DRAFT May 4, DRECP Framework Conservation Strategy Report DRAFT TABLE OF CONTENTS

Transcription

1 Chapter DRAFT TABLE OF CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY (NEW; NOT PREVIOUSLY POSTED) I. INTRODUCTION (REVISED FROM PREVIOUS POSTING TO INCORPORATE MINOR REVISIONS) I.A Backgrund and Overview I.A.1 Backgrund f the DRECP I.A.2 DRECP Prcess Overview I.A.3 Integratin f Independent Scientific Input and Review I.B Prgram Gals I.C Scpe f the DRECP I.C.1 Gegraphic Scpe (DRECP Area r Plan Area) I.C.2 Permit Term I.C.3 Natural Cmmunities I.C.4 Cvered Species I.C.5 Cvered Activities I.D Regulatry Cntext I.D.1 Federal and State Endangered Species Laws I.D.2 Related Federal and State Wildlife Laws I.D.3 Other Related Federal and State Regulatins and Plans I.E References Cited II. ENVIRONMENTAL SETTING (REVISED FROM PREVIOUS POSTING TO INCORPORATE REVISIONS THROUGHOUT) II.A Intrductin II.A.1 Definitins II.B Physical Cnditins II.B.1 Climate II.B.2 Gemrphlgy II.B.3 Surficial Gelgy and Prcesses II.B.4 Hydrlgy II.C Eclgical and Bilgical Setting II.C.1 Data Surces and Methds II.C.2 Eclgical Prcesses II.C.3 Bilgical Diversity i May 2011

2 Chapter DRAFT TABLE OF CONTENTS (CONTINUED) III. IV II.D II.E II.F II.C.4 Species and Natural Cmmunities and Land Cvers II.C.5 Landscape Habitat Linkages and Wildlife Mvement Crridrs II.C.6 Anthrpgenic Issues Land Use II.D.1 Data Layers and Surces II.D.2 Land Ownership II.D.3 DRECP Prtected Area Categries Nn-Bilgical Issues II.E.1 Scenic Resurces II.E.2 Cultural Resurces II.E.3 Air Quality and Attainment Status II.E.4 Grundwater and Water Supply II.E.5 Hydrlgy, Drainage, and Fld Hazard Areas II.E.6 Cultural Resurces (Histric and Pre-Histric) II.E.7 Native American Traditinal Land Uses II.E.8 Outdr Recreatin II.E.9 Sciecnmics and Envirnmental Justice II.E.10 Visual Resurces II.E.11 Planned Land Uses and Plicies II.E.12 Agricultural Land and Prductin II.E.13 DOD Military Operatins II.E.14 Nise II.E.15 Public Services/Safety Services References Cited CONSERVATION PLANNING PROCESS (REVISED FROM PREVIOUS POSTING TO INCORPORATE SECTION III.B) III.A Draft Cnservatin Area Design and Assembly Principles III.B Preliminary Gap Analysis III.C Existing Cnservatin Planning Dcuments: Cnservatin Actins Summary Matrix III.D References Cited CONSERVATION STRATEGY (FRAMEWORK LEVEL) (NEW; NOT PREVIOUSLY POSTED) ii May 2011

3 Chapter DRAFT TABLE OF CONTENTS (CONTINUED) IV.A Intrductin and Apprach (Framewrk level) IV.B Bilgical Gals and Objectives (Framewrk level initial 14 species) IV.C Cnservatin Measures (Framewrk level initial 14 species) V. INTERIM DESCRIPTION OF COVERED ACTIVITIES (NEW; NOT PREVIOUSLY POSTED) V.A Intrductin V.B Draft DRECP Principles Regarding Cvered Activities and the Impact Analysis V.C Descriptin f Cvered Activity Types V.D Descriptin f Cvered Activity Implementing Actins V.E References Cited APPENDICES (NEW; NOT PREVIOUSLY POSTED) A. Baseline Bilgy Reprt (selected elements) Descriptins f Natural Cmmunities Descriptins f Eclgical Prcesses Species Accunts (initial 14 species) Species Occurrence Database Summary B. Nn-Bilgical Issues Preliminary Descriptins iii May 2011

