· conservation strategy chapter 5 butte regional conservation plan (brcp) december 2, 2010 draft...

Conservation Strategy Chapter 5

Butte Regional Conservation Plan (BRCP) December 2, 2010 Draft Page i

CHAPTER 5. CONSERVATION STRATEGY 1

Table of Contents 2

5.1 Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 1 3 5.2 Methods and Approach ................................................................................................... 2 4

5.2.1 Framework for the Conservation Strategy ................................................................ 2 5 5.2.1.1 Conservation Acquisition Zones ....................................................................... 4 6

5.2.2 Information Sources and Species Habitat Models .................................................... 6 7 5.2.3 Assembly of Conservation Lands ............................................................................. 8 8

5.2.3.1 Regulatory Context ............................................................................................ 8 9 5.2.3.2 Addressing Ecological Conditions and Processes ............................................. 8 10 5.2.3.3 Conservation Targets ......................................................................................... 9 11 5.2.3.4 Spatial Criteria for Preserve Design ................................................................ 15 12 5.2.3.5 Conservation Land Assembly Principles ......................................................... 17 13 5.2.3.6 Existing Protected Lands ................................................................................. 20 14

5.3 Biological Goals and Objectives ................................................................................... 23 15 5.3.1 Development of Biological Goals and Objectives .................................................. 23 16 5.3.2 Goal and Objective Statements ............................................................................... 24 17

5.3.2.1 Landscape-Level Goals and Objectives .......................................................... 25 18 5.3.2.2 Natural Community-Level Goals and Objectives ........................................... 28 19

5.3.3 Species-Level Goals and Objectives ....................................................................... 31 20 5.4 Conservation Measures ................................................................................................. 34 21

5.4.1 Landscape-Level Conservation Measures .............................................................. 34 22 5.4.1.1 CM 1: Protect Natural Communities ............................................................... 34 23 5.4.1.2 CM2: Develop and Implement an Invasive Species Control Program ............ 46 24 5.4.1.3 CM3: Improve Urban Stormwater Water Quality ........................................... 47 25

5.4.2 Natural Community Conservation Measures .......................................................... 48 26 5.4.2.1 CM4 : Restore Riparian Habitat ...................................................................... 48 27 5.4.2.2 CM5: Restore Vernal Pool Complex ............................................................... 48 28 5.4.2.3 CM6: Restore/Create Emergent Wetland ........................................................ 48 29 5.4.2.4 CM7: Create Managed Wetland ...................................................................... 49 30 5.4.2.5 CM8: Restore Covered Fish Species Spawning and Rearing Habitat ............ 50 31 5.4.2.6 CM9: Enhance and Manage Protected Natural Communities ......................... 50 32 5.4.2.7 CM10: Enter into Conservation Easements with Water and Irrigation Districts 33 to Protect and Enhance Wetland Habitats along Canals ................................................... 54 34

5.4.3 Species-Level Conservation Measures ................................................................... 55 35 5.4.3.1 CM11: Create and Maintain Greater Sandhill Crane Winter Roost Sites ....... 55 36 5.4.3.2 CM12: Remove Riprap from Channel Banks along Streams that Support 37 Salmonid Spawning Habitat ............................................................................................. 55 38 5.4.3.3 CM13: Augment Salmonid Spawning Gravels ............................................... 56 39 5.4.3.4 CM14: Improve Fish Passage .......................................................................... 56 40 5.4.3.5 CM15: Reduce Entrainment Loss of Covered Fish Species ............................ 57 41 5.4.3.6 CM16: Conduct Surveys to Locate New Occurrences of Butte County 42 Checkerbloom ................................................................................................................... 59 43


Butte Regional Conservation Plan (BRCP) December 2, 2010 Draft Page ii

Table of Contents (continued) 1 2 5.4.3.7 CM17: Reestablish Occurrences of Slender Orcutt Grass .............................. 59 3

5.4.4 Avoidance and Minimization Measures ................................................................. 59 4 5.4.4.1 Surveys ............................................................................................................ 60 5 5.4.4.2 Activity Exclusion Zones ................................................................................ 62 6 5.4.4.3 Construction and Project Design Measures ..................................................... 64 7 5.4.4.4 Urban-Habitat Interface Design Measures ...................................................... 66 8 5.4.4.5 Species-Specific Avoidance and Minimization Measures .............................. 67 9 5.4.4.6 Transportation-Related Covered Activities ..................................................... 71 10 5.4.4.7 Urban Development-Related Activities ........................................................... 72 11

5.5 Approach to Providing Conservation for Covered Species .......................................... 74 12 5.5.2 Tricolored Blackbird ............................................................................................... 74 13

5.5.2.1 Applicable Goals, Objectives and Conservation Measures ............................. 75 14 5.5.2.2 Summary of Permanent Habitat Effects .......................................................... 77 15 5.5.2.3 Conservation Approach and Expected Outcomes ........................................... 77 16

5.5.3 Yellow-Breasted Chat ............................................................................................. 78 17 5.5.3.1 Applicable Goals, Objectives and Conservation Measures ............................. 78 18 5.5.3.2 Summary of Permanent Effects ....................................................................... 79 19 5.5.3.3 Conservation Approach and Expected Outcomes ........................................... 79 20

5.5.4 Bank Swallow ......................................................................................................... 80 21 5.5.4.1 Applicable Goals , Objectives and Conservation Measures ............................ 80 22 5.5.4.2 Summary of Permanent Effects ....................................................................... 81 23 5.5.4.3 Conservation Approach and Expected Outcomes ........................................... 81 24

5.5.5 Western Burrowing Owl ......................................................................................... 81 25 5.5.5.1 Summary of Permanent Effects ....................................................................... 84 26 5.5.5.2 Conservation Approach and Expected Outcomes ........................................... 84 27

5.5.6 Western Yellow-Billed Cuckoo .............................................................................. 84 28 5.5.6.1 Applicable Goals, Objectives and Conservation Measures ............................. 85 29 5.5.6.2 Summary of Permanent Habitat Effects .......................................................... 86 30 5.5.6.3 Conservation Approach and Expected Outcomes ........................................... 86 31

5.5.7 Greater Sandhill Crane ............................................................................................ 86 32 5.5.7.1 Applicable Goals, Objectives and Conservation Measures ............................. 87 33 5.5.7.2 Summary of Permanent Effects ....................................................................... 88 34 5.5.7.3 Conservation Approach and Expected Outcomes ........................................... 88 35

5.5.8 California Black Rail .............................................................................................. 89 36 5.5.8.1 Applicable Goals, Objectives and Conservation Measures ............................. 89 37 5.5.8.2 Summary of Permanent Habitat Effects .......................................................... 91 38 5.5.8.3 Conservation Approach and Expected Outcomes ........................................... 91 39

5.5.9 American Peregrine Falcon..................................................................................... 91 40 5.5.9.1 Applicable Goals , Objectives and Conservation Measures ............................ 92 41 5.5.9.2 Summary of Permanent Habitat Effects .......................................................... 94 42 5.5.9.3 Conservation Approach and Expected Outcomes ........................................... 94 43

5.5.10 Swainson’s Hawk.................................................................................................... 94 44 5.5.10.1 Applicable Goals, Objectives and Conservation Measures ............................. 95 45 5.5.10.2 Summary of Permanent Effects ....................................................................... 97 46


Butte Regional Conservation Plan (BRCP) December 2, 2010 Draft Page iii

Table of Contents (continued) 1 2 5.5.10.3 Conservation Approach and Expected Outcomes ........................................... 97 3

5.5.11 Bald Eagle ............................................................................................................... 97 4 5.5.11.1 Applicable Goals, Objectives and Conservation Measures ............................. 98 5 5.5.11.2 Summary of Permanent Habitat Effects ........................................................ 100 6 5.5.11.3 Conservation Approach and Expected Outcomes ......................................... 100 7

5.5.12 White-tailed Kite ................................................................................................... 101 8 5.5.12.1 Applicable Goals, Objectives and Conservation Measures ........................... 101 9 5.5.12.2 Summary of Permanent Effects ..................................................................... 103 10 5.5.12.3 Conservation Approach and Expected Outcomes ......................................... 104 11

5.5.13 Giant Garter Snake ................................................................................................ 104 12 5.5.13.1 Applicable Goals , Objectives and Conservation Measures .......................... 105 13 5.5.13.2 Summary of Permanent Effects ..................................................................... 107 14 5.5.13.3 Conservation Approach and Expected Outcomes ......................................... 107 15

5.5.14 California Horned Lizard ...................................................................................... 108 16 5.5.14.1 Applicable Goals , Objectives and Conservation Measures .......................... 108 17 5.5.14.2 Summary of Permanent Effects ..................................................................... 110 18 5.5.14.3 Conservation Approach and Expected Outcomes ......................................... 111 19

5.5.15 Western Pond Turtle ............................................................................................. 111 20 5.5.15.1 Applicable Goals , Objectives and Conservation Measures .......................... 111 21 5.5.15.2 Summary of Permanent Effects ..................................................................... 115 22 5.5.15.3 Conservation Approach and Expected Outcomes ......................................... 115 23

5.5.16 Foothill Yellow-Legged Frog ............................................................................... 115 24 5.5.16.1 Applicable Goals, Objectives and Conservation Measures ........................... 116 25 5.5.16.2 Summary of Permanent Effects ..................................................................... 118 26 5.5.16.3 Conservation Approach and Expected Outcomes ......................................... 118 27

5.5.17 Western Spadefoot Toad ....................................................................................... 119 28 5.5.18 Valley Longhorn Beetle ........................................................................................ 119 29

5.5.18.1 Applicable Goals , Objectives and Conservation Measures .......................... 120 30 5.5.18.2 Summary of Permanent Effects ..................................................................... 121 31 5.5.18.3 Conservation Approach and Expected Outcomes ......................................... 121 32

5.6 Benefits of Conservation Measures for Local Concern Species ................................. 122 33 5.6.1 Greater Roadrunner ............................................................................................... 122 34

5.6.1.1 Applicable Conservation Measures ............................................................... 123 35 5.6.1.2 Rationale and Conservation Approach .......................................................... 123 36

5.6.2 Northern Harrier.................................................................................................... 123 37 5.6.2.1 Applicable Conservation Measures ............................................................... 124 38 5.6.2.2 Rationale and Conservation Approach .......................................................... 124 39

5.6.3 Golden Eagle ......................................................................................................... 124 40 5.6.3.1 Applicable Conservation Measures ............................................................... 125 41 5.6.3.2 Rationale and Conservation Approach .......................................................... 125 42

5.6.4 Merlin .................................................................................................................... 126 43 5.6.4.1 Applicable Conservation Measures ............................................................... 126 44 5.6.4.2 Rationale and Conservation Approach .......................................................... 126 45

5.6.5 Prairie Falcon ........................................................................................................ 127 46


Butte Regional Conservation Plan (BRCP) December 2, 2010 Draft Page iv

Table of Contents (continued) 1 2 5.6.5.1 Applicable Conservation Measures ............................................................... 127 3 5.6.5.2 Rationale and Conservation Approach .......................................................... 128 4

5.6.6 Long-eared Owl .................................................................................................... 128 5 5.6.6.1 Applicable Conservation Measures ............................................................... 129 6 5.6.6.2 Rationale and Conservation Approach .......................................................... 129 7

5.6.7 Short-eared Owl .................................................................................................... 129 8 5.6.7.1 Applicable Conservation Measures ............................................................... 130 9 5.6.7.2 Rationale and Conservation Approach .......................................................... 130 10

5.6.8 Willow Flycatcher ................................................................................................. 130 11 5.6.8.1 Applicable Conservation Measures ............................................................... 131 12 5.6.8.2 Rationale and Conservation Approach .......................................................... 131 13

5.6.9 Loggerhead Shrike ................................................................................................ 132 14 5.6.9.1 Applicable Conservation Measures ............................................................... 132 15 5.6.9.2 Rationale and Conservation Approach .......................................................... 132 16

5.6.10 Yellow-billed Magpie ........................................................................................... 133 17 5.6.10.1 Applicable Conservation Measures ............................................................... 133 18 5.6.10.2 Rationale and Conservation Approach .......................................................... 134 19

5.6.11 Horned Lark .......................................................................................................... 134 20 5.6.11.1 Applicable Conservation Measures ............................................................... 135 21 5.6.11.2 Rationale and Conservation Approach .......................................................... 135 22

5.6.12 Purple Martin ........................................................................................................ 135 23 5.6.12.1 Applicable Conservation Measures ............................................................... 136 24 5.6.12.2 Rationale and Conservation Approach .......................................................... 136 25

5.6.13 California Thrasher ............................................................................................... 136 26 5.6.13.1 Applicable Conservation Measures ............................................................... 137 27 5.6.13.2 Rationale and Conservation Approach .......................................................... 137 28

5.6.14 Yellow Warbler ..................................................................................................... 137 29 5.6.14.1 Applicable Conservation Measures ............................................................... 138 30 5.6.14.2 Rationale and Conservation Approach .......................................................... 138 31

5.7 Monitoring Plan .......................................................................................................... 138 32 5.7.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................... 138 33

5.7.1.1 Regulatory Context ........................................................................................ 139 34 5.7.1.2 Monitoring objectives .................................................................................... 140 35 5.7.1.3 Scope, Scale, and Intensity ............................................................................ 141 36 5.7.1.4 Responsibility for the Monitoring Program................................................... 142 37

5.7.2 General Requirements for Monitoring and Surveys ............................................. 143 38 5.7.2.1 Compliance Monitoring ................................................................................. 143 39 5.7.2.2 Preconstruction Surveys and Construction Monitoring................................. 143 40 5.7.2.3 Baseline Ecological Surveys ......................................................................... 144 41 5.7.2.4 Effectiveness Monitoring .............................................................................. 144 42 5.7.2.5 System-Wide Monitoring .............................................................................. 145 43

5.7.3 Development of Specific Monitoring and Survey Plans....................................... 145 44 5.7.3.1 Scientific Standards ....................................................................................... 146 45 5.7.3.2 Review of Monitoring Plans .......................................................................... 147 46


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Table of Contents (continued) 1 2 5.7.3.3 Construction Monitoring Plans ...................................................................... 147 3 5.7.3.4 Effectiveness Monitoring Plans ..................................................................... 147 4 5.7.3.5 System-Wide Monitoring Plans..................................................................... 149 5

5.7.4 Analysis of Monitoring Data ................................................................................ 153 6 5.7.5 Database Development and Maintenance ............................................................. 154 7 5.7.6 Monitoring Schedule and Reporting ..................................................................... 155 8

5.8 Adaptive Management Plan ........................................................................................ 155 9 5.8.1 Adaptive Management Decision Making ............................................................. 157 10

5.8.1.1 Project-Level Adaptive Management ............................................................ 159 11 5.8.1.2 Plan-Level Adaptive Management ................................................................ 159 12

5.8.2 Adaptive Management Process Framework ......................................................... 160 13 5.8.2.1 BRCP Objectives and the Knowledge Base .................................................. 160 14 5.8.2.2 Collect and Manage Data .............................................................................. 160 15 5.8.2.3 Analyze Data, Assimilate Information, and Develop and Recommend 16 Adjustments to Implementation. ..................................................................................... 162 17 5.8.2.4 Follow a Decision Making Process ............................................................... 162 18 5.8.2.5 Implement Modified Conservation Measures, Tools, Metrics, and Targets . 162 19

5.8.3 Internal Scientific Review and Implementation of Changes ................................ 162 20 5.8.4 External Independent Scientific Review ............................................................... 163 21 5.8.5 Applied Research .................................................................................................. 163 22 5.8.6 Program Status Reviews ....................................................................................... 164 23

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Butte Regional Conservation Plan (BRCP) December 2, 2010 Draft Page 1

CHAPTER 5. CONSERVATION STRATEGY 1

Note to Reviewers: This document is a compilation of draft sections of Chapter 5, Conservation 2 Strategy, that have been presented to the Stakeholder Committee through December 1, 2010. 3 This compilation does not include any revisions recommended by the Stakeholder Committee to 4 the original sections. Referenced tables and figures that are not embedded in the text of this 5 document may be accessed on through the links on the same webpage as this document 6 (http://www.buttehcp.com/Document/Chapter_4_-_Admin_Draft_Conservation_Strategy.html). 7 This draft Chapter includes numeric quantities for protection and restoration of natural 8 communities and covered species habitats; these quantities are subject to change pending 9 ongoing evaluation through the BRCP planning process. Conservation strategy elements for the 10 covered vernal pool species is incomplete, pending completion of the strategy for the Butte 11 County meadowfoam, which affects the approach to conservation for the other covered vernal 12 pool species. Information presented in this draft will provide the basis for development of draft 13 cost estimates for implementing the conservation measures and monitoring plan. This draft 14 Chapter will be revised based on review comments and next presented to the Stakeholder 15 Committee as part of the complete administrative draft BRCP HCP/NCCP documents. 16

5.1 INTRODUCTION 17

This chapter presents the Butte Regional Conservation Plan (BRCP) Conservation Strategy, 18 which consists of multiple components that are designed collectively to achieve the BRCP 19 planning goals and conservation objectives, described in Chapter 1, Introduction, and the 20 biological goals and objectives presented in Section 5.3, Biological Goals and Objectives. The 21 Conservation Strategy identifies the intended biological outcomes of the BRCP implementation 22 and describes the means by which these outcomes will be achieved. The Conservation Strategy 23 includes the BRCP biological goals and objectives and a comprehensive set of conservation 24 measures designed to conserve covered species and the natural communities upon which they 25 depend, and to appropriately avoid, minimize, and compensate for the impacts of the covered 26 activities (Chapter 2, Covered Activities) on these resources. The Conservation Strategy also 27 establishes the monitoring and adaptive management programs to ensure the BRCP conservation 28 measures can evolve as new data and information become available. The BRCP Conservation 29 Strategy has been developed to meet the regulatory standards of Section 10 of the federal 30 Endangered Species Act (ESA)1

The elements of the Conservation Strategy are: 33

and the State’s Natural Community Conservation Planning Act 31 (NCCPA). 32

1 The BRCP also provides the necessary information for USFWS and NFMS intra-agency consultations under Section 7 of the ESA to support the permit issuance decisions by these agencies.

http://www.buttehcp.com/Document/Chapter_4_-_Admin_Draft_Conservation_Strategy.html�



• Biological goals and objectives established at landscape, natural community, and species-1 specific scales that represent the intended biological outcomes of BRCP implementation 2 (Section 5.3, Biological Goals and Objectives); 3

• Methods and approach to achieving conservation, including a framework and assembly 4 rules for the development of the system of conservation lands based on the principles of 5 conservation biology (Section 5.2, Methods and Approach); 6

• Conservation measures (Section 5.4, Conservation Measures) to achieve the biological 7 goals and objectives, including measures to avoid and minimize impacts of the covered 8 activities, the implementation of which provides the means for achieving the intended 9 biological outcomes; 10

• A description of how implementation of the conservation measures are expected to 11 conserve each of the covered species and benefit each of the BRCP local concern species 12 (described in Section 5.5, Approach to Providing Conservation for Covered Species and 13 Their Habitats, and Section 5.6, Benefits for Local Concern Species, respectively); 14

• The monitoring plan (Section 5.7, Monitoring Plan) the implementation of which will 15 track progress towards achieving the biological goals and objectives, address 16 uncertainties surrounding the effectiveness of conservation measures in achieving goals 17 and objectives, and provide the information necessary to improve the effectiveness of 18 conservation measures through the adaptive management process; and 19

• The adaptive management plan (Section 5.8, Adaptive Management Plan), which 20 describes implementation of the Conservation Strategy, can be adjusted to improve its 21 effectiveness in achieving the biological goals and objectives based on analysis of 22 monitoring and research results. 23

5.2 Methods and Approach 24

The methods and approach to developing the conservation strategy are described in this section, 25 including the framework of the Conservation Strategy and the development of the aquatic and 26 terrestrial components of the Conservation Strategy. 27

5.2.1 Framework for the Conservation Strategy 28

The Conservation Strategy is designed to meet the regulatory requirements of ESA and the 29 NCCP Act and to streamline compliance with CEQA, NEPA, and other applicable 30 environmental regulations (Chapter 1, Introduction). To meet the NCCP Act permit standards, 31 the Conservation Strategy conserves and provides for the management of covered species by 32 protecting, enhancing, and restoring natural communities and species habitat. The Conservation 33 Strategy also achieves the objectives listed below, pursuant to the NCCP Act (Section 2820). 34



• Conserves, restores, and provides for the management of representative natural and semi-1 natural2

• Establishes reserves that conserve covered species within the BRCP geographic area and 3 linkages to adjacent habitat outside the study area. 4

landscapes. 2

• Protects and maintains habitat areas that are large enough to support sustainable 5 populations of covered species. 6

• Incorporates a range of environmental gradients and high habitat diversity to account for 7 shifting species distributions in response to changing circumstances. 8

• Sustains the effective movement and interchange of organisms between habitat while 9 maintaining the ecological integrity of the Reserve System. 10

The Conservation Strategy is based on the best scientific data available (Chapter 3, Ecological 11 Baseline Conditions and Appendix A, Covered Species Accounts) and was designed using a 12 multi-scale ecological approach in accordance with principles of conservation biology (Noss 13 1987). At the largest scale, biological goals and objectives were developed to encompass 14 ecological processes, environmental gradients, biological diversity, and regional landscape 15 connectivity. Conservation measures were developed to achieve these large scale, or “landscape-16 level,” goals and objectives. At the middle ecological scale, goals, objectives, and conservation 17 measures were developed to address natural communities primarily through the enhancement, 18 restoration, and management of physical habitat. The smallest scale goals, objectives, and 19 conservation measures address additional specific needs (additional to the landscape-level and 20 natural community-level conservation) of covered species to protect and enhance individuals or 21 populations. These “species-level” conservation measures were developed to supplement and 22 focus actions to address the landscape-level and natural community-level of covered species to 23 ensure that all needs of particular species are addressed. Landscape and natural community 24 conservation measures address ecological conditions and processes on which species depend, 25 while species-specific conservation measures address mainly ecological stressors specific to the 26 species. 27

The biological goals and objectives and the conservation measures were developed first at the 28 landscape-level to address the needs of the broadest array of covered natural communities and 29 covered species as possible. Next, each natural community was examined to determine 30 additional conservation measures needed at the natural community level to achieve the biological 31 goals and objectives for each community. Finally, each covered species was evaluated to 32 determine whether species-specific measures would contribute to species conservation in 33 addition to the landscape-level and natural-community-level conservation measures. Using this 34 hierarchical approach, the conservation needs of most covered species can be met at the 35 landscape and natural community levels when implementing species-specific measures for 36

2 A semi-natural landscape is defined as one that is disturbed by human activity but still provides important habitat for a variety of native species.



covered species whose conservation needs could not be fully addressed at the landscape and 1 natural community levels. 2

The conservation measures are described with sufficient detail and specificity to allow for their 3 implementation. Because of the large scale and long timeframe over which the BRCP will be 4 implemented, the conservation measures are also designed to be flexible. For example, natural 5 community level actions provide broad management guidelines and principles so future land 6 managers can implement specific techniques on the ground that are best suited to site conditions. 7 Preserving this flexibility is an important part of the Conservation Strategy. 8

5.2.1.1 Conservation Acquisition Zones 9

To facilitate the development of a spatially explicit conservation strategy, and to ensure that 10 biological goals and objectives are addressed similarly throughout the Planning area, the Plan 11 Area is divided into six Conservation Acquisition Zones (CAZ): Sierra Foothills, Cascade 12 Foothills, Northern Orchards, Southern Orchards, Basin, and Sacramento River (Fig. 5.2.2.). 13 CAZs are large sections of the Plan Area dominated by large scale ecological, geomorphic and 14 land use conditions. Each CAZ supports similar or predominant ecological, topographical and 15 other natural community similarities. 16

The primary purpose of CAZ units is to describe the specific areas in which conservation actions 17 (such as land acquisition and habitat restoration) will occur without identifying individual parcels 18 for the actions. The CAZs are mapped to be large enough such so only a portion of the land 19 within them is necessary to meet the conservation goal. In this way, a willing seller and free 20 market approach can be taken. For each CAZ, specific goals and criteria are identified in the 21 conservation strategy for the preservation of natural communities and species habitats they 22 support such that an organized assembly of the system of conservation lands can be conducted 23 by the BRCP Implementing Entity. While CAZs were generally identified for major natural 24 geomorphic and ecological features, the specific CAZ boundaries were delineated using clearly 25 recognizable features, such as roads and parcel boundaries, to allow for clear recognition of those 26 boundaries for planning and implementation of the BRCP. 27

This approach focuses conservation actions in a spatially explicit manner while maintaining the 28 flexibility to conduct these actions on different parcels to meet the same conservation objectives 29 (i.e., to respond to willing sellers where they arise). The arrangement of the CAZs also provides 30 a mechanism to apply conservation actions at several spatial scales using consistent units (e.g., 31 within a watershed, within a combination of CAZs, or within a single habitat type). 32

In defining BRCP covered activities, 11 Urban Permit Areas (UPAs) were delineated to address 33 impacts and conservation within the urban portion of the Plan Area (Chapter 2, Covered 34 Activities). Thus, the spatial scale that biological goals and objectives were developed against is 35 relevant biologically through the CAZs and also related to, and put in context with, the UPAs, 36



which are the areas in which most of the future development and impacts on biological resources 1 are projected to occur. 2

Brief descriptions of major features of the CAZs are listed below: 3

• Sierra Foothills CAZ is dominated by the geologic features that define the foothills of 4 the Sierra Nevada within the Plan Area. Highway 70 was used as an easy way to identify 5 the boundary between the Sierra Foothills and Cascade Foothills CAZs, though the actual 6 geologic boundary is just north of Highway 70. Highways 70 and 99 were used as easy 7 way to identify boundaries between the Sierra Foothill CAZ and the Southern Orchard 8 and Basin CAZs. This CAZ encompasses portions of several major geomorphic 9 formations including Lovejoy, Riverbank, Ione and Laguna formations. The land cover is 10 dominated by grasslands, vernal pool terrain, and oak woodlands and savanna natural 11 communities; Lake Oroville and associated forebay and afterbay; and the urban and rural 12 residential communities associated with the City of Oroville. 13

• Cascade Foothills CAZ is dominated by the geologic features that define the foothills of 14 the Cascade Range within the Plan Area. Highway 70 was used as an easy way to 15 identify boundary between the Cascade Foothills and Sierra Foothills CAZs, though the 16 actual geologic boundary is just north of Highway 70. Highway 99 was used as easy way 17 to identify boundary between the Cascade Foothill CAZ and the Northern Orchard CAZ. 18 This CAZ encompasses portions of the Tuscan, Riverbank and Red Bluff geomorphic 19 formations. The land cover is dominated by grasslands, vernal pool terrain, and oak 20 woodlands and savanna natural communities and the urban and rural residential 21 communities associated with the City of Chico. 22

• Northern Orchards CAZ is dominated by orchards and lies on more recent and coarser 23 textured alluvial soils between the flood plain of the Sacramento River and Highway 99 24 which generally corresponds to the break in the slope at the toe of the Cascade Foothills. 25 While this CAZ is dominated by the Modesto geomorphic formation, at the northern end 26 of the CAZ there is an area comprised of the older Riverbank and Red Bluff formations. 27 The northern boundary of the CAZ corresponds to the border of Butte County while the 28 southern boundary with the Basin CAZ roughly corresponds to the northern extent of 29 finer textured basin soils and areas of rice production and follows parcel boundaries and 30 the channel of Butte Creek. 31

• Southern Orchards CAZ is dominated by orchards and, similar to the Northern Orchard 32 CAZ, lies on more recent and coarser textured alluvial soils between finer textured basin 33 soils and rice production in the Basin CAZ to the west and Highway 70 to the east. The 34 northern end of the CAZ follows the southern border of the Thermalito Afterbay while 35 the southern boundary corresponds to the border of Butte County. 36



• Basin CAZ is dominated by rice production, duck clubs, and DFG wildlife refuges. Its 1 western border is Butte Creek and the Butte County line and its southern border is also 2 the county line. Its northern and southeastern borders are demarcated by parcel 3 boundaries between the Northern Orchard and Southern Orchard CAZs that generally 4 mark soil transitions. Its northeastern border follows Highway 99. 5

• Sacramento River CAZ is dominated by riparian forest and scrub, managed wetlands, 6 irrigated cropland, and orchards on soils associated with the Sacramento River formed by 7 natural levee, channel, and basin deposits. Seven Mile Road and River Road mark the 8 eastern boundary of the CAZ, separating it from areas dominated by rice land and 9 orchards in the Basin and Northern Orchards CAZs. 10

5.2.2 Information Sources and Species Habitat Models 11

Primary sources of information used to develop the Conservation Strategy include: 12

• Ecological information presented in Chapter 3, Ecological Baseline Information; 13

• Covered species life history and status information presented in Appendix A, Covered 14 Species Accounts; 15

• Recommendations provided by the BRCP Independent Science Advisory Panel (see 16 Appendix __, Independent Science Advisors report; 17

• Relevant USFWS and NMFS biological opinions; 18

• The Recovery Plan for Vernal Pool Ecosystems of California and Southern Oregon 19 (USFWS 2005); 20

• The public draft recovery plan for Central Valley salmonids (NMFS 2009); 21

• Previously prepared species conservation and management plans applicable to the Plan 22 Area; 23

• Information provided by technical experts familiar with the ecological resources of and 24 conservation opportunities in the Plan Area; and 25

• Information provided by USFWS, NMFS, and DFG resource experts. 26

The covered species habitat models presented in Appendix A, Covered Species Accounts, which 27 model the distribution and extent of covered species habitats within the Plan Area, were used to 28 develop the habitat conservation targets for each of the CAZs (Section 5.2.3.3, Conservation 29 Targets). 30



1



5.2.3 Assembly of Conservation Lands 1

5.2.3.1 Regulatory Context 2

A key aspect of a NCCP is to describe the proposed design of the preserve system3

The plan provides for the protection of habitat, natural communities, and species 6 diversity on a landscape or ecosystem level through the creation and long-term 7 management of habitat reserves or other measures that provide equivalent 8 conservation of covered species appropriate for land, aquatic, and marine 9 habitats within the plan area. [Section 2820(3)]. 10

within the 3 Plan Area. The NCCPA requires that a preserve system or equivalent conservation be described 4 in the plan: 5

The preserve system does not need to be specifically described with demarcated boundaries on a 11 map, but rather can be described based on a defined process driven by a set of design criteria. 12 These design criteria are addressed through the BRCP conservation land assembly principles 13 described in Section 5.2.3.5, Conservation Land Assembly Principles. 14

5.2.3.2 Addressing Ecological Conditions and Processes 15

The NCCP Act requires that the plan address the conservation of ecosystem functions, 16 environmental gradients, biological diversity, and shifting species distributions. A well prepared 17 HCP under the ESA also addresses these issues, though there is no specific regulatory 18 requirement to do so under the ESA. Conservation of biological diversity in the Plan Area is 19 addressed through a number of conservation measures. 20

• The conservation strategy includes conservation land assembly principles and habitat 21 management measures to address ecological processes. The configuration of BRCP 22 conservation lands (size, shape, and proximity to developed land) can have a profound 23 effect on the type and effectiveness of habitat management techniques that can be used 24 (e.g., managed grazing, controlled fire, and stream flow management). Habitat 25 management measures to create disturbance regimes and a mosaic of successional seres 26 also serve to maintain biodiversity 27

• Landscape-level goals address the spatial distribution of natural communities on major 28 geomorphic surfaces or landforms in the Plan Area (e.g., Tuscan Formation Grasslands, 29 Sierran Oak Woodlands, Red Bluff Formation Vernal Pool and Swale Complexes). This 30 approach conserves the natural communities and biodiversity associated with each of the 31 geomorphic landforms. 32

3 The terms “preserve” and “reserve” refer to any area of land or water used in implementing the HCP/NCCP to achieve the conservation goals of the plan. These areas may be fee title or conservation easement acquisitions and may include existing, restored, created, or enhanced habitat. The preserve system refers to the complete assemblage of preserves within the Plan Area. The BRCP refers to this “preserve system” as the “BRCP conservation lands.”



• Measures to protect environmental gradients also protect biodiversity. Environmental 1 gradients are important to biodiversity, individual and population movement and 2 migration, and shifting species distributions. The landscape-level goals and objectives 3 are designed to direct the distribution of and spatial relationships among BRCP 4 conservation lands so natural environmental gradients present in the Plan Area will be 5 protected. Regional climate change as a result of factors causing global climate change is 6 anticipated to result in shifting species distributions within the Plan Area. Based on 7 predicted changes in local climate it is anticipated that species will shift their 8 distributions to higher altitudes and higher latitudes. Thus, protecting natural 9 environmental gradients across elevations in the Plan Area will provide an appropriate 10 range of conditions to accommodate these distributional shifts. 11

• Conservation land assembly principles addressing minimum patch sizes and connectivity 12 for each natural community also support conservation of biodiversity. Species with the 13 largest range and movement requirements and species that are most sensitive to 14 movement barriers were used to set minimum thresholds for protection of natural 15 communities and thus serve as appropriate parameters for addressing these habitat 16 requirements for other native Plan Area species. 17

5.2.3.3 Conservation Targets 18

Conservation targets were established for the natural communities and the covered species 19 habitats they support. Conservation targets represent the extent and distribution of habitat to be 20 protected, enhanced, and restored/created to achieve the biological goals and objectives and meet 21 the regulatory requirements of the ESA and the NCCP Act. The Conservation Strategy includes 22 monitoring to assess the effectiveness of habitat enhancement, restoration, and management 23 actions and to identify the need for subsequent management actions that may be necessary to 24 maintain or improve habitat functions over time (Section 5.7, Monitoring Plan). Conservation 25 targets encompass actions sufficient to provide for the habitat-related conservation needs of the 26 covered species. 27

The conservation targets for natural communities and covered species are presented in Tables 5-28 1 and 5-2, respectively. The process used to develop conservation targets is presented in Figure 29 5-1. 30

31



1 2



The information used to develop the conservation targets for both natural community and 1 covered species included: 2

• Distribution and extent of each natural community within the Plan Area (Figures 3-11 3 through 3-18); 4

• Distribution and extent of each covered species’ modeled habitat that is located within 5 the Plan Area (Appendix A, Covered Species Accounts); 6

• Primary threats and stressors for each of the covered species (Appendix A, Covered 7 Species Accounts); 8

• Location of habitat areas known to be occupied by each of the covered species (Appendix 9 A, Covered Species Accounts); and 10

• The distribution and extent of existing protected patches of each natural community and 11 covered species habitat (Figure 5-2 and Section 5.2.3.6, Existing Protected Lands). 12

To establish the conservation targets, the above information was evaluated for each of the 13 following variables: 14

• The patch size and connectivity of each natural community with other natural 15 community patches. With the exception of species with limited habitat requirements 16 and distributions (e.g., Butte County meadowfoam), the conservation targets were 17 formulated to include large patches of connected natural communities rather than small 18 fragmented patches. 19

• The proportion of each natural community type currently protected within each of 20 the CAZs. 21

• The extent of modeled habitat for covered species that is supported by each natural 22 community within each of the CAZs. The conservation targets were formulated to 23 include the portions of natural communities that support modeled habitat for multiple 24 species, and exclude areas that supported modeled habitat for no or a relatively small 25 number of species, except where patches are important to conserve a particular species. 26

• The patch size and connectivity of each covered species modeled habitat to other 27 patches of protected and unprotected modeled species habitat within the Plan Area. 28 The conservation targets were formulated to include large patches of connected modeled 29 habitat for each of the covered species and to exclude small fragmented patches. 30

• Location of important known covered wildlife species population centers and 31 covered plant species occurrences. The conservation targets were formulated to protect 32 a proportion of these habitat areas such that these populations and occurrences will be 33 conserved. 34

35



1 2



• Proximity of covered species modeled habitats to known occupied habitat. The 1 conservation targets were formulated to protect occupied habitats, as well as unoccupied 2 habitat areas that are connected to known occupied habitat areas such that, with 3 implementation of enhancement measures, unoccupied habitats can be occupied in the 4 future. 5

Covered species habitat conservation targets were further established through an iterative process 6 that involved: 7

• Evaluating a set of criteria (see below) based on the conservation status of each covered 8 species and need for protecting its habitat to contribute to its conservation; and 9

• Using these criteria ratings to assign an overall priority rating and associated habitat 10 conservation goal; and 11

• Re-evaluating and adjusting of the goals based on individual species conservation needs 12 that were not fully captured through application of the criteria. 13

The following criteria were used to evaluate the conservation needs of each of the covered 14 species for the Plan Area. The application of these criteria to each of the covered species is 15 presented in Table 5-3. Results of this evaluation were used to guide development of habitat 16 restoration and protection targets. 17

• Listing status. The listed status of a covered species under the Endangered Species Act 18 (ESA) and California Endangered Species Act (CESA) is a general indication of the 19 species overall ecological status, representing the results of a formal evaluation process 20 with scientific and public input. Species that have been designated as Species of Concern 21 by USFWS and Species of Special Concern by DFG have undergone a scientific review 22 that identified a concern with their conservation status. The listing status of each covered 23 species was rated qualitatively as “high” (listed under ESA or CESA as threatened or 24 endangered), “Moderate” (recognized as a USFWS Species of Concern or DFG Species 25 of Special Concern or on CNPS list 1B), or “Low” (not federally- or state-listed, on lists 26 of concern, or on CNPS list 1B). 27

• Population and Habitat Trend. Although the formal listing process evaluates the status 28 of populations and trends, the resulting listings do not always reflect the current status of 29 the species. For example, some non-listed species have not been evaluated for listing 30 despite substantive information indicating population declines, while some listed species 31 remain as formally listed well after substantial population recovery has been documented. 32 Therefore, rather than using listing status as the sole surrogate for population and habitat 33 trends for species, this criterion more directly evaluates current information on the status 34 of the species populations. Evaluation of this criterion was based on information 35 presented in Appendix A, Covered Species Accounts. Species for which Butte County 36 occurrences are important to their range-wide conservation were considered of high 37



conservation priority. The importance of occurrences in Butte County to the overall 1 population of a species was determined based on information presented in Appendix A, 2 Covered Species Accounts, and on information regarding density and productivity of 3 Butte County occurrences or populations relative to other portions of the species’ range. 4 The following qualitative criterion ratings were used: “High” - Butte County supports 5 more than 25 percent of statewide habitat or populations for the species, “Moderate” - 6 Butte County supports 5-25 percent of habitat or populations for the species, and “Low” - 7 Butte County supports less than 5 percent of statewide habitat or populations for the 8 species. 9

• Degree to Which Butte County Habitat is Limiting to Local Populations. This 10 criterion addresses whether habitat is the limiting factor that determines the number of 11 occurrences or size of species populations in Butte County. Although many covered 12 species populations are regulated by availability of suitable habitat, populations for a 13 number of species are either influenced by or strongly controlled by other factors, 14 including competing species, availability of seasonal habitats elsewhere, predators, and 15 disease. Species whose populations are not regulated by local habitat availability 16 therefore may not need protection of a large proportion of existing habitat to contribute to 17 their conservation and instead require actions that address other ecological stressors. 18 Habitat limitation for species was judged qualitatively based on existing information on 19 limiting factors to populations, the relative amounts of habitat available, and known 20 species populations or population trends as: “High” - Habitat quantity and quality is a 21 primary limitation to the size of local populations, “Moderate” - Local habitat may affect 22 population sizes, but may also be determined by other factors, such as amount and quality 23 of other seasonal habitats) and “Low” - Populations are limited by other than local habitat 24 factors (e.g., disease, competition, predation, availability of other seasonal habitats or the 25 species habitat model likely overestimates the extent of species habitat). 26

• Rarity of Habitat in Butte County. The amount of available habitat is an important 27 influence on the population size and therefore population status for a species. 28 Considering the high degree of variability in the size of area needed by individuals, it is 29 difficult to use a single standard to evaluate habitat availability and its effect on the 30 conservation status of species. Nonetheless, as one factor to consider in assigning habitat 31 goals to species, it is appropriate to assign higher priority to species for which less habitat 32 is available. The categories describing habitat abundance were set to be conservative, in 33 that they reflect needs of species with larger home ranges, and species with smaller home 34 ranges (and therefore higher total populations) may require conservation of fewer habitat 35 units than represented here. The following qualitative criterion ratings were used: 36 “High” - Less than 10,000 acres of modeled habitat present in Butte County. “Moderate” 37 - 10,000-100,000 acres of modeled habitat present in Butte County) and “Low” - More 38 than 100,000 acres of modeled habitat present in Butte County). 39



The rationale for how the conservation targets presented in Tables 5-1 and 5-2 address the 1 conservation needs for each of the covered species is presented in Section 5.5, Approach to 2 Providing for the Conservation of Covered Species and their Habitat. A description of how 3 achieving the conservation targets are also expected to benefit local concern species is presented 4 in Section 5.6, Benefits for Local Concern Species. 5

Actions that provide for the conservation of the covered species and their habitats include habitat 6 protection, enhancement, restoration, and management. Conservation actions also include 7 targeted species-specific actions, including drawing from approaches identified in recovery 8 plans. For example, a recovery plan may identify a specific habitat enhancement action that 9 should be implemented at a particular location occupied by the species that is necessary to 10 support that species’ recovery. 11

Mitigation Component of Conservation Targets. [Note to Reviewers: The extent of BRCP 12 compensatory habitat mitigation is a subset of the overall conservation targets for each covered 13 species. This section is in preparation and will describe the approach to mitigating effects of 14 BRCP covered activities to address with permit issuance requirements of section 10 of the ESA.] 15

5.2.3.4 Spatial Criteria for Preserve Design 16

Spatial considerations are important in conservation preserve design. The development of a 17 preserve system for covered species is intricately linked to dynamic landscape processes (e.g., 18 dispersal, seasonal distribution, migration, metapopulation structure). 19

The NCCP reserve design tenets are based on numerous studies and theoretical components of 20 the discipline of conservation biology (Kirkpatrick 1983; Margules et al. 1988; Vane-Wright et 21 al. 1991; Nicholls & Margules 1993; Pressey et al. 1993, 1996, 1997; Church et al. 1996; Ando 22 et al. 1998; Polasky et al. 2001). 23

