Palm Springs Pocket Mouse, Coachella Valley Round-Tailed Ground Squirrel, and Triple-Ribbed Milkvetch
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Proposed Major Amendment to the Coachella Valley MSHCP – March 2014 TABLE OF CONTENTS Section Page No. PURPOSE OF APPENDIX I ........................................................................................................................ 1 1.0 BACKGROUND, PURPOSE, SCOPE, PROCESS, AND REGULATORY CONTEXT ....................... 2 1.1 Public Meetings Held ........................................................................................................................ 2 2.0 PLAN AREA PROFILE ............................................................................................................................... 8 3.0 PLAN DEVELOPMENT .............................................................................................................................. 9 3.1 Composition and Role of the Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) ............................................... 9 3.2 Conservation Planning Methodology .............................................................................................. 16 3.2.1 Best Available Science Standard ...................................................................................... 16 3.2.2 Planning Objectives and Key Concepts ............................................................................ 18 3.2.2.1 Planning at Species, Community, and Ecosystem Levels .................................. 18 3.2.2.2 Coarse Filter and Fine Filter Approach .............................................................. 19 3.2.2.3 Key Concepts ..................................................................................................... 19 3.3 Independent Science Advisors ........................................................................................................ 32 3.4 Field Surveys Completed during Plan Preparation ......................................................................... 89 3.5 Natural Communities Mapping ....................................................................................................... 91 3.5.1 Natural Communities Map ................................................................................................ 91 3.5.2 Accuracy Assessment ....................................................................................................... 93 3.5.3 Historical Natural Communities Map ............................................................................... 93 3.6 Species Habitat Distribution Modeling ........................................................................................... 98 3.6.1 Overview of the Modeling Process ................................................................................... 98 3.6.2 Parameters for Each Species Distribution Model ........................................................... 101 3.6.3 Species for Which No Model Was Developed ............................................................... 102 3.6.4 Review and Validation of Species Distribution Models ................................................. 102 3.7 Site Identification Process ............................................................................................................. 103 3.7.1 Iterative Site Identification Process ................................................................................ 103 3.7.1.1 First Iteration of Site Identification Mapping: Quantitative GIS Analysis ....... 103 3.7.1.2 First Iteration Site Identification Alternatives .................................................. 106 3.7.1.3 Second Iteration of Site Identification Mapping: Incorporation of Ecosystem Processes, Endemic Species, and Conservation Status ................................................................................... 107 3.7.1.4 Third Iteration of Site Identification Mapping: Identification of Highest Conservation Value Areas ................................................................... 108 3.7.2 Development of Initial Conservation Alternatives ......................................................... 110 3.7.2.1 Initial Conservation Alternative 1 .................................................................... 110 3.7.2.2 Initial Conservation Alternative 2 .................................................................... 117 3.7.2.3 Initial Conservation Alternative 3 .................................................................... 119 3.7.3 Evaluation of Initial Conservation Alternatives ............................................................. 122 3.7.3.1 Statistical Analysis of Alternatives ................................................................... 123 3.7.3.2 Administrative Review Draft............................................................................ 123 3.7.3.3 SITES Model .................................................................................................... 123 3.7.4 Development of Draft Preferred Alternative .................................................................. 124 3.8 Species Considered but Not Included in the Plan ......................................................................... 125 3.8.1 Review of Species Identified in the Original MOU ........................................................ 125 3.9 Natural Communities Not Included in the Plan ............................................................................ 132 ToC-i Proposed Major Amendment to the Coachella Valley MSHCP – March 2014 TABLE OF CONTENTS (cont.) Section Page No. 3.10 Sources of Biological Data............................................................................................................ 137 3.10.1 List of Reports Consulted for Species Distribution Information .................................... 138 3.10.2 Museums Contacted for Specimens from Target Species List ....................................... 150 4.0 ESTABLISHMENT OF THE MSHCP RESERVE SYSTEM .............................................................. 152 4.1 Analysis of Other Conserved Habitat for Covered Species and Broadly Distributed Natural Communities Conserved through Other Conservation Objectives ..................................................................................................... 152 4.2 Acquisitions since the Planning Agreement .................................................................................. 159 4.3 Model MOU .......................................................................................................................... 161 4.4 Dimensions of Culverts and Bridges That function as Biological Corridors ................................ 164 4.4.1 Stubbe Canyon Wash Biological Corridor under I-10 .................................................... 164 4.4.2 Whitewater River and San Gorgonio River Biological Corridors under Highway 111 .. 164 4.4.3 Whitewater River Biological Corridor under the I-10 .................................................... 165 4.4.4 Mission Creek Biological Corridors under Hwy 62 ....................................................... 165 4.4.5 Mission Creek and Willow Wash Biological Corridors under I-10 ................................ 165 4.4.6 Biological Corridors under the I-10 Freeway in the Desert Tortoise and Linkage Conservation Area ............................................................................................ 166 5.0 COSTS OF AND FUNDING FOR PLAN IMPLEMENTATION ........................................................ 167 5.1 Land Costs .......................................................................................................................... 167 5.2 Land Improvement Costs .............................................................................................................. 169 5.3 CVCC Administrative Costs ......................................................................................................... 169 6.0 PLAN IMPLEMENTATION ................................................................................................................... 171 6.1 Conservation Areas Conservation Objectives for Use in Rough Step Analysis ........................... 171 6.2 Mitigation Matrix for I-10 Interchange and Related Arterial Projects .......................................... 195 7.0 TAKE AUTHORIZATION FOR COVERED ACTIVITIES AND TERM OF PERMIT ................. 197 7.1 Information on IID’s Overhead Power Line “N50” Circuit Relocation in the Thousand Palms Conservation Area ................................................................................... 197 8.0 MSHCP RESERVE SYSTEM MANAGEMENT & MONITORING PROGRAM ............................ 199 8.1 Background Information on Development of Niche Models ........................................................ 199 8.2 Various Approaches to Sampling .................................................................................................. 206 8.2.1 Community Classification Index .................................................................................... 206 8.2.2 Conceptual Framework for Sampling by Species ........................................................... 207 8.2.3 Conceptual Framework for Habitat Monitoring ............................................................. 212 8.3 Background on Monitoring: Aeolian Sand Community ............................................................... 214 GLOSSARY ............................................................................................................................................................. 216 ToC-ii Proposed Major Amendment to the Coachella Valley MSHCP – March 2014