douglas county multiple species general conservation plan
TRANSCRIPT
Douglas County Multiple Species General Conservation Plan
Background
• Declining populations of the Greater Sage Grouse and other species in the Columbia Basin led citizens, especially concerned local agricultural producers in Douglas County, to take a proactive approach to try to protect wildlife including one of the last remaining viable populations of Sage Grouse before intensive regulation needed.
• Drafting of a Habitat Conservation Plan (beginning in 1999) for ag activities = DCMSGCP (2015)
• Working cooperatively with USFWS, FCCD developed an agreement that will allow the District to administer Sect. 10, Incidental Take Permits (ESA) in Douglas County for agricultural producers.
WA Ground Squirrel
Candidate for Fed & State Listing
Columbia Basin Pygmy Rabbit
Fed & State Listed Endangered Species
Columbian Sharp-tailed Grouse
Federal Species of Concern & State Listed Endangered Species
Greater Sage Grouse
MSGCP creates a process for applicants (private ag landowners/lessees) to voluntarily develop a site-specific Farm Plan/Site Plan with Best Mngt Practices (BMPs) that will improve habitat for covered species.
• Farm Plan developed with property owner specific to their agricultural operation including “Covered Activities” & BMPs they will utilize.
• Plan reviewed by FCCD and USFWS → Public Notice → Section 10 permit issued.
IMPLEMENTATION (Current Phase of Program)
o MSGCP is intended to cover a 50yr period; Implementation & Monitoring Committee provides review and comment on implementation progress to assist FCCD.o Annual MSGCP Report published and sent to USFWS.
o Permit Holders/FCCD conduct monitoring.
o Monitoring method chosen is the Sage Grouse Initiative Method from NRCS. FCCD staff being trained in the method. Method chosen for its simplicity in habitat evaluation, could be taught to and used by local ag producers. Monitoring includes Habitat Change & Habitat Suitability
SGI Method includes:- Wildlife Monitoring Datasheet
- End of Season Grazing Evaluation
- Pasture Monitoring Worksheet to MngGrazing
- Photo Monitoring with Step Point for GrdCover and/or Boot Gap transect
MSGCP Landscape Monitoring Program GIS modeling used to create a map of habitat suitability that
included layers for each of the 4 species’ habitat needs as well as current land status data sets (NLCD, MRLC, Soil Srvy, Elevation, Shrub Rangeland Fractional Component)
Ground-truthing of modeling.
MSGCP Farm-Operations Monitoring Program
Monitoring of current permit holders’ properties (only pasture or irrigated ag lands) where BMPs (NRCS CPs) are being used. MSGCP identifies CPs used in Douglas County. Qualitative monitoring of presence of habitat
beneficial improvements such as watering sites, buffers, riparian fencing, wldlf fencing, etc.
Monitoring Study: BMP Effectiveness Create study plots to evaluate effectiveness of BMPs.
Control plots (public land only = long-term accessibility)
Study plots (include diff. types of land uses: current permit holders’ properties, CRP lands, burned vs. unburned land, grazed vs. non-grazed, etc.) Study plots designated in Farm Plans.
Use SGI method in the plots over a 50-yr study period to collect data on habitat condition. Angie Orpet (FCCD) learning the
SGI Method from Tim Behne
VSP Application
• Identify Problem: Habitat Loss & degradation in Shrub Steppe
• Scale: Regional & County-wide, multiple watersheds
• DCMSGCP covers 1 million + acres
• VSP Critical Area: Wildlife Habitat (multiple species)
• Local Context: Loss of habitat in Douglas County due to land use changes, drought, and reoccurring wildfires.
• Stakeholders: Local ag producers, County/State/Fed Agencies, Nonprofits, and Tribes
• Implementation • Monitoring• Timelines • Budget• Goals / Benchmarks / Indicators
MSGCP Info, Plan, & Reports for your reference: https://www.FosterCreekCD.org/programs/general-conservation-plan/
Current implementation/monitoring issues:
What BMPs to monitor?
Control plot locations?
Study plot locations?
Long-term accessibility to plots
# of plots?
Producer monitoring
Cost/Staffing
Land ownership patchwork and public land leases
Changing environmental variables
Data Analysis
Rebecca SchexnayderVSP Coordinator, FCCD