likely be blown 

over Graciosa Ridge toward Can ̃ ada de 

las Flores, which is southeast of the 

headwaters of Orcutt Creek. Can ̃ ada de 

las Flores, which flows south, is the 

headwaters for one of the tributaries of 

San Antonio Creek which flows to the 

Pacific Ocean. The estuary system 

(lagoon) at the mouth of San Antonio 

Creek was described by Fray Juan Crespi 

as La Graciosa in 1769 (Smith 1976, p. 

282, 1998, pp. 153–154) and is the other 

of the two most likely sites where the 

type specimen of C. loncholepis was 

collected (see discussion in Background 

section). 

The Santa Ynez River flows from east 

to west where it empties into the Pacific 

Ocean. The prevailing, strong winds in 

this area, from the west, would move 

Cirsium loncholepis seeds eastward, 

which is further upriver. Any resulting 

seed from upriver C. loncholepis 

populations that are deposited in the 

waters of the Santa Ynez River would 

then flow downstream toward the 

estuary system at the mouth of the river. 

Seed from any occurrence in the Santa 

Ynez River population would likely be 

dispersing to other occurrences in the 

Santa Ynez River (e.g., seed from 

upriver plants dispersing to the estuary 

plants via water and seed from estuary 

plants dispersing to the upriver plants 

via wind). 

Habitats That Are Representative of the 

Historical, Geographical, and Ecological 

Distributions of Cirsium loncholepis 

Cirsium loncholepis has throughout 

time had a limited distribution in 

southwestern San Luis Obispo County 

and northwestern Santa Barbara County, 

California, within a unique geomorphic 

area known as the Santa Maria Basin 

(Hunt 1993, pp. 5–72). See Figure 2 for 

a map containing the locations of place 

and feature names in this region. The 

Santa Maria Basin stretches along a 39- 

mi (63-km) section of the coastal region 

of central California that is dominated 

by a system of dune complexes that are 

interspersed with several major 

drainages. The Santa Maria Basin is 

comprised of the Santa Maria Valley, in 

the north, and the Santa Ynez Valley, in 

the south. The Santa Maria Valley is 

located between the hills northeast of 

Pismo and the Casmalia and Solomon 

Hills that end at Point Sal in the west. 

The Santa Ynez Valley is located 

between the Casmalia and Solomon 

Hills and the Santa Ynez Mountains (on 

the south side of the Santa Ynez River). 

The Santa Maria Basin is dominated by 

moderate to strong winds from the 

northwest (categorized as greater than 

7.47 miles per hour (mph) (12.02 

kilometers per hour (kph))) most of the 

time and throughout the year (USDA 

NRCS 2008, unpaginated; National 

Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration Western Regional 

Climate Center (NOAA) 2007, 

unpaginated; Hendrickson 1990, pp. 1–

25). These prevailing northwest winds 

are a major factor in shaping the terrain 

and creating the dunes such that the 

active dune and swale systems are 

aligned with these winds (Hunt 1993, 

pp. 5–72). Deflation areas (the swales 

between two parallel dunes and behind 

the foredunes) are often at or near the 

water table, creating the wetlands and 

back-dune lakes (Hunt 1993, pp. 5–72). 

This terrain, the parallel ridges and 

swales, and the physical features that 

created and maintain it are essential for 

the conservation of C. loncholepis. 

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Santa Maria Valley 

The Santa Maria Valley contains one 

major dune complex (the Santa Maria 

Valley Dune Complex) and three major 

riparian systems (or drainages): Arroyo 

Grande Creek, the Santa Maria River, 

and Orcutt Creek. The Santa Maria 

Valley Dune Complex contains five 

Dune Sheets (or associated sand 

depositional episodes): Callender, 

Nipomo Mesa, Guadalupe, Mussel Rock, 

and Orcutt Terrace. Individual dune 

sheets represent sequential and spatially 

overlapped depositional episodes 

within contiguous areas of any 

particular dune complex. Arroyo 

Grande Creek and its floodplain are at 

the northern edge of the Callender Dune 

Sheet (specifically) and the Santa Maria 

Valley Dune Complex (in general) (Hunt 

1993, pp. 5–72). The junction of Arroyo 

Grande Creek and the Callender Dune 

Sheet also marks the northern limit for 

Cirsium loncholepis, which occurred 

here in the low ‘‘grassy’’ areas among 

the sand hills at the junction of the 

dunes and Arroyo Grande Creek 

(University of California [Berkeley] 

Herbarium 2007, unpaginated). The 

Callender Dune Sheet reaches Oso Flaco 

Creek and Oso Flaco Lake at its 

southern extent. Cirsium loncholepis 

has occurred at numerous sites 

throughout the Callender Dunes 

(Hendrickson 1990, pp. 1–25; CNDDB 

2007, unpaginated). The Guadalupe 

Dune Sheet extends from Oso Flaco 

Lake to the Santa Maria River. Cirsium 

loncholepis has occurred at numerous 

sites throughout the Guadalupe Dunes 

(Hendrickson 1990, pp. 1–25; CNDDB 

2007, unpaginated). The Santa Maria 

Valley is a broad floodplain that is 

bounded by Orcutt Creek along its 

southern edge and by the Callender 

Dune Sheet and the Nipomo Dune Sheet 

(including Nipomo Mesa) along its 

northern edge. Between the city of Santa 

Maria and the coast 12 mi (19 km) to the 

west, the valley floor has historically 

been dotted with small settlements and 

a few oil fields, but the vast majority of 

the land has been converted to 

agriculture. A member of the Gaspar de 

Portola expedition to Monterey in 1769 

noted that the expedition had difficulty 

getting through the Santa Maria Valley 

because of all the marshes (Companys 

1983, pp. 105–344). As has been typical 

along the central coast of California, 

however, many of the valley’s wetlands 

have been drained or filled to maximize 

agricultural production; old maps show 

lakes such as Lake Guadalupe that no 

longer exist. Cirsium loncholepis has 

occurred at numerous mesic sites 

throughout the Santa Maria River 

floodplain and the Guadalupe Dunes 

(Hendrickson 1990, pp. 1–25; CNDDB 

2007, unpaginated). Orcutt Creek and 

the Santa Maria River mark the northern 

edge of the Mussel Rock Dune Sheet, 

which has had multiple C. loncholepis 

occurrences (Hendrickson 1990, pp. 1–

25; CNDDB 2007, unpaginated). Cirsium 

loncholepis most likely had a more 

widespread distribution within this 

area, but may have been eliminated 

from most of the locations in this area 

by the vast conversion of this area to 

agriculture before it could be 

documented. However, even with such 

conversion, current aerial photos and 

topographic maps show the persistence 

of numerous, small marshes, wetlands, 

and drainages in this area; some of these 

may still harbor small populations of C. 

loncholepis. 

Santa Ynez Valley 

The Santa Ynez Valley contains one 

major dune complex (the Santa Ynez 

Valley Dune Complex) and two major 

riparian systems (or drainages): San 

Antonio Creek and the Santa Ynez 

River. The Santa Ynez Valley Dune 

Complex contains three Dune Sheets: 

San Antonio, Burton Mesa, and Lompoc 

Terrace. The San Antonio Terrace Dune 

Sheet is at the northern edge of the 

Santa Ynez Valley Dune Complex. It 

supports numerous dune wetlands and 

swales and is very similar in habitat, 

physical, and geological features to the 

Callender and Guadalupe Dune Sheets 

(Hunt 1993, pp. 5–72; Google Earth 

2008, unpaginated). San Antonio Creek 

is downwind on the southern edge of 

the San Antonio Terrace Dune Sheet. 

The mouth of San Antonio Creek is one 

of the two most likely sites for the type 

locality (La Graciosa) for Cirsium 

loncholepis (Keil and Holland 1998, pp. 

83–84; Oyler et al. 1995, pp. 1–76; 

Hendrickson 1990, pp. 1–25; Smith 

1976, p. 282, 1998, pp. 153–154) and 

still harbors numerous small marshes 

and wetlands that are apparent in aerial 

imagery (Google Earth 2008, 

unpaginated). Historical collections 

indicate that C. loncholepis used to 

occur along the Santa Ynez River, 

somewhere between the towns of Surf 

and Lompoc, at the current edge of 

Vandenberg Air Force Base (University 

of Minnesota Saint Paul Herbarium 

2007, unpaginated; Rancho Santa Ana 

Botanic Garden Herbarium 2007, 

unpaginated; Santa Barbara Botanical 

Garden Herbarium 2007, unpaginated; 

University of California Riverside 

Herbarium 2007, unpaginated). 

Collections of the plant were made here 

in 1958; however, by 1988 when 

surveys were conducted to relocate this 

population, none could be found 

(Hendrickson 1990, pp. 1–25). Over the 

years, some, but not all, habitat for C. 

loncholepis in the floodplain for the 

river has been altered. According to 

Smith’s notes, agricultural fields have 

been plowed to the banks of the 

drainage, willows have been bulldozed, 

and herbicides were sprayed to 

eradicate C. vulgare (bull thistle) (Smith 

1976, p. 282, 1998, pp. 153–154). 

Because this area historically supported 

the southernmost, documented C. 

loncholepis populations and because 

some habitat still remains today, it is 

considered to be an important area for 

the conservation of C. loncholepis 

(Morey 1990, pp. 1–13; U.S. Fish and 

Wildlife Service 2008, unpaginated). 

Historically, Cirsium loncholepis has 

been reported or documented from a 

total of 25 occurrences as parts of 11 

populations ranging from the dunes 

near Pismo Beach inland to hillside 

seeps at Can ̃ ada de las Flores south to 

the floodplains of the Santa Ynez River 

(CNDDB 2007, unpaginated; Consortium 

of California Herbaria 2008, 

unpaginated). At the time of the listing 

in 2000, there were 17 known 

occurrences of which 11 were extant. 

These 11 extant occurrences were 

distributed among 7 populations (65 FR 

14888, March 20, 2000; CNDDB 1998, 

unpaginated). Since the time of listing 

in 2000, C. loncholepis has experienced 

considerable declines throughout its 

range in the number of both occurrences 

and populations and in the number of 

individuals within each of the 

remaining occurrences and populations. 

Currently, C. loncholepis is considered 

to be extant at seven occurrences that 

are distributed among four populations. 

The seven extant occurrences consist of 

five occurrences that were identified in 

the final listing rule in 2000 as well as 

two new occurrences that have been 

identified since that time (CNDDB 2007, 

unpaginated; Elvin 2006, unpaginated, 

2007a, unpaginated). Cirsium 

loncholepis does not currently occur at 

the following populations: Oceano, 

northern Callender Dune Sheet Lakes, 

Guadalupe, La Graciosa, Can ̃ ada de las 

Flores, San Antonio Terrace Dune 

Sheet, and Santa Ynez River. Since the 

time of listing, the loss of known 

polygons, occurrences, and populations 

has outpaced the discovery of new 

polygons, occurrences, and populations. 

In habitats that are fragmented and/or 

isolated, the trend for native plant 

species is one of decline (Soule et al. 

1992, pp. 39–47). This supports the 

equilibrium theory of island 

biogeography (MacArthur and Wilson, 

1963, pp. 373–387, 1967) that predicts 

that species with populations that are 

isolated and have more extirpation 

events than re-colonization events will 


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decline to zero (extinction). Recent 

research on species that are longdistance dispersers (such as Cirsium 

loncholepis) determined that when the 

distances between suitable habitat sites 

for a species become greater than its 

dispersal distance (such as due to 

habitat fragmentation); its long-term 

survival will be threatened unless the 

long-distance dispersal between the 

sites can be re-established (Trakhtenbrot 

et al. 2005, pp. 173–181). The study by 

Trakhtenbrot et al. (2005, pp. 173–181) 

regarding long-distance dispersal 

species supports the study by Soule et 

al. (1992, pp. 39–47) and the 

equilibrium theory of island 

biogeography (MacArthur and Wilson 

1963, pp. 373–387, 1967). Based on 

these studies and our current 

understanding of this species and its 

decline, we believe that conserving 

solely the areas with the remaining 

known occurrences and populations of 

C. loncholepis is not sufficient to 

conserve or recover the species. The 

additional habitat that would provide 

connectivity between occurrences and 

populations is essential for the 

conservation and recovery of C. 

loncholepis. This is supported by 

Damschen et al. (2006, pp. 1284–1286), 

who showed that habitat patches that 

were connected by corridors benefitted 

wildlife and plants. 

Primary Constituent Elements for 

Cirsium loncholepis 

For areas within the geographical area 

occupied by Cirsium loncholepis at the 

time of listing, we must identify the 

PCEs that may require special 

management considerations or 

protection. Based on the above needs 

and our current knowledge of the life 

history, biology, and ecology of the 

species, we have determined the PCEs 

for C. loncholepis are: 

1. Mesic areas associated with: (a) 

Margins of dune swales, dune lakes, 

marshes, and estuaries that are 

associated with dynamic (changing) 

dune systems including the Santa Maria 

Valley Dune Complex and Santa Ynez 

Valley Dune Complex; (b) margins of 

dynamic riparian systems including the 

Santa Maria and Santa Ynez Rivers and 

Orcutt and San Antonio Creeks; and (c) 

freshwater seeps and intermittent 

streams found in other habitats, 

including grassland, meadow, coastal 

scrub, chaparral, and oak woodland. 

These areas provide space needed for 

individual and population growth 

including sites for germination, 

reproduction, seed dispersal, seed bank, 

and pollination. 

2. Associated plant communities 

including: Central dune scrub, coastal 

dune, coastal scrub, freshwater seep, 

coastal and valley freshwater marsh and 

fen, riparian scrub (e.g., mule fat scrub, 

willow scrub), chaparral, oak woodland, 

intermittent streams, and other wetland 

communities, generally in association 

with the following species: Juncus spp. 

(rush), Scirpus spp. (tule), Salix spp. 

(willow), Toxicodendron diversilobum 

(poison oak), Distichlis spicata (salt 

grass), Baccharis pilularis (coyote 

brush), and B. douglasii (Douglas’

baccharis). 

3. Soils with a sandy component 

including but not limited to dune sands, 

Oceano sands, Camarillo sandy loams, 

riverwash, and sandy alluvial soils. 

4. Features that allow dispersal and 

connectivity between populations, 

particularly: (a) Natural riparian 

drainages in Santa Maria River, Orcutt 

Creek, San Antonio Creek, and Santa 

Ynez River that are not channelized or 

confined by barriers or dams, such that 

they have soft bottoms and sides and a 

natural flood plain (allowing 

uninterrupted water flows); and (b) 

natural aeolian geomorphology in the 

Santa Maria Dune Complex and Santa 

Ynez Dune Complex, and along the 

Santa Maria River, Orcutt Creek, San 

Antonio Creek, and Santa Ynez River 

drainages that is not confined by 

barriers or wind-blocks such as large 

man-made structures, tree rows, or 

wind-breaks (allowing uninterrupted 

winds across these areas). 

We believe that C. loncholepis could 

be conserved and recovered if 

populations in habitat with essential 

features remain connected throughout 

the two dune complexes and four major 

watersheds where it once was known to 

occur. With this proposed revision of 

critical habitat, we intend to identify the 

physical and biological features that are 

essential to the conservation of the 

species, through the identification of the 

appropriate quantity and spatial 

arrangement of the PCEs sufficient to 

support the life history functions of the 

species. Each of the areas proposed in 

this rule have been determined to 

contain at least one PCE to provide for 

the life history functions of C. 

loncholepis. Units are proposed for 

designation based on one or more PCEs 

being present to support one or more of 

the species’ life history functions. 

Special Management Considerations or 

Protections 

When designating critical habitat, we 

assess whether the occupied areas 

contain the physical or biological 

features essential to the conservation of 

the species, and whether these features 

may require special management 

considerations or protection. It is 

recognized that numerous activities in 

and adjacent to the unit designated as 

critical habitat, as described in this 

proposed rule, may affect one or more 

of the PCEs found in that unit. These 

activities include, but are not limited to, 

those listed in the Application of the 

‘‘Adverse Modification’’ Standard 

section as activities that may destroy or 

adversely modify critical habitat. We 

summarize here the primary threats to 

the physical and biological features 

essential to the conservation of the 

species. 

Many of the known occurrences of 

Cirsium loncholepis are threatened by 

direct and indirect effects from energyrelated operations (i.e., maintenance 

activities, hazardous waste cleanup); 

development that results in additional 

habitat modification (i.e., agricultural 

and urban development); facility 

accidents by oil companies or 

Vandenberg Air Force Base; 

groundwater extraction in the 

Guadalupe Dunes and vicinity; 

hydrological alterations; direct and 

indirect effects from off highway vehicle 

(OHV) activity; and small population 

size; and habitat fragmentation and loss 

through the invasion of aggressive 

nonnative weeds such as Ammophila 

arenaria (European beach grass), 

Carpobrotus spp. (iceplant), Ehrharta 

calycina (veldt grass), and 

Mesembryanthemum crystallinum 

(crystalline iceplant) (Davis et al. 1988, 

pp. 169–195; Zedler and Schied 1988, 

pp. 196–201; Morey 1989, pp. 1–16; 

Odion et al. 1992, pp. 1–2; CNDDB 

1998, unpaginated, 2008, unpaginated; 

Chesnut 1998a, unpaginated, 1998b, pp. 

1–40; Smith 1976, p. 282; Smith 1998, 

pp. 153–154; Hendrickson 1990, pp. 1–

25; CDFG 1992, pp. 111–112; Keil 

2006b, unpaginated). These threats may 

require special management to ensure 

the long-term conservation of C. 

loncholepis. Threats specific to 

individual units are described in the 

unit descriptions below. 

Criteria Used To Identify Critical 

Habitat 

We analyzed the biology, life history, 

ecology, and distribution (historical, at 

the time of listing, and current) of 

Cirsium loncholepis. Based on this 

information, we are proposing to 

designate critical habitat in areas within 

the geographical area occupied by C. 

loncholepis at the time of listing in 

2000. We also propose some specific 

areas outside the geographical area 

occupied by C. loncholepis at the time 

of listing, which although are currently 

unoccupied, are within the historical 

range of the species, and because we 

have determined that such areas are 


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essential for the conservation of C. 

loncholepis. 

To delineate proposed revised critical 

habitat, we first determined occupancy 

within the extant range of Cirsium 

loncholepis. Occupancy status was 

determined using occurrence data from 

research and survey observations 

included in reports and other 

manuscripts (i.e., theses, monitoring 

reports); data from research and survey 

observations published in peerreviewed articles; data submitted to the 

CNDDB; reports and survey forms 

prepared for Federal, State, and local 

agencies, and private corporations; 

written and oral communications from 

species and physical science experts; 

information from herbarium specimens; 

scientific information in our draft 

recovery outline for C. loncholepis (U.S. 

Fish and Wildlife Service 2008, 

unpaginated); and visits by Service 

biologists to C. loncholepis populations. 

Areas or sites containing data indicating 

occupancy from 1988 or later (within 

approximately the past 20 years) were 

considered currently occupied. We then 

determined which areas were occupied 

at the time of listing by comparing 

survey and collection information to 

descriptions of occupied areas in the 

final listing rule published in the 

Federal Register on March 20, 2000 (65 

FR 14888). 

Based on these studies, our current 

understanding of the status of Cirsium 

loncholepis since the time of listing is 

that it continues to decrease in the 

number of populations, in the number 

of occurrences within populations, and 

in the number of individuals within the 

remaining occurrences and populations. 

Therefore, we determined that the areas 

in which the extant populations are 

distributed are alone not sufficient to 

conserve or recover it. Based on its 

decline, its biology, and new scientific 

information on the biological conditions 

necessary for long-distance dispersal 

species (such as C. loncholepis), we 

have determined that habitat providing 

connectivity between the areas 

containing the extant populations is also 

essential for its conservation and 

recovery. 

Once we determined the extant range 

of the species, we analyzed areas 

outside the geographical area occupied 

by Cirsium loncholepis at the time of 

listing, but within the historical range of 

the species, for areas that are essential. 

We first looked for large, continuous 

blocks of suitable habitat, such as the 

numerous mesic areas and seeps in and 

surrounding the lower reaches of the 

Santa Ynez River. We then looked for 

important corridors of suitable habitat 

that connect the large, continuous areas 

based on their abilities to disperse seed 

or pollen, such as the area along Orcutt 

Creek between the Guadalupe Dunes 

and Can ̃ ada de las Flores. We then 

analyzed the presence and 

characteristics of other features that are 

important to maintain the 

metapopulation dynamics for C. 

loncholepis in these areas (e.g., winds 

and their relationship to the formation 

of geographic features, movement 

patterns for various dispersal agents, 

watersheds, geology). Using all the 

information above, we were able to 

discern areas that are potentially 

important for the recovery of C. 

loncholepis. From this, we then selected 

the extent of those areas that we 

consider to be essential to the 

conservation and recovery of the 

species. All of the areas that we are 

proposing to designate as critical habitat 

that are currently not known to be 

occupied by the species are essential for 

its conservation. 