Typically, diversity, rarity, naturalness, size and representativeness are the most widely used 24 design criteria for preserve systems (Margules et al. 1988). Other considerations include island 25 biogeography design principles (MacArthur and Wilson 1963, 1967). These are: (1) area effect - 26 the larger the preserve, the greater the species richness (i.e., species/area relationship) and the 27 greater the chances of long-term viability of populations (more individuals); (2) isolation or 28 distance effect - the less the distance between reserve units, the greater the opportunity for gene 29 flow, colonization, and rescue effect (e.g., also see Brown and Kodric-Brown 1977); (3) species 30 equilibrium - the number of species that an area can support is determined by a balance between 31 colonization and extinction; and (4) Edge Effect - the larger the ratio of reserve area to reserve 32 perimeter, the lesser the Edge Effect. An Edge Effect is defined as a change in the "conditions or 33 species composition within an otherwise uniform habitat as one approaches a boundary with a 34 different habitat (Ricklefs 1993)." Edge Effects at the boundary between natural lands and 35 human-occupied lands ("urban edge effects") arise due to human-related intrusions such as 36 unofficial youth recreational activities, invasive species, feral predators (dogs, cats), lighting, 37



noise, off-road activities, contaminants, and other disturbances. Although some species may be 1 unaffected by edges or even show preferences for them, human-induced edge effects are 2 generally unfavorable to native species. 3

Patch size is related to the concept of ecological thresholds (i.e., a point or zone at which a 4 relatively rapid change occurs from one condition to another, Huggett 2005). For example, some 5 species are limited in the maximum distance between patches they will cross, or in the minimum 6 habitat patch a species requires to fulfill its reproductive needs. Most special-status species are 7 area-sensitive and breed or forage only in patches exceeding a certain minimum size. In 8 addition, rates of predation or nest parasitism may increase as patch size declines (Donovan et al. 9 1995, Robinson et al. 1995, Tewksbury et al. 2006.) Patch configuration is important for various 10 factors. If patches are spatially aggregated, they are prone to suffer simultaneously from large-11 scale disturbances, such as fires or floods. 12

A particularly important spatial requirement is the connectivity of landscapes, which has been 13 shown to influence the persistence of metapopulations (a number of distinct populations of a 14 species in the same general area). Landscape connectivity is a measure of "the degree to which 15 the landscape facilitates or impedes movement among resource patches" (Taylor et al. 1993). 16 Impaired or reduced connectivity within a landscape increases habitat fragmentation and 17 isolation, which in turn can lead to lower species diversity (Bolger et al. 1997, Bolger et al. 18 2000) or extinction of local populations (Hanski 1994, Gu et al. 2020, Nabe-Nielsen et al. 2010). 19 If patches are too distant from each other or separated by an inhospitable “matrix”, species may 20 not re-colonize patches or may suffer from genetic isolation. Populations are thus more likely to 21 persist in larger, better connected habitat fragments. It is the challenge of an effective preserve 22 strategy to relate the structural connectivity (among map elements) to the functional connectivity 23 (the response of individuals to the landscape’s structure). 24

Wildlife movement corridors are increasingly considered as an important management concept 25 that can aid in the enhancement of landscape connectivity (Price et al. 1994, Beier and Noss 26 1998). Movement corridors are often linear and facilitate efficient movement by providing 27 adequate cover and lack of physical obstacles for movement (Beier and Loe 1992), but generally 28 do not provide a full complement of life history requirements. Linkages, in contrast, provide 29 resources that meet the life history requirements for the species as well as movement habitat for a 30 particular species. Landscape linkages are capable of sustaining a full range of 31 community/ecosystem processes, such as seed dispersal and animal movement over a period of 32 generations (USFWS 1999). Because habitat connections may function only as movement 33 corridors for some species, but provide a linkage others, the focus is on identifying linkages, 34 assuming that they do not constrain movement for the majority of covered species. Linkages, 35 therefore, serve to ameliorate habitat fragmentation and isolation. 36

37



5.2.3.5 Conservation Land Assembly Principles 1

The term “assembly” refers to a mechanism used in regional conservation planning to describe 2 desired land and habitat characteristics, and to guide selection of high-value conservation lands 3 during plan development and plan implementation. Spatial considerations that address 4 landscape-level needs of the covered species (e.g., dispersal, seasonal distribution, migration, 5 metapopulation structure) are important in ensuring that conservation lands are assembled in a 6 manner that achieves the biological goals and objectives. The NCCP General Process Guidelines 7 and NCCP Act (CDFG 1998) describe reserve design tenets which provide the framework for the 8 conservation planning process and can be summarized as follows: 9

• Conserve covered species and their habitats throughout the Plan Area; 10

• Conserve large habitat blocks; 11

• Conserve habitat diversity; 12

• Keep reserves contiguous and connected; and 13

• Protect reserves from encroachment and invasion by non-native species. 14

The conservation land assembly principles are consistent with these tenants and have been 15 developed to provide guidance to the Implementing Entity in its evaluation and selection of 16 conservation lands to ensure that the biological goals and objectives are achieved. The assembly 17 principles include considerations for ecosystem process and habitat functions, habitat-related 18 requirements for associated covered species, and broad ecological and management 19 characteristics of lands that will be evaluated by the Implementing Entity for conservation under 20 the BRCP. Potential conservation lands will be selected for protection by the Implementing 21 Entity based on the extent to which they meet the following assembly principles: 22

1. Protect patches of natural communities that support the highest functioning habitat for 23 covered species that are available consistent with the BRCP implementation schedule. 24

2. Select lands for conservation that are of sufficient size and configuration to ensure that 25 they can be effectively managed given site constraints. 26

3. Give priority to selection of lands with ecological functions that will serve to achieve 27 multiple biological objectives. 28

4. Select lands with high connectivity to other habitat areas that support life history 29 functions of the target covered species that are not supported by the habitats that would 30 be protected (e.g., acquire Swainson’s hawk riparian nesting habitat that are located 31 within the foraging flight distance of Swainson’s hawk to foraging habitat areas). 32

5. Maximize connections to conservation lands within and outside of the Plan Area. 33

6. Give priority to selection of lands known to be occupied by covered species or that are 34 connected to occupied habitat. 35



7. For protection of oak savanna and woodland and grassland natural communities, give 1 priority to selection of lands that support seeps and springs or provide watershed 2 protection for salmon and steelhead spawning habitat in Butte Creek or Big Chico Creek. 3

8. Give priority to lands that support the most reliable hydrology for maintaining protected 4 natural communities and habitats into the future. 5

9. Give priority to acquisition of patches oak woodland and savanna, and grassland that 6 support springs and seeps, particularly those that support habitat for California black rail. 7

The following describes important conservation land assembly concepts embedded within the 8 assembly principles. 9

Patch Size. Applying conservation protection to larger units of land supporting natural 10 communities and covered species habitats contributes to achieving a variety of conservation 11 goals and objectives. Larger land areas provide for species with larger home range sizes, such as 12 large mammals and raptors. Larger units also are more likely to support more species, larger 13 populations of covered species, and more diverse ecological conditions at varied elevations. 14 Large conservation parcels have a lower edge to area ratio, and therefore have less potential to 15 experience detrimental effects of adjacent land uses. In addition, larger parcels often provide 16 more ecological functions, such as supporting pollinator and prey populations, and they can be 17 more efficiently managed than several smaller parcels encompassing the same land area. 18

Desired minimum patch sizes that will be used to guide the Implementing Entity in its 19 acquisition of each natural community are presented in Table 5.4. These minimum patch sizes 20 were selected based on the habitat requirements of “planning species” selected for this purpose. 21 The selected planning species have the largest habitat patch size requirements among native 22 species inhabiting each of the natural communities, thus, achieving the patch size requirements 23 for these species fulfills achieving the patch size requirements of all the covered species 24 associated with each of the natural communities. These minimum desired patch sizes may be 25 attained by acquiring smaller patches of the natural community that adjoin other existing 26 protected patches of a size sufficient to achieve the overall patch size objective. To also achieve 27 the habitat acquisition targets for some species, it may not be possible to acquire natural 28 communities in the recommended patch sizes. In these instances, the minimum covered species 29 habitat patch size requirements listed in Table 5-5 will be used to guide acquisition of 30 conservation lands. 31

Connectivity with Existing Habitat Areas. The life history requirements of many of the 32 covered wildlife species are supplied by several habitat types that are located within the 33 movement distance of the target covered species. Consequently, it is important that habitat types 34 on lands protected under BRCP be located within the movement distance of the target covered 35 species to lands supporting other habitat types required by the covered species. The habitat 36 connectivity considerations for each of the covered wildlife and fish species that will be used by 37 the Implementing Entity to guide selection of conservation lands for acquisition are presented in 38 Table 5-5. 39



Covered Species Occurrence. Conservation of habitat for the covered species is a primary 1 purpose of the BRCP. In general, areas that support more covered species or larger populations 2 of covered species will receive priority for selection as conservation lands. The estimated extent 3 of habitat that will need to be conserved to achieve the goals and objectives was based on 4 presently known species occurrences and species habitat models (Appendix A, Covered Species 5 Accounts). Land protection thus will be guided by accumulating information on species 6 occurrences, to ensure protection of areas of known species occurrence (rather than relying 7 solely on predicted occurrence based on species habitat models). 8

Natural Disturbance Regimes. Erosion, sedimentation, floods, fire, drought, storms and 9 herbivory are important ecosystem processes that have formed and maintained the natural 10 diversity of the Plan Area. The ability to maintain these natural disturbance processes, as well as 11 other ecosystem processes, is important to maintaining natural diversity. Management efforts 12 such as prescribed burning may be required to restore or maintain ecological processes. 13 Conservation lands will be selected based in part on the degree to which natural hydrologic and 14 other physical disturbance processes are intact. 15

Relationship to Existing Conservation Areas. The Implementing Entity will give preference 16 to acquisition of conservation lands that adjoin or may be linked to other protected lands, in 17 balance with other conservation land assembly needs (i.e., to achieve wide geographic 18 representation of habitats). Proximity of lands to, and linkage with existing open space 19 efficiently increases the ability to protect areas of large size, which in turn are better suited to 20 support mobile species and metapopulations, allow greater management flexibility (e.g., 21 prescribed fire), and buffer conservation lands from external disturbances. Establishing linkages 22 among protected lands will reduce the uncertainty brought by land use change or a source-sink 23 habitat matrix. As lands are protected during Plan Implementation, decisions regarding selection 24 of subsequent lands to be protected will be based in part on the configuration of conservation 25 lands in place at that time. 26

Compatibility with Other Conservation Programs. The Implementing Entity will give 27 preference to acquisition of conservation lands that also serve to achieve other regional and local 28 conservation programs where those other programs are compatible and consistent with BRCP 29 goals and objectives. For example, protecting lands that contribute to achieving the goals and 30 objectives of the California Essential Habitat Connectivity Project (CALTRANS and DFG 2010) 31 and that provide connectivity with habitat planned for protection in adjacent counties (e.g., 32 Yuba-Sutter HCP/NCCP), and areas of specific local concern, such as protecting watershed 33 conditions that are important salmon or steelhead fish runs in Butte County streams (e.g., Butte 34 Creek, Big Chico Creek). 35

Adjacent Sources of Disturbance. Adjacent developed and disturbed areas, including roads, 36 towns, and agricultural lands, have the potential to introduce a variety of influences that may 37 disrupt natural processes and degrade resource values, including noxious weeds, pesticide drift, 38 incursion by free-ranging pets and non-native wildlife, unplanned fire ignitions, ground 39



disturbance from trespass use, noise, poaching, spread of disease and other disturbances 1 (Possingham et al. 2000; Shafer 2001). Effects of adjacent land uses and effects of conservation 2 land management on adjacent land uses will be considered in selecting conservation lands and 3 prescribing management to protect and enhance values. 4

5.2.3.6 Existing Protected Lands 5

An important consideration in the assembly of BRCP conservation lands is the extent and 6 distribution of existing protected lands that conserve natural communities and covered species 7 habitats. The BRCP Protected Lands GIS dataset was developed to identify existing 8 conservation lands within the BRCP Plan Area. It was compiled from various public sources 9 from different time periods. Ownership information was collected and organized into attributes 10 which included: County, County Assessor’s Parcel Number (APN), Management Level, 11 Management Agency, Alias (if known), Type (type of ownership), and Data Source. Although 12 the boundaries depicted within the data do not represent legal boundaries, they represent the best 13 available information and were considered to be sufficient to guide development of the preserve 14 system at a landscape level. 15

The public dataset sources used to generate the BRCP Protected Lands GIS data layer included: 16

• CDFG Lands GIS data layer 2010; 17

• California Protected Areas Database March 2009; 18

• Wildlife Conservation Board, 2010; 19

• GreenInfo 2007; 20

• CaSIL Conservation Lands data layer 2005; 21

• CA Public, Conservation and Trust Lands, v5.2; and 22

• Butte County Land Parcel Data. 23

In addition to these public data sources, BRCP Stakeholder Committee members, including 24 representatives from The Nature Conservancy and the Northern California Land Trust, also 25 provided proprietary protected lands information and online web searches were conducted to 26 identify additional protected lands and associated spatial extents and cross reference the GIS data 27 layers to ensure accuracy. 28

The data layer was created by overlaying source data on top of county parcel boundary data. 29 Parcels identified as protected lands via source datasets were then attributed with the appropriate 30 information. 31

Based on the ownership information derived from the above sources the data was evaluated and 32 grouped into three primary categories defined as follows. 33



• Category 1 protected lands: Lands that are subject to irrevocable protection against a 1 change in primary land use through local, state or federal authority and with a primary 2 management goal related to ecological protection. 3

• Category 2 protected lands: Lands that are subject to irrevocable protection against a 4 change in primary land use through local, state or federal authority with a primary land 5 management goal assessed to be that of open space for mixed use in a manner that 6 maintains ecological value. 7

• Category 3 protected lands: Lands that are subject to irrevocable protection against a 8 change in primary land use through local, state or federal authority. However, these lands 9 are not managed primarily for ecological protection nor are they managed as open space 10 for mixed use in a way that maintains ecological value. 11

Properties excluded from consideration included those owned by the Department of Defense and 12 city parks not being managed for ecological function. Figure 5-3 illustrates a decision matrix 13 that was applied to assign protection categories. The distribution of existing protected lands by 14 CAZ is presented in Figure 5.2. The extent of each natural community and covered species 15 habitat in each of the Conservation Acquisition Zones is presented in Table 5-6 and Table 5-7, 16 respectively. 17

18



1

2

3

4



5.3 Biological Goals and Objectives 1

This section describes the biological goals and objectives for the BRCP. The BRCP biological 2 goals and objectives are consistent with the guidance provided in the federal Five-Point Policy 3 for Habitat Conservation Plans (65 FR No. 106 at 35242, June 1, 2000) and with the BRCP 4 Planning Agreement conservation goals and objectives. Biological goals are defined as broad 5 guiding principles for development of the conservation strategy that can be parsed into more 6 manageable subsets of biological objectives. These biological goals are intended to be broad 7 principles designed to guide the conservation strategy to meet the statutory criteria of the 8 NCCPA and sections 7 and 10 of the ESA. The objectives, in turn, provide measureable metrics 9 by which to assess progress in meeting the goals and to help inform the adaptive management 10 process (see Section 5.8, Adaptive Management Plan). Potential metrics that may be used to 11 measure progress towards achieving the biological objectives are presented in Section 5.7, 12 Monitoring Plan. The biological goals and objectives were used to develop the conservation 13 measures described in Section 5.4, Conservation Measures, and will be used by the 14 Implementing Entity to guide BRCP implementation. 15

5.3.1 Development of Biological Goals and Objectives 16

Development of the biological goals and objectives was based on the following data and 17 information: 18

• Distribution and extent of each natural community within the Plan Area (see Chapter 2, 19 Existing Ecological Conditions); 20

• Distribution and extent of each covered species’ modeled habitat within the Plan Area 21 (see Appendix A, Covered Species Accounts); 22

• Primary threats and stressors for each of the covered species (see Appendix A, Covered 23 Species Accounts); 24

• Location of habitat areas known to be occupied by each of the covered species (see 25 Appendix A, Covered Species Accounts); 26

• Distribution and extent of existing protected patches of each natural community and 27 covered species habitat (Figure 5-2); 28

• Potential for increasing connectivity with conserved habitat areas adjacent to the Plan 29 Area (from documents of HCP/NCCPs approved or under development for lands that are 30 adjacent to the Plan Area); and 31

• Information provided by experts with species-specific knowledge for the BRCP Plan 32 Area. 33



Biological Goals and Objectives were developed at three spatial scales: 1

• Landscape-level goals and objectives are designed to provide functioning ecosystems, 2 sufficient habitat for covered species, and to maintain the biological diversity of the Plan 3 Area. Landscape-level goals and objectives provide for the maintenance of linkages along 4 elevation gradients, protection of intact watersheds, protection and restoration of habitat 5 mosaics, appropriate disturbance and successional regimes, and establishment of 6 conservation lands units of appropriate size and shape. Landscape-level goals and objectives 7 address the conservation requirements of species that have large ranges or that migrate 8 between various distinct seasonal habitats (e.g., summer and winter range) as well as 9 specialist species restricted to small patches of unique habitat (e.g., seeps, large vernal pools, 10 alkali soils). 11

• Natural community goals and objectives are designed to provide for the appropriate amounts, 12 distribution, and configuration of natural communities to conserve covered species and 13 biodiversity in the Plan Area. Goals and objectives were established based on the broad 14 needs of biological communities as determined through application of the conservation land 15 assembly principles (see Section 5.2.3.5, Conservation Land Assembly Principles), and the 16 conservation needs for the covered species habitats provided by each of the natural 17 communities. Natural community protection objectives were established as described in 18 Section 5.2.3.3, Conservation Targets, and are expressed as an extent of habitat conservation 19 (in acres) for each covered species by CAZ. The target amount of unprotected natural 20 communities to be conserved (both protection and restoration) for each natural community is 21 provided in Table 5.1. 22

• Species-specific biological goals are designed to address individual species habitat 23 requirements. Species-specific habitat objectives were established as described in Section 24 5.2.3.3, Conservation Targets, and are expressed as an extent of habitat conservation (in 25 acres) for each covered species by CAZ. The target amount of unprotected habitat to be 26 conserved (both habitat protection and restoration) for each covered species is provided in 27 Table 5.2. 28

5.3.2 Goal and Objective Statements 29

This section presents the landscape-level, natural community-level, and covered species-level 30 biological goals and objectives. Each goal and objective is assigned a unique alpha-numeric 31 code that will assist with monitoring BRCP implementation. Many of the conservation measures 32 address multiple goals and objectives, reflecting both the hierarchy of these goals and objectives 33 and the inter-relationships among them. 34

Definitions of covered species habitats and natural communities referred to in the biological 35 goals and objectives are presented in section 2.3.1 of Chapter 2, Existing Ecological Conditions, 36 and in Appendix A, Covered Species Accounts. The objectives are measurable and the schedule 37



for implementing conservation measures to achieve the objectives is presented in Chapter 6, Plan 1 Implementation. 2

Most of the biological goals and objectives are designed at least to maintain current populations 3 of covered and other native species in the Planning area. In some cases, populations of covered 4 species are expected to increase as a result of land protection, habitat management, habitat 5 enhancement, habitat restoration, habitat creation, and improved water management. 6 Conservation measures that will collectively achieve all of the biological objectives are presented 7 in Table 5.8. 8

5.3.2.1 Landscape-Level Goals and Objectives 9

Goal LAND1: Protect large landscapes within the range of physical and biological attributes 10 (e.g., slope, soils, hydrology, climate, plant associations) in the Plan Area to sustain covered 11 species abundance and habitat and preserve native biodiversity. 12

Objective LAND1.1: Establish a system of protected lands in the Plan Area that protects 13 the quantities and patch sizes of each natural community indicated in Table 5.9. 14

Table 5.9. Extent and Minimum Patch Sizes of Protected Covered Natural Communities

Natural Community Extent to Protect

(acres) Minimum Patch Size

(acres) Oak Woodland and Savanna 7,230 3001 Grassland 51,020 4002 Riparian

Cottonwood-willow riparian forest and valley oak riparian forest 5,650 253 Willow scrub 720 10

Wetland 3,025-44,2304 No minimum. Emergent wetland 495-8,3104 0.5-3205 Managed wetland 2.530-35,9204 160

Agricultural land 8,760-86,9004 160-8306 Total 154,545 Not applicable 1Minimum patch size can be comprised of any combination of oak woodland and oak savanna land cover types. 2Minimum patch size can be comprised of any combination of grassland, grassland with vernal pool, vernal pool, and degraded vernal pool land cover types. 3Minimum patch size can be comprised of cottonwood-willow riparian forest or combined cottonwood-willow riparian forest and valley oak riparian forest. 4These ranges represent the ability to protect either rice land as habitat for the greater sandhill crane and the giant garter snake or to substitute protection of an acre of managed wetland for each acre of rice land for the crane and an acre of emergent wetland for every 10 acres of rice land for the giant garter snake (see Section 5.4.1.1.1 Approach to Land Acquisition). 5Minimum patch size varies depending on the habitat requirements of the targeted covered species (see Table 5.5). The minimum patch size can be comprised of emergent wetland or emergent wetland in combination with other natural community types that also support habitat for the target covered species. 6Minimum patch size varies depending on the habitat requirements of the targeted covered species. The minimum patch size can be comprised of agricultural land or agricultural land in combination with other natural community types that also support habitat for the target covered species (see Table 5.5).



Goal LAND2: Protect continuous corridors of habitat along the east-west elevation gradient 1 extending from the eastern boundary of the Plan Area to the major stream corridors in the valley 2 bottom and along a north-south corridor within the valley basin habitats. 3

Objective LAND2.1: In the Plan Area north of the City of Chico, protect a habitat 4 corridor comprised of oak woodland and savanna, grassland, riparian, wetland, and 5 aquatic natural communities that is at least 1.2 miles wide4

Objective LAND2.2: In the Plan Area south of the City of Chico and north of the City 10 of Oroville, protect a habitat corridor comprised of oak woodland and savanna, grassland, 11 riparian, wetland, and rice land that is at least 1.2 miles wide1 along the east-west 12 elevation gradient between the foothills at the eastern boundary of the Plan Area and 13 Butte Creek at the western boundary of the Plan Area (across the Cascade Foothills and 14 Basin CAZs; Figure 5-4). 15

along the northeast-southwest 6 elevation gradient between the foothills at the eastern boundary of the Plan Area and the 7 Sacramento River at the western boundary of the Plan Area (across the Cascade Foothills 8 and Northern Orchards CAZs) (Figure 5-4). 9

Objective LAND2.3: In the Plan Area south of the City of Oroville, protect a habitat 16 corridor comprised of oak woodland and savanna, grassland, riparian, and wetland, and 17 and agricultural land that is at least 1.2 miles wide1 wide along the east-west elevation 18 gradient between the foothills at the eastern boundary of the Plan Area and the Feather 19 River (across the Sierra Foothills and Southern Orchard CAZs) (Figure 5-4). 20

Objective LAND2.4: Protect a habitat corridor suitable for giant garter snake movement 21 comprised of riparian, wetland, aquatic, and agricultural natural communities separating 22 patches of these communities that is at least 1.2 miles wide1 wide along the north-south 23 gradient between the Llano Seco Unit of the Upper Butte Basin Wildlife Area (in the 24 Sacramento River CAZ), across the Basin CAZ, to the Little Dry Creek Unit of the Upper 25 Butte Basin Wildlife Area, and to Gray Lodge Wildlife Area (Figure 5-4). 26

4 Recommended corridor width in California Essential Habitat Connectivity Project: A Strategy for Conserving a Connected California (Caltrans and DFG, 2010) for meeting the movement needs of large wildlife species such as mountain lion and mule deer, which will also meet the needs of smaller wildlife species (e.g., reptiles, rodents).



1 2



Goal LAND3: Maintain and improve connectivity among protected lands to provide for the 1 movement of covered and other native species among habitat areas and to facilitate genetic 2 exchange among populations. 3

Objective LAND3.1: Protect corridors of habitat that provide linkages among protected 4 habitat areas within and adjacent to the Plan Area. 5

Objective LAND3.2: Improve habitat corridors that allow covered and other native 6 species to move into protected habitats from adjacent lands and among habitat areas 7 within preserved lands. 8

Objective LAND3.3: Maintain or improve upstream and downstream passage for 9 covered and other native fish in Pine Creek, Rock Creek, Mud Creek, Big Chico Creek, 10 Lindo channel, Little Chico Creek, Butte Creek, Little Dry Creek, and Feather River. 11

Goal LAND4: Maintain and rehabilitate ecosystem processes that support covered species and 12 their habitats. 13

Objective LAND4.1: Protect and enhance lands within watersheds and subwatersheds that 14 are important to maintaining the quantity, quality, and timing of runoff to streams and 15 wetlands. 16

Objective LAND4.2: Reduce the loads of toxic contaminants into waters that support 17 covered plants, amphibians, and fish, and aquatic foodweb processes. 18

Objective LAND4.3: Restore floodplain erosional and depositional processes on BRCP 19 protected river and stream channels. 20

Goal LAND5. Protect lands with a sufficient range of conditions to accommodate future 21 anticipated shifts in distributions of covered species and natural communities with climate 22 change. 23

Objective LAND5.1: Protect __ acres of suitable sites to provide for the potential future 24 upslope migration of oak woodland and savanna communities in response to climate 25 change. 26

5.3.2.2 Natural Community-Level Goals and Objectives 27

Goal NACO1: Protect oak woodland and savanna, grassland, riparian, wetland, aquatic natural 28 communities that represent a range of ecological gradients and that support or have the potential 29 to support high functioning habitat for covered and other native species. 30

31 Objective NACO1.1: Protect 3,665 acres of existing unprotected blue oak savanna of 32 minimum patch size of 300 acres in combination with other oak habitats that are 33 distributed within the Plan Area as indicated in Table 5.1. 34



1 Objective NACO1.2: Protect 3,565 acres of existing unprotected interior live oak and 2 mixed oak woodlands of minimum patch size of 300 acres distributed within the Plan 3 Area as indicated in Table 5.1. 4 5 Objective NACO1.3: Protect 51,020 acres of unprotected grassland (including grassland 6 with swale complexes and vernal pools) within the Plan Area as indicated in Table 5.1. 7 8 Objective NACO1.4: Protect 6,370 acres of existing unprotected cottonwood-willow 9 riparian forest and valley oak riparian forest in minimum patch sizes of 25 acres along 10 rivers and streams distributed within the Plan Area as indicated in Table 5.1. 11 12 Objective NACO1.5: Protect at least 25 small stands (under 25 acres) of riparian trees 13 dominated by native tree species that could support nesting Swainson’s hawk and other 14 raptors. 15

Objective NACO1.6: Protect at least __ acres of existing unprotected grassland swale 16 complexes that are within vernal pool species recovery core areas distributed within the 17 Plan Area as indicated in Table 5.1. 18 19 Objective NACO1.7: Protect 495-8,310 acres of existing unprotected emergent 20 wetlands distributed within the Plan Area as indicated in Table 5.1. 21 22 Objective NACO1.8: Protect seeps that support emergent wetlands within BRCP 23 protected grassland and oak savanna and oak woodland natural communities. 24

Objective NACO1.9: Maintain 2,530-35,920 acres of existing managed wetlands that 25 support covered species habitat as wetlands distributed within the Plan Area as indicated 26 in Table 5.1. 27 28 Objective NACO1.10: Protect up to 25 ponds that support western pond turtle and 29 western spadefoot toad habitat, including adjacent upland habitat extending at least 200 30 feet from ponds, within BRCP protected grassland, oak savanna and woodland, and 31 wetland natural communities. 32

Objective NACO1.11: Protect at least 15 linear miles of existing unprotected reaches of 33 Pine Creek, Rock Creek, Mud Creek, Big Chico Creek, Lindo Channel, Little Chico 34 Creek, Butte Creek, Little Dry Creek, and Feather River (one or both banks of streams 35 channels may be protected under this objective). 36

Goal NACO2: Enhance habitat functions of BRCP protected oak woodland and savanna, 37 grassland, swale, riparian, wetland, and aquatic natural communities. 38

Objective NACO2.1: Enhance the habitat functions of up to 5,120 acres of BRCP 39 protected vernal pools and swales and adjacent watershed grassland. 40



Objective NACO2.2: Enhance the habitat functions of up to 7,640 acres of BRCP 1 protected grassland that do not support vernal pools. 2

Objective NACO2.3: Enhance the habitat functions of up to 1,595 acres of BRCP 3 protected cottonwood-willow riparian and valley oak riparian forest for covered and other 4 native species. 5

Objective NACO2.4: Enhance the habitat functions of up to 8,980 acres of BRCP 6 protected emergent wetlands for covered and other native species. 7

Objective NACO2.5: Enhance the habitat functions of channel bank and instream cover 8 components of covered and other native fish species habitats along 5 linear miles of 9 BRCP protected stream channel. 10

Objective NACO2.6: Enhance the habitat functions of up to 7 BRCP protected ponds 11 for covered and other native species. 12

Goal NACO3: Restore oak woodland and savannah, grassland, riparian, and wetland natural 13 communities. 14

Objective NACO3.1: Restore __ acres of grassland swale complex that function as 15 habitat for covered and other native species distributed within the Plan Area as indicated 16 in Table 5.10. 17 18 Objective NACO3.2: Restore __ acres of vernal pools that function as habitat for 19 covered and other native species distributed within the Plan Area as indicated in Table 20 5.10. 21 22 Objective NACO3.3: Restore __ acres of cottonwood-willow riparian forest along 23 rivers and streams distributed within the Plan Area as indicated in Table 5.10. 24 25 Objective NACO3.4: Restore __ acres of valley oak riparian forest along rivers and 26 streams distributed within the Plan Area as indicated in Table 5.10. 27 28 Objective NACO3.5: Restore __ acres of willow scrub along rivers and streams 29 distributed within the Plan Area as indicated in Table 5.10. 30 31 Objective NACO3.6: Restore __-__ acres of emergent wetland, depending on the 32 amount of rice land maintained under objective NACO4.1, distributed within the Plan 33 Area as indicated in Table 5.10. 34 35 Objective NACO3.7: Restore __ acres of seasonal or managed wetland, depending on 36 the amount of rice land maintained under objective NACO4.1, distributed within the Plan 37 Area as indicated in Table 5.10. 38 39



Goal NACO4: Maintain and enhance agricultural land cover types and agricultural land use 1 mosaics that support habitat for covered and other native wildlife species. 2

Objective NACO4.1: Annually maintain 0- 78,140 acres of land in rice production, 3 depending on the amount of giant garter snake and greater sandhill crane habitat under 4 objectives NACO1.7 and NACO1.9 distributed within the Plan Area as indicated in Table 5 5.1. 6

Objective NACO4.2: Annually maintain 8,760 acres of irrigated pasture and irrigated 7 cropland distributed within the Plan Area as indicated in Table 5.1. 8

Objective NACO4.3: Enhance habitat conditions for covered species on BRCP 9 maintained agricultural lands. 10

5.3.3 Species-Level Goals and Objectives 11

The following are species-specific goals and objectives. The landscape-level and natural 12 community-level goals and objectives address most of the habitat conservation needs of the 13 covered species. 14

Goal SPEC1: Protect and enhance covered species’ habitats to maintain and enhance the 15 abundance and distribution of covered species in the Plan Area. 16

Objective SPEC1.1: Protect and, where covered species will benefit, enhance covered 17 species habitats in the quantities and locations indicated for each covered species in Table 18 5.2. 19

Objective SPEC1.2: Protect all unprotected active bald eagle nest sites from activities 20 that could result in nest site abandonment and from disturbances that could reduce 21 nesting success. 22

Objective SPEC1.3: Protect all unprotected active American peregrine falcon nesting 23 sites from activities that could result in loss or degradation of the nesting habitat or nest 24 site abandonment and from disturbances that could reduce nesting success. 25

Objective SPEC1.4: Protect existing unprotected occupied bank swallow nesting 26 colonies from anthropogenic activities that could result in the loss of the colony or 27 degradation of the habitat. 28

Objective SPEC1.5: Protect 29 linear miles of channel banks along the Feather River, 29 Big Chico Creek, and Butte Creek that support dynamic bank formation and erosion 30 processes that create bank swallow nesting habitat. 31



Objective SPEC1.6: Protect 400 acres of any combination of existing unprotected 1 grassland, oak woodland and savanna, and riparian habitats in minimum patch sizes of 40 2 acres that support California horned lizard habitat distributed within the Plan Area. 3

Objective SPEC1.7: Protect 85 percent of western spadefoot habitat within the portion 4 of the Northeast Sacramento vernal pool region present within the Plan Area, as per 5 Recovery Plan (USFWS 2005). 6

Objective SPEC1.8: Bring under protection and enhance habitat areas within the Plan 7 Area that are found to support breeding populations of California red-legged frog in the 8 future. 9

Objective SPEC1.9: Increase the supply of spawning gravels recruited into creeks 10 supporting Chinook salmon and steelhead runs compared to existing conditions. 11

Objective SPEC1.10: Remove, modify, or screen up to 57 diversions on streams 12 supporting Chinook salmon and steelhead to reduce the risk for entrainment of juvenile 13 salmonids. 14

Objective SPEC1.11: Protect 95 percent of suitable conservancy fairy shrimp habitat 15 present within the Vina Plains recovery core area, as per Recovery Plan (USFWS 2005). 16

Objective SPEC1.12: Protect 85 percent of suitable vernal pool tadpole shrimp habitat 17 present within the Doe Mill recovery core area and 95% present within each of the 18 following recovery core areas: Chico, Oroville, and Vina Plains, as per Recovery Plan 19 (USFWS 2005). 20

Objective SPEC1.13: Protect __% of extant occurrences of Butte County meadowfoam 21 in the Plan Area, as per Recovery Plan (USFWS 2005). 22

Objective SPEC1.14: Protect 95% of suitable Butte County meadowfoam habitat within 23 each of the Chico, Doe Mill, Vina Plains, and Oroville Recovery Areas, as per Recovery 24 Plan (USFWS 2005). 25

Objective SPEC1.15: Protect 80% of the remaining known extant occurrences of 26 Hoover’s spurge within the Plan Area that are currently unprotected, as per Recovery 27 Plan (USFWS 2005). 28

Objective SPEC1.16: Protect 95% of suitable Hoover’s spurge habitat within the 29 Oroville and Vina Plains Recovery Areas, as per Recovery Plan (USFWS 2005). 30

Objective SPEC1.17: Protect 80% of the remaining known extant occurrences of 31 Greene’s tuctoria that are currently unprotected, as per Recovery Plan (USFWS 2005). 32



Objective SPEC1.18: Protect 95% of suitable Greene’s tuctoria habitat within the 1 Oroville and Vina Plains Recovery Areas and 85% of suitable species habitat within the 2 Richvale Recovery Area, as per Recovery Plan (USFWS 2005). 3

Objective SPEC1.19: Protect the 1 known unprotected occurrence of hairy Orcutt grass 4 present in the Plan Area consistent with the overall Recovery Plan objective to protect 5 90% of known extant occurrences of hairy Orcutt grass (USFWS 2005). 6

Objective SPEC1.20: Protect 95% of suitable hairy Orcutt grass habitat within the 7 Oroville and Vina Plains Recovery Areas, as per Recovery Plan (USFWS 2005). 8

Objective SPEC1.21: Protect 80% of known extant occurrences of slender Orcutt grass 9 in the Plan Area, as per Recovery Plan (USFWS 2005). 10

Objective SPEC1.22: Protect 95% of slender Orcutt grass species habitat within the 11 Vina Plains Recovery Area and 85% of suitable species habitat in the Palermo Recovery 12 Area, as per Recovery Plan (USFWS 2005). 13

Objective SPEC1.23: Reintroduce slender Orcutt grass to extant vernal pools and soil 14 types from which surveys indicate that the species has been extirpated, as per Recovery 15 Plan (USFWS 2005). 16

Objective SPEC1.24: Protect 50% of the remaining known unprotected extant 17 occurrences of Butte County checkerbloom in the Plan Area. 18

Objective SPEC1.25: Protect 100% of the remaining known extant occurrences of 19 Ahart’s dwarf rush that are currently unprotected, as per Recovery Plan (USFWS 2005). 20

Objective SPEC1.26: Protect 85% of suitable Ahart’s dwarf rush habitat within the 21 Honcut Core Recovery Area, as per the Recovery Plan (USFWS 2005). 22

Objective SPEC1.27: Protect 100% of the remaining known extant occurrences of 23 Ferris’ milkvetch that are currently unprotected within the Plan Area, as per Recovery 24 Plan (USFWS 2005). 25

Objective SPEC1.28: Protect 95% of suitable Ferris’ milkvetch habitat within the 26 Llano Seco and Upper Butte Basin Recovery Areas, as per Recovery Plan (USFWS 27 2005). 28

Objective SPEC1.29: Protect the single known unprotected occurrence of veiny 29 monardella in the Plan Area. 30

Objective SPEC1.30: Protect 50% of the remaining known extant occurrences of 31 California beaked-rush that are currently unprotected in the Plan Area. 32



Objective SPEC1.31: Protect 1 of the 3 known extant occurrences of Ahart’s 1 paronychia that are currently unprotected within the Plan Area. 2

Objective SPEC1.32: Protect up to 5 currently unknown occurrences of lesser saltscale 3 that may be located in the Plan Area over the term of BRCP. 4

Objective SPEC1.33: Protect 50% of known extant occurrences of Butte County golden 5 clover that are currently unprotected within the Plan Area. 6

Objective SPEC1.34: Protect 50% of known extant occurrences of Red Bluff dwarf 7 rush that are currently unprotected within the Plan Area. 8

Objective SPEC1.35: Protect new occurrences of covered plant species located in the 9 future through BRCP land acquisitions to protect natural communities. 10

5.4 Conservation Measures 11

This section presents the BRCP conservation measures that will be implemented by the BRCP 12 Implementing Entity to protect, enhance, and restore natural communities and the covered 13 species habitats they support; improve the ecological function of natural communities; avoid, 14 minimize, and compensate for impacts on covered species associated with implementation of 15 covered activities; and provide for the conservation of covered species. Conservation measures 16 are those actions that collectively will achieve the BRCP biological goals and objectives. 17 Conservation measures address the protection, enhancement, and restoration of physical habitats 18 that support covered species and reduce the effect of environmental stressors on covered species. 19 Conservation measures were developed to address the needs of covered and other native species 20 at each of three ecological scales: landscape, natural community, and species-specific. 21 Landscape-level conservation measures are presented in Section 5.4.1, natural community-level 22 conservation measures are presented in Section 5.4.2, species-specific conservation measures are 23 presented in Section 5.4.3, and avoidance and minimization measures for natural communities 24 and covered species are presented in Section 5.4.4. A summary list of BRCP conservation 25 measures and the biological objectives they address is provided in Table 5.8. 26

5.4.1 Landscape-Level Conservation Measures 27

5.4.1.1 CM 1: Protect Natural Communities 28

This conservation measure provides the mechanism and guidance for the acquisition of 29 conservation lands and the establishment of a conservation lands system in the Plan Area that 30 will be required to meet natural community and species habitat protection objectives presented in 31 Tables 5.1 and 5.2, respectively. Protection of managed wetland, emergent wetland, and rice 32 land cover types must include protection of the hydrology supporting the land cover types. The 33 conservation lands system will be built over the term of the BRCP in accordance with the BRCP 34 implementation schedule (see Chapter 6, Plan Implementation) to protect lands supporting 35



natural communities and covered species habitats, protect and maintain occurrences of selected 1 plant and wildlife species with very limited distributions, and provide habitat connectivity among 2 conserved lands within and adjacent to the Plan Area. This conservation measure describes the 3 overall approach to land acquisition procedures including the extent of land acquisition, land pre-4 acquisition surveys, and site selection criteria. 5

5.5.1.1.1 Approach to Land Acquisition 6

The Implementing Entity will establish a conservation lands system that encompasses all lands 7 protected and restored under the BRCP. Land may be acquired through the following 8 mechanisms: 9

• Purchase in fee title; 10

• Permanent conservation easements; 11

• Limited term conservation easements; 12

• Transfer of management authority from federal or state land owners to the Implementing 13 Entity; 14

• Permanent agreements with state, federal, and local flood control agencies that enable the 15 restoration, enhancement, and management of floodplain and channel margin habitats 16 along levees and lands under flood easements; and 17

• Purchase of mitigation credits from private mitigation banks. 18

The Implementing Entity may acquire conservation lands in partnership with other conservation 19 organizations or through grants of land from participating entities where such lands will serve to 20 achieve the BRCP biological goals and objectives. The BRCP preserve system will be 21 comprised of: 1) lands that are under direct management of the Implementing Entity; 2)lands 22 acquired through permanent conservation easements that may be managed by other qualified 23 entities; 3) lands owned and managed by other entities (state, federal, and local agencies and 24 non-government organizations - e.g., land trusts and conservancies) that agree to meet all BRCP 25 requirements; and 4) lands that are covered by limited term conservation easements. 26

It is anticipated that lands acquired for habitat restoration and enhancement actions will primarily 27 be those that are currently in public ownership and those that are acquired in fee title because 28 these conservation measures could preclude other land uses. Lands acquired for the protection 29 and enhancement of existing habitat functions may be acquired through conservation easements 30 that specify the range of permitted land uses and practices that will maintain the intended habitat 31 functions of the acquired lands. Limited-term conservation easements may be used to conserve 32 agricultural and managed wetland habitats for a specified period, after which the easement would 33 expire and the Implementing Entity will be required to conserve additional habitat to replace the 34 habitat that was provided through the expired conservation easement. 35



The BRCP natural community and covered species habitat acquisition targets are presented in 1 Tables 5.1 and 5.2, respectively. These targets represent the extent of natural communities and 2 covered species habitats that will need to be acquired under the BRCP to achieve the biological 3 objectives for conservation of natural communities and covered species habitats. These targets 4 represent the minimum extent of land that will be acquired; the actual extent that will be acquired 5 may be greater because acquired parcels may not be comprised wholly of habitat types that 6 contribute towards achieving conservation target acreage. 7

Acquisition of Irrigated Agricultural Habitats 8

The Planning Area is dominated by agricultural land use practices with irrigated agriculture 9 accounting for 250,434 acres or 44% of the total Planning Area. Non-irrigated rangeland is 10 addressed under conservation measures for the grassland natural community. Rice and orchards 11 (mostly almonds and walnuts) dominate the irrigated agricultural land use. Orchards and 12 vineyards do not provide important habitat for any of the covered species or for wildlife in 13 general and are not a focus of the conservation strategy. In contrast, rice lands and irrigated 14 pasture and cropland provide habitat for many wildlife species, including several covered 15 species. 16

