Praise for Fish and Wildlife, Scorn for Developers in Gnatcatcher Debate

We applaud the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for finally proposing to list the California gnatcatcher as an endangered species. The failure of the California Fish and Game Commission to recognize that the California gnatcatcher may be in trouble refutes the consensus of all knowledgeable biologists.

As biological consultants who have conducted numerous field surveys in Orange and Riverside counties, we know firsthand the rates at which habitat is being lost. In the case of Gov. Wilson’s purported arrangements with developers to preserve habitat, we would like to know who are the “experts” being consulted as to which areas to preserve and where the gnatcatchers actually are.

Unless competent biologists such as Jonathan Atwood, who provided the scientific data supporting the listing, are involved in the governor’s preservation program, we doubt that the program will actually result in preservation of the species. It appears that the governor is taking the developers’ word as to where the birds are within their coastal sage scrub habitat.

This is dangerous if the words of Steve Letterly of the county Transportation Corridor Agencies is any representation of their knowledge. He is quoted as stating that “we’ve planned for the fact the gnatcatcher could be listed. . . .” (“U.S. Moves to Protect Gnatcatcher,” Sept. 6). You bet they did. They claimed there were no gnatcatchers in the areas cleared for the Foothill Transportation Corridor.

We documented gnatcatchers during a survey in the foothills of the Santa Ana Mountains, before clearing for the Foothill Transportation Corridor. The shrubs in which they were observed are now gone. In addition, we thought it was odd that the clearing stopped at the orchards, leaving the orchards intact but the natural vegetation devastated.

The developers and the Transportation Corridor Agencies may be appearing to cooperate with Fish and Game and Fish and Wildlife to protect habitat, but behind the scenes, in the backcountry, away from public view, the destruction goes on.

EDITH READ

Orange

MARGOT GRISWOLD

Los Angeles

JEFF KAUFMANN

Costa Mesa