To map the proposed revised critical 

habitat units (both those occupied at the 

time of listing and those outside the 

geographical area occupied by the 

species at the time of listing), we 

overlaid Cirsium loncholepis 

occurrences (current and historical) on 

soil series, vegetation types, and 

watershed/wetland data to determine 

appropriate polygons that would 

contain one or more PCEs in the 

quantity and spatial arrangement 

necessary to provide the features 

essential to the conservation of C. 

loncholepis. This taxon is closely 

associated with dynamic ecosystems 

such as dune and riparian watershed 

systems and with the presence of sandy 

soil types and mesic conditions, but it 

also occurs in adjacent upland habitats 

and areas. Units were delineated by first 

mapping the occurrences (current and 

historical) and continuous and 

intervening suitable habitat, then 

considering other geographical features 

such as developed, urban, and 

agriculture (e.g., row crops) areas that 

are continuously maintained or utilized 

and removing areas with these features 

that did not contain the appropriate 

quantity and spatial arrangement of the 

PCEs essential to the conservation of the 

species. 

When determining the proposed 

revisions to critical habitat boundaries 

within this proposed rule, we made 

every effort to avoid including 

developed areas, such as buildings, 

paved areas, and other structures, as 

well as tilled fields and row crops that 

lack the PCEs for Cirsium loncholepis. 

The scale of the maps prepared under 

the parameters for publication within 

the Code of Federal Regulations may not 

reflect the exclusion of such developed 

areas. Any such areas inadvertently left 

inside critical habitat boundaries shown 

on the maps of this proposed revision to 

critical habitat have been excluded by 

text in the proposed revision and are not 

proposed for designation as critical 

habitat. Therefore, Federal actions 

limited to these areas would not trigger 

section 7 consultation with respect to 

critical habitat and the requirement of 

no adverse modification unless the 

specific action may affect adjacent 

critical habitat. 

Using the above criteria, we identified 

six units that contain the necessary 

features essential to the conservation of 

Cirsium loncholepis. These six units are 

located near the Pacific Coast in 

southwestern San Luis Obispo and 

northwestern Santa Barbara Counties. 

The northern-most unit consists of the 

dune system from Pismo Beach to the 

Santa Maria River in San Luis Obispo 

County. The second unit consists of the 

lower reaches of the Santa Maria River 

in San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara 

Counties and of Orcutt Creek in Santa 

Barbara County. The remaining units are 

all within Santa Barbara County: one at 

Can ̃ ada de las Flores, one along the 

lower reaches of San Antonio Creek, one 

that encompasses the San Antonio 

Dunes, and one along the lower reaches 

of the Santa Ynez River. 

We are proposing to revise the critical 

habitat designation on lands that meet 

the first prong of the definition of 

critical habitat and, therefore, were 

determined to be occupied at the time 

of listing and contain the physical and 

biological features essential for the 

conservation of the species. We are also 

proposing to revise the critical habitat 

designation to include lands that meet 

the second prong of the definition of 

critical habitat and, therefore, consist of 

specific areas outside the geographical 

area occupied by the species at the time 

it is listed that are essential for the 

conservation of the species. The 

proposed revision to critical habitat is 

designed to provide sufficient habitat to 

maintain self-sustaining populations of 

Cirsium loncholepis throughout its 

range and provide the necessary features 

that are essential for the conservation of 

the species. The essential features 

include: (1) Space for individual and 

population growth, including sites for 

germination, pollination, reproduction, 

pollen and seed dispersal; (2) areas that 

allow gene flow and provide 

connectivity between occupied areas; 

and (3) areas that provide basic 

requirements for growth, such as 

appropriate soil type and openings 

within vegetation cover. All proposed 

revised critical habitat units were 


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delineated based on the appropriate 

quantity and spatial arrangement of 

PCEs being present to support C. 

loncholepis life processes essential to 

the conservation of the species. 

Section 10(a)(1)(B) of the Act 

authorizes us to issue permits for the 

take of listed animal species incidental 

to otherwise lawful activities. An 

incidental take permit application must 

be supported by a habitat conservation 

plan (HCP) that identifies conservation 

measures that the permittee agrees to 

implement for the species to minimize 

and mitigate the impacts of the 

requested incidental take. We often 

exclude non-Federal public lands and 

private lands that are covered by an 

existing operative HCP and incidental 

take permit under section 10(a)(1)(B) of 

the Act from designated critical habitat 

because the benefits of exclusion 

outweigh the benefits of inclusion as 

discussed in section 4(b)(2) of the Act. 

We are currently unaware of any areas 

within this critical habitat proposal that 

fall into this category. 

Summary of Changes From Previously 

Designated Critical Habitat 

The areas identified in this proposed 

rule constitute a proposed revision from 

the areas we designated as critical 

habitat for Cirsium loncholepis on 

March 17, 2004 (69 FR 12553). The 

main differences include the following: 

1. The 2004 critical habitat rule 

consisted of two units comprising a total 

of 41,090 acres (16,629 ha). This 

proposed revision includes six units 

comprising a total of 38,447 ac (15,559 

ha). Units 4, 5, and 6 are considered to 

be unoccupied currently and at the time 

of listing. In the 2004 final designation, 

Unit 2 Can ̃ ada de las Flores (Unit 3 in 

the current revised proposed 

designation) was considered to be 

occupied at the time of listing and 

occupied in the final designation of 

critical habitat in 2004. For this revised 

proposed designation, we are 

considering it to currently be 

unoccupied All six units are within the 

historical range of the species. The 

decrease in acreage is due primarily to 

the removal of large areas of agriculture 

fields under private ownership that do 

not contain the appropriate spatial 

arrangement, quantity, or quality of the 

features essential to the conservation of 

the species. 

2. We revised the PCEs. The 2004 

critical habitat rule listed three PCEs 

that we determined were important to 

maintaining populations of Cirsium 

loncholepis where they occur (soils, 

plant communities, low cover of nonnative species, and physical processes 

that support natural dune dynamics). In 

our proposed revision of critical habitat, 

we list five PCEs in an effort to 

emphasize areas that are important for 

the long-distance dispersal of this 

species and for its metapopulation 

dynamics. 

3. We included three areas in this 

proposal that were not included in the 

final designation. These areas include 

San Antonio Creek, San Antonio 

Terrace Dunes, and Santa Ynez River. 

They are outside of the geographical 

area occupied by the species at the time 

of listing, but are within the historical 

range of the species (See Figure 1 and 

Index Map), and are essential to the 

conservation and recovery of the species 

because the current areas where extant 

populations of Cirsium loncholepis are 

distributed are not sufficient to conserve 

or recover it. The resulting proposed 

critical habitat is more accurately 

mapped to include those areas that 

contain the PCEs and that are essential 

for the conservation and recovery of C. 

loncholepis. 

Proposed Revisions to the Critical 

Habitat Designation 

We are proposing six critical habitat 

units for Cirsium loncholepis. These 

units, if finalized, would entirely 

replace the current critical habitat 

designation for C. loncholepis in 50 CFR 

17.95(a). The critical habitat units 

described below constitute our best 

assessment at this time of: (1) Specific 

areas within the geographical area 

determined to be occupied by C. 

loncholepis at the time of listing that 

contain the physical and biological 

features that may require special 

management, and (2) additional specific 

areas outside the geographical area 

occupied by C. loncholepis at the time 

of listing that are essential for its 

conservation. The six proposed critical 

habitat units are: Callender-Guadalupe 

Dunes Unit 1, Santa Maria River-Orcutt 

Creek Unit 2, Can ̃ ada de las Flores Unit 

3, San Antonio Creek Unit 4, San 

Antonio Terrace Dunes Unit 5, and 

Santa Ynez River Unit 6. 

The approximate area encompassed 

within each proposed critical habitat 

unit is shown in Table 1. 

TABLE 1—CRITICAL HABITAT UNITS PROPOSED FOR CIRSIUM LONCHOLEPIS. 

[Area estimates reflect all land within critical habitat unit boundaries] 1

Unit name 

State lands Private lands County and other 

local jurisdictions 

Federal lands Estimate of total 

acreages 

Acres Hectares Acres Hectares Acres Hectares Acres Hectares Acres Hectares 

1. Callender-Guadalupe Dunes ........... 2,414 977 5,138 2,079 349 141 2,428 983 10,329 4,180 

2. Santa Maria RiverOrcutt Creek ......... 329 133 12,433 5,032 465 188 0 0 13,227 5,353 

3. Can ̃ada de las 

Flores .................... 0 0 740 299 0 0 0 0 740 299 

4. San Antonio Creek 0 0 186 75 0 0 4,149 1,679 4,335 1,754 

5. San Antonio Terrace Dunes ........... 0 0 52 21 0 0 7,282 2,947 7,334 2,968 

6. Santa Ynez River 0 0 43 18 38 15 2,401 972 2,482 1,005 

Approximate Total .... 2,743 1,110 18,592 7,524 852 344 16,260 6,581 38,447 15,559 

1Approximate acres have been converted to hectares (1 ha = 2.47 ac). Totals are sums of units. 


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TABLE 2—OCCUPANCY OF CRITICAL HABITAT UNITS PROPOSED FOR CIRSIUM LONCHOLEPIS

Unit Name 

Within areas 

occupied at the 

time of listing? 

Occupied at the 

time critical 

habitat 

designated? 

Known to be 

occupied 

currently? 

1. Callender-Guadalupe Dunes .......................................................................................... Yes ................... Yes ................... Yes 

2. Santa Maria River-Orcutt Creek ..................................................................................... Yes ................... Yes ................... Yes 

3. Can ̃ada de las Flores ..................................................................................................... Yes ................... Yes ................... No 1

4. San Antonio Creek ......................................................................................................... No ..................... No ..................... No 

5. San Antonio Terrace Dunes ........................................................................................... No ..................... No ..................... No 

6. Santa Ynez River ........................................................................................................... No ..................... No ..................... No 

1We are not considering this unit to be occupied, but the population may still be extant. Plants have not been seen since 1989, but sufficient 

surveys have not been conducted since 1990. 

We present descriptions of all units, 

and reasons why they meet the 

definition of critical habitat for Cirsium 

loncholepis below. 

Unit 1: Callender-Guadalupe Dunes 

(10,329 ac (4,180 ha)) 

Unit 1 is located in the southwestern 

corner of San Luis Obispo County, 

California. It stretches along 8.5 mi (13.5 

km) of coast from Arroyo Grande Creek 

south to the Santa Maria River. This 

unit is south of Pismo Beach, west of 

Nipomo and north of Guadalupe. Unit 1 

was occupied at the time of listing, is 

currently occupied, and contains the 

physical and biological features 

essential to the conservation of the 

species (CNDDB 2007, unpaginated; 

Elvin 2006, unpaginated, 2007b, 

unpaginated; 65 FR 14888, March 20, 

2000). Unit 1 is essential because it 

contains three of the four remaining C. 

loncholepis populations, the 

populations represent the northern-most 

occurrences of the species, and it 

includes the largest block of native 

habitat still occupied by C. loncholepis. 

While maintaining all of these three 

remaining populations (six occurrences) 

and the 10,329 ac (4,180 ha) of habitat 

in this unit is essential for this species 

to survive, it does not appear to be 

sufficient to maintain this species for 

the long term because four occurrences 

(of eight known at the time of listing) 

within the three populations in this unit 

have been lost since the listing of this 

plant in 2000. 

Unit 1 is comprised of 2,428 ac (983 

ha) of Federal lands; 2,414 ac (977 ha) 

of State lands; 349 ac (141 ha) of County 

and other local jurisdiction land; and 

5,138 ac (2,079 ha) of private land (162 

ac (65 ha) of which belongs to nongovernmental organizations (NGOs)). 

Unit 1 includes a portion of the 

Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes National 

Wildlife Refuge, Pismo Dunes State 

Preserve, Oceano Dunes State Vehicular 

Recreation Area, and privately owned 

lands. Unit 1 is located within the Santa 

Maria Valley Dune Complex (Hunt 

1993, pp. 5–72). This dune complex 

contains numerous mesic areas on the 

margins of dune swales, dune lakes, 

marshes, and estuaries within the 

dynamic (changing) Callender and 

Guadalupe Dune Sheets (PCE 1). Unit 1 

is dominated by moderate to strong 

winds from the northwest most of the 

time throughout the year. These winds 

are a major factor in creating the dunes 

and shaping the terrain, such as the 

parallel ridges and swales that are 

essential for the conservation of Cirsium 

loncholepis (PCE 4). 

The geomorphological processes that 

shaped/developed the terrain features in 

the Santa Maria Valley Dune Complex 

are intact and continue to rejuvenate 

and maintain the dynamic dune and 

riparian features and processes of the 

constantly shifting mosaic of terrain, 

vegetation, and wetlands (PCE 4). The 

vegetation in the dunes includes central 

dune scrub, coastal dune, coastal scrub, 

coastal freshwater marsh and fen, 

riparian scrub, chaparral, and oak 

woodland (PCE 2) (Cooper 1967, pp. 75–

90; Hunt 1993, pp. 5–72; CNDDB 2007, 

unpaginated; CNPS 2008, unpaginated; 

Holland 1986, pp. 1–156). The soils 

throughout the dunes are dominated by 

sand (PCE 3). The dunes support a wide 

diversity of flora and fauna including 

numerous insects, many of which are 

pollinators for Cirsium loncholepis, and 

hummingbirds (Keil 2008, unpaginated; 

Martin et al. 1951, pp. 92–277; 

Krombein et al. 1979, Vol. 2 pp. 1751–

2209; Blecha et al. 2007, pp. 1–354). 

The dunes also support numerous small 

mammal and bird species (Blecha et al. 

2007, pp. 1–354) that act as dispersal 

vectors for C. loncholepis seed (PCE 4). 

This unit contains large tracts of 

undeveloped land including dunes, 

wetlands, and upland areas occupied by 

the species and its pollinators (PCEs 1, 

2, 3, and 4). The dynamic 

geomorphological processes, mosaic of 

habitats, and diversity of flora and fauna 

provide for and enhance the dispersal of 

genetic material of C. loncholepis 

between and among the various 

populations (and occurrences) within 

this dune complex and provide adjacent 

uplands for pollinators (PCEs 1, 3, and 

4). 

The prevailing, strong wind patterns 

blow southeast across the lower Santa 

Maria River Valley, up Orcutt Creek, 

past the town of Orcutt, and beyond 

Graciosa Ridge to Can ̃ ada de las Flores. 

These winds are an essential dispersal 

vector that help move plants/seeds from 

the Cirsium loncholepis populations in 

the Callender and Guadalupe Dunes to 

populations in the Santa Maria River, 

Orcutt Creek, and Can ̃ ada de las Flores 

and are essential in maintaining 

connectivity between populations in the 

Santa Maria River Valley and those in 

the San Antonio Creek and Santa Ynez 

River Valleys. 

The essential features found in Unit 1 

may require special management 

considerations or protection in Unit 1 

resulting from: (1) Direct and indirect 

effects from energy-related operations 

(i.e., maintenance activities, hazardous 

waste cleanup, facility accidents); (2) 

ground water extraction which lowers 

the water table and dries the wetlands; 

(3) stochastic (i.e., random) extirpation/ 

extinction events that occur because the 

population size is small or isolated; (4) 

trampling and grazing from trespass of 

cattle; (5) competition from invasive, 

aggressive, nonnative weeds (e.g., 

Ammophila arenaria, Carpobrotus spp., 

Ehrharta calycina, Mesembryanthemum 

crystallinum); and (6) direct and 

indirect effects from OHV activity 

(Davis et al. 1988, pp. 169–195; Zedler 

and Schied 1988, pp. 196–201; Morey 

1989, pp. 1–16; Odion et al. 1992, pp. 

1–2; CNDDB 1998, unpaginated, 2008, 

unpaginated; Chesnut 1998a, 

unpaginated, 1998b, pp. 1–40; Smith 

1976, p. 282, 1998, pp. 153–154; 

Hendrickson 1990, pp. 1–25; CDFG 

1992 pp. 111–112; Elvin 2006, 

unpaginated; Keil 2006b, unpaginated). 


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Unit 2: Santa Maria River-Orcutt Creek 

(13,227 ac (5,353 ha)) 

Unit 2 is located along the lower 5 mi 

(8 km) of the Santa Maria River and 

along the length of Orcutt Creek 

(approximately 13 mi (21 km)) in San 

Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara 

Counties, California. Unit 2 was 

occupied at the time of listing, is 

currently occupied, and contains the 

physical and biological features 

essential to the conservation of the 

species (CNDDB 2007; 65 FR 14888, 

March 20, 2000). Unit 2 is essential 

because it contains the last Cirsium 

loncholepis population in riparian 

habitat. Unit 2 also contains what has 

historically been recognized as the 

largest C. loncholepis population with 

an estimated 54,000 individuals being 

reported in 1990 (CNDDB 2007, 

unpaginated; Hendrickson 1990, pp. 1–

25). However, only about 25 plants were 

observed in the lower 0.9 mi (1.5 km) 

stretch of the Santa Maria River when 

visited in November 2006 (Elvin 2006, 

unpaginated). This unit contains large 

blocks of intact riparian habitat along 

the Santa Maria River and the southwest 

side of Orcutt Creek. Unit 2 is also 

essential as a dispersal corridor between 

the Santa Maria Valley and the Santa 

Ynez Valley. 

Unit 2 is comprised of 329 ac (133 ha) 

of State land; 465 ac (188 ha) of County 

and other local jurisdiction land; and 

12,433 ac (5,032 ha) of private lands. 

Unit 2 includes Rancho Guadalupe 

Dunes Park in Santa Barbara County. 

Unit 2 is located within the broad Santa 

Maria Valley, in the floodplains of the 

lower Santa Maria River and Orcutt 

Creek. Unit 2 is also within the Santa 

Maria Valley Dune Complex (Hunt 

1993, pp. 5–72). It skirts the edges of the 

Guadalupe Dune Sheet to the north of 

the Santa Maria River, the Mussel Rock 

Dune Sheet to the southeast of Orcutt 

Creek and the Santa Maria River, and 

the Orcutt Terrace Dune Sheet to the 

northeast of the upper reaches of Orcutt 

Creek (Hunt 1993, pp. 5–72). These 

drainages and the adjacent dune sheets 

contain numerous mesic areas on the 

margins and floodplains of the river and 

creek and freshwater seeps and in 

grasslands, coastal scrub, and chaparral 

in the adjacent dune sheets (PCEs 1, 2, 

3 and 4). 

The geomorphological processes 

(fluvial and aeolian) that shaped and 

developed the terrain features in the 

Santa Maria Valley Dune Complex are 

intact and continue to affect the 

dynamic dune and riparian features and 

processes and their associated habitats 

in this unit (PCEs 1, 2, 3, and 4). The 

more interior portions of this unit are 

primarily within the lower portion of 

the Santa Maria River Valley where 

conversion to agricultural production to 

the edges of the river and the 

northeastern edge of the creek has 

occurred. The lower 5 mi (8 km) of the 

Santa Maria River remain intact with 

riparian scrub vegetation, sandy alluvial 

soils (PCEs 2 and 3), and dynamic 

fluvial geomorphological processes, 

which allow it to operate as a dynamic 

riparian system with uninterrupted 

water flows (PCEs 1 and 4). Pockets of 

numerous small marshes, wetlands, and 

drainages are still interspersed within 

the agricultural fields along Orcutt 

Creek, and the dynamic processes that 

rejuvenate and maintain the everchanging mosaic of coastal scrub and 

riparian habitats are still largely intact 

(PCEs 1, 2, and 3). Additionally, areas 

to the southwest of Orcutt Creek contain 

large blocks of intact habitat (PCEs 1, 2, 

and 3) including suitable upland habitat 

areas between the intermittent streams 

and freshwater seeps (PCE 1) that 

provide habitat for pollinators and other 

dispersal vectors (PCE 4) such as birds 

and small mammals that move Cirsium 

seed. The vegetation in this unit 

includes central dune scrub, coastal 

dune, coastal scrub, freshwater seep, 

coastal and valley freshwater marsh and 

fen, riparian scrub (e.g., mule fat scrub, 

willow scrub), chaparral, oak woodland, 

and intermittent streams (PCE 2) 

(CNDDB 2007, unpaginated; CNPS 2008, 

unpaginated; Holland 1986, pp. 1–156; 

Elvin 2006, unpaginated). The soils in 

this unit are predominantly sandy (U.S. 

Department of Agriculture, Natural 

Resources Conservation Service (USDA 

NRCS) 2000, unpaginated; 2005, 

unpaginated) (PCE 3). 

