Indiana Bat and Northern Long- eared Bat Habitat Conservation Plan Wildcat Wind Farm Phase 1 Tipton and Madison Counties, Indiana Prepared by: Wildcat Wind Farm, LLC c/o E.ON Climate and Renewables 353 N. Clark, 30th Floor Chicago, IL 60654 In consultation with: Stantec Consulting Services Inc. 2300 Swan Lake Blvd. Suite 102 Independence, IA 50644 May 12, 2016 INDIANA AND NORTHERN LONG-EARED BAT HCP Wildcat Wind Farm – Phase 1 Tipton and Madison Counties, IN Table of Contents 1. INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................. 1 1.1 APPLICANT INFORMATION............................................................................................... 1 1.2 OVERVIEW AND BACKGROUND ..................................................................................... 1 1.3 PURPOSE AND NEED ......................................................................................................... 2 1.4 HCP CONTENTS ................................................................................................................. 2 1.5 REGULATORY AND LEGAL FRAMEWORK........................................................................ 4 1.5.1 Federal Endangered Species Act................................................................ 4 1.5.2 National Environmental Policy Act .............................................................. 6 1.5.3 National Historic Preservation Act................................................................ 7 1.5.4 Migratory Bird Treaty Act............................................................................... 7 1.5.5 Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act ...................................................... 7 1.5.6 Indiana Nongame and Endangered Species Conservation Act............ 8 1.5.7 Local Regulations ........................................................................................... 9 1.6 PERMIT DURATION............................................................................................................. 9 1.7 COVERED LANDS .............................................................................................................. 9 1.8 COVERED SPECIES .......................................................................................................... 10 2. COVERED LANDS AND COVERED ACTIVITIES............................................................ 10 2.1 PLAN AREA AND PROJECT SETTING.............................................................................. 10 2.1.1 Land Use ........................................................................................................ 10 2.1.2 Topography................................................................................................... 10 2.1.3 Geology......................................................................................................... 11 2.1.4 Soils ................................................................................................................. 11 2.1.5 Hydrology ...................................................................................................... 11 2.1.6 Land Cover.................................................................................................... 11 2.2 PROJECT DESCRIPTION................................................................................................... 12 2.2.1 Site Selection................................................................................................. 12 2.2.2 Public Participation ...................................................................................... 13 2.2.3 Project Characteristics................................................................................. 13 2.3 COVERED ACTIVITIES ...................................................................................................... 15 2.3.1 Operation ...................................................................................................... 15 2.3.2 Maintenance ................................................................................................ 16 2.3.3 Decommissioning ......................................................................................... 16 2.3.4 Mitigation and Monitoring........................................................................... 17 3. COVERED SPECIES....................................................................................................... 17 3.1 INDIANA BAT.................................................................................................................... 17 3.1.1 Species Description...................................................................................... 18 3.1.2 Habitat Description ...................................................................................... 18 3.1.3 Reproduction and Maternity Roost Habitat Requirements.................... 19 3.1.4 Foods and Feeding ...................................................................................... 20 3.1.5 Migration........................................................................................................ 20 c:\nrportbl\hou\bcowan\1718612_34.docx i INDIANA AND NORTHERN LONG-EARED BAT HCP Wildcat Wind Farm – Phase 1 Tipton and Madison Counties, IN 3.1.6 Regional Status of the Species ................................................................... 20 3.1.7 Status within the Plan Area.......................................................................... 23 3.2 NORTHERN LONG-EARED BAT ....................................................................................... 23 3.2.1 Species Description...................................................................................... 23 3.2.2 Habitat Description ...................................................................................... 24 3.2.3 Reproduction and Maternity Roost Habitat Requirements.................... 24 3.2.4 Foods and Feeding ...................................................................................... 24 3.2.5 Migration........................................................................................................ 24 3.2.6 Rangewide Status of the Species .............................................................. 24 3.2.7 Status within the Project Area..................................................................... 25 3.3 PRE-CONSTRUCTION BAT SURVEYS ............................................................................... 25 3.3.1 Pre-Construction Stationary Bat Surveys ................................................... 25 3.3.2 Pre-Construction Mobile Bat Survey .......................................................... 26 3.3.3 Bat Species and Frequency Groups Detected during Surveys ............. 26 4. EFFECTS OF THE PROPOSED ACTION.......................................................................... 29 4.1 DIRECT EFFECTS ............................................................................................................... 29 4.1.1 Habitat Loss ................................................................................................... 29 4.1.2 Mortality ......................................................................................................... 29 4.2 INDIRECT EFFECTS............................................................................................................ 33 4.3 TAKE ESTIMATES ............................................................................................................... 33 4.3.1 Estimation of Take......................................................................................... 33 4.3.2 Proposed Take Limits .................................................................................... 35 5. CONSERVATION PLAN................................................................................................ 36 5.1 BIOLOGICAL GOALS AND OBJECTIVES........................................................................ 36 5.2 MEASURES TO ACHIEVE BIOLOGICAL GOALS AND OBJECTIVES.............................. 37 5.2.1 Minimization of Direct Mortality .................................................................. 37 5.2.2 Mitigation for Impact of the Taking ........................................................... 38 5.3 MORTALITY MONITORING AND REPORTING ................................................................ 47 5.3.1 Background and Goals ............................................................................... 47 5.3.2 Species to be Monitored............................................................................. 48 5.3.3 Permits and Wildlife Handling Procedures ................................................ 48 5.3.4 Monitoring Protocols .................................................................................... 49 5.3.5 Data Analysis and Reporting ...................................................................... 57 5.4 ADAPTIVE MANAGEMENT.............................................................................................. 58 5.4.1 Evidence of Absence Framework.............................................................. 58 5.4.2 Adaptive Management for Mitigation...................................................... 61 5.4.3 Reporting ....................................................................................................... 63 6. FUNDING ..................................................................................................................... 63 6.1 AVOIDANCE MEASURES................................................................................................