Rice Land. Maintaining lands in rice production in the Northern Orchards, Southern Orchards, 17 Basin, and Sacramento River CAZs serves to achieve the habitat protection objective for giant 18 garter snake and greater sandhill crane. The giant garter snake’s primary natural habitat is 19 comprised of permanent wetland which typically supports substantially higher densities of giant 20 garter snake than rice land (Eric Hanson, pers. comm.). Consequently, the rice land objective for 21 giant garter snake may be achieved through protection of existing or restoration of permanent 22 wetlands that maintain hydrologic connectivity with other occupied habitat areas that are 23 designed and managed as giant garter snake habitat (see Section 5.4.2.3, CM6, Restore/Create 24 Emergent Wetland). Because restored permanent wetlands meeting these criteria support higher 25 habitat function for giant garter snake than rice land, each acre of restored permanent wetland 26 will serve to achieve the same habitat function as 10 acres of maintained rice land. 27 Consequently, the objective for maintaining rice land ranges from 0 acres if 8,310 acres of giant 28 garter snake permanent wetland habitat is protected or restored to 78,140 acres if no permanent 29 wetland habitat is restored in occupied giant garter snake habitat areas (see Table 5.2). 30

Managed wetlands, in addition to rice lands, also support greater sandhill crane foraging and 31 roosting habitat. Managed wetlands that support greater sandhill crane forage plants and that are 32 not subject to hunting and other recreational disturbances support equivelant habitat values for 33 greater sandhill crane as rice land. Consequently, the rice land objective for greater sandhill 34 crane may be achieved through substituting protection of an acre of existing or created managed 35 wetland that support greater sandhill crane foraging habitat for each acre of rice land that 36 otherwise would need to be maintained (see Section 5.4.2.4, CM7, Create Managed Wetland). 37

Under these approaches, the Implementing Entity has the flexibility to select the most cost 38 effective strategy for achieving the giant garter snake and greater sandhill crane habitat 39



objectives at any point in time over the term of the BRCP. The following describes mechanisms 1 that will be used by the Implementing Entity for acquiring rice lands to achieve biological goals 2 and objectives. 3

• In-Perpetuity Conservation Easements for Rice Lands. The Implementing Entity would 4 purchase in-perpetuity conservation easements with willing landowners to maintain their 5 lands in rice production, including associated water conveyance and drainage 6 infrastructure, to provide habitat for covered species. The minimum contiguous extent of 7 rice land brought under easement with one or more landowners must, in its entirety or in 8 combination with other contiguous protected lands, be sufficient to provide at least 160 9 acres of habitat to serve as protected greater sandhill crane habitat or 320 acres to serve as 10 protected giant garter snake habitat (see Table 5.5). Conservation easements should 11 specify the range of rice farming and other land management practices (e.g., canal/drain 12 maintenance activities) permitted on easement lands. The easement would allow only for 13 changes in land use that resulted in restoration of a mosaic of open water, wetland, and 14 upland habitat suitable for giant garter snake. 15

• Short-Term Conservation Easements for Rice Lands. The Implementing Entity would 16 purchase conservation easements for terms of not less than 5 years with willing 17 landowners to maintain their land in rice production, including associated water 18 conveyance and drainage infrastructure, to provide habitat for covered species. The 19 minimum contiguous extent of rice land brought under easement with one or more 20 landowners must, in its entirety or in combination with other contiguous protected lands, 21 be sufficient to provide at least 160 acres of habitat to serve as protected greater sandhill 22 crane habitat or 320 acres to serve as protected giant garter snake habitat (see Table 5.5). 23 Conservation easements should specify the range of rice farming and other land 24 management practices (e.g., canal/drain maintenance activities) permitted on easement 25 lands over the term of easements. Such short-term conservation easements would bring 26 habitat for covered species under protection for a limited time, allowing the 27 Implementing Entity more time to secure permanent easement and fee title protection 28 along with restoration of permanent wetlands in the assembly of the system of BRCP 29 conservation lands. A larger number of short-term easements with overlapping time 30 limits can serve to meet BRCP goals and objectives early in the implementation period 31 through a shifting mosaic of easements through time that meet the required preserve 32 design criteria. The need for short-term easements would be reduced over the term of 33 implementation as rice lands are protected through permanent conservation easements 34 and/or emergent and managed wetlands supporting the intended habitat functions for 35 associated covered species are protected or restored. 36

• Fee Title Acquisition of Rice Lands. The Implementing Entity would purchase rice 37 lands in fee title from willing sellers including all water rights and contracts that run with 38 those lands. These lands would either be managed as rice or restored in whole or in part 39



to open water, wetlands, and upland habitat suitable for giant garter snake and other 1 covered species. 2

In-Perpetuity Conservation Easements for Irrigated Pasture and Irrigated Crops. 3 Maintaining the working landscape of irrigated pasture and irrigated crops (e.g., hay, row, grain 4 crops) is a focus of the conservation strategy for Swainson’s hawk, greater sandhill crane, giant 5 garter snake, white-tailed kite, and western burrowing owl. To maintain these agricultural 6 habitats for covered and other native species, the Implementing Entity would purchase in–7 perpetuity conservation easements with willing landowners to maintain their lands in hay, grain, 8 or row crops to provide habitat for covered species. The minimum contiguous extent of irrigated 9 cropland brought under easement with one or more landowners (or contiguous with existing 10 preserves) must, in its entirety or in combination with other contiguous protected lands, be 11 sufficient to provide 160-830 acres of habitat to serve as protected habitat for associated covered 12 species (see Table 5.5). Conservation easements should specify the range of crop types 13 permitted on easement lands as well as restrictions on pesticide use and other land management 14 practices. The easement will also specify the requirement for and timing of a land management 15 plan. 16

Coordinate with State and Federal Agencies to Ensure Appropriate Agricultural Land Use 17 Management on Protected Lands. A total of __ acres of non-rice irrigated cropland are 18 protected on state and federal refuges. The Implementing Entity would coordinate with the 19 applicable state or federal wildlife agencies to assess land use practices and ensure that goals and 20 objectives on refuge lands are compatible and oriented toward managing the land for covered 21 species and achieving BRCP biological goals and objectives. 22

Overall, approximately __ percent of non-rice irrigated cropland in the Plan Area is currently 23 protected under state or federal ownership or through existing conservation easements with 24 private landowners. These protected agricultural lands should be maintained in cover types 25 suitable for giant garter snake upland aestivation and movement habitat. The Implementing 26 Entity will coordinate with the applicable state and federal agencies to review land use practices 27 and compatibility with BRCP goals and objectives for wildlife conservation. 28

Enter into Conservation Easements to Protect Remnant Habitats on Farmlands. Farmlands 29 support valuable remnant natural habitats for covered species, including isolated valley oak trees, 30 tree rows, hedgerows, ponds, and other habitats. Conservation easements will protect important 31 habitats and provide additional conservation for covered and other native species. The 32 Implementing Entity would purchase in-perpetuity conservation easements from local 33 landowners that conserve habitat elements necessary for covered species conservation but allow 34 for continued operation of farms and ranches. 35

36



5.5.1.1.2 Conservation Acquisition Zone Requirements 1

A specified amount of each natural community must be protected and restored within each CAZ 2 to meet the BRCP goals and objectives. The extent of lands supporting each of the natural 3 communities to be acquired within each CAZ is presented in Table 5.1. The extent of lands to be 4 acquired in each CAZ to restore natural communities and covered species habitats is presented in 5 Table 5.10. In addition, to achieve floodplain and covered fish species habitat protection 6 objectives, the Implementing Entity will protect natural communities in floodplain locations such 7 that at least 15 miles of floodplain is protected along one or more of the following drainages: 8 Pine, Rock, Mud, Big Chico, Little Chico, Butte, and Little Dry Creeks, Lindo Channel, and 9 Feather River. The following describes additional requirements that determine the spatial 10 distribution with which natural communities must be protected in each of the CAZs to achieve 11 the species-specific biological objectives presented in Section 5.4.3, Species-Specific 12 Conservation Measures. 13

Sierra Foothills Conservation Acquisition Zone 14

In addition to the natural community, covered species habitat, and restoration habitat 15 requirements in Tables 5.1, 5.2, and 5.10, this subsection identifies specific species protection 16 requirements for the CAZ. Grassland natural community land cover types protected under the 17 BRCP within the Sierra Foothills CAZ must be distributed such that the following number of 18 known extant occurrences of the following covered plant species are protected: 19

• Slender orcutt grass—2 occurrences; 20

• Ahart’s dwarf rush—14 occurrences; 21

• Ahart’s paronychia—1 occurrence; and 22

• Red Bluff dwarf rush—9 occurrences. 23

Additionally, 85% of suitable slender orcutt grass habitat within the Palermo Recovery Core 24 Area; 85% of suitable Ahart’s dwarf rush habitat within the Honcut Recovery Core Area; and 25 95% of suitable Butte County meadowfoam and vernal pool fairy shrimp habitat within the 26 Oroville Core Recovery Area will be protected. Habitat for these specis as defined in the habitat 27 models provided in each species account (Appendix A). These Core Recovery Area suitable 28 habitat protection targets may be achieved with protection of 2 acres of suitable habitat located 29 outside of the Core Recovery Areas for every acre of suitable habitat that is not protected within 30 Core Recovery Areas. 31

Lands encompassing at least 3 miles of channel bank (measured on one side of channel) along 32 the Feather River that includes eroding bank substrates that currently support or could support 33 bank swallow nesting habitat in the future will be protected in this CAZ. 34

To provide aquatic habitat for western pond turtle and western spadefoot toad, grassland natural 35 community, blue oak savanna, and emergent wetland land cover types to be protected in the 36



Sierra Foothills CAZ (see Table 5.1) will be located to include protection of at least 16 ponds 1 (ponds must be permanent or semi-permanent, ponding water from January through July during 2 the western spadefoot toad active season). 3

To reduce entrainment loss of juvenile salmonids, green sturgeon, and Sacramento splittail, 4 install fish screens on up to 15 currently non-screened diversions that that are determined by the 5 Implementing Entity, NMFS, USFWS, and DFG to pose a substantial entrainment risk for 6 covered fish species along the Feather River in the Sierra Foothills and Southern Orchards CAZ. 7

Cascade Foothills Conservation Acquisition Zone 8

In addition to the natural community, covered species habitat, and restoration habitat targets in 9 Tables 5.1, 5.2, and 5.10, this subsection identifies specific species protection requirements for 10 the CAZ. Grassland natural community land cover types protected under the BRCP within the 11 Cascade Foothills CAZ must be distributed such that the following number of known extant 12 occurrences of the following covered plant species are protected: 13

• Hoover’s spurge—1 occurrence; 14

• Greene’s tuctoria—2 occurrences; 15

• Hairy orcutt grass—1 occurrence; 16

• Butte County golden clover —2 occurrences; and 17

• Veiny monordella—1 occurrence. 18

Protection of grassland natural community land cover types in combination with protection of 19 oak woodland savanna, riparian, and wetland land cover types, if needed, must also be 20 distributed such that at least 1 occurrence of California beaked-rush (associated with seeps) and 21 32 occurrences of Butte County checkerbloom must be protected. 22

Additionally, 95% of suitable Butte County meadowfoam habitat within the Chico, Doe Mill, 23 Vina Plains, and Oroville Core Recovery Areas; 85% of suitable vernal pool fairy shrimp in the 24 Doe Mill and 95% of suitable habitat in the Chico, Doe Mill, Vina Plains, and Oroville Core 25 Recovery Areas; and 95% of suitable Conservancy fairy shrimp in the Vina Plains Core 26 Recovery Area will be protected. These Core Recovery Area suitable habitat protection targets 27 may be achieved with protection of 2 acres of suitable habitat located outside of the Core 28 Recovery Areas for every acre of suitable habitat that is not protected within Core Recovery 29 Areas. 30

To provide aquatic habitat for western pond turtle and western spadefoot toad, grassland natural 31 community land cover types to be protected in the Cascade Foothills CAZ (see Table 5.1) will be 32 located to include protection of at least 8 ponds (ponds must be permanent or semi-permanent, 33 ponding water from January through July during the western spadefoot toad active season). 34



To reduce entrainment loss of juvenile salmonids, install fish screens on up to 42 currently non-1 screened diversions that are determined by the Implementing Entity, NMFS, and DFG to pose a 2 substantial entrainment risk for covered fish species along Butte Creek and Big Chico Creek in 3 the Cascade Foothills and Northern Orchards CAZs. 4

Northern Orchard Conservation Acquisition Zone 5

In addition to the natural community, covered species habitat, and restoration habitat targets in 6 Tables 5.1, 5.2, and 5.10, this subsection identifies specific species protection requirements for 7 the CAZ. Grassland natural community land cover types protected under the BRCP within the 8 Northern Orchard CAZ must be distributed such that at least 1 occurrence of Hoover’s spurge is 9 protected. Lands encompassing at least 7 miles of channel bank, as measured along one channel 10 bank, along Big Chico Creek and/or Butte Creek that include portions of eroding bank substrates 11 that currently support or could support bank swallow nesting habitat in the future will be 12 protected in this CAZ. 13

To provide aquatic habitat for western pond turtle and western spadefoot toad, grassland natural 14 community land cover types to be protected in the Northern Orchards CAZ (see Table 5.1) will 15 be located to include protection of at least 1 pond (ponds must be permanent or semi-permanent, 16 ponding water from January through July during the western spadefoot toad active season). 17

Install fish screens on unscreened diversions along Butte Creek and Big Chico Creek as 18 described for the Cascade Foothills CAZ. 19

Southern Orchards Conservation Acquisition Zone 20

In addition to the natural community, covered species habitat, and restoration habitat targets in 21 Tables 5.1, 5.2, and 5.10, this subsection identifies specific species protection requirements for 22 the CAZ. Lands encompassing at least 19 miles of channel bank, as measured along one channel 23 bank, along the Feather River that includes eroding bank substrates that currently support or 24 could support bank swallow nesting habitat in the future will be protected in the Southern 25 Orchards CAZ. 26

Install fish screens on unscreened diversions along the Feather River as described for the Sierra 27 Foothills CAZ. 28

Basin Conservation Acquisition Zone 29

In addition to the natural community, covered species habitat, and restoration habitat targets in 30 Tables 5.1, 5.2, and 5.10, this subsection identifies specific species protection requirements for 31 the CAZ. Grassland and wetland natural community land cover types protected under the BRCP 32 within the Basin CAZ must be distributed such that the following number of known extant 33 occurrences of the following covered plant species are protected: 34

• Greene’s tuctoria—1 occurrence; and 35



• Ferris’ milkvetch—2 occurrence. 1

To provide aquatic habitat for western pond turtle and western spadefoot toad, grassland natural 2 community land cover types to be protected in the Basin CAZ (see Table 5.1) will be located to 3 include protection of at least 1 pond (ponds must be permanent or semi-permanent, ponding 4 water from January through July during the western spadefoot toad active season). 5

To maintain and enhance habitat conditions for the giant garter snake, the Implementing Entity 6 will coordinate with water and irrigation districts in the Basin CAZ to establish agreements for 7 maintaining water flows in permanent water conveyance canals that support the giant garter 8 snake. Reducing flows can restrict movement and isolate individuals and populations. Over 9 time, this limits reproductive potential and reduces dispersal capabilities. Maintaining suitable 10 water flows during the giant garter snake active period of the year will facilitate movement and, 11 with implementation of habitat protection and enhancement measures, will potentially expand 12 the distribution and population of giant garter snakes within the Basin CAZ. 13

Sacramento River Conservation Acquisition Zone 14

There are no species-specific habitat acquisition requirements for the Sacramento River CAZ 15 beyond those for the protection and restoration of the natural communities indicated in Tables 16 5.1 and 5.10, respectively. 17

5.5.1.1.3 Elevation Gradients and Inter-CAZ Connectivity 18

In addition to the spatial distribution requirements among the CAZs for protection of natural 19 communities, conservation lands will also need to be distributed within and among CAZs to 20 protect elevation gradients and connectivity among natural communities and covered species 21 habitats across the Plan Area. Four ecological corridors will be protected within the locations 22 shown in Figure 5-4 and are described below. Existing protected lands within each of the 23 corridor locations or protected contiguous lands located outside of the Plan Area serve to 24 contribute towards establishment of the corridors. To serve as movement corridors to meet the 25 needs of covered and other native species inhabiting each of the corridor areas, the width of the 26 corridors may not be less than 1.2 miles wide in any location. Lands comprising each of the 27 corridors may include agricultural lands, rural residential (no less than 10 acre lots), existing 28 roads and utilities, and new roads and utilities that address movement of wildlife through design. 29 It is expected that the corridors can be established through meeting the natural community 30 conservation targets presented in Table 5.1, but, depending on the availability of conservation 31 lands, may require acquisition of additional land area. 32

Ecological Corridor 1, North Plan Area Corridor. Protect a corridor comprised of contiguous 33 patches of oak woodland and savanna, grassland, riparian, wetland, aquatic, and agricultural land 34 natural communities located north of the City of Chico that protects the elevation gradient 35 extending from the foothills at the eastern Plan Area boundary in the Cascade Foothills CAZ 36 across the valley floor in the Northern Orchards CAZ connecting to the Sacramento River. The 37



Implementing Entity will emphasize protection of non-agricultural lands except where 1 agricultural lands are required to connect patches of non-agricultural lands. This corridor will be 2 located within the portion of the Plan Area indicated in Figure 5-4. 3

Ecological Corridor 2, Central Plan Area Corridor. Protect a corridor comprised of 4 contiguous patches of oak woodland and savanna, grassland, riparian, wetland, and aquatic 5 natural communities located between the cities of Chico and Oroville that protects the elevation 6 gradient extending from the foothills at the eastern Plan Area boundary in the Cascade Foothills 7 CAZ across the valley floor in the Basin CAZ connecting to Butte Creek along the western 8 boundary of the Plan Area. This corridor will be located within the portion of the Plan Area 9 indicated in Figure 5-4. Natural communities protected to establish this corridor in the western 10 Basin CAZ may be located such that they also serve to establish a portion of Ecological Corridor 11 4 (see below). 12

Ecological Corridor 3, South Plan Area Corridor: Protect a corridor comprised of contiguous 13 patches of oak woodland and savanna, grassland, riparian, wetland, aquatic, and agricultural 14 natural communities located south of the City of Oroville that protects the elevation gradient 15 extending from the foothills at the eastern Plan Area boundary in the Sierra Foothills CAZ across 16 the valley floor connecting to the Feather River in the Southern Orchards CAZ. The 17 Implementing Entity will emphasize protection of non-agricultural lands except where 18 agricultural lands are required to connect patches of non-agricultural lands. This corridor will be 19 located within the portion of the Plan Area indicated in Figure 5-4. 20

Ecological Corridor 4, Giant Garter Snake Corridor: Protect a corridor comprised of 21 contiguous patches of riparian, wetland, aquatic, and agricultural land natural communities that 22 supports giant garter snake movement habitat that connects the Llano Seco Unit of the Upper 23 Butte Basin Wildlife Area in the Sacramento River CAZ to the Little Dry Creek Unit of the 24 Upper Butte Basin Wildlife Area and to Gray Lodge Wildlife Area in the Basin CAZ. The 25 corridor will be configured such that there is contiguous giant garter snake movement habitat 26 connecting the three Wildlife Areas. This corridor will be located within the portion of the Plan 27 Area indicated in Figure 5-4. Existing protected lands that are contiguous with the western 28 boundary of the corridor may also be applied towards establishment of the corridor. 29

Conservation easements protecting corridor lands will specify the range of permissible land uses 30 that are consistent with the ecological purpose of each corridor (e.g., allowable changes in crop 31 types, conversion to non-agricultural uses). Land protection tools for habitat corridors would be 32 the same as for conservation lands described in section 5.4.1.1, CM1: Protect Natural 33 Communities, however, for agricultural lands that provide wildlife movement corridors but no 34 necessarily covered species habitat (e.g., orchards and vineyards), less restrictive agricultural 35 easements (less restrictive to agricultural practices than conservation easements) may be used. 36

37



5.5.1.1.4 Pre-Acquisition Surveys. 1

The Implementing Entity will develop and implement protocols for assessing physical and 2 biological resources and infrastructure present on lands being considered for acquisition to 3 determine the degree to which they are suitable for achieving habitat protection and restoration 4 objectives. Pre-acquisition surveys would be conducted by qualified biologists and other 5 qualified scientists or technical experts as appropriate under agreements with the landowners. 6 Surveys will assess the physical and biological attributes of the lands, including, but not limited 7 to: 8

• The extent and quality of existing covered species habitats; 9

• Connectivity with other habitat areas; 10

• Presence of covered species; 11

• Infrastructure supporting existing habitats or necessary to restore habitats; 12

• Potential constraints to long-term management and maintenance of habitats; and 13

• Other conservation-related opportunities and constraints. 14

The Implementing Entity will apply, and revise when necessary, the following criteria for 15 evaluating and prioritizing acquisition of lands for achieving habitat protection and restoration 16 targets. Criteria for evaluating the suitability of lands supporting existing natural communities 17 and habitats to be protected and enhanced include: 18

• Level of benefits the acquisition will provide for covered species; 19

• Presence and abundance of covered species and life history functions (e.g., presence of 20 nesting Swainson’s hawk, white-tailed kite, peregrine falcon, bald eagle, and western 21 burrowing owl; greater sandhill crane and bald eagle roost sites); 22

• Presence of plant species of highly limited distribution (e.g., veiny monardella, hairy 23 Orcutt grass, slender Orcutt grass, Butte County checkerbloom, Butte County golden 24 clover) 25

• Presence of uncommon site specific attributes (e.g., alkali soils, seeps, vernal pools larger 26 than 0.01 acre) required by covered species with a narrow range of habitat requirements; 27

• Likely effects of adjacent land uses on the ability to maintain or improve desired 28 ecological functions into the future; 29

• Habitat patch size relative to the minimum habitat patch size requirements of the covered 30 species intended to benefit from the habitat; 31

• Opportunities for effectively implementing management actions to enhance ecological 32 functions; 33



• Level of contribution for maintaining local and regional ecological processes; 1

• Level of connectivity provided between and among existing conserved habitat areas; 2

• Level of contribution for preserving natural environmental gradients; 3

• Level of contribution towards establishment of large units of conserved lands; 4

• Likely effects of climate change on future ecological functions; 5

• Role in maintaining and complementing the habitat functions of adjoining natural 6 communities for covered and other native species; 7

• Level of contribution towards protection of a heterogeneous mix of natural communities 8 and native species, including native grasses and forbs; and 9

• Effectiveness in contributing towards achieving multiple biological goals and objectives. 10

• Criteria for the selection of agricultural habitats to be acquired and maintained under the 11 Plan include: 12

o Proximity to active Swainson’s hawk and white-tailed kite nesting territories; 13

o Proximity to greater sandhill crane roost sites; 14

o Occupancy by giant garter snake and proximity to and connectivity with occupied 15 giant garter snake habitat areas; 16

o Ability to support crops that provide high value Swainson’s hawk and/or greater 17 sandhill crane foraging habitat; and 18

o Opportunities to preserve patches of other high value non-agricultural habitats 19 (e.g., oak groves, wetlands, windrows, and hedgerows) that are supported among 20 farmed fields. 21

For acquisition of land for the purpose of restoring covered species habitats, the Implementing 22 Entity will develop site selection criteria based on the ability of lands under consideration to: 23

• Achieve biological goals and objectives, 24

• Meet the same patch size, shape, and connectivity criteria as identified for protection of 25 existing habitats. 26

• Provide for cost effective restoration of the target habitat(s), 27

• support the restored habitat over time, and 28

• Level of management necessary to maintain desired ecological functions into the future. 29

To be credited as contributing towards achieving the biological goals and objectives, lands 30 acquired for protection of existing habitats must be acquired within the CAZs indicated in Tables 31 5.1 and 5.2, or as they may be amended in the future through the adaptive management process 32



(see Section 5.8, Adaptive Management Plan). The existing extent of unprotected and protected 1 natural communities and covered species habitats and their distribution within each of the CAZs 2 are presented in Tables 5.6 and 5.7, respectively. 3

5.4.1.2 CM2: Develop and Implement an Invasive Species Control Program 4

The Implementing Entity will develop and implement a plan for the control of invasive animal 5 and plant species that could substantially degrade the functions of protected natural communities 6 as habitat for covered and other native species on BRCP lands. 7

Elements of the plan will include: 8

• Protocols for periodically surveying for and assessing the abundance of non-native 9 predators and competitors on BRCP lands; 10

• Protocols for periodically surveying for and assessing the occurrence and abundance of 11 invasive non-native plants on BRCP lands; 12

• A brown-headed cowbird monitoring and control program (see discussion below); 13

• Methods for assessing degree of biological effect non-native species have on covered and 14 other native species within BRCP lands; 15

• Methods for assessing threats for establishment of non-native animals and plants adjacent 16 to lands onto BRCP lands; 17

• Methods for assessing threats for the spread of non-native plants from BRCP lands onto 18 adjacent lands; 19

• A decision-making process for determining the need for implementing management 20 actions to control non-native species; 21

• A description of potential non-native species control methods; and 22

• A process for developing and implementing monitoring necessary to assess the 23 effectiveness of implemented control methods. 24

Monitoring and control requirements that may be developed for specific preserve lands will be 25 incorporated into preserve-specific management plans (see Section 5.4.2.4, CM7: Enhance and 26 Manage Protected Natural Communities). 27

Current non-native plant species of concern include waxy mannagrass, Italian ryegrass, barbed 28 goatgrass, medusahead grass, yellow starthistle, Himalayan blackberry, giant reed, and parrot 29 feather. Animal species that could degrade the habitat functions for covered species include feral 30 domesticated animals (e.g., feral cat predation on ground-nesting birds) and brown-headed 31 cowbirds. 32



The brown-headed cowbird is a native species that has expanded its range substantially with 1 conversion of historical Central Valley habitats to agriculture. The brown-headed cowbird is a 2 frequent brood parasite of yellow-breasted chats and other native birds and can affect local 3 reproduction of chats. On conserved lands that support nesting yellow-breasted chats, surveys 4 will be conducted to identify and monitor brown-headed cowbird populations, the extent of 5 brood parasitism of yellow-breasted chats, and the reproductive trend of nesting yellow-breasted 6 chats. If it is determined that cowbirds are substantially affecting nesting success of yellow-7 breasted chats such that local populations are or could decline, cowbird control measures will be 8 implemented to reduce local cowbird populations. 9

5.4.1.3 CM3: Improve Urban Stormwater Water Quality 10

The Cities of Chico, Oroville, Gridley and Biggs and the Implementing Entity in compliance 11 with National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) MS4 stormwater permits, will 12 provide up to $__ of funding to implement actions from and in addition to their respective 13 stormwater management plans that reduce the load or concentrations of contaminants that are 14 toxic to covered and other native fish and amphibians in urban runoff entering Big Chico Creek, 15 Lindo Channel, Little Chico Creek, Sycamore/Mud Creek, Butte Creek and the Feather River for 16 the benefit of. Actions in addition to those in existing plans/programs will be implemented if 17 they are expected to benefit covered species. 18

Potential types of actions that could be funded under this measure include, but are not limited to: 19

• Construction of stormwater retention ponds for the capture of stormwater; 20

• Construction of stormwater retention irrigation holding ponds for the capture and 21 irrigation use of stormwater; 22

• Design and establishment of vegetated buffer strips to slow runoff velocities and capture 23 sediments and other pollutants; 24

• Design and construction of bioretention systems (grass buffer strips, sand bed, ponding 25 area, mulch layer, planting soil, and plants) to slow runoff velocities and for removal of 26 pollutants from stormwater; 27

• Construction of stormwater curb extensions adjacent to existing commercial businesses 28 that are likely to contribute oil and grease runoff; 29

• Establishment of stormwater media filters to remove particulates and pollutants; 30

• Provisioning of funds for moisture monitors to be installed during construction of 31 sprinkler systems at commercial sites that will eliminate watering when unnecessary; and 32

• Providing support for establishment of on-site infiltration systems in lieu of new storm 33 drain connections for new construction, such as pervious pavement in place of asphalt 34 and concrete in parking lots and along roadways, and downspout disconnections to 35 redirect roof water to cisterns on existing developed properties, including residential. 36



5.4.2 Natural Community Conservation Measures 1

5.4.2.1 CM4 : Restore Riparian Habitat 2

The BRCP Implementing Entity will restore __ acres of cottonwood-willow forest, valley oak 3 forest, and willow scrub in the quantities indicated for each of the CAZs in Table 5.10. Restored 4 riparian habitats will be designed to develop as habitat for riparian-associated covered species 5 and should be located on sites with sufficient natural hydrology such that restored riparian 6 habitats will be self-sustaining over time. Effectiveness monitoring will be conducted as 7 described in Section 5.X, Monitoring and Research Plan, to collect the information necessary to 8 evaluate the effectiveness of restoration methods and species use of restored habitats. Based on 9 analyses of monitoring results, the Implementing Entity may adjust riparian restoration methods 10 through the adaptive management decision making process. 11

5.4.2.2 CM5: Restore Vernal Pool Complex 12

The BRCP will restore __ acres of vernal pools and contiguous swale and upland vernal pool 13 micro-watershed habitat in the quantities indicated for each of the CAZs in Table 5.10. 14 Restored vernal pool complex will be designed to develop as habitat for vernal pool-associated 15 covered species and located on sites that historically supported vernal pools and that maintain 16 soil and hydrologic characteristics such that the functions of vernal pool habitats can be restored 17 and maintained over time. Restoration actions that include excavation or contouring will occur 18 only at sites where vernal pools were historically present and their characteristic visual 19 signatures are still present to guide restoration efforts. Pool density, connectivity, and bathymetry 20 of the restored pools will be based on what was present on the site before the disturbance or 21 modeled after an existing vernal pool terrain of similar geomorphic position. Additionally, 22 restoration activities will only be conducted where the appropriate hydrology is present or can be 23 restored with reasonable certainty. Propagule sources will be from the closest populations of 24 covered vernal pool species that can contribute germplasm without adversely affecting the source 25 populations. 26

Effectiveness monitoring will be conducted as described in Section 5.7, Monitoring and 27 Research Plan, to collect the information necessary to evaluate the effectiveness of restoration 28 methods and species use of restored habitats. Based on analyses of monitoring results, the 29 Implementing Entity may adjust vernal pool complex restoration methods through the adaptive 30 management decision making process. 31

5.4.2.3 CM6: Restore/Create Emergent Wetland 32

The Implementing Entity will restore/create __-__ acres of emergent wetland in the quantities 33 indicated for each of the CAZs in Table 5.10. Restored/created emergent wetlands will be 34 designed to increase the habitat area for wetland-associated covered species by either improving 35 the habitat functions of degraded emergent wetlands or creating wetlands. Effectiveness 36 monitoring will be conducted as described in Section 5.7, Monitoring and Research Plan, to 37



collect the information necessary to evaluate the effectiveness of restoration methods and species 1 use of restored habitats. Based on analyses of monitoring results, the Implementing Entity may 2 adjust emergent wetland restoration methods through the adaptive management decision making 3 process. 4

5.5.1.1.5 Giant Garter Snake Habitat 5

As described in Section 5.4.1.1, CM 1: Protect Natural Communities, up to __ acres of 6 emergent wetlands will be restored/created that supports high function giant garter snake habitat. 7 Emergent wetlands restored/created to provide giant garter snake habitat will be located in the 8 Northern Orchards, Southern Orchards, Basin, and/or Sacramento River CAZs. Restored/created 9 habitats will be located such that they are hydrologically connected to occupied giant garter 10 snake habitats to provide habitat corridors to support movement among habitat areas. Habitats 11 will be designed to support a mix of emergent vegetation and open water and edge configuration 12 that provide maximum function, within site constraints, for giant garter snake. Habitat 13 restoration/creation designs will also incorporate upland habitat areas that support movement and 14 aestivation habitat. Wetlands will be managed to provide water over the course of the snake’s 15 active season at suitable elevations and depths. 16

5.5.1.1.6 Tricolored Blackbird Habitat 17

At least __ acres of the restored/created emergent wetland will be restored in tricolored blackbird 18 habitat areas. Emergent wetlands will be developed and maintained to provide breeding habitat 19 for tricolored blackbird colonies. Parameters for locating restored/created tricolored blackbird 20 emergent wetland nesting habitat will include: 21

• Proximity to disturbances that could preclude or disrupt nesting, 22

• Proximity to suitable foraging habitat, 23

• Availability of water to support emergent vegetation, and 24

• Proximity to known black-crowned night heron roosts. 25

The Implementing Entity will also evaluate the need for predator control to improve nesting 26 success and implement appropriate control measures if necessary (see CM2: Develop and 27 Implement an Invasive Species Control Program). 28

5.4.2.4 CM7: Create Managed Wetland 29

As described in Section 5.4.1.1, CM 1: Protect Natural Communities, up to __ acres of managed 30 wetlands will be created that supports high function greater sandhill crane foraging habitat. 31 Managed wetlands created to provide greater sandhill crane habitat will be located in the Basin 32 and/or Sacramento River CAZs. Created habitats will be designed and managed such that they 33 support high value non-agricultural green and seed forage plants. Hunting and other high 34



disturbance uses will not be allowed on these lands during the period cranes are present in the 1 Plan Area. 2

5.4.2.5 CM8: Restore Covered Fish Species Spawning and Rearing Habitat 3

Based on results of post-acquisition ecological surveys, the Implementing Entity will identify 4 potential locations within protected lands along the Feather River, Butte Creek, and Big Chico 5 Creek that support site conditions suitable for restoration of covered fish species spawning and 6 rearing habitat. Once identified, the Implementing Entity will prepare and implement restoration 7 plans. Restoration actions, depending on site conditions, could include creating low flow 8 channels, lowering floodplain surfaces to increase the frequency and duration of floodplain 9 inundation, improving the quality of river edge/channel margins, and creating backwaters. 10 Effectiveness monitoring will be conducted as described in Section 5.7, Monitoring and 11 Research Plan, to collect the information necessary to evaluate the effectiveness of restoration 12 methods and species use of restored habitats. Based on analyses of monitoring results, the 13 Implementing Entity may adjust restoration methods through the adaptive management decision 14 making process. 15

5.4.2.6 CM9: Enhance and Manage Protected Natural Communities 16

The Implementing Entity will prepare and implement management plans for protected natural 17 communities and covered species habitats supported by those communities. Management plans 18 may be prepared for specific protected parcels or multiple protected parcels within a specified 19 geographic area. Management plans will provide the information necessary to guide habitat 20 enhancement and management actions necessary to achieve the biological objectives established 21 for the conserved lands addressed by each plan. Within two years of acquisition of conserved 22 parcels, the Implementing Entity will conduct baseline ecological surveys to collect the 23 information necessary to assess the level of ecological condition and function of conserved 24 species habitats and supporting ecosystem processes. Based on results of the assessment, the 25 Implementing Entity will identify habitat enhancement actions to be implemented to enhance 26 habitat functions for the target covered species and any subsequent ongoing management actions 27 that are necessary to maintain habitat functions over time. The collected information will also 28 establish the base ecological conditions from which the effectiveness of enhancement and 29 management measures can be evaluated through subsequent effectiveness monitoring (see 30 Section 5.7, Monitoring Plan). 31

The content of management plans will include, but not be limited to, a description of: 32

• The biological goals and objectives to be achieved with the protection and management 33 of the parcels; 34

• Base ecological conditions (e.g., habitat maps, assessment of covered species habitat 35 functions, occurrence of covered and other native wildlife species, vegetation structure 36



and composition, assessment of non-native species abundance and effect on habitat 1 functions, occurrence and extent of non-native species); 2

• Vegetation management actions that benefit covered communities, habitats, and species 3 and reduce fuel loads as appropriate and are necessary for implementing species specific 4 conservation measures; 5

• Livestock grazing management practices; 6

• The incorporation of a fire management plan developed in coordination with the 7 appropriate agencies and to the extent practicable, consistent with achieving the 8 biological objectives of the BRCP; 9

• Infrastructure, hazards, and easements; 10

• Existing land uses and management practices and their relationship to covered species 11 habitat functions; 12

• Applicable permit terms and conditions; 13

• Terms and conditions conservation easements when applicable; 14

• Management actions and schedules; 15

• Monitoring requirements and schedules; 16

• Established data acquisition and analysis protocols; 17

• Established data and report preservation, indexing, and repository protocols; 18

• The adaptive management approach, and; 19

• Any other information relevant to management of the protected parcels. 20

Management plans will be periodically updated to incorporate changes in maintenance, 21 management, and monitoring requirements as they may occur over the term of the BRCP. 22

Based on the assessment of existing site conditions (e.g., soils, hydrology, vegetation, occurrence 23 of covered species) and site constraints (e.g., location and size), and depending on biological 24 objectives of the conserved lands, management plans will specify measures for enhancing and 25 maintaining habitat as appropriate. 26

Described below are examples of possible enhancement and management actions for each of the 27 protected natural communities. 28

5.5.1.1.7 Oak Woodland and Savanna 29

Protected oak woodland and savanna habitats will be managed to maintain and enhance 30 functions for Swainson’s hawk, white-tailed kite, and bald eagle. Depending on site-specific 31 conditions, appropriate management actions may include: 32



• Retention of snags and downed wood; 1

• Prohibiting tree harvest for firewood and other uses unless tree harvest is identified in the 2 management plan as a method for achieving habitat enhancement objectives; 3

• Managing grazing to enhance tree survival and recruitment; and 4

• Protecting seedlings from herbivory. 5

5.5.1.1.8 Grassland Natural Community 6

Protected grassland will be managed to maintain and, where appropriate, increase the abundance 7 of fosserial and other small mammals (e.g., ground squirrels) to increase the abundance of prey 8 species of covered raptor species and other native predators and to increase burrow availability 9 for western burrowing owl and western spadefoot toad. Depending on site-specific conditions, 10 appropriate management actions may include: 11

• Prohibiting rodent control activities on preserves, 12

• Creating debris piles to create habitat for small mammals and birds, 13

• Managing grazing to improve the abundance of fosserial mammals. 14

Other habitat enhancement and management actions to improve the functions of preserved 15 grassland land cover types as habitat for covered species, depending on site specific conditions 16 could include: 17

• Installation of artificial nesting burrows for western burrowing owl to facilitate use of 18 unoccupied areas. 19

• Installation of perching structures to facilitate use of protected habitats by western 20 burrowing owl, Swainson’s hawk, and white-tailed kite. 21

• Use of fire, grazing, or other vegetation management techniques to increase the absolute 22 cover of native plant species and to control undesirable non-native plant species; 23

• Application of herbicides to remove heavy infestations of non-native plants and reseeding 24 of native plant species; and 25

• Managing livestock grazing to improve the function of vernal pools and grassland swale 26 complex as habitat for covered vernal pool shrimp and plant species. 27

Vernal Pool and Grassland Swale Complex. The Implementing Entity will enhance existing 28 vernal pool and grassland swale complex habitats that have been degraded through 29 anthropogenic activities (e.g., disking, damage from vehicles) to improve their habitat function 30 for covered and other native vernal pool species. Enhancement actions could also include 31 modifying or removing structures and supplemental sources of water that increase or decrease 32 the historical inundation period of protected vernal pools. 33



5.5.1.1.9 Riparian Natural Community 1

Protected riparian habitats will be managed to maintain and enhance habitat functions for 2 Swainson’s hawk, white-tailed kite, yellow-breasted chat, yellow-billed cuckoo, foothill yellow-3 legged frog, western pond turtle, and valley elderberry longhorn beetle. Depending on site-4 specific conditions, appropriate management practices may include: 5

• Excluding livestock from riparian habitats; 6

• Controlling non-native predators and invasive plant species; 7

• Planting native species to improve habitat structure and species composition; 8

• Installing woody debris in stream channels to create pools to increase the diversity of 9 micro-habitats; and 10

• Removing riprap along channel banks and altering stream channel geomorphology to 11 improve hydrologic conditions that support the regeneration of riparian vegetation and 12 improve habitat functions for covered fish species. 13

5.5.1.1.10 Wetland Natural Community 14

Protected wetlands will be managed to maintain and enhance wetland function and 15 hydrogeomorphic processes through site-specific management practices. Depending on site-16 specific conditions, management practices could include: 17

• Controlling nonnative species; 18

• Establishing appropriate grazing regimes; 19

• Increasing extent of native vegetation; 20

• Fencing wetlands to exclude livestock and other activities; 21

• Controlling water sources supporting wetlands; 22

• Increasing or decreasing ponding capacity; 23

• Erosion control; and 24

• Maintaining or enhancing adjacent upland habitats. 25

To provide habitat for and increase populations of California black rail, occupied and potentially 26 occupied wetland seep habitat will be protected and managed. Wetlands will be managed 27 specifically to promote the development of habitat for covered species with management actions 28 designed to enhance habitat value including: 29

• Maintaining appropriate water depth; 30

• Establishing emergent vegetation; 31



• Fencing to exclude livestock; and 1

• Control of non-native predators. 2

5.5.1.1.11 Aquatic Natural Community 3

Protected stream channels and ponds will be managed to maintain and enhance habitat functions 4 for covered fish, reptile, and amphibian species. Depending on site specific conditions, habitat 5 enhancement actions could include: 6

• Planting emergent vegetation along pond margins to increase habitat functions for the 7 western pond turtle and western spadefoot toad; 8

• Maintaining and improving pond water control structures and water supplies; 9

• Controlling non-native predators in ponds (e.g., bullfrog); 10

• Removing riprap along stream channels to improve habitat functions for covered fish, 11 reptile, and amphibian species and to rehabilitate aquatic ecosystem processes; 12

• Installing large woody debris along stream channels and channel banks to improve 13 instream cover conditions for covered fish species; and 14

• Coordinating with flood control entities to modify channel maintenance practices to 15 maintain woody debris in channels supporting anadromous fisheries. 16

5.5.1.1.12 Agricultural Land Habitats 17

Agricultural lands owned by the Implementing Entity will be managed to enhance habitat 18 functions for covered species where such enhancements are consistent with achieving the 19 primary objectives of the maintained agricultural habitats. Depending on site-specific 20 conditions, habitat enhancement and management actions could include: 21

• Reducing the use of herbicides and pesticides; 22

• Altering cultivation and harvest practices to increase forage and prey availability for 23 covered and other native wildlife species; 24

• Planting of hedgerows to provide rodent habitat to increase prey abundance for covered 25 and other raptors; and 26

