Charlotte County County‐wide Florida Scrub‐Jay (Aphelocoma coerulescens) Habitat Conservation Plan Prepared for: United States Fish and Wildlife Service 1339 20th Street Vero Beach, FL 32960 Prepared by: Charlotte County Parks & Natural Resources Division 2050 Forrest Nelson Boulevard Port Charlotte, FL 33952 Quest Ecology 735 Lake View Drive Wimauma, FL 33598 Cardno/ENTRIX 22 Sarasota Center Boulevard Sarasota, FL 34240 March 2013 Charlotte County Scrub‐Jay Habitat Conservation Plan Executive Summary 1.0 Introduction …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………... 7 1.1 Overview …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 7 1.2 Background ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 7 1.2.1 Technical Advisory Committee ……………………………………………………………………... 7 1.2.2 Public Involvement ……………………………………………………………………………………..… 8 1.3 Proposed Action ………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 8 1.4 Purpose and Need …………………………………………………………………………………………………..… 8 1.5 Regulatory Framework for HCP …………………………………………………………………………………. 9 1.6 Permit Duration ……………………………………………………………………………………………………….… 10 1.7 Plan Area ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 11 1.8 Species Covered by HCP …………………………………………………………………………………………….. 11 2.0 Project Description …………………………………………………………………………………………………….…………… 11 2.1 General Environmental Setting …………………………………………………………….……………………. 11 2.1.1 Land Use/ Vegetation Communities ………………………………………………………….…… 11 2.2 Species of Concern in the Plan Area …………………………………………………………………………… 12 2.3 Covered Species in the Plan Area ……………………………………………………………………….……... 15 2.3.1 Eastern Indigo Snake …………………………………………………………………………………….. 15 2.3.2 Biological Overview of the Florida Scrub‐Jay …………………………………………………. 16 2.4 Field Surveys ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 26 2.4.1 Project Specific Surveys ………………………………………………………………………………… 27 2.5 Activities Covered by Permit ……………………………………………………………………………………… 28 3.0 Biological Impacts and Take Assessment ……………………………………………………….……………………….. 28 3.1 Direct Impacts …………………………………………………………………………………….…………………….. 28 3.2 Indirect Impacts ………………………………………………………………………………….……………..……… 29 3.3 Estimate of Take ………………………………………………………………………………….……………………. 29 3.4 Effects of Management and Translocation ………………………………………………………………... 29 3.4 Cumulative Impacts ……………………………………………………………………………….……………….... 30 4.0 Conservation Program ………………………………………………………………………………………….……………….. 31 4.1 Biological Goals and Objectives …………………………………………………………….…..………………. 31 4.1.1 Biological Goals ………………………………………………………………………….….…………..…. 31 4.1.2 Biological Objectives ………………………………………………………………….…….…………... 31 4.2 Scrub‐Jay Reserve …………………………………………………………………………………….…….…………. 33 4.2.1 Reserve Alternatives …………………………………………………………………………………..… 33 4.2.2 Preferred Alternative ………………………………………………………………………………….… 34 4.2.3 Management and Restoration …………………………………………………….………………… 35 4.3 Florida Scrub‐Jay Translocation ………………………………………………………………………………... 36 4.4 Minimization Measures ……………………………………………………………………….……………………. 37 4.5 Monitoring and Reporting ……………………………………………………………….………………………… 39 4.6 Long‐term Management Plan ………………………………………………………………………………….… 40 4.6.1 Land Management Plan Purpose ………………………………………….………………………. 41 4.6.1.1 Land Use ………………………………………………………………………………………….. 42 4.6.1.2 Comprehenisve Plan Policies …………………………………………………………….. 42 2 4.6.2 Natural And Cultural Resources ……………………………………………………………..…….. 44 4.6.2.1 Natural Communities ………………………………………………………………..……… 45 4.6.2.2 Wildlife …………………………………………………………………………………………..… 46 4.6.2.3 Soils ………………………………………………………………………………………………..… 48 4.6.3 Management Needs ……………………………………………………………………………………… 48 4.6.3.1 Burn Plan ………………………………………………………………………………………….. 48 4.6.3.2 Mechanical Treatements …………………………………………………………………... 49 4.6.3.3 Invasive/Exotic and Feral Species Management ………………………………. 50 4.6.3.4 Cooperateive Management, Security and Access ……………………..………. 51 4.6.3.5 Staffing and Funding ………………………………………………………………………….. 52 4.6.4 Monitoring And Reporting …………………………………………………………………………..… 52 4.6.4.1 Baseline data ………………………………………………………………………….………… 52 4.6.4.2 Scrub‐Jay Monitoring ……………………………………………………………………….. 52 4.6.4.3 Habitat Assessment Monitoring ………………………………………………….…….. 52 4.6.4.4 Monitoring Outside the Reserve ………………………………………………………. 53 4.7 Adaptive Management ………………………………………………………………………….…………………… 53 5.0 Economic Analysis and Funding Program ………………………………………………………………………………………. 54 5.1 Conceptual Framework ……………………………………………………………………………………………... 55 5.1.1 Funding Model …………………………………………………………………………….……………….. 55 5.1.2 Cost Estimates ………………………………………………………………………………………………. 56 5.1.3 Proposed Scrub‐Jay Reserve …………………………………………………………………………. 56 5.1.4 Development Assumptions …………………………………………………………………………… 57 5.2 HCP Costs ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..