Transcript Strategic Habitat Conservation for Endangered Species

Strategic Habitat Conservation
for Endangered Species:
Applying an adaptive management
framework to lead to the recovery of
North Carolina’s rare aquatic species
Presented by:
Sarah McRae
12 January 2012
Presentation Overview
• US Fish and Wildlife Service in NC
• Strategic Habitat Conservation (SHC) concepts
• Recovery Planning using SHC for listed species
Cape Fear shiner
Dwarf wedgemussel
Tar River spinymussel
• Future Steps
 How YOU can help
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Our Mission:
Working with others to conserve, protect and
enhance fish, wildlife, plants and their
habitats for the continuing benefit of the
American people.
USFWS in North Carolina
LEGEND
National
Wildlife
Refuges
Migratory
Law
National
Fish
Ecological
Bird Field Enforcement
Fish
Resource
Services
Station
Offices
Hatcheries Coordinators
Offices
LE Port
Realty
Offices
Ecological Services Program Areas
• Endangered Species
(listing, candidate conservation, consultation, recovery)
• Conservation Planning Assistance
(NEPA, FERC, federal permit reviews)
• Coastal Program
(coastal ecosystem restoration, fish passage, invasive control)
• Partners for Fish and Wildlife
(habitat restoration/improvement/protection on private
lands through partnerships)
• Environmental Contaminants
(evaluating effects of contaminants for pollution prevention
and environmental restoration)
USFWS’s Strategic Habitat
Conservation Framework
• What is SHC?
An adaptive resource management framework for making
management decisions about where and how to deliver
conservation efficiently to achieve specific biological
outcomes.
Assumptiondriven Research
Populations
Figure 1. SHC
for
populations:
SHC
Using SHC for Cape Fear shiner
Formulate
Formulate
(reassess)
(reassess)
(reassess)
Population
Objectives
Landscape
Objectives
Habitat
Objectives
Feedback Loop:
Assess Net Progress
Toward Objectives:
1. Populations
2. Habitats
3. Landscape
Feedback
Loop:
Assess
Program
Accomplishments
Monitor the Effects of
Management Actions on:
1. Focal Species Populations
2. Selected Habitats
3. The Landscape
Evaluate
Limiting
Factors
Model Critical
Features:
1. Populations
2. Habitats
3. Landscape
Revise
Models
Feedback Loop:
Target Research at
Key Assumptions
Delivery of Conservation Actions
SHCPopulation
Conservation
Design
Formulate
h
Select (reassess)
Habitats in
the Landscape
rc
sa
Delineate
(reassess)
the Landscape
Select
(reassess)
Focal Species
Re
Monitoring
Biological
Planning
Conse rvation
Delivery
Assess Current State of
the Populations
Assess Current State of
the Habitats
Assess Current State of
the Landscape
Develop and Integrate
Decision Support Tools for:
1. Populations
2. Habitats
3. Landscape
Evaluate Programmatic
Priorities Relative to:
1. Populations
2. Habitats
3. Landscape
Populations
Usingfor
SHC
for Cape Fear
shiner
Figure 1. SHC
populations:
SHC
Formulate
Formulate
Formulate
(reassess)
(reassess)
(reassess)
Population
Objectives
Landscape
Objectives
Habitat
Objectives
Feedback Loop:
Assess Net Progress
Toward Objectives:
1. Populations
2. Habitats
3. Landscape
Feedback
Loop:
Assess
Program
Accomplishments
Monitor the Effects of
Management Actions on:
1. Focal Species Populations
2. Selected Habitats
3. The Landscape
Evaluate
Limiting
Factors
Model Critical
Features:
1. Populations
2. Habitats
3. Landscape
Revise
Models
Feedback Loop:
Target Research at
Key Assumptions
Delivery of Conservation Actions
SHCPopulation
Conservation
Design
Select (reassess)
Priority Stream
Habitats in
reaches/patches
the Landscape
h
Delineate
Upper
Cape Fear
(reassess)
basin
theRiver
Landscape
Select
Cape Fear
(reassess)
shiner
Focal Species
rc
sa
BIOLOGICAL PLANNING
Re
Monitoring
Biological
Planning
Conse rvation
Delivery
Assess Current State of
the Populations
Assess Current State of
the Habitats
Assess Current State of
the Landscape
Develop and Integrate
Decision Support Tools for:
1. Populations
2. Habitats
3. Landscape
Evaluate Programmatic
Priorities Relative to:
1. Populations
2. Habitats
3. Landscape
Biological Planning:
Formulating Objectives
• Population: What constitutes a robust population?
