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HomeMy WebLinkAboutRES NO 086-11RESOLUTION NO: 086-11 RESOLUTION ACCEPTING GRANT FUNDS FROM THE COOPERATIVE ENDANGERED SPECIES CONSERVATION FUND (AUTHORIZED UNDER SECTION 6 OF THE ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT) WHEREAS, the U.S. Department of Interior - Fish and Wildlife Service has awarded funds to initiate development of a multi-species Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) for the Metropolitan Bakersfield General Plan area; and WHEREAS, the U.S. Department of Interior has been delegated the responsibility for the administration of this grant program, establishing necessary procedures; and WHEREAS, said procedures established by the U.S. Department of Interior require an adopted resolution accepting the Section 6 grant funds and to use the grant funds as described in the Grant Application Project Statement (attached Exhibit A); and WHEREAS, the City of Bakersfield and County of Kern, will enter into an agreement with the State of California - Department of Fish and Game to develop the initial elements of a multi-species Metropolitan Bakersfield HCP. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED AND FOUND BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BAKERSFIELD as follows: 1. The City Council hereby accepts the grant funds from the Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund (authorized under Section 6 of the Endangered Species Act); 2. The Section 6 grant funds will be used as described in the Grant Application Project Statement (attached Exhibit A); 3. The terms and conditions of the award (attached Exhibit B) will be met based on the application submitted to, and as approved by U.S. Department of Interior; 4. That after the grant is approved, effective November 1, 2011, it must be used within three years, through October 31, 2014, with a total Federal share in the amount of $427,000. m I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing Resolution was passed and adopted, by the Council of the City of Bakersfield at a regular meeting thereof held on SEP 2 S 2011 by the following vote: AY COUNCILMEMBER SALAS, BENHAM, WEIR, COUCH, HAN ON, SULL AN, JOHNSON NOES: COUNCILMEMBER nrmo ABSTAIN: COUNCILMEMBER no" ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBER y"1% .i Roberta Gafford, CMC CITY CLERK and Ex Officio Clerk of the Council of the City of Bakersfield MAYOR of the City of Bakersfi APPROVED as to form: VIRGINIA GENNARO City Attorney,,/ By: CG - S:\HCP\2014 New Plan\Post Award\resolution.docx o``eAKF9'pp, F-. m r v o ORIGINAL Exhibit A A! "-A.9sAar w Version 7103 FEDERAL ASSISTANCE L DATE SUBMITTED Aiearrt N1eri°~°r C ppA of Fish and Game 1. TYPE OF SUBMISSION: & DATE RECEIVED BY STATE Slate Appieshon Identifa Appicalion p~applicallon G1182017 Cooskocam r] Consilruction 4. DATE RECEIVED BY FEDERAL. AGENCY Federal Idantilia 01/18/2011 E-35-HP-7 R APPLICANT INFORMATION L%0 Name: Unit Slate of Cawomia Lonio DVwVnw4 of Fish and GameNWdite Conservation Board Organizedonal DUNS: Branch in Pla i =G 804M-2356 on nn g onaaw Ackkow: Nana and MNplleno nlrrnsar of parson to be conddad on nrauara Street hveoMM 611a area code 1416 NinM Skeet 12th Boor, Suile 1260 Prebc Name: - Middle Name _ arnenb S a<x sK rdrod - S e ~p ' ~ S1AIbc Ca .i81 !L U~tales of Anrsrico Errroik t EMPLOYER IDENTIFICATION NUMBER (Eft Phone Number (ohm ana moue) Fax Number (give area cods) I 9 4 1 8 5 8 7 (916) 633-3779 (glS)653-25W IL TYPE OF APPLICATION: 7. TYPE OF APPLICANT: (See back of fern for Appicallon Types) D Now r] Conowellon 1 Revtebn A. State Revision. enter aspropriols Intlerla) in box(es) Sea balk of form for dneriP6om 01101 brs.) ❑ ❑ (Spew Other (specify) 9. NAME OF FEDERAL AGENCY. U.S. Depabnwt of Interior - U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 10. CATALOG OF FEDERAL DOMESTIC ASSISTANCE TIMBER- 11. DESCRIPTIVE TITLE OF APPLICANTS PROJECT: ©-®[~g Cooporalive Endw*wW Species Conaervalion Fund Prowem TITLE (Tarot of Cooperative Enderowed Specks Conssrvalon - 2011 HCPLA 2011 HCPA 1L AREAS AFFECTED BY PROJECT (Cites. CounNtat Shles, Oft): Mabopoitar Bakersfield HCP nsilterr► J'ni I& PROPOSED PROJECT 14 DISTRICTS OF: Dake: ErdAV a Applicard b. Projec! ~y~ _ 11/01/2011 6 10/31/2014 OLSO I& ESTIMATED FUNDING: 1R IS APPLICATION SUBJECT TO REVIEW BY STATE EXECUTIVE 122" PROCESS? a. Federal TION VYAS DE THIS MR u Yes a LCA ~ EATO 427.000 . . TINE OROE 72 TE THE VAILABLE A b. AP*W PROCESS FOR REVIEW ON c. Stale DATE: d. Local 150,000 • b No 1 f"l PROGRAM IS NOT COVERED BY E. 0.12372 e Other OR PROGRAM HAS NOT BEEN SELECTED BY STATE FOR REVIEW I. Program Income 17. IS THE APPLICANT DELINQUENT ON ANY FEDERAL DEBT? g. TOTAL 377,000 0 Yes If -Yes' attach an explanation. No 18. TO THE MST OF MY KNINK EDGE AND BELIEF. ALL DATA IN THN) APPUCA TK)NL ARE TRUE AND CORRECT. THE DOCUMENT HAS SEEN DULY AUTHOm= BY THE GOVERNING BODY OF THE APPLICANT AND THE APPLICANT WILL COMPLY WITH THE ATTACHED ASSURANCES IF THE ASSISTANCE IS AWARDED. p, Name Idols Name Lat Name Kindred tAlbc Telephone Number (ahrs area code) SIM Servioas Manager Section 6 Coordinator 16 653-3779 3lynalura of Aulhorlsed ReprosarNative Dale Signed 1-1,2-1 ' Previous Edition Usable AtAhadzed for Local Reorodudion bianaaro rorm.z4 vvvv.u-c Prescribed by OMB Clcular A-102 ok~AKF9~'n m U ORIGINAL. ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT SECTION 6 GRANT PROGRAM FY 2011 Habitat Conservation Planning Assistance Program Metropolitan Bakersfield (California) Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) PROJECT STATEMENT CDFG Contact: Annee Ferranti Phone: (559) 243-4014 Ext. 227 Email: aeerranti@dfg.ca.gov NEED: Why is the project being undertaken? The City of Bakersfield and County of Kern, California, are planning for a projected future growth and increase in its population of roughly 65% over the next 40 years (California Department of Finance, 2009). It is expected a significant portion of this growth will have to be accommodated by development projects within the Metropolitan Bakersfield General Plan area, which presents challenges in promoting water recharge efforts and conserving prime agricultural and habitat lands. In 1994, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) granted Federal Section 10(a)(1)(B) and the California Department of Fish and Game (CDFG) granted State Section 2081 permits for the Metropolitan Bakersfield General Plan area. These permits will expire in 2014. Much has changed since 1994, and the USFWS and the CDFG have stated that inclusion of "Biological Goals and Objectives," "Monitoring" of the affects of acquired habitat on species viability, and an "Adaptive Management" plan are critical components of future habitat conservation plans. These components were not envisioned or required in 1994, but the necessity of including them will require a new HCP for the General Plan area. Therefore, funding is being sought to initiate development of a multi-species HCP that would supersede an expiring Metropolitan Bakersfield HCP. The Metropolitan Bakersfield agencies (City of Bakersfield and Kern County) are seeking $427,000.00 to complete the crucial first tasks of the planning process. The new plan is necessary in order to create a conservation strategy that will conserve sensitive species, wildlife movement corridors and essential habitats within the Metropolitan Bakersfield General Plan area, while allowing for urban growth and development where appropriate. The conservation goals of the HCP will be to protect habitat and establish management guidelines for potentially 38 species of concern, including 15 state and federally listed threatened, endangered, or fully protected species, and the vegetation communities upon which they depend. The proposed Metropolitan Bakersfield HCP area encompasses a large portion of Western Kern County, where nine habitat conservation plans have been in place since 1993, and there is ample opportunity to coordinate this current effort with conservation that has already been planned or established. There are eight existing plans outside the HCP area in Western Kern County, two of which are approximately 20,000 acres in size; three between 160 and 1,500 acres; and three of less than 100 acres. In addition, the draft Valley Floor Habitat Conservation Plan (1,990,440 acres) surrounds but does not overlap with the Metropolitan Bakersfield General Plan area, and includes a provision to provide coverage for the oil production land within the Valley Floor HCP Plan area. The development of the Metropolitan Bakersfield HCP would include an initial determination of the scope of the plan area and may include additional land in the HCP area outside the General Plan boundaries. Additional goals of the proposed Metropolitan Bakersfield HCP will be to ensure coordination with surrounding HCPs and to evaluate the conservation effectiveness of previously acquired habitat lands within the HCP area. This coordination will form a comprehensive approach to conserve habitat and movement corridors and facilitate threatened and endangered species recovery throughout Central and Western Kern County. The City of Bakersfield has authorized staff to pursue grant funding for this project, and is dedicating the staff time and resources necessary to ensure the new HCP progresses in coordination with Kern County and the multiple HCPs already in place. The US Fish and Wildlife Service has estimated that 96% of the native habitat that comprised the San Joaquin valley floor has been lost, primarily to agriculture-conversion and urbanization. Currently, it is estimated that the Metropolitan Bakersfield HCP area consists of 32% urban lands, 19% natural habitat, o``gAKF~~ a ~ F- m r U p ORIGINAL Metropolitan Bakersfield HCP Page 2 and 49% open lands (Figure 2). Open lands are lands that are defined as having been disturbed from their natural state and this includes lands converted for irrigated agriculture use; these lands still have value as habitat land for species that have adapted to existence in open lands. A mosaic of habitat types continues to exist within the urban Metropolitan Bakersfield HCP boundaries, including Riparian habitat / Valley freshwater marsh along the Kern River corridor and a contiguous band of Valley foothill grassland that remains in the eastern portion of the proposed study area. Valley sacaton grassland, Valley sink scrub brush, Valley chenopod scrub brush, Valley alluvial fan saltbrush scrub, and alkali sink communities are