Protections afoot

Ranchland in the North State—and the endangered species that live on it—could soon be protected by the collaborative Safe Harbor Agreement, drafted by the California Rangeland Conservation Coalition, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the state Department of Fish and Game.

The agreement includes four counties—Butte, Glenn, Tehama and Shasta—and would provide protection for 20 species, including the California red-legged frog, giant garter snake and Sacramento Valley red fox.

Under the agreement, landowners can choose to take steps to enhance or restore habitat for the covered species. Its goal is to encourage non-federal landowners to help endangered species by protecting them from property-use restrictions.

A full draft of the proposal can be viewed at www.fws.gov/Sacramento. Contact the Fish and Wildlife Service’s Rick Kuyper at (916) 414-6600 for questions or comments.