FINAL NATOMAS BASIN HABITAT CONSERVATION PLAN SACRAMENTO AND SUTTER COUNTIES, CALIFORNIA. April Prepared By:

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1 FINAL NATOMAS BASIN HABITAT CONSERVATION PLAN SACRAMENTO AND SUTTER COUNTIES, CALIFORNIA April 2003 Prepared By: City of Sacramento City Hall 915 I Street, Room 100 Sacramento, CA Tel: ; Fax: Sutter County P.O. Box 1555 Yuba City, CA Tel: ; Fax The Natomas Basin Conservancy 1750 Creekside Oaks Drive, Suite 290 Sacramento, CA Tel: ; Fax In Association With: Reclamation District No Garden Highway Sacramento, CA Tel: ; Fax Natomas Central Mutual Water Company 2601 West Elkhorn Boulevard Rio Linda, CA Tel: ; Fax

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3 TABLE OF CONTENTS I. INTRODUCTION... I - 1 A. Purpose and Overview of the Plan... I - 1 B. Plan Participants... I Permittors (Wildlife Agencies)... I Permittees... I Plan Operator... I Third Parties... I Potential Permittees... I Additional NBHCP Permittee--Metro Air Park... I - 13 C. Biological Goals and Objectives of the NBHCP... I Overall Goals and Objectives... I Wetland Species/Habitat Goals and Objectives... I Upland Species/ Habitat Goals and Objectives... I - 17 D. Conservation Strategy of the NBHCP... I - 18 E. Overall Benefits of the NBHCP... I - 19 F. Regulatory Background... I - 20 G. Plan Formulation Process... I - 22 H. Legal Challenge in Federal Court... I - 25 I. Requirements for the Issuance of the Permits... I Federal Permit... I State Permit... I - 29 J. Structure of the Plan... I - 31 K. Relationship of the Plan to Individual Permittees... I - 31 L. Environmental Compliance... I - 34 M. Species Covered by the Permit... I - 34 N. Covered Activities... I Land Use Agencies Covered Activities... I Water Agencies Covered Activities... I TNBC Covered Activities as Permittee and Plan Operator... I - 37 O. Activities not Covered by the NBHCP... I - 38 P. Adaptive Management Provisions... I - 39 II. BIOLOGICAL DATA... II - 1 A. Environmental Setting... II - 1 B. Habitat Distribution... II - 2 C. Covered Species... II Species Potentially Affected by Covered Activities... II Giant Garter Snake... II Swainson's Hawk... II Other Covered Species Which May Occur in the NBHCP Area... II - 20 D. Species Which May Occur in the NBHCP Area... II - 44

4 III. LAND USE ISSUES...III - 1 A. Authorized Development by Jurisdiction...III - 1 B. Existing Land Use...III Agriculture...III Waterways...III Road Network...III Urban Development...III Sacramento International Airport...III - 9 C. Potential Development...III Foreseeable Urban Development and Status Under the NBHCP...III Conversion of Agricultural Lands...III - 16 IV. CONSERVATION PLAN... IV-1 A. Plan Purpose... IV-1 B. Plan Operator... IV-2 1. NBHCP Technical Advisory Committee...IV-4 C. Conservation Strategies to Mitigate for Urban Development... IV-5 1. General Strategies to Mitigate the Impacts of Urban Development... IV-5 2. Reserve Acquisition Guidelines and Criteria...IV Conservation Strategy for Wetland Habitat as Mitigation for Urban Development...IV Conservation Strategy for Upland Habitat as Mitigation for Urban Development...IV Conservation Strategies for Vernal Pool Species as Mitigation for Urban Development...IV-30 D. Reserve Management/Site Specific Management Plans...IV Site-Specific Management Plan Policies...IV Management Activities...IV Restoration and Enhancement Programs...IV Reserve Water Management...IV Avoiding Management Conflicts With the Sacramento Airport...IV-39 V. TAKE AVOIDANCE, MINIMIZATION AND MITIGATION...V-1 A. Land Use Agencies Conservation...V-1 1. Pre-Construction Surveys...V-1 2. Preservation of the Area Adjacent to Fisherman s Lake...V-2 3. General Measures to Minimize Take...V-2 4. Measures to Minimize Take of Vernal Pool Species...V-3 5. Measures to Reduce Take for Individual Species...V-7 B. The Natomas Basin Conservancy s (TNBC) Conservation Measures...V General Conservation Strategies...V Conservation Strategies for Wetland Species and Reserves...V Conservation Strategies for Upland Species and Reserves...V Conservation Strategies for Individual Species...V-18 C. Water Agencies Conservation Measures...V Water Agencies Covered Activities...V-29