• Maintaining water in canals and ditches during the activity period (early spring through 27 mid-fall) for the giant garter snake, western pond turtle, and other native wildlife species. 28

5.4.2.7 CM10: Enter into Conservation Easements with Water and Irrigation 29 Districts to Protect and Enhance Wetland Habitats along Canals 30

The Implementing Entity will acquire conservation easements from local water and irrigation 31 districts that own and operate water conveyance facilities to allow for preservation and 32



maintenance of emergent wetland habitats along the periphery of at least __ miles of permanent 1 water conveyance canals. The easement would specify the extent to which wetland vegetation 2 can persist along canals while not interrupting water conveyance requirements. 3

The network of canals and irrigation channels throughout the rice-growing region of the Butte 4 Basin comprises the primary breeding, cover, and dispersal habitat for giant garter snakes in that 5 area. Permanent water flows and emergent wetland vegetation along the perimeter of these 6 canals are essential in maintaining suitable habitat (e.g., cover, basking, prey base, etc.) for giant 7 garter snakes. These canals represent the primary avenues for dispersal and the most important 8 breeding and foraging habitats for giant garter snakes within an agricultural landscape. 9 Conservation easements that provide protection and opportunities for wetland enhancement 10 along large permanent water conveyance canals (without affecting water conveyance capability) 11 will be an important tool in managing and maintaining this population. 12

5.4.3 Species-Level Conservation Measures 13

5.4.3.1 CM11: Create and Maintain Greater Sandhill Crane Winter Roost Sites 14

The Implementing Entity will create and maintain two greater sandhill crane winter roost sites 15 located within the Basin CAZ in traditional greater sandhill crane winter use areas. Management 16 actions will include: 17

• Establishing appropriate seasonal wetland vegetation that supports crane roosting habitat; 18

• Incorporating upland berms situated throughout the seasonal wetland; and 19

• Maintaining water levels that support crane roosting habitat during the crane winter 20 season. 21

5.4.3.2 CM12: Remove Riprap from Channel Banks along Streams that Support 22 Salmonid Spawning Habitat 23

The Implementing Entity will remove riprap from up to 5 miles of channel banks along Big 24 Chico Creek, Little Chico Creek, Butte Creek, Little Dry Creek, Rock Creek, Mud Creek, and/or 25 Feather River to: 26

• Increase recruitment of salmonid spawning gravels; 27

• Rehabilitate erosional and depositional processes and provide for channel meander; 28

• Restore natural bank substrates to provide for the establishment of riparian vegetation; 29 and 30

• Increase the diversity and complexity of channel margin and instream habitats for 31 covered fish and other native species. 32

Anticipated actions to implement this conservation measure include, but are not limited to: 33



• Mapping the location of riprapped channel banks along Big Chico Creek, Little Chico 1 Creek, Butte Creek, Little Dry Creek, Butte Creek, and Feather River; 2

• Prioritizing locations for riprap removal based on the likely biological benefits and 3 practicability (e.g., the potential for adverse effects on flood control); 4

• Coordinating with flood control agencies and landowners to ensure that removal of riprap 5 and any mitigating structures will not create a flood control or other hazard; and 6

• Physical removal of riprap materials from banklines and replacement with natural 7 materials. 8

If results of the first four actions indicate that there are not at least 5 miles of riprap that are 9 feasible to remove in locations that will provide substantial benefits for covered fish species, 10 remaining funds allocated to this conservation measure will be reallocated to implement other 11 measures as determined through the adaptive management process that will benefit the covered 12 fish species. 13

5.4.3.3 CM13: Augment Salmonid Spawning Gravels 14

The Implementing Entity will place up to __ cubic yards of salmonid spawning gravels (__-__ 15 mm in size) in Big Chico Creek, Little Chico Creek, Butte Creek, Little Dry Creek, Rock Creek, 16 Mud Creek, and/or Feather River to increase the extent of salmonid spawning habitat. 17

Anticipated actions to implement this conservation measure include, but are not limited to: 18

• Mapping the location of existing salmonid spawning habitats; 19

• Assessing the condition of existing spawning habitat areas to determine if their function 20 could be substantially increased with augmentation of gravels; 21

• Conducting assessments to identify suitable locations for restoring or creating spawning 22 habitat with placement of spawning gravels; 23

• Prioritizing locations for riprap removal based on the likely biological benefits and 24 practicability (e.g., the potential for adverse effects on flood control); and 25

• Placement of spawning gravel in the highest priority channel locations. 26

The Implementing Entity will monitor enhanced and restored or created spawning habitat to 27 determine if they support salmonid spawning and to determine if additional augmentations may 28 be required to maintain the habitats over time. Because placed spawning gravels may be 29 transported downstream over time in some locations, the Implementing Entity may choose to 30 allocate a portion of the __ cubic yards of spawning gravel to maintain previously enhanced and 31 restored or created spawning habitats. 32

5.4.3.4 CM14: Improve Fish Passage 33



The Implementing Entity will conduct an assessment of Pine Creek, Rock Creek, Mud Creek, 1 Big Chico Creek, Lindo Channel, Little Chico Creek, Butte Creek, Little Dry Creek, and Feather 2 River to identify locations where passage of covered fish species is physically impeded. The 3 Implementing Entity will coordinate with NMFS, USFWS, and DFG to prioritize each of the 4 identified locations for implementing actions to improve fish passage based on the likely 5 magnitude of benefits for the covered fish species. Based on priority, the Implementing Entity 6 will contact landowners where the impediments are located to enter into cooperative agreements 7 to implement actions necessary to modify stream channels to improve conditions for fish 8 passage. 9

5.4.3.5 CM15: Reduce Entrainment Loss of Covered Fish Species 10

The Implementing Entity will install fish screens, move, consolidate, or otherwise modify up to 11 all diversions in the Plan Area that do not have fish screens to reduce entrainment loss of 12 juvenile salmonids, green sturgeon, and Sacramento splittail. Currently, there are 57 diversions 13 that are not known to be fitted with fish screens in the Plan Area (Figure 5-5). 14

15



1 2



The Implementing Entity, in coordination with NMFS, USFWS, and DFG, will develop criteria 1 for and evaluate each of the diversions to identify those that pose a substantial entrainment risk 2 for covered fish species and that can be feasibly modified to reduce entrainment risk. If results 3 of the evaluation indicate that fewer than 57 diversions should or can be modified, remaining 4 funds allocated to this conservation measure will be reallocated to implement other measures as 5 determined through the adaptive management process that will benefit the covered fish species. 6

5.4.3.6 CM16: Conduct Surveys to Locate New Occurrences of Butte County 7 Checkerbloom 8

The Implementing Entity will conduct surveys to locate new occurrences of Butte County 9 checkerbloom during the appropriate time of year north of upper Bidwell Park. Based on the 10 results of the surveys, the Implementing Entity will distribute the acquisition of natural 11 communities in the Cascade Foothills CAZ (see Section 5.4.1.1, CM 1: Protect Natural 12 Communities) to protect at least 50 percent of newly known occurrences. 13

5.4.3.7 CM17: Reestablish Occurrences of Slender Orcutt Grass 14

The Implementing Entity will implement actions to reestablish occurrences of slender Orcutt 15 grass in at least 10 BRCP protected vernal pools. To implement this measure, the Implementing 16 Entity will: 17

• evaluate protected vernal pools to determine their suitability (e.g., hydrology and soil 18 conditions) for establishing slender Orcutt grass; 19

• adopt techniques for establishing slender Orcutt grass plants; 20 • harvest slender Orcutt grass seed from extant occurrences within or adjacent to the Plan 21

Area; 22 • manage established occurrences to ensure their persistence over time; and 23 • monitor the effectiveness of of slender Orcutt grass establishment and management 24

techniques to gather information necessary to improve establishment of new occurrences 25 over time. 26

5.4.4 Avoidance and Minimization Measures 27

Avoidance and minimization measures are designed to reduce direct impacts and avoid or 28 minimize take of covered species. This is typically accomplished by postponing construction 29 activities in the immediate vicinity of occupied habitat to times of year when the species is not 30 present, or by avoiding breeding periods. Avoidance and minimization measures may also avoid 31 or minimize the potential for take by reducing potential effects on vegetation or wildlife habitat 32 by altering construction plans or activities (e.g., modify construction footprints, cover open 33 trenches, using materials to reduce runoff from construction sites, etc.); or by modifying design 34 elements of projects to reduce operational effects (e.g., noise, lighting, reducing urban runoff, 35 etc). 36



Avoidance and Minimization Measures are presented in a step-down approach beginning with 1 planning surveys to identify potentially-occupied habitat; preconstruction surveys to identify 2 presence or absence of covered species; the establishment of Activity Exclusion Zones to protect 3 occupied sites during specified periods; construction and design measures to minimize the effects 4 of the covered activity; and additional species-specific measures. 5

5.4.4.1 Surveys 6

Avoidance and Minimization Measure [AMM] 1: Conduct Planning Surveys. Planning 7 surveys are reconnaissance-level surveys conducted prior to or during project design for 8 purposes of identifying, documenting, and assessing habitats and habitat conditions and the 9 potential for the presence of covered species. Planning surveys may make use of existing 10 information (e.g., assessment of aerial photographs, previous ecological assessments, soils maps) 11 and site visits to ground truth collected information. Potential habitat for covered species are 12 defined for each species in Appendix A, Covered Species Accounts. Results of planning surveys 13 will be used during project design to avoid sensitive habitats, including those that potentially 14 support covered species, such as vernal pools, riparian woodlands, wetlands, and oak woodlands; 15 or if unavoidable, will be used to potentially trigger the need for additional preconstruction 16 surveys (see AMM 2). Planning Surveys may be conducted at any time of the year. 17

AMM2: Conduct Preconstruction Surveys. Where planning surveys indicate the presence of 18 habitat that potentially supports covered species, preconstruction surveys will be conducted to 19 identify the presence or absence of covered species within and adjacent to project sites 20 immediately prior to implementation of project-related activities that could adversely affect 21 covered species or sensitive habitats. Surveys will not be required if covered species and 22 sensitive habitats identified in planning surveys as potentially being present are assumed to be 23 present and all applicable avoidance and minimization measures for those species and sensitive 24 habitats are implemented. Surveys will be conducted for each covered species for which 25 potentially-occupied habitat falls within the distance radii of a project site as indicated in Table 26 5.11. This distance indicates the survey area as measured from the edge of project boundaries 27 for each potentially-occurring covered species. The survey area can be reduced through 28 consultation with a qualified biologist and with concurrence from USFWS/DFG based on line-29 of-sight, topography, and land uses. No surveys are required for potentially-occupied habitat that 30 occurs beyond the specified distance. All surveys will be conducted during the construction year 31 prior to any ground disturbance and during the specified breeding or wintering season as 32 indicated in Table 5.11. All preconstruction surveys will be conducted by qualified and 33 permitted biologists following state or federal protocols or other accepted protocols as indicated 34 in Table 5.11. If presence is assumed and set-backs from potentially-occupied habitat are 35 established as described under AMM3, then preconstruction surveys are not required. 36

37

38



Table 5-11. Survey Area and Timing of Preconstruction Surveys

Covered Species

Activity Footprint Survey Area and Survey Distance

from the Footprint Boundary (feet)

Survey Period for Determining Species Presence/Absence Survey Protocol1

California black rail 1,320 March 15 to June 15 Richmond et al. 2009

Bald eagle 2,600 March 1 to June 30 Jackman and Jenkins 2004

Swainson’s hawk 1,320 March 15 to August 15 SWHTAC 2000

White-tailed kite 1,320 March 15 to August 15 SWHTAC 2000

Peregrine falcon 2,600 March 15 to August 15 Standard visual surveys

Greater sandhill crane 5,200 October 15 to February 15 Standard visual surveys

Western burrowing owl 500 February 1 to July 30 (breeding season) September 1 through January 30 (non-breeding season)

DFG 1995

Western yellow-billed cuckoo

2,600 June 15 to August 10 Laymon 1998

Yellow-breasted chat 1,320 April 15 to July 31 Standard area search technique

Tricolored blackbird 2,600 March 15 to June 15 Kelsey 2008

Foothill yellow-legged frog

500 April 1 through September 30 Seltenrich and Pool 2002

California red-legged frog

500 April 1 through September 30 USFWS 2005

Western spadefoot toad 500 October through May Standard transect/vocalization, and aquatic surveys

Western pond turtle 200 April 1 through September 30 Bury et al. in prep.

Giant garter snake 200 May 1 through September 30 USFWS 1997

Valley elderberry longhorn beetle

200 All year USFWS 1999

Vernal pool invertebrates 500 Wet season – winter/spring Dry season – summer/fall

USFWS 1996

Ferris' milk vetch To come. To come. To come.

Lesser saltscale To come. To come. To come.

Hoover's spurge To come. To come. To come.

Ahart's dwarf rush To come. To come. To come.

Red Bluff dwarf rush To come. To come. To come.

1



Table 5-11. Survey Area and Timing of Preconstruction Surveys (continued)

Covered Species

Activity Footprint Survey Area and Survey Distance

from the Footprint Boundary (feet)

Survey Period for Determining Species Presence/Absence Survey Protocol1

Butte County meadowfoam

To come. To come. To come.

Hairy orcutt grass To come. To come. To come.

Slender orcutt grass To come. To come. To come.

Ahart's paronychia To come. To come. To come.

California beaked rush To come. To come. To come.

Butte County checkerbloom

400 To come. To come.

Veiny monardella 200 To come. To come.

Butte County golden clover

To come. To come. To come.

Greene's tuctoria To come. To come. To come. 1Survey protocols may be revised in coordination with USFWS, DFG, and NMFS.

5.4.4.2 Activity Exclusion Zones 1

The presence of covered species within a survey area as indicated in Table 5.11 will result in the 2 establishment of an Activity Exclusion Zone. Activity Exclusion Zones are designed to avoid or 3 minimize take of covered species by maintaining a buffer between construction-related actions 4 and breeding sites or key wintering sites, and to minimize disturbances (e.g., noise, light) to 5 covered species associated with subsequent human uses of developments or during operations of 6 covered activities. 7

AMM3: Establish Activity Exclusion Zones. Where preconstruction surveys indicate the 8 presence of covered species (or where presence is assumed based on results of planning surveys), 9 direct impacts of construction- and maintenance-related activities to occupied covered species’ 10 habitats will be avoided through the creation of Activity Exclusion Zones. An exclusion zone 11 will be established around each occupied site according to the distances indicated in Table 5.12. 12 The size of Activity Exclusion Zones can be reduced through consultation with a qualified 13 biologist and with concurrence from USFWS/DFG based on line-of-sight, topography, land uses, 14 type of disturbance, ambient noise and disturbance levels, and other issues. No project activities 15 will be permitted within Activity Exclusion Zones during the time periods specified in Table 16 5.12 or until a qualified biologist determines that the risk of take is sufficiently avoided or 17 minimized (e.g., young have fledged and are capable of independent survival and nests sites are 18 no longer active, lack of vernal pool inundation, key wintering sites are unoccupied, etc.). 19



Table 5-12. Activity Exclusion Zones

Covered species Habitat Type Avoided Activity Exclusion Zone

Distance (feet) Exclusion Period California black rail Emergent marsh/springs

and seeps supporting habitat

1,320 March 1 to July 30

Bald eagle Nest sites 2,600 February 15 to July 30 Swainson’s hawk Nest sites 1,320 March 15 to August 30 White-tailed kite Nest sites 1,320 March 15 to August 30 American peregrine falcon Nest sites 2,600 March 15 to August 30 Greater sandhill crane Winter roosts 5,200 October 15 to February 28 Western burrowing owl Nest sites 250 February 1 to July 30 Western yellow-billed cuckoo

Occupied riparian habitat 2,600 June 1 to August 30

Yellow-breasted chat Occupied riparian habitat 1,320 April 1 to July 30 Tricolored blackbird Breeding colonies 2,600 March 15 to July 30 Foothill yellow-legged frog Occupied watercourses 100 Yearround California red-legged frog Occupied breeding ponds 500 November 1 to April 30 Western spadefoot toad Occupied vernal pool

grasslands, and other occupied aquatic and adjacent grasslands

500 Yearround

Western pond turtle Occupied watercourses and ponds

200 March 1 to November 30

Giant garter snake Occupied watercourses 200 (from the edge of aquatic habitat)

October 1 to May 15


Elderberry shrubs with >1 inch stems at base

20 Yearround

Vernal pool invertebrates Inundated vernal pools 250 During periods of inundation –

approximately November 1 to April 30

Ferris' milk vetch To come. To come. To come. Lesser saltscale To come. To come. To come. Hoover's spurge To come. To come. To come. Ahart's dwarf rush To come. To come. To come. Red Bluff dwarf rush To come. To come. To come. Butte County meadowfoam To come. To come. To come. Hairy orcutt grass To come. To come. To come. Slender orcutt grass To come. To come. To come. Ahart's paronychia To come. To come. To come.

1



Table 5-12. Activity Exclusion Zones (continued)

Covered species Habitat Type Avoided Activity Exclusion Zone

Distance (feet) Exclusion Period

California beaked rush To come. To come. To come.

Butte County checkerbloom To come. To come. To come.

Veiny monardella To come. To come. To come.

Butte County golden clover To come. To come. To come.

Greene's tuctoria To come. To come. To come.

1

5.4.4.3 Construction and Project Design Measures 2

Construction measures are on-site activities (e.g., best management practices) implemented 3 during the construction phase to avoid or minimize construction-related effects on covered 4 species. Project design measures are used to adjust project footprints or to incorporate habitat 5 elements into project design that further avoid or reduce effects on covered species. 6

AMM4. Avoid Covered Species Habitat During Siting of Construction Staging Areas and 7 Temporary Work Areas. Using the habitat information gathered from results of Planning 8 Surveys (AMM1), the siting of construction staging and other temporary work areas will avoid 9 habitats that are potentially occupied by covered species. Staging areas, temporary work areas 10 and related construction facilities will be located in existing open degraded areas that do not 11 require tree removal; avoid impacts to wetlands, vernal pools, oak woodlands, and riparian 12 habitats; require little to no recontouring of land; and in sites that are easily restored. 13

AMM5: Avoid Occupied Covered Species Habitat. Avoid disturbance to occupied covered 14 species habitat to the extent practicable (e.g., Swainson’s hawk nest trees, vernal pools) through 15 adjustments in project boundaries or designs to avoid direct disturbance to the occupied habitat. 16

AMM6: Confine and Delineate Work Area. Confine clearing to the minimal area necessary 17 to facilitate construction activities. Clearly identify the boundaries of work areas using 18 temporary fencing or staking and flagging. Movement of heavy equipment to and from the 19 project site shall be restricted to established roadways to minimize habitat disturbance. 20

AMM7. Install Exclusion Fencing or Staking and Flagging. Standard orange plastic 21 construction exclusion fencing or staking and flagging will be installed at the perimeter of 22 Activity Exclusion Zones to prevent access during construction activities. 23

AMM8: Restrict Work Hours to Daytime. With the exception of transportation-related 24 construction activities, construction activities will be permitted only during daylight hours 25 unless, with concurrence of NMFS, USFWS, and DFG, the likely effects of the construction 26 activities on covered species are judged to be minor. 27



AMM9: Establish Permanent Buffers along Stream Corridors. With the exception of road 1 and infrastructure crossings, a 200-foot buffer will be established along all natural stream 2 corridors within which all construction-related activities will be avoided. 3

AMM10: Remove Occupied Covered Species Habitats Outside of Active Periods. If 4 removal of occupied covered species habitats is unavoidable, habitat will be removed during 5 periods that minimize disturbance to breeding activity or minimize the risk of take of individual 6 animals as indicted in Table 5.13. Additional species-specific avoidance and minimization 7 measures described below may also apply. 8

Table 5-13. Covered Species Habitat Removal Periods

Covered Species Period During which Habitat May be Removed California black rail September 1 to January 31 Bald eagle September 1 to January 31 Swainson’s hawk October 1 to February 28 White-tailed kite October 1 to February 28 Greater sandhill crane March 1 to September 30 Western burrowing owl September 1 to January 15 Western yellow-billed cuckoo October 1 to April 30 Yellow-breasted chat September 1 to February 28 Tricolored blackbird September 1 to February 28 Foothill yellow-legged frog June 1 to February 28 California red-legged frog June 1 to September 30 Western spadefoot toad November 1 to February 28 Western pond turtle December 1 to February 28 Giant garter snake June 1 to September 30 Valley elderberry longhorn beetle November 1 to February 15 Vernal pool invertebrates June 1 to September 30

9

AMM11: Retain Covered Species Habitat in Project Designs. To the extent practicable, 10 retain covered species habitat (e.g., riparian, woodland, wetlands, grasslands, isolated valley oak 11 trees, etc.) within project areas through adjustments in boundaries, design configurations, 12 locations of staging areas, and incorporation of native trees and greenbelts into project designs. 13

AMM12: Cover Trenches and Holes During Construction. To prevent injury and mortality 14 of covered and other native wildlife, all open trenches and holes associated with implementation 15 of covered activities will be covered or designed with escape ramps during non-working hours. 16



AMM13: Conduct Surveys of Trenches and Holes Prior to Filling. To prevent mortality of 1 covered and other native wildlife, all open trenches and holes will be inspected immediately 2 prior to filling to remove any trapped wildlife. 3

AMM14. Conduct Worker Training. All construction personnel will participate in a worker 4 environmental training program that will educate workers regarding covered species and their 5 habitats, the need to avoid impacts due to their state and/or federal status, and the legal 6 implications of violating environmental laws and regulations. 7

AMM15. Install Erosion Control Barriers. Where ground disturbing activities will 8 potentially result in runoff of sediment or other materials into wetland, riparian, or vernal pool 9 habitats, erosion control barriers will be installed as needed to prevent sedimentation or 10 contamination of these habitats. Suitable erosion control materials must be free of plant seeds 11 and other propagules to prevent introductions of non-native plant species and may include coir 12 (coconut husks), jute (fibers from the plant genus Chorchorus), straw or excelsior (fine wood 13 fibers, usually aspen), or other combinations of these types of products. 14

AMM16: Install Temporary Coffer Dams to Contain Work Areas in Streams Occupied by 15 Covered Species. Following the capture and relocation of foothill yellow-legged frogs and 16 western pond turtles from work areas (see Species-Specific Avoidance and Minimization 17 Measures), temporary coffer dams will be installed to prevent animals from reinhabiting the site 18 during implementation of construction activities. Dewatering of work areas following 19 installation of temporary coffer dams will occur prior to any ground-disturbing activities. Work 20 areas will be slowly dewatered in coordination with follow-up capture and relocation activities. 21 Immediately following construction activities, temporary coffer dams will be removed. This 22 measure may be modified through consultation with a qualified biologist and with concurrence 23 from USFWS/DFG to address site-specific constraints associated with placement of coffer dams. 24

5.4.4.4 Urban-Habitat Interface Design Measures 25

In addition to removing habitat or reducing habitat value within the footprint of an urban 26 development, the placement of urban development within a natural or managed open landscape 27 also may reduce the habitat value of immediately adjacent lands as a result of increased human 28 activities and disturbances. Implementing certain design elements can minimize the effects of 29 these disturbances at the urban-habitat interface. 30

AMM17: Design Developments to Minimize Indirect Impacts at Urban-Habitat Interfaces. 31 Planned developments to be implemented adjacent to BRCP conservation lands and other 32 covered species habitats will incorporate design elements to minimize the indirect impacts of 33 development on adjacent habitat areas. Indirect impacts include human activities that can result 34 in noise and visual disturbances at urban-habitat interfaces that diminish the ability of covered 35 and other native wildlife to use the habitat, increased numbers of pets (e.g., dogs, cats) in habitats 36 that can result in harassment and mortality of covered and other native wildlife species, and 37



increased levels of direct habitat disturbances associated with increased human access to habitats 1 (e.g., destruction of vegetation and injury or mortality of wildlife associated with use of off-road 2 vehicles in habitat). 3

The following urban-habitat design elements will be considered and incorporated when 4 applicable to each residential and other development project. 5

• To reduce the incidence of pets entering habitats, placing roads at the edge of 6 development, rather than abutting front-loaded lots against the preserve boundary. 7

• Placing development roads, bike paths, and trails such that they minimize the likelihood 8 for human access into adjacent habitat areas. 9

• Placement of access barriers that preclude entry of humans and pets into adjacent habitat 10 areas. 11

• Designing backyard fences that prevent pets from escaping yards into adjacent habitats, 12 that preclude gates to minimize entry into and dumping of trash into adjacent habitats, 13 and that are tall enough to shield adjacent habitat areas from visual disturbances. 14

• New public roads associated with developments may be fenced to prevent unauthorized 15 public access into habitat areas. 16

• Designing development footprints to minimize the extent of urban-habitat interface. 17

• Designing development drainage systems and implementing best management practices 18 to avoid discharges of urban runoff into habitat areas, including stream courses. 19

• Designing development lighting to avoid projecting light into adjacent habitat areas or 20 using low-glare lighting to minimize lighting impacts on habitat. 21

5.4.4.5 Species-Specific Avoidance and Minimization Measures 22

Additional measures may be required if direct impacts on covered species cannot be fully 23 avoided. Some of these measures are based on state or federal guidance (e.g, western burrowing 24 owl and giant garter snake); others are standard practices that involve relocating animals out of 25 impact areas in order to avoid mortality. [Note to Reviewers: Species-specific avoidance and 26 minimization measures will be added for covered plant species in subsequent iterations of this 27 chapter section.] 28

5.5.1.1.13 Western Burrowing Owl 29

AMM18: Passively Translocate Wintering Western Burrowing Owls. If occupied western 30 burrowing owl burrows cannot be avoided during the nonbreeding season, the entity 31 implementing the project will provide for translocating owls according to DFG guidelines 32 (California Department of Fish and Game 1995) or comparable methods by installing one-way 33 doors in occupied or potentially occupied burrows, and monitoring the one-way doors during 34



ground disturbance activities. Passive translocation of western burrowing owls will be 1 conducted by qualified biologists. 2

5.5.1.1.14 Western Spadefoot Toad 3

AMM19: Prepare and Implement a Translocation Plan for Western Spadefoot Toad. If 4 preconstruction surveys indicate that western spadefoot toad are present within a project site, the 5 entity implementing the project will prepare and implement a DFG and USFWS translocation 6 plan. The plan will include a description of the relocation site, methods of capture and transport, 7 and timing of activities. Within 24 hours of ground-disturbance, a preconstruction survey will be 8 conducted in suitable grassland/vernal pool habitats for western spadefoot toad. Toads found 9 within the work area will be captured and relocated to approved offsite suitable habitat as 10 indicated in the relocation plan. Handling and relocation of western spadefoot toads will be 11 conducted by qualified biologists. 12

5.5.1.1.15 Foothill Yellow-legged Frog 13

AMM20: Prepare and Implement a Translocation Plan for Foothill Yellow-legged Frog. If 14 preconstruction surveys indicate the presence of foothill yellow-legged frog and impacts to 15 occupied habitat cannot be avoided, the entity implementing the project will prepare and 16 implement a DFG and USFWS translocation plan. Where preconstruction surveys indicated the 17 presence of foothill yellow-legged frog, a survey will be conducted within the work area within 18 24 hours of in-stream construction activities. Foothill yellow-legged frogs found within the work 19 area will be captured and relocated at least 500 feet upstream or downstream of the work area 20 according to the provisions in the work plan. Where temporary coffer dams are constructed 21 (AMM16), capture and relocation activities will continue during dewatering of work areas. 22 Handling and relocation of foothill yellow-legged frogs will be conducted by qualified 23 biologists. 24

5.5.1.1.16 Western Pond Turtle 25

AMM21: Prepare and Implement a Translocation Plan for Western Pond Turtle. If 26 preconstruction surveys indicate the presence of western pond turtle and impacts to occupied 27 habitat cannot be avoided, the entity implementing the project will prepare and implement a 28 DFG and USFWS translocation plan. The plan will include a description of the relocation site, 29 methods of capture and transport, and timing of activities. Where preconstruction surveys 30 indicated the presence of western pond turtle, within 24 hours of in-stream construction activities 31 a survey will be conducted within the work area and individuals found within the work area will 32 be captured and relocated at least 500 feet upstream or downstream of the work area according to 33 provisions in the relocation plan. Where temporary coffer dams are constructed (AMM16), 34 capture and relocation activities will continue during dewatering of work areas. Handling and 35 relocation of western pond turtles will be conducted by qualified biologists. 36

37



5.5.1.1.17 California Horned Lizard 1

AMM22: Prepare Relocation and Implement a Translocation Plan for California Horned 2 Lizard. If preconstruction surveys indicate the presence of California horned lizard and impacts 3 to occupied habitat cannot be avoided, the the entity implementing the project will prepare and 4 implement a DFG and USFWS translocation plan. The plan will include a description of the 5 relocation site, methods of capture and transport, and timing of activities. Where preconstruction 6 surveys indicate the presence of California horned lizard, clearance surveys will be conducted 7 within 24 hours of ground disturbance. Individuals found during the survey will be captured and 8 relocated according to the provisions in the relocation plan. Handling and relocation of 9 California horned lizard will be conducted by qualified biologists 10

5.5.1.1.18 Giant Garter Snake 11

AMM23: Implement USFWS Avoidance and Minimization Measures for Giant Garter 12 Snake. Where planning and preconstruction surveys indicate the presence of suitable habitat for 13 giant garter snake, the USFWS avoidance and minimization measures described in Appendix __, 14 Standard Avoidance and Minimization Measures During Construction Activities in Giant Garter 15 Snake (Thamnophis gigas) Habitat, will be implemented. Avoidance/minimization measures 16 include: 17

• For complete avoidance of giant garter snake impacts: no in-channel activity and 18 maintain a permanent 200-foot no-disturbance buffer from the outer edge of potentially-19 occupied aquatic habitat. 20

If complete avoidance is not feasible, then the following measures apply: 21

• Restrict all construction activity involving the disturbance to giant garter snake habitat to 22 the snake’s active season, May 1 though October 1. This is the active period for the 23 snake during which time direct mortality is lessened because snakes are expected to 24 actively move and avoid danger; 25

• In areas where construction is to take place, allow giant garter snakes to leave the site on 26 their own by dewatering all irrigation ditches, canals, or other aquatic habitat between 27 April 15 and September 30 to remove habitat of giant garter snakes. Dewatered habitat 28 must remain dry, with no puddled water remaining for at least 15 consecutive days prior 29 to excavating or filling of the dewatered habitat. If a site cannot be completely 30 dewatered, netting and salvage of prey items may be necessary. 31

• Conduct preconstruction clearance surveys within 24 hours of construction activities 32 within designated giant garter snake aquatic and adjacent upland habitat. If construction 33 activities stop for a period of two weeks or more, conduct another preconstruction 34 clearance survey within 24 hours of resuming construction activity. 35



• Avoid ground disturbances in adjacent upland habitats that are within 200 feet from the 1 banks of potentially occupied giant garter snake aquatic habitat; 2

• Confine movement of heavy equipment to existing roadways and beyond 200 feet from 3 the banks of aquatic habitat. 4

• Confine clearing to the minimal area necessary to facilitate construction activities. Flag 5 and designate avoided giant garter snake habitat within or adjacent to the project as 6 Environmentally Sensitive Ares. This area shall be avoided by all construction 7 personnel. 8

• Provide USFWS-approved environmental awareness training to construction personnel. 9

• If a live giant garter snake is encountered during construction activities, immediately 10 notify the USFWS and the projects’ biological monitor. The monitor shall stop 11 construction in the vicinity of the snake and monitor the snake and allow it to leave on its 12 own. The monitor shall remain in the area for the remainder of the work day to ensure 13 the snake is not harmed or if it leaves the site, does not return. If the snake does not leave 14 on its own within 1 working day, further consultation with USFWS is required. 15

• Following construction, restore the project area to pre-project conditions. 16

• Employ best management practices to further avoid disturbances to habitat including: 17

o Install temporary fencing to identify and protect adjacent marshes, wetlands, and 18 ditches; 19

o Maintain water quality and limit construction runoff into wetland areas through 20 the use of hay bales, filter fences, vegetative buffer strips, or other accepted 21 practices. However, no plastic, monofilament, jute, or similar erosion control 22 matting that could entangle snakes will be permitted on the project site within 200 23 feet of snake aquatic or rice habitat. 24

5.5.1.1.19 Valley Elderberry Longhorn Beetle 25

AMM24: Implement USFWS Guidelines for Valley Elderberry Longhorn Beetle. Where 26 planning and preconstruction surveys indicate the presence of suitable habitat for valley 27 elderberry longhorn beetle, the USFWS avoidance and minimization measures described in 28 Appendix __, Conservation Guidelines for the Valley Elderberry Longhorn Beetle, will be 29 implemented. Avoidance measures include: 30

• Establishment and maintenance of an activity exclusion zone (AMM3). 31

• Fence and flag and the exclusion zone. 32

• Signage: Erect signs every 50-feet of the exclusion area with the following information: 33 This area is habitat of the valley elderberry longhorn beetle, a threatened species and 34 must not be disturbed. This species is protected by the Endangered Species Act of 1973, 35



as amended. Violators are subject to prosecution, fines, and imprisonment”. The signs 1 should be clearly readable from a distance of 20 feet and must be maintained for the 2 duration of construction. 3

• Contractor education: brief contractors on the need to avoid damaging elderberry plants 4 and the penalties for not complying with requirements. 5

5.4.4.6 Transportation-Related Covered Activities 6

AMM25: Implement CALTRANS Construction Site Best Management Practices (BMPs) 7 To Maintain Water Quality. Entities implementing covered transportation-related activities 8 will implement CALTRANS best management practices presented in Appendix __, Technical 9 Guidance for Maintaining Water Quality. 10

BMPs include, but are not limited to: 11

• Preservation of existing vegetation: Preservation of existing vegetation is the 12 identification and protection of desirable vegetation that provides erosion and sediment 13 control benefits. 14

• Streambank stabilization: Drainage systems including the stream channel, streambank, 15 and associated riparian areas, are dynamic and sensitive ecosystems that respond to 16 changes in land use activity. Streambank and channel disturbance resulting from 17 construction activities can increase the stream’s sediment load, which can cause channel 18 erosion or sedimentation and have adverse affects on the biotic system. Best 19 Management Practices can reduce the discharge of sediment and other pollutants and 20 minimize the impact of construction activities on watercourses. Streams included on the 21 303(d) list by the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) may require careful 22 monitoring to prevent construction-related increases in sedimentation, siltation and/or 23 turbidity to the stream 24

• Wind erosion control: Wind erosion control consists of applying water and/or other dust 25 palliatives as necessary to prevent or alleviate erosion by the forces of wind. Dust control 26 shall be applied in accordance with Caltrans standard practices. Covering of small 27 stockpiles or areas is an alternative to applying water or other dust palliatives. Stabilized 28 construction entrance/exit: A stabilized construction access is defined by a point of 29 entrance/exit to a construction site that is stabilized to reduce the tracking of mud and dirt 30 onto public roads by construction vehicles. 31

• Water conservation practices: Water conservation practices are activities that use water 32 during the construction of a project in a manner that avoids causing erosion and/or the 33 transport of pollutants off site. 34

• Dewatering operations: Dewatering operations are practices that manage the discharge 35 of pollutants when non-storm water and accumulated precipitation (storm water) must be 36 removed from a work location so that construction work may be accomplished. 37



• Sanitary/septic waste management: Procedures and practices will be used to minimize 1 or eliminate the discharge of construction site sanitary/septic waste materials to the storm 2 drain system or to watercourses. 3

AMM26: Avoid and minimize the bridge construction-related noise and other 4 disturbances. Entities implementing bridge construction and replacement activities across 5 flowing stream courses will implement CALTRANS noise reduction measures and BMPs 6 presented in Appendix __, Technical Guidance for Assessment and Mitigation of Hydroacoustic 7 Effects of Pile Driving on Fish 8

These measures include, but are not limited to: 9

Project timing: In-water work windows should be scheduled to avoid potential impacts 10 on fish species of concern (i.e., avoid in-water work during salmonid migrations). 11

Pile placement: Eliminate or minimize the number of piles that require in-water work. 12

Pile type: Minimize the use of steel piles for in-water work. 13

Pile driving equipment: Use pile driving techniques that minimize impacts when 14 practicable. 15

Pile size: Minimize the size of piles as engineering constraints allow. 16

Noise minimization tools: If in-water work that will create noise levels harmful to fish 17 and wildlife species is deemed unavoidable, use one or a combination of structures and 18 techniques to reduce noise to levels that will not harm fish and wildlife. These structures 19 and techniques include air bubble curtains, cofferdams, isolation casings, and cushion 20 blocks. 21

5.4.4.7 Urban Development-Related Activities 22

AMM27: Implement Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plans. Each entity implementing an 23 urban development covered activity will prepare and implement an approved Stormwater 24 Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) that identifies BMPs per the requirements of the jurisdiction 25 within which each activity is implemented. Typical BMPs include: 26

• Placement of trash receptacles situated at convenient locations on construction sites and 27 maintained such that trash and litter do not accumulate on the site or migrate off-site; 28

• Placement of structural controls such as sediment barriers, filters, and berms; 29

• Remove any construction-related debris that falls into streams, or other bodies of water; 30

• Prohibiting the washing of construction or other vehicles adjacent to a construction site 31 shall be prohibited; and 32



• Controlling erosion from slopes and channels through the effective combination of 1 BMPs. 2

AMM28: Implement Standard Urban Stormwater Management Plans. Each entity 3 implementing an urban development covered activity will prepare and implement an approved 4 Standard Urban Stormwater Management Plan (SUSMP) per the requirements of the National 5 Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit for the jurisdiction within which the 6 activity is implemented. The SUSMP must incorporate, at a minimum, either a volumetric or 7 flow-based treatment control design standard, or both, as specified in the National Pollutant 8 Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit, to mitigate (infiltrate, filter, or treat) stormwater 9 runoff. Treatment control BMPs set forth in the proposed project plans, shall meet the design 10 standards set forth in the SUSMP. 11

AMM29: Implement Landscaping Management Plans. Each entity implementing an urban 12 development covered activity will prepare and implement an approved irrigation plan and 13 chemical management plan for landscaped areas. Plans shall include use of state-of-art irrigation 14 systems and design features to reduce the potential for herbicides and fertilizers in storm and 15 irrigation runoff and reduce associated potential effects on open drainages. 16

AMM30: Implement Wet Weather Erosion Control Plan. Each entity implementing an 17 urban development covered activity that will leave soil disturbed during the rainy season (i.e., 18 October 1 through April 15) will prepare and implement an approved Wet Weather Erosion 19 Control Plan (WWECP). The WWECP must be available 30 days before construction 20 commences. Information to be provided in WWECPs will include, but not be limited to the 21 following information: 22

• The name, location, period of construction, and a brief description of the project; 23

• Contact information for the owner and contractor; 24

• A site map (construction plans may be used) showing the location of erosion land 25 sediment control BMPs that will be implemented for the rainy season; and 26

• A certification statement that all required and selected BMPs will be effectively 27 implemented. 28

AMM31: Implement Additional Avoidance and Minimization Measures and Best 29 Management Practices. Each entity implementing an urban development covered activity will 30 implement applicable avoidance and minimization measures and BMPs identified in current 31 Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board guidelines and the Butte County General 32 Plan that are in addition to those required under AMMs 32-36. 33

AMM32: Monitor Construction Sites and Eliminate or Minimize Sources of Contaminants. 34 Each entity implementing an urban development covered activity will monitor construction sites 35



to identify and eliminate or minimize all sources of contaminants (e.g., leaking fuel tanks or 1 chemical tanks) that could enter ground and surface waters. 2

5.5 Approach to Providing Conservation for Covered Species 3

Note to Reviewers: This section presents a partial draft of Section 5.5, Approach to Providing 4 Conservation for Covered Species. This section describes how implementation of the 5 conservation measures conserves each of covered wildlife species and mitigates impacts of the 6 covered activities on their habitats. This section will be expanded to address the covered fish and 7 plant species in the next version of Chapter 5. 8

The BRCP Conservation Strategy is designed to meet the ESA section 10 standard to minimize 9 and mitigate the impacts of the covered activities on the covered species to the maximum extent 10 practicable (50 C.F.R.§ 17.22(b)(2)(B)) and the NCCP Act standard to contribute to the 11 conservation of covered species. This section describes how implementation of the Conservation 12 Strategy minimizes and mitigates the impacts of the covered activities on and contributes to the 13 conservation the covered species. The approach to conserving each of the covered species 14 focuses on alleviating the effects of environmental stressors in the Plan Area that pose a threat to 15 maintaining and increasing each species’ population that can be reasonably and practicably 16 addressed through the BRCP. 17

As described in Section 5.4, Conservation Measures, the BRCP includes conservation measures 18 that avoid and minimize the impacts of covered activities and protects, enhances, and restores an 19 extent of natural communities sufficient to mitigate impacts of the covered activities on and to 20 contribute to the conservation of the covered species. Beyond implementing the avoidance and 21 minimization measures (see 5.4.4, Avoidance and Minimization Measures), it is not considered 22 practicable to further modify the development covered activities to reduce the level of potential 23 impacts on the covered species. There are also no practicable alternatives, other than 24 implementing the BRCP avoidance and minimization measures, to implementing covered 25 activities that are necessary to meet the overall planning goals of the BRCP. 26

5.5.2 Tricolored Blackbird 27

Tricolored blackbirds are largely endemic to California. Tricolored blackbirds occur in Butte 28 County primarily during the breeding season. Post-breeding birds can be observed in Butte 29 County and other Sacramento Valley counties into October and November, but most birds 30 migrate to wintering areas in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and coastal areas during the non-31 breeding season. The species has dramatically declined in Butte County from over 300,000 32 adults in 32 colonies to just one active colony located along Lone Tree Road with an estimated 33 500 adult blackbirds in 2001. 34

Tricolored blackbirds have three basic requirements for selecting their breeding colony sites: 1) 35 open, accessible water; 2) a protected nesting substrate, including either flooded, thorny, or spiny 36



vegetation; and 3) a suitable foraging space proving adequate insect prey within a few miles of the 1 nesting colony. Tricolored blackbird foraging habitat includes annual grassland (particularly 2 ungrazed grasslands containing tall grasses), wet and dry vernal pools and other seasonal 3 wetlands, pastures, agricultural fields – primarily alfalfa and recently tilled fields – cattle 4 feedlots, and dairies. They also forage occasionally in riparian scrub and marsh habitats. 5 Proximity to suitable foraging habitat appears to be important for the establishment of nesting 6 colonies because foraging occurs at least initially in the field containing the breeding 7