still present in the western portion of the Metropolitan Bakersfield HCP area. The first phase of planning for a new HCP will be to determine the study area, the covered species and covered activities for the new plan. Once these are determined, an assessment of existing data from the expiring Metropolitan Bakersfield permits and supporting information, surrounding area HCPs, and wildlife agency and academic institution research will be utilized to determine data gaps for the future HCP. Once the study area, covered activities and covered species are determined, landcover mapping will be undertaken to determine potential habitat availability and quality within the study area to support development of a Conservation Strategy. This project is the first step in determining the appropriateness of developing a joint State of California Natural Community Conservation Planning (NCCP) and HCP. The NCCP Act encourages the development of multi-species, ecosystem-based plans that provide for the conservation and recovery of both listed and unlisted species within the plan area, in addition to compensatory mitigation. The NCCP Act requires a plan to provide for the conservation of covered species by focusing on conservation of natural communities, and includes independent scientific input and significant public participation. The advantages of 16 years of experience with operating a habitat conservation plan will aid in the planning process for the new HCP. The current HCP has acquired 18,466 acres of habitat since 1994 that will complement the conservation area of the new HCP. The existing HCP has resulted in a successful partnership between the City/County and the state and federal wildlife agencies in permanently preserving the acquired lands, and these relationships will be beneficial in the creation of the new HCP. OBJECTIVE: What is to be accomplished during the period of the project pursuant to the stated need? This grant is instrumental to development of the new HCP by the Metropolitan Bakersfield agencies that are within the study area (City of Bakersfield and the County of Kern). The work done in the first phase of this new HCP development will determine the course of the subsequent phases of the project. If an NCCP is initiated, a Planning Agreement will be prepared. It is expected that Tasks 1 through 4 will be accomplished within a year. Task 1: Determine the HCP the study area, the covered species, the covered activities and the Stakeholders. Task 2: Assemble existing information/data on habitats and covered species and determine data gaps to be addressed in future HCP preparation. Task 3: Gather data, map landcover to determine presence of covered species, and determine potential habitat availability and quality. Task 4: Determine feasibility of preparing a joint NCCP/HCP. If determined to be feasible, initiate a Planning Agreement. o``eAKF9~ s ~ r U d ORIGINAL Metropolitan Bakersfield HCP Page 3 EXPECTED RESULTS OR BENEFITS: How will the project impact fish and wildlife resources or benefit the public? The Metropolitan Bakersfield General Plan comprises approximately 1,056 km2 (408 mil or 261,120 acres). The Metropolitan Bakersfield General Plan provides for urban development within the study area proposed for the new HCP. Bakersfield's current population of 360,000 is expected to increase to over 1,000,000 by 2050. The approval by state and federal agencies of a new multi-species HCP for Metropolitan Bakersfield will accomplish a balance between conservation of species and habitats of concern and urban development, by establishing baseline data, acquiring habitat, examine existing movement corridors and actively monitoring for these species. Benefits to Species The planning area of the proposed HCP will encompass natural lands that provide occupied and potential habitat for up to 38 sensitive species (Table 1) and urban lands that have special conservation value because they are being utilized by the San Joaquin kit fox and the western burrowing owl as foraging, denning, and nesting areas. These urban habitat areas may be providing relative isolation from natural predators, and may provide future opportunities to supplement genetic exchange with populations outside of the urban environments. The HCP will examine the opportunities for movement between covered species populations by identifying movement corridors. The HCP will act to mitigate (compensate) habitat impacted by expansion of urban development into natural and open (disturbed natural) lands, and minimize the take of special status species that are within the urban environment. The monitoring and adaptive management program that will be developed in the HCP will provide valuable information on the effectiveness of mitigation efforts on behalf of the special-status species, and the adaptive management program will be designed to adjust the HCP to accommodate species survival and habitat preservation. TABLE 1 Potential Species Proposed for Coverage under the Metropolitan Bakersfield HCP Species (Common and Scientific Name) Status Plants Bakersfield cactus Opuntia treleasei CE', FE, CNPS 1 B Bakersfield saltbush Atriplex tularensis FSC, CE California jewelflower Caulanthus californicus CE, FE, CNPS 1B Slough thistle Cirsium