USFWS Desert Tortoise General Conservation Plan

Virtual Public Information Forum

 

Thank you for visiting the Virtual Public Information Forum website for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Desert Tortoise General Conservation Plan.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), in cooperation with the Bureau of Land Management (Bureau), is developing a draft environmental impact statement (EIS) for a general conservation plan (GCP) for the federally threatened desert tortoise (Gopherus agassizii) in California. The Service will be accepting input on issues and alternatives that should be considered in the EIS during the 45-day public scoping period, which runs from July 17 through August 31, 2023. A preliminary draft GCP has been developed for the public’s review. More information can be found in the notice of intent (NOI) to prepare the EIS and on the project overview page of this website. This scoping period builds upon a pre-scoping effort the USFWS conducted in June of 2022. 

The Service will hold two virtual public scoping meetings on July 25, 2023 from 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. and on July 27, 2023 from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. Pacific Time. The Service will also hold one in-person public scoping meeting on August 10, 2023 from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. Pacific Time in Victorville, CA. Information on and links to register for the meetings are provided below.

How to Register for the Scoping Meetings

Virtual Scoping Meetings

Those who wish to participate in the virtual scoping meetings should register via the links below:

Registration for the virtual scoping meetings is required. After registration, participants will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. On the day of the registered meeting, please join using the information contained in your confirmation email. The same material will be presented at both meetings. Phone and internet participation options will be available.

Meeting materials will be available for download prior to the virtual scoping meetings.

In-person Scoping Meeting

The Service will hold an in-person scoping meeting on the following date:

  • Thursday, August 10, 2023, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Pacific Time

    • Hilton Garden Inn

      12603 Mariposa Road

      Victorville, California 92395

The in-person meeting will include an open house with an opportunity to speak with the Service and Bureau staff and a presentation.

 

For more information or to be added to the mailing list, please email Peter Sanzenbacher at peter_sanzenbacher@fws.gov.