The most significant historic and ongoing threat to the tricolored blackbird is habitat loss and 8 alteration. The initial conversion from native landscapes to agriculture removed vast wetland 9 areas in the state and caused initial declines in populations. The more recent conversion of 10 suitable agricultural lands to urbanization has permanently removed historic breeding and 11 foraging habitat for this species. Habitat fragmentation and proximity to human disturbances has 12 also led to abandonment of large historic colonies. Nests in cereal crops and silage are often 13 destroyed by agricultural operations. As available habitat becomes increasingly limited and food 14 resources become more concentrated, predation can have a substantially larger impact on nesting 15 colonies. Nonnative predators, especially feral cats, can also have a dramatic impact on nesting 16 colonies. Tricolored blackbird colonies are highly sensitive to human disturbances. Close 17 proximity to urbanizing areas can cause colonies to be permanently abandoned. Increases in noise, 18 loose pets, and human presence can cause nest abandonment. Even entry into colonies for 19 management or scientific purposes can cause disturbances and should be avoided. 20

5.5.2.1 Applicable Goals, Objectives and Conservation Measures 21

Applicable Goals and Objectives from Section 3.3 22 23 Goal LAND1: Protect large landscapes within the range of physical and biological attributes 24 (e.g., slope, soils, hydrology, climate, plant associations) in the Plan Area to sustain covered 25 species abundance and habitat and preserve native biodiversity. 26 27


30 Goal NACO1: Protect oak woodland and savannah, grassland, riparian, wetland, aquatic natural 31 communities that represent a range of ecological gradients and that support or have the potential 32 to support high functioning habitat for covered and other native species. 33

34 Objective NACO1.3: Protect 51,020 acres of unprotected grassland (including grassland 35 with swale complexes and vernal pools) within the Plan Area as indicated in Table 5.1. 36 37 Objective NACO1.6: Protect at least __ acres of existing unprotected grassland swale 38 complexes that are within vernal pool species recovery core areas distributed within the 39 Plan Area as indicated in Table 5.1. 40 41



Objective NACO1.7: Protect 495-8,310 acres of existing unprotected emergent 1 wetlands distributed within the Plan Area as indicated in Table 5.1. 2 3 Objective NACO1.9: Maintain 2,530-35,920 acres of existing managed wetlands that 4 support covered species habitat as wetlands distributed within the Plan Area as indicated 5 in Table 5.1. 6 7

Goal NACO2: Enhance habitat functions of BRCP protected oak woodland and savannah, 8 grassland-, swale, riparian, wetland, and aquatic natural communities. 9




Goal NACO3: Restore oak woodland and savannah, grassland, riparian, and wetland natural 16 communities. 17 18

Objective NACO3.1: Restore __ acres of grassland swale complex that function as 19 habitat for covered and other native species distributed within the Plan Area as indicated 20 in Table 5.10. 21 22 Objective NACO3.6: Restore __-__ acres of emergent wetland, depending on the 23 amount of rice land maintained under objective NACO4.1, distributed within the Plan 24 Area as indicated in Table 5.10. 25 26 Objective NACO3.7: Restore __ acres of seasonal or managed wetland, depending on 27 the amount of rice land maintained under objective NACO4.1, distributed within the Plan 28 Area as indicated in Table 5.10. 29 30









Applicable Conservation Measures from Section 3.4 8

• CM 1: Protect Natural Communities 9

• CM5: Restore vernal pool complex 10

• CM6: Restore/Create Emergent Wetland 11

• CM7: Create Managed Wetlands 12

• CM9: Enhance and Manage Protected Natural Communities 13

5.5.2.2 Summary of Permanent Habitat Effects 14

Full implementation of the BRCP covered activities could result in permanent removal and 15 degradation of habitat functions of up to __ acres and __ acres, respectively, of modeled 16 tricolored blackbird breeding and foraging habitat. 17

5.5.2.3 Conservation Approach and Expected Outcomes 18

Full implementation of the BRCP will protect an additional 65,700 acres of tricolored blackbird 19 habitat, resulting in protection of over 40% of habitat in the Plan Area (see Table 5.7). Current 20 distribution of tricolored blackbirds within this habitat is limited to a small portion of the Plan 21 Area and habitat protection will focus on currently occupied habitat areas. Conservation 22 measures to protect emergent and managed wetlands and remnant patches of wetland and 23 riparian habitats associated present in the agricultural landscape will serve to protect nesting 24 habitat for the species. Protected habitat areas will be comprised of a mosaic of grassland, 25 wetlands, and agricultural land habitats that will provide protected nesting habitat areas within 26 the typical foraging flight distance of 3 miles from foraging habitat. The conservation land 27 assembly principles also include provisions for prioritizing protection of lands that support new 28 nesting colonies that may be located during BRCP implementation. Restoration/creation of __-29 __ acres of the emergent wetland and managed wetland will also restore/create tricolored 30 blackbird foraging and nesting habitats. Nesting colonies located on BRCP conservation lands 31 will be monitored to assess nesting success and Conservation Measure CM2: Develop and 32 Implement an Invasive Species Control Program provides for controlling predators if necessary 33 to improve nesting success. 34



In summary, the extent of BRCP actions to protect, enhance, and restore/create tricolored 1 blackbird nesting and foraging habitats are expected to be sufficient to sustain the existing 2 breeding and wintering population of tricolored blackbirds in the Plan Area and provide for the 3 potential future expansion of their abundance and distribution. 4

5.5.3 Yellow-Breasted Chat 5

Yellow-breasted chats are neotropical migrants that are rare in California and in Butte County. 6 The species has been observed in the Upper Park area of Big Chico Creek, Lower Butte Creek 7 Canyon, Little Chico Creek and at the Butte Creek Ecological Preserve. Yellow-breasted chats 8 nest and forage in early successional vegetation including clearcut areas and powerline corridors 9 with dense shrubby vegetation with sapling-sized trees, blackberry (Rubus spp.) thickets and in 10 dense riparian thickets of willows, vines, and brush associated with streams and other wetland 11 habitats. Some taller trees are also required for song perches (Dunn and Garrett 1977). A major 12 factor leading to declines in populations of yellow-breasted chats is the loss and degradation of 13 early successional riparian habitat (willow/alder shrub habitats with a dense understory) 14 throughout the species’ range. Habitat loss and degradation can occur through clearing of 15 vegetation for agriculture, timber harvest, development, flood control and river channelization. 16 Cowbird parasitism can have a significant impact on local reproductive performance of yellow-17 breasted chats. 18




28 Goal LAND3: Maintain and improve connectivity among protected lands to provide for the 29 movement of covered and other native species among habitat areas and to facilitate genetic 30 exchange among populations. 31


Goal NACO1: Protect oak woodland and savannah, grassland, riparian, wetland, aquatic natural 34 communities that represent a range of ecological gradients and that support or have the potential 35 to support high functioning habitat for covered and other native species. 36



Objective NACO1.4: Protect 6,370 acres of existing unprotected cottonwood-willow 1 riparian forest and valley oak riparian forest in minimum patch sizes of 25 acres along 2 rivers and streams distributed within the Plan Area as indicated in Table 5.1. 3




Objective NACO3.3: Restore __ acres of cottonwood-willow riparian forest along 12 rivers and streams distributed within the Plan Area as indicated in Table 5.10. 13

Objective NACO3.4: Restore __ acres of valley oak riparian forest along rivers and 14 streams distributed within the Plan Area as indicated in Table 5.10. 15

Objective NACO3.5: Restore __ acres of willow scrub along rivers and streams 16 distributed within the Plan Area as indicated in Table 5.10. 17



• CM2: Develop and implement an invasive species control program 20

• CM4: Restore riparian habitat 21


5.5.3.2 Summary of Permanent Effects 23

Full implementation of the BRCP covered activities could result in permanent removal and 24 degradation of habitat functions of up to __ acres and __ acres, respectively, of modeled yellow-25 breasted chat habitat. 26


Full implementation of the BRCP will protect an additional 1,030 acres of modeled suitable 28 yellow-breasted chat habitat and 187 acres of modeled occupied habitat, resulting in protection 29 of over 24% and 90% of these habitat types, respectively, in the Plan Area (see Table 5.7). 30 Protection of corridors of riparian habitat will help ensure that chat populations are well 31 connected to other populations and that local movement is uninhibited. In addition, the 32 Implementing Entity will monitor brown-headed cowbird abundance in occupied yellow-33



breasted chat habitat areas and implement control measures if necessary to improve nesting 1 success. Implementation of these conservation actions is expected to be sufficient to sustain the 2 existing abundance and distribution of yellow-breasted chat in the Plan Area. 3

5.5.4 Bank Swallow 4

Bank swallow nests in steep stream channel banks comprised of appropriate substrates that are 5 created and renewed through erosional processes of streams and rivers. Its habitat has been 6 greatly reduced due to flood control projects that eliminate the soil characteristics and erosion 7 processes necessary for the species to form breeding colonies. Suitable bank swallow habitat 8 within the Plan Area is defined as banks along unleveed and unchannelized portions of the 9 Sacramento and Feather Rivers and Big Chico and Butte Creeks and set-back levees associated 10 with broad basins. However, known occurrences are restricted to sites along the Sacramento and 11 Feather Rivers. 12

Reports have identified 17 bank swallow colonies along the Sacramento River within or 13 immediately adjacent to the Plan Area (nine on the eastern bank and eight on the western bank. 14 However, these colonies have since undergone significant declines. An additional 23 colonies 15 along the Feather River between the confluence with the Sacramento River and Oroville have 16 been reported. Several of these colonies occur within the Plan Area and are considered extant. 17 Available bank swallow nesting habitat was substantially reduced in California due to 18 channelization of streams. This practice eliminated nesting habitat and prevented formation of 19 new nesting habitat by preventing natural erosional processes. Along the Sacramento and 20 Feather Rivers and other Sacramento Valley nesting areas, the most significant current threat is 21 the direct loss of suitable colony sites due to continuing bank protection and flood control 22 projects. Bank swallow along the Sacramento River have suffered an estimated 47% reduction in 23 the number of colonies between 1986 and 1994, followed by a gradual increase through 1999 24 when the number was similar to that found in 1986. Other reports estimate a 27% decline in the 25 number of burrows along this stretch between 1986 and 1999, indicating that while the number 26 of colonies rebounded to near 1986 levels, the number of burrows per colony decreased. Despite 27 an apparent continuing decline in local populations, the Butte County stretch of the Sacramento 28 and Feather Rivers remains a key area for the bank swallow nesting population in California. 29

5.5.4.1 Applicable Goals , Objectives and Conservation Measures 30

Applicable Goals and Objectives from Section 3.3 31 32 Goal LAND4: Maintain and rehabilitate ecosystem processes that support covered species and 33 their habitats. 34 35


38



Goal NACO1: Protect oak woodland and savannah, grassland, riparian, wetland, aquatic natural 1 communities that represent a range of ecological gradients and that support or have the potential 2 to support high functioning habitat for covered and other native species. 3 4

Objective NACO1.11: Protect at least 15 linear miles of existing unprotected reaches of 5 Pine Creek, Rock Creek, Mud Creek, Big Chico Creek, Lindo Channel, Little Chico 6 Creek, Butte Creek, Little Dry Creek, and Feather River (one or both banks of streams 7 channels may be protected under this objective). 8

9 Goal SPEC1: Protect and enhance covered species’ habitats to maintain and enhance the 10 abundance and distribution of covered species in the Plan Area. 11

Objective SPEC1.4: Protect existing unprotected occupied bank swallow nesting colonies 12 from anthropogenic activities that could result in the loss of the colony or degradation of the 13 habitat. 14

Objective SPEC1.5: Protect 29 linear miles of channel banks along the Feather River, Big 15 Chico Creek, and Butte Creek that support dynamic bank formation and erosion processes 16 that create bank swallow nesting habitat. 17



• CM12: Remove riprap from channel banks along streams that support salmonid 20 spawning habitat. 21


Full implementation of the BRCP covered activities could result in permanent removal of up to 23 __ acres of modeled bank swallow habitat. 24


Full implementation of the BRCP will protect an additional 29 miles of channel bank that 26 currently or potentiall could support bank swallow habitat in the future, resulting in protection of 27 over 45% of habitat in the Plan Area (see Table 5.7). Full implementation of the BRCP will 28 result in protection of over than 47% of its habitat, thus ensuring that the erosional processes 29 necessary to provide its habitat over time are maintained. Such conservation contributes to the 30 goals of the CDFG bank swallow recovery plan to ensure that: 1) the remaining population of 31 this species does not suffer further declines in either range or abundance; and 2) sufficient habitat 32 is available to ensure that the species will be able to survive as a member of California’s 33 avifauna. 34

5.5.5 Western Burrowing Owl 35



Western burrowing owls are resident in Butte County year round and occur in relatively low 1 densities. Habitat areas habitat include the non-orchard agricultural areas along the western side 2 of Butte County and valley and foothill grasslands along the east side of the Plan Area. In 3 northern California, most nest sites occur in abandoned California ground squirrel burrows; 4 however, other sites, such as culverts, pipes, and rock piles are also used. Optimal nesting 5 locations are within an open landscape with level to gently sloping topography, sparse or low 6 grassland or pasture cover, and a high density of burrows. Urbanization, including residential 7 and commercial development and infrastructure development (roads and oil, water, gas, and 8 electrical conveyance facilities) permanently removes habitat and has led to permanent 9 abandonment of many western burrowing owl colonies in the developing portions of the Central 10 Valley, Bay Area, and throughout the state. 11

Burrowing owls are known for their strong site fidelity and seem to have a high level of 12 tolerance for human encroachment, degradation of native habitats, and fragmentation of habitats. 13 Active breeding colonies have been reported in small parcels or narrow strips of disturbed habitat 14 along levees or utility corridors and surrounded by urban development. Some western burrowing 15 owls nest on the edges of agricultural areas and forage in suitable agricultural fields, such as 16 recently harvested fields, alfalfa and other hay fields, irrigated pastures, and fallow fields. Field 17 conversion to incompatible crop types, such as orchards, vineyards, and other crops reduce 18 available foraging habitat and lead to abandonment of traditional nesting areas. Many western 19 burrowing owl nests are known to occur along the outside slope or at the toe of levees. Levee 20 stability practices for flood control, including vegetation removal, grading, and reinforcing with 21 rock can destroy burrowing owl nesting habitat. Rodent control, particularly along levees and 22 roadsides, can decimate ground squirrel burrow abundance. Although western burrowing owls are 23 relatively tolerant of lower levels of human activity, human-related impacts such as shooting and 24 burrow destruction adversely affect this species. 25




38 Objective NACO1.1: Protect 3,665 acres of existing unprotected blue oak savanna of 39 minimum patch size of 300 acres in combination with other oak habitats that are 40 distributed within the Plan Area as indicated in Table 5.1. 41 42



Objective NACO1.3: Protect 51,020 acres of unprotected grassland (including grassland 1 with swale complexes and vernal pools) within the Plan Area as indicated in Table 5.1. 2 3 Objective NACO1.6: Protect at least __ acres of existing unprotected grassland swale 4 complexes that are within vernal pool species recovery core areas distributed within the 5 Plan Area as indicated in Table 5.1. 6 7 Objective NACO1.9: Maintain 2,530-35,920 acres of existing managed wetlands that 8 support covered species habitat as wetlands distributed within the Plan Area as indicated 9 in Table 5.1. 10 11





Objective NACO3.1: Restore __ acres of grassland swale complex that function as 21 habitat for covered and other native species distributed within the Plan Area as indicated 22 in Table 5.10. 23 24 Objective NACO3.7: Restore __ acres of seasonal or managed wetland, depending on 25 the amount of rice land maintained under objective NACO4.1, distributed within the Plan 26 Area as indicated in Table 5.10. 27 28













Full implementation of the BRCP covered activities could result in permanent removal and 6 degradation of habitat functions on up to __ acres and __ acres of modeled western burrowing 7 owl habitat, respectively. 8


Full implementation of the BRCP will protect an additional 56,300 acres of western burrowing 10 owl habitat, resulting in protection of over 60% of habitat in the Plan Area (see Table 5.7). The 11 Management and enhancement activities on protected grasslands are also expected to benefit 12 burrowing owls by increasing prey and nesting burrow availability. Depending on site-specific 13 habitat enhancement and management needs, these actions could include installation of artificial 14 nesting burrows for western burrowing owl to facilitate use of unoccupied areas; installation of 15 perching structures to facilitate use of protected habitats by western burrowing owl; use of fire, 16 grazing, or other vegetation management techniques to increase the absolute cover of native 17 plant species and to control undesirable non-native plant species; prohibiting rodent control 18 activities; creating debris piles to create habitat for prey species; and managing grazing to 19 improve the abundance of fossorial mammals. Implementation of these conservation actions is 20 expected to be sufficient to sustain the existing abundance and distribution of western burrowing 21 owl in the Plan Area. 22

5.5.6 Western Yellow-Billed Cuckoo 23

The largest portion of the range of the western yellow-billed cuckoo in Northern California 24 occurs along the western border of the Plan Area. At least four confirmed or probable breeding 25 locations occur within this area along with numerous other detections. Breeding pairs have also 26 been reported from portions of the Feather River between Oroville and the Butte County border. 27 Western yellow-billed cuckoo is a riparian obligate species; its primary habitat association being 28 willow-cottonwood riparian forest. All studies indicate a highly significant association with 29 relatively expansive stands of mature cottonwood-willow forests. Meandering streams that allow 30 for constant erosional and depositional processes create habitat for new rapidly-growing young 31 stands of willow, which create preferred nesting habitat conditions. Channelized streams or 32 levied systems that do not allow for these natural processes become over-mature and, 33 presumably, less optimal. 34



Historical declines have been due primarily to the removal of riparian forests for agricultural and 1 urban expansion. Habitat loss and degradation continues to be the most significant threat to 2 remaining populations. Habitat loss continues as a result of bank stabilization and flood control 3 projects, urbanization along edges of watercourses, agricultural activities, and river management 4 that alter flow and sediment regimes. Nesting Cuckoos are also sensitive to habitat 5 fragmentation that reduces patches of otherwise suitable habitat to less than 325 x 1,000 feet. 6 Predation is a significant source of nest failure, and pesticides may pose a long term threat to 7 western yellow-billed cuckoo. 8




18

Goal LAND3: Maintain and improve connectivity among protected lands to provide for the 19 movement of covered and other native species among habitat areas and to facilitate genetic 20 exchange among populations. 21






Goal NACO3: Restore oak woodland and savannah, grassland, riparian, and wetland natural 35 communities. 36



1 Objective NACO3.3: Restore __ acres of cottonwood-willow riparian forest along 2 rivers and streams distributed within the Plan Area as indicated in Table 5.10. 3







With implementation of the avoidance and minimization measures described in Section 5.4.4, 11 Avoidance and Minimization Measures, all permanent effects on western yellow-billed cuckoo 12 habitat will be avoided. 13


Full implementation of the BRCP will protect an additional 2,025 acres of western yellow-billed 15 cuckoo habitat, resulting in protection of 90% of habitat in the Plan Area (see Table 5.7). 16 Restoration of __ acres of riparian habitat (see Table 5-10) in locations that result in creating 17 patches of riparian habitat of at least 25 acres will also increase the extent of cuckoo habitat in 18 the Plan Area. In addition, BRCP protection of over 80% of the riparian habitat present in the 19 Plan Area is expected to maintain patches of habitat suitable for supporting migration and 20 dispersal of the species. Consequently, the BRCP riparian habitat conservation actions are 21 expected to be sufficient to maintain the current Plan Area population and provide for its future 22 expansion. 23

5.5.7 Greater Sandhill Crane 24

Although Greater Sandhill Cranes do not breed in the Plan Area, the majority of birds winter 25 within the Sacramento Valley between Butte Sink and the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta 26 (Delta). The Sacramento Valley (Chico/Butte Basin) Greater Sandhill crane wintering area is 27 within the Plan Area; it extends from Chico to the Butte Sink between the Sacramento River and 28 State Route 99. Littlefield (2002) estimates that the Butte Basin frequently supports up to 70% 29 of the Central Valley crane population. 30

Wintering habitat is found almost entirely in agricultural fields and edges and consists of three 31 primary elements: foraging habitat, loafing habitat, and roosting habitat. In the Butte Basin, 32 harvested rice fields are the most commonly used foraging habitat along with winter wheat, corn, 33



fallow fields, and grasslands. Loafing generally occurs mid-day when birds loosely congregate 1 along agricultural field borders, levees, rice-checks, ditches, or in alfalfa fields or pastures. 2 During the late afternoon/evening, cranes begin to congregate into large, dense communal groups 3 where they remain until the following morning. Providing protection from predators during the 4 night, roost sites are typically within 2 to 3 miles from foraging/loafing areas and thus available 5 roosting sites are an essential component of winter habitat. Roosting habitat typically consists of 6 shallowly flooded open fields or wetlands interspersed with uplands. If properly managed, roost 7 sites are often used for many years. 8

While declines in greater sandhill cranes are mainly associated with impacts on their breeding 9 grounds, various issues on the wintering grounds may also be significant stressors on this 10 population. Threats on the wintering grounds include changes in water availability; flooding 11 fields for waterfowl, which reduces foraging habitat for cranes; conversion of cereal cropland to 12 vineyards or other incompatible crop types; human disturbances; collision with power lines; and 13 urban encroachment. 14





28 Objective NACO1.9: Maintain 2,530-35,920 acres of existing managed wetlands that 29 support covered species habitat as wetlands distributed within the Plan Area as indicated 30 in Table 5.1. 31 32


Objective NACO3.7: Restore __ acres of seasonal or managed wetland, depending on 36 the amount of rice land maintained under objective NACO4.1, distributed within the Plan 37 Area as indicated in Table 5.10. 38 39













Full implementation of the BRCP covered activities could result in the permanent removal of up 17 up to __ acres of modeled greater sandhill crane winter roosting and foraging habitat and 18 permanent degradation of habitat functions of up to __ acres of modeled greater sandhill crane 19 habitat. 20


Full implementation of the BRCP will protect or create an additional 62,010 acres of greater 22 sandhill crane foraging and roosting habitat, resulting in protection of over 57% of habitat in the 23 Plan Area (see Table 5.7). Current distribution of greater sandhill crane is limited to the non-24 orchard agricultural lands (primarily rice lands) and managed wetlands in the Basin and 25 Sacramento River CAZs and habitat protection will focus on this currently occupied area. 26 Conservation measures to protect suitable agricultural lands and managed wetlands will serve to 27 protect high value winter roosting and foraging habitat for the species. Hunting and other high-28 disturbance uses will not be allowed on BDCP managed lands during the period cranes are 29 present in the Plan Area. 30

As described in CM11(Create and Maintain Greater Sandhill Crane Winter Roost Sites) the 31 Implementing Entity will also create and maintain two crane winter roost sites located within the 32 Basin CAZ in traditional crane winter use areas. These roost sites will be managed to provide 33



appropriate seasonal wetland vegetation that supports crane roosting habitat and upland berms 1 situated throughout the seasonal wetland as loafing areas. 2

In summary, the extent of BRCP actions to protect, enhance, and create greater sandhill crane 3 foraging and roosting habitats are expected to be sufficient to sustain the existing wintering 4 population of greater sandhill cranes in the Plan Area and provide for the potential future 5 expansion of their abundance and distribution. 6

5.5.8 California Black Rail 7

Known populations of California black rail within Butte County are located just north of La Porte 8 Road southeast of Oroville, but it is likely that additional subpopulations occur further north and 9 possibly west into Butte County. Occurrences of California black rail are reported from seep 10 spring sites in the eastern foothills of the Plan Area, including sites at Upper Bidwell Park, Butte 11 Creek Canyon, and at the Base of Table Mountain; in emergent marsh at the BCAG/Caltrans 12 mitigation project site at the intersection of Highways 70 and 149; and a possible detection near the 13 picnic grounds of Thermalito Forebay. Rails are susceptible to predation by herons, egrets, 14 northern harriers, short-eared owls, and several mammalian species. A dense canopy that 15 provides optimal cover is essential for survival. Occupied sites in the Plan area are typically 16 dominated by bulrushes (Scirpus spp.) and cattails (Typha spp.). These sites are very shallow 17 (usually less than three cm of standing water depth) but require a perennial water source. 18 Throughout its range, the primary threat to the California black rail is the loss and fragmentation 19 of habitat from urbanization, flood control projects, agricultural practices, and hydrologic 20 changes that affect water regimes. The most significant historical threat was the draining of tidal 21 marshes, which may be responsible for over 90% the population declines of this species, and 22 which is still occurring in some areas, albeit at a slower rate. Within the Plan Area, agricultural 23 practices, livestock grazing, and urbanization may threaten individual subpopulations. Isolated 24 subpopulations are also susceptible stochastic extinction events. Other potential threats include 25 increased predation by domestic cats and by native predators; pollution and its affect on 26 freshwater marshes; and collision with automobiles and utility lines. 27




37




4 Objective NACO1.7: Protect 495-8,310 acres of existing unprotected emergent 5 wetlands distributed within the Plan Area as indicated in Table 5.1. 6 7 Objective NACO1.8: Protect seeps that support emergent wetlands within BRCP 8 protected grassland and oak savanna and oak woodland natural communities. 9 10 Objective NACO1.9: Maintain 2,530-35,920 acres of existing managed wetlands that 11 support covered species habitat as wetlands distributed within the Plan Area as indicated 12 in Table 5.1. 13 14




Objective NACO3.6: Restore __-__ acres of emergent wetland, depending on the 22 amount of rice land maintained under objective NACO4.1, distributed within the Plan 23 Area as indicated in Table 5.10. 24 25 Objective NACO3.7: Restore __ acres of seasonal or managed wetland, depending on 26 the amount of rice land maintained under objective NACO4.1, distributed within the Plan 27 Area as indicated in Table 5.10. 28 29











Full implementation of the BRCP covered activities could result in permanent removal of up to 2 __ acres emergent wetland that could support California black rail habitat. 3


Black rail habitat requirements are very specific and do not correlate well with mapped land 5 cover types. The species selects a narrow range of conditions that exist within emergent 6 wetlands, and may be present in small patches of seeps or springs which have not been 7 delineated within the Butte Regional HCP/NCCP database. The current extent of suitable habitat 8 for this species is therefore largely unknown, and no habitat model has been developed for black 9 rail. Full implementation of the BRCP will protect an additional 495 acres of emergent wetland 10 and 2,530 acres of managed wetland that could support patches of California black rail habitat, 11 resulting in protection of approximately 64% and 92% of these community types, respectively, . 12 in the Plan Area (see Table 5-6). Conservation measure CM9: Enhance and Manage Protected 13 Natural Communities provides for managing BRCP protected emergent wetlands to enhance 14 habitat functions for California black rail and other wetland-associated covered species, 15 including such actions as maintaining appropriate water depth (3 cm for black rail), establishing 16 emergent vegetation (especially cover with a permeable understory to allow high security 17 foraging habitat for black rail), fencing to exclude livestock (to protect cover for rail) and control 18 of non-native predators (such a feral cats, which are known predators of black rails). Restoration 19 of __ acres of emergent wetland habitats (see Table 5-10) is also expected to increase the extent 20 of California black rail habitat in the Plan Area. In addition, the conservation land assembly 21 rules direct the Implementing Entity to give priority to protecting upland natural communities 22 that support springs and seeps that provide California black rail habitat. The strategy’s emphasis 23 on adaptive management furthermore allows reacting flexibly to the observation of black rail 24 occurrences when acquiring, protecting or managing protected lands. 25

5.5.9 American Peregrine Falcon 26

American peregrine falcons are known to occur, and possibly breed, along the eastern edge or 27 just east of the eastern Plan Area boundary. Nesting habitat is generally associated with cliffs and 28 open landscapes for foraging along rivers, lakes, or coastal shorelines. Nest sites are usually 29 selected based on available foraging opportunities. American peregrine falcons forage almost 30 exclusively on birds. Foraging habitat consists of open water (e.g., lakes, reservoirs, estuaries, 31 rivers, and oceans), marshes, mudflats, and tidal zones where shorebirds and other water birds 32 congregate, or pasturelands with potholes or vernal pools that provide habitat for waterfowl and 33 other water birds. 34

Historically, organochloride pesticides presented the greatest threat to peregrine falcons. However, 35 the risk is significantly reduced since the banning of DDT. Other potential threats to nesting 36 peregrine falcons include urbanization resulting in the loss of foraging habitats and disturbance to 37



nest sites; illegal shooting, egg collecting; and collision with vehicles, utility lines, and other 1 structures. Development activities and land use changes in the Plan Area could potentially pose a 2 threat to this local population. Urbanization of bluffs and ridges could alter available habitat or 3 increase levels of human disturbance. Loss of wetland habitats within the Plan Area and any 4 subsequent reduction of available water bird prey that may result could affect foraging opportunities 5 for peregrine falcon. 6





20 Objective NACO1.3: Protect 51,020 acres of unprotected grassland (including grassland 21 with swale complexes and vernal pools) within the Plan Area as indicated in Table 5.1. 22 23 Objective NACO1.6: Protect at least __ acres of existing unprotected grassland swale 24 complexes that are within vernal pool species recovery core areas distributed within the 25 Plan Area as indicated in Table 5.1. 26 27 Objective NACO1.7: Protect 495-8,310 acres of existing unprotected emergent 28 wetlands distributed within the Plan Area as indicated in Table 5.1. 29 30 Objective NACO1.9: Maintain 2,530-35,920 acres of existing managed wetlands that 31 support covered species habitat as wetlands distributed within the Plan Area as indicated 32 in Table 5.1. 33 34








Objective NACO3.1: Restore __ acres of grassland swale complex that function as 6 habitat for covered and other native species distributed within the Plan Area as indicated 7 in Table 5.10. 8 9 Objective NACO3.6: Restore __-__ acres of emergent wetland, depending on the 10 amount of rice land maintained under objective NACO4.1, distributed within the Plan 11 Area as indicated in Table 5.10. 12 13 Objective NACO3.7: Restore __ acres of seasonal or managed wetland, depending on 14 the amount of rice land maintained under objective NACO4.1, distributed within the Plan 15 Area as indicated in Table 5.10. 16 17






Objective SPEC1.3: Protect all unprotected active American peregrine falcon nesting 31 sites from activities that could result in loss or degradation of the nesting habitat or nest 32 site abandonment and from disturbances that could reduce nesting success. 33










Full implementation of the BRCP covered activities could result in permanent removal of up to 4 __ acres of modeled peregrine falcon foraging habitat. 5


Full implementation of the BRCP will protect an additional 36 acres of peregrine falcon nesting 7 habitat and 66,495 acres of foraging habitat, resulting in protection of over 81% and 53% of 8 these habitat types, respectively, in the Plan Area (see Table 5.7). Protection of suitable cliff 9 faces will ensure the availability of peregrine falcon nest sites to accommodate the potential 10 future expansion of the nesting population and protection and management of a large proportion 11 of its foraging habitat, , in concert with maintaining and enhancing biological diversity across the 12 landscape, is expected to provide for potential increases in peregrine falcon prey abundance and 13 thereby maintain or increase reproduction and survival rates. Consequently, the conservation 14 actions for the peregrine falcon are expected maintain and provide for potential future increases 15 in distribution and abundance of peregrine falcon in the Plan Area. 16

5.5.10 Swainson’s Hawk 17

Swainson’s hawks are sparsely distributed throughout the Plan Area and surrounding lands (see 18 Appendix A, Covered Species Accounts). Within the Plan Area, nesting Swainson’s hawks occur 19 primarily west of State Route 70 and 99. Available nesting habitat is more abundant in this area, 20 which includes portions of the Sacramento River, Feather River, Butte Creek, and other riparian 21 corridors. Agricultural foraging is also more abundant in this area; however, much of the landscape 22 consists of agricultural land uses that are incompatible with Swainson’s hawk foraging habitat, 23 including rice and orchards, which is likely why relatively few active nest sites have been reported 24 from the Plan Area. It is likely that nesting Swainson’s hawks also occur east of State Route 99, 25 particularly in the grassland habitats along the edge of the valley. 26

Swainson’s hawk habitat includes two essential requirements, nesting and foraging habitat. Modeled 27 nesting habitat includes all cottonwood-willow riparian forest, valley oak riparian forest, and willow 28 scrub; however, nesting also occurs in tree rows along roadsides or field borders, along the edges of 29 oak groves, in woodlots, and in isolated trees. Foraging habitat includes all non-perennial irrigated 30 cropland (i.e., not including rice, orchards, vineyards), irrigated pasture, grasslands, vernal pool 31 grasslands, and managed wetlands. Within the Plan Area, suitable foraging habitat is limited 32 primarily to the far southwestern corner, in the Llano Seco area and other smaller sites along the 33 western boundary, and in the foothill grasslands east of State Route 99. 34



Threats to Swainson’s hawks are generally associated with loss of nesting and foraging habitat 1 from urban development and the conversion to unsuitable agriculture, such as orchards and 2 vineyards, both of which reduce available foraging habitat and fragment the landscape. Loss of 3 riparian and other nesting habitat results from levee projects, agricultural practices, local 4 development and lack of regeneration of valley oak and other native trees. 5





19 Objective NACO1.1: Protect 3,665 acres of existing unprotected blue oak savanna of 20 minimum patch size of 300 acres in combination with other oak habitats that are 21 distributed within the Plan Area as indicated in Table 5.1. 22 23 Objective NACO1.3: Protect 51,020 acres of unprotected grassland (including grassland 24 with swale complexes and vernal pools) within the Plan Area as indicated in Table 5.1. 25 26 Objective NACO1.4: Protect 6,370 acres of existing unprotected cottonwood-willow 27 riparian forest and valley oak riparian forest in minimum patch sizes of 25 acres along 28 rivers and streams distributed within the Plan Area as indicated in Table 5.1. 29 30 Objective NACO1.5: Protect at least 25 small stands (under 25 acres) of riparian trees 31 dominated by native tree species that could support nesting Swainson’s hawk and other 32 raptors. 33 34 Objective NACO1.6: Protect at least __ acres of existing unprotected grassland swale 35 complexes that are within vernal pool species recovery core areas distributed within the 36 Plan Area as indicated in Table 5.1. 37 38 Objective NACO1.9: Maintain 2,530-35,920 acres of existing managed wetlands that 39 support covered species habitat as wetlands distributed within the Plan Area as indicated 40 in Table 5.1. 41 42









Objective NACO3.3: Restore __ acres of cottonwood-willow riparian forest along 13 rivers and streams distributed within the Plan Area as indicated in Table 5.10. 14 15 Objective NACO3.4: Restore __ acres of valley oak riparian forest along rivers and 16 streams distributed within the Plan Area as indicated in Table 5.10. 17 18 Objective NACO3.5: Restore __ acres of willow scrub along rivers and streams 19 distributed within the Plan Area as indicated in Table 5.10. 20

21 Objective NACO3.7: Restore __ acres of seasonal or managed wetland, depending on 22 the amount of rice land maintained under objective NACO4.1, distributed within the Plan 23 Area as indicated in Table 5.10. 24 25






37










Full implementation of the BRCP covered activities could result in permanent removal and 8 degradation of habitat functions on up to __ acres and __ acres of modeled Swainson’s hawk 9 nesting habitat and on up to __ acres and __ acres of modeled Swainson’s hawk foraging habitat, 10 respectively. 11


Full implementation of the BRCP will protect an additional 43,435 acres of modeled Swainson’s 13 hawk nesting and foraging habitat, resulting in protection of over 60% of Swainson’s hawk 14 habitat in the Plan Area (see Table 5.7). Restoration of __ acres of riparian habitat (see Table 5-15 10) will also increase the extent of Swainson’s hawk nesting habitat in the Plan Area. The 16 distribution of protected habitat reflects the relative distribution of modeled habitat throughout 17 the Plan Area, but will focus on lands that support or are adjacent to occupied or potentially 18 occupied habitats. Swainson’s hawk often nests in isolated or small groves of trees present in 19 agricultural-dominated landscapes that support its foraging habitat. To protect these important 20 nesting areas, Swainson’s hawk conservation actions include protecting small patches of trees 21 that support nesting habitat. Conservation measures to protect nesting and foraging habitats 22 include actions to enhance habitat function for Swainson’s hawk and other covered species that 23 use the natural communities that support its foraging and nesting habitats. Implementation of 24 these conservation actions are expected to be sufficient to sustain the existing and provide 25 opportunities for increasing the abundance and distribution of Swainson’s hawk in the Plan Area. 26

5.5.11 Bald Eagle 27

This species is found at lakes, reservoirs, rivers, offshore islands, and some rangelands and coastal 28 wetlands in California. Bald eagles generally require large bodies of water or free flowing rivers 29 with abundant fish and adjacent snags or other perches. In Butte County, bald eagles are considered 30 a permanent resident, an uncommon winter migrant, and a known, but uncommon breeder. Bald 31 eagles regularly winter in the Plan Area, including at Lake Oroville, Thermalito Forebay and 32 Afterbay, along the Feather and Sacramento Rivers, and in the wetlands associated with Llano Seco 33 and the Gray Lodge Wildlife Area. Currently, there are at least five documented breeding sites in 34 Butte County that are outside the Plan Area, and two nesting territories within the Plan Area. Bald 35



eagles nest in large, old-growth, or dominant live trees with open branches, especially ponderosa 1 pine. 2

The main threats identified in the Pacific Recovery Plan (USFWS 1986) for the Butte County 3 area include disturbance to nest territories; loss of anadromous fishery, loss of riparian habitat, 4 disturbance of forage areas, and shooting (Sacramento Valley and Foothills); and disturbance of 5 wintering grounds, loss of potential nest habitat to logging, and development (Sierra-Nevada 6 Mountains). Historically, the decline of the bald eagle coincided with the introduction of the 7 pesticide DDT in 1947. Eagles contaminated with DDT were either unable to lay eggs or produced 8 eggs with thin shells that broke during incubation. Shooting, egg collection, and trapping were other 9 causes of decline. 10





24 Objective NACO1.1: Protect 3,665 acres of existing unprotected blue oak savanna of 25 minimum patch size of 300 acres in combination with other oak habitats that are 26 distributed within the Plan Area as indicated in Table 5.1. 27 28 Objective NACO1.2: Protect 3,565 acres of existing unprotected interior live oak and 29 mixed oak woodlands of minimum patch size of 300 acres distributed within the Plan 30 Area as indicated in Table 5.1. 31 Objective NACO1.3: Protect 51,020 acres of unprotected grassland (including grassland 32 with swale complexes and vernal pools) within the Plan Area as indicated in Table 5.1. 33 34 Objective NACO1.4: Protect 6,370 acres of existing unprotected cottonwood-willow 35 riparian forest and valley oak riparian forest in minimum patch sizes of 25 acres along 36 rivers and streams distributed within the Plan Area as indicated in Table 5.1. 37 38 Objective NACO1.6: Protect at least __ acres of existing unprotected grassland swale 39 complexes that are within vernal pool species recovery core areas distributed within the 40 Plan Area as indicated in Table 5.1. 41 42



Objective NACO1.7: Protect 495-8,310 acres of existing unprotected emergent 1 wetlands distributed within the Plan Area as indicated in Table 5.1. 2 3 Objective NACO1.9: Maintain 2,530-35,920 acres of existing managed wetlands that 4 support covered species habitat as wetlands distributed within the Plan Area as indicated 5 in Table 5.1. 6 7 Objective NACO1.11: Protect at least 15 linear miles of existing unprotected reaches of 8 Pine Creek, Rock Creek, Mud Creek, Big Chico Creek, Lindo Channel, Little Chico 9 Creek, Butte Creek, Little Dry Creek, and Feather River (one or both banks of streams 10 channels may be protected under this objective). 11 12







Objective NACO3.1: Restore __ acres of grassland swale complex that function as 27 habitat for covered and other native species distributed within the Plan Area as indicated 28 in Table 5.10. 29 Objective NACO3.3: Restore __ acres of cottonwood-willow riparian forest along 30 rivers and streams distributed within the Plan Area as indicated in Table 5.10. 31 32 Objective NACO3.4: Restore __ acres of valley oak riparian forest along rivers and 33 streams distributed within the Plan Area as indicated in Table 5.10. 34 35 Objective NACO3.6: Restore __-__ acres of emergent wetland, depending on the 36 amount of rice land maintained under objective NACO4.1, distributed within the Plan 37 Area as indicated in Table 5.10. 38 39



Objective NACO3.7: Restore __ acres of seasonal or managed wetland, depending on 1 the amount of rice land maintained under objective NACO4.1, distributed within the Plan 2 Area as indicated in Table 5.10. 3 4





Objective SPEC1.2: Protect all unprotected active bald eagle nest sites from activities that 16 could result in nest site abandonment and from disturbances that could reduce nesting success. 17









Full implementation of the BRCP covered activities could result in permanent removal of up to 26 __ acres of modeled bald eagle nesting/roosting and __ acres of foraging habitat. 27


Full implementation of the BRCP will protect an additional 7,565 acres of bald eagle nesting 29 habitat and 29,400 acres of seasonal foraging habitat, resulting in protection of over 60% and 30 32% of these habitat types, respectively, in the Plan Area (see Table 5.7). Protection of riparian 31 and woodland habitats will ensure the availability of bald eagle nest sites to accommodate the 32 potential future expansion of the nesting population and protection and management of a large 33



proportion of its foraging habitat, in concert with maintaining and enhancing biological diversity 1 across the landscape, is expected to provide for potential increases in bald eagle fish and 2 waterfowl abundance and thereby maintain or increase reproduction and survival rates. Riparian 3 and instream habitat restoration actions, such as creating low flow channels, lowering floodplain 4 surfaces to increase the frequency and duration of floodplain inundation, improving the quality of 5 river edge/channel margins, and creating backwaters will provide spawning habitat for salmonids 6 and other native fish species and hence provide additional foraging opportunities for bald eagles. 7 Consequently, the conservation actions for the bald eagle is expected maintain and provide for 8 potential future increases in distribution and abundance of bald eagle in the Plan Area. This will 9 sustain the species within the Plan Area and 10

5.5.12 White-tailed Kite 11

Observations of white-tailed kites in Butte County occur predominantly along the Sacramento 12 River, Feather River, Butte Creek, Big Chico Creek, and at Gray Lodge Wildlife Area, and 13 various other locales throughout most of Butte County, from the Sierra Nevada foothills to the 14 Sacramento River. While the area likely supports more nesting pairs than were present prior to 15 the 1960s, it is still considered uncommon and is expected to occur in low densities throughout 16 much of the Plan Area. The white-tailed kite inhabits low elevation, open grasslands, savannah-17 like habitats, agricultural areas, wetlands, and oak woodlands. They nest in trees, usually with a 18 dense canopy, usually in areas of high prey abundance and availability. 19

