Page 1

Sacramento County Airport SystemWildlife Hazard Management Program

Hazardous Wildlife Control at Sacramento International Airport Sacramento Environmental Commission – September 20, 2010

Hazardous Wildlife Control at Sacramento International Airport Sacramento Environmental Commission – September 20, 2010

Page 2

SCAS Mission Statement

Consistent with our community’s values, we will operate, maintain, and develop the County Airport System in a

safe, convenient and economical manner.

We will be a leader in the airport industry by exceeding expectations and providing customer service second to

none.

Page 3

Aerial View of SMF, May 2004

Most of the land south of I-5 and north of Elverta Road to Sutter County is undeveloped Airport property.

• Includes some parcels in Sutter County, such as Rio Ramaza

Buffer land was acquired to ensure land use compatibility with aircraft operations (no housing), and will remain undeveloped.

Page 4

SMF Critical Zone and 5-Mile Radius

10,000-foot

Critical

Zone

Five-Mile

General Zone

Page 5

FAA Can Require a Wildlife Hazard Management Plan (WHMP) If Conditions Warrant

Purpose• Describe the tools the airport will use to control and reduce the threat of airfield

incursions by hazardous wildlife and collisions between wildlife and aircraft.

Rules & Regulations Wildlife Identification & Training All of the Items in the Wildlife Hazard Assessment (WHA)

• Current strikes, control actions and observations (12 months)• Trends, abundance in habitat types, seasonal variances• Recommended action items for reducing wildlife hazards

Passive and Active Management Techniques• Wildlife Population Management• Habitat Modification• Land Use Changes

Page 6

Sacramento International WHMP

First WHMP for SMF was approved in 1992.• Wildlife strikes at SMF between 1988 and 1992 averaged

19/year, but air traffic volume was much lower then.

1996: First major revision approved by FAA.

Major update began in 2005, completed 2007.

Professional Wildlife Team of Biologists• County Airport System – 3 positions• Contracted USDA – APHIS – WS – 1 position

Page 7

FAA Is Focusing On the SMF Hazardous Wildlife Situation

Despite the resources deployed, FAA has determined that the SMF bird strike risk remains serious (based on reported strikes):

• Ranks #1 in FAA Western - Pacific Region• Ranks #6 in the nation • Ranks #2 in the nation for damaging strikes

SMF is currently under scrutiny by FAA, which has informed County Airport System that improvements are needed.

Page 8

Hierarchy of SMF Wildlife Hazard Management

Habitat Modification and Management (Passive measure)

• Goal: reduce wildlife attraction.• Regular, ongoing maintenance of vegetation.

Harassment (Active measure)• Deter birds and mammals from returning to the airport by

making their experience unpleasant.

Removal (Active measure – always last resort)• Identify the proper measure to eliminate the individual as a

hazard from the airport.

Page 9

Habitat Modification to Reduce Wildlife Attraction to Airport

Installed 2-foot below-grade concrete barrier on new west perimeter fence & culvert grates to exclude coyotes and feral dogs

Allowed all tenant agriculture leases to expire in 2007 because FAA discourages agriculture on airport land.

• Virtually all crops attract birds because of seeds, fruit, and post-harvest crop remnants.

• Plowing, disking and siphon (flood) irrigation can induce invertebrate activity that attracts birds.

Review landscaping plans to avoid fruit-bearing trees and trees with predominantly horizontal limbs that facilitate roosting/nesting

Oppose landfills and other non-compatible land uses on or near airports

• Standing water and retention basins (defined as holding water more than 48 hours)

• Sewage and drinking water treatment plants• Lakes at housing developments

Page 10

Land Management Activities

Ditch Maintenance

Upland Vegetation Management

Page 11

Mowing To Reduce Bird Attraction

FAA-prescribed vegetation height is between 6-12

inches

Page 12

Animal Behavior Modification

Physical exclusion devices

Auditory scaring devices

Repellents

Visual scare devices Pyrotechnics

Propane Cannon

Auditory Scare Device

Page 13

Animal Behavior Modification Examples

Page 14

Animal Behavior Modification Examples

Page 15

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Depredation Permit Allows Lethal Removal

Current permit in effect until Sept 2010• Applied for and reviewed annually

Establishes conditions for taking, trapping or relocating migratory birds

Includes conditions for complying with Migratory Bird Treaty Act

Authorizes methods of take• Euthanasia• Lethal traps• Egg addling/destruction• Shooting (most common)• Toxicants

