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Conservation plan protects endangered species; streamlined permitting benefits ratepayers.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Washington, DC --(Ammoland.com)- The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the California Department of Fish and Game, and the San Diego County Water Authority have entered into a long-term agreement that will help conserve San Diego County’s natural heritage for future generations while providing a more efficient endangered species permitting process for the Water Authority as it builds and maintains vital water supply infrastructure.

The Water Authority and the state and federal wildlife agencies signed an Implementing Agreement for a multiple species conservation plan, known as a Natural Community Conservation Plan/Habitat Conservation Plan (NCCP/HCP), that meets the requirements of the state’s Natural Community Conservation Planning Act and the federal Endangered Species Act.

The NCCP/HCP protects 63 plant and animal species and their habitats that may be adversely affected by the construction, operation, repair and maintenance of current and future Water Authority facilities. The 63 covered species include 26 plants, 13 birds, nine reptiles, eight mammals, five invertebrates and two amphibians.

Of the 63 covered species, 18 are currently listed as endangered or threatened pursuant to the state and/or federal Endangered Species Acts. Concurrent with signing the agreement, each wildlife agency issued the Water Authority an incidental take permit that allows limited impacts to those listed species. If any of the 45 covered species currently not listed as endangered or threatened become listed as such in the future, those species will automatically be added to the respective permit.

The comprehensive NCCP/HCP conservation strategy spans roughly 992,000 acres where covered activities could potentially occur in San Diego County and a small portion of south-central Riverside County. The Water Authority already has assembled 705 acres of preserve land to compensate for future impacts and the NCCP/HCP contains provisions for adding more preserve lands.

“This is a great example of innovative and effective environmental planning,” said Jim Bartel, Field Supervisor for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Carlsbad Office. “Our three agencies worked closely and collaboratively to find a way to comprehensively address potential endangered species impacts from the Water Authority’s projects and activities.”

“The assembly, management, and monitoring of the preserve established under the Water Authority’s NCCP will augment and enhance the other biological preserves established under other approved regional NCCPs and several other habitat conservation plans that are in progress,” said Ed Pert, South Coast Regional Manager for the Department of Fish and Game. “We worked collaboratively with the parties involved in the NCCP/HCP to ensure that habitat protection measures would also satisfy the Water Authority’s vital mission to provide the San Diego region with a safe and reliable water supply.”

“The big benefit for our ratepayers is that this plan will save time and money as we build and operate current and future projects,” said Ken Weinberg, Director of Water Resources for the San Diego County Water Authority. “This plan precludes the need to obtain individual federal or state endangered species permits for each of our activities or projects. It also simplifies future compliance with state and federal endangered species regulations. We are very grateful and appreciative for the wildlife agencies’ help and guidance through this process.”

The state’s Natural Community Conservation Planning program and federal Habitat Conservation Plan process promote coordination and cooperation among public agencies, landowners, and other interested parties to minimize conflicts during construction and other activities that may affect endangered or threatened species. The long-term goals of such habitat conservation plans are to provide for the recovery and persistence of populations of covered species and the ecosystems on which they depend.

A copy of the plan is available at: www.sdcwa.org/habitat-conservation.

The San Diego County Water Authority is a public agency serving the San Diego region as a wholesale supplier of water from the Colorado River and Northern California. The Water Authority works through its 24 member agencies to provide a safe, reliable water supply to support the region’s $186 billion economy and the quality of life of 3.1 million residents.

The California Department of Fish and Game manages California‘s diverse fish, wildlife, and plant resources, and the habitats upon which they depend, for their ecological values and for their use and enjoyment by the public.

The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working with others to conserve, protect, and enhance fish, wildlife, plants, and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. We are both a leader and trusted partner in fish and wildlife conservation, known for our scientific excellence, stewardship of lands and natural resources, dedicated professionals, and commitment to public service.

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Sage Grouse

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Cheyenne, Wy --(Ammoland.com)- Secretary Of The Interior Ken Salazar And Wyoming Governor Matt Mead Today Convened A Meeting With Representatives From Eight Western States To Discuss Ongoing Efforts To Conserve The Greater Sage-Grouse And Identify Next Steps In Implementing A Landscape Level Strategy That Will Benefit The Species While Maintaining A Robust Economy In The West.

Participants Discussed Current Strategies, Challenges, And Areas Of Collaboration For Local, State, And Federal Governments To Proactively Address The Needs Of The Species To Ensure Its Long-Term Health And Stability.

During The Meeting, The Attendees Discussed Developing A New Working Agreement That Puts In Place Conservation Actions And Commitments To Meaningfully Address Both The Threats To The Survival Of The Greater Sage-Grouse And The Need Of Westerners To Enjoy Multiple Uses Of Their Land And Have Reasonable Predictability Regarding Regulatory Requirements.

“Sagebrush Habitat, With Its Open Spaces, Wildlife, And Heritage, Is Iconic To The West And Is At The Root Of Many Of Our Proud Traditions,” Salazar Said. “Protecting The Health Of This Land And Its Wildlife, While Also Facilitating Energy And Other Development In The Right Ways And The Right Places, Is Going To Take Strong, Well-Coordinated, Comprehensive Action By Leaders At All Levels. Today’S Meeting Is A Milestone In Our Efforts To Accelerate And Expand The Smart, Ladscape-Scale Approaches That Are Already Underway In Many Places.”

From Wyoming’S Sage Grouse Initiative Developed Under The Leadership Of Governor Mead To The Bureau Of Land Management’S National Greater Sage-Grouse Planning Strategy ( Http://Www.Blm.Gov/Wo/St/En/Prog/More/Sagegrouse.Html), To The Ongoing Implementation Of The Western Association Of Fish And Wildlife Agencies Comprehensive Strategy, Progress Is Being Made To Protect The Species While Ensuring That Energy Production, Recreational Access And Other Uses Of Federal Lands Continue.

“The Goal Of The Endangered Species Act Is Not To Add To The List, But To Protect The Species So They Never Make It To The Endangered Species List,” Governor Mead Said. “Partnering With Private Industry, Agriculture And The Federal Government Has Allowed Us To Balance Conservation Of The Sage-Grouse With Development And Job Creation While Keeping The Bird From Being Listed.”

A Large Ground-Dwelling Bird Predominantly Found In The West, The Decline Of The Sage-Grouse Population Has Been A Result Of Primary Threats Such As Habitat Loss And Fragmentation Due To Energy Development, Wildfire, And Invasive Plant Species. Based On A 12-Month Status Review Pursuant To The Endangered Species Act, The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Determined That The Listing Of The Species Was Warranted, But Precluded By Higher Priorities. For A Fws Fact Sheet On The Greater Sage-Grouse, Please Click Here: Http://Www.Fws.Gov/Mountain-Prairie/Species/Birds/Sagegrouse/Greatersagegrousefactsheet2011.Pdf .

Meeting Participants Included: Bob Abbey, Bureau Of Land Management Director; Dan Ashe, U.S. Fish And Wildlife Service Director; Marlene Finley, U.S. Forest Service Deputy Regional Forester; Dave White, Natural Resources Conservation Service Chief, As Well As Senior Representatives From The States Of Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, And Wyoming.

Click Here Http://Www.Doi.Gov/News/Photos/Photo-Of-The-Week-December-2011.Cfm For A Picture From Today’S Meeting.

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The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working with others to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. We are both a leader and trusted partner in fish and wildlife conservation, known for our scientific excellence, stewardship of lands and natural resources, dedicated professionals and commitment to public service. For more information on our work and the people who make it happen, visit www.fws.gov.

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