Urbanization, including residential and commercial development and infrastructure development 20 (roads and oil, water, gas, and electrical conveyance facilities), is one of the principal causes of 21 continuing habitat loss for white-tailed kite and is a continuing threat to remaining populations, 22 particularly in rapidly urbanizing areas in the Sacramento Valley. Kites are largely intolerant of 23 noise and human activities and will abandon nesting areas when disturbed. Kites are also sensitive to 24 habitat fragmentation. Because white-tailed kite populations are closely associated with rodent 25 abundance and accessibility, conversion to crop patterns that do not support sufficient rodent prey 26 or that restrict accessibility to prey can result in the abandonment of traditionally active territories. 27




37




4 Objective NACO1.1: Protect 3,665 acres of existing unprotected blue oak savanna of 5 minimum patch size of 300 acres in combination with other oak habitats that are 6 distributed within the Plan Area as indicated in Table 5.1. 7 8 Objective NACO1.3: Protect 51,020 acres of unprotected grassland (including grassland 9 with swale complexes and vernal pools) within the Plan Area as indicated in Table 5.1. 10 11 Objective NACO1.4: Protect 6,370 acres of existing unprotected cottonwood-willow 12 riparian forest and valley oak riparian forest in minimum patch sizes of 25 acres along 13 rivers and streams distributed within the Plan Area as indicated in Table 5.1. 14 15 Objective NACO1.5: Protect at least 25 small stands (under 25 acres) of riparian trees 16 dominated by native tree species that could support nesting Swainson’s hawk and other 17 raptors. 18 19 Objective NACO1.6: Protect at least __ acres of existing unprotected grassland swale 20 complexes that are within vernal pool species recovery core areas distributed within the 21 Plan Area as indicated in Table 5.1. 22 23 Objective NACO1.9: Maintain 2,530-35,920 acres of existing managed wetlands that 24 support covered species habitat as wetlands distributed within the Plan Area as indicated 25 in Table 5.1. 26 27









Objective NACO3.3: Restore __ acres of cottonwood-willow riparian forest along 1 rivers and streams distributed within the Plan Area as indicated in Table 5.10. 2 3 Objective NACO3.4: Restore __ acres of valley oak riparian forest along rivers and 4 streams distributed within the Plan Area as indicated in Table 5.10. 5 6 Objective NACO3.5: Restore __ acres of willow scrub along rivers and streams 7 distributed within the Plan Area as indicated in Table 5.10. 8

9 Objective NACO3.7: Restore __ acres of seasonal or managed wetland, depending on 10 the amount of rice land maintained under objective NACO4.1, distributed within the Plan 11 Area as indicated in Table 5.10. 12 13
















Full implementation of the BRCP covered activities could result in permanent removal and 1 degradation of habitat functions on up to __ acres and __ acres of modeled white-tailed kite 2 nesting habitat and on up to __ acres and __ acres of modeled white-tailed kite foraging habitat, 3 respectively. 4


Full implementation of the BRCP will protect an additional 9,075 acres of modeled white-tailed 6 kite nesting and 97,675 acres foraging habitat, resulting in protection of over 55% and 52% of 7 white-tailed kite nesting and foraging habitat, respectively, in the Plan Area (see Table 5.7). 8 Restoration of __ acres of riparian habitat (see Table 5-10) will also increase the extent of white-9 tailed kite nesting habitat in the Plan Area. The distribution of protected habitats reflects the 10 relative abundance of modeled habitat in the CAZs and the importance of riparian habitats on the 11 valley floor. 12

White-tailed kite often nests in isolated or small groves of trees present in agricultural-dominated 13 landscapes that support its foraging habitat. To protect these important nesting areas, white-14 tailed kite conservation actions include protecting small patches of trees that support nesting 15 habitat. Conservation measures to protect nesting and foraging habitats include actions to 16 enhance habitat function for white-tailed kite and other covered species that use the natural 17 communities that support its foraging and nesting habitats. Implementation of these 18 conservation actions are expected to be sufficient to sustain the existing and provide 19 opportunities for increasing the abundance and distribution of white-tailed kite in the Plan Area. 20

5.5.13 Giant Garter Snake 21

The giant garter snake is endemic to wetlands in the Sacramento and San Joaquin valleys with a 22 current distribution that extends from near Chico, Butte County, to Fresno County. Due to the direct 23 loss of natural habitat, the giant garter snake relies heavily on rice fields in the Sacramento Valley but 24 also uses managed marsh areas in National Wildlife Refuges and State Wildlife Areas. In the Plan 25 Area, the species distribution is restricted to the rice lands and wetlands within the Basin and 26 Sacramento River CAZs, although it is occasionally found in water conveyance channels associated 27 with other agricultural land uses. All reported occurrences are west of State Route 99 and the 28 majority are associated with the Butte Basin habitats in the southwest corner of the Plan Area. 29 Others are scattered in the rice lands within the Basin CAZ and the Llano Seco area. 30

The giant garter snake resides in marshes, ponds, sloughs, small lakes, low gradient streams, and 31 other waterways, and in agricultural wetlands, including irrigation and drainage canals, rice fields, 32 and the adjacent uplands (USFWS 1993). Habitat requirements include 1) adequate water during the 33 snake's active season (early-spring through mid-fall) to provide food and cover; 2) emergent, 34 herbaceous wetland vegetation, such as cattails and bulrushes, for escape cover and foraging habitat 35 during the active season; 3) basking habitat of grassy banks and openings in waterside vegetation; 36 and 4) higher elevation uplands for cover and refuge from flood waters during the snake's 37



dormant season in the winter (USFWS 2006b). The giant garter snake resides in small mammal 1 burrows and soil crevices located above prevailing flood elevations throughout its winter 2 dormancy period (USFWS 2006b). 3

Habitat loss and fragmentation, flood control activities, changes in agricultural and land 4 management practices, predation from introduced species, parasites, and water pollution are the 5 main causes for the decline of this species. 6




16 Goal LAND2: Preserve continuous corridors of habitat along the east-west elevation gradient 17 extending from the eastern boundary of the Plan Area to the major stream corridors in the valley 18 bottom and along a north-south corridor within the valley basin habitats. 19 20

Objective LAND2.2: In the Plan Area south of the City of Chico and north of the City 21 of Oroville, protect a habitat corridor comprised of oak woodland and savanna, grassland, 22 riparian, wetland, and rice land that is at least 1.2 miles wide1 along the east-west 23 elevation gradient between the foothills at the eastern boundary of the Plan Area and 24 Butte Creek at the western boundary of the Plan Area (across the Cascade Foothills and 25 Basin CAZs; Figure 5.4). 26 27 Objective LAND2.4: Protect a habitat corridor suitable for giant garter snake movement 28 comprised of riparian, wetland, aquatic, and agricultural natural communities separating 29 patches of these communities that is at least 1.2 miles wide1 wide along the north-south 30 gradient between the Llano Seco Unit of the Upper Butte Basin Wildlife Area (in the 31 Sacramento River CAZ), across the Basin CAZ, to the Little Dry Creek Unit of the Upper 32 Butte Basin Wildlife Area, and to Gray Lodge Wildlife Area (Figure 5.4). 33

34 Goal LAND3: Maintain and improve connectivity among protected lands to provide for the 35 movement of covered and other native species among habitat areas and to facilitate genetic 36 exchange among populations. 37 38

Objective LAND3.1: Protect corridors of habitat that provide linkages among protected 39 habitat areas within and adjacent to the Plan Area. 40 41 Objective LAND3.2: Improve habitat corridors that allow covered and other native 42 species to move into protected habitats from adjacent lands and among habitat areas 43 within preserved lands. 44




5 Objective NACO1.7: Protect 495-8,310 acres of existing unprotected emergent 6 wetlands distributed within the Plan Area as indicated in Table 5.1. 7 8 Objective NACO1.9: Maintain 2,530-35,920 acres of existing managed wetlands that 9 support covered species habitat as wetlands distributed within the Plan Area as indicated 10 in Table 5.1. 11 12 Objective NACO1.11: Protect at least 15 linear miles of existing unprotected reaches of 13 Pine Creek, Rock Creek, Mud Creek, Big Chico Creek, Lindo Channel, Little Chico 14 Creek, Butte Creek, Little Dry Creek, and Feather River (one or both banks of streams 15 channels may be protected under this objective). 16 17




Objective NACO3.6: Restore __-__ acres of emergent wetland, depending on the 25 amount of rice land maintained under objective NACO4.1, distributed within the Plan 26 Area as indicated in Table 5.10. 27 28 Objective NACO3.7: Restore __ acres of seasonal or managed wetland, depending on 29 the amount of rice land maintained under objective NACO4.1, distributed within the Plan 30 Area as indicated in Table 5.10. 31 32














• CM10: Enter into conservation easements with water and irrigation districts to protect 13 and enhance wetland habitats along canals 14


Full implementation of the BRCP covered activities could result in permanent removal and 16 degradation of habitat functions on up to __ acres and __ acres of modeled giant garter snake 17 habitat, respectively. 18


Full implementation of the BRCP will protect up to an additional 80,215 acres of giant garter 20 snake breeding and movement habitat, resulting in protection of over 65% of habitat in the Plan 21 Area, including over 35% of the linear extent of connected waterways that provide for movement 22 and dispersal of giant garter snake among habitat areas (see Table 5.7). A lesser amount of 23 habitat may be protected, depending on the extent of emergent wetland that may be restored that 24 would provide higher habitat value than existing agricultural lands that support habitat (see 25 CM1: Protect Conservation Lands in Section 5.4, Conservation Measures). The conservation 26 strategy for giant garter snake is designed to protect and sustain the existing giant garter snake 27 population in the Plan Area by focusing on protection of suitable wetlands and rice agriculture in 28 the Basin and Sacramento River CAZs. 29

In addition, BRCP goals of maintaining and enhancing biological diversity, restoring/creating 30 additional wetland habitat, restoring and enhancing riparian and other channel corridors, and 31 maintaining and restoring connectivity across the BRCP Plan Area is expected to increase food 32 abundance, contribute to higher reproduction and survival rates, provide for dispersal and genetic 33 exhange of giant garter snakes. Protecting and enhancing connected corridors facilitates 34



movement of animals and expansion of the population into currently unoccupied areas. Together, 1 these measures will sustain the species within the Plan Area and provide the opportunity for 2 increases in the species’ distribution and abundance. 3

5.5.14 California Horned Lizard 4

California horned lizard occurs primarily in the south Coast Ranges. Although within the 5 species’ range, occurrences of California horned lizard are rare in the Central Valley and in 6 northern California. There is only one recently reported record of this species from Butte 7 County, north of Oroville, on North Table Mountain, just east of Coal Canyon. 8

The California horned lizard can occur in many habitat types, including grassland, oak 9 woodland, and riparian habitats. The species is typically found in an exposed gravelly-sandy 10 substrate such as clearings in riparian woodlands, or annual grassland with scattered perennial 11 species. 12

Historically, this taxon was identified as most abundant in relict lake sand dunes and old alluvial 13 fans bordering the San Joaquin Valley (CDFG 2006). The conversion of alluvial fans and relict 14 lake sand dunes to agriculture has resulted in the disappearance of this lizard in many areas. 15 Primary threats to the species include the ongoing fragmentation and loss of habitat. Additional 16 threats to the species include increased human presence in rural areas (which results in a direct 17 loss of habitat), as well as the occurrence of domestic cats and other non-native predators, 18 increased use of pesticides which reduces available food supply, and introduction of Argentine 19 Ants that replace the native ant food base (SDNHM 2007; Jennings and Hayes 1994). 20


Applicable Goals and Objectives from Section 3.3 22

Goal LAND1: Protect large landscapes within the range of physical and biological attributes 23 (e.g., slope, soils, hydrology, climate, plant associations) in the Plan Area to sustain covered 24 species abundance and habitat and preserve native biodiversity. 25 26



Objective LAND2.2: In the Plan Area south of the City of Chico and north of the City 34 of Oroville, protect a habitat corridor comprised of oak woodland and savanna, grassland, 35 riparian, wetland, and rice land that is at least 1.2 miles wide1 along the east-west 36 elevation gradient between the foothills at the eastern boundary of the Plan Area and 37



Butte Creek at the western boundary of the Plan Area (across the Cascade Foothills and 1 Basin CAZs; Figure 5.4). 2


Objective LAND3.1: Protect corridors of habitat that provide linkages among protected 8 habitat areas within and adjacent to the Plan Area. 9 10 Objective LAND3.2: Improve habitat corridors that allow covered and other native 11 species to move into protected habitats from adjacent lands and among habitat areas 12 within preserved lands. 13 14

Goal NACO1: Protect oak woodland and savanna, grassland, riparian, wetland, aquatic natural 15 communities that represent a range of ecological gradients and that support or have the potential 16 to support high functioning habitat for covered and other native species. 17

18 Objective NACO1.1: Protect 3,665 acres of existing unprotected blue oak savanna of 19 minimum patch size of 300 acres in combination with other oak habitats that are 20 distributed within the Plan Area as indicated in Table 5.1. 21

22 Objective NACO1.2: Protect 3,565 acres of existing unprotected interior live oak and 23 mixed oak woodlands of minimum patch size of 300 acres distributed within the Plan 24 Area as indicated in Table 5.1. 25 26 Objective NACO1.3: Protect 51,020 acres of unprotected grassland (including grassland 27 with swale complexes and vernal pools) within the Plan Area as indicated in Table 5.1. 28 29 Objective NACO1.4: Protect 6,370 acres of existing unprotected cottonwood-willow 30 riparian forest and valley oak riparian forest in minimum patch sizes of 25 acres along 31 rivers and streams distributed within the Plan Area as indicated in Table 5.1. 32 33







Objective NACO3.1: Restore __ acres of grassland swale complex that function as 1 habitat for covered and other native species distributed within the Plan Area as indicated 2 in Table 5.10. 3 4 Objective NACO3.2: Restore __ acres of vernal pools that function as habitat for 5 covered and other native species distributed within the Plan Area as indicated in Table 6 5.10. 7 8 Objective NACO3.3: Restore __ acres of cottonwood-willow riparian forest along 9 rivers and streams distributed within the Plan Area as indicated in Table 5.10. 10 11 Objective NACO3.4: Restore __ acres of valley oak riparian forest along rivers and 12 streams distributed within the Plan Area as indicated in Table 5.10. 13 14 Objective NACO3.5: Restore __ acres of willow scrub along rivers and streams 15 distributed within the Plan Area as indicated in Table 5.10. 16



Objective SPEC1.6: Protect 400 acres of any combination of existing unprotected 23 grassland, oak woodland and savanna, and riparian habitats in minimum patch sizes of 40 24 acres that support California horned lizard habitat. 25

26 Applicable Conservation Measures from Section 3.4 27






Covered activities will not impact the only known occurrence of California horned lizard within 33 the Plan Area located on Table Mountain. Implementation of covered activities, however, could 34 result in loss of habitat and injury or mortality of lizards in currently unknown occupied habitat 35 areas. Preconstruction surveys will be conducted to delineate California horned lizard habitat 36 and determine habitat occupancy within activity footprints where habitat may potentially be 37 present. 38




The conservation approach for the California horned lizard involves protecting at least 400 acres 2 of suitable California horned lizard habitat that through achieving conservation land protection 3 targets for natural communities that support patches of this species’ habitat along the eastern side 4 of the Plan Area, where it most likely to occur. Protection and enhancement of grasslands, oak 5 woodland and savanna, and riparian natural communites is expected to provide the opportunity 6 for the future expansion of California horned lizard to the Plan Area. It is anticipated that BRCP 7 biological surveys may locate additional unknown occurrences and such information will be used 8 to direct subsequent acquisitions of conservation lands to protect occupied habitat areas. 9

5.5.15 Western Pond Turtle 10

The northwestern pond turtle has been reported from several locations in the Plan Area. 11 However, the species is likely underreported, and probably occurs throughout the Plan Area in 12 suitable aquatic and adjacent upland habitats. Reported occurrences included drainages and 13 ponds along the eastern side of the Plan Area, Big Chico Creek, and the Upper Butte Wildlife 14 Area. The species likely occurs in most perennial streams in the Plan Area and in large ponds 15 and other water bodies. 16

The northwestern pond turtle is primarily aquatic and leaves the water only to reproduce, aestivate, 17 and to overwinter (Jennings and Hayes 1994). It prefers lentic (standing) or lotic (slow-moving) 18 water conditions, because it is a poor swimmer. Habitat quality may be dependent on the 19 availability of basking sites, such as locations along the bank or logs and rocks in shallow water 20 where the turtles can bask in the sun. Cover is an important aspect of basking sites, as are 21 underwater refugia (rocks, root masses, undercut banks etc). Hatchlings and vey young turtles 22 forage in shallow water areas with dense submergent or short emergent vegetation, where small 23 aquatic organisms are likely to be in abundance. The species requires upland habitat adjacent to the 24 aquatic habitat for nesting. Pond turtles hibernate underwater, in the muddy bottom of a pool and 25 may aestivate during summer droughts by burying in soft bottom mud. Overwinter sites in upland 26 habitat include burrows in leaf litter or duff or under shrubs. 27

The main factors contributing to the decline of the northwestern pond turtle population include loss 28 of aquatic and nesting habitat from urban development and conversion of native habitats to 29 agricultural lands; the increase of introduced non-native predators (i.e., African clawed frogs, bull 30 frogs, non-native rats and wading birds); predation on young, especially by raccoon. In addition, 31 there is concern over competition for food and basking sites and disease transmission from liberated 32 pet turtles and non-native turtle species (predominantly red-eared sliders and painted turtles). 33


Applicable Goals and Objectives from Section 3.3 35 36






Objective LAND2.2: In the Plan Area south of the City of Chico and north of the City 12 of Oroville, protect a habitat corridor comprised of oak woodland and savanna, grassland, 13 riparian, wetland, and rice land that is at least 1.2 miles wide1 along the east-west 14 elevation gradient between the foothills at the eastern boundary of the Plan Area and 15 Butte Creek at the western boundary of the Plan Area (across the Cascade Foothills and 16 Basin CAZs; Figure 5.4). 17 18 Objective LAND2.3: In the Plan Area south of the City of Oroville, protect a habitat 19 corridor comprised of oak woodland and savanna, grassland, riparian, and wetland, and 20 and agricultural land that is at least 1.2 miles wide1 wide along the east-west elevation 21 gradient between the foothills at the eastern boundary of the Plan Area and the Feather 22 River (across the Sierra Foothills and Southern Orchard CAZs; Figure 5.4). 23 24 Objective LAND2.4: Protect a habitat corridor suitable for giant garter snake movement 25 comprised of riparian, wetland, aquatic, and agricultural natural communities separating 26 patches of these communities that is at least 1.2 miles wide1 wide along the north-south 27 gradient between the Llano Seco Unit of the Upper Butte Basin Wildlife Area (in the 28 Sacramento River CAZ), across the Basin CAZ, to the Little Dry Creek Unit of the Upper 29 Butte Basin Wildlife Area, and to Gray Lodge Wildlife Area (Figure 5.4). 30



42 Goal LAND4: Maintain and rehabilitate ecosystem processes that support covered species and 43 their habitats. 44 45





7 Objective NACO1.1: Protect 3,665 acres of existing unprotected blue oak savanna of 8 minimum patch size of 300 acres in combination with other oak habitats that are 9 distributed within the Plan Area as indicated in Table 5.1. 10 11 Objective NACO1.2: Protect 3,565 acres of existing unprotected interior live oak and 12 mixed oak woodlands of minimum patch size of 300 acres distributed within the Plan 13 Area as indicated in Table 5.1. 14 15 Objective NACO1.3: Protect 51,020 acres of unprotected grassland (including grassland 16 with swale complexes and vernal pools) within the Plan Area as indicated in Table 5.1. 17 18 Objective NACO1.4: Protect 6,370 acres of existing unprotected cottonwood-willow 19 riparian forest and valley oak riparian forest in minimum patch sizes of 25 acres along 20 rivers and streams distributed within the Plan Area as indicated in Table 5.1. 21 22 Objective NACO1.6: Protect at least __ acres of existing unprotected grassland swale 23 complexes that are within vernal pool species recovery core areas distributed within the 24 Plan Area as indicated in Table 5.1. 25 26 Objective NACO1.7: Protect 495-8,310 acres of existing unprotected emergent 27 wetlands distributed within the Plan Area as indicated in Table 5.1. 28 29 Objective NACO1.9: Maintain 2,530-35,920 acres of existing managed wetlands that 30 support covered species habitat as wetlands distributed within the Plan Area as indicated 31 in Table 5.1. 32 33 Objective NACO1.10: Protect up to 25 ponds that support western pond turtle and 34 western spadefoot toad habitat, including adjacent upland habitat extending at least 200 35 feet from ponds, within BRCP protected grassland, oak savanna and woodland, and 36 wetland natural communities. 37 38 Objective NACO1.11: Protect at least 15 linear miles of existing unprotected reaches of 39 Pine Creek, Rock Creek, Mud Creek, Big Chico Creek, Lindo Channel, Little Chico 40 Creek, Butte Creek, Little Dry Creek, and Feather River (one or both banks of streams 41 channels may be protected under this objective). 42 43








Objective NACO2.6: Enhance the habitat functions of up to 7 BRCP protected ponds 10 for covered and other native species. 11


Objective NACO3.3: Restore __ acres of cottonwood-willow riparian forest along 15 rivers and streams distributed within the Plan Area as indicated in Table 5.10. 16 17 Objective NACO3.4: Restore __ acres of valley oak riparian forest along rivers and 18 streams distributed within the Plan Area as indicated in Table 5.10. 19 Objective NACO3.5: Restore __ acres of willow scrub along rivers and streams 20 distributed within the Plan Area as indicated in Table 5.10. 21

22 Objective NACO3.6: Restore __-__ acres of emergent wetland, depending on the 23 amount of rice land maintained under objective NACO4.1, distributed within the Plan 24 Area as indicated in Table 5.10. 25 26 Objective NACO3.7: Restore __ acres of seasonal or managed wetland, depending on 27 the amount of rice land maintained under objective NACO4.1, distributed within the Plan 28 Area as indicated in Table 5.10. 29 30












Full implementation of the BRCP covered activities could result in the permanent removal and 5 degradation of up to __ acres and __ acres of modeled western pond turtle aquatic habitat, 6 aquatic nesting and movementmodel and upland nesting/movement habitat, respectively. 7


Full implementation of the BRCP will protect an additional 1,135 acres of modeled western pond 9 turtle aquatic and 18,420 acres of upland nesting and movement habitat, resulting in protection of 10 over 78% and 52% of these habitat types in the Plan Area (see Table 5.7). The approach to 11 conservation of western pond turtle focuses on protecting and enhancing watercourses and 12 adjacent uncultivated upland habitats throughout the Plan Area and protection and enhancement 13 of ponds that support habitat. Ponds selected for protection and restoration will include adjacent 14 upland habitat extending at least 200 feet from ponds within BRCP protected grassland, oak 15 savanna and woodland, and wetland natural communities. 16

Protected riparian habitats will be managed to maintain and enhance habitat functions for 17 western pond turtle such as excluding livestock from riparian habitats; placing woody debris in 18 stream channels to create pools, underwater refugia, and basking structures; and planting native 19 species to improve food availability especially for young turtles feeding within the emergent 20 vegetation. Removing riprap along channel banks and altering stream channel geomorphology 21 will also render this habitat more suitable for pond turtles by making the water-upland boundary 22 more permeable. Enhancement and management of agricultural habitats will include 23 maintaining water in canals and ditches to facilitate movement and dispersion of turtles and 24 providing effective genetic linkages among populations. Non-native predators, including 25 bullfrogs and nonnative turtles, will also be controlled if they are found to negatively affect 26 western pond turtle. Implementation of these conservation actions is expected to be sufficient to 27 sustain the existing and provide for future increases in the abundance and distribution of western 28 pond turtle in the Plan Area. 29

5.5.16 Foothill Yellow-Legged Frog 30

Foothill yellow-legged frogs within the Plan Area have been observed in Big Chico Creek along the 31 upper reaches of Upper Bidwell Park, and in Mud Creek and Rock Creek. At least one occurrence 32 has been detected along Butte Creek. California Department of Fish and Game snorkel surveys have 33 also identified juvenile, larval and breeding adults in Big Chico Creek, Butte Creek, and Feather 34 River in almost every year of survey report from 2001 to 2006. 35



Foothill yellow-legged frogs are found in or near clear, cool rocky streams in a variety of habitats, 1 including valley-foothill hardwood, valley-foothill hardwood-conifer, valley-foothill riparian, 2 ponderosa pine, mixed conifer, coastal scrub, mixed chaparral, and wet meadow types. They can 3 occur in a range of waterways from small intermittent creeks to large river systems. Foothill yellow-4 legged frogs favor shallow, flowing water in small to moderate-sized streams with at least some 5 cobble-sized substrate and prefer sunny and partly-shaded banks for basking. 6

The primary factor in the decline of foothill yellow-legged frog in the Sierra Nevada is the 7 introduction of non-native predators. Competition and predation by introduced bullfrogs and 8 fish have greatly contributed to the decline of the species. Non-native centrarchid fishes readily 9 eat ranid eggs, and, where introduced into foothill streams, could also contribute to the 10 elimination of the species. Stock-ponds and other human-made ponds are harmful as they 11 promote bullfrog populations. Habitat loss and degradation, particularly in the Sierra Nevada 12 foothills, have also been major factors in declining foothill yellow-legged frog populations. 13 Habitat alterations have occurred as a result of dam and canal construction, agriculture, 14 urbanization, mining, and grazing practices. Besides eliminating habitat, these alterations have 15 resulted in reduced riparian habitat, decreases in suitable stream substrates, habitat 16 fragmentation, elimination of travel corridors, and detrimental flow regimes. Low flows, in 17 combination with loss of riparian habitat, tend to warm the water and foster non-native predators. 18 Prolonged droughts may have also impacted populations of these frogs. 19





Objective LAND2.1: In the Plan Area north of the City of Chico, protect a habitat 32 corridor comprised of oak woodland and savanna, grassland, riparian, wetland, and 33 aquatic natural communities that is at least 1.2 miles wide5

38

along the northeast-southwest 34 elevation gradient between the foothills at the eastern boundary of the Plan Area and the 35 Sacramento River at the western boundary of the Plan Area (across the Cascade Foothills 36 and Northern Orchards CAZs; Figure 5.4). 37

5 Recommended corridor width in California Essential Habitat Connectivity Project: A Strategy for Conserving a Connected California (Caltrans and DFG, 2010) for meeting the movement needs of large wildlife species such as mountain lion and mule deer, which will also meet the needs of smaller wildlife species (e.g., reptiles, rodents).



Objective LAND2.2: In the Plan Area south of the City of Chico and north of the City 1 of Oroville, protect a habitat corridor comprised of oak woodland and savanna, grassland, 2 riparian, wetland, and rice land that is at least 1.2 miles wide1 along the east-west 3 elevation gradient between the foothills at the eastern boundary of the Plan Area and 4 Butte Creek at the western boundary of the Plan Area (across the Cascade Foothills and 5 Basin CAZs; Figure 5.4). 6 7 Objective LAND2.3: In the Plan Area south of the City of Oroville, protect a habitat 8 corridor comprised of oak woodland and savanna, grassland, riparian, and wetland, and 9 and agricultural land that is at least 1.2 miles wide1 wide along the east-west elevation 10 gradient between the foothills at the eastern boundary of the Plan Area and the Feather 11 River (across the Sierra Foothills and Southern Orchard CAZs; Figure 5.4). 12 13 Objective LAND2.4: Protect a habitat corridor suitable for giant garter snake movement 14 comprised of riparian, wetland, aquatic, and agricultural natural communities separating 15 patches of these communities that is at least 1.2 miles wide1 wide along the north-south 16 gradient between the Llano Seco Unit of the Upper Butte Basin Wildlife Area (in the 17 Sacramento River CAZ), across the Basin CAZ, to the Little Dry Creek Unit of the Upper 18 Butte Basin Wildlife Area, and to Gray Lodge Wildlife Area (Figure 5.4). 19



31 Goal LAND4: Maintain and rehabilitate ecosystem processes that support covered species and 32 their habitats. 33 34

Objective LAND4.2: Reduce the loads of toxic contaminants into waters that support 35 covered plants, amphibians, and fish, and aquatic foodweb processes. 36 37 Objective LAND4.3: Restore floodplain erosional and depositional processes on BRCP 38 protected river and stream channels. 39


44



Objective NACO1.4: Protect 6,370 acres of existing unprotected cottonwood-willow 1 riparian forest and valley oak riparian forest in minimum patch sizes of 25 acres along 2 rivers and streams distributed within the Plan Area as indicated in Table 5.1. 3 4 Objective NACO1.11: Protect at least 15 linear miles of existing unprotected reaches of 5 Pine Creek, Rock Creek, Mud Creek, Big Chico Creek, Lindo Channel, Little Chico 6 Creek, Butte Creek, Little Dry Creek, and Feather River (one or both banks of streams 7 channels may be protected under this objective). 8 9


Objective NACO2.3: Enhance the habitat functions of up to 1,595 acres of BRCP protected 12 cottonwood-willow riparian and valley oak riparian forest for covered and other native species. 13


Objective NACO3.3: Restore __ acres of cottonwood-willow riparian forest along 17 rivers and streams distributed within the Plan Area as indicated in Table 5.10. 18 19 Objective NACO3.5: Restore __ acres of willow scrub along rivers and streams 20 distributed within the Plan Area as indicated in Table 5.10. 21








Full implementation of the BRCP covered activities could result in the permanent removal of up 33 up to __ acres of modeled foothill yellow-legged frog habitat and permanent degradation of 34 habitat functions of up to __ acres of modeled foothill yellow-legged frog habitat. 35




Full implementation of the BRCP will protect an additional 1,125 acres of perennial stream and 1 1,280 acres of intermittent stream resulting in protection of approximately 61% and 22% of these 2 foothill yellow-legged frog habitat types in the Plan Area, respectively (see Table 5.7). The 3 approach to conservation of foothill yellow-legged frog focuses on protecting and enhancing 4 perennial and intermittent streams within the Cascade and Sierra CAZs. Perennial habitats were 5 considered to have a higher likelihood of occupancy and provide more optimal habitat conditions 6 compared with intermittent streams. There is also substantially fewer perennial streams than 7 potentially occupied intermittent streams within the Plan Area. Thus, conservation within the 8 Cascade and Sierra CAZs emphasizes perennial streams by recommending a larger proportion of 9 conserved habitat relative to intermittent streams. The habitat protection and enhancement 10 actions are expected to be sufficient to maintain the current Plan Area population and provide 11 opportunities for its future expansion. 12

5.5.17 Western Spadefoot Toad 13

[Text to come following completion of conservation measures for the covered vernal pool 14 species.] 15

5.5.18 Valley Longhorn Beetle 16

Valley elderberry longhorn beetle has been recorded from several locations within the Plan Area. 17 Most occurrences are along the Sacramento River with a few along Big Chico Creek, Butte Creek, 18 and the Feather River. Occurrences, however, do not sufficiently represent the distribution of the 19 species due to its life history and infrequent emergence of adults. Its host plant, the elderberry shrub, 20 is a common species in riparian habitats throughout much of the Plan Area, and so the species may 21 be more widespread. 22

Habitat at occupied sites consists of riparian woodland with elderberry dominant or present within 23 cottonwoods and willows; valley oak riparian surrounded by fallow fields; and savanna-like areas 24 with herbs, grasses, and massive clusters of elderberry scattered throughout. Adult beetles have been 25 observed, along with numerous accounts of old and new exit holes from the stems of elderberry. 26 Valley elderberry longhorn beetle is endemic to moist valley oak riparian corridors in the lower 27 Sacramento and lower San Joaquin Valleys. The species is closely associated with a few species of 28 elderberry (Sambucus spp.), primarily blue elderberry (S. mexicana) and red elderberry (S. 29 racemosa), which both occur within the Plan Area. These plants are an obligate host plant for larvae 30 and are necessary for the completion of the life cycle. The existing remnants of riparian woodlands 31 and forests within the distribution of valley elderberry longhorn beetle are a collection of various 32 canopy layers and dominant species. Ideally, the riparian ecosystem consists of several canopy 33 layers with dense understory. Fremont cottonwood (Populus fremontii), California sycamore 34 (Platanus racemosa), willow (Salix spp.), and valley oak (Quercus lobata) commonly compose the 35 upper canopy of the woodland, while the intermediate canopy includes box elder (Acer negundo var. 36 californicum), Oregon ash (Fraxinus latifolia), elderberries, and several willows. The understory can 37



be widely diverse and includes many non-native species. In some areas, the margins of riparian 1 woodlands and forests are lined with elderberry savanna with S. mexicana as the dominant species. 2

Valley elderberry longhorn beetle is in long-term decline caused by human activities that have 3 resulted in widespread alteration and fragmentation of riparian habitats, and, to a lesser extent, upland 4 habitats, which support the beetle. The primary threats to survival of the beetle include: loss and 5 alteration of habitat by agricultural conversion; inappropriate grazing; levee construction; stream and 6 river channelization; removal of riparian vegetation; rip-rapping of shorelines; non-native animals 7 such as the Argentine ant, a predator of the early phases of the beetle; and recreational, industrial, and 8 urban development. The beetle’s distribution may be limited by the use of insecticide and herbicide 9 in agricultural areas and along roadways. Declining quality and maturity of elderberry shrubs/trees 10 as individuals and stands may be another cause of the beetle’s limited distribution. 11




21 Goal LAND3: Maintain and improve connectivity among protected lands to provide for the 22 movement of covered and other native species among habitat areas and to facilitate genetic 23 exchange among populations. 24





Objective NACO2.3: Enhance the habitat functions of up to 1,595 acres of BRCP protected 35 cottonwood-willow riparian and valley oak riparian forest for covered and other native species. 36




Objective NACO3.3: Restore __ acres of cottonwood-willow riparian forest along 4 rivers and streams distributed within the Plan Area as indicated in Table 5.10. 5


Objective NACO3.5: Restore __ acres of willow scrub along rivers and streams 8 distributed within the Plan Area as indicated in Table 5.10. 9






Full implementation of the BRCP covered activities could result in the permanent removal of up 15 to __ acres of modeled valley elderberry longhorn beetle habitat and permanent degradation of 16 __ acres of habitat. 17


The approach to conservation of valley elderberry longhorn beetle focuses on protecting, 19 enhancing, and restoring riparian habitat throughout the Plan Area. Full implementation of the 20 BRCP will protect an additional 15,315 acres of riparian and adjacent grassland habitat, resulting 21 in protection of approximately 62% of modeled valley elderberry longhorn beetle habitat in the 22 Plan Area (see Table 5.7). Restored riparian habitat areas will also be designed to incorporate 23 plantings of elderberry, the valley elderberry longhorn beetle’s host plant. 24

25



[] 1

5.6 Benefits of Conservation Measures for Local Concern Species 2

Note to Reviewers: This section describes how implementation of the BRCP conservation 3 measures are also expected to contribute to the conservation of the Stakeholder Committee 4 designated wildlife Local Concern Species. This section will be expanded to address the fish 5 local concern species in the next version of Chapter 5. 6

5.6.1 Greater Roadrunner 7

In California, the greater roadrunner’s distribution extends the length of the Central Valley and 8 Sierra foothills, in Coast Ranges and valleys, and throughout Southern California. Few 9 confirmed breeding locations have been reported in California, all of which are in the south 10 (Famolaro 2002). The species is considered rare in northern California and in Butte County 11 (Snowden 2001). There are no recent records of breeding greater roadrunners in Butte County; 12 however, Snowden (2001) considers it a potentially breeding bird. While there are insufficient 13 records to establish a current distribution of the species in the Plan Area, the grassland and 14 chaparral communities and the oak woodland/grassland communities on the east side of the Plan 15 Area are considered potential habitat. Riparian forest patches also have the potential to serve as 16 greater roadrunner habitat. 17

Greater roadrunner is found in arid, semi-open grassland and scrub habitat, including chaparral 18 and coastal scrub communities. It is also considered a bird of riparian areas and their agricultural 19 edges in parts of the species’ distribution including in California (e.g., Warner and Hendrix 20 1984). In the northern part of the state, the greater roadrunner is associated with a mix of open 21 grasslands and chaparral, and occasionally with oak savannah habitats supporting patches of 22 shrubs and thickets. It is generally found in flat to semi-flat terrain. The grassland and chaparral 23 communities on the east side of the Plan Area provide suitable habitat conditions for the greater 24 roadrunner. While the species could potentially occur further westward onto the valley floor, the 25 intensive agricultural and increasing development-related fragmentation preclude regular use of 26 this area. 27

The greater roadrunner has no special status in California. Reportedly fairly common during the 28 first half of the 20th century, it is currently considered rare and declining. Overhunting and 29 extensive residential and agricultural development are responsible for population declines and 30 local extirpations in the state. Habitat loss and fragmentation caused by urbanization continue to 31 be the main threat to the species in California (Unitt 1984). 32

33



5.6.1.1 Applicable Conservation Measures 1

• CM1: Protect Natural Communities 2

• CM4: Restore riparian habitats 3

• CM9: Enhance and manage protected natural communities 4

5.6.1.2 Rationale and Conservation Approach 5

The conservation approach for the greater roadrunner relies on the protection and management of 6 grassland, oak woodland/savannah, chaparral, and riparian forest natural communities, particularly 7 on the eastern side of the Plan Area. Full implementation of the BRCP will protect an additional 8 3,665 acres of blue oak savannah, 51,020 acres of grassland, and 5,650 acres of riparian natural 9 community (including __ acres of restored riparian habitat) that support habitat for the greater 10 roadrunner, resulting in protection of over 40%, 64%, and 80% percent of these communities in the 11 Plan Area, respectively (Table 5-6). Protected lands will include a mosaic of grassland and 12 savannah with smaller patches of chaparral and stringers of riparian forest. Enhancement and 13 management of these communities to achieve the biological goals and objectives (see Section 14 5.4.2.6, CM9: Enhance and Manage Protected Communities) is compatible with greater 15 roadrunner habitat management. Protection and management of these natural communities under 16 the BRCP will maintain habitat and provide for future occurrences of this species in the Plan Area. 17

5.6.2 Northern Harrier 18

In California, the northern harrier is a permanent resident of the northeastern plateau, coastal 19 areas, and the Central Valley. It is also a widespread winter visitor and migrant in suitable 20 habitat. Nesting records of northern harrier are not well documented in the Plan Area, due in part 21 to the difficulty locating nests. The species likely breeds in all suitable habitat areas noted 22 below, but the largest and most secure nesting areas are those with a marsh component and are 23 relatively undisturbed, such as the Gray Lodge and Llano Seco wetland areas. 24

Throughout its range, northern harriers occur primarily in open wetland, grassland, and 25 agricultural habitats. The northern harrier is a ground-nesting raptor, constructing rudimentary 26 nest sites on the ground in marsh, grassland, and some agricultural habitats, particularly grain 27 fields. They forage in seasonal wetland, grassland, and agricultural habitats for voles and other 28 small mammals, birds, frogs, and small reptiles, crustaceans, and insects. Foraging activity 29 occurs throughout all suitable habitats and is particularly important during the winter season 30 when northern migrants are present in the Plan Area (Snowden 2001). They also roost on the 31 ground, using tall grasses and forbs in wetlands, or along wetland/field borders for cover 32 (MacWhirter and Bildstein. 1996). 33

The northern harrier is designated by the California Department of Fish and Game (DFG) as a 34 state species of special concern (Remsen 1978). Breeding populations have declined from 35



destruction of wetland habitats, native grasslands, and moist meadows, and in agricultural areas 1 from burning and plowing of nest sites during early stages of the breeding cycle (MacWhirter 2 and Bildstein. 1996). The species has likely declined in Butte County as a result of agricultural 3 conversion, particularly incompatible crop types such as orchards. 4



• CM6: Restore/create emergent wetland 7

• CM7: Create managed wetland 8



The conservation approach for the northern harrier relies on the protection, restoration, and 11 management of grassland, wetland, and agricultural natural communities throughout the Plan Area. 12 Full implementation of the BRCP will protect an additional 51,020 acres of grasslands, 3,025 acres 13 of emergent and managed wetlands (including __ acres of restored wetlands), and 86,900 acres of 14 compatible (non-orchard/vineyard) agricultural natural communities that provide suitable habitat 15 for the northern harrier, resulting in protection of over 64%, 87%, and 66% of these communities 16 in the Plan Area, respectively (Table 5-6). Protected lands will include large expanses of wetlands 17 and agricultural lands that currently support northern harrier breeding populations. Enhancement 18 and management of these communities to achieve the biological goals and objectives (see Section 19 5.4.2.6, CM9: Enhance and Manage Protected Communities) is compatible with northern harrier 20 habitat management. Protection and management of these natural communities under the BRCP 21 will maintain suitable habitat to support existing northern harrier populations and enhance 22 protected habitats to provide for future increases of breeding and wintering populations in the Plan 23 Area. 24

5.6.3 Golden Eagle 25

In North America, golden eagles breed from Alaska to Mexico and from the west coast east to 26 Texas. In California, the species breeds throughout the mid- to higher elevation portions of the 27 state and throughout the southern California deserts (Kochert et al. 2002). There are no recent 28 records of nesting golden eagles from the Plan Area. A south-facing cliff-site nest has been 29 recorded just west of Table Mountain, but there has been no recently recorded activity at this 30 site. Golden eagles are known to nest on the Sutter Buttes, just south of the Plan Area. Golden 31 eagles are occasionally observed in the Plan Area including a recent sighting near Chico 32 (http://chicobirding.com). 33

http://chicobirding.com/�



In California, golden eagles are generally found in open country, including open woodlands and 1 coniferous forests, grasslands, chaparral habitats, and deserts. They forage primarily on 2 lagomorphs and ground squirrels (Olendorff 1976). They nest on cliff ledges, large outcrops, 3 and where these habitats are limited they will readily nest in a variety of trees (Bruce et al. 1982). 4 Available nesting habitat is found in the far eastern portion of the Plan Area. Cliff faces 5 associated with steep canyons provide potential nesting substrates. Large oak trees, foothill pine, 6 and other conifers also provide potential nesting habitat. Suitable foraging habitat includes 7 grassland and chaparral areas in the eastern portion of the Plan Area, and cultivated farmland and 8 pasturelands in the interior and western portions of the Plan Area. 9

