Landscapes at Work- Monarch Habitat Preservation in ODOT - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Image: Monarch butterfly on swamp milkweed. Jim Hudgins, USFWS

Landscapes at Work- Monarch Habitat Preservation in ODOT Transportation Rights-of Ways A Regulatory and Conservation Opportunity

Monarchs face many risks that are resulting in declining populations in both the eastern and western parts of their North American range. The largest impacts come from the loss of habitat, pesticides use, climate change, and risks from natural enemies, such as predators, parasitoids, and diseases. In 2014, the USFWS was petitioned to protect the monarch butterfly under the Endangered Species Act. Based on information in the petition, it was determined that federally protecting the monarch may be warranted. The Service has completed a thorough assessment to determine if the monarch butterfly needs Endangered Species Act protection and a final determination will be announced in December 0f 2020.

Threats to Monarch Populations

What Activities Could Be Impacted By a Listing?

General Operations

Vehicle operation, maintenance of access routes, installation and maintenance of construction routes and temporary matting.

Survey and Inspections

Routine line inspection (aerial and ground patrols), surveying and staking, exploratory soil boring

Vegetation Management as part

• f Conservation Measures

Vegetation management activities conducted as part of conservation measure implementation. See list of conservation measures for descriptions.

Vegetation Management that may Impact Habitat

Vegetation management activities not conducted as part of conservation measure implementation. These activities are associated with routine vegetation management actions that may include mowing during the growing season, broadcast herbicide use, and other vegetation management not directly tied to conservation.

Minor Structural Maintenance

Guy wire replacement, culvert replacement, pole wrapping or painting, structural testing and treatments, structural replacements (insulators, bolts, braces, clamps, grounding wires, and other hardware).

Facilities Management and Maintenance

Routine vegetation maintenance of developed lands. General facilities building and maintenance within developed areas.

Construction within Existing ROW

Construction and ground disturbance in existing ROW.

Emergency Response Activities

Unplanned access and work activities within suitable habitat to resolve emergency response and outage repair needs.

What is a CCAA?

Candidate Conservation Agreement with Assurances (CCAA):

• A voluntary agreement
• Address concerns for species that may be listed

in the future

• Must provide net conservation benefit
• Address all key “manageable” threats under the
• wners’ control
• Gives assurances that USFWS will not request

additional conservation measures or restrictions if the species is listed

How Does This Process Work?

Authorization of CCAA

• USFWS authorizes the

agreement and issues an Enhancement of Survival Permit for the Monarch.

• The Programmatic

Administrator agrees to uphold the agreement and permit compliance requirements. Certificate of Inclusion Enrollment

• The Programmatic

Administrator enrolls partners into the agreement terms via Certificates of Inclusion.

• Partners adopt

voluntary conservation measures, compliance tracking, and monitoring required to fulfill the agreement terms. Implementation

• Partners implement

conservation measures and conduct tracking and effectiveness monitoring.

• Partners annually

report compliance to the Programmatic Administrator. Reporting

• The Programmatic

Administrator gathers and cumulatively reports on agreement compliance to USFWS.

• USFWS verifies

compliance and discusses any needs with Programmatic Administrator.

Assurances Provided By CCAA

USFWS provides regulatory assurances authorized by

• ESA. Once approved, the Service will:
• Not require additional conservation measures nor

impose additional land, water, or resource use restrictions beyond those voluntarily agreed to and described in the “Conservation Measures” and “Covered Activities” sections of the CCAA.

• Review, when needed, assurances tied to the

effects of “changed circumstances” and “unforeseen circumstances.”

What Conservation Measures are Available?

Select from a menu of conservation measures that address key threats to suitable habitat. Conservation Measure Seeding and planting to restore or create habitat Conservation mowing to enhance floral resource habitat Targeted herbicide treatments Prescribed burning to promote suitable habitat Controlled grazing to promote suitable habitat Brush removal to promote suitable habitat Suitable habitat set-asides (temporary or permanent)

What is Required?

• Enroll lands (existing lands and ROW) in the

Agreement

• Commit to implementing conservation measures
• Track implemented conservation measures
• Monitor and report results of implemented

conservation measures to CCAA Administrator

What is Excluded?

• Any activity conducted outside of areas included in

Enrolled Lands

• Construction projects on new ROW easements or

acquired lands

• Activities that may pose:

Loss of other Federal-listed species, Significant environmental impact, or Controversial projects

Why Pursue this CCAA?

Candidate Conservation Agreement with Assurances (CCAA) can help:

• Address urgent needs for monarchs
• Demonstrate industry commitment to

conservation

• Address uncertainty from regulatory decisions
• Avoid costly delays to projects and provide
• perational flexibility
• Generate positive public recognition
• Provide partnership value for all parties

(USFWS + industry)

Monarch CCAA Sector Partners

Supported by 40+ Industry Partners Representing Cross-Sector Collaboration

Arizona Department of Transportation Alliant Energy California Department of Transportation Ameren Colorado Department of Transportation American Electric Power Arizona Department of Transportation ComEd Delaware Department of Transportation Connexus Energy Florida Department of Transportation Cypress Creek Georgia Department of Transportation ComEd Idaho Transportation Department Duke Energy Illinois Department of Transportation Edison Electric Institute Indiana Department of Transportation Evergy Iowa Department of Transportation Exelon Idaho Transportation Department First Energy Maine Department of Transportation Fresh Energy Minnesota Department of Transportation Grow with Trees Nebraska Department of Transportation IVM Partners Nevada Department of Transportation National Rural Electric Coop Association Ohio Department of Transportation NextEra Energy Oklahoma Department of Transportation NiSource Virginia Department of Transportation Pine Gate Renewables Wisconsin Department of Transportation TransCanada MW Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies WEC Energy Group Federal Highway Administration Federal Railroad Administration