Unit 2 is dominated by the prevailing, 

moderate to strong winds from the 

northwest that blow southeast along the 

length of Orcutt Creek, which would 

then function as a dispersal corridor for 

Cirsium loncholepis seed from the 

dunes to Can ̃ ada de las Flores. These 

winds help move seeds from the 

populations in the Callender and 

Guadalupe Dunes to pocket wetlands 

along Orcutt Creek, to seeps and 

intermittent drainages southwest of the 

creek (along the Mussel Rock Dune 

Sheet), and eventually to the C. 

loncholepis population at Can ̃ ada de las 

Flores (PCEs 1 and 4). Orcutt Creek also 

acts as a dispersal vector by carrying 

seed from upstream plants down to the 

Santa Maria River population (PCE 1 

and 4). These intermittent wetland sites 

or ‘‘pocket wetlands’’ and the 

intervening habitat areas are essential to 

maintain connectivity between more 

distant populations (Trakhtenbrot et al. 

2005, pp. 173–181; Higgins and 

Richardson 1999, pp. 464–475), 

particularly between those in the Santa 

Maria Valley and those in the San 

Antonio Creek and Santa Ynez Valleys. 

These pocket wetlands also act as 

important core areas for C. loncholepis. 

The essential features found in Unit 2 

may require special management 

considerations for or protection from: 

(1) Nutrient inputs in the water systems 

that are above concentrations known to 

adversely affect freshwater ecosystems 

and cause adverse ecological effects 

including altering the composition of 

the plant community and inducing 

biostimulation; (2) stochastic (i.e., 

random) extirpation/extinction events 

that occur because the population size 

of some occurrences is small or isolated; 

(3) trampling and grazing from cattle; or 

(4) competition from invasive, 

aggressive, nonnative weeds (e.g., 

Ammophila arenaria, Carpobrotus spp., 

Ehrharta calycina, Mesembryanthemum 

crystallinum) (California State Water 

Resources Control Board 2006, pp. 1–71; 

Central Coastal Ambient Monitoring 

Program 2002, pp. 1–60; Dodds et al. 

1998, pp. 1455–1462; Davis et al. 1988, 

pp. 169–195; Zedler and Schied 1988, 

pp. 196–201; Morey 1989, pp. 1–16; 

Odion et al. 1992, pp. 1–2; CNDDB 

1998, unpaginated, 2007, unpaginated; 

Chesnut1998a, unpaginated, 1998b, pp. 

1–40; Smith 1976, p. 282, 1998, pp. 

153–154; Hendrickson 1990, pp. 1–25; 

CDFG 1992, pp. 111–112; Elvin 2006, 

unpaginated; Keil 2006b, unpaginated). 

Unit 3: Can ̃ ada de las Flores (740 ac 

(299 ha)) 

Unit 3 is located approximately 5 mi 

(8 km) northwest of the town of Los 

Alamos and southwest of the Solomon 

Hills in Santa Barbara County, 

California. Unit 3 was considered to be 

occupied at the time of the listing and 

at the time critical habitat was 

designated for this species in 2004. 

Cirsium loncholepis may still be extant 

at Can ̃ ada de las Flores. It was last 

observed at this site in 1989 

(Hendrickson 1990, pp. 1–25). Since the 

time of listing and at the time critical 

habitat was designated, there have still 

been no observations of C. loncholepis 

here. While C. loncholepis may still be 

at Can ̃ ada de las Flores, we are 

considering Can ̃ ada de las Flores to be 

unoccupied for the purposes of this rule 

based on the continued lack of 

observation of C. loncholepis since 2000 

(Hendrickson 1990, pp. 1–25; CNDDB 

2007, unpaginated; Consortium of 

California Herbaria 2008, unpaginated; 

Elvin 2007a, unpaginated; 65 FR 14888, 

March 20, 2000). The population in Unit 

3 represents the eastern-most and 


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farthest-inland location at which 

Cirsium loncholepis has been 

documented. Additionally, Unit 3 

occurs at a pivotal location for the 

species as a whole; it is down-wind 

from populations in the Santa Maria 

Valley and upstream from populations 

in the San Antonio Valley (e.g., the 

mouth of San Antonio Creek (one of the 

potential type locality sites for C. 

loncholepis) and San Antonio Terrace 

Dunes). Therefore, the Can ̃ ada de las 

Flores location is essential to maintain 

connectivity between populations in the 

Santa Maria Valley and populations in 

the San Antonio Creek and Santa Ynez 

Valleys (PCE 4) 

Unit 3 is comprised of 740 ac (299 ha) 

of private land at the head of La Can ̃ ada 

de las Flores in Santa Barbara County, 

California. Unit 3 contains mesic areas 

at the edge of freshwater seep, marsh, 

meadow, grassland, chaparral, and oak 

woodland habitats (PCEs 1 and 2). We 

consider the two Cirsium loncholepis 

occurrences that have been recorded 

(and may still occur) here to be part of 

one population that has expanded at 

times to represent one large polygon of 

plants (CNDDB 2007, unpaginated; 

Elvin 2007b, unpaginated). Can ̃ ada de 

las Flores has slightly different 

environmental conditions than the 

coastal areas; specifically, it is at a 

higher elevation (200 ft (61 m)) and has 

a warmer climate. Preserving any 

genetic variability within the species 

that has allowed it to adapt to these 

slightly different environmental 

conditions would be important for the 

long-term survival and conservation of 

the species. Can ̃ ada de las Flores is 

mapped as Camarillo sandy loam with 

sand visible on the surface throughout 

the floor and lower portions of the 

surrounding hills/ridges in the canyon 

(PCE 3) (U.S. Soil Conservation Service 

1972, unpaginated; Hendrickson 1990, 

pp. 1–25; CNDDB 2007, unpaginated; 

Elvin 2007b, unpaginated). 

Unit 4: San Antonio Creek (4,335 ac 

(1,754 ha)) 

Unit 4 is located in the northwestern 

portion of Santa Barbara County, 

California. Unit 4 stretches along the 

lower 11 mi (17 km) of San Antonio 

Creek. Unit 4 was not considered to be 

occupied at the time of listing, and is 

currently considered to be unoccupied, 

although it is within the historical 

distribution of the species. The mouth 

of San Antonio Creek is one of the two 

most likely locations for the type 

locality for Cirsium loncholepis (Smith 

1976, p. 282, 1998, pp. 153–154; 

Hendrickson 1990, pp. 1–25; Oyler et al. 

1995, pp. 1–76; California Academy of 

Sciences Herbarium 2007, unpaginated). 

Unit 4 is comprised of 4,149 ac (1,679 

ha) of Federal lands and 186 ac (75 ha) 

of private lands. The majority of Unit 4 

lands occur on Vandenberg Air Force 

Base. Most of the mission-critical 

projects and activities on Vandenberg 

Air Force Base are confined to areas 

outside of wetlands in general, and San 

Antonio Creek in particular. The few 

known land uses in and immediately 

adjacent to San Antonio Creek consist of 

agriculture leases and transportation 

and communications crossings (SRS 

Technologies 2007, pp. 1–35). There are 

many sensitive resources along San 

Antonio Creek including jurisdictional 

wetlands, cultural resources, and 

sensitive species (SRS Technologies 

2003, pp. 1–1 to 9–14; SRS 

Technologies 2007, pp. 1–35). 

Management activities for these 

resources may also benefit Cirsium 

loncholepis. Unit 4 is located within the 

Santa Ynez Valley Dune Complex, and 

San Antonio Creek is one of the two 

major drainages in it (Hunt 1993, pp. 5–

72). San Antonio Creek is the geological 

feature that separates the San Antonio 

Dune Sheet and the Burton Mesa Dune 

Sheet. This drainage and the adjacent 

dune sheets contain numerous mesic 

areas on the margins of the creek and its 

floodplain; in freshwater marshes (e.g., 

Barka Slough); and in freshwater seeps 

in adjacent grasslands, coastal scrub, 

chaparral, and the adjacent dune sheets 

that allow for dispersal (PCEs 1, 3, and 

4) (Dial 1980, pp. 1–100; Cooper 1967, 

pp. 75–90; Hunt 1993, pp. 5–72; CNDDB 

2007, unpaginated). 

The geomorphological processes 

(fluvial and aeolian) that shaped and 

developed the terrain features in the San 

Antonio Valley are intact and continue 

to affect the dynamic riparian and 

adjacent dune features and processes in 

this unit (PCEs 1 and 4). The lower 10 

mi (16 km) of San Antonio Creek remain 

intact with riparian scrub, woodland, 

and forest vegetations (PCE 2); sandy 

alluvial soils (PCE 3); and dynamic 

fluvial geomorphological processes, 

which allow it to operate as a dynamic 

riparian system with uninterrupted 

flows of water (PCEs 1 and 4). 

Numerous small marshes, wetlands, and 

intermittent tributary drainages still 

occur naturally along this stretch of San 

Antonio Creek and the dynamic 

processes that rejuvenate and maintain 

the riparian habitats are still largely 

intact here (PCEs 1 and 4) (Keil 1997, 

pp. 1–12; Dial 1980, pp. 1–100; SRS 

Technologies 2003, pp. 1–1 to 9–14; 

SRS Technologies 2007 pp. 1–35; 

Google Earth 2008, unpaginated). 

Additionally, areas adjacent to the creek 

on both sides still contain large blocks 

of intact habitat (PCEs 1, 2 and 4) 

including suitable upland habitat areas 

between the intermittent streams and 

freshwater seeps (PCEs 1 and 2) that 

provide habitat for pollinators and other 

dispersal vectors (PCE 4) such as birds 

and small mammals that move Cirsium 

seed (SRS Technologies 2007, pp. 1–35). 

The vegetation in this unit includes 

central dune scrub, coastal dune, coastal 

scrub, freshwater seep, coastal and 

valley freshwater marsh and fen, 

riparian scrub (e.g., mule fat scrub, 

willow scrub), chaparral, oak woodland, 

and intermittent streams (PCE 2) (SRS 

Technologies 2007, pp. 1–35; Keil 1997, 

pp. 1–12; CNDDB 2007, unpaginated; 

CNPS 2008, unpaginated; Holland 1986, 

pp. 1–156; Elvin 2007c, unpaginated). 

The soils in this unit are predominantly 

sandy (USDA NRCS 2005, unpaginated; 

SRS Technologies 2003, pp. 1–1 to 9–

14) (PCE 3). 

This unit is dominated by the 

prevailing, moderate to strong winds 

from the northwest that blow southeast 

across the San Antonio Dune Sheet and 

up San Antonio Creek (USDA NRCS 

2008, unpaginated; NOAA 2007, 

unpaginated). These winds are an 

essential dispersal vector that help 

disperse seeds from the San Antonio 

Dunes and the estuary at the mouth of 

San Antonio Creek to suitable habitat 

sites upstream along San Antonio Creek 

(PCE 4). The uninterrupted flow of 

water from the headwaters of San 

Antonio Creek and its tributaries down 

to its mouth is essential to facilitate the 

dispersal of Cirsium loncholepis seeds 

from and maintain connectivity between 

upstream populations such as Can ̃ ada 

de las Flores to other suitable mesic 

habitat sites downstream along San 

Antonio Creek and to mesic areas in the 

adjacent dune sheets (PCE 4). 

While this unit was not occupied at 

the time of listing, Unit 4 is essential to 

the conservation of the species because 

it contains lands along San Antonio 

Creek that can function as a core area 

and dispersal corridor for Cirsium 

loncholepis. Unit 4 is essential as a core 

area for C. loncholepis and would 

decrease fragmentation for the species. 

It contains many intermittent wetlands 

along the length of the creek and in the 

estuary at the mouth of the San Antonio 

Creek and is capable of supporting 

populations for long periods of time. 

These intermittent wetland sites (PCE 1) 

and the intervening habitat areas are 

also essential to maintain connectivity 

between more distant C. loncholepis 

populations (Trakhtenbrot et al. 2005, 

pp. 173–181; Higgins and Richardson 

1999, pp. 464–475), such as those in the 

upper watershed of San Antonio Creek 

and those in the lower reaches of the 


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creek and the adjacent San Antonio 

Terrace Dunes. Unit 4 is more easily 

managed for the species than many 

other areas in the historical distribution 

of the species because there are fewer 

pressures for commercial or agricultural 

development. 

Unit 5: San Antonio Terrace Dunes 

(7,334 ac (2,968 ha)) 

Unit 5 is located in western Santa 

Barbara County, California. Unit 5 

stretches along 4 mi (6.5 km) of the 

coast north from San Antonio Creek. 

This unit is southwest of the town of 

Casmalia. Unit 5 was not considered to 

be occupied at the time of listing and is 

currently considered to be unoccupied; 

it is within the historical distribution of 

the species. Cirsium loncholepis has 

been reported from wetlands in the San 

Antonio Terrace Dunes, but has not 

been officially documented with a 

herbarium specimen (CNDDB 2007, 

unpaginated; Consortium of California 

Herbaria 2008, unpaginated). 

Unit 5 is comprised of 7,282 ac (2,947 

ha) of Federal lands on Vandenberg Air 

Force Base and 52 ac (21 ha) of private 

lands. Most of the projects and activities 

on Vandenberg Air Force Base are 

confined to areas outside of wetlands. 

The few known land uses in the San 

Antonio Terrace consist of ‘‘improved 

areas,’’ launch facilities, transportation 

and communications facilities, 

recreational activities, and remediation 

and restoration programs (SRS 

Technologies 2003, pp. 1–1 to 9–14; 

SRS Technologies 2007, pp. 1–35). 

There are numerous sensitive resources 

on San Antonio Terrace including 

jurisdictional wetlands, cultural 

resources, and sensitive species (SRS 

Technologies 2003, pp. 1–1 to 9–14; 

SRS Technologies 2007, pp. 1–35). 

Management activities for some of the 

resources may also benefit Cirsium 

loncholepis. Unit 5 is located within the 

Santa Ynez Valley Dune Complex (Hunt 

1993, pp. 5–72). The San Antonio 

Terrace Dune Sheet is the primary 

physiographic feature in Unit 5. San 

Antonio Creek is one of the two major 

drainages in the Santa Ynez Valley 

Dune Complex (Hunt 1993, pp. 5–72). 

This dune complex contains numerous 

mesic areas on the margins of dune 

swales, dune lakes, and marshes within 

the dynamic (changing) San Antonio 

Terrace Dune Sheet (PCEs 1 and 3). Unit 

5 is dominated by strong winds from the 

northwest throughout the majority of 

the year that are a major factor in 

creating the dunes and shaping the 

terrain, such as the parallel ridges and 

the swales and other dune wetlands that 

are so important for Cirsium loncholepis 

(PCE 4) (USDA NRCS 2008, 

unpaginated; NOAA 2007, unpaginated; 

Hendrickson 1990, pp. 1–25). 

The geomorphological processes that 

shaped and developed the terrain 

features in the Santa Ynez Valley Dune 

Complex are intact and continue to 

rejuvenate and maintain the dynamic 

dune and riparian features and 

processes of the constantly shifting 

mosaic of terrain, vegetation, and 

wetlands (PCEs 1, 2, 3, and 4). The 

vegetation in the dunes includes central 

dune scrub, coastal dune, coastal strand, 

coastal scrub, coastal freshwater marsh 

and fen, riparian scrub, chaparral, and 

oak woodland (PCE 2) (SRS 

Technologies 2003, pp. 1–1 to 9–14; 

SRS Technologies 2007, pp. 1–35; 

Cooper 1967, pp. 75–90; CNDDB 2007, 

unpaginated; CNPS 2008, unpaginated; 

Holland 1986, pp. 1–156). The soils 

throughout these dunes are dominated 

by sand (PCE 3) (Cooper 1967, pp. 75–

90; Hunt 1993, pp. 5–72; USDA NRCS 

2005, unpaginated). Dunes in the 

vicinity of Vandenberg Air Force Base 

support a wide diversity of flora and 

fauna including numerous insects and 

hummingbirds, many of which are 

pollinators for Cirsium loncholepis (SRS 

Technologies 2003, pp. 1–1 to 9–14; 

Keil 2008, unpaginated; Martin et al. 

1951, pp. 92–277; Krombein et al. 1979, 

Vol. 2 pp. 1751–2209; Blecha et al. 

2007, pp. 1–354). The dunes also 

support numerous small mammal and 

bird species (SRS Technologies 2003, 

pp. 1–1 to 9–14; Blecha et al. 2007, pp. 

1–354) that act as dispersal vectors for 

C. loncholepis seed (PCE 4). This unit 

contains large tracts of undeveloped 

land including dunes, wetlands, and 

upland areas utilized by the species and 

its pollinators (PCEs 1, 2, 3, and 4). The 

dynamic geomorphological processes, 

mosaic of habitats, and diversity of flora 

and fauna provide for and enhance the 

dispersal of genetic material of Cirsium 

loncholepis between and among the 

various wetlands within this dune 

complex and provide adjacent uplands 

for pollinators (PCEs 1, 2, 3, and 4). 

The prevailing, strong wind patterns 

from the northwest, greater than 7.47 

mph (12.02 kph) most of the time 

throughout the year, blow southeast 

across the San Antonio Terrace Dunes to 

areas up San Antonio Creek, across the 

Burton Mesa Dune Sheet, and along the 

Santa Ynez River. These winds are an 

essential dispersal vector that would 

help disperse Cirsium loncholepis seeds 

from the San Antonio Dunes to suitable 

habitat sites upstream along San 

Antonio Creek, in the Burton Mesa 

Dunes, and along the Santa Ynez River 

(PCE 4). The uninterrupted flow of these 

winds is essential to facilitate this 

dispersal and to maintain connectivity 

between C. loncholepis populations that 

might occur in these areas (PCEs 1 and 

3) (USDA NRCS 2008, unpaginated; 

NOAA 2007, unpaginated; SRS 

Technologies 2003, pp. 1–1 to 9–14). 

While this unit was not occupied at 

the time of listing, Unit 5 is essential as 

a core area for C. loncholepis in that the 

many mesic areas and intermittent 

wetlands within the dune system are 

capable of supporting C. loncholepis 

populations for long periods of time. 

The San Antonio Terrace Dune Sheet 

supports numerous dune wetlands and 

swales and is very similar in habitat, 

physical, and geological features to the 

Callender and Guadalupe Dune Sheets 

(Cooper 1967, pp. 75–90; Hunt 1993, pp. 

5–72; Google Earth 2008, unpaginated). 

These wetland sites and the intervening 

upland habitat areas are essential to 

maintain connectivity within this dune 

system and between more distant C. 

loncholepis populations (Trakhtenbrot 

et al. 2005, pp. 173–181; Higgins and 

Richardson 1999, pp. 464–475), such as 

along San Antonio Creek and those in 

and along the Santa Ynez River or those 

between the Santa Maria Valley 

(specifically in the Santa Maria Valley 

Dune Complex and the Santa Maria 

River drainage system) and those 

downwind in the Santa Ynez Valley. 

Unit 5 is more easily managed for the 

species than many other areas in the 

historical distribution of the species 

because there are fewer pressures for 

commercial or agricultural 

development. 

Unit 6: Santa Ynez River (2,482 ac 

(1,005 ha)) 

Unit 6 is located in the western 

portion of Santa Barbara County, 

California. This unit consists of the 

lower 4 mi (3.5 km) of the Santa Ynez 

River, most of which is on Vandenberg 

Air Force Base. Unit 6 is west of 

Lompoc and east of Surf. Unit 6 was not 

considered to be occupied at the time of 

listing, and is currently considered to be 

unoccupied. Unit 6 is within the 

historical distribution of the species. 

Unit 6 is comprised of 2,401 ac (972 

ha) of Federal lands, 38 ac (15 ha) of 

county and other local jurisdiction land, 

and 43 ac (18 ha) of private land. The 

majority of Unit 6 lands occur on 

Vandenberg Air Force Base. Most of the 

mission-critical projects and activities 

on Vandenberg Air Force Base are 

confined to areas outside of wetlands in 

general, and the Santa Ynez River in 

particular. The few known land uses in 

and immediately adjacent to the Santa 

Ynez River consist of grazing and 

agriculture programs, transportation and 

communications facilities, recreational 

programs, and several restoration 


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programs (SRS Technologies 2003, pp. 

1–1 to 9–14; SRS Technologies 2007, 

pp. 1–35). There are many sensitive 

resources along San Antonio Creek 

including jurisdictional wetlands, 

cultural resources, and sensitive species 

(SRS Technologies 2003, pp. 1–1 to 9–

14; SRS Technologies 2007, pp. 1–35). 

