Thurston County Habitat Conservation Plan. Photo credit: Rod Gilbert

Transcription

1 Thurston County Habitat Conservation Plan Photo credit: Rod Gilbert 1

2 Why an HCP for Thurston County? 4 ESA listed species. Predictability. Local control. Protection from liability for County and private land owners. Better conservation. Access to federal conservation funding.

3 Proposed Covered Species Mazama pocket gopher Taylor s checkerspot Oregon spotted frog Streaked horned lark Vesper sparrow Puget blue Valley silverspot Oregon branded skipper W. Gray Squirrel SBWB Nuthatch Hoary elfin Mardon skipper

4 Elements of HCP financing plan 1. What gets financed and when? 2. How much will it cost? 3. How will we fund the program? 4. Who will oversee the financing plan? 4

5 What needs to get financed? 1. The conservation strategies in the HCP Securing habitat conservation lands Habitat enhancement Ongoing habitat management Monitoring and reporting 2. HCP management and administration 5

6 When do actions need to get financed? 1. At HCP Start-up: Before take is permitted Generate credits in advance of County-permitted impacts. 2. Ongoing over HCP Habitat credits generated in pace with impacts Overall Conservation Strategy 6

7 How will the plan get financed? Costs can be partitioned 1. Actions needed to compensate for the direct impacts causing take. 2. Strategies to avoid impacts and to account for some of the overall effects of growth in the County. 7

8 How will the plan get financed? 1. Compensating for actions that harm, harass, or kill species (take) Fees charged to permitted development to compensate for impacts Contributions from utility and road infrastructure development funds A portion of Conservation Futures Open Space tax credit 8

9 How will the plan get financed? 2. Sources of funding to avoid impacts and achieve broader conservation goals USFWS Section 6 grants USDA Farm Bill (ACEP, EQIP) Sentinel Lands (REPI) WDFW grants Other options (Land Trusts, Private foundations) 9

10 The cost of a Credit 100 acre parcel Secure the land Enhance habitat Manage & Monitor 10

11 Compensating for a new Single Family Residence Typical compensation obligation for a new, single family residence Focus on gopher habitat 11

12 Compensating for a new Single Family Residence Estimated typical compensation obligation for a new, single family residence Focus on gopher habitat Assuming: New home and driveway Impacts in development envelope around structures (60 ft) No added mitigation ratio Results in: ~ Planning estimate* of 1 acre of impact for single family residence on an undeveloped lot *Permitted impacts will be assessed on actual footprints Cost determined by: Gopher soil preference Proximity to gopher locations (Best Available Info no additional survey) 12

13 30-Year Projected New Development by Habitat Category Projected New Development Units: Unincorporated Thurston County Soil Preference 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 on gopher habitat 20,768 * As of August 13, Final analysis pending second half of 2015 gopher survey results. 13

14 Compensating for a new Single Family Residence New home & driveway Impact in 60ft development envelope ~ 1 acre of impact area 5 acre parcel New home & driveway 60ft envelope Habitat value less for lower preference soils and further from known gopher locations 14

15 Ways to Reduce Impacts within a Lot Avoid high preference soils Low Med High 5 acre parcel New home & driveway 60 ft envelope 15

16 Ways to Reduce Impacts within a Lot Avoid high preference soils Cluster development Low Med High 5 acre parcel New home & driveway 60 ft envelope 16

17 Ways to Reduce Impacts within a Lot Avoid high preference soils Cluster development Decrease development footprint Low Med High 5 acre parcel New home & driveway 60ft envelope 17

18 The full cost of habitat conservation Average cost for a functional acre of conservation: $ Variables Value Range Acquisition Cost per Acre $4,000 to $50,000 Initial Stewardship/Maintenance per acre $300 to $750 On-going Stewardship/Maintenance per acre $200 to $500 Project Management per acre $200 to $600 *based on sample of 5 prairie projects in Thurston County 18

19 The full cost of habitat conservation Average cost for a functional acre of conservation: $ Variables Value Range Acquisition Cost per Acre $22,180 $4,000 to $50,000 Initial Stewardship/Maintenance per acre $500 $300 to $750 On-going Stewardship/Maintenance per acre $300 $200 to $500 Project Management per acre $300 $200 to $600 *based on sample of 5 prairie projects in Thurston County 19

20 The full cost of habitat conservation Average cost for a functional acre of conservation: $42,020 Variables Value Range Acquisition Cost per Acre $22,180 $4,000 to $50,000 Initial Stewardship/Maintenance per acre $500 $300 to $750 On-going Stewardship/Maintenance per acre $300 $200 to $500 Project Management per acre $300 $200 to $600 Elements of the Cost of Conservation 10% 31% 59% Acquisition Enhancement Maintenance 20

21 Compensating for a new Single Family Residence Estimated cost* per Single Family Residence on open lot Soil Preference Low Medium High > 650 feet from known gophers $6,303 $12,600 $37, feet from known gophers $31,500 $37,800 $42,000 Gophers detected * $42,000 $42,000 $42,000 TOTAL PROJECTED UNITS by 2045 on gopher habitat 20,768 * Based on 3050 sq ft house + driveway, actual costs based on actual footprint and impact of development. Elements of the Cost of Conservation 10% 31% 59% Acquisition Enhancement Maintenance 21

22 Next Steps Complete financing plan for HCP Assuming 88% build-out with little avoidance within developed properties Compensating for direct impacts of new development Leveraging resources and partnerships Estimating cost of plan administration 23