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5 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY This Framewrk Cnservatin Strategy Reprt dcuments wrk prducts cmpleted t date fr the Desert Renewable Energy Cnservatin Plan (DRECP), with descriptins f key elements and next steps in the cnservatin planning prcess. This Executive Summary includes three sectins: (A.) Overview f Framewrk Cnservatin Strategy Reprt, (B.) Overview f cmments received n interim wrk prducts related t Framewrk Cnservatin Strategy Reprt, and (C.) Overview f relatinship f Framewrk Cnservatin Strategy Reprt elements t Independent Science Advisrs (ISA) recmmendatins. This framewrk cnservatin strategy is a key milestne in the develpment f the DRECP because it: Dcuments baseline data that will be used fr the Preliminary Cnservatin Strategy Establishes the framewrk fr cnservatin planning principles and bilgical gals and bjectives Establishes the frmat and framewrk fr dcumentatin and analysis f Cvered Species and natural cmmunities Establishes the framewrk fr preliminary analysis f Cvered Activities. A. Overview f Framewrk Cnservatin Strategy Reprt Each element f the Framewrk Cnservatin Strategy Reprt is summarized belw: Chapter I Intrductin The intrductin prvides backgrund and verview infrmatin fr the DRECP and summarizes prgram gals and regulatry cntext f the DRECP. The cntent and frmat f Chapter I is cnsistent with the DRECP Wrking Draft Outline reviewed by stakehlders in Octber May 2011

6 Of nte: This sectin was psted t the Califrnia Energy Cmmissin s (CEC s) DRECP website and made available fr review by stakehlders n April 13, Chapter II Envirnmental Setting The envirnmental setting sectin includes a descriptin f physical cnditins and the eclgical and bilgical setting within the Plan Area. Existing land use and wnership is described, including the classificatins fr prtected areas within the Plan Area. Definitins develped t date fr the DRECP are als included in this sectin. Species descriptins in this sectin are limited t the initial 14 species identified fr cnsideratin as Cvered Species. Reference is made in this sectin t the Nn-Bilgical Issues Preliminary Descriptin, included as Appendix B t the Framewrk Cnservatin Strategy Reprt. Of nte: This sectin cntains the Initial Land Cver Map, including surces and methds, made available fr review by the DRECP Resurce Mapping Grup in February This sectin cntains the Land Use and Ownership Map, including surces and methds, made available fr review by the DRECP Resurce Mapping Grup in February This sectin cntains the Prtected Areas Map, made available fr review by the Cvered Species Wrking Grup (as part f the Preliminary Gap Analysis) n April 13, This sectin references the Nn-Bilgical Issues Preliminary Descriptin included as Appendix B t the Framewrk Cnservatin Strategy Reprt. The Nn-Bilgical Issues Preliminary Descriptin was psted t CEC s DRECP website and made available fr review by stakehlders n April 20, A draft versin f this sectin in its entirety was psted t CEC s DRECP website and made available fr review by stakehlders n April 13, May 2011

7 Chapter III Cnservatin Planning Prcess The cnservatin planning prcess sectin describes elements f the cnservatin planning prcess cmpleted t date. These include draft cnservatin areas design and assembly principles, a preliminary gap analysis, and a cnservatin actins summary matrix based n review f existing relevant cnservatin planning dcuments. The preliminary gap analysis includes tw cmpnents: (1) descriptin, classificatin, and mapping f prtected lands; and (2) preliminary gap analyses based n the fllwing datasets: initial land cver, desert trtise suitable habitat (USGS 2009 mdel [Nussear et al. 1 ]); Mhave grund squirrel cre habitat and ther knwn ppulatins; plant species ccurrence pints (fr Barstw wlly sunflwer, desert cympterus, Mjave mnkeyflwer); Califrnia Essential Habitat Cnnectivity (CEHC) linkages. Additinal analyses will be cmpleted fr Cvered Species and ther ptential evaluatin factrs as the cnservatin planning prcess prceeds. The cnservatin actins summary matrix is an element f the reserve design cnsideratins prtin f the DRECP Wrking Draft Outline. The summary matrix is cmpleted fr the initial 14 species identified fr cnsideratin as Cvered Species and implements recmmendatins f the ISA t take advantage f the cnsiderable cnservatin and recvery planning already available fr the regin. Of nte: This sectin cntains the Preliminary Gap Analysis, including surces and methds, made available fr review by the Cvered Species Wrking Grup and the Resurce Mapping Grup n April 13, This cnservatin areas design and assembly principles dcument included in this sectin was psted t CEC s DRECP website and made available fr review by stakehlders n April 13, The dcument was prvided t the Cvered Species Wrking Grup fr review n March 24, The cnservatin actins summary matrix included in this sectin was psted t CEC s DRECP website and made available fr review by stakehlders n April 13, 1 Nussear, K., T. Esque, R. Inman, L. Gass, K. Thmas, C. Wallace, J. Blainey, D. Miller, and R. Webb, R Mdeling habitat f the Desert Trtise (Gpherus agassizii) in the Mjave and Parts f the Snran Deserts f Califrnia, Nevada, Utah, and Arizna. U.S. Gelgical Survey Open-File Reprt May 2011