Management activities for these 

resources may also benefit Cirsium 

loncholepis. The Santa Ynez River is 

one of the two major drainages in the 

Santa Ynez Valley Dune Complex (Hunt 

1993, pp. 5–72). The Santa Ynez River 

is the geological feature that separates 

the Burton Mesa Dune Sheet and the 

Lompoc Terrace Dune Sheet. This 

drainage and the adjacent uplands 

contain numerous mesic areas on the 

margins of the river and its floodplain; 

in freshwater marshes; in intermittent 

streams that are tributaries; and in 

freshwater seeps in adjacent grasslands, 

coastal scrub, and chaparral (PCEs 1, 2, 

and 3) (Google Earth 2008, unpaginated; 

CNDDB 2007, unpaginated; Elvin 2008, 

unpaginated). 

The geomorphological processes 

(fluvial and aeolian) that shaped and 

developed the terrain features in the 

Santa Ynez Valley are intact and 

continue to affect the dynamic dune and 

riparian features and processes and their 

associated habitats in this unit (PCEs 1 

and 4). The lower 4 mi (6.4 km) of the 

Santa Ynez River remains mostly intact 

with some adjacent agriculture; adjacent 

riparian scrub vegetation and sandy 

alluvial soils (PCE 2); and dynamic 

fluvial geomorphological processes, 

which allow it to operate as a dynamic 

riparian system with uninterrupted 

water flows (PCEs 1 and 4). 

Additionally, areas to the north and 

south of the river contain large blocks of 

intact habitat (PCEs 1 and 4), including 

suitable upland habitat areas between 

the intermittent streams and freshwater 

seeps (PCE 1) that provide habitat for 

pollinators and other dispersal vectors 

(PCE 4) such as birds and small 

mammals that move Cirsium seed. The 

vegetation in this unit includes central 

dune scrub, coastal dune, coastal scrub, 

freshwater seep, coastal and valley 

freshwater marsh and fen, riparian scrub 

(e.g., mule fat scrub, willow scrub), 

chaparral, and intermittent streams 

(PCEs 1, and 2) (Cooper 1967, pp. 75–

90; Hunt 1993, pp. 5–72; CNDDB 2007, 

unpaginated; CNPS 2008, unpaginated; 

Holland 1986, pp. 1–156; SRS 

Technologies 2003, pp. 1–1 to 9–14; 

SRS Technologies 2007, pp. 1–35; Elvin 

2007c, unpaginated; Elvin 2008, 

unpaginated). The soils in this unit are 

predominantly sandy (USDA NRCS 

2008, unpaginated; SRS Technologies 

2003, pp. 1–1 to 9–14; SRS 

Technologies 2007, pp. 1–35; Elvin 

2007c, unpaginated; Elvin 2008, 

unpaginated) (PCE 3). 

In Unit 6, as in Unit 5, the prevailing, 

strong wind patterns from the 

northwest, greater than 7.47 mph (12.02 

kph) most of the time throughout the 

year, blow southeast across the San 

Antonio Terrace Dunes to areas up San 

Antonio Creek, across the Burton Mesa 

Dune Sheet, and along the Santa Ynez 

River. These winds are an essential 

dispersal vector that would help 

disperse Cirsium loncholepis seeds from 

the San Antonio Dunes to suitable 

habitat sites upstream along San 

Antonio Creek, in the Burton Mesa 

Dunes, and along the Santa Ynez River 

(PCE 4). The uninterrupted flow of these 

winds is essential to facilitate this 

dispersal and to maintain connectivity 

between C. loncholepis populations that 

might occur in these areas (PCEs 1 and 

4) (USDA NRCS 2008, unpaginated; 

NOAA 2007, unpaginated; SRS 

Technologies 2003, pp. 1–1 to 9–14). 

These strong winds also blow from the 

lower portion of the Santa Ynez River 

along the north base of the Santa Ynez 

Mountains, more or less upstream along 

the Santa Ynez River and to the 

numerous seeps along the north base of 

the Santa Ynez Mountains. These winds 

are an essential dispersal vector that 

would help move any Cirsium 

loncholepis seeds from San Antonio 

Terrace Dunes to the Santa Ynez River 

(and its ancillary, adjacent wetlands) 

and from the lower reaches of the Santa 

Ynez River to the pocket wetlands along 

the river and upstream. These 

uninterrupted winds are essential to 

maintain connectivity between 

population areas in the Santa Ynez 

Valley (PCEs 1 and 4) (USDA NRCS 

2008, unpaginated; NOAA 2007, 

unpaginated; SRS Technologies 2003, 

pp. 1–1 to 9–14). The Santa Ynez River 

also acts as a dispersal vector by 

carrying seed from upstream plants 

down to the mouth (PCE 1 and 4). The 

uninterrupted flow of water from upriver along the Santa Ynez River to the 

wetlands at its mouth is essential to 

maintain the connectivity between 

occurrences in Unit 6 (PCE 4). The 

lower reaches of the Santa Ynez River 

contain numerous pocket wetlands, 

intermittent streams/tributaries, 

marshes, and estuaries. Several hillside 

seeps also occur in this stretch of the 

river (PCE 1). 

While this unit was not occupied at 

the time of listing, Unit 6 is essential as 

a core area for C. loncholepis in that the 

many intermittent wetlands and 

freshwater seeps within the dynamic 

river system are capable of supporting 

C. loncholepis populations for long 

periods of time. The wetlands and the 

intervening upland habitat areas in Unit 

6 are essential to maintain connectivity 

within and throughout this riparian 

system as a core area for C. loncholepis. 

Unit 6 is more easily managed for the 

species than many other areas in the 

historical distribution of the species 

because a large part of this unit has 

fewer pressures for commercial or 

agricultural development. 

Effects of Critical Habitat Designation 

Section 7 Consultation 

Section 7(a)(2) of the Act requires 

Federal agencies, including the Service, 

to ensure that actions they fund, 

authorize, or carry out are not likely to 

destroy or adversely modify critical 

habitat. Decisions by the 5th and 9th 

Circuit Courts of Appeals have 

invalidated our definition of 

‘‘destruction or adverse modification’’

(50 CFR 402.02) (see Gifford Pinchot 

Task Force v. U.S. Fish and Wildlife 

Service, 378 F. 3d 1059 (9th Cir 2004) 

and Sierra Club v. U.S. Fish and 

Wildlife Service et al., 245 F.3d 434, 443 

(5th Cir 2001)), and we do not rely on 

this regulatory definition when 

analyzing whether an action is likely to 

destroy or adversely modify critical 

habitat. Under the statutory provisions 

of the Act, we determine destruction or 

adverse modification on the basis of 

whether, with implementation of the 

proposed Federal action, the affected 

critical habitat would remain functional 

(or retain the current ability for the PCEs 

to be functionally established) to serve 

its intended conservation role for the 

species. 

Section 7(a)(4) of the Act requires 

Federal agencies to confer with us on 

any action that is likely to jeopardize 

the continued existence of a species 

proposed for listing or result in 

destruction or adverse modification of 

proposed critical habitat. Conference 

reports provide conservation 

recommendations to assist the agency in 

eliminating conflicts that may be caused 

by the proposed action. We may issue 

a formal conference report if requested 

by a Federal agency. Formal conference 

reports on proposed critical habitat 

contain an opinion that is prepared 

according to 50 CFR 402.14, as if critical 

habitat were designated. We may adopt 

the formal conference report as the 

biological opinion when the critical 

habitat is designated, if no significant 

new information or changes in the 

action alter the content of the opinion 

(see 50 CFR 402.10(d)). The 

conservation recommendations in a 

conference report are advisory. 


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If we list a species or designate 

critical habitat, section 7(a)(2) of the Act 

requires Federal agencies to ensure that 

activities they authorize, fund, or carry 

out are not likely to jeopardize the 

continued existence of the species or to 

destroy or adversely modify its critical 

habitat. Activities on State, Tribal, local, 

or private lands requiring a Federal 

permit (such as a permit from the U.S. 

Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) under 

section 404 of the Clean Water Act (33 

U.S.C. 1251 et seq. ) or a permit from us 

under section 10 of the Act) or involving 

some other Federal action (such as 

funding from the Federal Highway 

Administration, Federal Aviation 

Administration, or the Federal 

Emergency Management Agency) are 

subject to the section 7(a)(2) 

consultation process. Federal actions 

not affecting listed species or critical 

habitat, and actions on State, Tribal, 

local, or private lands that are not 

federally funded, authorized, or carried 

out, do not require section 7(a)(2) 

consultations. If a Federal action may 

affect a listed species or its critical 

habitat, the responsible Federal agency 

(action agency) must enter into 

consultation with us. As a result of this 

consultation, we document compliance 

with the requirements of section 7(a)(2) 

through our issuance of: 

(1) A concurrence letter for Federal 

actions that may affect, but are not 

likely to adversely affect, listed species 

or critical habitat; or 

(2) A biological opinion for Federal 

actions that may affect, and are likely to 

adversely affect, listed species or critical 

habitat. 

When we issue a biological opinion 

concluding that a project is likely to 

jeopardize the continued existence of a 

listed species or destroy or adversely 

modify critical habitat, we also provide 

reasonable and prudent alternatives to 

the project, if any are identifiable. We 

define ‘‘Reasonable and prudent 

alternatives’’ at 50 CFR 402.02 as 

alternative actions identified during 

consultation that: 

(1) Can be implemented in a manner 

consistent with the intended purpose of 

the action, 

(2) Can be implemented consistent 

with the scope of the Federal agency’s 

legal authority and jurisdiction, 

(3) Are economically and 

technologically feasible, and 

(4) Would, in the Director’s opinion, 

avoid jeopardizing the continued 

existence of the listed species or 

destroying or adversely modifying 

critical habitat. 

Reasonable and prudent alternatives 

can vary from slight project 

modifications to extensive redesign or 

relocation of the project. Costs 

associated with implementing a 

reasonable and prudent alternative are 

similarly variable. 

When we issue a biological opinion 

concluding that a project is not likely to 

jeopardize a listed species or adversely 

modify critical habitat, but may result in 

incidental take of listed animals, we 

provide an incidental take statement 

that specifies the impact of such 

incidental taking on the species. We 

then define ‘‘Reasonable and Prudent 

Measures’’ considered necessary or 

appropriate to minimize the impact of 

such taking. Reasonable and prudent 

measures are binding measures the 

action agency must implement to 

receive an exemption to the prohibition 

against take contained in section 9 of 

the Act. These reasonable and prudent 

measures are implemented through 

specific ‘‘Terms and Conditions’’ that 

must be followed by the action agency 

or passed along by the action agency as 

binding conditions to an applicant. 

Reasonable and prudent measures, 

along with the terms and conditions that 

implement them, cannot alter the basic 

design, location, scope, duration, or 

timing of the action under consultation 

and may involve only minor changes 

(50 CFR 402.14). The Service may 

provide the action agency with 

additional conservation 

recommendations, which are advisory 

and not intended to carry binding legal 

force. 

Regulations at 50 CFR 402.16 require 

Federal agencies to reinitiate 

consultation on previously reviewed 

actions in instances where we have 

listed a new species or subsequently 

designated critical habitat that may be 

affected and the Federal agency has 

retained discretionary involvement or 

control over the action (or the agency’s 

discretionary involvement or control is 

authorized by law). Consequently, 

Federal agencies may sometimes need to 

request reinitiation of consultation with 

us on actions for which formal 

consultation has been completed, if 

those actions with discretionary 

involvement or control may affect 

subsequently listed species or 

designated critical habitat. 

Application of the ‘‘Adverse 

Modification’’ Standard 

The key factor related to the adverse 

modification determination is whether, 

with implementation of the proposed 

Federal action, the affected critical 

habitat would continue to serve its 

intended conservation role for the 

species, or would retain its current 

ability for the PCEs to be functionally 

established. Activities that may destroy 

or adversely modify critical habitat are 

those that alter the physical and 

biological features, or other 

conservation role and function of the 

affected designated area, to an extent 

that appreciably reduces the 

conservation value of critical habitat for 

Cirsium loncholepis. Generally, the 

conservation role of C. loncholepis 

critical habitat units is to support viable 

core populations and corridors, which 

support temporal populations that 

maintain connectivity between core area 

populations. 

Section 4(b)(8) of the Act requires us 

to briefly evaluate and describe, in any 

proposed or final regulation that 

designates critical habitat, activities 

involving a Federal action that may 

destroy or adversely modify such 

habitat, or that may be affected by such 

designation. 

Activities that, when carried out, 

funded, or authorized by a Federal 

agency, may affect critical habitat and 

therefore should result in consultation 

for Cirsium loncholepis include, but are 

not limited to: 

(1) Actions that would degrade or 

destroy native maritime chaparral, 

dune, and oak woodland communities, 

including but not limited to, livestock 

grazing, clearing, disking, introducing or 

encouraging the spread of non-native 

plants, and heavy recreational use; 

(2) Actions that would appreciably 

diminish habitat value or quality 

through indirect effects (e.g., edge 

effects, invasion of non-native plants or 

animals, or fragmentation), such as 

livestock grazing; clearing vegetation; 

disking; introducing or encouraging the 

spread of non-native plants; heavy 

recreational use; fragmentation of 

habitat blocks, the creation of barriers or 

dams; channelizing rivers, creeks, or 

drainages; or the introduction or 

creation of barriers or wind-blocks such 

as large man-made structures, 

developments, tree rows, or windbreaks. 

(3) Actions that would appreciably 

interrupt or alter water flows in the 

Santa Maria River, Orcutt Creek, San 

Antonio Creek, or Santa Ynez River 

(such as channelization or confinement 

of the water flows by barriers or dams 

or converting them from soft bottoms 

and sides to a lined, channelized 

drainage). 

(4) Actions that would appreciably 

interrupt or alter winds across the Santa 

Maria Valley and Santa Ynez Dune 

Complexes and along the Santa Maria 

River, Orcutt Creek, San Antonio Creek, 

and Santa Ynez River watershed areas 

such that the natural aeolian 

geomorphology in the Santa Maria Dune 

Complex and Santa Ynez Dune 

Complex, and along the Santa Maria 


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River, Orcutt Creek, San Antonio Creek, 

and Santa Ynez River drainages would 

be blocked or altered by barriers or 

wind-blocks such as large man-made 

structures, developments, tree rows, or 

windbreaks. 

Exemptions and Exclusions 

Application of Section 4(a)(3) of the Act 

The National Defense Authorization 

Act for Fiscal Year 2004 (Pub. L. 108–

136) amended the Act to limit areas 

eligible for designation as critical 

habitat. Specifically, section 4(a)(3)(B)(i) 

of the Act (16 U.S.C. 1533(a)(3)(B)(i)) 

now provides: ‘‘The Secretary shall not 

designate as critical habitat any lands or 

other geographical areas owned or 

controlled by the Department of 

Defense, or designated for its use, that 

are subject to an integrated natural 

resources management plan [INRMP] 

prepared under section 670a of this title, 

if the Secretary determines in writing 

that such plan provides a benefit to the 

species for which critical habitat is 

proposed for designation.’’

The Sikes Improvement Act of 1997 

(Sikes Act) (16 U.S.C. 670a) required 

each military installation that includes 

land and water suitable for the 

conservation and management of 

natural resources to complete, by 

November 17, 2001, an INRMP. An 

INRMP integrates implementation of the 

military mission of the installation with 

stewardship of the natural resources 

found on the base. Each INRMP 

includes an assessment of the ecological 

needs on the installation, including the 

need to provide for the conservation of 

listed species; a statement of goals and 

priorities; a detailed description of 

management actions to be implemented 

to provide for these ecological needs; 

and a monitoring and adaptive 

management plan. Among other things, 

each INRMP must, to the extent 

appropriate and applicable, provide for 

fish and wildlife management, fish and 

wildlife habitat enhancement or 

modification, wetland protection, 

enhancement, and restoration where 

necessary to support fish and wildlife 

and enforcement of applicable natural 

resource laws. 

Lands at Vandenberg Air Force Base 

are not discussed in this section because 

Vandenberg Air Force Base only has a 

draft INRMP for 2003–2008 (SRS 

Technologies 2003, pp. 1–1 to 9–14). 

This draft does not currently include 

management guidelines for Cirsium 

loncholepis. We are currently working 

with Vandenberg Air Force Base on a 

programmatic consultation for basewide activities. 

Application of Section 4(b)(2) of the Act 

Section 4(b)(2) of the Act states that 

the Secretary must designate and revise 

critical habitat on the basis of the best 

available scientific data after taking into 

consideration the economic impact, 

national security impact, and any other 

relevant impact, of specifying any 

particular area as critical habitat. The 

Secretary may exclude an area from 

critical habitat if he determines that the 

benefits of such exclusion outweigh the 

benefits of specifying such area as part 

of the critical habitat, unless he 

determines, based on the best scientific 

data available, that the failure to 

designate such area as critical habitat 

will result in the extinction of the 

species. In making that determination, 

the statute, as well as its legislative 

history, is clear that the Secretary has 

broad discretion regarding which 

factor(s) to use and how much weight to 

give to any factor. 

Pursuant to section 4(b)(2) of the Act, 

we must consider relevant impacts in 

addition to economic ones. We 

anticipate no impact to national 

security, Tribal lands, or HCPs from this 

proposed revision to the current critical 

habitat designation. Based on the best 

available information, we believe that 

all of the proposed revised units contain 

the features essential to Cirsium 

loncholepis or are otherwise essential 

for the conservation of this species. As 

such, we have considered but are not 

proposing to exclude any lands from 

this designation based on the potential 

impacts to these or other factors. 

However, during the development of a 

final designation, we will be 

considering economic impacts, public 

comments, and other new information, 

and areas may be excluded from the 

final critical habitat designation under 

section 4(b)(2) and our implementing 

regulations at 50 CFR 424.19. 

Economic Analysis 

Section 4(b)(2) of the Act allows the 

Secretary to exclude areas from critical 

habitat for economic reasons if the 

Secretary determines that the benefits of 

such exclusion exceed the benefits of 

designating the area as critical habitat. 

However, this exclusion cannot occur if 

it will result in the extinction of the 

species concerned. 

We are preparing an analysis of the 

economic impacts of this proposed 

revision to critical habitat for Cirsium 

loncholepis. We will announce the 

availability of the draft economic 

analysis as soon as it is completed, at 

which time we will seek public review 

and comment. At that time, copies of 

the draft economic analysis will be 

available for downloading from the 

Internet at http://www.regulations.gov, 

or by contacting the Ventura Fish and 

Wildlife Office directly (see ADDRESSES

section). We may exclude areas from the 

final rule based on the information in 

the economic analysis. 

Peer Review 

In accordance with our joint policy 

published in the Federal Register on 

July 1, 1994 (59 FR 34270), we are 

requesting the expert opinions of at least 

three appropriate independent 

specialists regarding this proposed rule. 

The purpose of peer review is to ensure 

that our critical habitat designation is 

based on scientifically sound data, 

assumptions, and analyses. We have 

invited these peer reviewers to comment 

during this public comment period on 

our specific assumptions and 

conclusions in this proposed revised 

designation of critical habitat. 

We will consider all comments and 

information we receive during the 

comment period on this proposed rule 

during our preparation of a final 

determination. Accordingly, our final 

decision may differ from this proposal. 

Public Hearings 

The Act provides for one or more 

public hearings on this proposal, if we 

receive any requests for hearings. We 

must receive your request for a public 

hearing within 45 days after the date of 

this Federal Register publication. Send 

your request to the person named in the 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT

section. We will schedule public 

hearings on this proposal, if any are 

requested, and announce the dates, 

times, and places of those hearings, as 

well as how to obtain reasonable 

accommodations, in the Federal 

Register and local newspapers at least 

15 days before the first hearing. 

Required Determinations 

Regulatory Planning and Review—

Executive Order 12866 

The Office of Management and Budget 

(OMB) has determined that this rule is 

not significant and has not reviewed 

this rule under Executive Order (E.O.) 

12866. OMB bases its determination 

upon the following four criteria: 

(1) Whether the rule will have an 

annual effect of $100 million or more on 

the economy or adversely affect an 

economic sector, productivity, jobs, the 

environment, or other units of the 

government. 

(2) Whether the rule will create 

inconsistencies with other Federal 

agencies’ actions. 

(3) Whether the rule will materially 

affect entitlements, grants, user fees, 


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loan programs, or the rights and 

obligations of their recipients. 

(4) Whether the rule raises novel legal 

or policy issues. 

At this time, we lack the available 

economic information necessary to 

determine whether the rule would have 

an annual effect on the economy of $100 

million or more or affect the economy 

in a material way. 

Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 

et seq.) 

