Conservation Strategies for Agricultural Landscapes:
The Yolo Natural Heritage Program NCCP/HCP
Presented to the Seventh Annual Workshop on Habitat Conservation Planning From Tahoe to the Bay
Daniel AirolaAirola Environmental Consulting/SAIC
November 18, 2009
Yolo Natural Heritage Program- Key Elements
County-wide HCP/NCCP 654,000 acres 50 year permit
Goals• Conserve natural heritage• Support viability of the agricultural economy• Promote smart, sensible economic growth• Protect natural areas and features• Preserve open space areas and enhance recreation
A Conservation Plan, not just a mitigation plan
Yolo NHP Covered Activities
Wide range of Covered Activities addressed Development under General Plans
only 3-5% of land area
Utilities, transportation, flood control, water supply, parks new facilities operations and maintenance
Agriculture ongoing activities limited conversion of natural habitats
Yolo County Agriculture
Engaging farmers is critical to the conservation strategy
The County’s primary economic activity
Cultivated agric = 360,000 ac 56% of total land area
Highly diverse mix of agricultural crops
Farmlands provide important habitat value 21 of 65 covered species
Value of Crops to Covered Wildlife
HCP Coverage Needs for Agriculture
•Incidental mortality and injury to species
•Habitat change
•Marketing benefit of conservation (“Certified”)
Yolo Agricultural Landscape is Dynamic
Shorter term changes Annual condition changes
- prepping, cultivating, growing, harvesting
Crop rotations among years Water availability
Potential longer term changes: Crop economics Water sales Development Climate change
Process for Incorporating Agricultural Species Conservation into the NHP
Describe agricultural habitats Describe species relationships to habitats Identify habitat goals for species Evaluate contributions to goals provided
by agriculture Integrate agricultural lands with natural
communities
Agricultural Crop Groups
Crop Type Acres Percent
FIELD CROPS 99,284 27%
GRAIN AND HAY CROP 74,139 20%
TRUCK & BERRY CROPS 64,370 18%
PASTURE 41,863 11%
RICE 30,411 8%
DECIDUOUS FRUITS AND NUTS 25,756 7%
IDLE 15,862 4%
VINEYARD 9,438 3%
SEMIAGRICULTURAL & INCIDENTAL TO AGRICULTURE 3,339 1%
CITRUS AND SUBTROPICAL 303 0%
Total Acres of Agriculture 364,765 100%
Total Acres in County 653,629
Yolo Agriculture Crops
Rating Species Use of Crops: Habitat Suitability Model Approach
Review scientific literatureInput from knowledgeable species biologistsModel development
Identify Covered Species that use agricultural lands Develop list of crops used by each species Identify relative value of each crop - for different uses
(foraging, breeding, resting, dispersal) Key distance variables: to nesting habitat, water, etc Prepare matrix of species-crop habitat values
Summarized in Species Accounts and Species Models
Yolo NHP Covered Agricultural Species
Giant garter snake Western pond turtle White-tailed kite Bald eagle Northern harrier Swainson’s hawk Golden eagle Peregrine falcon Prairie falcon Mountain plover Black tern
Burrowing owl Long-eared owl Short-eared owl Yellow-billed magpie Loggerhead shrike Yellow-headed blackbird Tricolored blackbird Western red Bat Townsend’s western big-
eared bat Pallid bat
Assign Habitat Values for Species Use
of Each Agricultural Crop
Per-acre habitat suitability ratings of crops Very High 1.0 High 0.75 Moderate 0.5 Low 0.25 Very low 0.1 None 0.0
Species-Crop Habitat Matrix
Determine Habitat Values of Each Agricultural Type
Calculate Habitat Units for Species Habitat Units = [crop habitat suitability value] x [# acres
of crop]
Creates a “common currency” for assessing the value of different combinations of crops
Determine Overall Habitat Value
Example: Long-billed Curlew
Use of Agricultural Habitat Valuations
Describe existing values of agricultural lands Evaluate future scenarios - changes in agricultural
useIncorporate with habitat values for other land cover
types used by covered species (uplands, riparian, developed)
Assess goals achievement in Conservation Strategies and adjust
Serve as a basis for monitoring plan accomplishmentsUse plan monitoring to improve habitat valuation
models