City seeks exemption from Agua Caliente plan

Friday, January 18, 2008  

The city council in Cathedral City, California, doesn't want to be part of the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians' habitat conservation plan.

The tribe has asked the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service for an incidental take permit. The tribe wants to secure about 1,200 acres of its land for species conservation, the chief planning and development officer said.

About 1,000 acres is located within Cathedral City limits. Officials sent a letter to FWS to ask that the land be removed from the Agua Caliente plan.

The tribe and the city recently agreed to support development in the area so some local officials are worried the conservation plan could hinder that effort.

Get the Story:
U.S. Fish and Wildlife will determine fate of 1,000 acres in city (The Cathedral City Sun 1/18)

Federal Register Notice:
Notice of Availability of a Draft Environmental Impact Statement and Receipt of an Application for an Incidental Take Permit for the Agua Caliente Tribal Habitat Conservation Plan, Riverside County, California (October 12, 2007)

$rl Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians - http://www.aguacaliente.org
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service - http://www.fws.gov