Under the Regulatory Flexibility Act 

(RFA; 5 U.S.C. 601 et seq., as amended 

by the Small Business Regulatory 

Enforcement Fairness Act (SBREFA) of 

1996), whenever an agency must 

publish a notice of rulemaking for any 

proposed or final rule, it must prepare 

and make available for public comment 

a regulatory flexibility analysis that 

describes the effects of the rule on small 

entities (small businesses, small 

organizations, and small government 

jurisdictions). However, no regulatory 

flexibility analysis is required if the 

head of the agency certifies the rule will 

not have a significant economic impact 

on a substantial number of small 

entities. SBREFA amended RFA to 

require Federal agencies to provide a 

statement of the factual basis for 

certifying that the rule will not have a 

significant economic impact on a 

substantial number of small entities. 

At this time, we lack the available 

economic information necessary to 

provide an adequate factual basis for the 

required RFA finding. Therefore, we 

defer the RFA finding until completion 

of the draft economic analysis prepared 

under section 4(b)(2) of the Act and E.O. 

12866. This draft economic analysis will 

provide the required factual basis for the 

RFA finding. Upon completion of the 

draft economic analysis, we will 

announce availability of the draft 

economic analysis of the proposed 

designation in the Federal Register and 

reopen the public comment period for 

the proposed designation. We will 

include with this announcement, as 

appropriate, an initial regulatory 

flexibility analysis or a certification that 

the rule will not have a significant 

economic impact on a substantial 

number of small entities accompanied 

by the factual basis for that 

determination. We have concluded that 

deferring the RFA finding until 

completion of the draft economic 

analysis is necessary to meet the 

purposes and requirements of the RFA. 

Deferring the RFA finding in this 

manner will ensure that we make a 

sufficiently informed determination 

based on adequate economic 

information and provide the necessary 

opportunity for public comment. 

Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (2 

U.S.C. 1501 et seq.) 

In accordance with the Unfunded 

Mandates Reform Act, we make the 

following findings: 

(1) This rule will not produce a 

Federal mandate. In general, a Federal 

mandate is a provision in legislation, 

statute, or regulation that would impose 

an enforceable duty upon State, local, or 

Tribal governments, or the private 

sector, and includes both ‘‘Federal 

intergovernmental mandates’’ and 

‘‘Federal private sector mandates.’’

These terms are defined in 2 U.S.C. 

658(5)–(7). ‘‘Federal intergovernmental 

mandate’’ includes a regulation that 

‘‘would impose an enforceable duty 

upon State, local, or [T]ribal 

governments’’ with two exceptions. It 

excludes ‘‘a condition of Federal 

assistance.’’ It also excludes ‘‘a duty 

arising from participation in a voluntary 

Federal program,’’ unless the regulation 

‘‘relates to a then-existing Federal 

program under which $500,000,000 or 

more is provided annually to State, 

local, and [T]ribal governments under 

entitlement authority,’’ if the provision 

would ‘‘increase the stringency of 

conditions of assistance’’ or ‘‘place caps 

upon, or otherwise decrease, the Federal 

Government’s responsibility to provide 

funding,’’ and the State, local, or Tribal 

governments ‘‘lack authority’’ to adjust 

accordingly. At the time of enactment, 

these entitlement programs were: 

Medicaid; AFDC work programs; Child 

Nutrition; Food Stamps; Social Services 

Block Grants; Vocational Rehabilitation 

State Grants; Foster Care, Adoption 

Assistance, and Independent Living; 

Family Support Welfare Services; and 

Child Support Enforcement. ‘‘Federal 

private sector mandate’’ includes a 

regulation that ‘‘would impose an 

enforceable duty upon the private 

sector, except (i) a condition of Federal 

assistance or (ii) a duty arising from 

participation in a voluntary Federal 

program.’’

The designation of critical habitat 

does not impose a legally binding duty 

on non-Federal Government entities or 

private parties. Under the Act, the only 

regulatory effect is that Federal agencies 

must ensure that their actions do not 

destroy or adversely modify critical 

habitat under section 7. While nonFederal entities that receive Federal 

funding, assistance, or permits, or that 

otherwise require approval or 

authorization from a Federal agency for 

an action, may be indirectly impacted 

by the designation of critical habitat, the 

legally binding duty to avoid 

destruction or adverse modification of 

critical habitat rests squarely on the 

Federal agency. Furthermore, to the 

extent that non-Federal entities are 

indirectly impacted because they 

receive Federal assistance or participate 

in a voluntary Federal aid program, the 

Unfunded Mandates Reform Act would 

not apply, nor would critical habitat 

shift the costs of the large entitlement 

programs listed above onto State 

governments. 

(2) We do not believe that this rule 

will significantly or uniquely affect 

small governments because small 

governments will be affected only to the 

extent that any programs having Federal 

funds, permits, or other authorized 

activities must ensure that their actions 

will not adversely affect the critical 

habitat. Therefore, a Small Government 

Agency Plan is not required. However, 

as we conduct our economic analysis, 

we will further evaluate this issue and 

revise this assessment if appropriate. 

Takings—Executive Order 12630 

In accordance with E.O. 12630 

(‘‘Government Actions and Interference 

with Constitutionally Protected Private 

Property Rights’’), we have analyzed the 

potential takings implications of 

designating revised critical habitat for 

the Cirsium loncholepis in a takings 

implications assessment. The takings 

implications assessment concludes that 

this designation of revised critical 

habitat for the C. loncholepis does not 

pose significant takings implications for 

lands within or affected by the revised 

designation. 

Federalism—Executive Order 13132 

In accordance with E.O. 13132 

(Federalism), this proposed rule does 

not have significant Federalism effects. 

A Federalism assessment is not 

required. In keeping with Department of 

the Interior and Department of 

Commerce policy, we requested 

information from, and coordinated 

development of, this proposed revised 

critical habitat designation with 

appropriate State resource agencies in 

California. The designation may have 

some benefit to these governments 

because the areas that contain the 

features essential to the conservation of 

the subspecies are more clearly defined, 

and the primary constituent elements of 

the habitat necessary to the conservation 

of the subspecies are specifically 

identified. This information does not 

alter where and what federally 

sponsored activities may occur. 

However, it may assist local 

governments in long-range planning 

(rather than having them wait for caseVerDate Aug<31>2005 17:24 Aug 05, 2008 Jkt 214001 PO 00000 Frm 00022 Fmt 4701 Sfmt 4702 E:\FR\FM\06AUP2.SGM 06AUP2

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by-case section 7 consultations to 

occur). 

Civil Justice Reform—Executive Order 

12988 

In accordance with E.O. 12988 (Civil 

Justice Reform), it has been determined 

that the rule does not unduly burden the 

judicial system and meets the 

requirements of sections 3(a) and 3(b)(2) 

of the Order. We have proposed 

designating critical habitat in 

accordance with the provisions of the 

Act. This proposed revision to critical 

habitat uses standard property 

descriptions and identifies the primary 

constituent elements within the 

designated areas to assist the public in 

understanding the habitat needs of 

Cirsium loncholepis. 

Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 

U.S.C. 3501 et seq.) 

This rule does not contain any new 

collections of information that require 

approval by OMB under the Paperwork 

Reduction Act of 1995. This rule will 

not impose recordkeeping or reporting 

requirements on State or local 

governments, individuals, businesses, or 

organizations. An agency may not 

conduct or sponsor, and a person is not 

required to respond to, a collection of 

information unless it displays a 

currently valid OMB control number. 

National Environmental Policy Act 

(NEPA) (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) 

It is our position that, outside the 

jurisdiction of the Circuit Court of the 

United States for the Tenth Circuit, we 

do not need to prepare environmental 

analyses as defined by NEPA in 

connection with designating critical 

habitat under the Act. We published a 

notice outlining our reasons for this 

determination in the Federal Register 

on October 25, 1983 (48 FR 49244). This 

assertion was upheld by the Circuit 

Court of the United States for the Ninth 

Circuit (Douglas County v. Babbitt, 48 

F.3d 1495 (9th Cir. 1995), cert. denied 

516 U.S. 1042 (1996)). 

Clarity of the Rule 

We are required by E.O. 12866 and 

E.O. 12988 and by the Presidential 

Memorandum of June 1, 1998, to write 

all rules in plain language. This means 

that each rule we publish must: 

(1) Be logically organized; 

(2) Use the active voice to address 

readers directly; 

(3) Use clear language rather than 

jargon; 

(4) Be divided into short sections and 

sentences; and 

(5) Use lists and tables wherever 

possible. 

If you feel that we have not met these 

requirements, send us comments by one 

of the methods listed in the ADDRESSES

section. To better help us revise the 

rule, your comments should be as 

specific as possible. For example, you 

should tell us the numbers of the 

sections or paragraphs that are unclearly 

written, which sections or sentences are 

too long, the sections where you feel 

lists or tables would be useful, etc. 

Government-to-Government 

Relationship With Tribes 

In accordance with the President’s 

memorandum of April 29, 1994, 

Government-to-Government Relations 

with Native American Tribal 

Governments (59 FR 22951), E.O. 13175, 

and the Department of the Interior’s 

manual at 512 DM 2, and Secretarial 

Order 3206, we readily acknowledge our 

responsibility to communicate 

meaningfully with recognized Federal 

Tribes on a government-to-government 

basis. In accordance with Secretarial 

Order 3206 of June 5, 1997 (American 

Indian Tribal Rights, Federal-Tribal 

Trust Responsibilities, and the 

Endangered Species Act), we readily 

acknowledge our responsibilities to 

work directly with Tribes in developing 

programs for healthy ecosystems, to 

acknowledge that Tribal lands are not 

subject to the same controls as Federal 

public lands, to remain sensitive to 

Indian culture, and to make information 

available to Tribes. We have determined 

that there are no Tribal lands occupied 

by Cirsium loncholepis at the time of 

listing or currently occupied that 

contain the features essential for the 

conservation of the species, and no 

Tribal lands that are in unoccupied 

areas that are essential for the 

conservation of the species. Therefore, 

in this proposed revised rule, critical 

habitat for C. loncholepis has not been 

proposed for designation on Tribal 

lands. 

Energy Supply, Distribution, or Use—

Executive Order 13211 

On May 18, 2001, the President issued 

an Executive Order (E.O. 13211; Actions 

Concerning Regulations That 

Significantly Affect Energy Supply, 

Distribution, or Use) on regulations that 

significantly affect energy supply, 

distribution, and use. E.O. 13211 

requires agencies to prepare Statements 

of Energy Effects when undertaking 

certain actions. We do not expect this 

proposed rule to designate critical 

habitat for Cirsium loncholepis to 

significantly affect energy supplies, 

distribution, or use. Therefore, this 

action is not a significant energy action, 

and no Statement of Energy Effects is 

required. However, we will further 

evaluate this issue as we conduct our 

economic analysis, and review and 

revise this assessment as warranted. 

References Cited 

A complete list of all references cited 

in this rulemaking is available on 

http://www.regulations.gov and upon 

request from the Field Supervisor, 

Ventura Fish and Wildlife Office (see 

ADDRESSES section). 

Author(s) 

The primary author of this package is 

the staff of the Ventura Fish and 

Wildlife Office. 

List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 17 

Endangered and threatened species, 

Exports, Imports, Reporting and 

recordkeeping requirements, 

Transportation. 

Proposed Regulation Promulgation 

Accordingly, we propose to amend 

part 17, subchapter B of chapter I, title 

50 of the Code of Federal Regulations, 

as set forth below: 

PART 17—[AMENDED] 

1. The authority citation for part 17 

continues to read as follows: 

Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1361–1407; 16 U.S.C. 

1531–1544; 16 U.S.C. 4201–4245; Pub. L. 99–

625, 100 Stat. 3500; unless otherwise noted. 

2. In § 17.96(a), revise the entry for 

‘‘Family Asteraceae: Cirsium 

loncholepis (La Graciosa thistle)’’ to 

read as follows: 

§ 17.96 Critical habitat—plants. 

(a) Flowering plants. 

* * * * * 

Family Asteraceae: Cirsium loncholepis 

(La Graciosa thistle) 

(1) Critical habitat units are depicted 

for San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara 

counties, California, on the maps below. 

(2) The primary constituent elements 

of critical habitat for Cirsium 

loncholepis are: 

(i) Mesic areas associated with: 

(A) Margins of dune swales, dune 

lakes, marshes, and estuaries that are 

associated with dynamic (changing) 

dune systems including the Santa Maria 

Valley Dune Complex and Santa Ynez 

Valley Dune Complex; 

(B) Margins of dynamic riparian 

systems including the Santa Maria and 

Santa Ynez Rivers and Orcutt and San 

Antonio Creeks; and 

(C) Freshwater seeps and intermittent 

streams found in other habitats, 

including grassland, meadow, coastal 

scrub, chaparral, and oak woodland. 


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These areas provide space needed for 

individual and population growth 

including sites for germination, 

reproduction, seed dispersal, seed bank, 

and pollination; 

(ii) associated plant communities 

including: Central dune scrub, coastal 

dune, coastal scrub, freshwater seep, 

coastal and valley freshwater marsh and 

fen, riparian scrub (e.g., mule fat scrub, 

willow scrub), chaparral, oak woodland, 

intermittent streams, and other wetland 

communities, generally in association 

with the following species: Juncus spp. 

(rush), Scirpus spp. (tule), Salix spp. 

(willow), Toxicodendron diversilobum 

(poison oak), Distichlis spicata (salt 

grass), Baccharis pilularis (coyote 

brush), and B. douglasii (Douglas’

baccharis); 

(iii) soils with a sandy component 

including but not limited to dune sands, 

Oceano sands, Camarillo sandy loams, 

riverwash, and sandy alluvial soils; and 

(iv) features that allow dispersal and 

connectivity between populations, 

particularly: 

(A) Natural riparian drainages in 

Santa Maria River, Orcutt Creek, San 

Antonio Creek, and Santa Ynez River 

that are not channelized or confined by 

barriers or dams, such that they have 

soft bottoms and sides and a natural 

flood plain (allowing uninterrupted 

water flows); and 

(B) Natural aeolian geomorphology in 

the Santa Maria Dune Complex and 

Santa Ynez Dune Complex, and along 

the Santa Maria River, Orcutt Creek, San 

Antonio Creek, and Santa Ynez River 

drainages that is not confined by 

barriers or wind-blocks such as large 

man-made structures, tree rows, or 

wind-breaks (allowing uninterrupted 

winds across these areas). 

(3) Critical habitat does not include 

manmade structures (such as buildings, 

aqueducts, airports, roads, and other 

paved areas) and the land on which they 

are located existing within the legal 

boundaries on the effective date of this 

rule. 

(4) Critical habitat map units. Data 

layers defining map units were created 

on base maps using aerial imagery from 

the National Agricultural Imagery 

Program (aerial imagery captured June 

2005). Data were projected to Universal 

Transverse Mercator (UTM) zone 11, 

North American Datum (NAD) 1983. 

(5) Note: Index map of Cirsium 

loncholepis critical habitat follows: 

BILLING CODE 4310–55–P 


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(6) Unit 1: Callender-Guadalupe 

Dunes Unit, San Luis Obispo County, 

California. 

(i) From USGS 1:24,000 scale 

quadrangle Oceano, Point Sal, and 

Guadalupe. Land bounded by the 

following UTM zone 10 NAD83 

coordinates (E, N) 715180, 3874101; 

715375, 3875018; 715578, 3875772; 

715692, 3876690; 715789, 3877362; 

715834, 3878096; 715838, 3878233; 

715830, 3878381; 715855, 3878453; 

715865, 3878522; 715862, 3878600; 

715870, 3878713; 715887, 3878818; 

715904, 3878906; 715935, 3878974; 

715954, 3879081; 715968, 3879368; 

715989, 3879384; 716000, 3879418; 

716079, 3879449; 716119, 3879497; 

716172, 3879522; 716240, 3879505; 

716347, 3879451; 716435, 3879446; 

716542, 3879446; 716604, 3879485; 

716627, 3879528; 716624, 3879570; 

716602, 3879635; 716602, 3879703; 

716616, 3879779; 716647, 3879827; 

716715, 3879884; 716709, 3880002; 

716689, 3880047; 716686, 3880092; 

716751, 3880170; 716751, 3880235; 

716731, 3880317; 716689, 3880391; 

716610, 3880473; 716545, 3880526; 

716398, 3880611; 716373, 3880673; 

716373, 3880738; 716418, 3880780; 

716466, 3880783; 716602, 3880754; 

716669, 3880769; 716746, 3880769; 

716792, 3880847; 716821, 3880916; 

716822, 3881238; 716816, 3881323; 

716782, 3881416; 716706, 3881546; 

716672, 3881668; 716678, 3881765; 

716703, 3881904; 716703, 3882042; 

716717, 3882149; 716715, 3882200; 

716661, 3882402; 716652, 3882466; 

716652, 3882546; 716675, 3882625; 

716709, 3882678; 716791, 3882709; 

716890, 3882723; 716971, 3882783; 

716998, 3882869; 716957, 3882989; 

716896, 3883121; 716774, 3883263; 

716712, 3883345; 716655, 3883534; 

716587, 3883645; 716531, 3883705; 

716426, 3883767; 716282, 3883891; 

716254, 3883995; 716274, 3884038; 

716347, 3884043; 716412, 3884012; 

716542, 3883939; 716593, 3883936; 

716607, 3883973; 716599, 3884165; 

716576, 3884252; 716534, 3884381; 

716489, 3884552; 716475, 3884622; 

716415, 3884758; 716387, 3884800; 

716336, 3884843; 716249, 3884891; 

716129, 3884972; 716115, 3885214; 

716090, 3885364; 716091, 3885492; 

716104, 3885573; 716096, 3885679; 

716081, 3885782; 716084, 3885887; 

716053, 3886108; 716062, 3886180; 

716058, 3886268; 716043, 3886344; 

716040, 3886407; 716088, 3886596; 

716126, 3886661; 716180, 3886671; 

716303, 3886671; 716359, 3886661; 

716381, 3886646; 716529, 3886637; 

716559, 3886616; 716593, 3886609; 

716629, 3886609; 716693, 3886621; 

716746, 3886619; 716811, 3886601; 

716896, 3886565; 716928, 3886540; 

716982, 3886475; 716998, 3886439; 

716997, 3886412; 716978, 3886381; 

716935, 3886346; 716926, 3886325; 

716926, 3886309; 716949, 3886276; 

717001, 3886236; 717033, 3886203; 

717047, 3886179; 717058, 3886139; 

717075, 3886110; 717095, 3886095; 

717124, 3886086; 717196, 3886090; 

717237, 3886084; 717293, 3886065; 

717329, 3886044; 717372, 3885996; 

717397, 3885950; 717409, 3885905; 

717418, 3885823; 717438, 3885778; 

717477, 3885747; 717571, 3885710; 

717619, 3885669; 717650, 3885634; 

717697, 3885555; 717704, 3885501; 

717712, 3885477; 717784, 3885353; 

717796, 3885314; 717801, 3885242; 

717808, 3885214; 717823, 3885183; 

717852, 3885147; 717921, 3885091; 

718017, 3885024; 718063, 3884999; 

718173, 3884953; 718200, 3884931; 

718238, 3884888; 718270, 3884863; 

718413, 3884785; 718557, 3884689; 

718642, 3884645; 718757, 3884604; 

718831, 3884556; 718910, 3884527; 

718930, 3884512; 718940, 3884497; 

718944, 3884471; 718937, 3884436; 

718917, 3884408; 718892, 3884394; 

718837, 3884386; 718778, 3884361; 

718738, 3884353; 718672, 3884355; 

718504, 3884376; 718473, 3884363; 

718452, 3884338; 718450, 3884310; 

718482, 3884269; 718491, 3884235; 

718487, 3884225; 718473, 3884212; 

718451, 3884204; 718411, 3884197; 

718388, 3884174; 718381, 3884149; 

718395, 3884101; 718381, 3884069; 

718380, 3884052; 718399, 3884030; 

718462, 3883994; 718512, 3883944; 

718539, 3883901; 718555, 3883846; 

718525, 3883826; 718483, 3883779; 

718457, 3883763; 718412, 3883763; 

718331, 3883785; 718311, 3883784; 

718294, 3883777; 718268, 3883731; 

718241, 3883711; 718222, 3883679; 

718222, 3883644; 718230, 3883623; 

718255, 3883583; 718371, 3883489; 

718494, 3883413; 718537, 3883382; 

718584, 3883337; 718672, 3883229; 

718573, 3883209; 718547, 3883191; 

718503, 3883185; 718429, 3883155; 

718341, 3883143; 718278, 3883141; 

718266, 3883135; 718264, 3883127; 

718270, 3883115; 718313, 3883088; 

718369, 3883065; 718370, 3883052; 

718385, 3883042; 718451, 3883025; 

718503, 3882986; 718513, 3882984; 

718528, 3882990; 718540, 3882958; 

718568, 3882922; 718572, 3882895; 

718570, 3882872; 718549, 3882824; 

718523, 3882791; 718438, 3882715; 

718426, 3882695; 718421, 3882672; 

718424, 3882648; 718434, 3882634; 

