Thurston County Focus Group Conversation Habitat Conservation Plan November 19, 2015
Meeting Objectives • Update on HCP process and how we got here • Talk about what needs to be in the HCP • Get feedback – Is the approach clear? Anything missing? Are there alternatives? – Is the logic behind the plan elements sound? Are there creative ideas to improve the plan?
Why an HCP for Thurston County? • Recent listings of 4 species • Provides predictability and local control • Limits liability for County and private land owners • More common sense conservation
Endangered Species Act • Petitions to list 12 species from conservation groups • Lawsuit to force a decision in 2011 • Listings of 4 species in 2013-2014 • Impacts can occur, but with a HCP and permit from USFWS
ESA Species in Thurston County TCB, MPG, SHL Proposed for MPG, OSF TCB, MPG, SHL, Listing Listed OSF: Candidates OSF Proposed 1997 2006 2001 2013 2014 2011 OSF State TCB, MPG, SHL TCB, SHL Listed State Listed Listed
Reasons for Listing • Habitat loss • Habitat Fragmentation • Decreases in habitat quality US Census Bureau, Washington Office of Financial Management, Thurston Regional Planning Council Subdivisions in Tumwater UGA
Without an HCP… Public Lands Without a County HCP: – Impacts to listed species require USFWS Permit, HCP, and NEPA process. Private Lands Without a County HCP: – Impacts to listed species still require USFWS Permit. – Individual HCPs = additional delay and cost, plus mitigation. Streaked Horned Lark: Rod Gilbert Photo
With an HCP… Private & Public Lands With a County HCP: – Faster permit times and lower total costs – Very limited site surveys – Limited involvement of USFWS Taylor’s checkerspot: Oregon Zoo Photo – Conservation occurs in advance and at a scale that can lower cost
What an HCP is: A tool to forecast, manage, and permit defined impacts to endangered species Regulatory assurances for 30 years For identified and quantified impacts
County Building Permit Applicants – Prairie Areas Timelines with and without a County HCP 12 mo 18 mo 24 mo 36 mo 6 mo Complete project site Complete Individual HCP & NEPA, survey in correct season Get Individual Incidental Take Permit Pay for Mitigation* Required by USFWS Complete HCP Permit Application, Pay Mitigation Fee, Receive HCP * Mitigation Bank may Permit (4-6 weeks) not be available.
HCP Project Timeline Take Permit Issued EIS/SEPA Development HCP Development PHAM Draft County Outreach Public Meetings Development HCP/EIS Public Review Technical Working Group Meetings and Comment Field Surveys 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017
What will the HCP Include? • Background • Covered Species, Lands, and Activities • Impacts • Conservation Strategy • Implementation
HCP Covered Species Taylor’s checkerspot Mazama pocket Oregon spotted gopher frog Streaked horned lark Valley Vesper sparrow silverspot Oregon branded skipper Hoary elfin To help protect your privacy, PowerPoint has blocked automatic download of this picture. Puget blue SBWB Nuthatch W. Gray Squirrel Mardon skipper
Covered Lands: HCP Habitat Areas
Covered Activities (linked to County decisions) • Private lands – Residential and Commercial Development • Public Services – School & fire station construction • County Actions – Development and utility permit issuance – Transportation activities – Water and wastewater management – Land management & habitat restoration
In 30 years, Thurston County will grow
Project Impacts by 2045 (Draft) <1%
30-yr Projected Residential Construction Residential Capacity Estimates based on population projections and Thurston Regional Planning Council Buildable Lands Analysis
Where impacts come from: Residential Construction • New homes & 5 acre parcel driveways New home & • Impact in 60 ft. driveway development 60ft envelope envelope • House + Driveway =~ 1 ac area. • Potential added accessory buildings 19
Where impacts come from: Commercial/Industrial • New commercial development Commercial 5 acre parcel Typically site development loses all habitat • Impacts extend to value property line • For the projections, assume full loss of habitat for the property 20
Where impacts come from: County Transportation • New Road Construction • Impacts for added impervious area and partial impact in right of way • Best management practices (BMPs) to minimize impacts 21
