bats, birds & fish, oh my!: massdot highway division esa & … · 2018-09-20 · bats,...
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Bats, Birds & Fish, Oh My!:
MassDOT Highway Division ESA &
MBTA Updates
Northeastern Transportation & Wildlife Conference
September 11th, 2018
Tim Dexter, MassDOT Highway Division
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Bird Conservation Plan (BCP)
• Developed concept BCP through coordination w/MassWildlife
• Design – general avoidance, minimization & restoration measures
• Construction – general minimization measures & MassWildlife/USFWS construction-phase coordination protocol
• Mitigation – emphasis on habitat restoration, enhancing reproductive success & research/monitoring
• Nest Boxes/Structures: Peregrine, kestrel, cliff swallows, terns
Migratory Bird Treaty Act
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Migratory Bird Treaty Act - Mitigation
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NLEB Threatened with 4(d) Rule
• Incidental take is not prohibited, except for:
- Tree removal within 1/4 mile of a known hibernaculum, at any time of year; and
- Tree removal that cuts or destroys a known occupied maternity roost tree or any other trees within a 150-foot radius of the maternity roost tree during the pup season (June 1 - July 31)
• MassWildlife map: http://www.mass.gov/eea/agencies/dfg/dfw/natural-heritage/species-information-and-conservation/rare-mammals/northern-long-eared-bat.html
Northern Long-eared Bat
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MassWildlife Northern Long-eared Bat Map
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2015 NLEB Survey Results47 – Projects surveyed
2015 Bat Survey DetectorsNLEB Not Detected (123)
NLEB Detected (9)
N/A (0)
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2016 NLEB Survey Results33 – Projects surveyed
2016 Bat Survey DetectorsNLEB Not Detected (147)
NLEB Detected (5)
N/A (2)
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2017 NLEB Survey Results27 – Projects surveyed
2017 Bat Survey DetectorsNLEB Not Detected (159)
NLEB Detected (0)
N/A (4)
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2018 Bat Survey Locations2018 Project Locations (60)
2015 - 2018 NLEB Surveys167 – Projects surveyed
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2015 – 2017 NLEB Survey Results107 – Projects surveyed9 – Projects w/ vetted NLEB Calls
NLEB Acoustic Surveys
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Newburyport/Newbury Positive NLEB Detections (2015)
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9/18/2018 | Leading the Nation in Transportation Excellence | www.mass.gov/massdot 12
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Sturgeon Update
Shortnose Sturgeon• Fed. Endangered Federally under the Endangered Species Act,
but no critical habitat is designated
Atlantic Sturgeon• Fed. Threatened for the Gulf of Maine (i.e. Merrimack River)
• Fed. Endangered for New York Bight (i.e. Connecticut River) Distinct Population Segment
• Critical Habitat designated August 17th, 2017
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Atlantic Sturgeon Critical
Habitat
Q: What is critical habitat? A: In short, the habitat essential for the species recovery
• Critical Habitat listing establishes Physical or Biological Features (PBFs) essential to natural reproduction and recruitment and impacts to each of these must be evaluated:
1. Hard bottom substrate2. Salinity gradient3. Necessary water depth and velocities4. Necessary water temperatures, salinity, and oxygen
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Atlantic Sturgeon Critical
Habitat
• Must analyze project impacts to each designated PBFs in a separate effect determination, in addition to an effect determination to live specimens
• E.g. “No Effect”, “NLAA”, or “LAA”
• Ex: PBF Hard bottom substrate
https://www.greateratlantic.fisheries.noaa.gov/protected/section7/index.html
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MassDOT Sturgeon
Consultation Approach
Design Phase• Consult on “worst case scenario” designs / means &
methods• Strive for “Not Likely to Adversely Affect” findings
Construction phase• Means & methods change/refined• Additional consultation req.; typically fewer impacts
FHWA/NMFS Agreement • Under review for potential use
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Blanding’s Turtle Update
• Habitat use: seasonal pools, scrub-shrub wetlands, and open uplands.
• Omnivores: live/dead invertebrates & fish, plants.
• Vulnerable due to long travel distances, late reproductive maturity (14-20 yrs), and low nest and juvenile survivorship.
• Roads primary cause of adult mortality
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Blanding’s Turtle
• New England population genetically important
• MESA listed as Threatened in Massachusetts.
• ESA Listing Status: Under Review• “Species of Concern”
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Tim Dexter
Fish & Wildlife Supervisor
Environmental Services
MassDOT Highway Division
(857) 368-8794
Thank you