718456, 3882614; 718503, 3882592; 

718601, 3882564; 718671, 3882535; 

718813, 3882503; 718845, 3882488; 

718901, 3882448; 718958, 3882425; 

719011, 3882416; 719109, 3882413; 

719173, 3882397; 719228, 3882371; 

719299, 3882318; 719330, 3882301; 

719368, 3882290; 719413, 3882295; 

719444, 3882274; 719493, 3882259; 

719518, 3882235; 719533, 3882201; 

719526, 3882165; 719506, 3882132; 

719476, 3882103; 719429, 3882078; 

719436, 3881993; 719429, 3881930; 

719410, 3881870; 719373, 3881811; 

719324, 3881762; 719265, 3881726; 

719204, 3881707; 719138, 3881701; 

719175, 3881642; 719191, 3881592; 

719193, 3881544; 719182, 3881438; 

719171, 3881399; 719155, 3881375; 

719127, 3881356; 719088, 3881348; 

719074, 3881340; 719060, 3881321; 

719051, 3881295; 719052, 3881274; 

719066, 3881238; 719068, 3881206; 

719078, 3881188; 719121, 3881170; 

719161, 3881125; 719215, 3881112; 

719252, 3881069; 719304, 3881041; 

719329, 3880837; 719233, 3880841; 

719163, 3880856; 719118, 3880873; 

719043, 3880911; 718956, 3880936; 

718881, 3880972; 718844, 3880983; 

718827, 3880982; 718820, 3880964; 

718829, 3880945; 718847, 3880930; 

718890, 3880909; 718944, 3880889; 

718980, 3880861; 718989, 3880843; 

718981, 3880813; 718989, 3880790; 

719006, 3880774; 719060, 3880745; 

719104, 3880694; 719131, 3880676; 

719355, 3880570; 719499, 3879561; 

719547, 3879326; 719366, 3879383; 

719185, 3879462; 719112, 3879488; 

718947, 3879495; 718843, 3879507; 

718347, 3879615; 718268, 3879643; 

718231, 3879643; 718203, 3879618; 

718186, 3879559; 718183, 3879499; 

718172, 3879471; 718118, 3879471; 

718064, 3879460; 718016, 3879424; 

717962, 3879425; 717936, 3879420; 

717971, 3879319; 718059, 3879248; 

718222, 3879056; 718313, 3879008; 

718522, 3879039; 718623, 3879036; 

718725, 3879008; 718852, 3878887; 

718943, 3878856; 719024, 3878771; 

719146, 3878729; 719236, 3878678; 

719406, 3878638; 719599, 3878326; 

719647, 3878290; 719672, 3878259; 

719681, 3878194; 719853, 3878024; 

719819, 3877993; 719720, 3878047; 

719630, 3878154; 719568, 3878245; 

719506, 3878307; 719500, 3878369; 

719466, 3878445; 719367, 3878581; 

719291, 3878612; 719240, 3878609; 

719003, 3878674; 718887, 3878727; 

718760, 3878877; 718658, 3878883; 

718577, 3878874; 718500, 3878835; 

718458, 3878790; 718195, 3878857; 

717868, 3879111; 717696, 3879253; 

717650, 3879278; 717544, 3879233; 

717437, 3879213; 717364, 3879145; 

717338, 3879097; 717358, 3879052; 

717358, 3878987; 717350, 3878939; 

717426, 3878781; 717412, 3878744; 


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717285, 3878688; 717131, 3878668; 

717022, 3878612; 716983, 3878479; 

717129, 3878340; 717121, 3878307; 

717285, 3878208; 717392, 3878239; 

717448, 3878222; 717516, 3878225; 

717587, 3878160; 717587, 3878117; 

717573, 3878095; 717576, 3878067; 

717638, 3878019; 717705, 3878019; 

717821, 3877990; 717914, 3877951; 

717979, 3877900; 718033, 3877846; 

718056, 3877780; 718052, 3877778; 

718058, 3877733; 718071, 3877687; 

718096, 3877643; 718129, 3877611; 

718245, 3877536; 718322, 3877467; 

718358, 3877456; 718402, 3877472; 

718434, 3877466; 718507, 3877404; 

718551, 3877374; 718756, 3877271; 

718916, 3877173; 718962, 3877135; 

719040, 3877045; 719172, 3876926; 

719195, 3876893; 719224, 3876828; 

719253, 3876794; 719281, 3876776; 

719355, 3876743; 719451, 3876660; 

719541, 3876616; 719577, 3876588; 

719612, 3876542; 719650, 3876449; 

719685, 3876394; 719721, 3876358; 

719804, 3876301; 719819, 3876284; 

719827, 3876262; 719822, 3876240; 

719799, 3876222; 719778, 3876215; 

719731, 3876214; 719715, 3876206; 

719710, 3876197; 719717, 3876170; 

719751, 3876139; 719760, 3876098; 

719784, 3876074; 719786, 3876057; 

719780, 3876040; 719761, 3876025; 

719735, 3876020; 719713, 3876024; 

719681, 3876039; 719653, 3876042; 

719645, 3876035; 719640, 3876023; 

719639, 3876012; 719645, 3875997; 

719731, 3875938; 719815, 3875892; 

719853, 3875865; 719891, 3875829; 

719963, 3875744; 720015, 3875698; 

720059, 3875667; 720104, 3875647; 

720130, 3875647; 720160, 3875656; 

720186, 3875646; 720212, 3875632; 

720269, 3875590; 720352, 3875548; 

720370, 3875531; 720386, 3875506; 

720396, 3875478; 720410, 3875409; 

720427, 3875377; 720448, 3875353; 

720532, 3875284; 720560, 3875274; 

720626, 3875262; 720660, 3875240; 

720671, 3875217; 720669, 3875177; 

720657, 3875156; 720636, 3875140; 

720612, 3875134; 720572, 3875139; 

720544, 3875152; 720491, 3875185; 

720448, 3875192; 720432, 3875186; 

720408, 3875161; 720378, 3875145; 

720366, 3875126; 720363, 3875108; 

720392, 3875068; 720438, 3875034; 

720470, 3875003; 720551, 3874975; 

720611, 3874928; 720685, 3874889; 

720707, 3874867; 720747, 3874811; 

720809, 3874777; 720818, 3874751; 

720818, 3874726; 720808, 3874699; 

720793, 3874679; 720735, 3874648; 

720712, 3874607; 720678, 3874599; 

720647, 3874577; 720611, 3874579; 

720599, 3874573; 720591, 3874562; 

720586, 3874544; 720594, 3874497; 

720586, 3874484; 720569, 3874474; 

720541, 3874480; 720477, 3874511; 

720390, 3874512; 720345, 3874522; 

720305, 3874535; 720180, 3874588; 

720097, 3874642; 720069, 3874655; 

720034, 3874660; 720013, 3874647; 

720006, 3874630; 720019, 3874603; 

720019, 3874584; 720012, 3874576; 

719992, 3874576; 719985, 3874572; 

719976, 3874549; 719968, 3874543; 

719931, 3874536; 719922, 3874521; 

719927, 3874506; 719965, 3874461; 

719991, 3874416; 720016, 3874390; 

720069, 3874355; 720155, 3874320; 

720199, 3874286; 720315, 3874132; 

720418, 3874038; 720443, 3874005; 

720462, 3873963; 720475, 3873912; 

720477, 3873880; 720461, 3873866; 

720448, 3873867; 720424, 3873880; 

720416, 3873878; 720406, 3873869; 

720407, 3873839; 720428, 3873800; 

720433, 3873773; 720423, 3873751; 

720394, 3873734; 720360, 3873731; 

720296, 3873747; 720208, 3873740; 

720111, 3873761; 720053, 3873767; 

720023, 3873763; 719991, 3873753; 

719971, 3873739; 719956, 3873721; 

719936, 3873688; 719931, 3873657; 

719936, 3873627; 719964, 3873562; 

719968, 3873533; 719965, 3873503; 

719955, 3873474; 719911, 3873435; 

719903, 3873418; 719902, 3873399; 

719912, 3873374; 719950, 3873329; 

719967, 3873299; 719977, 3873260; 

719979, 3873213; 719939, 3873156; 

719912, 3873141; 719874, 3873106; 

719824, 3873094; 719783, 3873092; 

719706, 3873110; 719681, 3873110; 

719660, 3873099; 719647, 3873085; 

719644, 3873071; 719648, 3873039; 

719636, 3873021; 719610, 3873011; 

719502, 3873001; 719455, 3873003; 

719367, 3873023; 719288, 3873017; 

719253, 3873019; 719206, 3873034; 

719140, 3873070; 719105, 3873079; 

719056, 3873077; 719030, 3873069; 

719014, 3873057; 719000, 3873038; 

718999, 3873019; 719038, 3872973; 

719088, 3872935; 719169, 3872898; 

719214, 3872872; 719262, 3872832; 

719289, 3872801; 719301, 3872760; 

719298, 3872719; 719278, 3872687; 

719240, 3872659; 719196, 3872658; 

719151, 3872663; 719104, 3872679; 

719002, 3872733; 718946, 3872757; 

718896, 3872771; 718866, 3872776; 

718837, 3872765; 718817, 3872767; 

718803, 3872758; 718735, 3872799; 

718707, 3872812; 718672, 3872822; 

718603, 3872830; 718562, 3872841; 

718524, 3872858; 718451, 3872900; 

718399, 3872919; 718369, 3872925; 

718273, 3872934; 718248, 3872933; 

718219, 3872926; 718179, 3872909; 

718107, 3872859; 718018, 3872821; 

717968, 3872789; 717919, 3872746; 

717855, 3872673; 717817, 3872643; 

717765, 3872621; 717688, 3872608; 

717666, 3872599; 717647, 3872586; 

717623, 3872560; 717604, 3872530; 

717563, 3872443; 717536, 3872398; 

717508, 3872361; 717404, 3872243; 

717377, 3872217; 717348, 3872195; 

717317, 3872177; 717268, 3872157; 

717219, 3872122; 717186, 3872114; 

717157, 3872121; 717102, 3872161; 

717030, 3872195; 716941, 3872259; 

716912, 3872268; 716893, 3872265; 

716886, 3872257; 716881, 3872245; 

716884, 3872220; 716881, 3872207; 

716872, 3872195; 716851, 3872182; 

716841, 3872170; 716838, 3872156; 

716842, 3872141; 716856, 3872121; 

716881, 3872105; 716906, 3872099; 

716949, 3872097; 716967, 3872089; 

716983, 3872072; 716985, 3872064; 

716981, 3872050; 716967, 3872035; 

716946, 3872021; 716896, 3872007; 

716864, 3871993; 716807, 3871942; 

716730, 3871900; 716685, 3871865; 

716647, 3871829; 716609, 3871807; 

716571, 3871810; 716522, 3871824; 

716449, 3871852; 716405, 3871862; 

716313, 3871875; 716222, 3871895; 

716181, 3871909; 716169, 3871917; 

716159, 3871888; 716159, 3871859; 

716136, 3871843; 716140, 3871835; 

716148, 3871789; 716162, 3871752; 

716204, 3871718; 716215, 3871679; 

716233, 3871661; 716259, 3871650; 

716258, 3871632; 716246, 3871606; 

716225, 3871597; 716156, 3871628; 

716127, 3871626; 716100, 3871613; 

716069, 3871581; 716032, 3871559; 

715939, 3871533; 715905, 3871508; 

715886, 3871487; 715884, 3871492; 

715866, 3871499; 715839, 3871499; 

715809, 3871508; 715763, 3871538; 

715723, 3871575; 715611, 3871694; 

715584, 3871758; 715554, 3871853; 

715504, 3871910; 715399, 3872094; 

715311, 3872195; 715220, 3872317; 

715187, 3872353; 715174, 3872384; 

715139, 3872385; 715045, 3872409; 

715026, 3872416; 714979, 3872448; 

714943, 3872486; 714936, 3872484; 

714865, 3872561; 714841, 3872574; 

714822, 3872569; 714812, 3872557; 

714811, 3872538; 714757, 3872600; 

returning to 715180, 3874101. 

(ii) Note: Map of Unit 1 follows: 

BILLING CODE 4310–55–P 


pwalker on PRODPC61 with PROPOSALS2
45832 Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 152 / Wednesday, August 6, 2008 / Proposed Rules 


pwalker on PRODPC61 with PROPOSALS2EP06AU08.003</GPH>
Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 152 / Wednesday, August 6, 2008 / Proposed Rules 45833 

(7) Unit 2: Santa Maria River-Orcutt 

Creek Unit, San Luis Obispo and Santa 

Barbara Counties, California. 

(i) From USGS 1:24,000 scale 

quadrangles Orick and Rodgers Peak. 

Land bounded by the following UTM 

zone 10 NAD83 coordinates (E, N): 

725058, 3866813; 725142, 3866607; 

725306, 3866481; 725393, 3866297; 

725509, 3865959; 725635, 3865833; 

725983, 3865562; 726263, 3865185; 

726418, 3865118; 726524, 3865021; 

727336, 3865021; 727820, 3865002; 

727868, 3864731; 728342, 3864683; 

728419, 3864518; 728787, 3864228; 

729289, 3864131; 729773, 3864141; 

730073, 3863841; 730059, 3863511; 

729874, 3863511; 729764, 3863378; 

729624, 3863143; 729462, 3863010; 

729475, 3862983; 730408, 3862960; 

731496, 3862251; 731690, 3862118; 

731698, 3861732; 732125, 3861437; 

732125, 3861321; 732481, 3861206; 

732721, 3861209; 732829, 3861067; 

733104, 3861067; 733067, 3860762; 

733501, 3860781; 733547, 3860698; 

733547, 3860412; 733731, 3860414; 

733732, 3860492; 734031, 3860498; 

734222, 3860421; 734619, 3860236; 

735294, 3860264; 735326, 3860229; 

735349, 3860199; 735404, 3860093; 

735463, 3860011; 735484, 3859974; 

735517, 3859952; 735545, 3859927; 

735643, 3859813; 735671, 3859799; 

735721, 3859794; 735766, 3859810; 

735872, 3859834; 735905, 3859851; 

735941, 3859864; 735978, 3859873; 

736009, 3859876; 736080, 3859875; 

736123, 3859869; 736172, 3859854; 

736216, 3859831; 736262, 3859796; 

736294, 3859760; 736334, 3859743; 

736372, 3859720; 736518, 3859600; 

736556, 3859557; 736588, 3859498; 

736610, 3859473; 736712, 3859380; 

736752, 3859326; 736957, 3859145; 

736997, 3859100; 737060, 3858987; 

737080, 3858929; 737107, 3858898; 

737131, 3858860; 737154, 3858802; 

737180, 3858777; 737204, 3858747; 

737235, 3858692; 737269, 3858650; 

737289, 3858619; 737312, 3858567; 

737325, 3858509; 737337, 3858482; 

737377, 3858431; 737397, 3858391; 

737414, 3858337; 737420, 3858275; 

737413, 3858212; 737394, 3858158; 

737362, 3858104; 737319, 3858058; 

737266, 3858022; 737207, 3857999; 

737177, 3857992; 737139, 3857989; 

737101, 3857990; 737063, 3857996; 

736777, 3857987; 736428, 3858104; 

736234, 3858401; 736156, 3858324; 

736001, 3858272; 735884, 3858207; 

735703, 3858207; 735522, 3858259; 

735367, 3858311; 735238, 3858427; 

735160, 3858505; 735108, 3858453; 

735018, 3858349; 734888, 3858259; 

734759, 3858181; 734423, 3858181; 

734293, 3858220; 734151, 3858285; 

733983, 3858414; 733918, 3858595; 

733892, 3858738; 733711, 3858763; 

733569, 3858880; 733439, 3859061; 

733271, 3859216; 733000, 3859100; 

732909, 3858983; 732741, 3858867; 

732534, 3858738; 732314, 3858699; 

732068, 3858595; 731784, 3858647; 

731577, 3858673; 731253, 3858828; 

731072, 3858996; 731020, 3859255; 

731020, 3859488; 731085, 3859721; 

731227, 3859889; 731499, 3860070; 

731771, 3860109; 731861, 3860161; 

732004, 3860264; 732076, 3860554; 

731771, 3860665; 731538, 3860704; 

731357, 3860665; 731266, 3860665; 

731085, 3860678; 730930, 3860717; 

730775, 3860794; 730645, 3860898; 

730529, 3861040; 730490, 3861208; 

730335, 3861286; 730180, 3861351; 

730089, 3861480; 729992, 3861635; 

729940, 3861765; 729850, 3861816; 

729746, 3861894; 729694, 3861997; 

729656, 3862127; 729552, 3862140; 

729436, 3862179; 729255, 3862166; 

729125, 3862153; 728957, 3862114; 

728828, 3862114; 728660, 3862153; 

728478, 3862217; 728336, 3862360; 

728207, 3862295; 728013, 3862036; 

727909, 3861907; 727819, 3861778; 

727651, 3861661; 727508, 3861571; 

727327, 3861545; 727146, 3861545; 

726952, 3861596; 726758, 3861739; 

726641, 3861920; 726577, 3862101; 

726564, 3862347; 726629, 3862541; 

726745, 3862709; 726900, 3862851; 

726952, 3862968; 727055, 3863149; 

726926, 3863239; 726797, 3863291; 

726719, 3863433; 726629, 3863550; 

726577, 3863666; 726564, 3863808; 

726460, 3863847; 726318, 3863847; 

726240, 3863744; 726150, 3863446; 

726085, 3863343; 725943, 3863149; 

725762, 3863019; 725568, 3862981; 

725314, 3863033; 725252, 3863035; 

725195, 3863049; 724361, 3863473; 

724318, 3863500; 724290, 3863523; 

724264, 3863550; 724242, 3863581; 

724225, 3863615; 724210, 3863657; 

724201, 3863700; 724199, 3863744; 

724204, 3863788; 724015, 3864261; 

723899, 3864416; 723821, 3864585; 

723757, 3864792; 723614, 3864792; 

723498, 3864818; 723356, 3864921; 

723213, 3865076; 723071, 3865180; 

722890, 3865400; 722774, 3865464; 

722238, 3865670; 722195, 3865680; 

722159, 3865693; 722116, 3865717; 

722076, 3865749; 722043, 3865786; 

722015, 3865831; 721981, 3865833; 

721947, 3865839; 721887, 3865861; 

721859, 3865876; 721828, 3865898; 

721784, 3865943; 721740, 3865933; 

721690, 3865931; 721640, 3865937; 

721591, 3865952; 721552, 3865971; 

721512, 3866000; 721484, 3866026; 

721456, 3866060; 721442, 3866083; 

721244, 3867532; 721175, 3867904; 

721136, 3868205; 721103, 3868253; 

721049, 3868299; 720982, 3868317; 

720653, 3868333; 719876, 3868331; 

719268, 3868423; 718685, 3868487; 

718241, 3868658; 717821, 3868878; 

717409, 3869156; 716910, 3869404; 

716783, 3869451; 716556, 3869543; 

716369, 3869658; 716332, 3869689; 

716298, 3869724; 716275, 3869757; 

716241, 3869815; 716204, 3869917; 

716198, 3869973; 716207, 3870080; 

716224, 3870186; 716199, 3870238; 

716175, 3870268; 716094, 3870416; 

716059, 3870534; 716035, 3870554; 

716004, 3870586; 715909, 3870591; 

715866, 3870602; 715831, 3870616; 

715768, 3870655; 715729, 3870693; 

715703, 3870729; 715591, 3870806; 

715563, 3870829; 715439, 3870812; 

715379, 3870814; 715307, 3870828; 

715214, 3870811; 715126, 3870808; 

715072, 3870811; 714968, 3870829; 

714893, 3870858; 714821, 3870901; 

714754, 3870953; 714710, 3870996; 

714652, 3871088; 714623, 3871171; 

714594, 3871237; 714585, 3871679; 

714633, 3871964; 714648, 3872084; 

714700, 3872498; 714757, 3872600; 

714811, 3872538; 714812, 3872557; 

714822, 3872569; 714841, 3872574; 

714865, 3872561; 714936, 3872484; 

714943, 3872486; 714979, 3872448; 

715026, 3872416; 715045, 3872409; 

715139, 3872385; 715174, 3872384; 

715187, 3872353; 715220, 3872317; 

715311, 3872195; 715399, 3872094; 

715504, 3871910; 715554, 3871853; 

715584, 3871758; 715611, 3871694; 

715723, 3871575; 715763, 3871538; 

715809, 3871508; 715839, 3871499; 

715866, 3871499; 715884, 3871492; 

715886, 3871487; 715905, 3871508; 

715939, 3871533; 716032, 3871559; 

716069, 3871581; 716100, 3871613; 

716127, 3871626; 716156, 3871628; 

716225, 3871597; 716246, 3871606; 