5 2. Water Agencies Facilities...V Water Agencies Conservation Measures for Giant Garter Snake...V Reporting Requirements for Covered Activities...V Covered Activities and Adaptive Management...V Federal Provision of Construction Incentives for Water Districts and Users...V-36 VI. PLAN IMPLEMENTATION... VI-1 A. Term of Permit... VI-1 B. Funding... VI-1 1. The Mitigation Fee... VI-1 2. Mitigation Fee Amount/Adjustments... VI-3 3. Catch-Up Fee Ordinance... VI-7 4. Endowment Fund/Other Revenues... VI-7 5. Public Private Partnerships... VI-7 C. Phasing of Mitigation with Respect to Development... VI-8 D. Accounting of Mitigation Land... VI-9 E. Monitoring of the NBHCP...VI Compliance Monitoring...VI Biological Effectiveness Monitoring...VI Design of Biological Effectiveness Monitoring Programs...VI Review and Revision of the Biological Monitoring Programs...VI Monitor Summary Table...VI-24 F. Adaptive Management...VI General Information...VI Adaptive Management Revisions to the NBHCP...VI NBHCP Database and Scientific Authority...VI-29 G. Annual Report...VI-31 H. Program Adaptation for Recovery Plans...VI Changes Due to Future Recovery Plans Other than Changes to Managed Marsh Component...VI Changes to Managed Marsh...VI Swainson s Hawk Recovery Plan...VI-33 I. NBHCP Overall Program Review at 9,000 Acres of Development...VI-34 J. Independent Mid-Point Reviews for Land Use Agencies...VI-35 K. Unforeseen Circumstances/"No Surprises"/Changed Circumstances...VI Applicability of the "No Surprises" Protections...VI Changed Circumstances...VI-38 L. Enforcement, Amendments, HCP Requirements...VI Enforcement of the Section 10(a)(1)(B) and Section 2081 Permits...VI Severability...VI Amendments and Revisions...VI Function of NBHCP under ESA and CESA...VI-51 VII. TAKE LEVELS/IMPACTS OF THE PLAN... VII-1 A. Effects on Covered Wildlife Species... VII-1

