The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) announced its decision to issue a 30-year incidental take permit (ITP) under the Endangered Species Act for the Deschutes Basin Habitat Conservation Plan. This ITP allows activities that might inadvertently harm two threatened species, the Oregon spotted frog and bull trout, covered in the plan. The decision supports a conservation strategy designed to mitigate the negative impacts on these species by adjusting water flow patterns and setting up conservation funds over the permit term. The Service evaluated various alternatives before selecting this plan as the best course of action.
Simple Explanation
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has allowed certain activities in Oregon that might accidentally harm two rare animals, the Oregon spotted frog and bull trout, for the next 30 years, while also planning to help protect them.