The helpless little Sebastopol meadowfoam is an endangered flower which only grows in vernal pools in Sonoma County, California.Last year, it was discovered on land slated for a housing development. The California Department of Fish and Game, after a quick and dirty investigation, concluded the delicate flowers had been transplanted there by opponents of the development. Fish and Game dug up and destroyed the illegal plants (so independent investigators could not study the site) and ruled the development could continue. End of story, except....
The flowers are back. This time they clearly sprouted from seeds. Fish and Game's stance is that the seeds came from last year's illegal plants. Their contention, since the seeds came from illegal flowers, this year's flowers are also illegal. Last year, the crime was disturbing an endangered plant by transplanting it. This year, the crime was committed by the flower itself. It's trespassing, so to speak, growing naturally now in a place that Fish and Game doesn't want it.
A note about the accusation last year's flowers were transplanted. Several biologists disagree with Fish and Game's conclusion. Since the state destroyed the evidence, no proof exists one way or another.
2 comments:
This sounds like a job by the Bush Administration.
I have never heard of such a thing happening before. Normally it seems fish & game is accused of stiffeling development.
I would have expected fish and game to have planted the flowers there in order to prevent development, not the other way around.
I smell a Bush Crony in there somewhere....
Illegal flowers? Are these yahoos kidding? That's like saying that the legitimate children of an illigimate parent, aren't really. Oh wait...they did used to do say that. OK forget I said anything.
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