6 B. Effects on Vernal Pool Species... VII-2 C. Extent of Incidental Take... VII-2 D. Impacts On Individual Species... VII-4 1. Giant Garter Snake... VII-4 2. Swainson's Hawk... VII Valley Elderberry Longhorn Beetle (VELB)... VII Tricolored Blackbird (Agelaius tricolor)... VII Aleutian Canada Goose (Branta canadensis leucopareia)... VII White-faced Ibis (Plegadis chihi)... VII Loggerhead Shrike (Lanius ludovicianus)... VII Burrowing Owl (Athene cunicularia hypugea)... VII Bank Swallow (Riparia riparia)... VII Northwestern Pond Turtle (Clemmys marmorata marmorata)... VII California Tiger Salamander (Ambystoma californiense)... VII Western Spadefoot Toad (Scaphiopus hammondii)... VII Vernal Pool Fairy Shrimp (Branchinecta lynchi)... VII Vernal Pool Tadpole Shrimp (Lepidurus packardi)... VII Midvalley Fairy Shrimp (Branchinecta n.sp.)... VII Delta Tule Pea (Lathyrus jepsonii var. jepsonii)... VII Sanford's Arrowhead (Sagittaria sanfordii)... VII Boggs Lake Hedge-Hyssop (Gratiaola heterosepala)... VII Sacramento Orcutt Grass (Orcuttia viscida)... VII Slender Orcutt Grass (Orcuttia tenuis)... VII Colusa Grass (Neostapfia colusana)... VII Legenere (Legenere limosa)... VII-63 E. Take as a Result of Indirect Killing or Injury... VII-65 F. Effects of the Plan on Long-Term Survival of Wetland-Dependent Species VII-65 G. Species Recovery... VII-69 H. Impacts of Reserve Management... VII Authorizing Management Take/Take for Scientific Purposes... VII-69 I. Maximum Extent Practicable... VII Summary of Findings Under ESA and CESA... VII-70 J. Alternatives to the Proposed NBHCP... VII No Action Alternative... VII Alternative Reserve Management... VII Alternate Proportions of Marsh and In-Basin Land... VII-75 VIII. REFERENCES...VIII-1 A. Bibliography...VIII-1 B. Persons and Organizations Consulted...VIII-14 C. Report Preparers...VIII Document Revision and Preparation...VIII Public Review and Agency Coordination...VIII Technical Analysis...VIII Biological Consultant...VIII Economic Analysis...VIII-17

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8 LIST OF TABLES TABLE I - 1 LISTED, CANDIDATE, AND OTHER SPECIES ADDRESSED IN THE NBHCP AND COVERED BY ITS ASSOCIATED PERMITS... I - 14 TABLE I - 2 NBHCP REVISIONS... I - 27 TABLE II - 1 LAND CLASSIFICATIONS IN THE NATOMAS BASIN (ACRES)... II - 3 TABLE II - 2 CANALS AND DRAINS IN THE NATOMAS BASIN (MILES)... II - 6 TABLE II - 3 CANALS AND DRAINS IN THE NATOMAS BASIN-2001 (ACRES)... II - 6 TABLE II - 4 VERTEBRATE WILDLIFE WHICH MAY OCCUR IN THE NATOMAS AREA BY HABITAT TYPE... II - 44 TABLE III-1 PLANNED DEVELOPMENT BY PERMITTEE...III - 2 TABLE III-2 CANALS AND DRAINS IN THE NATOMAS BASIN (MILES)...III - 5 TABLE III-3 CANALS AND DRAINS IN THE NATOMAS BASIN (ACRES)...III - 5 TABLE III-4 LAND USES BY JURISDICTION (ACRES)...III - 7 TABLE III-5 POTENTIAL URBAN DEVELOPMENT...III - 12 TABLE IV-1 TNBC MITIGATION LAND ACQUISITION (January 2002)... IV-3 TABLE IV-2 AVAILABLE FORAGING OPPORTUNITIES...IV-13 TABLE V-1 MITIGATION RATIOS...V-6 TABLE VI- 1 COMPONENTS OF CURRENT (2002) MITIGATION FEE PER ACRE DEVELOPED 1... VI-4 TABLE VI-2 HISTORY OF FEE... VI-6 TABLE VI-3 SUMMARY OF TNBC MONITORING OBLIGATIONS...VI-25 TABLE VI-4 PROPORTION OF MANAGED MARSH HABITAT...VI-33 TABLE VII-1 ACREAGE CALCULATIONS... VII-4 TABLE VII-2 GIANT GARTER SNAKE CHANGE IN POTENTIAL HABITAT (ACRES)... VII-6