crassicule FSC, CNPS 1 B Recurved larkspur Delphinium recurvatum FSC, CNPS 1 B San Joaquin woolly threads Lembertia congonii FE, CNPS 113 San Joaquin adobe sunburst Pseudobahia peirsonii FT, CE Heartscale Atriplex cordu/ata CNPS 1 B Brittlescale Atriplexdepressa CNPS 1B Striped adobe lily Fritallaria striata CT, CNPS 1 B Subtle orache Atriplex minuscule CNPS 1 B Mason's neststraw Stylocline masonii CNPS 1 B Calico monkey flower Mimulus pictus CNPS 113 Amphibians/Reptiles Blunt-nosed leopard lizard Gambelia silus Western pond turtle Clemmys marmorata Western spadefoot toad Spea (=Scaphiopus) hammondii Silvery legless lizard Anniella pulchra pulchra California coast horned lizard Phrynosoma coronatum San Joaquin whipsnake Masticophis flagellum ruddocki FE, CE FSC, CSSC CSSC CSSC CSSC CSSC Birds Swainson's hawk Buteo swainsoni CT Western burrowing owl Athene cunicularia CSSC, FSC gAKF99 Fn- ORIGINAL Metropolitan Bakersfield HCP Page 4 Golden eagle Aquila chrysaetos Tricolored blackbird Agelaius tricolor California horned lark Eremophila alpestris actia Loggerhead shrike Lanius ludovicianus Northern harrier Circus cyaneus White-tailed kite Elanus leucurus Mammals San Joaquin kit fox Vulpes macrotis mutica Tipton kangaroo rat Dipodomys n. nitratoides Short-nosed kangaroo rat Dipodomys nitratoides brevinasus Giant kangaroo rat Dipodomys ingens San Joaquin antelope squirrel Ammospermophilus nelsoni Nelson's antelope squirrel Ammospermophilus nelsoni Buena Vista Lake shrew Sorex ornatus relictus American badger Taxidea taxus San Joaquin pocket mouse Perognathus inornatus inornatus Western mastiff bat Eumops perotis californicus Pallid bat Antrozous pallidus CSSC CSSC CSSC CSSC CSSC CSSC CT, FE FE, CE CSSC FE, CE CT CT FE, CSSC CSSC CSSC CSSC CSSC CE - State listed endangered CT - State listed threatened FC - Federal Candidate for Listing CSSC - State species of special concern FE - Federally listed endangered FT - Federally listed threatened FSC - Federal species of concern CNPS - California Native Plant Society The HCP will help implement specific conservation and recovery actions for the Bakersfield Cactus, San Joaquin kit fox, Tipton kangaroo rat, giant kangaroo rat, San Joaquin antelope squirrel and blunt-nosed leopard lizard. The planning area includes a major population area for the Bakersfield cactus. It includes a unique urban population of the San Joaquin kit fox with a large number of recorded den sites within the urban area. If the Buena Vista Lake shrew is determined to be a covered species in the new HCP, the study area will include acreage under consideration by the USFWS as potential critical habitat, the largest such considered 2,800 of the proposed 4,649 acres. There are overall conservation benefits to at least eight federally-listed species, including four plants and four animals, ten state-listed species (four plants and six animals) and five non-listed, special-status species (three plants and two animals). To further illustrate the ecological value of the HCP study area, more detailed information on one important habitat type and multiple species is provided below: Major Conservation Benefit to Upland Species of the San Joaquin Valley The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Recovery Plan for Upland Species of the San Joaquin Valley, California (Recovery Plan) (1998) outlines a recovery strategy for the special-status species included in the Metropolitan Bakersfield HCP and references specific sections of the HCP planning area that are vital in terms of habitat conservation for multiple species. It categorizes Bakersfield cactus, San Joaquin kit fox, Tipton kangaroo rat, and the Buena Vista Lake Shrew as plants and animals with critical needs for recovery, each of which will have specific conservation measures outlined within this proposed HCP. The Recovery Plan's objectives include de-listing the Bakersfield cactus, California jewelflower, San Joaquin woolly-threads, blunt-nosed leopard lizard, San Joaquin kit fox, Tipton kangaroo rat and the giant kangaroo rat; with long-term conservation described in the Recovery Plan as the objective for the short- nosed kangaroo rat, the San Joaquin antelope squirrel and the Buena Vista Lake shrew. For delisting and long-term conservation efforts, the Recovery Plan has identified the San Joaquin kit fox as an Umbrella species (broad distribution and requirement for relatively large areas of habitat mean conservation of the kit fox will provide an "umbrella" of protection for many other species that require less habitat). It has identified the giant kangaroo rat and Tipton kangaroo rat as keystone species because they confer ecosystem benefits, including being favorite prey of San Joaquin kit fox, enriching the soil with nitrogen, dispersing and planting seeds with seed caches for California jewelflower and San Joaquin woolly- s o~~AKF9.