 Densities in optimal habitat patches
 Minimum viable population size
• Landscape: Where in the Upper Cape Fear River
basin will we focus efforts?
 Prioritize watersheds to focus conservation actions
• Habitat: What are the essential habitat constituents?
 Focus on water willow beds – what habitat variables are
important for water willow?
 How many stream miles need to be occupied?
Populations
Figure 1. SHC
for
populations:
SHC
Using SHC for Cape Fear shiner
Formulate
Formulate
Formulate
(reassess)
(reassess)
(reassess)
Population
Objectives
Landscape
Objectives
Habitat
Objectives
SHCPopulation
Conservation
Design
Select (reassess)
Habitats in
the Landscape
h
Delineate
(reassess)
the Landscape
Select
(reassess)
Focal Species
rc
sa
Water Quality studies
Re
Monitoring
Biological
Planning
Conse rvation
Delivery
Assess Current State of
the Populations
Assess Current State of
the Habitats
Assess
Current State of
Captive
the Landscape
propagation
Feedback Loop:
Assess Net Progress
Toward Objectives:
1. Populations
2. Habitats
3. Landscape
Feedback
Loop:
Assess
Program
Accomplishments
Evaluate
Limiting
Factors
Model Critical
Features:
1. Populations
2. Habitats
3. Landscape
Revise
Models
Feedback Loop:
Target Research at
Key Assumptions
RESEARCH
Monitor the Effects of
Management Actions on:
1. Focal Species Populations
2. Selected Habitats
3. The Landscape
Develop and Integrate
Decision Support Tools for:
1. Populations
2. Habitats
3. Landscape
CFS
Delivery of Conservation Actions
CFS eggs
Evaluate Programmatic
Priorities Relative to:
1. Populations
2. Habitats
larva3. Landscape
Assumption-driven Research
• Summary:
http://www.fws.gov/raleigh/species/es_cfshiner_biblio.html
o 1971 – Species is described
o 1987 – Species is listed
o 1997 – USFWS RFO & WRC start funding science needs
identified in the Recovery Plan
•
•
•
•
•
•
Habitat requirements (2 studies)
Reproductive behavior (1 study)
Sensitivity to water-borne contaminants (4 studies)
Genetic diversity (4 studies)
Mortality risk due to electroshocking (1 study)
Suitable surrogate species for future water quality studies (1
study)
• Population status across the shiner’s historic range (4 studies)
• Threats analysis (1 study)
Interesting Findings
• Overall, CFS populations remain genetically similar. But
differences do emerge as the distance between
populations increases.
 Dams, therefore, remain a threat.
• CFS not as sensitive to chemical pollutants as
previously thought.
Meeting State water quality standards is primary need.
Future Research Priorities
• Water Quality tests on all life cycle stages
• Establish techniques to assess
reintroduction/augmentation success
• Quantify water willow distribution and habitat
needs
• Comparison of Rocky/Deep River habitats vs Haw
River habitats and species associates: What are
the limiting factors in the Haw?
• Emerging threats:
– Shale Gas
– Invasive species interactions (e.g., cut grass)
Populations
Figure 1. SHC
for
populations:
SHC
Using SHC for Cape Fear shiner
Formulate
(reassess)
(reassess)
Decision Support
Tools:
Population
 Section 7Objectives
Ranges definedLandscape
Objectives
 “Canned” GIS project
 Expert CFS-SHC team
Feedback Loop:
Assess Net Progress
Toward Objectives:
1. Populations
2. Habitats
3. Landscape
Feedback
Loop:
Assess
Program
Accomplishments
Monitor the Effects of
Management Actions on:
1. Focal Species Populations
2. Selected Habitats
3. The Landscape
Monitoring
Formulate
(reassess)
Habitat
Objectives
Evaluate
Limiting
Factors
Model Critical
Features:
1. Populations
2. Habitats
3. Landscape
Revise
Models
Feedback Loop:
Target Research at
Key Assumptions
SHCPopulation
Conservation
Design
Formulate
CONSERVATION DESIGN
h
Select (reassess)
Habitats in
the Landscape
rc
sa
Delineate
(reassess)
the Landscape
Re
Select
(reassess)
Focal Species
Biological
Planning
Conse rvation
Delivery
Assess Current State of
the Populations
Assess Current State of
the Habitats
Assess Current State of
the Landscape
Develop and Integrate
Decision Support Tools for:
1. Populations
2. Habitats
3. Landscape
Evaluate Programmatic
Priorities Relative to:
1. Populations
2. Habitats
3. Landscape
Programmatic Priorities:
 RFO Top Office Priority
 WRC “Section
Delivery of Conservation
Actions6” priority for species in
Piedmont
Needed Conservation Actions
CATEGORIES OF ACTION:
• Education
• Write SHC Plan/Re-write Recovery
Plan
• Augmentation/Reintroduction
• Dam Removals
• Instream Flows
• Habitat Restoration and Protection
• Surveys and Mapping
• Policy
• Water Quality
• Research
Possible Programmatic Priorities
• Populations:
 Upper Rocky River augmentation project
• Habitats:
 Water willow distribution surveys
 Identified threat abatement projects
• Landscape:
 Lee County Conservation Partnership
 Proactive planning in Harnett County
Delivery of Conservation Actions
• Carbonton Dam Removal Project
• Continue to work with partners to achieve
conservation:
NC Wildlife Resources Commission
NC Natural Heritage Program
NC Parks and Recreation
Chatham Conservation Partnership
Triangle Land Conservancy
Haw River Assembly
NC Zoological Park
Conservation Fisheries, Inc.
