West, Carlsbad, CA 92008. The formal proposal is expected to be published in the Federal Register before mid-December.
Public input is required before the designation becomes final in about a year.
The proposed designation will affect private and public building along the Santa Ana and San Jacinto rivers, Reche Canyon, Jurupa Hills, the Etiwanda Wash and Lytle, Cajon, Bautista, San Timoteo and other Inland Empire creeks and streams. In the event critical habitat is designated, development in those areas utilizing federal funds or requiring federal permits would have to undergo an additional layer of approval with federal wildlife officials and projects scrutinized for possible damage to an imperiled species or its habitat whether or not the species exists on the site. The suit was settled in October forcing FWS to designate critical habitat for the kangaroo rat by December 1, 2000.