8 2011. The dcument was prvided t the Cvered Species Wrking Grup fr review n April 1, Chapter IV Cnservatin Strategy (Framewrk Level) This sectin includes preliminary bilgical gals and bjectives fr the initial 14 species cnsidered fr analysis as Cvered Species, as well as preliminary landscape-level and natural cmmunity-level bilgical gals and bjectives This sectin dcuments the prpsed structure and frmat fr the bilgical gals and bjectives with specific quantitative elements t be prvided as the cnservatin planning prcess prceeds. Of nte: A preliminary draft f the bilgical gals and bjectives will be made available fr review by the Cvered Species Wrking Grup n April 29, Chapter V Interim Descriptin f Cvered Activities This sectin includes an interim descriptin f Cvered Activities. The interim descriptin includes tw cmpnents a list f draft principles fr analysis f effects f the Cvered Activities in the Preliminary Cnservatin Strategy and descriptins f the Cvered Activities cmpnents assembled frm infrmatin included in the Cvered Activities Preliminary Descriptin and prvided by the Cvered Activities Wrking Grup. Of nte: This sectin was made available fr review by the Cvered Activities Wrking Grup n April 11, Appendices Tw appendices are included in the Framewrk Cnservatin Strategy Reprt. They include elements f the DRECP Baseline Bilgy Reprt (Appendix A), described belw, and the Nn-Bilgical Issues Preliminary Descriptin (Appendix B) referenced in the descriptin f Chapter II. 4 May 2011

9 The fllwing elements f the Baseline Bilgy Reprt are included in the Framewrk Cnservatin Strategy Reprt: Descriptins f the natural cmmunities based n the Initial Land Cver map Descriptins f eclgical prcesses, including envirnmental gradients, substrates, carbn and nutrient cycling, sil bita, and fire Species prfiles fr the 14 initial species cnsidered fr analysis as Cvered Species Species ccurrence database memrandum previusly distributed t stakehlders in March 2011 Species mdeling backgrund infrmatin. B. Overview f Cmments Received n Interim Wrk Prducts Related t Framewrk Cnservatin Strategy Reprt Verbal cmments have been received frm several stakehlders n interim wrk prducts develped as part f the Framewrk Cnservatin Strategy Reprt. These verbal cmments are memrialized belw and will be cmbined with written cmments understd t be in preparatin and expected cmments n the Framewrk Cnservatin Strategy Reprt. It shuld be nted that the Framewrk Cnservatin Strategy Reprt, like earlier DRECP wrk prducts such as the Cvered Species Preliminary Descriptin and the Cvered Activities Preliminary Descriptin, is nt cnsidered t be a draft reprt that will be reviewed, revised, and ultimately prduced as a final reprt. The Framewrk Cnservatin Strategy Reprt, like the frthcming Preliminary Cnservatin Strategy Reprt, is cnsidered a building blck f the Administrative Draft DRECP, expected t be prduced at the end f As such, cmments received n these dcuments will be tracked and reflected in subsequent DRECP wrk prducts and in the Administrative Draft DRECP, as apprpriate. Cnservatin Area Design and Assembly Principles Cnsider including gal f cnserving species acrss their range 5 May 2011