~ m ~ r ORIGINAL Metropolitan Bakersfield HCP Page 5 threads, and creating burrows that are used by blunt-nosed leopard lizards and San Joaquin antelope squirrels. The proposed HCP will identify areas to be considered for the conservation objectives for the San Joaquin kit fox, the giant kangaroo rat and the Tipton kangaroo rat, which in turn will benefit other upland special-status species. Maior Conservation Benefit to Bakersfield Cactus (BC) The current distribution of the BC is within the study area boundaries, adjacent to the east of the study area and at the base of the Tehachapi Mountains, south of the study area. The Recovery Plan for Upland Species of the San Joaquin Valley, California (Recovery Plan) states that the recovery goal for BC is best achieved by habitat preservation of existing populations, and by transplantation of threatened populations as a less desirable, but necessary, secondary recovery goal. Within the study area, 208 acres of habitat have been purchased for BC preservation by the existing Metropolitan Bakersfield Habitat Conservation Plan Implementation Trust Group. While transplanting of BC to the Bakersfield Cactus Preserve has occurred, there has been no monitoring to determine survival and reproduction rates. The proposed HCP will include monitoring of known populations of BC to assess health and reproduction status, and assess the success of transplantation efforts. Maior Conservation Benefit to San Joaquin Kit Fox (SJKF) The SJKF occurs in two different habitats within the study area, isolated natural upland areas on the east and west side of the study area, and in the urban area where significant numbers of dens have been mapped by the Endangered Species Recovery Program (ESRP) and the Metropolitan Bakersfield Habitat Conservation Plan Implementation Trust Group (818 have been reported in the study area since 1994 and not all den sites have been surveyed). It is estimated by the ESRP that 200 - 400 SJKF reside in the urban environment and that this urban population provides unique opportunities to help conserve and recover the species in the larger natural lands landscape. Corridors of movement and the potential for genetic interchange exist between the two habitat types along existing easements and open space within the Metropolitan Bakersfield study area. The HCP proposes to include identification of corridor routes and consultation with parties in control of the routes during the HCP planning and implementation process. Non-urban populations of SJKF will benefit from the efforts to acquire habitat and expand existing preserve areas surrounding the study area into larger, contiguous blocks of habitat for the SJKF. Since 1994, over 18,466 acres of habitat have been preserved during implementation of the existing Metropolitan Bakersfield HCP and additional habitat will be preserved with the new HCP. Additionally, the new HCP will identify further opportunities for habitat preservation within the study area. Monitoring habitat and SJKF populations in the new HCP will provide valuable information on the success of conservation efforts. Urban populations will have a benefit from a continued den mapping effort, and it is expected that the new HCP will include public education and outreach efforts to foster co-existence and improve take avoidance of SJKF within the urban environment. In addition, the kit fox recovery strategy, as outlined in the Recovery Plan for Upland Species, is dependent on protection and management of three geographically distinct core populations and several satellite populations in the remaining fragmented landscapes, including the urban Bakersfield population discussed above. One of the core areas is located in western Kern County and is within and adjacent to the study area of the Metropolitan Bakersfield HCP. This core population is also adjacent to the San Luis Obispo County border and the Carrizo Plain National Monument, located in the southeastern portion of San Luis Obispo County. This is significant because it provides a unique opportunity through numerous HCPs and across county and municipal boundaries to conserve and maintain vital linkage corridors between two of the largest San Joaquin kit fox populations within its range. The recovery plan for the kit fox concluded that the Carrizo Plain population is not viable by itself and identified the importance of maintaining a linkage between this core population and other core populations, such as western Kern County population, as well as the satellite populations. Large blocks of isolated natural land need to be protected to decrease the negative effects from habitat loss and fragmentation. Recovery of this species cannot be achieved without maintaining the connections between the essential core and satellite populations. To enhance these connections, conserved lands can be secured through acquisition of title O~ ~ A KF9`f'-c~- m r V ~ ORIGINAL Metropolitan Bakersfield HCP Page 6 or conservation easements, or a combination of both. The Metropolitan Bakersfield HCP will help recover this species by developing mechanisms to implement a conservation strategy, with the intent of maintaining populations as well as essential movement corridors for the kit fox. Maior Conservation Benefit to Other Species in San Joaquin Kit Fox (SJKF) Range The Recovery Plan also identified that the recovery actions for the San Joaquin kit fox are critical for recovery of many other species in the San Joaquin Valley. Because of the kit fox's occurrence within the same natural communities as many other species included in the recovery plan, and its requirement for large habitat