Citizens
• Utilize WRC’s Green Growth Toolbox throughout
region
• Utilize Chatham Conservation Partnership for
education/outreach opportunities; project ideas
and recommendations
Populations
Figure 1. SHC
for
populations:
SHC
Using SHC for Cape Fear shiner
Feedback Loop:
Assess Net Progress
Toward Objectives:
1. Populations
2. Habitats
3. Landscape
Feedback
Loop:
Assess
Program
Accomplishments
Monitor the Effects of
Management Actions on:
1. Focal Species Populations
2. Selected Habitats
3. The Landscape
Monitoring
SHCPopulation
Conservation
Design
Population
Objectives
h
(reassess)
Select (reassess)
Habitats in
the Landscape
rc
sa
Formulate
Delineate
(reassess)
the Landscape
Re
Select
(reassess)
Focal Species
Biological
Planning
Conse rvation
Delivery
OUTCOME-BASED MONITORING
Assess Current State of
the Populations
• Identify
data needs and Assess
data
Current State of
Formulate
the Habitats
collection
strategies that will
fit
Landscape
Habitat
State of
Objectives
Objectives
into the
overall adaptiveAssesstheCurrent
Landscape
management scheme
Model
Critical partners to collect
• Collaborate
with
Develop and Integrate
Features:
Evaluate
Decision Support Tools for:
1. Populations
Limiting
information/data
1. Populations
2. Habitats
Factors
2. Habitats
3. Landscape
• Assess effects
of management
3. Landscape
• Assess agency
accomplishments
Feedback Loop:
Revise
Evaluate Programmatic
Research at
Models
• Assess
netTarget
progress
toward
Priorities Relative to:
Key Assumptions
1. Populations
population, landscape and2. Habitats
habitat
3. Landscape
objectives
Delivery of Conservation Actions
Formulate
(reassess)
(reassess)
Future Steps for CFS
 USFWS has a draft SHC framework report
available
 Working with WRC on Rocky River augmentation
project
 Working with SWCD’s along the Deep River to
address NPS pollution problems
 Exploring dam removal projects to improve
connectivity
 Expand conservation partnerships to other
counties that contain habitat for CFS
 Hold additional CFS-SHC team meetings to
discuss path forward and assess progress
• Ultimate Goal: De-list the CFS!
Using SHC for
dwarf wedgemussel
Utilizing a Structured Decision Making Approach
DWM-SHC workshop
OBJECTIVES
DWM-SHC workshop
• Management and Conservation Actions:
 Actions that affect habitat, such as, regulation or ordinances,
acquisition of land through purchase or easements, restoration, and
beaver control.
 Actions that directly affect populations, such as, augmentation,
reintroduction, or salvage.
 Actions that affect public support, such as, outreach or public
education.
DWM-SHC workshop
Future Steps for DWM
 Developing Models
 Life History
 Meta-population
 Continue to engage
DWM-SHC team
 Consider propagation
efforts
 Utilize Section 7 process
to benefit species
• Ultimate Goal: Recover DWM in NC!
Initial Conceptual Model
Using SHC for
Tar River spinymussel
Diagram from 2010
More on this from Ashton in a minute…
Questions?
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
www.fws.gov
Raleigh office of USFWS
www.fws.gov/raleigh/
Check out our new fact sheets!
www.fws.gov/raleigh/es_tes.html
Sarah McRae
[email protected]; 919-856-4520x16