Central Valley Project Improvement Act Central Valley Project Improvement Act (CVPIA)  Habitat Restoration Program(CVPIA)  Habitat Restoration Program

U.S. Department of the InteriorU.S. Department of the Interior

John Thomson  BOR

Caroline Prose  FWS

Management of the HRPManagement of the HRP

Co-Managers

“...in the course of developing and implementing this program the Secretary shall make all reasonable efforts consistent with the requirements of this section to address other identified adverse environmental impacts of the CVP not specifically enumerated in this section.”

Section 3406(b)(1) “other”Section 3406(b)(1) “other”Habitat Restoration ProgramHabitat Restoration Program

Protect and restore native habitats impacted by CVP.

Stabilize and improve populations of native species impacted by CVP.  Initial focus is on listed species.

Minimize conflicts with current and ongoing CVP projects and programs.

Effectively coordinate with Bay-Delta Authority Ecosystem Restoration Strategy

Objectives of HRPObjectives of HRP

Bureau of Reclamation

Fish and Wildlife Service

California Department of Fish and Game

Technical TeamTechnical Team

CVP nexusProgram priorityListed species baseline benefitsSpecies endangermentProposed/candidate species benefitsTarget species (federal species of concern)State listed speciesEcosystem or multiple species benefits

Proposal Selection CriteriaProposal Selection Criteria

Cumulative & long-term benefitsProject connectivityPartnershipsEnhancement of biodiversityLevel of CVP-related impactsCost effectivenessImmediacy (degree of imminent threat to habitats and species)

Proposal Selection CriteriaProposal Selection Criteria(cont...)(cont...)

Reflect the most current evaluation of species needs and habitat trends

Are complimentary to other ongoing actions within the Central Valley

Take into account historical levels of investment and future threats to specific ecosystems

Six current priorities identified 

Current Program PrioritiesCurrent Program Priorities

Priority #1:  Serpentine and other unique topo-edaphic [area relating to soils] habitats supporting endemic species, such as the bay checkerspot butterfly, in Santa Clara County.

Serpentine soils plants on Coyote Ridge

Bay checkerspot butterfly (FT)

Need photos of Santa Clara Valley dudleya, Metcalf Canyon jewelflower, and/or “most beautiful” jewelflower.

Santa Clara Valley dudleya (FE)

“Most beautiful” jewelflower (FSC)

Priority 2: Grassland, alkali sink, and alkali scrub in Central Valley, with emphasis on the Tulare Basin, and on habitat linkages for the SJ kit fox, blunt-nosed leopard lizard, Tipton kangaroo rat, etc.

Alkali scrub habitat

Alkali scrub habitat

San Joaquin kit fox (FE, ST)

Blunt-nosed leopard lizard (FE)

Palmate-bracted bird’s beak (FE)

Priority #3:  Vernal pool habitat throughout Central Valley supporting the California tiger salamander, listed vernal pool invertebrates, and listed plant species.

ADD CA TIGER SALAMANDER PHOTO HERE

California tiger salamander (FT)

ADD FAIRY SHRIMP PHOTO HERE

Vernal pool fairy shrimp (FT)

ADD FLESHY OWL’S CLOVERHERE

Slender orcutt grass (FT)Fleshy owl’s clover (FT)

Priority #4:  Riparian upland habitat mosaic throughout        southern Central Valley (Tulare, Kern, Madera, Merced,         Fresno, and Kings counties), supporting species such            as giant garter snake, riparian brush rabbit,                               California red-legged frog, etc.

Giant garter snake (FT)

Riparian brush rabbit (FE)

California red-legged frog (FT)

Priority #5:  Habitat protection and management of gabbro soils chaparral habitat in El Dorado County, supporting federally listed plant species, with special emphasis in the southern region of the      Pine Hills Preserve.

Gabbro soils chaparral habitat

ADD GABBRO SOIL PLANT SPECIES HERE

Stebbins morning glory (FE)

Pine Hill ceanothus (FE)

Pine Hill flannelbush (FE)

Priority #6:  Oak woodland habitats found in association with other habitat types discussed above and in the Central Valley.  

Oak woodland

Oak woodland

Acquisition

Conservation Easement

Habitat Restoration

Habitat Management

Captive Breeding/Reintroduction

Studies

Monitoring

Implementation ActivitiesImplementation Activities

Initiated in FY 1996

Project funding to date: $19.5 million

Currently funded @ $1.5 million/year

Funded 67 projects since 1996~98,000 acres protected (fee title or conservation easement)Contributed funding towards six riparian restoration projects (~600 acres) Provided primary funding ($1 million) for riparian brush rabbit captive breeding/reintroduction programFunded five management/planning actions related to acquisition/restoration projectsFunded eighteen surveys/studies addressing listed species impacted by the CVP

Accomplishments to DateAccomplishments to Date

Giant Garter Snake Surveys at Colusa NWR $88,619 Giant Garter Snake Surveys at SLNWR 135,259Giant Garter Snake Surveys at Grasslands EA 102,620Adaptive Vegetation Mgt on Serpentine Soils 32,300Ohm Property Riparian Restoration 62,500Drumheller Slough Riparian Restoration 325,000Ansin Property Acquisition in Carrizo Plain 541,000Fine Gold Creek Acquisition 350,000Joint Venture GIS Web Page                                      31,000Program Administration                                          276,702

Projects Funded in FY 2004Projects Funded in FY 2004

Total = $1.945 million**includes $445,000 from prior year’s funds

Giant Garter Snake Surveys at Colusa NWR $114,280 Adaptive Vegetation Mgt on Serpentine Soils 64,800Sno-bird unit Merced NWR, Vernal Pool Restoration 88,676SacNWR, Vernal Pool, Alkali Wetlands Restoration             93,524Kern County, Carrizo Plain Land Acquisition (BLM) 400,000CA Red-legged Frog Surveys in Placer/El Dorado Co 45,137Vernal Pool Plant Association Study in Central Valley 163,867Herbert Preserve, Restoration & Adaptive Management 346,861Dos Rios Ranch, Working Landscape Conservation Easement 144,334Program Administration                                          209,094

Preliminary Project Funding for Preliminary Project Funding for FY 2005FY 2005

Total = $1,670,573**includes $170,573 from prior year’s funds

Future Goals of the HRPFuture Goals of the HRP■ Continue current funding level of $1.5 million annually.

■ Continue on-going prioritization of species and actions targeted by the HRP.

■ Expand outreach and coordination.

■ Establish “measurable outcomes” related to past and future actions.

Identify habitat and species “mitigation” goals related to “other” CVP impacts.

Summarize previous restoration efforts.

Implement restoration in areas not previously restored.

■ Continue funding and implementation of effective project actions.  

We are more effective working together than working individually

BOR   TNC   UCDFWS   TPL CSUCUSFS  ARC  CDFGNRCS  NFWF  WCBBLM   CALFED

PartnershipsPartnerships