Page 16

Hazardous Species of Most Concern - SMF

Waterfowl Gulls Sparrows, Larks, and Finches Raptors Swallows Blackbirds & Starlings Corvids Columbids (doves and pigeons) Wading Birds (White-faced Ibis, Great Egret, Heron) Shorebirds (Killdeer) Other Avian Species (Turkeys, Pheasants, Quail) Mammals & other Non-Avian Species

Page 17

Questions and Answers

Mallard in Wing

Page 18

End of Presentation – Next slides to assist with questions

Page 19

Professional Wildlife Team

All Wildlife Team Personnel meet the

US Office of Personnel Management Qualification Standards for

GS-0486 Series Wildlife Biologist

Sacramento County Airport System (3 positions) Senior Natural Resource Specialist

Coordinates Wildlife Hazard Management Program under direction of Manager – Planning and Environment

BS, Wildlife Management

Environmental Specialist III

BS, Biology

USFWS-approved Biological Monitor for Construction Projects and Maintenance Activities

Planner III

BS, Fisheries and Wildlife

MS, Urban and Regional Planning (Environmental)

US Department of Agriculture – APHIS – Wildlife Services (1 position) Wildlife Biologist

Page 20

Sensitive Biological Resources Training

Wildlife Hazard Management Training – Required by FAA

• Includes: Species, Regulations, and Management Tools• Annual 8-hour training by qualified staff biologist meeting FAA

requirements.

Environmental Awareness Training for Airport System Maintenance staff

• Swainson’s hawk, Western Burrowing Owl, and giant garter snake• Bi-annual training by staff biologists

Net Effect: training three times/year by experienced wildlife biologists.

Page 21

Bird-Aircraft Strike Hazard (BASH) Risk is Increasing in North America

Airports are typically located in flat, open areas needed for aircraft approach, departure zones and circling airspace.

• Such areas often include wetlands that attract birds.

Most aircraft now have just 2 engines, resulting in greater consequences from bird ingestion, as shown by US Airways Flight 1549 on January 15, 2009.

Increased population of some bird species most hazardous to aircraft. Example: Canada Goose.

Aircraft are getting quieter and faster; birds are less able to detect an approaching aircraft.

Page 22

Increasing BASH Risk - continued

Growing dominance of low-fare airlines means more people are flying, and therefore more flights.

More wildlife refuges and preserves are being created. Many are near airports.

Wetlands are receiving greater protection because of federal Clean Water Act, which has benefited wildlife.

Banning of certain pesticides has provided protection to birds, allowing population increases.

Sources: (1) Wildlife Hazard Management at Airports – A Manual for Airport Personnel; FAA and USDA Wildlife Services, 2nd Edition, July 2005. (2) “Striking Developments,” Airport Magazine, June/July 2007.

Page 23

FAA BASH Database - USA

Reported Annual Bird

Strikes

Winter months (Nov – March) are highest

period at SMF (migratory bird

season), followed by June – August (small

non-flocking birds such as swallows)

Page 24

Active Management Techniques

Non-lethal Techniques

Lethal Techniques

Identify Problem

Problem Assessment

Assess Potential Actions

Monitor Provide Assistance

Choose Appropriate

Actions

Exhibit 5-1 WS General Professional Action Model

Page 25

Ranking of Species Groups Nationally Relative to Aircraft Hazard

Ranking based on 3 criteria, using FAA National Wildlife Strike Database, January 1990 – April 2005:

Damage Major damage Effect-on-flight

Ranking Order: Deer Vultures Geese Cormorants/Pelicans

Ranking Order (continued): Cranes Eagles Ducks Osprey Turkeys/Pheasants Herons Hawks Gulls Rock pigeons Other birds and mammals

Page 26

Memorable Bird Strikes - SMF

22 November 1996• MD-80 climb; fan blade & engine damage

Gulls, Runway down ½ hr 25 February 2000

• B-737 takeoff; damage 7 fan blades & plugged air cooler Unknown species

8 December 2004• MD-80 climb; random wing damage (punctured/dented)

Northern Pintail, $200,000 24 November 2005 (Thanksgiving Day)

• A-320 climb; damage to radome, nose, engine, fuselage Northern Pintail, $110,000

28 December 2005• B-737 climb; engine damage, passengers transferred to new flight

Unknown species, $210,400

Page 27

Conclusion

Hazardous wildlife presents a clear and (now) well understood risk to the traveling public.

Consistent with our Mission Statement, the Sacramento County Airport System has implemented a comprehensive program for protecting the traveling public, and relies upon all of the tools available to us to reduce the risks associated with hazardous

wildlife. State legislation has been enacted (SB 481) to clarify in the Fish

and Game Code that airports are allowed to deploy those measures permitted under their federal fish and wildlife permit (depredation permit) issued by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS).

» Revised 2-5-09