9 TABLE VII-3 SWAINSON S HAWK CHANGE IN POTENTIAL NESTING HABITAT (ACRES)... VII-12 TABLE VII-4 SWAINSON S HAWK CHANGE IN POTENTIAL FORAGING HABITAT* (ACRES)... VII-14 TABLE VII-5 UPLAND FORAGING HABITAT WITHIN TNBC RESERVES... VII-15 TABLE VII-6 TRICOLORED BLACKBIRDS CHANGE IN POTENTIAL HABITAT (ACRES)... VII-24 TABLE VII-7 ALEUTIAN CANADA GOOSE CHANGE IN POTENTIAL HABITAT (ACRES)... VII-27 TABLE VII-8 WHITE-FACED IBIS CHANGE IN POTENTIAL HABITAT (ACRES)... VII-29 TABLE VII-9 LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE CHANGE IN POTENTIAL HABITAT (ACRES)... VII-32 TABLE VII-10 BURROWING OWL CHANGE IN POTENTIAL HABITAT (ACRES)... VII-35 TABLE VII-11 BANK SWALLOW CHANGE IN POTENTIAL HABITAT (ACRES)... VII-38 TABLE VII-12 NORTHWESTERN POND TURTLE CHANGE IN POTENTIAL HABITAT (ACRES)... VII-40 TABLE VII-13 DELTA TULE PEA CHANGE IN POTENTIAL HABITAT (ACRES)... VII-53 TABLE VII-14 SANFORD S ARROWHEAD CHANGE IN POTENTIAL HABITAT (ACRES).. VII-55 TABLE VII-15 STATUS OF WETLAND OVER TIME (IN ACRES)... VII-68 TABLE VII-16 PROPORTION OF WETLAND BY TYPE OVER TIME (IN ACRES)... VII-68

10 LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1. Regional Location. Figure 2. Land Use Agencies Permit Areas Figure 3. Water Delivery and Drainage Systems Figure 4. Aerial Photograph Figure Land Cover Figure 6. Current Topography Figure 7. Flood Prone Areas Figure 8. Current Native Habitats Figure Habitat Types Map Figure Habitat Types Map Figure Habitat Types Map Figure 12. Giant Garter Snake Records Figure 13. Active Swainson s Hawk Nests\Swainson s Hawk Zone Figure 14. Other Species Records Figure 15. Rice Cultivation (1997) Figure 16. Historic, Existing and Projected Urban Development Areas Figure 17. TNBC Reserves and Water Agency Channels Figure 18. Comparison of a Rice Field to a Managed Marsh Figure 19. Wetland Plant Depths and Levee Structures (Figures 19.1 through 19.5) Figure 20. Out-of-Basin Mitigation Areas

11 ATTACHMENTS ATTACHMENT A: Proposed Natomas Basin Habitat Conservation Plan Implementation Agreement LIST OF APPENDICES (Under Separate Cover) Appendix A: Economic Analysis of Natomas Basin Habitat Conservation Plan, dated March 2002, by Economic & Planning Systems, Inc. Appendix B: Draft Revised Fee Estimate Based on Draft (2002) NBHCP, dated October 11, 2002, prepared by Economic & Planning Systems, Inc. Appendix C: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) Conservation Guidelines for the Valley Elderberry Longhorn Beetle, updated July 9, Appendix D: California Department of Fish and Game Staff Report on Burrowing Owl Mitigation, dated October 17, Appendix E: Federal Aviation Administration Advisory Circular dated May 1, Hazardous Wildlife Attractants On or Near Airports. Appendix F: The Natomas Basin Conservancy By-Laws. Appendix G: Pacific Region, USFWS and ACOE, Biological Opinion for 404 Permitted Projects with Relatively Small Effects to Vernal Pools, dated February Appendix H: Biological Resources Technical Memo, prepared by CH2MHill, dated February 25, Appendix I: Appendix J: NBHCP Fee Update , by Economic & Planning Systems, Inc., dated April 25, Documents Regarding Sacramento Area Flood Control Agency Army Corps of Engineers Permit Compliance. Appendix K: Addendum to the Biological Resources Technical Memo, prepared by CH2M HILL, dated April 2003.

12 Appendix L: Interim Survey Guidelines for Permittees for Recovery Permits under Section 10(a)(1)(A) of the Endangered Species Act for listed Vernal Pool Brachiopods, USFWS, April 19, 1996.