As Thurston grows, managing for high quality habitat is also important
Conservation Program Current thinking on elements of a program: – Avoid/minimize impacts – Work with willing landowners who want to manage for habitat on their working lands – Protect land to support prairie - oak and riparian/wetland habitat – Manage and enhance the habitat on those lands – Track progress and adapt to make sure we’re practicing common sense conservation
What Conservation Can Look Like 100 acre parcel Secure the land Enhance habitat Manage & Monitor – in perpetuity 24
How much conservation will be needed? • Unavoidable impacts need mitigation Quality & Quality & Quantity of Quantity of Habitat Habitat Impacted Mitigated 25
A plan can be implemented and financed in a lot of ways
Implementation and Funding • Roles, responsibilities, tasks – Process for issuing coverage – Costs and funding – Logistics – Enforcement – Reporting Early blue violet at Glacial Heritage– IAE Photo
County Building Permit Applicants – Prairie Areas Timelines with and without a County HCP 12 mo 18 mo 24 mo 36 mo 6 mo Complete project site Complete Individual HCP & NEPA, survey in correct season Get Individual Incidental Take Permit Pay for Mitigation* Required by USFWS Complete HCP Permit Application, Pay Mitigation Fee, Receive HCP * Mitigation Bank may Permit (4-6 weeks) not be available.
Costs and funding What needs to get financed? 1. The conservation strategies in the HCP 2. HCP management and administration When do these get financed? 1. Early: Getting conservation “in the bank” before permitted impacts occur 2. Ongoing over HCP
QUESTIONS - What’s missing? - Ideas?
Habitat Conservation Plan Impacts Analysis Photo credit: Rod Gilbert 31
Projecting Development Out to 30 Years 1. Assuming 88% build-out to zoned capacity • Population projections • Buildable lands analysis (Thurston Regional Planning Council) 2. Estimate affected area per development unit • Full lot use in Urban Growth Boundary Full lot use for commercial/industrial • 32
30-YEAR DEVELOPMENT PROJECTIONS
Estimates per Development Unit • Homes and permitted outbuildings • Impact in 60 ft 5 acre parcel development envelope New home, on each structure Structures & (minus overlap) driveway 60ft envelope • Estimated average 2.33 acre total impact area/development unit * Based on looking at forty lots with varying sizes 34
Projecting Development Out to 30 Years 1. Assuming 88% build-out to zoned capacity • Population projections • Buildable lands analysis (Thurston Regional Planning Council) 2. Estimate affected area per development unit • Full lot use in Urban Growth Boundary Full lot use for commercial/industrial • • 2.33 ac/unit for residential 3. Overlay projected development with habitat • Using maps of soils, suitable habitat, species locations 35
Overlay of Habitat • Screen identifies parcel as having habitat. • Zoned 1 unit/5 acres • Only 1-2 units potentially affected 36
Overlay of Habitat Projected 18,632 units added on lots with habitat Fewer units actually affected 7,000-9,000 37
30-Year Projected New Development by Habitat Category Projected New Development Units: Soil Preference Unincorporated Thurston County Low Medium High > 650 feet from known gophers 50% 29% 8% ≤ 650 feet from known gophers 1% 4% 6% Gophers detected * 0.04% 1.2% 0.5% TOTAL PROJECTED UNITS by 2045 20,768 on gopher habitat * As of August 13, 2015. Final analysis pending second half of 2015 gopher survey results. 38
Projecting Public Works Projects 39
QUESTIONS - Is the logic sound? - Alternatives?
Habitat Conservation Plan Conservation Strategy Photo credit: Rod Gilbert 41
Conservation Strategies 1. Avoid impacts • Include minimization practices (BMPs) for many covered activities • Use the existing Critical Areas Ordinance guidelines Roadside maintenance 42
Conservation Strategies 2. Conserve land in the most important places • Look at securing land in Reserve Priority Areas as a diverse network • Secure lands with multiple habitat benefits for multiple species 43
Conservation Strategies 3. Enhance and steward natural areas • Provide funds to enhance natural areas • Establish funding base for long-term stewardship • Assume HCP conservation lands will be enhanced to high quality native habitat and maintained at that level Photos: South Sound Prairies 44
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