716258, 3871632; 716259, 3871650; 

716233, 3871661; 716215, 3871679; 

716204, 3871718; 716162, 3871752; 

716148, 3871789; 716140, 3871835; 

716136, 3871843; 716159, 3871859; 

716159, 3871888; 716169, 3871917; 

716181, 3871909; 716222, 3871895; 

716313, 3871875; 716405, 3871862; 

716449, 3871852; 716522, 3871824; 

716571, 3871810; 716609, 3871807; 

716647, 3871829; 716685, 3871865; 

716730, 3871900; 716807, 3871942; 

716864, 3871993; 716896, 3872007; 

716946, 3872021; 716967, 3872035; 

716981, 3872050; 716985, 3872064; 

716983, 3872072; 716967, 3872089; 

716949, 3872097; 716906, 3872099; 

716881, 3872105; 716856, 3872121; 

716842, 3872141; 716838, 3872156; 

716841, 3872170; 716851, 3872182; 

716872, 3872195; 716881, 3872207; 

716884, 3872220; 716881, 3872245; 

716886, 3872257; 716893, 3872265; 


pwalker on PRODPC61 with PROPOSALS2
45834 Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 152 / Wednesday, August 6, 2008 / Proposed Rules 

716912, 3872268; 716941, 3872259; 

717030, 3872195; 717102, 3872161; 

717157, 3872121; 717186, 3872114; 

717219, 3872122; 717268, 3872157; 

717317, 3872177; 717348, 3872195; 

717377, 3872217; 717404, 3872243; 

717508, 3872361; 717536, 3872398; 

717563, 3872443; 717604, 3872530; 

717623, 3872560; 717647, 3872586; 

717666, 3872599; 717688, 3872608; 

717765, 3872621; 717817, 3872643; 

717855, 3872673; 717919, 3872746; 

717968, 3872789; 718018, 3872821; 

718107, 3872859; 718179, 3872909; 

718219, 3872926; 718248, 3872933; 

718273, 3872934; 718369, 3872925; 

718399, 3872919; 718451, 3872900; 

718524, 3872858; 718562, 3872841; 

718603, 3872830; 718672, 3872822; 

718707, 3872812; 718735, 3872799; 

718803, 3872758; 718817, 3872767; 

718837, 3872765; 718866, 3872776; 

718896, 3872771; 718946, 3872757; 

719002, 3872733; 719104, 3872679; 

719151, 3872663; 719196, 3872658; 

719240, 3872659; 719268, 3872680; 

719349, 3872671; 719457, 3872667; 

719506, 3872659; 719570, 3872635; 

719627, 3872606; 719674, 3872571; 

719732, 3872514; 719768, 3872484; 

719798, 3872488; 719859, 3872487; 

719933, 3872506; 720039, 3872502; 

720078, 3872511; 720180, 3872519; 

720233, 3872513; 720254, 3872516; 

720410, 3872516; 720485, 3872508; 

720522, 3872549; 720538, 3872583; 

720566, 3872627; 720599, 3872659; 

720665, 3872695; 720743, 3872752; 

720831, 3872807; 720860, 3872821; 

720869, 3872844; 720903, 3872903; 

720967, 3872995; 721045, 3873136; 

721125, 3873225; 721236, 3873325; 

721300, 3873370; 721391, 3873426; 

721431, 3873446; 721579, 3873489; 

721745, 3873504; 721755, 3873508; 

721736, 3872983; 721676, 3872947; 

721604, 3872932; 721469, 3872572; 

721453, 3872216; 721076, 3871755; 

721064, 3871691; 721041, 3871621; 

721010, 3871564; 720911, 3871474; 

720836, 3871431; 720770, 3871408; 

720720, 3871397; 720694, 3871396; 

720619, 3871416; 720602, 3871423; 

720558, 3871452; 720511, 3871494; 

720439, 3871479; 720347, 3871476; 

720275, 3871486; 720237, 3871480; 

720158, 3871488; 720140, 3871495; 

720108, 3871515; 720059, 3871481; 

720022, 3871466; 719978, 3871455; 

719938, 3871456; 719915, 3871463; 

719895, 3871475; 719876, 3871493; 

719863, 3871514; 719853, 3871547; 

719847, 3871589; 719845, 3871673; 

719821, 3871663; 719784, 3871658; 

719750, 3871666; 719721, 3871686; 

719546, 3871690; 719438, 3871698; 

719405, 3871673; 719371, 3871663; 

719214, 3871667; 719190, 3871671; 

719174, 3871677; 719143, 3871698; 

719127, 3871715; 719118, 3871730; 

719103, 3871777; 719099, 3871870; 

719024, 3871923; 718988, 3871944; 

718944, 3871987; 718927, 3872015; 

718909, 3872031; 718888, 3872039; 

718873, 3872049; 718832, 3872089; 

718820, 3872105; 718680, 3872109; 

718657, 3872118; 718642, 3872128; 

718613, 3872161; 718494, 3872106; 

718477, 3872075; 718450, 3872053; 

718301, 3872000; 718226, 3871979; 

718143, 3871963; 718093, 3871967; 

718063, 3871966; 718025, 3871978; 

718024, 3871947; 718017, 3871924; 

718000, 3871900; 717982, 3871885; 

717949, 3871867; 717906, 3871850; 

717883, 3871831; 717867, 3871823; 

717821, 3871809; 717776, 3871801; 

717706, 3871782; 717653, 3871721; 

717601, 3871669; 717541, 3871618; 

717486, 3871592; 717443, 3871566; 

717327, 3871536; 717268, 3871502; 

717186, 3871445; 717016, 3871276; 

716937, 3871210; 716935, 3871159; 

716923, 3871127; 716934, 3871107; 

716938, 3871090; 716946, 3870945; 

716950, 3870946; 716759, 3870721; 

716704, 3870703; 716556, 3870676; 

716621, 3870616; 716640, 3870630; 

716667, 3870639; 716689, 3870643; 

716713, 3870641; 716746, 3870628; 

716792, 3870595; 716826, 3870578; 

716889, 3870553; 716909, 3870541; 

716929, 3870518; 716941, 3870486; 

716944, 3870338; 716949, 3870336; 

717097, 3870320; 717202, 3870321; 

717223, 3870336; 717252, 3870346; 

717267, 3870362; 717287, 3870374; 

717326, 3870385; 717354, 3870385; 

717463, 3870368; 717510, 3870353; 

717550, 3870333; 717579, 3870311; 

717605, 3870281; 717625, 3870270; 

717642, 3870254; 717656, 3870229; 

717662, 3870194; 717880, 3870216; 

717974, 3870221; 718014, 3870220; 

718661, 3870104; 718713, 3870090; 

718801, 3870045; 718834, 3870025; 

718872, 3869992; 718911, 3869948; 

718991, 3869919; 719051, 3869883; 

719334, 3869806; 719381, 3869788; 

719896, 3869439; 719971, 3869378; 

720022, 3869344; 720050, 3869335; 

720112, 3869333; 720158, 3869335; 

720195, 3869345; 720228, 3869362; 

720268, 3869356; 720292, 3869358; 

720317, 3869348; 720341, 3869346; 

720389, 3869352; 720831, 3869379; 

720825, 3869371; 721395, 3869508; 

721511, 3869524; 721582, 3869523; 

721631, 3869515; 721688, 3869557; 

721764, 3869591; 721809, 3869605; 

721946, 3869631; 722043, 3869682; 

722197, 3869744; 722236, 3869756; 

722281, 3869763; 722346, 3869764; 

722397, 3869755; 722444, 3869738; 

722488, 3869714; 722522, 3869688; 

722565, 3869643; 722592, 3869608; 

722613, 3869569; 722628, 3869528; 

722660, 3869357; 722783, 3869166; 

722921, 3869000; 723068, 3868844; 

723102, 3868813; 723136, 3868769; 

723186, 3868721; 723234, 3868711; 

723277, 3868694; 723319, 3868668; 

723353, 3868639; 723418, 3868565; 

723683, 3868227; 723718, 3868208; 

723774, 3868168; 723800, 3868142; 

723852, 3868082; 723872, 3868050; 

723899, 3867992; 723913, 3867957; 

723920, 3867926; 723929, 3867815; 

723926, 3867774; 723918, 3867738; 

724066, 3867726; 724110, 3867718; 

724173, 3867693; 724222, 3867660; 

724255, 3867629; 724281, 3867595; 

724345, 3867532; 724373, 3867497; 

724589, 3867151; 724615, 3867098; 

724647, 3867051; 724693, 3866970; 

724768, 3866941; 724801, 3866922; 

724829, 3866900; 733655, 3859548; 

733713, 3859516; 733951, 3859516; 

733951, 3859419; 734594, 3859416; 

734594, 3860030; 734473, 3860022; 

734462, 3860249; 734200, 3860337; 

734110, 3860337; 733933, 3860286; 

733933, 3860223; 733623, 3860210; 

733615, 3860204; 733607, 3860128; 

733568, 3860054; 733541, 3859940; 

733533, 3859890; 733655, 3859548; 

returning to 725058, 3866813. 

(ii) Note: Map of Unit 2 follows: 

BILLING CODE 4310–55–P 


pwalker on PRODPC61 with PROPOSALS2
Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 152 / Wednesday, August 6, 2008 / Proposed Rules 45835 

(8) Unit 3: Can ̃ ada de las Flores Unit, 

Santa Barbara County, California. 

(i) From USGS 1:24,000 scale 

quadrangle Sisquoc. Land bounded by 

the following UTM zone 10 NAD83 

coordinates (E, N): 742558, 3850507; 


pwalker on PRODPC61 with PROPOSALS2EP06AU08.004</GPH>
45836 Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 152 / Wednesday, August 6, 2008 / Proposed Rules 

742481, 3850424; 742403, 3850419; 

742326, 3850452; 742181, 3850480; 

742176, 3850556; 742180, 3850605; 

742197, 3850665; 742245, 3850766; 

742232, 3850832; 742235, 3850902; 

742246, 3850958; 742266, 3851007; 

742271, 3851048; 742281, 3851084; 

742301, 3851131; 742335, 3851182; 

742363, 3851243; 742394, 3851292; 

742429, 3851332; 742438, 3851375; 

742456, 3851419; 742461, 3851457; 

742471, 3851496; 742471, 3851532; 

742476, 3851569; 742483, 3851600; 

742497, 3851635; 742515, 3851669; 

742541, 3851704; 742572, 3851735; 

742608, 3851761; 742624, 3851815; 

742650, 3851865; 742652, 3851886; 

742641, 3851924; 742625, 3851999; 

742612, 3852029; 742601, 3852065; 

742583, 3852157; 742579, 3852210; 

742552, 3852255; 742534, 3852302; 

742527, 3852316; 742442, 3852346; 

742392, 3852375; 742342, 3852419; 

742306, 3852466; 742285, 3852506; 

742270, 3852553; 742262, 3852604; 

742263, 3852655; 742203, 3852734; 

742141, 3852858; 742121, 3852916; 

742111, 3852978; 742193, 3853224; 

742288, 3853414; 742484, 3853503; 

742816, 3853484; 742812, 3853488; 

743060, 3853489; 743066, 3853483; 

743067, 3853489; 743247, 3853474; 

743454, 3853451; 743454, 3853446; 

743490, 3853449; 743535, 3853447; 

743585, 3853438; 743625, 3853424; 

743659, 3853408; 743694, 3853384; 

743727, 3853356; 743756, 3853321; 

743780, 3853284; 743796, 3853249; 

743808, 3853208; 743817, 3853159; 

743819, 3853115; 743800, 3852934; 

743754, 3852734; 743649, 3852472; 

743561, 3852342; 743421, 3852276; 

743316, 3852119; 743278, 3851942; 

743218, 3851742; 743193, 3851646; 

743172, 3851599; 743164, 3851565; 

743151, 3851530; 743105, 3851444; 

743086, 3851416; 743094, 3851372; 

743096, 3851328; 743092, 3851290; 

743082, 3851247; 743058, 3851187; 

743037, 3851148; 743010, 3851113; 

742982, 3851087; 742955, 3851028; 

742931, 3850990; 742906, 3850962; 

742866, 3850925; 742864, 3850869; 

742852, 3850819; 742862, 3850709; 

742860, 3850678; 742854, 3850640; 

742840, 3850598; 742821, 3850559; 

742795, 3850522; 742769, 3850495; 

returning to 742558, 3850507. 

(ii) Note: Map of Unit 3 follows: 

BILLING CODE 4310–55–P 


pwalker on PRODPC61 with PROPOSALS2
Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 152 / Wednesday, August 6, 2008 / Proposed Rules 45837 

(9) Unit 4: San Antonio Creek Unit, 

Santa Barbara County, California. 

(i) From USGS 1:24,000 scale 

quadrangles Casmalia and Orcutt. Land 

bounded by the following UTM zone 10 

NAD83 coordinates (E, N): 721762, 


pwalker on PRODPC61 with PROPOSALS2EP06AU08.005</GPH>
45838 Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 152 / Wednesday, August 6, 2008 / Proposed Rules 

3852103; 722015, 3851871; 722000, 

3851830; 721973, 3851777; 721962, 

3851727; 721940, 3851675; 721913, 

3851633; 721883, 3851600; 721853, 

3851576; 721807, 3851548; 721799, 

3851502; 721788, 3851466; 721772, 

3851432; 721751, 3851396; 721763, 

3851388; 721806, 3851378; 721845, 

3851364; 721915, 3851326; 721952, 

3851309; 721989, 3851285; 722038, 

3851243; 722071, 3851228; 722129, 

3851229; 722183, 3851221; 722199, 

3851234; 722200, 3851277; 722206, 

3851320; 722218, 3851362; 722234, 

3851398; 722261, 3851443; 722339, 

3851542; 722384, 3851585; 722440, 

3851619; 722498, 3851641; 722555, 

3851649; 722611, 3851647; 722667, 

3851633; 722718, 3851609; 722764, 

3851575; 722802, 3851533; 722832, 

3851485; 722850, 3851437; 722863, 

3851372; 722950, 3851373; 723026, 

3851360; 723109, 3851328; 723140, 

3851310; 723172, 3851288; 723222, 

3851320; 723269, 3851340; 723332, 

3851355; 723401, 3851362; 723523, 

3851362; 723633, 3851351; 723676, 

3851343; 723728, 3851322; 723737, 

3851322; 723741, 3851324; 723785, 

3851411; 723816, 3851450; 723839, 

3851485; 723868, 3851518; 723870, 

3851580; 723886, 3851641; 723919, 

3851706; 723937, 3851732; 723963, 

3851759; 723998, 3851787; 724042, 

3851812; 724094, 3851830; 724143, 

3851839; 724194, 3851840; 724238, 

3851833; 724286, 3851817; 724331, 

3851794; 724382, 3851797; 724415, 

3851839; 724452, 3851872; 724484, 

3851893; 724535, 3851915; 724562, 

3851934; 724599, 3851953; 724636, 

3851989; 724674, 3852017; 724676, 

3852086; 724688, 3852141; 724692, 

3852181; 724704, 3852244; 724727, 

3852225; 724773, 3852197; 724814, 

3852186; 724852, 3852181; 724881, 

3852184; 724896, 3852180; 725000, 

3852103; 725112, 3852093; 725333, 

3852032; 725334, 3852028; 725368, 

3852034; 725403, 3852036; 725438, 

3852045; 725475, 3852049; 725463, 

3852102; 725459, 3852176; 725442, 

3852206; 725424, 3852244; 725413, 

3852281; 725408, 3852312; 725406, 

3852349; 725408, 3852381; 725415, 

3852419; 725427, 3852455; 725447, 

3852494; 725472, 3852530; 725503, 

3852562; 725538, 3852589; 725576, 

3852610; 725618, 3852626; 725661, 

3852636; 725712, 3852638; 725749, 

3852635; 725780, 3852628; 725839, 

3852604; 725946, 3852533; 726001, 

3852479; 726043, 3852416; 726067, 

3852356; 726074, 3852322; 726077, 

3852287; 726072, 3852216; 726081, 

3852196; 726125, 3852140; 726164, 

3852153; 726171, 3852167; 726390, 

3852142; 726746, 3851991; 726741, 

3851981; 726830, 3851939; 726857, 

3851921; 726885, 3851896; 726931, 

3851843; 726967, 3851774; 727011, 

3851776; 727069, 3851770; 727096, 

3851775; 727171, 3851799; 727230, 

3851812; 727277, 3851833; 727351, 

3851856; 727349, 3851863; 727573, 

3851852; 727569, 3851863; 727846, 

3851875; 728053, 3851872; 728057, 

3851854; 728104, 3851850; 728140, 

3851841; 728176, 3851828; 728213, 

3851808; 728261, 3851773; 728302, 

3851729; 728367, 3851684; 728425, 

3851669; 728487, 3851639; 728528, 

3851611; 728567, 3851572; 728620, 

3851571; 728679, 3851562; 728715, 

3851550; 728760, 3851527; 728805, 

3851510; 728870, 3851510; 728961, 

3851495; 729009, 3851480; 729055, 

3851455; 729121, 3851440; 729182, 

3851457; 729294, 3851467; 729340, 

3851467; 729384, 3851460; 729457, 

3851434; 729500, 3851412; 729545, 

3851378; 729596, 3851322; 729631, 

3851301; 729688, 3851289; 729761, 

3851310; 729817, 3851316; 729850, 

3851341; 729884, 3851358; 729949, 

3851387; 729998, 3851401; 730042, 

3851405; 730080, 3851404; 730177, 

3851384; 730224, 3851414; 730281, 

3851457; 730348, 3851494; 730375, 

3851526; 730410, 3851557; 730490, 

3851607; 730574, 3851637; 730619, 

3851646; 730665, 3851671; 730740, 

3851698; 730777, 3851706; 730824, 

3851710; 730891, 3851725; 730941, 

3851728; 731013, 3851720; 731086, 

3851698; 731138, 3851675; 731180, 

3851647; 731217, 3851613; 731247, 

3851572; 731272, 3851526; 731311, 

3851505; 731311, 3851592; 731315, 

3851630; 731324, 3851667; 731345, 

3851723; 731364, 3851761; 731390, 

3851797; 731421, 3851829; 731455, 

3851856; 731494, 3851877; 731572, 

3851909; 731609, 3851920; 731646, 

3851926; 731703, 3851926; 731775, 

3851917; 731811, 3851909; 731863, 

3851909; 731919, 3851900; 731973, 

3851882; 732015, 3851858; 732061, 

3851823; 732098, 3851780; 732124, 

3851737; 732140, 3851695; 732149, 

3851652; 732153, 3851598; 732165, 

3851567; 732208, 3851553; 732242, 

3851538; 732427, 3851430; 732457, 

3851405; 732560, 3851303; 732590, 

3851263; 732611, 3851221; 732650, 

3851193; 732714, 3851173; 732849, 

3851106; 732955, 3851030; 732982, 

3851004; 733013, 3850968; 733074, 

3851007; 733103, 3851020; 733141, 

3851031; 733183, 3851051; 733258, 

3851075; 733321, 3851083; 733385, 

3851108; 733437, 3851120; 733499, 

3851149; 733544, 3851165; 733667, 

3851195; 733711, 3851198; 733749, 

3851195; 733813, 3851178; 733858, 

3851159; 733890, 3851141; 733934, 

3851105; 734000, 3851032; 734036, 

3850977; 734058, 3850924; 734069, 

3850869; 734069, 3850810; 733994, 

3850850; 733870, 3850837; 733805, 

3850835; 733684, 3850837; 733385, 

3850709; 733248, 3850662; 733178, 

3850515; 733125, 3850381; 732899, 

3850360; 732902, 3849998; 733235, 

3849969; 733259, 3849848; 733616, 

3849806; 733710, 3849704; 733797, 

3849670; 733743, 3849369; 733681, 

3849340; 733359, 3849233; 733327, 

3849224; 733289, 3849219; 733165, 

3849216; 733114, 3849221; 732829, 

3849289; 732780, 3849296; 732646, 

3849339; 732495, 3849399; 732443, 

3849429; 732413, 3849453; 732383, 

3849486; 732361, 3849518; 732335, 

3849567; 732289, 3849579; 732177, 

3849584; 732087, 3849603; 732029, 

3849609; 731975, 3849624; 731941, 

3849637; 731890, 3849662; 731833, 

3849683; 731700, 3849753; 731563, 

3849801; 731463, 3849846; 731375, 

3849865; 731305, 3849886; 731222, 

3849915; 731143, 3849948; 731090, 

3849979; 731059, 3850002; 731024, 

3850038; 731000, 3850072; 730947, 

3850089; 730897, 3850115; 730867, 

3850137; 730821, 3850177; 730786, 

3850197; 730756, 3850221; 730704, 

3850279; 730660, 3850346; 730638, 

3850391; 730520, 3850501; 730388, 

3850568; 730309, 3850618; 730261, 

3850635; 730222, 3850656; 730196, 

3850675; 730165, 3850704; 730091, 

3850788; 730050, 3850774; 729951, 

3850749; 729871, 3850739; 729761, 

3850708; 729717, 3850703; 729650, 

3850703; 729606, 3850710; 729559, 

3850723; 729507, 3850723; 729469, 

3850727; 729414, 3850742; 729380, 

3850758; 729353, 3850774; 729323, 

3850798; 729295, 3850826; 729243, 

3850859; 729205, 3850850; 729167, 

3850846; 729078, 3850853; 728960, 

3850883; 728865, 3850897; 728828, 

3850908; 728791, 3850925; 728741, 

3850923; 728687, 3850916; 728637, 

3850919; 728576, 3850899; 728526, 

3850892; 728481, 3850893; 728424, 

3850902; 728359, 3850921; 728305, 

3850948; 728243, 3850994; 728203, 

3851038; 728159, 3851072; 728124, 

3851108; 728070, 3851129; 728069, 

3851114; 727865, 3851171; 727657, 

3851203; 727457, 3851190; 727457, 

3851196; 727452, 3851198; 727398, 

3851212; 727361, 3851206; 727316, 

3851204; 727257, 3851185; 727162, 

3851167; 727096, 3851122; 727061, 

3851107; 727025, 3851096; 726987, 

3851090; 726956, 3851088; 726892, 

3851090; 726848, 3851096; 726810, 

3851106; 726761, 3851124; 726703, 

3851155; 726645, 3851191; 726586, 

3851238; 726503, 3851318; 726464, 

3851372; 726431, 3851437; 726395, 


pwalker on PRODPC61 with PROPOSALS2
Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 152 / Wednesday, August 6, 2008 / Proposed Rules 45839 

