Multi species Conservation under the CERP

Multi-species Conservation under the CERP: 

Multi-species Conservation under the CERP – Part 1 – Initial CERP Update (ICU) Footprint Analysis March 11, 2004 Photo: Sandra Sneckenberger

ICU Footprint Initial Analysis: 

ICU Footprint Initial Analysis Purpose: Planning tool to assist in the siting and construction of CERP infrastructure. Anticipate: Actual impacts to be both different and smaller. Updating this information as new project and species becomes available. A second PAR to address hydrologic effects.

ICU Footprint Initial Analysis: 

ICU Footprint Initial Analysis What this is: Initial assessment of possible impacts and benefits (in acres) resulting from CERP project construction, with . . . Recommendations for maximizing the benefits and minimizing the impacts. Guidance on affirmative actions to conserve and further recovery of listed species and natural ecological communities.

ICU Footprint Initial Analysis: 

ICU Footprint Initial Analysis What this is: Based on the most detailed information available on CERP projects. Based on the best available science. A worst-case scenario analysis. Information PDTs will need to move from this worst-case scenario toward alternatives that maximize benefits and minimize impacts.

ICU Footprint Initial Analysis: 

ICU Footprint Initial Analysis NOT what this is. NOT a final analysis of possible CERP footprint impacts. NOT an assessment of hydrologic effects in the remaining Everglades. NOT a biological assessment or biological opinion pursuant to the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Does NOT include an incidental take statement as defined by the ESA.

ICU Footprint Initial Analysis: 

ICU Footprint Initial Analysis Contents: Service letter of transmittal to Corps The Planning Aid Report – Part 1 Appendix A – Listed Species Appendix B – Vertebrates/Vascular Plants Appendix C – Conservation of Ecosystems Appendix D – Draft Manatee Protocols Appendix E – STA-R Recommendations

ICU Footprint Initial Analysis: 

ICU Footprint Initial Analysis Major sections of the ICU PAR – Part 1: Executive Summary Introduction Methods Project Descriptions and Initial Analyses State-listed species Summary and Conclusions Recommendations Literature Cited

ICU Footprint Initial Analysis: 

ICU Footprint Initial Analysis 13 million acre planning area 54 CERP projects analyzed 1.9 to 2.0 million acres of footprint (or analysis area)

ICU Footprint Initial Analysis: 

ICU Footprint Initial Analysis Critical habitat for 4 species 16 individual federally listed species: 2 Mammals 8 Birds 2 Reptiles 1 Invertebrate 3 Plants See Table M-1.

ICU Footprint Initial Analysis: 

ICU Footprint Initial Analysis 4 groups of federally listed species: 2 Skinks 5 Sea turtles 2 Pine rockland plants 20 High pine – scrub plants 29 Additional listed species. See Table M-1. 17 Ecological communities. See Table M-2.

Initial Analysis - Critical Habitat: 

Initial Analysis - Critical Habitat No. Projects + (acres) - 1 American crocodile 236 529 1 Cape Sable seaside sparrow 0 0 2 Everglade snail kite 0 1,690 2 West Indian manatee 0 0 See Table S-1.

Initial Analysis - Birds: 

Initial Analysis - Birds No. Projects + (acres) - 13 Caracara 75,050 82,639 33 Bald eagle 78,441 35,217 1 Cape Sable sparrow 0 0 29 Snail kite 67,883 22,082 6 Grasshopper sparrow 0 33,635 9 Scrub-jay 1,081 32,579 10 RC woodpecker 15,159 20,162 44 Wood stork 80,022 154,633

Initial Analysis - Reptiles: 

Initial Analysis - Reptiles No. Projects + (acres) - 9 American crocodile 444 647 49 Eastern indigo snake 135,506 166,009 2 Sand/bluetail mole skinks 0 0 7 Sea turtles 920 0 See Table S-1.

Init. Analysis-Invertebrate, Plants: 

Init. Analysis-Invertebrate, Plants No. Projects + (acres) - 1 Schaus swallowtail 5 0 4 Beautiful pawpaw 0 72 11 Okeechobee gourd 3,500 1,343 3 High pine - scrub plants 1,081 0 3 Tiny polygala - Pine rockland 0 0 plants See Table S-1.

