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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
(857) 368-8794
Thank you
