Protected Area Proposed for Endangered Fish

Meeting a federal judge’s order in the nick of time, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on Tuesday proposed setting aside portions of 11 creeks in Orange and San Diego counties for a tiny endangered fish called the tidewater goby.

Two of the creeks enter the ocean at or near San Onofre State Beach and flow under one possible path of the Foothill South toll road, which already faces harsh criticism from environmentalists.

Officials at the Natural Resources Defense Council, which had sued the Fish and Wildlife Service to win additional protection for the goby, said they were pleased the proposal might create another hurdle for the toll road.

Fish and Wildlife biologist Glen Knowles said the proposal could be another hurdle for the road project, but noted that his agency has a year to make a final decision on whether to require protection of the goby’s habitats.

Fish and Wildlife officials in Ventura County have proposed that the fish--found only in California salt marshes, coastal lagoons and estuaries--be removed from the endangered-species list except for southern areas of the state’s coastline. The Natural Resources Defense Council and other environmentalists are fighting that effort.