3851453; 726363, 3851472; 726301, 

3851493; 726257, 3851519; 726226, 

3851507; 726106, 3851405; 726051, 

3851369; 726004, 3851349; 725948, 

3851337; 725883, 3851311; 725846, 

3851301; 725789, 3851294; 725752, 

3851293; 725714, 3851296; 725677, 

3851305; 725572, 3851350; 725541, 

3851371; 725501, 3851407; 725490, 

3851412; 725451, 3851372; 725391, 

3851326; 725335, 3851298; 725261, 

3851271; 725205, 3851260; 725149, 

3851260; 725100, 3851266; 725052, 

3851280; 725008, 3851230; 724951, 

3851190; 724891, 3851115; 724831, 

3851050; 724805, 3851027; 724745, 

3850980; 724713, 3850960; 724679, 

3850945; 724588, 3850915; 724546, 

3850874; 724504, 3850845; 724462, 

3850791; 724446, 3850757; 724426, 

3850726; 724394, 3850687; 724363, 

3850658; 724341, 3850606; 724309, 

3850553; 724270, 3850507; 724225, 

3850471; 724154, 3850411; 723989, 

3850326; 723742, 3850146; 723523, 

3850061; 723468, 3850059; 723409, 

3850068; 723369, 3850080; 723332, 

3850097; 723236, 3850159; 723203, 

3850188; 723152, 3850226; 723083, 

3850288; 722961, 3850227; 722919, 

3850211; 722880, 3850202; 722886, 

3850183; 722696, 3850119; 722697, 

3850114; 722450, 3850031; 722310, 

3850034; 722273, 3850045; 722252, 

3850055; 722226, 3850072; 722181, 

3850121; 722167, 3850080; 722171, 

3850012; 722174, 3850007; 721926, 

3850012; 721727, 3850092; 721668, 

3850119; 721594, 3850161; 721490, 

3850206; 721451, 3850228; 721405, 

3850263; 721360, 3850286; 721295, 

3850337; 721220, 3850406; 721184, 

3850449; 721154, 3850499; 721117, 

3850488; 721069, 3850481; 721025, 

3850482; 720985, 3850487; 720936, 

3850501; 720892, 3850518; 720792, 

3850573; 720762, 3850596; 720728, 

3850629; 720704, 3850658; 720684, 

3850690; 720669, 3850725; 720647, 

3850791; 720641, 3850828; 720639, 

3850883; 720621, 3850894; 720560, 

3850907; 720480, 3850896; 720425, 

3850895; 720377, 3850902; 720329, 

3850917; 720189, 3851070; 720057, 

3851148; 719923, 3851200; 719762, 

3851249; 719734, 3851275; 719706, 

3851307; 719621, 3851285; 719586, 

3851282; 719538, 3851283; 719489, 

3851293; 719440, 3851311; 719392, 

3851313; 719343, 3851322; 719302, 

3851335; 719263, 3851355; 719222, 

3851383; 719187, 3851417; 719153, 

3851431; 719120, 3851450; 719077, 

3851481; 719051, 3851505; 719023, 

3851539; 718981, 3851601; 718964, 

3851635; 718951, 3851673; 718897, 

3851684; 718844, 3851706; 718764, 

3851758; 718706, 3851809; 718679, 

3851838; 718623, 3851913; 718603, 

3851945; 718588, 3851978; 718551, 

3851999; 718515, 3852028; 718466, 

3852046; 718378, 3852068; 718338, 

3852087; 718286, 3852121; 718198, 

3852145; 718119, 3852179; 718081, 

3852200; 718002, 3852254; 717924, 

3852320; 717887, 3852363; 717835, 

3852451; 717812, 3852517; 717764, 

3852545; 717708, 3852593; 717675, 

3852614; 717681, 3852875; 717685, 

3852872; 717686, 3853145; 717723, 

3853110; 717797, 3853060; 717839, 

3853009; 718078, 3852793; 718144, 

3852742; 718224, 3852666; 718297, 

3852606; 718371, 3852527; 718426, 

3852482; 718450, 3852469; 718491, 

3852464; 718579, 3852436; 718668, 

3852396; 718677, 3852396; 718738, 

3852365; 718811, 3852338; 718851, 

3852316; 718871, 3852291; 718895, 

3852230; 718901, 3852160; 718930, 

3852117; 718976, 3852066; 719006, 

3852041; 719038, 3852036; 719101, 

3852057; 719145, 3852060; 719220, 

3852078; 719250, 3852075; 719263, 

3852068; 719283, 3852035; 719294, 

3851992; 719293, 3851974; 719273, 

3851924; 719266, 3851892; 719266, 

3851868; 719280, 3851835; 719310, 

3851806; 719370, 3851766; 719446, 

3851726; 719467, 3851710; 719544, 

3851670; 719589, 3851656; 719618, 

3851654; 719668, 3851664; 719702, 

3851681; 719740, 3851692; 719795, 

3851727; 719834, 3851730; 719870, 

3851717; 719880, 3851721; 719919, 

3851719; 719939, 3851725; 719957, 

3851749; 719986, 3851811; 720000, 

3851827; 720057, 3851864; 720082, 

3851874; 720109, 3851876; 720182, 

3851859; 720303, 3851802; 720376, 

3851786; 720429, 3851780; 720486, 

3851763; 720512, 3851748; 720582, 

3851692; 720625, 3851666; 720663, 

3851650; 720672, 3851652; 720653, 

3851714; 720658, 3851737; 720657, 

3851842; 720666, 3851897; 720661, 

3851917; 720648, 3851935; 720674, 

3851924; 720706, 3851920; 720742, 

3851927; 720777, 3851940; 720797, 

3851955; 720814, 3851975; 720836, 

3852036; 720864, 3852048; 720892, 

3852071; 720981, 3852084; 721083, 

3852108; 721109, 3852099; 721147, 

3852098; 721226, 3852108; 721250, 

3852092; 721286, 3852079; 721310, 

3852077; 721333, 3852081; 721369, 

3852097; 721410, 3852133; 721462, 

3852164; 721509, 3852215; 721538, 

3852260; returning to 721762, 3852103. 

(ii) Note: Map of Unit 4 follows: 

BILLING CODE 4310-55-P 


pwalker on PRODPC61 with PROPOSALS2
45840 Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 152 / Wednesday, August 6, 2008 / Proposed Rules 


pwalker on PRODPC61 with PROPOSALS2EP06AU08.006</GPH>
Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 152 / Wednesday, August 6, 2008 / Proposed Rules 45841 

(10) Unit 5: San Antonio Terrace 

Dunes Unit, Santa Barbara County, 

California. 

(i) From USGS 1:24,000 scale 

quadrangles Casmalia and Orcutt. Land 

bounded by the following UTM zone 10 

NAD83 coordinates (E, N): 718605, 

3859659; 718632, 3859657; 718697, 

3859669; 718778, 3859567; 718777, 

3859481; 718786, 3859450; 718804, 

3859422; 718947, 3859267; 719023, 

3859199; 719113, 3859092; 719153, 

3859066; 719188, 3859055; 719261, 

3859047; 719299, 3859037; 719351, 

3859008; 719388, 3858974; 719406, 

3858946; 719403, 3858923; 719379, 

3858912; 719331, 3858928; 719316, 

3858929; 719306, 3858919; 719307, 

3858893; 719320, 3858877; 719349, 

3858862; 719382, 3858836; 719537, 

3858692; 719596, 3858642; 719718, 

3858573; 719756, 3858523; 719783, 

3858510; 719808, 3858517; 719815, 

3858530; 719808, 3858550; 719759, 

3858603; 719749, 3858631; 719751, 

3858639; 719756, 3858643; 719767, 

3858640; 719874, 3858594; 719969, 

3858523; 720074, 3858429; 720185, 

3858366; 720238, 3858305; 720289, 

3858264; 720330, 3858247; 720368, 

3858204; 720373, 3858187; 720389, 

3858168; 720387, 3858160; 720418, 

3858106; 720442, 3858084; 720458, 

3858063; 720561, 3858017; 720700, 

3857948; 720740, 3857917; 720782, 

3857874; 720864, 3857844; 720844, 

3857813; 720798, 3857789; 720769, 

3857783; 720737, 3857788; 720701, 

3857783; 720689, 3857775; 720672, 

3857741; 720676, 3857711; 720687, 

3857694; 720707, 3857681; 720736, 

3857675; 720803, 3857689; 720806, 

3857681; 720757, 3857597; 720742, 

3857515; 720743, 3857476; 720753, 

3857441; 720764, 3857423; 720765, 

3857408; 720785, 3857375; 720837, 

3857331; 720981, 3857243; 721077, 

3857172; 721186, 3857075; 721304, 

3856957; 721381, 3856891; 721410, 

3856860; 721619, 3856669; 721682, 

3856625; 721804, 3856514; 721968, 

3856387; 722031, 3856326; 722101, 

3856241; 722169, 3856170; 722265, 

3856086; 722284, 3856084; 722294, 

3856066; 722332, 3856023; 722373, 

3855962; 722376, 3855941; 722371, 

3855894; 722386, 3855851; 722399, 

3855840; 722468, 3855813; 722485, 

3855800; 722517, 3855763; 722528, 

3855735; 722558, 3855687; 722633, 

3855583; 722658, 3855530; 722669, 

3855468; 722667, 3855445; 722687, 

3855392; 722706, 3855373; 722766, 

3855346; 722893, 3855269; 723116, 

3855074; 723150, 3855051; 723198, 

3854994; 723214, 3854946; 723222, 

3854885; 723250, 3854853; 723266, 

3854839; 723364, 3854784; 723408, 

3854774; 723451, 3854785; 723484, 

3854787; 723518, 3854777; 723537, 

3854762; 723558, 3854732; 723505, 

3854653; 723501, 3854618; 723511, 

3854574; 723536, 3854530; 723571, 

3854490; 723618, 3854458; 723754, 

3854398; 723829, 3854321; 723881, 

3854276; 723940, 3854205; 723960, 

3854165; 723969, 3854127; 723946, 

3854104; 723941, 3854087; 723945, 

3854054; 723959, 3854028; 723992, 

3853990; 724017, 3853969; 724091, 

3853938; 724170, 3853878; 724282, 

3853770; 724332, 3853715; 724342, 

3853709; 724418, 3853612; 724408, 

3853601; 724407, 3853586; 724424, 

3853532; 724462, 3853485; 724551, 

3853389; 724638, 3853316; 724650, 

3853279; 724652, 3853253; 724637, 

3853093; 724641, 3853000; 724655, 

3852912; 724693, 3852756; 724727, 

3852664; 724783, 3852553; 724839, 

3852487; 724864, 3852446; 724990, 

3852276; 725010, 3852204; 725010, 

3852144; 725000, 3852103; 724896, 

3852180; 724881, 3852184; 724852, 

3852181; 724814, 3852186; 724773, 

3852197; 724727, 3852225; 724704, 

3852244; 724690, 3852296; 724679, 

3852310; 724658, 3852331; 724598, 

3852368; 724502, 3852462; 724447, 

3852497; 724382, 3852521; 724335, 

3852547; 724248, 3852620; 724101, 

3852732; 723998, 3852791; 723799, 

3852926; 723491, 3853016; 723054, 

3852881; 722842, 3852752; 722816, 

3852515; 722906, 3852470; 723056, 

3852348; 723033, 3852303; 723007, 

3852267; 722971, 3852232; 722931, 

3852205; 722927, 3852163; 722912, 

3852137; 722894, 3852121; 722861, 

3852107; 722789, 3852090; 722734, 

3852083; 722711, 3852086; 722677, 

3852099; 722632, 3852098; 722564, 

3852105; 722521, 3852095; 722469, 

3852089; 722425, 3852091; 722375, 

3852102; 722323, 3852124; 722276, 

3852155; 722212, 3852225; 722152, 

3852280; 722107, 3852301; 722058, 

3852334; 721988, 3852360; 721968, 

3852345; 721730, 3852283; 721762, 

3852103; 721538, 3852260; 721509, 

3852215; 721462, 3852164; 721410, 

3852133; 721369, 3852097; 721333, 

3852081; 721310, 3852077; 721286, 

3852079; 721250, 3852092; 721226, 

3852108; 721147, 3852098; 721109, 

3852099; 721083, 3852108; 720981, 

3852084; 720892, 3852071; 720864, 

3852048; 720836, 3852036; 720814, 

3851975; 720797, 3851955; 720777, 

3851940; 720742, 3851927; 720706, 

3851920; 720674, 3851924; 720648, 

3851935; 720661, 3851917; 720666, 

3851897; 720657, 3851842; 720658, 

3851737; 720653, 3851714; 720670, 

3851664; 720672, 3851652; 720663, 

3851650; 720625, 3851666; 720582, 

3851692; 720512, 3851748; 720486, 

3851763; 720429, 3851780; 720376, 

3851786; 720303, 3851802; 720182, 

3851859; 720109, 3851876; 720082, 

3851874; 720057, 3851864; 720000, 

3851827; 719986, 3851811; 719957, 

3851749; 719939, 3851725; 719919, 

3851719; 719880, 3851721; 719870, 

3851717; 719834, 3851730; 719795, 

3851727; 719740, 3851692; 719702, 

3851681; 719668, 3851664; 719618, 

3851654; 719589, 3851656; 719544, 

3851670; 719467, 3851710; 719446, 

3851726; 719370, 3851766; 719310, 

3851806; 719280, 3851835; 719266, 

3851868; 719266, 3851892; 719273, 

3851924; 719293, 3851974; 719294, 

3851992; 719283, 3852035; 719263, 

3852068; 719250, 3852075; 719220, 

3852078; 719145, 3852060; 719101, 

3852057; 719038, 3852036; 719006, 

3852041; 718976, 3852066; 718930, 

3852117; 718901, 3852160; 718895, 

3852230; 718871, 3852291; 718851, 

3852316; 718811, 3852338; 718738, 

3852365; 718677, 3852396; 718668, 

3852396; 718579, 3852436; 718491, 

3852464; 718450, 3852469; 718426, 

3852482; 718371, 3852527; 718297, 

3852606; 718224, 3852666; 718144, 

3852742; 718078, 3852793; 717839, 

3853009; 717797, 3853060; 717723, 

3853110; 717686, 3853145; 717674, 

3853147; 717666, 3853167; 717675, 

3853223; 717685, 3853261; 717734, 

3853389; 717746, 3853456; 717742, 

3853590; 717763, 3853704; 717779, 

3853758; 717788, 3853820; 717783, 

3853927; 717790, 3853968; 717822, 

3854086; 717846, 3854146; 717848, 

3854308; 717855, 3854376; 717878, 

3854437; 717880, 3854476; 717913, 

3854597; 717917, 3854689; 717922, 

3854724; 717933, 3854755; 717940, 

3854844; 717956, 3854882; 717960, 

3854929; 717975, 3854996; 717978, 

3855029; 717989, 3855066; 717994, 

3855116; 718010, 3855177; 718013, 

3855213; 718031, 3855266; 718056, 

3855377; 718075, 3855491; 718079, 

3855550; 718087, 3855579; 718096, 

3855644; 718118, 3855727; 718146, 

3855788; 718158, 3855837; 718160, 

3855938; 718179, 3856070; 718181, 

3856147; 718194, 3856205; 718202, 

3856297; 718225, 3856420; 718231, 

3856494; 718242, 3856540; 718245, 

3856582; 718258, 3856625; 718265, 

3856675; 718285, 3856731; 718296, 

3856796; 718321, 3856884; 718323, 

3856920; 718340, 3857025; 718352, 

3857052; 718369, 3857127; 718394, 

3857282; 718408, 3857340; 718424, 

3857457; 718442, 3857527; 718450, 

3857586; 718462, 3857629; 718479, 

3857711; 718481, 3857743; 718496, 

3857802; 718500, 3857891; 718491, 

3857950; 718498, 3858048; 718525, 


pwalker on PRODPC61 with PROPOSALS2
45842 Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 152 / Wednesday, August 6, 2008 / Proposed Rules 

3858214; 718536, 3858363; 718542, 

3858401; 718573, 3858507; 718575, 

3858566; 718570, 3858602; 718523, 

3858731; 718538, 3858964; 718531, 

3859020; 718498, 3859180; 718487, 

3859308; 718485, 3859439; 718454, 

3859579; 718429, 3859754; 718386, 

3859925; 718379, 3860005; 718370, 

3860051; 718373, 3860072; 718392, 

3860063; 718409, 3860046; 718449, 

3859977; 718476, 3859945; 718503, 

3859902; 718525, 3859841; 718520, 

3859825; 718525, 3859757; 718554, 

3859705; 718596, 3859665; returning to 

718605, 3859659. 

(ii) Note: Map of Unit 5 follows: 

BILLING CODE 4310–55–P 


pwalker on PRODPC61 with PROPOSALS2
Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 152 / Wednesday, August 6, 2008 / Proposed Rules 45843 

(11) Unit 6: Santa Ynez River Unit, 

Santa Barbara County, California. 

(i) From USGS 1:24,000 scale 

quadrangle Surf. Land bounded by the 

following UTM zone 10 NAD83 

coordinates (E, N): 723859, 3838896; 


pwalker on PRODPC61 with PROPOSALS2EP06AU08.007</GPH>
45844 Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 152 / Wednesday, August 6, 2008 / Proposed Rules 

725620, 3837543; 725271, 3837051; 

724901, 3836933; 724638, 3837069; 

724497, 3837192; 724248, 3837597; 

724203, 3837932; 723652, 3838108; 

723524, 3838238; 723422, 3838457; 

723388, 3838299; 723182, 3837963; 

722841, 3837832; 722612, 3837911; 

722535, 3838033; 722526, 3838178; 

722660, 3838389; 722817, 3838984; 

722632, 3839136; 722566, 3839348; 

720953, 3840388; 720833, 3840568; 

720377, 3840677; 720267, 3840828; 

720267, 3841007; 719515, 3841235; 

719882, 3842225; 720041, 3842323; 

720232, 3842302; 720395, 3842134; 

720431, 3841932; 720809, 3841827; 

721128, 3841609; 721478, 3841925; 

721870, 3841964; 722263, 3841900; 

722718, 3841675; 722963, 3841384; 

723238, 3841416; 723454, 3841333; 

723560, 3841154; 723497, 3840885; 

723592, 3840685; 723500, 3840365; 

723716, 3840247; 723901, 3840313; 

723743, 3839692; 723632, 3839434; 

723459, 3839221; returning to 723859, 

3838896. 

(ii) Note: Map of Unit 6 follows: 

BILLING CODE 4310–55–P 


pwalker on PRODPC61 with PROPOSALS2
Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 152 / Wednesday, August 6, 2008 / Proposed Rules 45845 


pwalker on PRODPC61 with PROPOSALS2EP06AU08.008</GPH>
45846 Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 152 / Wednesday, August 6, 2008 / Proposed Rules 

* * * * * Dated: July 28, 2008. 

Lyle Laverty, 

Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and 

Parks. 

[FR Doc. E8–17808 Filed 8–5–08; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4310–55–C 


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