Formerly designated by DFG as a species of special concern, the golden eagle is not included on 10 the revised list of California bird species of special concern (Shuford and Gardali 2008). The 11 golden eagle is protected under the federal Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act. Golden eagle 12 habitat has been reduced throughout its range from urbanization and agricultural conversion. 13 The species is also sensitive to a variety of human disturbances during the breeding season and 14 thus proximity to altered landscapes and human activities influences the distribution of nest sites. 15





The conservation approach for the golden eagle relies on the protection and management of 20 grassland, oak woodland/savannah (and associated chaparral), and agricultural natural 21 communities throughout the Plan Area. Full implementation of the BRCP will protect an 22 additional 7,230 acres of oak woodland/savannah, 51,010 acres of grassland, and 86,900 acres of 23 compatible (non-orchard/vineyard) agricultural natural communities that provide suitable habitat 24 for the golden eagle, resulting in protection of over 16%, 64%, and 66% of these communities in 25 the Plan Area, respectively (Table 5-6). Protected lands will include large expanses of grasslands 26 and woodlands on the eastern edge of the Plan Area where golden eagles may potentially nest in 27 the future and compatible agricultural foraging habitats throughout the Plan Area to support 28 wintering golden eagles. Enhancement and management of these communities to achieve the 29 biological goals and objectives (see Section 5.4.2.6, CM9: Enhance and Manage Protected 30 Communities) is compatible with golden eagle habitat management. Protection and management 31 of these natural communities under the BRCP will maintain suitable habitat to support existing 32 golden eagle populations and enhance protected habitats to provide for future increases of breeding 33 and wintering populations in the Plan Area. 34

35



5.6.4 Merlin 1

The merlin occurs throughout the Northern Hemisphere. In North America, it breeds in Alaska 2 and Canada south of the tree line, south to some of the contiguous U.S., including Washington 3 and Oregon along the Pacific coast, and Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming in the interior west 4 (Hawk Mountain 2007). The merlin is a partial migrant, with some populations wintering as far 5 south as Central America, Columbia, Ecuador, northern Peru, and Venezuela. The winter range 6 also includes coastal western Canada, Alaska, California and other western states, the Midwest, 7 and the mid-Atlantic and southeastern coasts of the U.S. (Hawk Mountain 2007). In California, 8 the merlin is an uncommon winter migrant from September to May, occurring in most of the 9 western half of the state below 1,500 m (Zeiner et al. 1990). Merlins are occasionally reported in 10 Butte County during the non-breeding season. The species occurs uncommonly throughout the 11 non-orchard agricultural, grassland, vernal pool grassland, and wetland communities. 12

Merlins occupy a wide variety of vegetation types during the winter including open grasslands, 13 savannas, and woodlands. It frequents coastlines, wetlands, and lake shorelines but can also be 14 found in open ponderosa pine and montane hardwood-conifer habitats (Zeiner et al. 1990). The 15 species is also occasionally found in or along agricultural fields or in urban areas, but require 16 concentrations of small-bird prey (Stahlecker 2010). Within the Plan Area, available habitat 17 includes non-orchard agricultural fields, grasslands and vernal pool grasslands, and seasonal and 18 permanent marshes and wetlands. Merlins may benefit from rice fields because these areas 19 concentrate shorebird and other avian prey (Jones & Stokes 2005). 20

The merlin is on the California Department of Game and Fish’s Watch List (DFG 2009). 21 Otherwise it has no special federal or state status. Once negatively affected by DDT and 22 described as having “markedly” declined over the past several decades in California, the North 23 American merlin population is currently increasing in size and exhibiting a breeding range 24 expansion (Zeiner et al. 1990, Stahlecker 2010). 25







The conservation approach for the merlin relies on the protection, restoration, and management of 32 grassland, oak savannah, wetland, and agricultural natural communities throughout the Plan Area. 33 Full implementation of the BRCP will protect and additional 51,020 acres of grassland, 3,665 acres 34



of blue oak savannah, 3,025 acres of emergent and managed wetland (including XX acres of 1 restored wetlands), and 86,900 acres of compatible (non-orchard/vineyard) agricultural natural 2 communities that provide suitable habitat for the merlin, resulting in protection of over 64%, 40%, 3 87%, and 66% of these communities in the Plan Area, respectively (Table 5-6). Protected lands 4 will include large expanses of savannah, grassland, wetlands, and agricultural lands that currently 5 support wintering merlins. Enhancement and management of these communities to achieve the 6 biological goals and objectives (see Section 5.4.2.6, CM9: Enhance and Manage Protected 7 Communities)is compatible with merlin habitat management. Protection and management of these 8 natural communities under the BRCP will maintain suitable habitat to support existing merlin 9 populations and enhance protected habitats to provide for future increases of breeding and 10 wintering populations in the Plan Area. 11

5.6.5 Prairie Falcon 12

The prairie falcon is distributed throughout the arid west, ranging from southern Canada to 13 northern Mexico and east to Texas. In California, the species is found primarily in the coastal 14 ranges, Great Basin deserts of northeastern California and east of the Sierra Nevada, and the 15 southern California deserts. Prairie falcons are also found, although rarely, along the western 16 slope of the Sierra Nevada and is considered a rare breeding bird in Butte County (Snowden 17 2001). There are no recent records of nesting prairie falcons in the Plan Area. Snowden (2001) 18 considers the species a rare breeder along the eastern edge of the Plan Area. The species is more 19 frequently observed during the winter, when it can be found hunting in agricultural, grassland, 20 and scrub habitats throughout the Plan Area. 21

The Prairie falcon nests almost exclusively on cliff ledges and protected large rock outcrops. 22 They forage in grasslands, prairies, and in cultivated fields and pasture habitats. Available 23 nesting habitat is restricted to the cliff faces associated with steep canyons on the eastern edge of 24 the Plan Area. Available foraging habitat includes the grassland and open chaparral and 25 woodland habitats on the east side and to a lesser extent cultivated habitats in the interior and 26 western portions of the Plan Area. 27

Formerly designated by DFG as a species of special concern, the prairie falcon is not included on 28 the revised list of California bird species of special concern (Shuford and Gardali 2008) and 29 otherwise has no special status in California. Prairie falcon habitat has been reduced throughout 30 its range from urbanization and agricultural conversion. The species is also sensitive to a variety 31 of human disturbances during the breeding season and thus proximity to altered landscapes and 32 human activities influences the distribution of nest sites. 33







The conservation approach for the prairie falcon relies on the protection and management of 2 grassland, oak savannah, and agricultural natural communities throughout the Plan Area. Full 3 implementation of the BRCP will protect an additional 3,665 acres of oak savannah, 51,010 acres 4 of grassland, and 86,900 acres of compatible (non-orchard/vineyard) agricultural natural 5 communities that support suitable habitat for the prairie falcon, resulting in protection of over 40%, 6 64%, and 66% of these communities in the Plan Area, respectively (Table 5-6). Protected lands 7 will include large expanses of grasslands and savannahs on the eastern edge of the Plan Area 8 where prairie falcons may potentially nest in the future and compatible agricultural foraging 9 habitats throughout the Plan Area to support wintering prairie falcons. Enhancement and 10 management of these communities to achieve the biological goals and objectives (see Section 11 5.4.2.6, CM9: Enhance and Manage Protected Communities) is compatible with prairie falcon 12 habitat management. Protection and management of these natural communities under the BRCP 13 will maintain suitable habitat to support existing prairie falcon populations and enhance protected 14 habitats to provide for future increases of breeding and wintering populations in the Plan Area. 15

5.6.6 Long-eared Owl 16

The breeding distribution of the long-eared owl extends throughout most of southern Canada, 17 northern eastern U.S., the Great Lakes region, and throughout much of the northern prairie and 18 western U.S. In California, the species occurs uncommonly throughout much of the state with 19 reported historic concentrations in the Sacramento Valley, San Joaquin Valley, and in the San 20 Diego area, where it is now rare, and more current concentration areas at various locations on the 21 east side of the Sierra Nevada, such as the Susan River, and in desert oases in southern California 22 deserts (Marks et al. 1994). While thought to be extirpated in many locations, including the 23 Sacramento Valley, the species is very secretive and potentially more common than recorded 24 observations would suggest. Considered rare by Snowden (2001) and an uncertain breeder, there 25 are no recent reported breeding occurrences of long-eared owls from the Plan Area. Occurrences 26 reported by Altacal Audubon and others are winter occurrences. 27

The long-eared owl requires dense wooded areas for daytime roosting and nesting with adjacent 28 open areas where they hunt for small rodents and occasionally small birds. Long-eared owls are 29 often associated with coniferous forest edges or patches of conifers, riparian woodland, and oak 30 woodland habitats where sufficient cover is available. Snowden (2001) reports a preference for 31 riparian vegetation dominated by box elder or willow. They do not construct their own nest, 32 instead, they use stick nests built by other species, including American crows and various hawk 33 species. Adjacent foraging habitats include grasslands, shrublands, open woodlands, cultivated 34 farmland, and other open habitats. Habitat requirements are similar during breeding and 35 wintering seasons (Marks et al. 1994). Available nesting and roosting habitat includes dense 36 riparian woodlands along the Sacramento River, Feather River, Big Chico Creek, and Butte 37 Creek, willow and box elder thickets along smaller drainages, and woodlands along the edges of 38 grassland and chaparral habitats in the eastern portion of the Plan Area. 39



The long-eared owl is designated by DFG as a state bird species of special concern (Shuford and 1 Gardali 2008). The loss and degradation of riparian and oak woodland habitat from urban 2 expansion, agricultural conversion, timber management, water storage projects, and other factors 3 are responsible for population declines and extirpations of this species. 4






The conservation approach for the long-eared owl relies on the protection, restoration, and 10 management of oak woodland, grassland, riparian, and agricultural natural communities 11 throughout the Plan Area. Full implementation of the BRCP will protect an additional 7,230 acres 12 of oak woodland, 51,020 acres of grassland, 6,370 acres of cottonwood/valley oak and willow 13 scrub (including __ acres of restored riparian habitat), and 86,900 acres of compatible (non-14 orchard/vineyard) agricultural natural communities that provide suitable habitat for the long-eared 15 owl, resulting in protection of over 16%, 64%, 75%, and 66% of these communities in the Plan 16 Area, respectively (Table 5-6). Enhancement and management of these communities to achieve 17 the biological goals and objectives (see Section 5.4.2.6, CM9: Enhance and Manage Protected 18 Communities) is compatible with long-eared owl habitat management. Protection and management 19 of these natural communities under the BRCP will maintain suitable habitat to support existing 20 long-eared owl populations and enhance protected habitats to provide for future increases of 21 breeding and wintering populations in the Plan Area. 22

5.6.7 Short-eared Owl 23

The short-eared owl breeding range extends from Alaska to Central California in the west and 24 Northern Quebec and Newfoundland to Northern Virginia in the east. The winter range includes 25 all of southern U.S. to southern Mexico (Holt and Leasure 1993). In California, the historic 26 breeding range included most of the lowland portions of the state. The current breeding 27 distribution includes remaining open wetland, marsh, and prairie habitats in the Central Valley 28 and coastal areas. The species winters primarily in the Central Valley, Sierra Nevada foothills, 29 and southern California. Few breeding records for Butte County are available. Snowden (2001) 30 reports the short-eared owl as a rare breeder in Butte County. Breeding records are from the 31 Llano Seco and Butte Creek watershed areas. 32

Short-eared owls are usually found in open areas with few trees, including annual and perennial 33 grasslands, prairies, meadows, freshwater emergent marshes, dunes, and irrigated pasturelands 34 where it nests and roosts on the ground in dense vegetation and forages on small rodents and 35



birds. Potential nesting habitat for short-eared owls in the Plan Area is similar to the northern 1 harrier. Probably the highest value potential nesting habitat occurs in the wetland habitats of 2 Llano Seco and the Butte Creek watershed in and around Gray Lodge Wildlife Area. Irrigated 3 cropland and the grassland and grassland/vernal complexes in the eastern portion of the Plan 4 Area also provide suitable wintering habitat. 5

The short-eared owl is designated by DFG as a state species of special concern (Shuford and 6 Gardali 2008). The loss and degradation of grassland, pastureland, and wetland breeding and 7 foraging habitats from urban expansion, agricultural conversion, incompatible water 8 management, and grazing are considered the primary threat to this species. 9







The conservation approach for the short-eared owl relies on the protection, restoration, and 16 management of grassland, wetland, and agricultural natural communities throughout the Plan Area. 17 Full implementation of the BRCP will protect an additional 51,020 acres of grasslands (including 18 vernal pool complex), 3,025 acres of emergent and managed wetlands (including __ acres restored 19 wetlands), and 86,900 acres of compatible (non-orchard/vineyard) agricultural natural communities 20 that provide suitable habitat for the short-eared owl, resulting in protection of over 64%, 87%, and 21 66% of these communities in the Plan Area, respectively (Table 5-6). Protected lands will include 22 large expanses of wetlands, grasslands, and agricultural lands that currently support short-eared 23 owl breeding or wintering populations. Enhancement and management of these communities to 24 achieve the biological goals and objectives (see Section 5.4.2.6, CM9: Enhance and Manage 25 Protected Communities) is compatible with short-eared owl habitat management. Protection and 26 management of these natural communities under the BRCP will maintain suitable habitat to 27 support existing prairie falcon populations and enhance protected habitats to provide for future 28 increases of breeding and wintering populations in the Plan Area. 29

5.6.8 Willow Flycatcher 30

The breeding range of the willow flycatcher extends across southern Canada and throughout 31 most of the U.S. with the exception of the southeast U.S. It winters in Central and South 32 America (Sedgewick 2000). In California, Grinnell and Miller (1944) reported nesting willow 33 flycatchers throughout the state wherever deciduous shrubs, mainly thickets of willows, 34



occurred. Currently, the species is considered a rare to locally uncommon summer resident in 1 wet meadows and montane riparian habitats from 600 to 2,440 m and a common spring and fall 2 migrant at lower elevations (Craig and Williams 1998). E.t. brewsteri is currently found 3 primarily in isolated Sierra Nevada and Cascade meadows, but has more recently been detected 4 in several new locales such as along the Klamath River (Craig and Williams 1998). There are no 5 recent breeding occurrences of willow flycatcher from the Plan Area. Snowden (2001) reports 6 breeding activity at a few wet meadow riparian areas in northern Butte County, but outside of the 7 Plan Area. Dawn Garcia of California State University, Chico reports several migratory 8 occurrences along Butte Creek in 2006. Other occurrences during the spring and fall migratory 9 periods are periodically reported by local birders. 10

Breeding habitat is typically moist meadows with perennial streams; lowland riparian woodlands 11 dominated by willows (Salix spp.), primarily in tree form, and cottonwoods (Populus spp.), or 12 smaller spring-fed or boggy areas with willow or alders (Alnus spp.) (Serena 1982, Harris et al. 13 1988 [in Craig and Williams 1998]). Riparian deciduous shrubs or trees, such as willow or alder, 14 are essential elements on willow flycatcher territories (Sanders and Flett 1989, Harris et al. 1988 15 in Craig and Williams 1998). During migration, the species can be observed along riparian 16 corridors at lower elevations. There is no extensive wet meadow-riparian breeding habitat within 17 the Plan Area. Riparian habitat along the Sacramento and Feather Rivers, Butte Creek and Big 18 Chico Creek, and other smaller drainages, provide suitable cover and roosting habitat during the 19 fall and spring migratory periods. 20

The willow flycatcher is listed as State Endangered. Of the three subspecies present in 21 California, E. t. brewsteri is the most likely to occur in the Plan Area. The loss and degradation 22 of riparian habitat from urban expansion, agricultural conversion, water projects, and grazing is 23 considered the primary threat to this species. 24






The conservation approach for the willow flycatcher relies on the protection, restoration, and 30 management of riparian natural community throughout the Plan Area. Full implementation of the 31 BRCP will protect an additional 6,370 acres of cottonwood/valley oak and willow scrub riparian, 32 including __ acres of restored riparian forest, resulting in protection of 75% of this community in 33 the Plan Area (Table 5-6). Enhancement and management of these communities to achieve the 34 biological goals and objectives (see Section 5.4.2.6, CM9: Enhance and Manage Protected 35



Communities) is compatible with willow flycatcher habitat management and will maintain suitable 1 habitat and provide for existing and future occurrences of this species in the Plan Area. 2

5.6.9 Loggerhead Shrike 3

The breeding range extends from central prairie provinces and the Canadian border southward to 4 Florida, west to California, and southern Mexico (Yosef 1996). In California, the loggerhead 5 shrike is a permanent resident and winter visitor in foothills and lowlands throughout California, 6 where it is considered a fairly common resident (Small 1994). Nests sites are infrequently 7 reported and documented, likely due to the difficulty locating nests; however, occurrences of 8 individual birds are regularly, although infrequently, reported by local birders. Snowden (2001) 9 considers the species uncommon in Butte County and notes that populations may be declining as 10 a result of the loss of potential nest sites (small trees and shrubs). 11

Shrikes prefer open habitats with scattered trees, shrubs, posts, fences, utility lines, or other 12 perches. It nests in small trees and shrubs and forages for small rodents and insects in pastures 13 and agricultural lands. Most of the Plan Area is considered potential habitat for loggerhead 14 shrike, particularly the lower elevation pasture and non-orchard agricultural lands with small 15 trees and shrubs for nesting. Highest value lands may occur in the open pastures and irrigated 16 croplands in the southwestern portion of the Plan Area, and in the open grassland habitats on the 17 eastern side of the Plan Area. 18

The loggerhead shrike is designated by DFG as a state species of special concern (Shuford and 19 Gardali 2008). The loss and degradation of open grasslands and shrublands from urban 20 expansion and conversion of agricultural lands to incompatible crops (e.g., orchards/vineyards) 21 are among the threats to this species. 22





The conservation approach for the loggerhead shrike relies on the protection and management of 27 grassland and agricultural natural communities throughout the Plan Area. Full implementation of 28 the BRCP will protect an additional 51,010 acres of grassland and 86,900 acres of compatible 29 (non-orchard/vineyard) agricultural natural communities that support suitable habitat for the 30 loggerhead shrike, resulting in protection of over 64% and 66% of these communities in the Plan 31 Area, respectively (Table 5-6). Protection and restoration of riparian habitats and protection of oak 32 woodland/savannah habitats will also provide additional protected nesting and roosting habitat for 33 shrikes where these habitats are adjacent to open grassland or agricultural foraging habitats. 34 Protection of some seasonal wetlands may also contribute to overall habitat protection for this 35



species. Protected lands will include large expanses of grasslands on the eastern edge of the Plan 1 Area and compatible agricultural foraging habitats throughout the Plan Area. Enhancement and 2 management of these communities to achieve the biological goals and objectives (see Section 3 5.4.2.6, CM9: Enhance and Manage Protected Communities) is compatible with loggerhead shrike 4 habitat management. Protection and management of these natural communities under the BRCP 5 will maintain suitable habitat to support existing loggerhead shrike populations and enhance 6 protected habitats to provide for future increases of breeding and wintering populations in the Plan 7 Area. 8

5.6.10 Yellow-billed Magpie 9

The yellow-billed magpie is endemic to California, west of Sierra Nevada. Its range includes 10 Sacramento and San Joaquin valley floors and foothills, and valleys of the Coast Ranges from 11 San Francisco Bay south to Santa Barbara County (Reynolds 1995). Yellow-billed magpie is 12 widely distributed throughout the mid- and lower-elevation portions of the Plan Area. 13 Populations have reportedly declined during the last two years (Altacal Audubon Society 14 records) presumably as a result of West Nile Virus infestation. 15

Yellow-billed magpie inhabits open country with tall trees for nesting and roosting. It usually 16 forages on the ground in agricultural fields, grasslands, pastures, and around farmyards and other 17 disturbed sites. It nests high in trees, usually in valley oak, black walnut, and other tall trees. 18 Yellow-billed magpies are highly social, foraging and roosting together often in large numbers. 19 They nest individually or in loose colonies (Reynolds 1995). Suitable habitat is found throughout 20 the lower elevation portions of the Plan Area. All agricultural types are used, including orchards. 21 Pasturelands and grasslands also provide suitable habitat for magpies. Magpie nests are 22 commonly found along all of the major watercourses, including the Sacramento and Feather 23 Rivers, along roadside trees, and in isolated oak trees. 24

The yellow-billed magpie has no federal or state status and no other special status. The species 25 is included here due to its sensitivity to the effects of the West Nile virus. Recent information 26 regarding the susceptibility of magpies to the virus and the low survivability of infected magpies 27 has led to concern regarding the future status of yellow-billed magpie populations. 28





33




The conservation approach for the yellow-billed magpie relies on the protection and management 2 of oak woodland, grassland, riparian, and agricultural natural communities throughout the Plan 3 Area. Full implementation of the BRCP will protect an additional 7,230 acres of oak woodland, 4 51,010 acres of grassland, 6,370 acres of riparian (including __ acres of riparian restoration), and 5 86,900 acres of agricultural natural community that provide suitable habitat for the yellow-billed 6 magpie, resulting in protection of over 16%, 64%, 72%, and 44% of these communities in the Plan 7 Area, respectively (Table 5-6). Protected lands will include large expanses of grassland and 8 woodland habitats on the eastern edge of the Plan Area and agricultural and riparian habitats 9 throughout the Plan Area. Enhancement and management of these communities to achieve the 10 biological goals and objectives (see Section 5.4.2.6, CM9: Enhance and Manage Protected 11 Communities) is compatible with yellow-billed magpie habitat management. Protection and 12 management of these natural communities under the BRCP will maintain suitable habitat to 13 support existing magpie populations and enhance protected habitats to provide for future increases 14 of breeding and wintering populations in the Plan Area. 15

5.6.11 Horned Lark 16

Horned larks breed widely throughout North America, from northern Alaska to southern Mexico. 17 They winter from southern Canada southward across the United States and Mexico (Beason 18 1995). Of the numerous subspecies of horned lark, California horned lark is the locally breeding 19 race within the Plan Area (Snowden 2001); however, other subspecies likely occur in the Plan 20 Area during the migratory and wintering periods. Snowden (2001) reports horned larks are a 21 common breeding and wintering species in the Plan Area. Distribution includes all foothill 22 grassland and lower elevation grassland and non-orchard irrigated cropland; however, the 23 breeding distribution is limited largely to the non-cultivated grassland habitats in the eastern 24 portion of the Plan Area. 25

Throughout their range, horned larks are associated with open desert scrub, grasslands, montane 26 meadows, and similar open habitats (Beason 1995). Grinnell and Miller (1944) describe horned 27 lark breeding habitat as level or gently sloping shortgrass prairie, montane meadows, “bald” 28 hills, open coastal plains, fallow grain fields, and alkali flats. More recently in California, they 29 are commonly found in open grasslands and rangelands in the Sierra Nevada foothills, Coast 30 Ranges, and southern California. Breeding habitat in the Plan Area occurs throughout the 31 foothill grassland and valley grassland/vernal pool habitats. Irrigated croplands also provide 32 available foraging habitat; however, Snowden (2001) reports migratory subspecies likely use the 33 valley floor habitats while California horned lark apparently remains within its foothill grassland 34 breeding habitat. 35

Horned lark has no special status in California. Horned larks are considered an agricultural pest 36 as they increasingly find available foraging habitat in newly planted fields, particularly those 37



near open grassland breeding habitat (Internet Center for Wildlife Damage Management, 1 http://ICWDM.org.handbook/birds/hornedlarks.asp). 2





The conservation approach for the horned lark relies primarily on the protection and management 7 of the grassland natural community along the eastern edge of the Plan Area. Full implementation 8 of the BRCP will protect an additional 51,010 acres of grassland that provides suitable habitat for 9 the horned lark, resulting in protection of over 64% of this community in the Plan Area (Table 5-10 6). Enhancement and management of these communities to achieve the biological goals and 11 objectives (see Section 5.4.2.6, CM9: Enhance and Manage Protected Communities) is compatible 12 with horned lark habitat management. Protection and management of this natural community 13 under the BRCP will maintain suitable habitat to support existing horned lark populations and 14 enhance protected habitats to provide for future increases of breeding and wintering populations in 15 the Plan Area. 16

5.6.12 Purple Martin 17

The purple martin breeding range extends from central Alberta to the Gulf of Mexico east of the 18 dry western section of the Great Plains. Disjunct populations are found in the southern Rocky 19 Mountain region, Baja California, northern and central Mexico, and along the Pacific coast from 20 Vancouver, British Columbia to central California. Smaller populations are found on the Modoc 21 Plateau, Sacramento area, northern Sierra Nevada, and in the mountains of southern California. 22 The winter range is primarily in central South America. (Brown 1997). Snowden (2001) reports 23 the possible extirpation of purple martins from Butte County. Purple martins develop colonial 24 nests in cavities of large trees in oak or riparian woodlands and low-elevation coniferous forests. 25 Nests are in old woodpecker cavities in dead snags and are often in residual snags in burned or 26 logged forests (Brown 1997). With the extensive loss of mature riparian trees throughout much 27 of their range in California, purple martins have begun using man-made structures such as 28 buildings, bridges and highway overpasses for nesting (Airola and Grantham 2003). Potential 29 breeding habitat is available in oak woodland and savannah habitats along the eastern edge of the 30 Plan Area. Currently, potential man-made nesting habitat is unavailable at most freeway 31 overcrossings or bridges where vertical “weep” holes could be present (Airola and Grantham 32 2003). Future construction, however, could create these nesting opportunities. 33

The purple martin is designated by DFG as a state species of special concern. The loss and 34 degradation of riparian forests and oak woodland habitats has reduced available habitat for this 35

http://icwdm.org.handbook/birds/hornedlarks.asp�



species throughout its range in California; however, available and otherwise suitable nesting 1 habitat is currently unoccupied likely as a result of nest cavity competition from European 2 starlings (Sturnus vulgaris). 3






Within the Plan Area, there are 10,580 acres of blue oak savanna, 34,705 acres of blue oak 9 woodland, and 47,275 acres of live oak and mixed oak woodland, all serving as potential purple 10 martin habitat. With BRCP implementation, the percentage of protected blue oak savanna would 11 increase from 6% to over 40%. The percentage of protected blue oak woodland would remain 12 stable at about 10%, but the percentage of protected live oak woodland and mixed oak woodland 13 would increase from 8% to over 15% (see Table 5-6). 14

The conservation approach for the purple martin relies on the protection and management of oak 15 woodland/savannah and riparian natural communities throughout the Plan Area. Full 16 implementation of the BRCP will protect an additional 7,230 acres of oak woodland and 5,650 17 acres of cottonwood-willow and valley oak riparian forest (including __ acres of riparian 18 restoration) that provide suitable habitat purple martin, resulting in protection of over 16% and 19 80% of these communities in the Plan Area, respectively (Table 5-6). Protected lands will include 20 large blocks of oak woodland/savannah along the eastern edge of the Plan Area and riparian 21 habitats throughout the Plan Area. Enhancement and management of these communities to 22 achieve the biological goals and objectives (see Section 5.4.2.6, CM9: Enhance and Manage 23 Protected Communities) is compatible with purple martin habitat management. Protection and 24 management of these natural communities under the BRCP will maintain suitable habitat to 25 support existing purple martin populations and enhance protected habitats to provide for future 26 increases of breeding and wintering populations in the Plan Area. 27

5.6.13 California Thrasher 28

Endemic to California and northern Baja California, the California thrasher is found in chaparral 29 and coastal scrub communities along the coast and Coast Ranges, western Sierra Nevada, and 30 southern California and Baja California deserts (Sibley 2003). There are few nesting records of 31 California thrasher in Butte County; however, it has been regularly (although infrequently) 32 reported during the breeding season. Snowden (2001) reports the species as possibly declining 33 in Butte County as a result of rural urbanization and predation by house cats. The distribution 34 likely is directly associated with the distribution of chaparral vegetation in the Plan Area. 35



The California thrasher is found primarily in chaparral and other shrub communities from sea 1 level to montane chaparral. It will also breed in adjacent oak woodlands and pine-juniper scrub 2 as well as occasionally in parks and gardens, but only if dense cover is available (Cody 1988). 3 Chaparral habitats on the eastern edge of the Plan Area provide suitable habitat for thrashers. 4

The California thrasher has no federal or state status and no other special status. 5





The conservation approach for the California thrasher relies on the protection and management of 10 oak woodland natural communities along the eastern edge of the Plan Area. Full implementation 11 of the BRCP will protect an additional 3,565 acres of live and mixed oak woodland that supports 12 small patches of chaparral habitat that may support California thrasher, resulting in protection of 13 over 15% of this community in the Plan Area (Table 5-6). Enhancement and management of these 14 communities to achieve the biological goals and objectives (see Section 5.4.2.6, CM9: Enhance 15 and Manage Protected Communities) is compatible with California thrasher habitat management. 16 Protection and management of this natural community under the BRCP will maintain suitable 17 habitat to support existing thrasher populations and enhance protected habitats to provide for future 18 population increases in the Plan Area. 19

5.6.14 Yellow Warbler 20

The Yellow warbler breeding distribution extends from northern Alaska and Canada southward 21 to the middle U.S. and west into Mexico. The species winters in Mexico and Central and South 22 America. Throughout California, yellow warbler is summer resident and transient in suitable 23 riparian habitats (Small 1994, Lowther et al. 1999). Snowden (2001) notes that yellow warblers 24 nest in riparian and chaparral habitats in the montane zone, presumably outside of the Plan Area, 25 and are a rare breeding bird in valley riparian habitats within the Plan Area. Heath (1998) 26 reports breeding occurrences in the Plan Area along the Sacramento River. Dawn Garcia of 27 California State University, Chico, reports several migratory occurrences along Butte Creek and 28 several possible breeding occurrences along Butte Creek and Big Chico Creek from 2006 and 29 2007. 30

In California, yellow warblers nest primarily in riparian habitats (Grinnell and Miller 1944), but 31 in some montane areas they also nest in a variety of shrub habitats (e.g., manzanita, ceanothus) 32 far removed from water (Grinnell et al. 1930, Beedy and Granholm 1985). Migrants prefer 33 edges to the interior of forests and broad-leaf trees to conifers. They can be found in a variety of 34 habitats, including riparian, oak woodland, and suburban parks and gardens (Dunn and Garrett 35



1997). Available breeding habitat includes riparian woodlands association with the Sacramento 1 River, Feather River, Butte Creek, Big Chico Creek, and other small drainages with suitable 2 riparian vegetation. 3

The yellow warbler is designated by DFG as a species of special concern. The loss and 4 degradation of riparian forests from urbanization, agricultural conversion, water storage projects, 5 and other factors has reduced available habitat for this species throughout its range in California; 6






The conservation approach for the yellow warbler relies primarily on the protection, restoration, 12 and management of riparian natural community throughout the Plan Area. Full implementation of 13 the BRCP will protect an additional 5,650 acres of cottonwood/valley oak riparian forest, including 14 __ acres of restored riparian forest, resulting in protection of over 80% of this community in the 15 Plan Area (Table 5-6). Additional conservation will be provided through protection of chaparral 16 habitats associated with the conservation of oak woodland communities along the eastern edge of 17 the Plan Area. Enhancement and management of these communities to achieve the biological 18 goals and objectives (see Section 5.4.2.6, CM9: Enhance and Manage Protected Communities) is 19 compatible with yellow warbler habitat management and will maintain suitable habitat and provide 20 for existing and future occurrences of this species in the Plan Area. 21

5.7 Monitoring Plan 22

5.7.1 Introduction 23

This section describes the elements of the BRCP monitoring plan. Monitoring can be defined as 24 the “systematic and usually repetitive collection of information typically used to track the status 25 of a variable or system” (Atkinson et al. 2007). The monitoring plan has been designed to 1) 26 guide the collection and compilation of relevant data and information necessary to 1) 27 demonstrate compliance with permit terms and conditions, 2) to assess the effectiveness of 28 BRCP implementation over time, and 3) ensure that the adaptive management decision making 29 process described in Section 5.8, Adaptive Management Plan, is informed by the best available 30 science. The monitoring plan, in concert with research data (Section 5.8, Adaptive Management 31 Plan), has been designed to provide a means by which information necessary to implement the 32 BRCP over time will be collected and compiled, and that the adaptive management decision 33 making process described in Section 5.8, Adaptive Management Plan, is informed by the best 34



available science. BRCP implementation, monitoring, research, and adaptive management are 1 all part of a feedback loop process that is illustrated in Figure 5-6. 2

3

5.7.1.1 Regulatory Context 4

The monitoring plan component is consistent with the guidance provided by the USFWS and 5 NMFS Five-Point Policy for HCPs (65 FR 106, June 1, 2000) and provisions of the Natural 6 Community Conservation Planning Act (NCCPA) [Fish and Game Code Section 2810(a)(7)] as 7 they are related to monitoring implementation of HCPs and NCCPs, respectively. As described 8 in the Five-Point Policy, the monitoring program of a conservation plan should generate 9 information sufficient to guide plan implementation, particularly with respect to the following 10 matters (65 FR 106, June 1, 2000; 35254). 11

“The monitoring program should reflect the measurable biological goals and 12 objectives. The following components are essential for most monitoring protocols 13 (the size and scope of the HCP will dictate the actual level of detail in each item): (1) 14 assess the implementation and effectiveness of the HCP terms and conditions (e.g., 15 financial responsibilities and obligations, management responsibilities, and other 16 aspects of the incidental take permit, HCP, and the IA, if applicable); (2) determine 17



the level of incidental take of the covered species; (3) determine the biological 1 conditions resulting from the operating conservation program (e.g., change in the 2 species’ status or a change in the habitat conditions); and (4) provide any 3 information needed to implement an adaptive management strategy, if utilized. An 4 effective monitoring program is flexible enough to allow modifications, if necessary, 5 to obtain the appropriate information.” 6

By regulation, an HCP specifically must incorporate monitoring of conservation measures and 7 the response of covered species to these measures [50 CFR 17.22(b)(1)(iii) and 50 CFR 8 222.22(b)(5)(iii)]. 9

As described in Section 5.8, Adaptive Management Plan, in addition to monitoring the 10 Implementing Entity may also implement or collaborate in research to address specific scientific 11 questions regarding covered species, natural communities, and ecosystem processes to increase 12 the base of knowledge about these resources such that conservation measures can be adaptively 13 implemented to more effectively achieve the biological goals and objectives. While HCPs and 14 NCCPs are not specifically required to include research, the uncertainty regarding the level of 15 anticipated beneficial outcomes for some covered species highlight the need for focused research 16 to better inform BRCP implementation and monitoring. The Implementing Entity may provide 17 funding for research on specific hypotheses important for more effective implementation of the 18 Conservation Strategy. 19

Although monitoring programs strive to produce standardized, scientific data, monitoring in 20 itself is an adaptive, “learning-by-doing” process. Especially during initial phases of the BRCP, 21 the Implementing Entity may be faced with deciding which monitoring techniques to use or 22 which sampling designs are most cost effective. Therefore, the monitoring plan provides for 23 methods testing and/or pilot projects that allow the Implementing Entity to evaluate which 24 monitoring protocols and sampling designs produce acceptable data properties and are feasible in 25 an applied setting and under given funding constraints. For example, methods to detect presence 26 or absence of a covered species may be evaluated by comparing detection dogs, camera traps or 27 spotlight surveys in small area where the species is known to occur; or, prior to large-scale 28 riparian restoration, initial small-scale trials with different planting methods may be conducted to 29 learn about “what works”. Each method will yield a number of observations and will have 30 associated logistic, time and cost constraints. Methods-testing allows the derivation of the most 31 effective, and least costly methods to achieve monitoring goals. 32

5.7.1.2 Monitoring objectives 33

The overall purpose of an HCP monitoring plan is to provide information to evaluate compliance 34 with permit terms and conditions and to assess the effectiveness of implementation in achieving 35 the biological goals and objectives. More specifically, BRCP monitoring will be conducted 36 primarily to: 37



• Establish baseline conditions of biological resources in the Plan area from which 1 deviations can be detected; 2

• Produce scientifically valid data which are relevant and informative to the adaptive 3 management process and which integrate with other monitoring efforts; 4

• Document compliance with terms and conditions of BRCP permits, including limits set 5 by the permits on the incidental take of covered species; 6

• Document and evaluate the effectiveness of conservation measures in achieving BRCP 7 biological goals and objectives; 8

• Provide information necessary to indicate if adjustments to BRCP implementation to to 9 better ensure that biological goals and objectives are achieved; and 10

• Assess progress towards achieving the biological goals and objectives. 11

It is beyond the scope of the BRCP planning process to develop a comprehensive monitoring 12 program. Rather, the goal of this chapter is to provide sufficient guidance to the Implementing 13 Entity to ensure that the monitoring program will meet regulatory standards and that the 14 monitoring program is sufficiently flexible to address monitoring protocols that turn out to be 15 infeasible or do not produce the right data to evaluate plan success. Furthermore, the exact 16 location and extent of the conservation activities and target areas for monitoring are not known at 17 this time, thus precluding the ability to establish specific monitoring requirements (including 18 protocols, thresholds, triggers, and other key variables). 19

5.7.1.3 Scope, Scale, and Intensity 20

The scope of the monitoring program must be commensurate with the scope and duration of the 21 Conservation Strategy and impacts of covered activities. Because the Plan area of the BRCP is 22 large and biologically diverse, the monitoring program must be equally broad in scope to ensure 23 that the resolution of each biological goal and objectives are addressed. 24

As described in Section 5.3, Biological Goals and Objectives, the BRCP conservation strategy 25 operates multiple scales, including patch-level habitat components, natural communities and 26 populations up to landscape and ecosystem levels. The monitoring program also operates at 27 corresponding scales as appropriate to detect change at species-level, natural community -, or 28 landscape/ecosystem scales. At the broadest spatial extent, landscape-level and system-wide 29 monitoring is designed to detect large-scale changes in ecosystem processes, shifts in natural 30 community distribution or the composition and integrity of landscape linkages. Because these 31 processes are typically slow and widespread, monitoring to detect landscape change often occurs 32 at multi-year intervals. Natural community-level monitoring is designed to detect changes in the 33 composition and function of natural communities, populations of key predator or prey 34 populations, invasive species, and other important habitat factors for covered species. 35 Community level monitoring ranges from annual to multi-year sampling intervals, depending on 36 the spatial and temporal scale of the ecosystem process they are designed to measure. Species-37



level monitoring measures the effects of management actions on covered species and tracks the 1 abundance, distribution, and other variables of covered species; it may involve annual or 2 seasonal measurements (e.g., counts of redds and spawning adults for different Chinook runs). 3 Generally, the level of rarity and the status of a species will determine the survey effort required 4 to evaluate its status and responses to BRCP implementation over time. 5

Adherence to science-based monitoring protocols ensures that the resulting data stand up to 6 scrutiny by being repeatable and having minimal bias and variance. This is important when data 7 validity is challenged or used in a regulatory context. Monitored units must reflect the units of 8 the corresponding biological objective; if the objective is numerical (e.g., number of individuals) 9 the monitoring program must likewise measure progress numerically. Monitoring must also be 10 based on established and accepted scientific principles. Whenever possible, monitoring should 11 use a multispecies approach. Measuring the performance of several species at a site 12 simultaneously (e.g., songbird surveys, amphibian captures, camera traps) increases survey 13 efficiency and cost effectiveness. 14

5.7.1.4 Responsibility for the Monitoring Program 15

The BRCP Implementing Entity is responsible for implementing the monitoring program. 16 However, monitoring program components may be implemented by multiple parties, including 17 staff of the Implementing Entity or, with the oversight of the Implementing Entity, other BRCP 18 participants (e.g., Permit Applicants, Fish and Wildlife Agencies), academic institutions, 19 consulting firms, or other qualified entities. Monitoring conducted under existing programs 20 implemented by other entities (e.g., Universities, Central Valley Regional Water Control Board, 21 fish and wildlife agencies) may also be used by the Implementing Entity to assess the 22 effectiveness of conservation measures in achieving biological goals and objectives. The 23 Implementing Entity, however, is responsible for ensuring that monitoring and research efforts 24 undertaken by others on behalf of the Implementing Entity are sufficient for the purposes of 25 BRCP implementation requirements. 26

The Implementing Entity will coordinate and share monitoring and other experimental results, as 27 appropriate, with other regional restoration and management programs. Such coordination 28 requires standardization of protocols, sampling design, and training of personnel, as well as 29 integrative data analyses. Programs and organizations with which the Implementing Entity 30 should coordinate include approved and developing HCPs and NCCPs that adjoin the Plan Area; 31 USFWS, NMFS, DFG, and other federal and state resource agency monitoring programs; and 32 with organizations conducting monitoring of existing conserved lands within and adjacent to the 33 Plan Area. 34

35



5.7.2 General Requirements for Monitoring and Surveys 1

The Implementing Entity will conduct several types of monitoring and surveys, which vary 2 among phases of implementation and scale to ensure the success of the Conservation Strategy. 3 The general types of monitoring and surveys required are described below. 4

5.7.2.1 Compliance Monitoring 5

The purpose of compliance monitoring is to ensure compliance with terms and conditions of the 6 BRCP and its associated permits during implementation of covered activities. It also tracks 7 progress of BRCP implementation in accordance with the implementation schedule (see Chapter 8 6, Plan Implementation). Compliance monitoring includes; 9

• Verification and periodic accounting of incidental take of covered species in relation to 10 authorized take levels and the permitted activity; 11

• Documenting implementation of avoidance and minimization measures; 12

• Recording implementation and fulfillment of the conservation measures (e.g., habitat 13 protection, enhancement, and restoration actions); and 14

• Any other monitoring that may be required by the permitting agency to document 15 compliance terms and conditions of BRCP permits. 16

Compliance monitoring will be undertaken for all covered activities and conservation measures, 17 whether implemented directly by the Implementing Entity or by other entities. The 18 Implementing Entity will develop specific procedures for documenting compliance with the 19 permit terms and conditions before implementing the covered activities. Results of compliance 20 monitoring may also serve the purposes of effectiveness monitoring. For example, documenting 21 the protection of a specified amount of a covered species habitat for compliance also documents 22 progress towards achieving the biological objective for protection of that species habitat. Results 23 of compliance monitoring will also be used by the Implementing Entity along with results of 24 effectiveness and system-wide monitoring to determine if BRCP implementation should be 25 adjusted under the provisions or the BRCP adaptive management plan (see Section 5.8, Adaptive 26 Management Plan). 27

