Bats, Birds & Fish, Oh My!: MassDOT Highway Division ESA & … · 2018-09-20 · Bats,...

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Bats, Birds & Fish, Oh My!:

MassDOT Highway Division ESA &

MBTA Updates

Northeastern Transportation & Wildlife Conference

September 11th, 2018

Tim Dexter, MassDOT Highway Division

Bird Conservation Plan (BCP)

• Developed concept BCP through coordination w/MassWildlife

• Design – general avoidance, minimization & restoration measures

• Construction – general minimization measures & MassWildlife/USFWS construction-phase coordination protocol

• Mitigation – emphasis on habitat restoration, enhancing reproductive success & research/monitoring

• Nest Boxes/Structures: Peregrine, kestrel, cliff swallows, terns

Migratory Bird Treaty Act

Migratory Bird Treaty Act - Mitigation

NLEB Threatened with 4(d) Rule

• Incidental take is not prohibited, except for:

- Tree removal within 1/4 mile of a known hibernaculum, at any time of year; and

- Tree removal that cuts or destroys a known occupied maternity roost tree or any other trees within a 150-foot radius of the maternity roost tree during the pup season (June 1 - July 31)

• MassWildlife map: http://www.mass.gov/eea/agencies/dfg/dfw/natural-heritage/species-information-and-conservation/rare-mammals/northern-long-eared-bat.html

Northern Long-eared Bat

MassWildlife Northern Long-eared Bat Map

2015 NLEB Survey Results47 – Projects surveyed

2015 Bat Survey DetectorsNLEB Not Detected (123)

NLEB Detected (9)

N/A (0)

2016 NLEB Survey Results33 – Projects surveyed

2016 Bat Survey DetectorsNLEB Not Detected (147)

NLEB Detected (5)

N/A (2)

2017 NLEB Survey Results27 – Projects surveyed

2017 Bat Survey DetectorsNLEB Not Detected (159)

NLEB Detected (0)

N/A (4)

2018 Bat Survey Locations2018 Project Locations (60)

2015 - 2018 NLEB Surveys167 – Projects surveyed

2015 – 2017 NLEB Survey Results107 – Projects surveyed9 – Projects w/ vetted NLEB Calls

NLEB Acoustic Surveys

Newburyport/Newbury Positive NLEB Detections (2015)

9/18/2018 | Leading the Nation in Transportation Excellence | www.mass.gov/massdot 12

Sturgeon Update

Shortnose Sturgeon• Fed. Endangered Federally under the Endangered Species Act,

but no critical habitat is designated

Atlantic Sturgeon• Fed. Threatened for the Gulf of Maine (i.e. Merrimack River)

• Fed. Endangered for New York Bight (i.e. Connecticut River) Distinct Population Segment

• Critical Habitat designated August 17th, 2017

Atlantic Sturgeon Critical

Habitat

Q: What is critical habitat? A: In short, the habitat essential for the species recovery

• Critical Habitat listing establishes Physical or Biological Features (PBFs) essential to natural reproduction and recruitment and impacts to each of these must be evaluated:

1. Hard bottom substrate2. Salinity gradient3. Necessary water depth and velocities4. Necessary water temperatures, salinity, and oxygen

Atlantic Sturgeon Critical

Habitat

• Must analyze project impacts to each designated PBFs in a separate effect determination, in addition to an effect determination to live specimens

• E.g. “No Effect”, “NLAA”, or “LAA”

• Ex: PBF Hard bottom substrate

https://www.greateratlantic.fisheries.noaa.gov/protected/section7/index.html

MassDOT Sturgeon

Consultation Approach

Design Phase• Consult on “worst case scenario” designs / means &

methods• Strive for “Not Likely to Adversely Affect” findings

Construction phase• Means & methods change/refined• Additional consultation req.; typically fewer impacts

FHWA/NMFS Agreement • Under review for potential use

Blanding’s Turtle Update

• Habitat use: seasonal pools, scrub-shrub wetlands, and open uplands.

• Omnivores: live/dead invertebrates & fish, plants.

• Vulnerable due to long travel distances, late reproductive maturity (14-20 yrs), and low nest and juvenile survivorship.

• Roads primary cause of adult mortality

Blanding’s Turtle

• New England population genetically important

• MESA listed as Threatened in Massachusetts.

• ESA Listing Status: Under Review• “Species of Concern”

Tim Dexter

Fish & Wildlife Supervisor

Environmental Services

MassDOT Highway Division

Timothy.dexter@state.ma.us

(857) 368-8794

Thank you