Audubon California's Andrea Jones calls upon the California Coastal Commission to do the right thing for Threatened Western Snowy Plovers in a recent opinion piece for the Monterey County Herald. The Commission recently approved a proposed 39-acre resort on pristine beach habitat in Sand City, just north of Monterey. The project will sit right on top of habitat for the Threatened Western Snowy Plover (photo by Mike Baird):

The Pacific Coast population of the western snowy plover, which was listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act in 1993, now numbers as few as 2,300 birds largely because of exactly the type of disturbance this Orwellian-named "eco-resort" will cause. Construction will drive birds away, and the buildings will permanently erase nesting habitat. Even worse, the dramatic increase in foot traffic and pet dogs will disturb birds, causing nest abandonment for miles of adjacent beach and dune habitat.

Jones goes on to say that there is still an opportunity for the Commission to do right:

Yet there may be a way forward. The Coastal Commission might still restore the public trust by creating a strong, enforceable, legally-binding habitat protection plan for this project that safeguards the western snowy plover and the other endangered species on site.

Before approving the developer's plan, the commission needs to seek input from outside experts in western snowy plover conservation, including the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The plan itself should get a full public review and comment period prior the issuance of a coastal development permit.

Most importantly, the commission must assure the public that the developer will be held strictly accountable to the commitments it makes.