Hoopeston Wind, LLC Vermilion County, Illinois Final Habitat Conservation Plan for the Indiana Bat and the Northern Long-Eared Bat Hoopeston Wind Project Vermilion County, Illinois September 3, 2017 310 4th Street NE, Suite 200 | Charlottesville, VA 22902 T 434.220.7595 | F 434.220.3712 hoopestonwind.com HABITAT CONSERVATION PLAN FOR THE INDIANA BAT AND THE NORTHERN LONG-EARED BAT Introduction October 21, 2016 Table of Contents 1.0 Introduction .................................................................................................................. 5 1.1 Applicant Information ...................................................................................................... 5 1.2 Background and Purpose ............................................................................................... 5 1.3 Habitat Conservation Plan Contents ............................................................................... 6 2.0 Background .................................................................................................................. 7 2.1 Overview ........................................................................................................................ 7 2.2 Permit Duration .............................................................................................................. 9 2.3 Regulatory and Legal Framework ................................................................................... 9 2.3.1 Endangered Species Act ................................................................................ 9 2.3.2 National Environmental Policy Act .................................................................. 9 2.3.3 Migratory Bird Treaty Act .............................................................................. 10 2.3.4 Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act ......................................................... 10 2.4 Covered Lands ..............................................................................................................11 2.5 Covered Species ...........................................................................................................11 2.5.1 Indiana Bat ................................................................................................... 11 2.5.2 Northern Long-eared Bat .............................................................................. 12 3.0 Environmental Setting and Biological Resources ....................................................13 3.1 Land Use .......................................................................................................................13 3.2 Topography ...................................................................................................................13 3.3 Geology .........................................................................................................................13 3.4 Soils ..............................................................................................................................14 3.5 Hydrology ......................................................................................................................14 3.6 Land Cover ....................................................................................................................14 3.7 Wildlife in the Project Area .............................................................................................17 3.8 Threatened and Endangered Species ...........................................................................17 3.9 Other Sensitive Species ................................................................................................17 3.9.1 Non-Listed Bats............................................................................................ 17 3.9.2 Bald and Golden Eagles ............................................................................... 18 3.10 Pre-Construction Bat Surveys .......................................................................................19 3.10.1 Bat Habitat Assessment ............................................................................... 19 3.10.2 Acoustic Monitoring (2009, 2010, and 2014) ................................................ 19 3.10.3 Fall Migration Study (2014) .......................................................................... 21 4.0 Description of the Project ...........................................................................................22 4.1 Project Purpose and Need .............................................................................................22 4.2 Project Description ........................................................................................................23 4.2.1 Site Selection ............................................................................................... 23 4.2.2 Project Characteristics ................................................................................. 23 4.3 Covered Activities ..........................................................................................................25 4.3.1 Operations and Maintenance ....................................................................... 25 4.3.2 Decommissioning ......................................................................................... 26 4.3.3 Mitigation and Monitoring ............................................................................. 26 2 HABITAT CONSERVATION PLAN FOR THE INDIANA BAT AND THE NORTHERN LONG-EARED BAT Introduction October 21, 2016 4.4 Alternatives ...................................................................................................................27 4.4.1 Take Avoidance Alternative .......................................................................... 27 4.4.2 Reduced Cut-In Speed Alternative (Proposed Scenario) .............................. 27 4.4.3 Increased Cut-In Speed Alternative .............................................................. 28 5.0 Covered Species .........................................................................................................28 5.1 Indiana Bat ....................................................................................................................28 5.1.1 Species Description ..................................................................................... 29 5.1.2 Habitat Description ....................................................................................... 29 5.1.3 Reproduction and Maternity Roost Habitat Requirements ............................ 30 5.1.4 Foods and Feeding ...................................................................................... 31 5.1.5 Migration ...................................................................................................... 31 5.1.6 Rangewide Status ........................................................................................ 32 5.1.7 Ozark-Central Recovery Unit Status ............................................................. 33 5.1.8 Illinois Status ................................................................................................ 34 5.1.9 Status within the Project Area ...................................................................... 35 5.2 Northern Long-eared Bat ...............................................................................................35 5.2.1 Species Description ..................................................................................... 35 5.2.2 Habitat Description ....................................................................................... 36 5.2.3 Reproduction and Maternity Roost Habitat Requirements ............................ 36 5.2.4 Foods and Feeding ...................................................................................... 36 5.2.5 Migration ...................................................................................................... 36 5.2.6 Range-wide Status ....................................................................................... 36 5.2.7 Illinois Status ................................................................................................ 37 5.2.8 Status within the Project Area ...................................................................... 37 6.0 Effects of the Proposed Action ..................................................................................38 6.1 Direct Effects .................................................................................................................38 6.1.1 Habitat Loss ................................................................................................. 38 6.1.2 Mortality ....................................................................................................... 38 6.2 Indirect Effects ...............................................................................................................41 6.3 Effects on Critical Habitat ..............................................................................................41 6.4 Incidental Take Permit ...................................................................................................42 6.4.1 Scope of the Incidental Take Permit ............................................................. 42 6.4.2 Take Estimate .............................................................................................. 42 6.4.3 Impacts of Estimated Take ........................................................................... 46 7.0 Conservation Plan .......................................................................................................48