areas, conservation for the kit fox will provide an umbrella of protection for many of the other species that require less habitat such as the blunt-nosed leopard lizard, San Joaquin antelope squirrel, Nelson's antelope squirrel, giant kangaroo rat, and Tipton kangaroo rat. The strategy for these species includes protecting additional habitat within the key portions of their ranges. Two of the listed species (blunt-nosed leopard lizard and golden eagle) in the list of Proposed Species for Coverage (Table 1) are also considered to be "fully protected" by DFG. Those are species for which no take can be authorized, except for research and management purposes. While they would not be covered species, both would likely obtain benefits from implementation of the HCP, since they rely on the key habitats within the plan area. The Recovery Plan strategy for the blunt-nosed leopard lizard includes protecting habitat within the key portions of its range (USFWS, 1998) including the natural lands in and around Lokern, Elk Hills, and in the Semitropic Ridge area, all of which are located in western Kern County and overlap with the proposed HCP study and planning area. In addition, the Recovery Plan stresses the importance of conserving the natural lands in north western Kern County and in the McKittrick Valley in southwestern Kern County to protect a corridor of continuous habitat for movement and connectivity for species without the ability to move through irrigated farmland such as the blunt-nosed leopard lizard. For the Tipton kangaroo rat, the Recovery Plan emphasizes the importance of conserving large contiguous blocks of natural or restored habitat to maintain viable populations. This species is unique to the area encompassed by the historical Tulare lake bed, and has had its distribution reduced to pockets of remaining habitat in southern Tulare and Kings Counties and in natural lands remaining in Kern County. Tipton kangaroo rat populations periodically spike to high levels and decline rapidly, often going extinct locally. Long term drought, excessive amounts of precipitation, flooding, and habitat fragmentation leave this species even more vulnerable to continued decline. When large expanses of connected habitat exist, there is a greater probability some surviving populations will irrupt and individuals will recolonize areas where they have been eliminated. In particular, the recovery strategy notes conservation efforts need to be concentrated in the Semitropic Ridge area, the Kern River alluvial fan area including Coles's levee, and the northern and western portion of Kern County. These areas are key in terms of recovery for this species and the HCP conservation strategy would target the recovery planning area to maintain known viable populations and examine strategies to prevent additional threats from emerging over time. Two federally-listed plant species are also found in the plan area. The Recovery Plan identifies recovery strategies for the San Joaquin woolly-threads and California jewel flower that includes conservation of areas within the HCP planning area. In addition, the recovery plan identifies recovery strategies for plant and animal species that have no federal status but have state or CNPS sensitivity designations and are found within the plan area. These species include Munz's tidy tips, San Joaquin antelope squirrel, short- nosed kangaroo rat, and Tulare grasshopper mouse. The Recovery Plan also designates western Kern County as one of the two largest and most important habitat areas for the San Joaquin antelope squirrel, with the second habitat area located in the Carizzo Plain. As has been discussed earlier with regard to the San Joaquin kit fox, this is significant in terms of linkage and movement corridors for this species as the two areas overlap and cross multiple HCP boundaries. Without a comprehensive approach toward conservation of habitat for the San Joaquin antelope squirrel in western Kern County, the Carizzo Plain population may not be viable. Portions of the plan area will experience a substantial increase in development of habitat lands to accommodate the increase in California's population growth, potentially impacting natural resources; s o``~AKF9~, m ~ r U ~ ORIGINAL Metropolitan Bakersfield HCP Page 7 however, because of the relatively undeveloped nature of the plan area, a large-scale conservation effort can be accomplished before the area is fragmented by development. Central and Western Kern County are identified in the Recovery Plan as one of the largest and most important habitat areas for these species and includes protecting and conserving these species through appropriate land uses and habitat management. Multiple species will greatly benefit from a cohesive conservation approach with the new HCP. Maior Conservation Benefit to Buena Vista Lake Ornate Shrew (BVLS The Buena Vista Lake ornate shrew formerly occurred in wetlands around the Buena Vista Lake in western Kern County, and presumably throughout the Tulare Lake Basin. As the lakes and sloughs in the Basin have been drained and cultivated, the loss of valley freshwater marsh and riparian habitat has contributed to the decline and disappearance of this species. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Recovery Plan for Upland Species of the San Joaquin Valley, California (Recovery Plan) (1998) includes the BVLS and provides a goal of long-term conservation for the BVLS and its wetland and riparian habitat. The wetland and riparian areas of the Metropolitan Bakersfield General Plan area are located along the Kern River. The City of Bakersfield Water Recharge Facility is a 2,800 acre natural vegetation portion of the Kern River that is being evaluated by the USFWS for critical habitat designation for the BVLS. The existing Metropolitan Bakersfield HCP excludes the Kern River channel within the primary flood plain. However, this exclusion will be reconsidered for the new HCP because of the identification of the potential critical habitat for the BVLS. In addition, corridors of movement and the potential for genetic exchange will be examined for the areas within and adjacent to the Metropolitan Bakersfield study area. Public Benefits The HCP will benefit the public by providing a predictable and informed approach for addressing compliance with state and federal Endangered Species laws, a mitigation program for urban development within the plan boundaries, and open space benefits. Development of a coordinated regional Metropolitan Bakersfield HCP will afford a conservation strategy for covered species to address recovery needs, as well as expedite the permit process and provide for cost and mitigation assurances. In addition, the HCP would enable private landowners to participate in the HCP instead of preparing individual HCPs or state permit applications for their development projects, in a much shorter time frame and at a lower cost than required for individual permits. The benefits of the HCP would extend to covered County and City Public Works and General Services projects, benefiting the County and City by expediting the permit process. By obviating the need for individual permits, the community-wide HCP and permit will have the added benefit of freeing up time and resources for all of the regulatory agencies. APPROACH: For this first phase, Metropolitan Bakersfield agencies (City of Bakersfield and the County of Kern) will hire a consultant to develop the elements needed for the HCP, as directed by the County and the City with the guidance of the wildlife agencies. The role of the consultant will be to not only provide expertise and technical guidance to the City and County, but also facilitate and coordinate input of the various agencies and interested parties to formulate a consensus on the study area, the covered species, the covered activities for the HCP, and to explore whether an NCCP is feasible within the study area. The consultant will also acquire baseline species and habitat data and determine the additional data needs. The Metropolitan Bakersfield agencies will rely on the assistance of the state and federal wildlife agencies, other federal agencies (U.S. Bureau of Land Management, Kern National Wildlife Refuge), scientific advisors (Endangered Species Recovery Program, Cal State University, Bakersfield), Western Kern County HCP programs (Kern Water Bank, Champagne Shores, Chevron Pipeline, EnviroCocle, Inc., Kern County Waste Facility, Lamont Public Utility District, Nuevo Torch, and Seneca and Enron Oil and Natural Gas) and subcontractors. Further, the stakeholders that will help plan for the succeeding phases in the development of the HCP will be identified, which will include, but not be limited to, the agencies and advisors above as well as: s o~OAKF T V O ORIGINAL Metropolitan Bakersfield HCP Page 8 • Community Development agencies • Land Developers/Homebuilders • Interested Landowners • California Native Plant Society • Audubon Society • Nature Conservancy • Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program In addition, the Metropolitan Bakersfield agencies and their consultants will consult with the following agencies for coordination on covered activities as well as information and planning for existing San Joaquin kit fox corridors and den areas within Metropolitan Bakersfield HCP area: • Local Water Agencies • Local Canal Districts • Local School Districts • Pacific Gas and Electric and Southern California Edison electrical distribution divisions (power line easements) • Southern Pacific Railroad The first phase will also serve to assist in the formation of sound planning documents and timelines for tasks in subsequent phases working towards the completion of the HCP. LOCATION Metropolitan Bakersfield is located in Kern County, which is in the southern-most portion of California's San Joaquin Valley. