NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: November 26, 2003
Contact: Jan Bedrosian (916) 978-4616
CCnews08

BLM Implements Emergency Closure to Protect Threatened Plant in the Clear Creek Management Area

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is implementing an emergency closure on five acres of public lands in what is known as the Larious Tributary Terrace in the Clear Creek Management Area in eastern San Benito County to protect the San Benito evening primrose, a plant species listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act, and other sensitive habitat.

Vehicle travel is prohibited in the affected areas. Fire, emergency, or law enforcement personnel when engaged in emergency or patrol activities and persons or uses expressly authorized by BLM are exempt from the emergency closure.

Bob Beehler, BLM's Hollister Field Manager, said the emergency closure is necessary because of continued damage by OHV use of this area to the listed plants and riparian (streamside) habitats. The damage has exceeded thresholds identified by the BLM and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as part of the required consultations under the Endangered Species Act.

Beehler said a fence is currently under construction surrounding the closure area and warning signs and notices are being posted in the area notifying the public that continued unauthorized OHV incursions into the sensitive habitat may result in further closures in the 50,000-acre Clear Creek Management Area to vehicular travel.

The closed area is about 30 miles northeast of King City. A map of the closure area is available on-line at http://www.ca.blm.gov/news/pdfs/2003other/lariousclosure.pdf (also from www.ca.blm.gov/hollister) and at the Hollister BLM Field Office, 20 Hamilton Court, Hollister, CA 95023.

Authority for this emergency closure is in 43 Code of Federal Regulations 8341.2 (a) which states: "where … off-road vehicles are causing or will cause considerable adverse effects upon … threatened or endangered species … or other resources, the authorized officer shall immediately close the areas affected to the type(s) of vehicle causing the adverse effect until the adverse effects are eliminated and measures implemented to prevent recurrence." The closure will remain in effect until further notice or until the likelihood of further damage is reduced.

For additional information contact the Hollister Field Office at 831-630-5000.

-BLM-

Hollister Field Office - 20 Hamilton Court, Hollister, CA 95023