Yuba-Sutter NCCP/HCP Advisory Committee Meeting February 9, 2012 10 – 12 p.m.

Yuba-Sutter NCCP/HCPAdvisory Committee Meeting

February 9, 201210 – 12 p.m.

Agenda1. WELCOME AND INTRODUCTIONS (10 min.)

2. PRESENTATIONS (45 min.)Review of November Meeting:

What is the Yuba-Sutter NCCP/HCP?

Role of the Advisory Committee

Where we are in the NCCP/HCP process?

Participants/Plan Area/Covered Species/Covered Activities

Overview of NCCP/HCP Document

Overview of Advisory Committee Schedule

3. DISCUSSION ITEMS (50 min.)Chapters 1-3

Other Items:Overview of Projected Impacts

Overview of Conservation Strategies

4. PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS (15 min.)

5. NEXT MEETING

What is the Yuba-Sutter NCCP/HCP?

• Federal and state endangered species permit used to accommodate growth and ensure the protection and mitigation of covered species that are federally and state listed.

• Way to streamline the endangered species permitting process for future development.

Vocabulary• ESA = federal Endangered Species Act• HCP = Habitat Conservation Plan; defined in federal ESA

and agency regulations• CESA = California Endangered Species Act (part of CA

Fish & Game Code)• NCCP = Natural Community Conservation Plan; defined

in the CA Fish & Code and state regulations; ties into CESA

• Take Permit/Authorization = ESA and/or CESA authorization to adversely affect a listed species

Regulatory Requirements

• Comply with the ESA and CESA by preparing an NCCP/HCP that fulfills the requirements of an HCP under Section 10 of the ESA and an NCCP under DFG Code

• ESA purpose: conserve ecosystems and species that depend on them

• Relevant sections:– Section 4: listing process (threatened and endangered species, critical habitat)

– Section 7: federal agency consultation process

– Section 9: prohibited acts (“take”)

– Section 10: take permits

Elements of an HCP

• Goals and objectives

• Geographic coverage

• Covered species

• Biological goals and objectives

• Covered activities

• Permit duration

• Impacts on species

• Conservation measures

• Expected outcomes with measures

• Monitoring

• Adaptive management

• Assurances requested

• Amendment process

• Changed circumstances and remedial measures

• Unforeseen circumstances

• Alternatives to take

Elements of an NCCP

• Meet or help meet recovery

• Protect habitat on a landscape level

• Preserve ecological integrity

• Support sustainable populations

• Sustain movement

• Minimize and fully mitigate

• No jeopardy

• Adequate funding

• Independent science advisors

• Public participation

• Consistency with Planning Agreement

NCCP/HCP Similarities

• Similar planning process, with emphasis on scientific input and public participation

• Similar required components, including impact avoidance/minimization, monitoring, and adaptive management

• Similar approval criteria for take authorization

NCCP/HCP Differences• Generally, more “shalls” in NCCP Guidelines than in HCP

Guidelines

• Planning agreement required for NCCP; often used but not a requirement for HCPs

• Interim project review process required while NCCP is being prepared; review consistent with federal policy but not required for HCPs

• NCCPs typically must be regional in scale; HCPs can cover large or small areas

Role of the Advisory Committee

• Provide guidance and advise on what you perceive as “workable” and “not workable” with the NCCP/HCP

• Provide recommendations on how to make the NCCP/HCP as effective as possible

Where are we in the NCCP/HCP process?

• Completed land cover mapping

• Selected covered species

• Selected covered activities

• Prepared draft impact analysis

• Preparing draft conservation strategy

• Preparing conditions and requirements

• Preparing cost analysis

• Preparing for NEPA/CEQA process

• Approximately 2 years to complete process

Participants• Sutter County

• Yuba County

• Yuba City

• Live Oak

• Wheatland

• Caltrans is a possible future participant

• Levee and reclamation districts opted out – Section 7 nexus

• Marysville has no plans for growth or funds to participate

Plan Area

Plan Area Land CoverLand Cover TypeAgriculturalAlfalfaIrrigated PastureOrchardsOther Woody VegetationRiceRow CropsVineyards (includes kiwi and other vine crops)AquaticLacustrineRiverineWildlandAnnual GrasslandBlue Oak Savanna WoodlandFresh Emergent WetlandRiparian Forest (25-100% shrub and tree >25% mature tree)Riparian Scrub (25-100% shrub and tree < 25% mature tree)Valley oak Savanna Woodland (> 10% tree cover)Vernal Pool ComplexDevelopedBarren and Disturbed LandsRural Residential (<= 1 unit per acre)Urban Parks_Golf Course (presense of landscaping)Urban Riparian_Forest (at least 1/2 perimeter bounded by developmentUrban_Suburban (>1 unit per acre)Urban Wetland (at least 1/2 perimeter bounded by development)Grand Total

73% Agricultural

15% Natural Lands

5% Developed

2 % Aquatic

Covered Activities• All actions that could result in take for which the permit will be

applicable

• Limit covered activities to those under control of the Permittees

• General description of actions within the Plan Area

• Specific projects

• Ongoing operation and maintenance

• Restoration, habitat enhancement, and monitoring

• Excluded activities

Covered Activities• Location: Occur within the plan area.• Timing: Activity is scheduled to occur within the permit

term.• Impact: The activity has a reasonable potential for take.• Participant: Discretionary authority over covered

activities.• Definition: Location, size, and other relevant aspects can

be defined.• Practicability: Consideration of schedule and cost.• Covered Activities handout Table 1

Habitat and Species Relationships• Importance of agricultural crops

• Importance of grasslands

• Importance of wetlands and riparian corridors

• Importance of vernal pool complexes

• Other habitat elements

Covered Species• Purpose: Identify species for which the Plan participants

will need take coverage

• Range: Species in the geographic range

• Status: Listed species; non-listed species with the potential for listing; and other important species

• Impact: Species affected by the project (take?)

