5,000 acres in county gain ‘critical’ label

The long battle over how much land should be protected for the arroyo toad ended Tuesday when more than 98,000 acres was officially deemed critical habitat for the federally threatened toad.

Of those, about 5,000 acres are in Ventura County, mostly in remote areas along Sespe and Piru creeks in the Los Padres National Forest, where development already is not permitted.

A critical habitat designation ensures that threatened animals are not harmed by any changes in the land. The ruling has the biggest effect on San Diego County, where land that was slated to be developed is now subject to more stringent rules. The new designation also protects a rare lily called the thread-leaved brodiaea.

“These dramatic increases in critical habitat give the arroyo toad and thread-leaved brodiaea a chance at survival,” said Ileene Anderson, a biologist with the Center for Biological Diversity, which sued the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to expand the habitat.

Read more: http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/feb/08/land-set-aside-to-protect-arroyo-toad/#ixzz1INaDSkO8

With their homes now protected, the toads are walkin’ on air…