Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Final Determination of Critical Habitat for the Zayante Band-Winged Grasshopper

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), designate critical habitat for the Zayante band-winged grasshopper (Trimerotropis infantilis) under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). The designation includes an approximately 4,224 hectare (10,560 acre) area in Santa Cruz County, California, which includes all areas known to be occupied by the Zayante band-winged grasshopper. Critical habitat identifies specific areas that are essential to the conservation of a listed species, and that may require special management considerations or protection. The primary constituent elements for the Zayante band- winged grasshopper are those habitat components that are essential for the primary physical and biological needs of the species. These needs include food, water, sunlight, air, minerals and other nutritional or physiological needs; cover or shelter; sites for breeding and reproduction and dispersal; protection from disturbance; and habitat that is representative of the historic geographical, and ecological distribution of the Zayante band-winged grasshopper. Section 7 of the Act prohibits destruction or adverse modification of critical habitat by any activity funded, authorized, or carried out by any Federal agency. As required by section 4 of the Act, we considered economic and other relevant impacts prior to making a final decision on what areas to designate as critical habitat.