• Data: Are data sufficient to evaluate impacts and develop conservation measures?

• Plus: Natural communities – which are essential to protect wildlife resources and allow for appropriate growth

• Covered Species and Communities handout Table 2

Covered Species

• 18 Species– 14 Wildlife Species– 4 Plant Species

Overview of NCCP/HCP Document

Overview of NCCP/HCP Document• Chapter 1. Introduction

– Overview– Scope– Regulatory Setting– Groups Involved– Organization

• Chapter 2. Land Use and Covered Activities– Land Use– Covered Activities and Projects– Project and Activities Not Covered

• Chapter 3. Physical and Biological Resources– Data Collection– Setting (Physical Characteristics, Veg. Communities, Covered Species)

Overview of NCCP/HCP Document

• Chapter 4. Impact Assessment and Levels of Take

• Chapter 5. Conservation Strategy

• Chapter 6. Conditions on Covered Activities

• Chapter 7. Monitoring and Adaptive Management Program

• Chapter 8. Plan Implementation

• Chapter 9. Funding

• Chapter 10. Assurances

• Chapter 11. Alternatives to Take

Overview of Schedule

Discussion on Chapters 1-3

• Questions?

• Missing information?

• Other suggestions?

Discussion on Other Topics: Overview of Projected Impacts

• Sutter County General Plan Update

• Yuba County General Plan Update

• City of Yuba City

• City of Live Oak

• Wheatland

Estimates of Permanent Impacts• Total – 33,128 acres• Agricultural Land-cover Types – 23,880 acres

– Alfalfa – 5.7%– Irrigated Pasture – 16.4%– Orchard – 12%– Rice – 2.6%– Row crops – 6.5%

• Non-Agricultural Land-cover Types – 9,248 acres– Annual grassland – 24.6%– Riparian – 1-7.4%– Valley oak savanna woodland – 10.8%– Vernal pool complex – 11.3%

Percentage Estimates by Jurisdiction by Sensitive Land-cover Types

• Sutter County

• Yuba County

• City of Yuba City

• City of Live Oak

• Wheatland

• Transportation projects

Impact Discussion• Are there areas identified for growth that are of particular

concern?

• Thoughts about timeframe for growth?

• Thoughts about variation in growth slated for participants?

• Other comments or thoughts?

Overview of Conservation Strategy

• Principles of Conservation Biology– Reserve design: size, shape, composition, buffers, spatial relationships,

management, appropriate uses (e.g., recreation)

– Connectivity (corridors, barriers, species specific, movement, gene flow)

• Specific ecological requirements of species– Specific habitat and microhabitat requirements (breeding, feeding,

spawning, nesting)

– Movement capabilities and requirements (migration)

– Minimum viable population size (demography)

– Population structure, genetic variation, and gene flow

BiologicalLandscape

Conservation Strategy Process

Collect Biological Data

Determine Target Species and Habitats

Extrapolate Across Plan Area with

Models

Identify Existing Preserves

And GAPs in Habitat Protection

Priority Conservation

Areas

Cornerstone Preserves

Acquisitions, Easements,Incentives, Monitoring,

Management

Conservation Strategy

Covered Activities

Current Phase

Mostly Complete

BiologicalLandscape

Where are we in the conservation strategy development?

Collect Biological Data

Determine Target Species and Habitats

Extrapolate Across Plan Area with

Models

Identify Existing Preserves

And GAPs in Habitat Protection

Priority Conservation

Areas

Cornerstone Preserves

Acquisitions, Easements,Incentives, Monitoring,

Management

Conservation Strategy

Covered Activities

Habitat Types Type 1 Type 2 Type 3 Type 4

Riparian Scrub 25% 12% 3% 61%

Riparian Forest 25% 10% 3% 62%

Fresh Emergent Wetland 17% 46% 0% 36%

Riverine 12% 1% 1% 86%

Annual Grassland 7% 1% 1% 90%

Lacustrine 4% 5% 0% 91%

Barren and Disturbed Lands 3% 7% 0% 89%

Vernal Pool Complex 0% 1% 0% 99%

Blue Oak Savanna Woodland 0% 3% 0% 97%

Valley oak Savanna Woodland 0% 0% 2% 98%

Initial Results of GAP Analysis

ModeratelyWell

Protected

PoorlyProtected

Initial Results of GAP Analysis (cont.)

• Results have also been analyzed by each CPU

• Have also been conducted for modeled species

• Gap analysis being used to develop and prioritize goals and objectives

• Conservation strategy will include criteria for each CPU to acquire, enhance, and/or restore habitat to meet conservation goals

Conservation Strategy Approach• Primarily easements from willing landowners

• Focus on key species that meet multiple objectives:– Swainson’s hawk– Giant garter snake– Grasslands/vernal pool complexes

• Focus on key communities:– Riparian corridors– Agriculture

• Rice and its associated water supply• Row crops supporting foraging and nesting

– Grasslands

Conservation Strategy Discussion

• Framework of easements seem workable?

• Thoughts about Conservation Planning Units?

• Thoughts about where conservation should occur?

• Other comments and thoughts?

Public Communications

• Comments from the public?

Next Meeting

• Recommended agenda items:– Comments on first several chapters – covered activities/species

– Additional impact discussion

– Additional conservation strategy discussion

– Next steps