5.7.2.2 Preconstruction Surveys and Construction Monitoring 28

As described in Section 5.4.4, Avoidance and Minimization Measures, preconstruction surveys 29 will be conducted at project sites before covered activities are implemented to determine if 30 covered species are present and, if so, the avoidance and minimization measures that will need to 31 be implemented during project implementation. Monitoring of ground disturbing activities 32 (construction monitoring) and implementation of avoidance and minimization measures will be 33 conducted at the time specific covered activities are implemented. Construction monitoring is 34 required to ensure that avoidance and minimization measures are properly implemented where 35



specific sensitive occurrences of covered species (e.g., an active nesting site for a covered bird 1 species or a population of a highly restricted covered plant species) have been identified at or 2 adjacent to a project site. The Implementing Entity will be responsible for implementing 3 preconstruction surveys and construction monitoring for BRCP conservation measures and the 4 Permittees will be responsible for ensuring proper implementation of preconstruction surveys 5 and construction monitoring for implementation for their respective covered activities. The 6 Implementing Entity will provide guidance to the Permittees regarding preconstruction survey, 7 construction monitoring, and avoidance and minimization measure requirements for their 8 covered activities. 9

5.7.2.3 Baseline Ecological Surveys 10

Conservation measure CM8: Enhance and Manage Protected Natural Communities (see Section 11 5.4, Conservation Measures), provides for conducting surveys of acquired conservation lands 12 within two years of acquisition to collect information necessary to conduct a detailed assessment 13 of baseline ecological conditions. Survey data will be evaluated to identify subsequent covered 14 species habitat enhancement and management actions that will be implemented to improve 15 covered species’ habitat conditions. The baseline survey information will also provide the basis 16 from which to measure change in ecological conditions following implementation of habitat 17 enhancement and management actions. The degree of change will be analyzed to assess the 18 effectiveness of the actions in achieving their intended biological outcomes (see Section 19 5.7.3.4.2, Habitat Enhancement and Management Actions). 20

5.7.2.4 Effectiveness Monitoring 21

Effectiveness monitoring will be conducted for three purposes: 1) to assess the effectiveness of 22 habitat restoration, enhancement, and management techniques in achieving the desired habitat 23 conditions for covered and other native species, 2) to assess covered species responses to the 24 implementation of conservation measures, and 3) to document progress made toward achieving 25 biological goals and objectives. Effectiveness monitoring is informed by compliance and 26 system-wide monitoring and may also incorporate baseline ecological survey results. 27 Effectiveness monitoring approaches and metrics that will be used by the Implementing Entity to 28 guide preparation of specific BRCP monitoring requirements for biological objectives and 29 conservation measures are presented in Tables 5.14 and 5.15, respectively. 30

Results of effectiveness monitoring will inform the Implementing Entity as it considers 31 adjustments to implementation through the adaptive management plan (see Section 5.8, Adaptive 32 Management Plan). The effectiveness monitoring requirements for specific conservation 33 actions will be determined by the Implementing Entity prior to implementing the actions and will 34 be designed to collect information necessary to improve their effectiveness over time and to 35 resolve the uncertainties. It is anticipated that the extent of effectiveness monitoring will be 36 reduced over time as causal relationships between the implementation of conservation actions 37 and the responses of covered species and ecosystems to those measures are better understood. 38



For example, if relationships between a specific habitat enhancement action and the response of 1 a particular covered species to the action are established through monitoring, then effectiveness 2 monitoring for assessing the species response to the same action in another location may be 3 reduced or no longer required. 4

5.7.2.5 System-Wide Monitoring 5

System-wide monitoring is intended to complement effectiveness monitoring by helping to 6 determine causality when examining a biological response – or lack thereof – to a conservation 7 measure. It is also designed to provide a means to assess biological changes above and beyond 8 those related to individual conservation measures. Information within the scope of system-wide 9 monitoring includes the overall status, distribution, and trends related to selected covered species 10 populations and the status of the natural communities, including the ecological functions they 11 provide for covered and other native species over the term of the BRCP. Results of system-wide 12 monitoring will help the Implementing Entity to discriminate whether any observed response to a 13 conservation action can be attributed to the implementation of the BRCP or if the lack of 14 response indicates failure of that particular conservation measure. System-wide monitoring will 15 be important in particular for covered wildlife species that are migratory, nomadic, or otherwise 16 highly mobile (i.e., dispersing readily in and out of the BRCP Plan Area). For these species, 17 factors external to the Plan Area can readily obscure the type and extent of response to the 18 implementation of the conservation measures. For example, it may be that a conservation 19 measure intended to restore habitat for a covered species is not followed by use of that habitat by 20 the species. The apparent lack of response, however, may be due to a population decline of the 21 covered species caused by reduced production or increased mortality outside of the Plan Area. 22 Thus, system-wide monitoring is important to provide context for interpretation of results of 23 effectiveness monitoring and other monitoring and research. It also provides the Implementing 24 Entity with information necessary to make implementation adjustments through the adaptive 25 management process in advance of large-scale changes in the ecological conditions of the Plan 26 Area that appear forthcoming. 27

5.7.3 Development of Specific Monitoring and Survey Plans 28

The Implementing Entity will prepare detailed monitoring and survey plans for implementing the 29 types of monitoring and surveys described in Section 5.7.2, General Requirements for 30 Monitoring and Surveys. Monitoring plans will be developed prior to implementation of the 31 applicable conservation measures, as appropriate, for each monitoring activity undertaken by the 32 Implementing Entity. The contents of each specific monitoring plan may vary depending on its 33 purpose. The monitoring plans, however, will generally include the following types of 34 information: 35

• Description of the purpose and objectives of the monitoring (e.g., assessing progress 36 towards achieving a biological objective); 37



• Description of monitoring protocols, including sampling design and justification 1 supporting the validity of monitoring methods and sampling design; 2

• Monitoring data storage procedures; 3

• Analytical methods for assessing monitoring results; 4

• Procedures for validating monitoring data and methods; 5

• Monitoring schedule, duration, and rationale; 6

• Content requirements and submission schedule for monitoring reports; 7

• References, including printed references and personal communications; 8

• Provisions for documenting subsequent revisions to the monitoring plan; and 9

• Other information pertinent to specific monitoring plans. 10

• Date the monitoring plan was prepared and dates of subsequent revisions; and 11

• Other types of information as appropriate to specific monitoring plans. 12

5.7.3.1 Scientific Standards 13

Because monitoring results are a primary source of information to allow for adaptations to BRCP 14 implementation to occur over time and to measure progress toward achieving the BRCP 15 biological goals and objectives, monitoring plans must be based on the best available science and 16 subject to rigorous standards, including statistically sound sampling designs. Biased or 17 unreliable monitoring data could result in erroneous decision making and therefore could 18 threaten the effectiveness of the implemented measures. For any monitoring protocol, 19 standardization is crucial. It will allow for comparison of monitoring data among different 20 monitoring locations, different individuals conducting the monitoring, and among monitoring 21 years over the term of the BRCP. 22

Monitoring plans will include survey protocols, monitoring variables or indicators, sampling 23 design, and methods (e.g., statistical techniques) used to analyze monitoring data. Where 24 appropriate, the Implementing Entity may adopt existing and generally accepted methods (e.g., 25 USFWS survey protocols for listed species, protocols for monitoring status and trends in 26 abundance and distribution of covered bird species). The Implementing Entity may develop 27 monitoring procedures if science-reviewed procedures have not previously been developed for 28 the subject of monitoring. In this case, the Implementing Entity will solicit information from 29 resource agency experts, independent scientists, and other experts as appropriate. Draft 30 procedures may be field tested and revised as necessary based on test results to ensure that they 31 can be effectively implemented and yield the desired monitoring information. 32

33



5.7.3.2 Review of Monitoring Plans 1

To ensure credibility of BRCP monitoring plans, protocols, and sampling designs, the 2 Implementing Entity will provide for internal science-based review of these monitoring elements 3 as a routine matter; and will provide for external science review as necessary and appropriate. 4 Internal review of draft monitoring plans will be conducted by individuals with relevant 5 expertise in biological and physical sciences, scientific method, habitat restoration design and 6 engineering, and resource management, as appropriate to the monitoring topic. The review will 7 ensure that methods and approaches are valid and well documented and that they will achieve 8 their intended objectives. 9

5.7.3.3 Construction Monitoring Plans 10

The Implementing Entity will develop construction monitoring plans for its habitat 11 restoration/creation projects prior to their initiation. Construction monitoring plans will be 12 developed based on results of preconstruction surveys of each project site. Depending on the 13 avoidance and minimization measures applicable to each specific project, the contents of each 14 specific construction monitoring plan will vary, but will generally include the following types of 15 information: 16

• A description of the project-specific avoidance and minimization measures; 17

• A construction schedule indicating which avoidance and minimization measures are 18 applicable to each habitat restoration/creation activity; 19

• A description of the process that will be used to notify the Implementing Entity if 20 avoidance and minimization measures cannot be or are not implemented as intended by 21 the restoration contractor; and 22

• A description of the process for documenting the implementation avoidance and 23 minimization measures. 24

The Implementing Entity will also provide guidance to the Permittees for their development of 25 construction monitoring plans for their respective covered activities. 26

5.7.3.4 Effectiveness Monitoring Plans 27

5.7.3.4.1 Restored and Created Habitats 28 Prior to implementing habitat restoration/creation actions, the Implementing Entity will develop 29 and implement monitoring plans and schedules for each type of habitat restoration/creation 30 action and/or habitat restoration/creation site. The duration and frequency of monitoring of each 31 habitat restoration/creation site will be determined by the time required for covered species 32 habitat functions to fully develop (e.g., riparian forest habitat may require the entire term of the 33 BRCP to fully develop habitat functions for covered species that use mature forest) and annual 34 variability in environmental conditions that affect habitat functions (e.g., to assess the full habitat 35



functions of restored/created vernal pools may require monitoring over the course of several wet 1 water years). 2

Effectiveness monitoring plans will describe the environmental variables to be monitored (e.g., 3 percent vegetation cover and composition and hydrology over time; presence and abundance of 4 covered species) and variable targets that, when achieved, indicate that ecological objectives of 5 the restored/created habitat have been achieved. The selected environmental variables should be 6 those that represent measures of habitat function for associated covered and other native species 7 and that can be practicably measured. Environmental variables that should be considered for 8 each restored habitat type are described in Table 5.15 for the habitat restoration/creation 9 conservation measures. 10

Failure to achieve or trend towards achieving the variable targets will trigger an adaptive 11 management review by the Implementing Entity to determine if 1) remedial actions should be 12 implemented to improve the likelihood for achieving the variable targets, 2) the variable targets 13 are inappropriate based on site capability and need to be modified, and/or 3) designs of 14 subsequent restored/created habitats need to be adjusted to improve development of the desired 15 ecological conditions. 16

Habitat restoration/creation sites will also be monitored to determine their use by associated 17 covered species over time. Use of restored/created habitats by associated covered and other 18 native species is a strong indicator that the restored/created habitat has successfully developed 19 the desired habitat functions for covered and other associated native species. As described in 20 Section 5.7.7, System-wide monitoring Requirements, failure of restored/created habitat to be 21 used by covered and other native species does not necessarily indicate that the restored/created 22 habitat has failed to develop the desired habitat functions. 23

The intensity of monitoring required for restoration/creation of specific habitat types is expected 24 to change over the BRCP implementation period as more is learned about how restored/created 25 habitats develop under various designs. For example, initial riparian habitat restoration projects 26 will be intensively monitored until there is a clear cause and effect correlation between 27 restoration actions and the development of riparian habitat attributes. As these relationships are 28 established, the monitoring intensity of subsequent riparian habitat projects would be expected to 29 be reduced. 30

5.7.3.4.2 Habitat Enhancement and Management Actions 31 As described in conservation measure CM8: Enhance and Manage Protected Natural 32 Communities (Section 5.4, Conservation Measures), the BRCP includes actions to enhance and 33 manage protected and restored habitats to maintain and increase their functions as habitat for 34 covered and other native species over time. 35

Before implementing habitat enhancement and management actions, the Implementing Entity 36 will develop and implement monitoring plans and schedules for each type of habitat 37



enhancement and management action and/or each specific site to be enhanced and managed (see 1 Section 5.7.3, Development of Specific Monitoring and Survey Plans). These monitoring plans 2 will describe the environmental variables to be monitored (e.g., percent vegetation cover and 3 composition and hydrology over time; presence and abundance of covered species) and variable 4 targets that, when achieved, indicate that ecological objectives of the restored/created habitat 5 have been achieved. 6

Baseline ecological conditions will be determined through results of baseline surveys conducted 7 for each parcel as described in Section 5.7.2.2, Baseline Ecological Surveys. Additional surveys 8 may be required if the necessary baseline variable conditions were not assessed in baseline 9 ecological surveys. Depending on the type of habitat enhancement and management actions to 10 be undertaken, the Implementing Entity may also need to collect information necessary to 11 evaluate the likely effects of historical land use practices (e.g., grazing regimes) on historical and 12 current site conditions. Environmental variables that should be considered for habitat 13 enhancement and management actions for each natural communities are described in Table 5.15 14 for conservation measure CM8: Enhance and Manage Protected Natural Communities. 15

The effects of enhancement and management actions will be measured as the extent of change in 16 specified environmental variables for each type of enhancement/management action relative to 17 baseline conditions (i.e., pre-action) for each variable. Monitoring results will be analyzed to 18 evaluate the effectiveness of habitat enhancement/management actions in achieving site-specific 19 objectives and to provide the Implementing Entity with information necessary to make project-20 level adaptive management adjustments in the implementation of subsequent habitat 21 enhancement and management actions. The intensity of monitoring required is expected to 22 change over the BRCP implementation period for the reasons described above for monitoring of 23 restored/created habitats. 24

5.7.3.5 System-Wide Monitoring Plans 25

5.7.3.5.1 Status of Natural Communities within the Plan Area 26 The Implementing Entity will delineate and determine the distribution and extent of each non-27 agricultural natural community within the Plan Area at least every 5 years over the term of the 28 BRCP. It is anticipated that the delineations will be performed using aerial imagery taken at 29 each analysis point for this purpose. Natural community mapping results will be used by the 30 Implementing Entity to identify changes in the extent and distribution of natural communities 31 and associated covered species habitats within the Plan Area over time. This information will be 32 used by the Implementing Entity to determine if there is a need to adjust BRCP implementation 33 through the adaptive management process to better address the conservation needs of covered 34 species if substantial and unanticipated changes in the distribution and extent of natural 35 communities and covered species habitats are detected within the Plan Area. 36

Concurrent with the periodic monitoring and assessment of non-agricultural natural communities 37 within the Plan Area, the Implementing Entity will review and evaluate available data regarding 38



the extent and distribution of agricultural crop types within the Plan Area every five years. 1 Results of the evaluation will be used to determine if agricultural land uses have changed 2 sufficiently to warrant any change in BRCP implementation to ensure conservation of covered 3 species whose habitats are supported by agricultural lands. For example, if agricultural cropping 4 patterns change in the Plan Area such that Swainson’s hawk agricultural foraging habitats are 5 substantially reduced, modification of BRCP implementation to improve habitat conditions for 6 the Swainson’s hawk through the adaptive management process may be appropriate. 7 Monitoring tools will include relevant information currently collected by the Butte County 8 Agricultural Commissioner and other agencies, such as NRCS; information regarding trends in 9 agricultural practices from the agricultural community; and relevant reports by local, state, and 10 federal agencies regarding trends in agricultural production and practices; and other relevant 11 information sources that may become available over the term of the BRCP. 12

5.7.3.5.2 Status of Covered Species within the Plan Area 13 The Implementing Entity will assess the status, distribution, and trends of covered species within 14 the Plan Area for at least every 5 years over the term of the BRCP. This assessment will be 15 conducted based on reviews of all previous BRCP monitoring results and results of BRCP 16 research and relevant monitoring and research conducted by others (e.g., Fish and Wildlife 17 Agency survey results and status and trends assessments). System-wide monitoring for covered 18 species will provide the Implementing Entity with information to help track long-term changes 19 attributable to any of a number of factors (e.g., covered activities, climate change, and activities 20 of others) that may affect the status of covered species within the Plan Area. As part of system-21 wide monitoring, the Implementing Entity will also review relevant scientific data regarding the 22 regional status of covered species whose range and life stage distribution extends beyond the 23 Plan Area as it becomes available. This information will help inform the need for making 24 adjustments to BRCP implementation through the adaptive management process (see Section 25 5.8, Adaptive Management Plan). For birds in particular, the Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) 26 programs, in addition to raptor counts along migration routes, provide readily available, 27 continuously updated data on the global and regional status of species. 28

5.7.3.5.3 Status of Covered Species on BRCP Conservation Lands 29 In addition to monitoring to assess the response of covered species to habitat restoration/creation, 30 enhancement, and management actions, the Implementing Entity will implement periodic 31 standardized surveys to determine the abundance and use of habitats on preserved lands over the 32 term of the BRCP. The purpose of this monitoring is to provide the Implementing Entity with 33 information necessary to detect unanticipated and undesirable changes in the distribution and 34 abundance of covered species that may warrant adjustments in BRCP implementation to better 35 conserve the covered species. Potential monitoring approaches for each species are presented in 36 Table 5.16. 37

38



Table 5-16. Potential Monitoring Approaches for Covered Species on BRCP Conservation Lands

Covered Species Proposed Monitoring1

Tricolored blackbird Annual reconnaissance-level surveys of preserved nesting habitats to locate nesting colonies Annual surveys of active nesting colonies to estimate colony size and nesting success

Yellow-breasted chat Protocol-level surveys of habitat at least every 5 years following completion of baseline surveys for each parcel to document occurrence of nesting and abundance of breeding pairs Annual surveys in parcels where nesting or breeding behavior has been detected in previous surveys for at least 2 years following detection and subsequent monitoring at intervals to be determined by the Implementing Entity

Western burrowing owl, western yellow-billed cuckoo, American peregrine falcon, bald eagle, white-tailed kite, and Swainson's hawk

Protocol-level surveys of habitat at least every 5 years following completion of baseline surveys for each parcel to document occurrence of nesting and nesting success Annual surveys in parcels where nesting or breeding behavior has been detected in previous surveys for at least 2 years following detection and subsequent monitoring at intervals to be determined by the Implementing Entity

Bank swallow Review of annual DFG monitoring results for the Plan Area to determine distribution and size of nesting colonies

Greater sandhill crane

Annual monitoring of created roost sites to assess the abundance of cranes using roost sites and habitat functions of roost sites for at least 2 years following detection of use; subsequent annual reconnaissance-level surveys of roost sites to confirm use

California black rail

Protocol-level surveys of habitat at least every 5 years following completion of baseline surveys for each parcel Annual surveys in parcels where breeding behavior has been detected in previous surveys for at least 2 years following detection and subsequent monitoring at intervals to be determined by the Implementing Entity

Giant garter snake

Protocol-level surveys of habitat for at least 2 years following acquisition of each parcel Protocol-level surveys of habitat at least every 5 years following completion of initial 2 year survey period

California horned lizard

Protocol-level surveys of habitat following acquisition of each parcel to establish species status Reconnaissance-level surveys of habitat to document occurrence and habitat conditions at least every 5 years following completion of baseline surveys for each parcel

Western pond turtle Reconnaissance-level surveys of habitat to document occurrence and habitat conditions at least every 5 years following completion of baseline surveys for each parcel



Table 5.16. Potential Monitoring Approaches for Covered Species on BRCP Conservation Lands

Covered Species Proposed Monitoring1

Foothill yellow-legged frog Reconnaissance-level surveys of habitat to document occurrence and habitat conditions at least every 5 years following completion of baseline surveys for each parcel


Documentation of presence of elderberry host shrubs in riparian habitats through implementation of preserved natural community surveys described in Section 5.7.5.4, Non-Agricultural Protected Habitats.

Vernal pool species (western spadefoot toad, vernal pool tadpole shrimp, vernal pool fairy shrimp,conservancy fairy shrimp, Hoover's spurge, Ahart's dwarf rush, hairy orcutt grass, slender orcutt grass, Butte County golden clover, and Greene's tuctoria)

Monitor the presence/absence of vernal pool shrimp species during the first wet year following vernal pool acquisition; if expected shrimp species are present, monitor for their presence/absence every 5 years thereafter over the term of the BRCP; if expected shrimp species are not present, monitor during at least 2 subsequent wet years to confirm presence/absence Monitor the presence/absence of vernal pool plant species and, if present, the estimated abundance of individual plants, during the first wet year following vernal pool acquisition; if expected plant species are present, monitor for their presence/absence and estimated abundance every 5 years thereafter over the term of the BRCP; if expected plant species are not present, monitor during at least 2 subsequent wet years to confirm presence/absence and estimated abundance Monitor for the presence/absence of western spadefoot toad eggs in suitable breeding vernal pool habitats during the first wet year following vernal pool acquisition; if toad eggs are located, monitor for the production of juveniles that emerge from the pool and monitor for their presence/absence every 5 years thereafter over the term of the BRCP; if toad eggs are not located, monitor during at least 2 subsequent wet years to confirm presence/absence.

Butte County meadowfoam [Text to come.]

Ferris' milk vetch, lesser saltscale, Red Bluff dwarf rush, Ahart's paronychia, California beaked rush, Butte County checkerbloom

Conduct baseline surveys to determine current distribution and abundance of individual plants within known extant occurrences on preserve lands and monitor distribution and plant abundance every 5 years thereafter over the term of the BRCP Monitor for presence of unknown occurrences of these species on preserve lands during baseline surveys and when conducting subsequent 5 year system-wide monitoring of preserve lands; conduct similar monitoring of any new occurrences detected on preserved lands as described above for known extant occurrences.

Veiny monardella Conduct baseline surveys to determine current distribution and abundance of individual plants within the known extant occurrence and monitor distribution and plant abundance every 5 years thereafter over the term of the BRCP; conduct similar monitoring of any new occurrences detected on preserved lands.

1Based on monitoring results, the Implementing Entity may conduct additional monitoring beyond what is indicated in this table that may be necessary to improve its understanding of monitoring results.

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5.7.3.5.4 BRCP Conservation Lands 1 The Implementing Entity will conduct ecological assessments of environmental conditions 2 present on each parcel of BRCP non-agricultural conservation land at least every 5 years over the 3 term of the BRCP. This assessment will be conducted using the aerial imagery acquired for 4 monitoring natural communities throughout the Plan Area (Section 5.7.7.1, Status of Natural 5 Communities within the Plan Area) in combination with parcel-specific surveys. The frequency 6 of assessments may be adjusted if warranted by overall conditions within the Plan Area. For 7 example, monitoring frequency may be intensified if there has been a major environmental event 8 (e.g., large wild fires) that has substantially altered parcel conditions. The Implementing Entity 9 will develop a BRCP conservation land monitoring plan for this purpose to provide, but not be 10 limited to, the following types of information: 11

• Delineation of the extent and distribution of vegetation types within each parcel; 12

• An assessment of habitat conditions within the parcel (e.g., vegetation composition, 13 cover, and structure); 14

• An assessment of potential threats to the extent and functions of covered species habitats 15 (e.g., adjacent land uses); and 16

• Occurrence of covered and other native species. 17

This monitoring may be satisfied through monitoring conducted to assess the effectiveness of 18 habitat restoration/creation, enhancement, and management actions for conservation lands on 19 which that monitoring is being conducted (Sections 5.7.2.4, Effectiveness Monitoring, and 20 5.7.3.4, Effectiveness Monitoring Plans). Monitoring results will be evaluated to determine 21 changes in habitat conditions from baseline ecological conditions established at the time that 22 each parcel was acquired and any subsequent parcel monitoring results. Results of this 23 evaluation will be used by the Implementing Entity to determine the need for implementation of 24 subsequent habitat enhancement or management actions to improve the habitat functions of the 25 parcel for covered and other native species through the project-level adaptive management 26 process. 27

5.7.4 Analysis of Monitoring Data 28

The Implementing Entity will use the best available technology and science to ensure quality 29 control of all monitoring data. Steps will be instituted to maintain the accuracy and functionality 30 of any installed monitoring devices, and protocols will be established to govern the collection, 31 transcription, and storage of data. The BCRP Implementing Entity has a strong commitment to 32 use scientific information, methods, principles and standards to implement the BCRP. It will 33 adopt procedures to maintain adequately high standards of quality in all aspects of data 34 collection, storage and analysis. 35



The Implementing Entity will involve internal and external scientific reviews throughout the 1 planning process, and whenever significant changes are necessitated within the adaptive 2 management framework. Internal review will predominantly focus on cost effectiveness of 3 techniques for implementing conservation measures, scheduling of implementation and 4 interrelationships between BRCP elements (i.e., prioritization). These reviews will consider 5 monitoring and other evidence on the current scientific knowledge of the covered species and 6 habitats and the effectiveness of conservation measures as they are implemented throughout the 7 Plan’s duration. External review will be conducted by recognized experts for the respective 8 organism or habitat under review. The need for external reviews will be determined by the 9 Implementing Entity. 10

All monitoring data will be entered into database software (see Section 5.7.5, Database 11 Development and Maintenance) and will be made readily available online once quality control 12 analyses have been conducted. The Implementing Entity will document all standardized 13 analytical procedures and update procedures as necessary. Results of the analysis of monitoring 14 data will feed back into the BRCP adaptive management process to modify and refine 15 conservation measures to maximize benefits to and minimize unanticipated adverse effects on 16 covered species and natural communities (see Section 5.8, Adaptive Management Plan. 17

5.7.5 Database Development and Maintenance 18

The Implementing Entity will develop and maintain a comprehensive spatially-linked database to 19 track implementation of all aspects of the BRCP. The database will be “user friendly” and will 20 allow for future expansion and integration with external databases if desired (e.g., linkage to Fish 21 and Wildlife Agency databases). The database supports the following services: 22

• Data documentation such that future users can determine why, how, and where data were 23 collected (i.e., metadata); 24

• Quality assurance and control of the data and data entry; 25

• Access and use the most current information for analysis and decision making; and 26

• Evaluation of data by all users, as appropriate, and incorporation of corrections and 27 improvements in the data. 28

Major types of information expected to be maintained within the database include: 29

• Monitoring, research, and adaptive management experiment data and results; 30

• BRCP funding and expenditures; 31

• Status of covered activities, including implementation and impacts; 32

• Implementation status of conservation measures; 33



• Implementation status of research and adaptive management experiments; 1

• Adopted changes to BRCP implementation through the adaptive management process; and 2

• All reports and documents generated by the implementing entity and relevant data and 3 reports generated by other entities. 4

The Implementing Entity may choose to develop a web-linked database to facilitate controlled 5 transference of information into and out of the database by other entities. If the BRCP 6 Implementing Entity chooses to allow access to the database by others, the database will 7 incorporate strict controls and monitoring to ensure the integrity of the database is maintained. 8

5.7.6 Monitoring Schedule and Reporting 9

Following permitting of the BRCP, the Implementing Entity will develop detailed monitoring 10 schedules for compliance, effectiveness, and system-wide monitoring. In addition, site-specific 11 monitoring schedules will be developed for each BRCP conservation land parcel as they are 12 acquired. Requirements for reporting of monitoring activities and results are described in 13 Chapter 6, Plan Implementation. 14

5.8 Adaptive Management Plan 15

This section describes the adaptive management process that will be conducted by the 5.4 and 16 the monitoring and research plan described in Section 5.7 for achieving the biological goals and 17 objectives over the term of the Butte Regional Conservation Plan (BRCP). The adaptive 18 management process is consistent with the guidance for adaptive management provided in the 19 USFWS’s and NMFS’s Five-Point Policy for HCPs (65 FR 106, June 1, 2000) and California’s 20 Natural Community Conservation Act (NCCPA) (Fish and Game Code Sections 2800-2835). 21 The Five-Point Policy broadly defines adaptive management “…as a method for examining 22 alternative strategies for meeting measurable biological goals and objectives, and then if 23 necessary, adjusting future conservation management actions according to what is learned” and 24 the NCCPA defines adaptive management as “…to use the results of new information gathered 25 through the monitoring program of the plan and from other sources to adjust management 26 strategies and practices to assist in providing for the conservation of covered species.” 27

The conservation measures described in Section 5.4 were developed based on the best scientific 28 and commercially available information and, as crafted, provide the Implementing Entity with a 29 road map for initial implementation of the Conservation Strategy. The conservation measures 30 are directed primarily towards the protection, enhancement, and restoration of natural 31 communities and the covered species habitats they support. There is a relatively high certainty 32 regarding the effectiveness of protecting existing, functioning natural communities and 33 associated covered species habitat in achieving covered species conservation goals, though the 34 specific size and configuration of such preserves will be tested during BRCP implementation and 35



may require adaptive management adjustments. The adaptive management approach is focused 1 on addressing conservation actions with greater uncertainty of effectiveness; such conservation 2 actions include habitat enhancement, restoration, and management techniques for achieving the 3 biological goals and objectives. 4

Over the term of the BRCP, it is anticipated that ongoing modifications to implementation of the 5 Conservation Strategy will be needed as new information is developed that addresses the 6 uncertainties regarding the nature and magnitude of the response of covered species to habitat 7 enhancement, restoration, and management techniques as well as to address the potential for 8 substantially altered future conditions that may result from climate change (e.g., change in the 9 hydrology of Planning Area watersheds, temporal shifts in the wet season, change in wildfire 10 risk). Consequently, the adaptive management process is a keystone element of BRCP 11 implementation, providing the Implementing Entity with the flexibility necessary to modify 12 BRCP implementation to address uncertainties as the ecological knowledge base is expanded for 13 ecological processes, natural communities, and covered species. As such, the adaptive 14 management process provides the Implementing Entity with the ability to modify conservation 15 measures, implementation techniques, and monitoring elements of the Conservation Strategy as 16 indicated by new information that will be gathered over the term of the BRCP to improve their 17 effectiveness. This new information will come from the results of the Implementing Entity’s 18 monitoring and research program and from research from other entities. 19

Elements of the BRCP subject to the adaptive management process include all program aspects 20 related to implementation of conservation measures and the monitoring plan. Implementation 21 elements of conservation measures subject to adaptive management include: 22

• Habitat restoration design and implementation methods; 23

• Habitat management tools and techniques; 24

• Changes to, discontinuation of, and addition of conservation measures; 25

• Shifting of funds among conservation measures; and 26

• Research and adaptive management experiments conducted to inform implementation. 27

Implementation elements of the monitoring plan subject to adaptive management include: 28

• The subjects of monitoring; 29

• Duration and scope of monitoring; 30

• Monitoring methods and metrics; and 31

• Analytical tools and methods. 32

In addition to providing the Implementing Entity with a process to better ensure effective BRCP 33 implementation, outcomes of applying the adaptive management process are anticipated to be an 34



important factor in the Implementing Entity’s annual and long-term budgeting and funding 1 decision making processes. While this section defines and provides a framework for the major 2 components of the adaptive management program, it is expected that adaptive management will 3 permeate the implementation of the BRCP as part of the “culture” of the Implementing Entity to 4 ensure that the best new scientific information will be used to improve the effectiveness of the 5 Conservation Strategy over time. 6

5.8.1 Adaptive Management Decision Making 7

The adaptive management process will be administered by the Implementing Entity and will 8 operate at two levels: project-level and plan-level adaptive management. The adaptive 9 management decision making process for each level is illustrated in Figure 5-7. The decision 10 making process describes how the Implementing Entity will coordinate with the Permitting 11 Agencies (i.e., DFG, USFWS, NMFS) (Figure 5-7, Boxes 2, 3, 4, 15, 16). A key decision point 12 is the determination if an adaptive management response is at the project-level or the plan-level 13 as defined below. Adaptive management roles and responsibilities among the Implementing 14 Entity, the Permitting Agencies, and stakeholders are described in Chapter 7, Implementation 15 Structure. 16



1



5.8.1.1 Project-Level Adaptive Management 1

Project-level adaptive management provides for ongoing adjustments in the implementation of 2 the conservation measures and adjustments to the monitoring program by the Implementing 3 Entity. Adaptive management responses considered to be project-level include small adjustments 4 to techniques used to manage, enhance, and restore habitat. 5

Project-level adaptive management will not require participation or concurrence by the 6 Permitting Agencies. Such adjustments will be described in the Implementing Entity’s annual 7 report (see reporting requirements in Chapter 6, Plan Implementation) and the Permitting 8 Agencies may provide input on those adjustments following review of the report. The 9 Implementing Entity may choose to coordinate with the Permitting Agencies at the project-level 10 to better inform its adaptive management decision making. 11

Project-level adaptive decision making will apply to all aspects of implementing conservation 12 measures that do not change the commitments described in the conservation measure and that do 13 not increase costs beyond the level of funding appropriated for the conservation measure. For 14 example, under the project-level adaptive management process, the Implementing Entity could 15 modify methods for conducting a conservation measure based on new information indicating that 16 doing so would improve its effectiveness. Changes by the Implementing Entity to the 17 monitoring plan would include adjusting monitoring protocols to improve their effectiveness or 18 to comply with new monitoring standards established by the Permitting Agencies (e.g., the 19 establishment of new species-specific monitoring protocols). The purpose of the project-level 20 adaptive management process is to provide for timely and effective implementation decision 21 making by the Implementing Entity. 22

5.8.1.2 Plan-Level Adaptive Management 23

Plan-level adaptive management provides for large adjustments to the Conservation Strategy, 24 including: 25

• Revisions to conservation measures, including removal from the Conservation Strategy; 26

• The addition of new conservation measures to the Conservation Strategy; 27

• Shifting of funds among conservation measures or other elements of the Conservation 28 Strategy (i.e., adaptive management and monitoring); and 29

• Major modifications to the monitoring plan, including discontinuing a monitoring effort, 30 changing monitoring metrics, and adding new monitoring efforts. 31

All plan-level adaptive management changes require input and approval from the Permitting 32 Agencies. Some plan-level adaptive management changes may involve major changes in BRCP 33 commitments and may require a Plan amendment to implement. Plan-level changes are not 34 expected to be common over the term of the BRCP, but the process provides the Implementing 35



Entity with the flexibility to implement such changes if needed to ensure that biological goals 1 and objectives are achieved. 2

5.8.2 Adaptive Management Process Framework 3

The BRCP adaptive management process framework is illustrated in Figure 5-8. 4

5.8.2.1 BRCP Objectives and the Knowledge Base 5

The starting point for the adaptive management process is the hypotheses that underlie the 6 biological goals and objectives and the conservation measures. These hypotheses are a reflection 7 of the existing ecological knowledge base. The knowledge base is the totality of current 8 scientific understanding of the ecological and biological processes and conditions of species and 9 natural communities in the Planning Area (see large shaded box underlying the right side of 10 Figure 5-8). The existing knowledge base supported the development of the Conservation 11 Strategy, including the biological goals and objectives, conservation measures, conservation 12 metrics and targets, and monitoring actions. Information and analysis derived through 13 monitoring and research conducted under the BRCP ( Section 5.7, Monitoring and Research 14 Plan) and other programs will supplement and expand the knowledge base over the term of 15 BRCP implementation. 16

5.8.2.2 Collect and Manage Data 17

Critical to the adaptive management process is the collection and management of data ( Figure 5-18 8, Box 1) to assess conservation measure performance and the achievement of biological goals 19 and objectives. Data collection and management will be conducted through monitoring and 20 research ( Section 5.7, Monitoring and Research Plan) following the initial implementation of 21 conservation measures. Monitoring requirements, metrics and targets for conservation measures 22 and biological objectives are described in Section 5.7, Monitoring and Research Plan. In 23 addition, results of research conducted under the BRCP or by other entities will contribute to the 24 knowledge base to support understanding of ecological cause and effect relationships. 25 Monitoring data and research results will provide the Implementing Entity with information to 26 help determine the effectiveness of conservation measures in providing benefits to species and 27 habitats, including the effectiveness of habitat enhancement, restoration, and management 28 actions. Decisions by the Implementing Entity to modify implementation of conservation 29 measures will be guided by information gathered through the monitoring and research program 30 and other research sources. The monitoring and research plan is designed to establish cause and 31 effect relationships between implementation of specific conservation actions and the type and 32 magnitude of species responses to those actions. 33

34



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5.8.2.3 Analyze Data, Assimilate Information, and Develop and Recommend 1 Adjustments to Implementation. 2

Collected data will be analyzed, synthesized, and evaluated to inform the Implementing Entity of 3 the cause and effect relationships between conservation measures and ecological processes, 4 covered species, and natural communities; the status of ecosystem conditions and covered 5 species; and the effectiveness of the conservation measures and the monitoring program (Figure 6 5-8, Box 2). Information gained through the analytical process may indicate the need to redefine 7 hypotheses underlying biological objectives and conservation measures; refine, discontinue, or 8 expand conservation measures; or develop and implement new conservation measures within 9 limits set by the BRCP and its associated regulatory authorizations. New data and analytical 10 results will also be used to update models (e.g., conceptual, statistical, and process models) and 11 other analytical tools that may be used to assess the performance of conservation measures in 12 achieving the biological goals and objectives. Based on assimilation of new information, the 13 Implementing Entity will formulate new approaches for implementation to improve its effectiveness 14 in achieving the biological objectives (Figure 5-8, Box 4). These new approaches would then be 15 routed through the adaptive management decision making process (illustrated in Figure 5-7; Box 3 16 in this figure). 17

5.8.2.4 Follow a Decision Making Process 18

The Implementing Entity will follow a defined decision making process before making 19 significant adaptive management changes (Figure 5-8, Box 5). This adaptive management 20 decision making process is illustrated in Figure 5-7. 21

5.8.2.5 Implement Modified Conservation Measures, Tools, Metrics, and Targets 22

Outcomes of the adaptive management decision making process can include, within the limits set 23 by authorizing permits, changes to conservation measures, monitoring program, analytical tools, 24 metrics, and targets as indicated in Figure 5-8, Boxes 6-11. 25

5.8.3 Internal Scientific Review and Implementation of Changes 26

The Implementing Entity will establish an internal process of review by technical experts within 27 the Implementing Entity or retained (e.g., biologists, restoration ecologists, physical scientists, 28 habitat managers) to assess, on a regular basis, the adaptive management program, including the 29 results of effectiveness and performance monitoring, selection of research and adaptive 30 management experiments, appropriateness of analytical tools and techniques, and relevance of 31 new scientific information developed by others (e.g., universities) to determine whether changes 32 in the implementation of the conservation measures and the monitoring program would be 33 desirable to improve effectiveness of the BRCP in achieving biological goals and objectives ( 34 Figure 5-7, Box 13). The Implementing Entity may also request the assistance of the Permitting 35



Agencies and knowledgeable outside scientists and experts in the review process (Figure 5-7, 1 Box 14). 2

Recommendations made through the internal science review process will be documented and 3 will include a description of the recommended change in implementation; a description of the 4 justification for the recommended change; an assessment of effects the change may have on 5 other elements of BRCP implementation, if any; and any other relevant information in support of 6 the recommendation. Recommendations adopted by the Implementing Entity will be described 7 in the Implementing Entity’s annual work plan. The Implementing Entity will document the 8 rationale for rejection of adaptive management recommendations made through the internal 9 science review process. 10

5.8.4 External Independent Scientific Review 11

The Implementing Entity will from time to time seek additional science input on specific 12 adaptive management-related issues. The Implementing Entity may convene, at its discretion, 13 experts in selected topic that are not affiliated with the Implementing Entity, permit holders, or 14 Permitting Agencies ( Figure 5-7, Box 2b). 15

5.8.5 Applied Research 16

The Implementing Entity may identify the need for and undertake adaptive management actions, 17 such as pilot habitat restoration projects to test restoration methods, as needed over the term of 18 the BRCP. These actions would be implemented to provide information necessary to help 19 inform subsequent implementation of conservation measures. The Implementing Entity may 20 also undertake or contract applied research to develop information necessary to better inform 21 BRCP implementation. The types of research that may be conducted include those related to 22 resolving BRCP-specific uncertainties related to: 23

• Technologies and methods for effectively implementing conservation measures; 24

• The ecological requirements of covered species as they relate to effective implementation 25 of conservation measures; and 26

• The likely response of covered species to conservation measures. 27

Results of research would also be used to help direct and prioritize subsequent implementation of 28 conservation measures. 29

Potential research needs identified in the course of BRCP development include conducting 30 research necessary to: 31



• Develop effective methods for successfully establishing new occurrences of rare covered 1 plant species, including Butte County meadowfoam, veiny monardella, and other covered 2 vernal pool plant species; 3

• Develop livestock grazing regimes on BRCP conservation lands that promote the 4 establishment and increase the abundance and vigor of existing occurrences of covered 5 plant species; and 6

• Develop appropriate waterfowl habitat management practices to maintain and enhance 7 known occurrences of Ferris’ milkvetch and lesser saltscale. 8

Additional research needs are expected to be identified by the Implementing Entity over the term 9 of BRCP implementation. 10

5.8.6 Program Status Reviews 11

The Implementing Entity will conduct program-wide status reviews of BRCP implementation at 12 5 year intervals over the term of BRCP implementation. The level of effort required to conduct 13 each status review, however, will vary with the degree of change in Plan Area conditions, 14 availability of new information relevant to BRCP implementation, and other factors that could 15 affect implementation procedures over the course of the review period. The purpose of these 16 status reviews is to provide the Implementing Entity with a methodical process to periodically 17 evaluate its BRCP implementation procedures. Results of program status reviews will be used to 18 adjust implementation procedures and approaches to species conservation through the adaptive 19 management decision making process if needed. Status reviews will also include evaluations to 20 determine if implementation procedures (e.g., monitoring protocols) require updating based on 21 the best available information and regional assessments of the status of covered species to 22 determine if their status has changed sufficiently to affect their conservation needs. 23

BRCP implementation elements subject to status reviews include: 24

• Effectiveness and system-wide monitoring plans; 25

• BRCP research projects; 26

• Habitat enhancement and management prescriptions; 27

• Approaches to habitat restoration/creation designs; 28

• Guidelines for screening and evaluating potential conservation areas; 29

• Funding levels and sources; and 30

• Geographic Information Science (GIS) and database structure, software, documentation, 31 user manuals and other elements of the Implementing Entity’s data management system. 32



The Implementing Entity will prepare a document summarizing review results and 1 recommending corrective actions and schedules for their implementation. Recommended 2 corrective actions, depending on the Implementing Entity’s assessment of their level of effect on 3 BRCP implementation, will be coordinated with the [BRCP body (e.g., a Steering Committee)] 4 and Permittee’s, as appropriate. 5

· conservation strategy chapter 5 butte regional conservation plan (brcp) december 2, 2010 draft...

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