EHL Executive Director Dan Silver testified before the House Resources Committee regarding the effects of the Endangered Species Act on the Inland Empire.  He was the sole conservation representative to appear at the hearing, held in the City of Fontana. 

             

The hearings focused on the Delhi Sands flower-loving fly, which represents a highly depleted sand dune ecosystem.  Because jurisdictions in San Bernardino County have not put together a comprehensive conservation plan, project-by-project review has been contentious and unsatisfactory for all parties.

Prior to the hearing, on Sept. 8, 2004, the San Bernardino Sun reported on EHL’s viewpoint.  This provided an important counterpoint to a congressman’s contention that the ESA is “broken”: 

Silver, on the other hand, said he would push for San Bernardino County to pursue the same broad-based conservation plan established recently in Riverside County.  Such a plan would give both developers and residents assurance, Silver said, that growth could go forward while sensitive habitat is saved.  “The Inland Empire is just getting paved over, and natural open space is necessary for quality of life,” Silver said.

In his testimony on Sept. 10, 2004, Silver also recommended the formation of an advisory committee of stakeholders, which has been critical to the success of multiple species plans in Riverside and San Diego.