Potential Effects of Tall Structures on Grouse Species. New Mexico Avian Protection Workshop February

Transcription

1 Potential Effects of Tall Structures on Grouse Species New Mexico Avian Protection Workshop February

2 Greater Sage-Grouse Concerns Long term population declines Extensive loss and alteration of sage brush habitats Petitions to list under ESA Concerns for conservation and management

3 Conservation Assessment 2004 report Assessed current status & potential factors that influenced long-term conservation of greater sage-grouse populations and sagebrush ecosystem

4 Conservation Issues Land area dominated by sagebrush reduced Composition of sagebrush communities changed Alterations in understory vegetation and soils Configuration of sagebrush habitats changed Increased edge in landscapes fragmented by linear features

5 Suggested Impacts Increase in predation risks Ancillary facilities (i.e. roads) Habitat loss attributed to fragmentation Tall Structures & Associated Activities Overhead electric utility structures Transmission towers Communication towers Wind turbines

6 Suggested Tall Structure Impacts Predation and over head power lines Collision with structures or overhead lines Avoidance of utility corridor Habitat fragmentation

7 Strategy WAFWA authorizes preparation of the Greater Sage-Grouse Comprehensive Conservation Strategy Forum identified a need to better understand the effects of tall structures on sage-grouse Use literature synthesis to facilitate development of research protocols for assessing direct impacts

8 Utah Wildlife in Need Cooperative Project Forum goals not met Initiated a process look at current knowledge and the effects of tall structures on sagegrouse Rocky Mountain Power and Utah Division of Wildlife Resources Assessed adequacy of existing information to predict and mitigate potential impacts

9 Outlined a Process Identify stakeholders Recognize concerns Synthesis of existing knowledge Identify gaps Identify research Publish document

10 Developed a Problem Statement Problem Tall structures and associated activities in Greater sage-grouse habitat may lead to negative impacts Desired Condition Existing and new tall structures will have no or minimal impacts on Greater sage-grouse and their key habitat

11 Goals for Assessing and Minimizing Impacts The Strategy identified 4 goals Compile existing published research Develop research protocol Develop scientific and consistent siting criteria Develop best management practices

12 Research Needs Do sage-grouse avoid tall structures if so, what are they avoiding Do tall structures increase predation increased nesting and perching opportunities Do tall structures (linear over head power lines) fragment Greater safegrouse habitat

13 Utah Wildlife in Need Cooperative Publishes Report Utah Wildlife in Need (UWN) Rocky Mountain Power (RMP) Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (DWR)

14 Results Literature review identified that: No peer-reviewed experimental studies that have evaluated impacts of tall structures on Greater sage-grouse No data to support sage-grouse avoidance of tall structures, increased eagle predation Miscitations common in the literature, e.g., citations from forest grouse in Europe used to support habitat fragmentation impact for sage-grouse Anecdotal incidents or individual opinions cited as if actual studies Inconsistency among temporal and seasonal buffers and siting policies due to lack of knowledge of impacts No monitoring of policy effectiveness

15 Research Protocol Representatives held workshop to develop consensus on research protocol: Rocky Mountain Power/PacifiCorp Avian Power Line Interaction Committee Northwestern Energy Idaho Power

16 Published 2011 Report utahcbcp.org/htm/tall-structure-info

17 Purpose Develop consistent and standardized research protocols that can be utilized range wide to conduct scientifically defensible studies to assess direct impacts to Sage-grouse from tall structures Do Sage-grouse avoid tall structures if so, why Do tall structures increase avian predation through increased nesting and perching opportunities if so, is it significant on pop. Levels Do linear power lines create fragmentation of habitat that limits use or movement of Sage-grouse

18 Protocol Overview BACI paired treatment approach 2-3 years pre-development research 5 years post construction research Specific metrics: Lek attendance trends Female and male survival Population productivity Spatial and temporal patterns of seasonal habitat use Migration and habitat connectivity

19 Next Phase Conduct research to expand science based knowledge to achieve goals 3 and 4 Develop scientific and consistent siting criteria O&M criteria to minimize impacts Develop best management practices Appropriate mitigation strategies

20 Utility Needs and Concerns Research funding part of overall mitigation package Proposal to conduct research does not delay or hinder NEPA process or ROW authorizations Multiple partners for proposed research funding and political support Mutual strategy approaches from various major utilities for major transmission projects

21 Moving forward Greater Sage-grouse Executive Oversight Committee endorses protocol Agreement for Sage-grouse/Tall Structure Research Governance Committee Scientific Oversight Committee Fund Raising and Project Management Foundation BLM, MT FW&P, ID F&G, WY G&F, USFWS, Idaho Power, APLIC

22 BLM Issues Greater Sage-Grouse Conservation Guidance Instructional memorandum (IM) Interim management IM provides immediate direction continue updating Resource Management Plans for long term conservation Science-based measures for maintaining and restoring greater sage-grouse and sagebrush habitat Protect land health and facilitate safe/responsible energy development

23 Policies and Procedures Rights-of-Way (Renewable Energy Projects, Roads, Power lines, Pipelines) Existing, pending, and future applications Assess land use minimize impacts Ensure reasonable alternatives for siting outside preliminary priority habitat (PPH) Identify BMP s that eliminate or minimize impacts (i.e. siting, bury power lines) Consider onsite and if appropriate, offsite mitigation Field offices have discretion to reject or deny ROW applications

24 Predation and Over Head Power Lines Identified as a threat to sage-grouse conservation Avian predator perch deterrents as mitigation for potential impacts Prather and Messmer study southeastern Utah

25 Study Conclusions Evaluated efficacy of 5 perch deterrents 12.5 kv distribution line bisected occupied Gunnison sage-grouse habitat Perch deterrents used did not mitigate potential avian predators from perching on study poles Prevented perching on parts of the pole moved to other parts to perch

26 Prather and Messmer

27 Prather and Messmer

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