Conservation Strategies for Agricultural Landscapes: The Yolo Natural Heritage Program NCCP/HCP Presented to the Seventh Annual Workshop on Habitat Conservation Planning From Tahoe to the Bay Daniel Airola Airola Environmental Consulting/SAIC November 18, 2009
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Yolo Natural Heritage Program NCCP/HCP · Yolo Natural Heritage Program- Key Elements County-wide HCP/NCCP 654,000 acres 50 year permit Goals • Conserve natural heritage
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Conservation Strategies for Agricultural Landscapes:
The Yolo Natural Heritage Program NCCP/HCP
Presented to the Seventh Annual Workshop on Habitat Conservation
Planning From Tahoe to the Bay
Daniel Airola Airola Environmental Consulting/SAIC
November 18, 2009
Yolo Natural Heritage Program- Key Elements
County-wide HCP/NCCP 654,000 acres 50 year permit
Goals • Conserve natural heritage • Support viability of the agricultural economy • Promote smart, sensible economic growth • Protect natural areas and features • Preserve open space areas and enhance recreation
A Conservation Plan, not just a mitigation plan
Yolo NHP Covered Activities
Wide range of Covered Activities addressed Development under General Plans
only 3-5% of land area
Utilities, transportation, flood control, water supply, parks new facilities operations and maintenance
Agriculture
ongoing activities limited conversion of natural habitats
Process for Incorporating Agricultural Species Conservation into the NHP
Describe agricultural habitats Describe species relationships to habitats Identify habitat goals for species Evaluate contributions to goals provided by
agriculture Integrate agricultural lands with natural
communities
Agricultural Crop Groups
Crop Type Acres Percent
FIELD CROPS 99,284 27%
GRAIN AND HAY CROP 74,139 20%
TRUCK & BERRY CROPS 64,370 18%
PASTURE 41,863 11%
RICE 30,411 8%
DECIDUOUS FRUITS AND NUTS 25,756 7%
IDLE 15,862 4%
VINEYARD 9,438 3%
SEMIAGRICULTURAL & INCIDENTAL TO AGRICULTURE 3,339 1%
CITRUS AND SUBTROPICAL 303 0%
Total Acres of Agriculture 364,765 100% Total Acres in County 653,629
Rating Species Use of Crops: Habitat Suitability Model Approach
Review scientific literature Input from knowledgeable species biologists Model development Identify Covered Species that use agricultural lands Develop list of crops used by each species Identify relative value of each crop - for different uses (foraging,
breeding, resting, dispersal) Key distance variables: to nesting habitat, water, etc Prepare matrix of species-crop habitat values
Giant garter snake Western pond turtle White-tailed kite Bald eagle Northern harrier Swainson’s hawk Golden eagle Peregrine falcon Prairie falcon Mountain plover Black tern
Burrowing owl Long-eared owl Short-eared owl Yellow-billed magpie Loggerhead shrike Yellow-headed blackbird Tricolored blackbird Western red Bat Townsend’s western big-eared
bat Pallid bat
Assign Habitat Values for Species Use of Each Agricultural Crop
Per-acre habitat suitability ratings of crops Very High 1.0 High 0.75 Moderate 0.5 Low 0.25 Very low 0.1 None 0.0
Species-Crop Habitat Matrix
Determine Habitat Values of Each Agricultural Type
Calculate Habitat Units for Species
Habitat Units = [crop habitat suitability value] x [# acres of crop]
Creates a “common currency” for assessing the value of different combinations of crops
Alfalfa and alfalfa mixtures 0.75 * 33,549 = 25,162
Clover 0.5 * 61 = 31
Mixed pasture 0.5 * 4,037 = 2,019
Native pasture 0.75 * 2,371 = 1,778
Misc. grasses (grown for seed) 0.5 * 1,337 = 669
Turf farms 0.5 * 325 = 163
Grain and Hay 0.75 * 74,139 = 55,604
Rice 0.75 * 30,411 = 22,808
All other Ag Types 0 * 218,534 = 0
TOTAL HABITAT UNITS 108,233
Use of Agricultural Habitat Valuations
Describe existing values of agricultural lands Evaluate future scenarios - changes in agricultural use Incorporate with habitat values for other land cover types
used by covered species (uplands, riparian, developed) Assess goals achievement in Conservation Strategies and
adjust Serve as a basis for monitoring plan accomplishments Use plan monitoring to improve habitat valuation models