CDFW Seeks Public Comment Related to Inyo Rock Daisy

Tue, 20 Sep 2022 13:27:07 GMT

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) is seeking data and public comment on a proposal to list the Inyo rock daisy under the California Endangered Species Act (CESA).

Inyo rock daisy (Perityle inyoensis) is a perennial subshrub in the sunflower family that is endemic to the high elevation areas (2,019-2,774 m/6,623-9,100 ft) of the southern Inyo Mountains of Inyo County. It is restricted to rock outcrops high in calcium carbonate in pinyon woodlands, Joshua tree woodlands and sagebrush shrublands. Inyo rock daisy is known from 26 occurrences with a global population estimate in the low thousands. The main threat to Inyo rock daisy is modification and/or destruction of habitat due to mineral exploration and mining activities. Other potential threats include invasive plant species, climate change, small population size and tourism related to the development of the Cerro Gordo ghost town.

On Feb. 2, 2022, Maria Jesus, the Center for Biological Diversity and the California Native Plant Society submitted a petition to the California Fish and Game Commission to list the Inyo rock daisy as an endangered or threatened species under CESA. The Commission published findings of its decision to advance the species to candidacy on September 2, 2022, and as such, Inyo rock daisy now receives the same legal protection afforded to an endangered or threatened species (Fish and Game Code, sections 2074.2 and 2085).

Over the next 12 months, CDFW will conduct a status review to inform the Commission’s final decision on whether to list the species under CESA. As part of the status review process, CDFW is soliciting information regarding Inyo rock daisy’s ecology, genetics, life history, distribution, abundance, habitat, the degree and immediacy of threats to its reproduction or survival, the adequacy of existing management and recommendations for management of the species.

CDFW respectfully requests that data and comments be submitted before Dec. 1, 2022 to allow sufficient time to evaluate this information during the status review period. Please provide data and comments to CDFW by email at NativePlants@wildlife.ca.gov and include “Inyo rock daisy” in the subject line. Comments may also be submitted by mail to California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Native Plant Program, Attn: Kristi Lazar, P.O. Box 944209, Sacramento, CA 94244-2090.

CDFW will produce a peer-reviewed report based upon the best scientific information available, which will include a recommendation as to whether the petitioned action is warranted (Fish and Game Code, section 2074.6). The report will be made publicly available on CDFW’s website for at least 30 days before the Commission considers acting on the petition. Please note, the Commission—which is a legally separate entity from CDFW—is charged with making the final determination on whether to list a species as endangered or threatened under CESA (Fish and Game Code, section 2075.5). CDFW serves in a scientific advisory role to the Commission during this process. See the California Fish and Game Commission web page for details on submitting comments to the Commission and receiving email alerts for upcoming Commission meetings.

The listing petition, CDFW’s petition evaluation report and updates on the listing process are available on the Commission’s website.

CDFW Photo: Inyo rock daisy, by Kristi Lazar

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Media Contacts:
Kristi Lazar, CDFW Habitat Conservation Planning Branch/Native Plant Program, (916) 594-5425
Kirsten Macintyre, CDFW Communications, (916) 804-1714

Help Save California’s Native Wildlife and Plant Species When Filing Your Taxes

Mon, 21 Mar 2022 12:44:36 GMT

Would you like to help the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) recover and rehabilitate animals after they’ve been injured or orphaned by wildfires? What about supporting CDFW’s research into why the California sea otter population is unable to flourish in its native coastal waters? Or how drought and climate change affect California’s native plants and wildlife?

You can have a positive impact on these key issues affecting California’s native species when you donate to CDFW’s tax check-off funds on your California State Income Tax Form 540.

By donating even a few dollars to the Rare and Endangered Species Preservation Voluntary Tax Contribution Program (line 403 on Tax Form 540), the California Sea Otter Voluntary Tax Contribution Fund (line 410) and the Native California Wildlife Rehabilitation Voluntary Tax Contribution Fund (line 439) you will help conserve and protect our state’s most at-risk species.

Donations to the Rare and Endangered Species Preservation Voluntary Tax Contribution Program (line 403) have helped fund work benefiting California’s imperiled plants, wildlife and fish since 1983. Recent recovery actions supported by the program include projects to save the Kenwood Marsh checkerbloom plant species and the Santa Cruz long-toed salamander. Funds also helped the Southern Sierra Nevada fisher, a small, carnivorous mammal in the mustelid family (commonly called weasel), from extinction. These are just three of the more than 1,000 native animal and 5,000 native plant species threatened by habitat loss and climate change in California. Of these, at least one-third of plants and two-thirds of animals are endemic species that occur nowhere else in the world. More than 300 are designated by the state as rare, threatened or endangered. Loss of habitat, water management conflicts, invasive species and overarching effects of climate change are the greatest threats to their long-term survival.

Contributions to the California Sea Otter Voluntary Tax Contribution Fund (line 410) are split between CDFW and the State Coastal Conservancy to benefit Southern sea otters. Southern sea otters are the smallest of all marine mammals and once lived in nearshore waters along California’s entire coast. They play an important role in supporting the nearshore marine ecosystem through helping to maintain healthy kelp forests and sea grasses. Since 1995, the California sea otter population has fluctuated between 2,000 and 3,000, as their numbers have been slow to rebound due to a variety of factors including pollution, boat strikes and parasites from terrestrial animals. CDFW uses its portion of tax donations to fund research on causes of sea otter mortality. The Coastal Conservancy uses its portion for grants to support research and facilitate sea otter population recovery.

Donations to the Native California Wildlife Rehabilitation Voluntary Tax Contribution Fund (line 439) help support the care provided by permitted wildlife rehabilitation facilities to California’s injured, sick and orphaned native wildlife. CDFW uses donations to provide funds directly to wildlife rehabilitators statewide through a competitive grant program. Grant awards are used to support activities that include, but are not limited to, innovation in animal care during rehabilitation, veterinarian treatment, dietary and behavioral enrichment, facility operations, post-release monitoring, and conservation education for the public and local communities. Permitted wildlife rehabilitators are important non-profit partners that strive to provide highly specialized, quality care to wildlife for the purpose of their return to the wild. They often struggle to operate during difficult economic times. Donations to this fund will help California’s native wildlife in need now more than ever!

The California state tax deadline for filing your 2021 taxes with the Franchise Tax Board is April 18, 2022. If someone else prepares your state tax return, let them know you want to donate to the Rare and Endangered Species Preservation Voluntary Tax Contribution Program (line 403 on tax form 540), the California Sea Otter Voluntary Tax Contribution Fund (line 410) and/or the Native California Wildlife Rehabilitation Voluntary Tax Contribution Fund (Line 439). If you use tax preparation software, go to the contributions section on Form 540 near the end of your tax return and make a voluntary contribution. Contributions must be $1 or more, in whole dollar amounts. These contributions help CDFW acquire federal matching funds for research, surveys and monitoring projects. They also help support the recovery and rehabilitation of injured, sick or orphaned wildlife and conservation education. Thank you for helping us save our most vulnerable plant and wildlife species.

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Media Contacts:
Laird Henkel, CDFW Sea Otter Program, (831) 469-1726
Esther Burkett, CDFW Wildlife Diversity Program, (916) 531-1594
Heather Perry, CDFW Wildlife Rehabilitation Program Coordinator, (916) 358-2790
Cristin Walters, CDFW Habitat Conservation Planning Branch (plants), (916) 720-1234
Leticia Palamidessi, CDFW Communications, (916) 708-8517

CDFW News

CDFW Seeks Public Comment Related to Inyo Rock Daisy

Help Save California’s Native Wildlife and Plant Species When Filing Your Taxes