Where it all Began—San Bruno Mountain by Al Donner

Often called the “Island of The San Bruno HCP protects most additional species listed after Openness,” massive San of the mountain habitat while 1983. Newer HCPs also require Bruno Mountain dominates the allowing landowners to develop a solid financial base to fund crowded San Francisco Bay about 300 acres (120 ha). It has land acquisitions and habitat area. The mountain is 4 miles resulted in a more secure future for management expenses. The (6.5 kilometers) long and 1,300 three listed species: the San Bruno San Bruno HCP lacked funds feet (almost 400 meters) high. In elfin butterfly (Callophrys mossii to manage the saved habitat the early 1980s, it faced plans bayensis), Mission blue butterfly adequately, a shortcoming for housing developments over (Icaricia icarioides missionensis), remedied with a recent much of its steep surface. and San Francisco garter snake amendment to the plan. (Thamnophis sirtalis tetrataenia). Today, some 2,800 acres (1,130 In the end, the open crest of hectares) of San Bruno Mountain Much has been learned since San Bruno Mountain remains a are forever protected by what that first effort. Newer HCPs vital habitat for native species was once a unique and untested often protect even larger areas and a treasure for the people concept. At a time when and cover large numbers of non- of the Bay Area, thanks to Endangered Species Act (ESA) listed species that benefit from the pioneering efforts at consultations focused only on habitat conservation before they collaboration to protect large the possible impacts of individual reach a crisis condition, a lesson ecosystems. projects, the idea of protecting learned when the San Bruno HCP entire ecosystems was novel. had to be amended to cover two

The Fish and Wildlife Service developed the concept of Habitat Conservation Plans (HCP) in an effort to reduce habitat fragmentation. This The purple lupine, a plant critical to the mission blue butterfly, receives protection under the San Bruno approach was enabled by a Mountain HCP. Patrick Kobermus/USFWS 1982 amendment to the ESA allowing private landowners to establish “conservation plans” and receive ESA protection under an “incidental take” permit. In 1983, the Service issued the nation’s first such permit for the San Bruno Mountain HCP. The Service worked out a process focused on collaboration, bringing differing interests together and getting them to agree on a plan. It meant everybody had to give up something and everyone gained something.

26 Endangered Species Bulletin Fall 2010 www.fws.gov/endangered