ICU Footprint AnalysisManatee: 

Figure 14. Central and Southern Florida Project Manatee Accessibility (Draft) map developed by the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP) Interagency Manatee Task Force. ICU Footprint Analysis Manatee

Initial Analysis - Manatee and Manatee Critical Habitat: 

Initial Analysis - Manatee and Manatee Critical Habitat Access to 32 project sites. Hydrological effects from additional projects. See Table S-3, App D.

ICU Footprint AnalysisPanther: 

Figure 15. Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan Landscape Level Project Planning/Siting Map for Panther Conservation. ICU Footprint Analysis Panther

Initial Analysis - Panther: 

Initial Analysis - Panther No. Projects + (acres) - 16 Primary/Dispersal 68,623 7,451 6 Secondary 246 28,968 6 Other 15,550 44,691 7 Expansion 94,971 72,283 Several key projects could change analysis. See Table S-2.

Initial Analysis - Conclusions: 

Initial Analysis - Conclusions Benefit outweighs neg. for 6 species/groups: Bald eagle Everglade snail kite Sea turtles Schaus swallowtail butterfly High pine – scrub plants Okeechobee gourd

Initial Analysis - Conclusions: 

Initial Analysis - Conclusions Negative outweighs positive for 8 species: Audubon’s crested caracara Florida grasshopper sparrow Florida scrub-jay Red-cockaded woodpecker Wood stork American crocodile Eastern indigo snake Beautiful pawpaw

August 7, 1998 biological opinion: 

August 7, 1998 biological opinion No effect – 8 species Panther Grasshopper sparrow RC woodpecker Crenulated lead plant Deltoid spurge Small’s milkpea Tiny polygala Garber’s spurge Ben. effect – 5 spp/ch Am. crocodile Am. crocodile crtl hab WI manatee WI manatee crtl hab Okeechobee gourd

August 7, 1998 biological opinion: 

August 7, 1998 biological opinion AA, overall beneficial – 5 species/critical hab Snail kite Snail kite crtcl habitat CS seaside sparrow CSSS critical habitat Wood stork Adversely Affect – 4 species Bald eagle Caracara Eastern indigo snake Florida scrub-jay 18 species and 4 critical habitats

Initial AnalysisEcological Communities: 

Initial Analysis Ecological Communities No. Projects 14 High pine - scrub 13 Mesic temperate hammock 1 Pine rocklands 14 Mesic pine flatwoods 4 Hydric pine flatwoods 4 Dry prairie 8 Cutthroat grass See Table S-4.

Initial AnalysisEcological Communities: 

No. Projects 22 Wet prairie 33 Freshwater marsh 30 Swamps (Seepage, Flowing water, Pond) 8 Mangrove 4 Saltmarsh 3 Seagrass 1 Nearshore reef See Table S-4. Initial Analysis Ecological Communities

Initial AnalysisState-listed Species: 

33 state-listed species, not including species also federally listed 2 Fish 1 Amphibian 5 Reptiles 17 Birds 7 Mammals 1 Mollusc Strategic Habitat Conservation Areas Initial Analysis State-listed Species

Initial AnalysisState-listed Species: 

Species-Habitat Assemblage Groups Marsh, swamp, and wetland shrub complex - Colonial wading birds - Other protected wetland species Xeric upland complex Upland and swamp complex Coastal complex Initial Analysis State-listed Species

Initial Analysis - Species Listed: 

Initial Analysis - Species Listed App A Taxon Group App B 9 Fish 142 1 Amphibians 35 22 Reptiles 120 44 Birds 405 20 Mammals 93 347 Vascular Plants 2,511 4 Inverts/Coral 4 447 TOTAL 3,310

Acknowledgements: 

Acknowledgements Service CERP project biologists and staff FWC CERP biologists Yvette Alger, Tim Towles Interagency Manatee Task Force Service STA-R Team Multi-species/Ecosystem Recovery Implementation Team (MERIT)

Acknowledgements: 

Acknowledgements Service ICU PAR - Part 1 Team Heather McSharry Marilyn Stoll Mary Peterson Sandra Sneckenberger