Toward a Common Ecological Framework: Part 2 --Habitats, Species, and Connectivity

TRB Webinar: Toward a Common Ecological Framework
Part 2: Habitats, Species, and Connectivity
July 30, 2010, 1:00–4:00 PM EDT

In this webinar, Marie Venner (Principal Investigator, SHRP 2 Project C06, marie@vennerconsulting.com) will lead a continued discussion of the upcoming products from SHRP 2 Project C06. Part 2 will focus on habitats, species, and connectivity. Register at https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/235297937. This is the final part of a two-part webinar series; more information about part 1 is available on the following page.

1. USFWS National Workshop for Recovery Planning Biologists and Section 7 Consultation: Integration for a more holistic interpretation of the ESA and greater effectiveness
Heather Bell, USFWS Region 9 and HQ, heather_bell@fws.gov

2. NiSource Habitat Conservation Plan and 50 year Incidental Take Permit for 43 listed species (+ §7 Biological Opinion for 60 more) over 15,500 linear miles, 9.5 million acres, across 3 FWS Regions and 14 States. The proactive conservation plan includes landscape level conservation measures and best practices, consistent reviews and strategies across FWS regions, and a long-term adaptive management approach. It provides predictability of project timing and requirements, assurance that obligations related to protected species conservation are filled, and efficiency in directing resources toward tangible habitat protection versus administrative services.
Tom Magnuson, USFWS Region 3, tom_magnuson@fws.gov

3. Data and Modeling Advances. The presenters will explore the applications of the species distribution models used in New York (bog turtle) and Wisconsin (Karner Blue Butterfly), as well as how the models factor in the impacts of climate change. Information will include the C06 proposal and FWS interest in nationwide SDM development, presentation through IPaC, FHWA online BA tool, and more.
Gregor Schuurman, Wisconsin DNR, Endangered Species, gregor.schuurman@wisconsin.gov
Jimmy Kagan, Oregon Institute for Natural Resources, jimmy.kagan@oregonstate.edu

4. San Diego Association of Governments, USFWS Advance Mitigation Approach, Approvals for Site Purchases. In 2008, SANDAG, Caltrans, USFWS, and the California Department of Fish and Game entered into an agreement that allows the agencies to purchase, restore, and preserve habitat to mitigate for potential damage caused by future transportation projects built with TransNet funds.
Susan Wynn, USFWS, Carlsbad—Region 1, susan_wynn@fws.gov
Muggs Stoll, San Diego Association of Governments, Director of Land Use and Transportation Planning, mst@sandag.org

5. California Regional Advance Mitigation and Conservation Planning. The presenters will explore California’s plan, including its challenges, agency concerns, solutions, benefits, support, and rationale
Gregg Erickson, Caltrans, Natural Resources, Chief, gregg_erickson@dot.ca.gov
FWS Region 8 and USACE Sacramento District

6. Discussion and Question and Answer Session

Additional Documents
There isn’t enough air time to cover the wealth of available material. Here are some additional items of interest. Those without web addresses will be posted on shrpc06.com.

North Carolina Ecosystem Enhancement Program (EEP)– steps for watershed planning and identifying priority areas for mitigation, steps in the permitting process for NCEEP, accomplishments to date.
Colorado Front Range watershed pilot: Selecting Mitigation Sites with a Watershed Approach (USEPA, USACE, CDNR, CDOT, CNHP, CSU, Feb. 2010)
Seattle District, EPA Region 10, Washington State: Selecting Wetland Mitigation Sites Using a Watershed Approach (Hruby et al, 2009) http://www.ecy.wa.gov/pubs/0906032.pdf
Ecological Integration Framework + draft of combined steps of above watershed approaches
Watershed approach to compensatory mitigation (33 CFR 332.3(c)/40 CFR 230.93(c)), USACE
Proposal for Nationwide Wetland Mapping and identification of vetted mitigation sites in every 4th field Hydrologic Unit Code watershed
Proposal for development of Species Distribution Models for all listed species
Regional Advance Mitigation and Conservation Planning (RAMP) - Caltrans-FWS MOU (whereas doc) 2009, State Depts. of Water Resources, Fish & Game, Transportation, Natural Resources, federal agencies.
San Diego TransNet Environmental Mitigation Program (EMP) interagency memorandum of understanding, and sample letter from FWS supporting advance mitigation site acquisition and concurring on offset of potential impacts for set of anticipated transportation projects, and program overview (www.sandag.org/uploads/publicationid/publicationid_1138_4880.pdf)
Florida Efficient Transportation Decision Making process, https://etdmpub.fla-etat.org/est/
Colorado Shortgrass Prairie MOA (FWS, TNC, CDNR, CDoW, CDOT, FHWA, CSU, CNHP) proactive recovery and advance mitigation program, primarily aimed at not-yet-listed species, based on projected species ranges, analysis of a buffer of the existing network & existing bridges, resulting in protection and annual monitoring and management of 30,000 acres of the eastern third of the state’s “last best places.” http://environment.fhwa.dot.gov/strmlng/comoa.asp. Agreement with TNC-FWS also posted at shrpc06.com. Precursor to current California advance mitigation efforts.