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the County has a total area of 5,210,214 acres, with the California Coast Range delineating the county's western boundary, the crest of the Sierra Nevada defining the northeastern boundary, and the Tehachapi Range forming the southwestern boundary. Major water courses within the County are the Kern River, Poso Creek, Friant Kern Canal, and the California Aqueduct. The western slopes of the Sierra Nevada are the source of the headwaters for the Kern River which flows through the Metropolitan Bakersfield area (Figure 1). Historically, the Kern River perennially flooded the San Joaquin Valley floor and formed large, temporary, shallow inland lakes. Since 1954, the flooding has been controlled by the creation of Lake Isabella in the Sierra, and the controlled waters of the Kern River have predominantly been used for agriculture. The historic lake bottoms are now used for irrigated agriculture production and the Metropolitan Bakersfield HCP area is located within the valley floor area where flooding previously occurred. ESTIMATED COST: The total estimated cost for the project is $577,000 with $427,000 of federal funds requested and $150,000 provided as a match from the City of Bakersfield, the County of Kern, and stakeholders (Table 2). If limited funding is available, Metropolitan Bakersfield requests that enough funding would be awarded to accomplish Tasks 1, 2 and 3. o~~AKF9s r ORIGINAL Metropolitan Bakersfield HCP Page 9 Figure 1 M1 iy J Y~ Y~• ~d CUIN i1 V f- t 0 i w s~ KERN COUNTY Aiqmen Dips Anpbs sm Dino CALIFORNIA Figure 2 METROPOLITAN BAKERSFIELD GENERAL PLAN a a~ s i I• xr.~,~,f` ~ v~`i t'sxf ate.` ~ 7t~~ 'T t~ r• '1~( ~A4 sir t75 t' r t i `1Yoile~ s t ?S°~A. > „ .3 .r, r.'6 t S~ Ads 't'a s s .x.°.1.. ..i y \h Y 1 S ~ S HCP LAND STATUS K 1 NATURAL 7R. Z zi !5 tr f„ . w n nk . . rr . 4 : x'C ~a~k iw air Yc 3i~ URBANIZED "to • y~ .Sa' ~ JS Y e'w ~ ~y` !Pty-dF. Yyj~- ' ~ y. 1~ .'^4 r.=~°~~..::.sa+~:.`.ri~,R.e~.:i_d ro. .~hl..x..^~'~•S•.P ~:S~LI.~~ ~s..... y - 0 2.5 5 10 Miles ~ sr F- ~o v gAKF9 o ORIGNAL a u _ c m O io d to C O A R w A V a v m c m 12 y Y H m Q c c c O m a o ~a R H o a CL c O L) d N d O „ CL H O U H ~ t ~ v w o O Z d O LL Q _ Y N to N ~ U N a 0 8 O f0 10 y O O Q O f0 U O p U_ NU a~ L E. m.0 H U O +v N OO > m d N M CO m c O i~ LL S` o v o L N U viaa0 v c 0 Qa u a ~ U W O 0 0 0 o O O O O O O O O 00 Q LO vv°O °o r- a~ Efl too LO J 69 60 br. 60 ( d ~ y y 10 r. O > E E a O o 7 w N A ~ 0 C N Y 1 0 U 1 ~ O o OIO O O e o O N O O O O O O L y N ° M O `y It ~ ~ N LO LO r+ rL+ " ' N C L LO , cc e» 69 E» E E e Li in w c 3 w H {Lp O O O Z U oo °o °o °o °o °o o c w 22 O e a fD O ° _ O_ O_ ° LO LO V) N E 1° p 3 d N V N N p ffl ffl fA d9 V \ C L 11 cLLus O E rn ~v00 O O N a a m 0) vi LL d c cu W C_ N a N > C O U LA f0 O y U N O w N J T C ` a v II E2 y N ~-0 X, 8Z 4) 0 a) c-C y o f O E Y E m i > > U Q a) a) IL U) a' y m m Y O Q 0 Q W> W O o``gAKF9~ ~ m U O ORIGINAL Exhibit B In Reply Refer To: FWS/R8/WSFR United States Department of the Interior FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE Pacific Southwest Region Wildlife & Sport Fish Restoration Program 2800 Cottage Way, W-1729 Sacramento, California 95825 Mr. Bill Kindred California Department of Fish and Game Habitat Conservation Planning Branch 1416 Ninth Street, Suite 1260 Sacramento, California 95814 Subject: Notice of Federal Assistance Award for E-35-HP-7 Dear Mr. Kindred: August 25, 2011 po' u.s. rossi a WILDLIFE SRO V 1CR AL The enclosed Application for Federal Assistance, E-35-HP-7, 2011 Bakersfield HCP, is approved effective November 1, 2011, with a total Federal share in the amount of $427,000. The performance period of this award is November 1, 2011, through October 31, 2014. Terms of Acceptance: Per http•//www doi aov/pam/financialassistance/award/index.html, acceptance of a Federal Financial award from the Department of the Interior (DOI) carries with it the responsibility to be aware of and comply with the terms and conditions of the award. Acceptance is defined as the start of work, drawing down funds, or accepting the award via electronic means. Awards are based on the application submitted to, and as approved by DOI and are subject to the terms and conditions incorporated either directly or by reference to the following: • Program legislation\regulation. • Special terms and conditions. • Code of Federal Regulations/Regulatory Requirements, as applicable 43 CFR 12(A) Administrative and Audit Requirements and Cost Principles for Assistance Programs 43 CFR 12(E) Buy American Requirements for Assistance Programs 43 CFR 12(C) Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants and Cooperative Agreements to State and Local Governments TAKE PRIDE* j~~ o~~AK4: ~ INAM E R ICA-: U O ORIGINAL 43 CFR 12(F) Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants and Cooperative A_areements with Institutions of Higher Education Hospitals, other Non-Profit and Commercial Orizanizations 43 CFR 43 Governmentwide Requirements for a Drug-Free Workplace 43 CFR 42 Governmentwide Debarment and Suspension (Nonprocurement) 43 CFR 18 New Restrictions on Lobbying 305 DM 3 Integrity of Scientific and Scholarly Activities Interim Guidance for Financial Status and Performance Reporting dated MU 12.2009 Special Provisions and Conditions: - Cost accounting is required at Grant level - USFWS must receive: (a) annual interim financial reports and annual interim performance reports; and (b) final financial report and performance report no later than 90 days after the expiration or termination of grant support. This grant may not be extended beyond October 31, 2014 without written permission from the USFWS Director. Please contact me or Becky Miller at (916) 978-6185 if you have any questions. Sincerely, Fm Avft--~ Susan K. Detwiler, Chief Wildlife & Sport Fish Restoration Program o`` o, N s ~ r V O ORIGINAL