NA PUA MAKANI WIND ENERGY PROJECT DRAFT HABITAT CONSERVATION PLAN Prepared for Na Pua Makani Power Partners, LLC Prepared by April 2015 TTCES-PTLD-2015-064 DRAFT HABITAT CONSERVATION PLAN This page intentionally left blank DRAFT HABITAT CONSERVATION PLAN Table of Contents 1 INTRODUCTION AND PROJECT OVERVIEW ............................................................................... 1 1.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Applicant History and Information ............................................................................................... 1 1.3 Project Description ........................................................................................................................ 4 1.3.1 Project History ...................................................................................................................... 4 1.3.2 Project Components .............................................................................................................. 4 1.3.3 Project Schedule .................................................................................................................... 8 1.3.4 List of Preparers .................................................................................................................... 8 1.4 Regulatory Framework and Relationship to Other Plans, Policies, and Laws .............................. 8 1.4.1 Federal Endangered Species Act ........................................................................................... 8 1.4.2 National Environmental Policy Act ...................................................................................... 9 1.4.3 Migratory Bird Treaty Act .................................................................................................. 10 1.4.4 National Historic Preservation Act ..................................................................................... 10 1.4.5 Hawaii Revised Statutes (HRS Chapter 195D) ................................................................... 10 1.4.6 Hawaii Revised Statutes (HRS Chapter 343) ...................................................................... 11 2 DESCRIPTION OF THE HABITAT CONSERVATION PLAN ...................................................... 11 2.1 Purpose and Need for the HCP ................................................................................................... 11 2.2 Scope and Term .......................................................................................................................... 12 2.2.1 HCP Scope .......................................................................................................................... 12 2.2.2 HCP Term ........................................................................................................................... 12 2.3 Surveys and Resources................................................................................................................ 12 3 ENVIRONMENTAL SETTING ........................................................................................................ 13 3.1 Regional Location ....................................................................................................................... 13 3.2 Land Use Designations ............................................................................................................... 13 3.3 Topography and Geology............................................................................................................ 13 3.4 Soils............................................................................................................................................. 13 3.5 Hydrology and Water Resources ................................................................................................ 15 3.6 Terrestrial Flora .......................................................................................................................... 15 3.7 Non-Listed Wildlife .................................................................................................................... 15 3.8 Listed Wildlife ............................................................................................................................ 16 3.8.1 Hawaiian Hoary Bat ............................................................................................................ 17 Na Pua Makani Wind Energy Project i DRAFT HABITAT CONSERVATION PLAN 3.8.2 Newell’s Shearwater ........................................................................................................... 19 3.8.3 Hawaiian Goose .................................................................................................................. 24 3.8.4 Waterbirds ........................................................................................................................... 26 3.8.5 Hawaiian Short-eared Owl .................................................................................................. 35 3.8.6 Species Considered but Excluded ....................................................................................... 36 4 GOALS AND CONSERVATION MEASURES ............................................................................... 37 4.1 Biological Goals and Objectives ................................................................................................. 37 4.1.1 Goals ................................................................................................................................... 37 4.1.2 Objectives ........................................................................................................................... 37 4.2 Avoidance and Minimization of Impacts .................................................................................... 38 4.2.1 Project Components and Siting Considerations .................................................................. 38 4.2.2 General Project Development Measures ............................................................................. 39 5 ASSESSMENT OF POTENTIAL IMPACTS AND TAKE LIMITS ................................................ 40 5.1 Hawaiian Hoary bat .................................................................................................................... 41 5.1.1 Direct Take .......................................................................................................................... 41 5.1.2 Indirect Take ....................................................................................................................... 42 5.1.3 Authorized Take Request for ITP and ITL ......................................................................... 43 5.1.4 Assessment of Population-Level Impacts ........................................................................... 44 5.2 Newell’s Shearwater ................................................................................................................... 44 5.2.1 Direct Take .......................................................................................................................... 44 5.2.2 Indirect Take ....................................................................................................................... 46 5.2.3 Authorized Take Request for the ITP and ITL ................................................................... 47 5.2.4 Assessment of Population-Level Impacts ........................................................................... 47 5.3 Hawaiian Goose .......................................................................................................................... 47 5.3.1 Direct Take .......................................................................................................................... 47 5.3.2 Indirect Take ....................................................................................................................... 49 5.3.3 Authorized Take Request for ITP and ITL ......................................................................... 50 5.3.4 Assessment of Population-Level Impacts ........................................................................... 50 5.4 Waterbirds (Hawaiian Duck, Hawaiian Stilt, Hawaiian Coot, Hawaiian Moorhen) .................. 50 5.4.1 Direct Take .......................................................................................................................... 50 5.4.2 Indirect Take ....................................................................................................................... 51 5.4.3 Authorized Take Request for the ITP and ITL ................................................................... 51 5.4.4 Assessment of Population-Level Impacts ........................................................................... 52 Na Pua Makani Wind Energy Project ii DRAFT HABITAT CONSERVATION PLAN 5.5 Hawaiian Short-eared Owl .......................................................................................................... 52 5.5.1 Direct Take .......................................................................................................................... 52 5.5.2 Indirect Take ....................................................................................................................... 53 5.5.3 Authorized Take Request for the ITP and ITL ................................................................... 54 5.5.4 Assessment of Population-Level Impacts ..........................................................................