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Biological ResourcesBiological Resources

uuWildlife (terrestrial)Wildlife (terrestrial)uuAquatic SystemsAquatic SystemsuuThreatened & Endangered Species Threatened & Endangered Species

Assessing Impacts to Wildlife/HabitatAssessing Impacts to Wildlife/Habitat

uu Identify Source of Potential ImpactsIdentify Source of Potential Impacts–– Clearing and GrubbingClearing and Grubbing–– Change Hydrology (deChange Hydrology (de--water/flood)water/flood)–– Toxic SubstancesToxic Substances–– SpillsSpills–– Placement of FillPlacement of Fill–– ShadingShading–– NoiseNoise–– Human ContactHuman Contact–– NonNon--Indigenous SpeciesIndigenous Species

uu Determine Existing ConditionsDetermine Existing Conditions–– Species Likely to OccurSpecies Likely to Occur–– Habitat Habitat -- HEP ModelingHEP Modeling–– Field VisitField Visit

uu Identify StandardIdentify Standard–– Usually none except for E & T speciesUsually none except for E & T species

Wildlife/Habitat (cont.)Wildlife/Habitat (cont.)

uu Impact PredictionImpact Prediction–– Direct TakingDirect Taking–– Change in Habitat Change in Habitat -- HEP ModelingHEP Modeling–– ShadingShading–– ToxinsToxins

uu Assess Significance of ImpactsAssess Significance of Impacts–– Affect on Wildlife Species of ConcernAffect on Wildlife Species of Concern–– Percentage/Professional JudgmentPercentage/Professional Judgment–– Unique Characteristics/ Sensitive SpeciesUnique Characteristics/ Sensitive Species–– Economic ValueEconomic Value

uu MitigationMitigation–– Avoid/Minimize Sensitive AreasAvoid/Minimize Sensitive Areas–– Enhance Habitat Enhance Habitat -- HEP ModelingHEP Modeling

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Habitat Evaluation Procedure (HEP)Habitat Evaluation Procedure (HEP)uu US Fish and Wildlife ServiceUS Fish and Wildlife Serviceuu ObjectivesObjectives

–– Quantitatively Assess Existing Habitat ConditionQuantitatively Assess Existing Habitat Condition–– Predict ImpactsPredict Impacts–– Compare AlternativesCompare Alternatives–– Consensus EffortConsensus Effort

uu Value of HabitatValue of Habitat–– Habitat Suitability Indices (HSI)Habitat Suitability Indices (HSI)-- relate to carry relate to carry

capacitycapacity–– Evaluation SpeciesEvaluation Species

uu 4 4 -- 6 Species6 Speciesuu Representative of Guild/Niche With ModelsRepresentative of Guild/Niche With Models

–– Suitability Indices (0 Suitability Indices (0 -- 1)1)uu Cover RequirementsCover Requirementsuu Minimum Habitat AreaMinimum Habitat Areauu FoodFooduu WaterWater

–– Data CollectionData Collection–– Calculation of HSICalculation of HSI

HEP (cont.)HEP (cont.)

uu Value of Study AreaValue of Study Area–– Habitat Units = HSI * AreaHabitat Units = HSI * Area

uu Years of AnalysesYears of Analyses–– BaselineBaseline–– IntermediateIntermediate–– Life of ProjectLife of Project

uu Impact AssessmentImpact Assessment–– Average Annual Habitat Units (with and Average Annual Habitat Units (with and

without project)without project)

uu MitigationMitigation

HEP ModelHEP Model

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HEP Suitability IndicesHEP Suitability Indices

Calculating Habitat Value LossCalculating Habitat Value Loss

Assessing Impacts to Aquatic Assessing Impacts to Aquatic SystemsSystems

uu Identify Source of Potential ImpactsIdentify Source of Potential Impacts–– Changes in Water QualityChanges in Water Quality–– Change Hydrology (deChange Hydrology (de--water/flood)water/flood)–– Placement of FillPlacement of Fill–– ShadingShading–– Changes in Aquatic VegetationChanges in Aquatic Vegetation

uu Determine Existing ConditionsDetermine Existing Conditions–– Field Visit for HabitatField Visit for Habitat–– Species Likely to OccurSpecies Likely to Occur–– Fish Surveys (Fish Surveys (electroshockingelectroshocking/seines/traps)/seines/traps)–– MacroinvertebratesMacroinvertebrates SurveysSurveys–– HEP/HESHEP/HES

uu Identify StandardIdentify Standard–– Usually none except for E & T species Usually none except for E & T species

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Aquatic Systems (cont.)Aquatic Systems (cont.)

uu Impact PredictionImpact Prediction–– Direct TakingDirect Taking–– Change in HydrologyChange in Hydrology–– ShadingShading–– Water Quality EffectsWater Quality Effects–– HEP/HESHEP/HES

uu Assess Significance of ImpactsAssess Significance of Impacts–– Percentage/Professional JudgmentPercentage/Professional Judgment–– Unique Characteristics/ Sensitive SpeciesUnique Characteristics/ Sensitive Species–– Economic ValueEconomic Value

uu MitigationMitigation–– Avoid/Minimize Sensitive AreasAvoid/Minimize Sensitive Areas–– Enhance Habitat (HEP/HES)Enhance Habitat (HEP/HES)

Habitat Evaluation System (HES)Habitat Evaluation System (HES)

uu Assumes abundance of species is Assumes abundance of species is determined by presence of habitat.determined by presence of habitat.

uu 2 Aquatic Systems (streams and lakes)2 Aquatic Systems (streams and lakes)uu 5 Terrestrial Systems5 Terrestrial Systemsuu Steps of HESSteps of HES

–– Derive Habitat Quality Index (HQI) scoresDerive Habitat Quality Index (HQI) scores–– Derive Habitat Unit ValuesDerive Habitat Unit Values

–– Calculate Difference With and Without ProjectCalculate Difference With and Without Project–– Use to Determine Mitigation Use to Determine Mitigation

Assessing Impacts to Species of Assessing Impacts to Species of Concern (T&E, Rare)Concern (T&E, Rare)

uu Identify Source of Potential ImpactsIdentify Source of Potential Impacts–– Clearing and GrubbingClearing and Grubbing–– Change Hydrology (deChange Hydrology (de--water/flood)water/flood)

–– Toxic SubstancesToxic Substances–– SpillsSpills–– Placement of FillPlacement of Fill–– ShadingShading–– NoiseNoise–– Human ContactHuman Contact

–– NonNon--Indigenous SpeciesIndigenous Speciesuu Determine Existing ConditionsDetermine Existing Conditions

–– Consultation with US Fish & Wildlife serviceConsultation with US Fish & Wildlife service–– Habitat for Species Likely to OccurHabitat for Species Likely to Occur–– Field Visit for HabitatField Visit for Habitat–– Survey for SpeciesSurvey for Species

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Species of Concern (cont.)Species of Concern (cont.)

uu Identify StandardIdentify Standard–– JeopardyJeopardy

uu Impact PredictionImpact Prediction–– Biological OpinionBiological Opinion

uu Direct TakingDirect Takinguu Habitat AlternationHabitat Alternation

uu Assess Significance of ImpactsAssess Significance of Impacts–– Affect on Wildlife Species of ConcernAffect on Wildlife Species of Concern

uu No JeopardyNo Jeopardyuu JeopardyJeopardy

uu MitigationMitigation–– Avoid/Minimize Sensitive AreasAvoid/Minimize Sensitive Areas–– Enhance HabitatEnhance Habitat–– Move SpeciesMove Species

ESA Consultation ProcessESA Consultation Process