Presented By:

Cay Goude, Assistant Field Supervisor

Sacramento Fish and Wildlife Office

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Lessons I Learned In Conservation Planning

Why I Love Conservation Planning?!

• Local control• Involves local community • Certainty in project planning• Assurances• Funding opportunities• Ecosystem/landscape approach• Streamlining

Why Do a Regional HCP?

•Not all areas are appropriate for a HCP

•AND Not all Plans are appropriate to be a NCCP

To Do a Plan or Not Do a Plan..That is the Question

• Merced Conservation Strategy• Gabbro Plants (not complete)• Santa Rosa Plains

Conservation Strategy• East Alameda County

Conservation Strategy

Other Types of Conservation Plans

WHAT WORKED

•Large existing open space areas•Available funding sources•Critically endangered species •Engaged public and local jurisdictions•Development needs•Collaborative Process

Santa Clara and East Contra Costa HCP/NCCPs

•Required as part of the NCCP Act•Time taken = Benefit

How often was the Agreement used and can we shorten this time period?

Time Taken… The Planning Agreement

• Too many • Too rare• No knowledge• No impacts• Not there• No conservation opportunities• FISH

Covered Species

.

Covered Activities

• Not adequately defined• Activities jurisdictions do not have control over• Agricultural activities• Activities too far into the future

Who Pays..

•Nexus•Outreach•Paying for long-term endowment•Funding sources

– Fees

– Federal/State

MONEY

• Attorney involvement at the correct time• Make it simple• Do not rewrite the plan –summarize the plan• Use template

Implementation Agreement

• Champion• Use templates in conservation easement and IA• Make it simple- less said is often better• Give direction and guidance• Brief everyone OFTEN• Do not reinvent the wheel

– Use an example HCP

Lessons Learned

• Stakeholder involvement is critical• Demonstrate forward momentum • Be realistic and prioritize what can be accomplished • At the end have a writing party

Lessons Learned -- Continued

• Be ready• GIS• Have a handbook• Training

Lessons Learned -- Implementation

• Yes .. Please do a plan it is well worth the effort.

• Forming new partnerships• Endangered species recovery• Large scale conservation• Regulatory streamlining• And it’s FUN

Summary

sacramento.fws.gov

www.fws.gov