Critical habitat is land considered crucial to the survival of creatures on the brink of extinction.
A designation allows the Fish and Wildlife Service to modify or prohibit activities that would severely harm the habitat on federally regulated land. The proposal excludes vernal pools in Orange and San Diego counties' developer-funded conservation areas, Hogan said. The tiny Riverside fairy shrimp was discovered in 1985 and listed as endangered in 1993. Its life span is only a few months. Attempts to reach Navy officials familiar with the species were unsuccessful.