Hello Larry. The Flattail Horned Lizard was proposed for listing about 20 years ago due to declining populations caused by habitat loss and degredation of habitat. Studies have continued to show population declines and the proposal for listing has continued. The problems that continue to occur are "agreements" with developers and city planners, and their not following their own agreements to set aside habitat to protect the horned lizards. The Fish and Wildlife Service has several recovery plans but are unable to apply and enforce them due to budget cuts and manpower. Each time the listing proposal comes up, developers make agreements to circumvent listing. It works, and the listing is set aside. The issue has been to court several times. Several judges have ruled in favor of listing and it has returned to the lower courts for implimentation. This is where the agreements again are applied and not followed. The issue is heading back to court now. The research continues to show declines in populations and loss and destruction of habitat due to development and offroad vehicle use (legal and illegal). That is where it is at the present, awaiting the court date and arguments. The "best available science" continues to support listing. The battle is one of politics and economics. Economics can show the need to protect the habitat and the horned lizard, but the control is the politics. The ESA and CEQA (California Environmental Quality Act) and other laws support listing with the scientific studies available. Now it is up to the courts to support the law and not politics. And so it goes! Lester G. Milroy III