10 Cnsider including gal f prviding fr bm/bust fluctuatins in respnse t climatic cnditins such as drught Cnsider including gal f cnserving peripheral ppulatins, ppulatins at edge f range t maintain genetic diversity Cnsider including cncepts related t recvery, net gain in ppulatins sizes and habitat values fr rare species Clarify n duble cunting r mitigatin credit fr already cnserved public lands, these lands d nt cnstitute mitigatin but culd direct funds r cnservatin actins t these lands t imprve their status relative t cnservatin and management fr the benefit f Cvered Species Cnsider wrding fr principle regarding envirnmental gradients, existing wrding des nt necessarily address sand transprt and eclgical prcesses Prvide clarificatin n hw cnservatin area design and assembly principles will be linked t gals and bjectives Clarify that cnservatin actins may take place n Cvered Activities prject sites that g beynd required prject-specific mitigatin Clarify cncept that cnservatin is assured in perpetuity, nt just fr lease perid (fr a wind prject fr example). Species Occurrence Database Memrandum Cnsider including data frm prject-specific bilgy reprts (Calic site as an example) Cnsider including Nrthern and Eastern Clrad Desert data in primary species ccurrence database rather than as additinal available data Cnsider including Audubn Christmas bird cunt data as an additinal data surce. Cnsider Cvered Species list recmmendatins prvided by CalWEA. Cnsider CNPS plant list recmmendatins. Cnsider analyzing wide-ranging at risk species earlier rather than later in the planning prcess such as glden eagle, prairie falcn, Mjave fringe-ted lizard, desert bighrn, including intermuntain linkages, and white-margined beardtngue. 6 May 2011

11 Augment Mhave grund squirrel ccurrence data with unpublished BLM site recrds reflecting live trapping beginning in abut 1974 and extending thrugh Preliminary Gap Analysis Check Type 1 Natinal Natural Areas (Aftn, Amby Crater, Amargsa), if Areas f Critical Envirnmental Cncern, they shuld ptentially be Type 2 Check Wild and Scenic Rivers Type 1 r 2 Check Wilderness Study Areas Type 1 r 2 Cnsider prtectin status fr Bureau f Land Management (BLM) lands re: mining leases (i.e., remved frm entry status). Interim Descriptin f Cvered Activities Implement recmmendatin f Cvered Activities Wrking Grup t remve bimass frm the DRECP as a Cvered Activity. Other specific cmments n draft dcument: Sectin 2.0, Item 9.a - n renewable develpment within exclusin areas: Exclusin areas must take int cnsideratin the need fr transmissin lines and assciated linear facilities (such as distributin and telecmmunicatin lines) t crss larger landscape areas that may ptentially include exclusin areas, since linear facilities by their nature are nt cnfined t a specific lcality r area; designated utility crridrs fr linear facilities shuld be cnsidered as an ptin. Sectin 3.0, Table 1 installatin f utility services sewage facilities/pipelines: Bx shuld be checked, manned substatins may require sewage facilities. Sectin 3.0, Table 1 installatin f utility services water wells (wells r municipal water supply & pipelines: Bx shuld be checked, manned substatins may require a water surce. Sectin 3.0, Table 1 transmissin lines and facilities (upgrades): Descriptin f transmissin line upgrades (rebuilds) needs t include the demlitin/remval f existing transmissin lines t cnstruct a new line. 7 May 2011

12 Sectin 3.0, Table 1 peratin and maintenance pumping f water wells (if water wells are used): Bx shuld be checked, manned substatins culd ptentially use wells as a water surce. Sectin 3.0, Table 1 additinal categry suggestin: Suggest adding helicpter wrk t the Cvered Activities table due t the particular envirnmental cncerns assciated with these activities; fr transmissin facilities this wuld include cnstructin and peratins and maintenance activities; als, use f helicpters fr transmissin line cnstructin may be required t avid impacts assciated with access rads r t avid sensitive areas. Sectin 3.1.1, - transmissin lines, secnd sentence: Nte that in additin t access rads, transmissin cnstructin requires the use f areas utside the right-fway fr staging/strage/marshaling yards, wrk areas fr cnductr pulling, splicing and tensining, and ptentially fr ther prject related activities. Sectin 3.6, temprary and permanent appurtenant facilities installatin f utility services: Suggest adding electrical distributin line and facilities t the listed utilities. Sectin 4.1, initial precnstructin activities: Suggest adding surveys and staking f facility lcatins, access rutes and wrk areas. C. Overview f Relatinship f Framewrk Cnservatin Strategy Reprt Elements t ISA Recmmendatins The DRECP ISA reprt cntains several brad categries f issues and recmmendatins. These categries are: General assumptins and recmmendatins Data and analytical tls Siting and mitigatin recmmendatins. These recmmendatins are being cnsidered and implemented thrughut the DRECP planning prcess, including as part f the Framewrk Cnservatin Strategy Reprt. A summary f recmmendatins cnsidered and implemented during preparatin f the reprt is prvided belw. This des nt represent the full list f recmmendatins but 8 May 2011

