Yesterday, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service issued two proposed rules for the Vandenberg monkeyflower (Diplacus vandenbergensis), a small annual herb only known to occur at nine locations in western Santa Barbara County. The first rule proposes to designate the Vandenberg monkeyflower as an endangered species under the federal Endangered Species Act. The second rule proposes to designate approximately 5,785 acres of critical habitat in Santa Barbara County, California for the Vandenberg monkeyflower. In a notice, the Service states that the "primary threat to the Vandenberg monkeyflower and its habitat is the continued invasion of nonnative plant species, which are occurring within or adjacent to all locations where the species is found." The notice states that public comments will be accepted on each of the proposed rules through December 30, 2013.