… 57 5.2.1 Land Acquisition …………………………………………………………………………………………... 58 5.2.1.1 Land Values ……………………………………………………………………………………… 58 5.2.1.1.1 Fee ‐Simple Land Values ………………………………………..… 58 5.2.1.1.2 Conservation Easement Values ………………………………. 59 5.2.1.2 Transaction Costs ………………………………………………………………..…………… 59 5.2.1.3 Summary of Land Acquisition Costs …………………………………………………. 59 5.2.2 Habitat Assessment, Planning, and Restoration ……………………………………………. 60 5.2.2.1 Biological Assessments …………………………………………………………………….. 60 5.2.2.2 Management Plans ………………………………………………………………………….. 60 5.2.2.3 Site Improvements …………………………………………………………………………... 60 5.2.2.4 Habitat Restoration and Enhancement …………………………………………..… 61 5.2.2.5 Scrub‐Jay Translocation ………………………………………………………….………… 61 5.2.2.6 Summary of Habitat Assessment, Planning and Restoration Costs …... 61 5.2.3 Habitat Management and Maintenance ……………………………………………………….. 61 5.2.3.1 Management Plan Updates …………………………………………….………………... 61 5.2.3.2 Facility Maintenance …………………………………………………….………………….. 62 5.2.3.3 Invasive Species Control …………………………………………….…………………….. 62 5.2.3.4 Vegetation Management ………………………………………………….……………... 62 5.2.3.5 Summary of Habitat Management and Maintenance Costs ………….….. 62 5.2.4 Monitoring and Adaptive Management ………………………………..………………………. 63 5.2.5 Changed Circumstances ………………………………………………………………………………... 63 5.2.6 Plan Administration ……………………………………………………..……………………………….. 63 5.2.7 Summary of HCP Costs and Funding Requirements ………………………………….…… 64 5.3 Development Trends and Projections ………………………………………………………………………... 66 3 5.3.1 Residential Growth Trends ……………………………………………………………………………. 66 5.3.2 Population and Housing Trends and Projections ……………………………….………….. 68 5.3.3 Future Urban Land Use Needs ………………………………………………………….…………... 69 5.3.4 County Growth Patterns …………………………………………………………………….…………. 71 5.4 HCP Funding Program ……………………………………………………………………….……….………………. 74 5.4.1 Funding Options Considered ……………………………………………….……….……………….. 74 5.4.2 Cost Allocation and Nexus ………………………………………………….…….…………………… 75 5.4.3 Development Fees …………………………………………………………………….….………………. 76 5.4.3.1 Development‐Related Impacts …………………………………….…………………... 76 5.4.3.2 Acreage Tiers ……………………………………………………………….…………………… 77 5.5.3.2 Fee Estimates ……………………………………………………………….………………….. 77 5.4.3.3 Applicability of HCP Fees …………………………………………….……………………. 79 5.4.4 Grants and Other Funding Sources ………………………………………….……………………. 79 5.4.4.1 Federal …………………………………………………………….…………………….……….… 79 5.4.4.2 State (Florida) ………………………………………………….………………….……………. 79 5.4.4.3 Non‐Profit ………………………………………………………………………….…………..… 80 5.4.5 Funding Adjustments …………………………………………………………………….…………..…. 80 5.4.5.1 Automatic Adjustment of Development Fees …………………………………… 80 5.4.5.2 Periodic Audit and Adjustment of Development Fees …………………….... 81 5.4.6 Funding Adequacy and Assurances ……………………………………………..………………… 82 5.4.6.1 Short‐Term Funding Shortfalls ………………………………………………………..… 82 5.4.6.2 Post‐Permit Funding (Endowment) …………………………………………………… 82 5.5 Comparison to Scrub‐Jay Umbrella HCP …………………………………………………………………….. 82 5.5.1 Permit Review Timeframes ………………………………………………………………………….… 83 5.5.2 Costs to Applicants ……………………………………………………………………………………….. 84 5.5.3 Permit Application Fees ………………………………………………………………………………… 84 5.5.4 Consultant Costs ………………………………………………………………………………………….… 84 5.5.5 Mitigation Costs ……………………………………………….…………………………………………… 84 5.5.6 Comparison Summary …………………………………………………………………………………… 85 6.0 Alternatives Analysis …………………………………………………………………………………………..………………….. 86 6.1 No Action Alternative ………………………………………………………………………………………………... 87 6.2 Reserve Design Alternative 1 (Base) …………………………………………………………………………... 88 6.3 Reserve Design Alternative 2 (Public Lands) …………………………………………………………….... 88 6.4 Reserve Design Alternative 3 ………………………………………..……………………………………………. 88 6.5 Reserve Design Alternative 4 ………………………………………………………….………………………….. 88 6.6 Reserve Design Alternative 5 (Preferred Alternative) ……………………………………………….… 89 7.0 Plan Implementation ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 89 7.1 Implementation Schedule ………………………………………………………………………………………..… 89 7.2 Changed Circumstances …………………………………………………………………………………………….. 90 7.3 Unforeseen Circumstances …………………………………………….………………………………………….. 90 7.4 Climate Change Considerations …………………………………………………………………………………. 91 7.5 No Surprises ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 91 8.0 Literature Cited ………………………………………………………………………………….…………………………………... 92 4 List of Figures Figure 2.1 General Location Map Figure 2.2 M5 Jay Locations Figure 2.3 M6 Jay Locations Figure 2.4 M7 Jay Locations Figure 2.5 Metapopulations Figure 4.1 Reserve System Appendices Appendix 1 – Population Viability Analysis Results Appendix 2 – TAC Reserve Design Recommendations Appendix 3 – Minimization