13 thse that are applicable at this stage in the cnservatin planning prcess. Implementatin f the recmmendatins will be cntinuus thrughut the prcess. Obtain additinal independent scientific input and review f data, mdels, maps, and ther analytical tls and prducts. The Cvered Species Preliminary Descriptin was reviewed by the ISA chair. The prcess fr science input includes btaining scientific review by external experts n specific interim wrk prducts such as the species accunts, habitat distributin mdel parameters and mdels, descriptin f eclgical prcesses, cnservatin gap analysis, bilgical gals and bjectives, and species-level cnservatin strategies. This is expected t ccur as part f review f the Preliminary Cnservatin Strategy. Invest in cmpleting a seamless, up-t-date, high-reslutin, hierarchical vegetatin (r land cver) map. Funding has been btained fr initial wrk n the recmmended land cver map and it is underway. The Framewrk Cnservatin Strategy Reprt includes an Initial Land Cver Map referenced as a ptential interim r mid-level vegetatin map by the ISA by cmpiling new and existing vegetatin maps, refrmatting t allw fr standardized representatin at a mid-level hierarchy (e.g., using vegetatin alliances r alliance grups). In additin, as suggested by the ISA, the Framewrk Cnservatin Strategy Reprt dcuments supplementary additinal vegetatin datasets that d nt encmpass the entire Plan Area but may be useful fr subsequent cnservatin planning tasks. Avid using species bservatin lcality data (e.g., frm CNDDB) as a primary fundatin fr siting develpments r cnservatin actins, and d nt assume that absence f species bservatins means absence f the species. The species ccurrence database memrandum is included in Appendix A t the Framewrk Cnservatin Strategy Reprt and the species accunts fr the initial 14 species cnsidered fr analysis as Cvered Species, als included in the appendix, prvide a full descriptin f the available data fr thse species, as well as data limitatins. Appraches t species mdeling have been presented t stakehlders and initial species mdeling cnsideratins are included in the Framewrk Cnservatin Strategy Reprt. 9 May 2011

14 Species bservatin lcality data are nt prpsed t be used as a primary fundatin fr siting develpments r cnservatin actins. Make all analyses and decisin-making prcesses as transparent and understandable as pssible, and avid maps that cmpile multiple data inputs int a single layer withut adequate dcumentatin and justificatin. Data surces and methds fr maps and analyses are fully described and analyzed in the Framewrk Cnservatin Strategy Reprt. Interim wrk prducts have been reviewed by stakehlders and stakehlders will als review the cmplete Framewrk Cnservatin Strategy Reprt, an imprtant building blck f the verall DRECP. Match the scale and reslutin f each analytical task t the scale and reslutin f the issues being addressed. Tasks cmpleted t date, such as the initial land cver and the preliminary gap analyses have been apprpriately cmpleted at the brad, Plan Area-wide scale. The baseline data assembled as part f the Framewrk Cnservatin Strategy Reprt allws fr matching scale f task t scale f data as the cnservatin planning prcess prceeds. Implement and imprve n cnservatin actins identified by existing cnservatin and recvery plans in the planning area.drecp shuld use such existing cnservatin assessments and plans t advantage, supplementing and imprving n them with peer review, as necessary, and with due cnsideratin f ther recmmendatins. The cnservatin actins summary matrix, included in the Framewrk Cnservatin Strategy Reprt, reflects this recmmendatin fr relevant natural cmmunities and the initial 14 species cnsidered fr the Cvered Species list. 10 May 2011