Suppose you wanted to check out how our efforts to save endangered species are going. Our guest, Jessica Owley, tried to do that and to observe what is happening where habitat conservation plans have been put in place. Things didn’t go so well. We discuss the structure of the Endangered Species Act, snails, dams, the God Squad, “incidental take permits,” how it’s all supposed to work, and, mainly, how Jessica was stymied in her efforts to figure out how it actually is working. (Brought to you by coffee sent by listener Adam.)

This show’s links:


Jessica Owley’s faculty profile and writing
Jessica Owley, Keeping Track of Conservation
About the Endangered Species Act, with links to the text of the act, other documents, and a video about the act; see also Wikipedia on the ESA
Babbitt v. Sweet Home Chapter, Communities for Great Ore.
Tennesse Valley Authority v. Hill
More about the snail darter controversy
About Habitat Conservation Plans (USFWS); see also Wikipedia on HCPs
An example Habitat Conservation Plan at Stanford University
About conservation easements
Jessica Owley, Exacted Conservation Easements: Emerging Concerns with Enforcement
The San Bruno Mountain Habitat Conservation Plan and related documents
Lujan v. Defenders of Wildlife
Special Guest: Jessica Owley.