Appendix G. Identification of Target Species and Focused Conservation Plans STATE OF CALIFORNIA THE NATURAL RESOURCES AGENCY DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES This page left blank intentionally. CVFPP Conservation Strategy Appendix G. Identification of Target Species and Focused Conservation Plans Table of Contents 1.0 Introduction ......................................................................................................... G-1 2.0 Selection of Target Species ................................................................................ G-1 3.0 Identification of Target Species for Focused Conservation Planning .................. G-2 3.1 Development of Focused Conservation Plans .................................................. G-14 4.0 References ........................................................................................................ G-16 5.0 Acronyms and Other Abbreviations ................................................................... G-17 List of Tables Table 2-1. Screening of Animal Species Potentially Affected by CVFPP (including the Conservation Strategy) for Target Species and Focused Conservation Planning ........................................................................... G-3 Table 2-2. Screening of Plant Species Potentially Affected by CVFPP (including the Conservation Strategy) for Target Species and Focused Conservation Planning ........................................................................... G-9 Table 2-3. Distribution of Proposed Target Species and Focused Conservation Plans .................................................................................................... G-13 July 2016 G-i Appendix G. Identification of Target Species and CVFPP Conservation Strategy Focused Conservation Plans Attachments G1. Focused Conservation Plan: Delta Button-Celery G2. Focused Conservation Plan: Slough Thistle G3. Focused Conservation Plan: Valley Elderberry Longhorn Beetle G4. Focused Conservation Plan: California Central Valley Steelhead G5. Focused Conservation Plan: Central Valley Fall-/Late Fall–Run Chinook Salmon G6. Focused Conservation Plan: Central Valley Spring-Run Chinook Salmon G7. Focused Conservation Plan: Sacramento River Winter-Run Chinook Salmon G8. Focused Conservation Plan: Southern Distinct Population Segment of the North American Green Sturgeon G9. Focused Conservation Plan: Giant Garter Snake G10. Focused Conservation Plan: Bank Swallow G11. Focused Conservation Plan: California Black Rail G12. Focused Conservation Plan: Greater Sandhill Crane G13. Focused Conservation Plan: Least Bell’s Vireo G14. Focused Conservation Plan: Swainson’s Hawk G15. Focused Conservation Plan: Western Yellow-Billed Cuckoo G16. Focused Conservation Plan: Riparian Brush Rabbit G17. Focused Conservation Plan: Riparian (San Joaquin Valley) Woodrat . G-ii July 2016 CVFPP Conservation Strategy Appendix G. Identification of Target Species and Focused Conservation Plans 1.0 Introduction The purpose of the Conservation Strategy of the Central Valley Flood Protection Plan (CVFPP) is to provide direction for the California Department of Water Resources’ (DWR’s) environmental stewardship activities related to integrated flood management in the Central Valley, and to provide a framework and support for programmatic permitting of flood management activities. One goal of the Conservation Strategy is to contribute to the recovery and stability of native species populations and overall biotic community diversity. A set of potential target species was identified to support measurable objectives for this goal. For those target species with the greatest need for recovery of their populations, focused conservation planning was conducted. This appendix documents the process used for selecting the target species of the Conservation Strategy, including 17 target species for which focused conservation planning was conducted. The results of this focused planning are also provided in this appendix, in the form of focused conservation plans. This document is scheduled to be updated every 5 years. Because the conservation needs of species change, in the future, additional species may become suitable targets for the Conservation Strategy. Therefore, during preparation of the 5-year updates to the CVFPP, the preliminary list of species in this appendix will be reevaluated using the same criteria described below. Species meeting these criteria will be added, and focused conservation plans will be developed for them and included in subsequent updates of the Conservation Strategy. During the public comment period, new information regarding the status of the delta smelt (Hypomesus transpacificus) and its habitat use in the Systemwide Planning Area (SPA) was made available, and a recovery plan for the species is expected to be released in 2016; therefore, this species will be considered for inclusion in the 2022 CVFPP and Conservation Strategy. Other species that were considered during the initial screening could be reconsidered, and targeted conservation plans may be developed. These species include the western pond turtle (Actinemys marmorata), tricolored blackbird (Agelaius tricolor), western red bat (Lasiurus blossevillii), and western burrowing owl (Athene cunicularia hypugaea). 2.0 Selection of Target Species Potential target species are those sensitive, native species that could most benefit from implementation of the Conservation Strategy to enhance and restore processes and habitats, primarily because of their strong association with river and floodplain ecosystems of the Sacramento and San Joaquin Valleys. A preliminary list of candidate target species was compiled from the lists of sensitive species potentially affected by implementation of the CVFPP (see the CVFPP program environmental impact report [PEIR]; DWR 2012). The preliminary list was also based on additional review of the California Natural Diversity Database (CNDDB; California Department of Fish and Wildlife [CDFW] 2014) and other information sources (California Native Plant Society [CNPS] 2012; CalFish 2012; California Interagency Wildlife July 2016 G-1 Appendix G. Identification of Target Species and CVFPP Conservation Strategy Focused Conservation Plans Task Group 2008; Shuford and Gardali 2008; CALFED Bay-Delta Program 2000). To be selected as a potential target, a species had to satisfy all three of the following criteria: 1. Sensitive or special-status—The species must be identified as sensitive or special status in local or regional plans, policies, or regulations; or by CDFW, National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), or U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). Species included those listed as threatened or endangered under the federal Endangered Species Act (ESA) or California Endangered Species Act (CESA), candidates for listing, species that are Fully Protected under the California Fish and Game Code, California Species of Special Concern, and species on California Rare Plant Ranks 1A, 1B, and 2. 2. Associated with target habitats—The species must require riverine aquatic (including shaded riverine aquatic [SRA] cover), riparian, marsh, or periodically inundated floodplain habitats as the primary habitat for one or more life stages or ecological needs (e.g., reproduction or foraging). 3. Potential CVFPP effect—Implementation of the CVFPP, including flood projects and operations and maintenance, could temporarily or permanently affect California populations of the species, based on its distribution, habitat associations, and ecology (effects may be adverse or beneficial). The application of these criteria to the preliminary list of candidates for target species (summarized in Tables 2-1 and 2-2) was reviewed by biologists from DWR, as well as by biologists with expertise in the riverine, riparian, and fresh water emergent marsh systems of the Sacramento and San Joaquin Valleys. It also was reviewed by the Interagency Advisory Committee (see Section 1.3 of the Conservation Strategy for a description of this advisory committee’s composition and role). The resulting list of target species, along with their distribution by Conservation Planning Area (CPA; delineated in the Conservation Strategy), is provided in Table 2-3. The habitat requirements of target species then guided development of the Conservation Strategy’s objectives and prioritization of future projects. 3.0 Identification of Target Species for Focused Conservation Planning For the most part, the Conservation Strategy will achieve benefits for target species through restoration of ecosystem processes and habitats and reduction of stressors related to the flood system. However, a subset of target species have additional, more specialized or localized habitat requirements, or their populations are not primarily restricted by habitat availability. Benefits to these species can be maximized by designing management actions to meet, wherever feasible, the species’ specific conservation needs. For example, designing high-water refugia for species sensitive to flood inundation (e.g., riparian brush rabbit) will yield additional benefits at locations identified as critical to a target species. Therefore, to ensure that the Conservation Strategy G-2 July 2016 CVFPP Conservation Strategy Appendix G. Identification of Target Species and Focused Conservation Plans Table 2-1. Screening of Animal Species Potentially Affected by CVFPP (including the Conservation Strategy) for Target Species and Focused Conservation Planning Target Species Regional Associated Major Potential T/E