Columbia River Wildlife MitigationHabitat Evaluation Procedures

(HEP)

Prepared ByPaul R Ashley-CBFWA

Regional HEP TeamFebruary 2010

Much Appreciation to Peter Paquet, Richard Stiehl, and John Andrews For

Their Contributions to This Presentation

Columbia Basin Wildlife Mitigation

• Genesis and Mitigation Process• HEP Overview• Case Study Example (“how HEP should be applied”)• Annualization and Compensation Options

– In kind, Equal, Relative

• HEP/Columbia River W/L Mitigation Comparison• Regional HEP Team

Genesis

• The Northwest Power Act

“The Council shall develop and adopt a program to protect, mitigate, and enhance fish and wildlifewildlife … while assuring the Pacific Northwest an adequate, efficient, economical, and reliable power supply.” Section 4(h)(5)

“The BPA shall fund to protect, mitigate, and enhance fish and wildlife to wildlife to the extent affectedthe extent affected by the development and operation of the FCRPS ... in a manner consistent with the Council’s Columbia Basin Fish and Wildlife Program.” Section 4(h)(10)(A)

“ The Administrator shall … exercise such responsibilities to adequately protect, mitigate, and enhance fish and wildlifewildlife including related spawning grounds and habitathabitat.” Section 4(h)(11)(A)(i)

Mitigation Process:

• Avoid impacts

• Minimize impacts

• Repair impacts & restore the affected environment on-site

• Compensate for unavoidable impacts by replacing or providing substitute resources or environments.

Mitigation Process

HEP

Habitat Evaluation Procedures

OVERVIEW

ACCOUNTINGHEP is an accounting tool

HEP was developed to answer one question…..How Much Will It Cost If We Build It?

WHY HEP?• Habitat Evaluation Procedures (HEP) Methodology is

habitat based and considers habitat quality and quantity.– a scientific method for impact and compensation analysis– developed by the USFWS in the 1970’s– used world-wide – upheld in court

HEP Assumptions/Tenets• A linear relationship exists between habitat quality

and carrying capacity (population)• Habitat quality can be measured and expressed as a

“habitat suitability index”• Habitat “losses” and “gains” can be expressed as

habitat units (HUs)• Compensation site baseline HUs are not credited• HEP plans/applications include both Project Areas

(PA) and Management Plans (MP) or “compensation areas”

• HEP CAN BE MODIFIED AS LONG AS EVERYONE AGREES!!!!

Population or otherperformance measure

0.0 Habitat Suitability Index 1.0

high

low

Linear Relationship

A Similar Concept: Cattle Forage Carrying Capacity

Low forage Carrying capacity

10 acres

High forageCarrying capacity

10 acres

(Low Quality) (High Quality)

Index = Value of interest Standard of comparisonIn HEP:

HSI = Habitat condition on the study site Optimum habitat condition

In math:

50 = Bird species seen on the best birding day 30 = Bird species seen on this birding trip 50 = Bird species seen on the best birding dayINDEX OF BIRDING = 0.60 Index = Value of interest

Standard of comparison

100% = optimum hydrophytic shrub c.c. for YEWA 40% = hydrophytic shrub c.c. on study area

100% = optimum hydrophytic shrub c.c. for YEWA 0.4 = HSI for YEWA HSI = Habitat condition on the study site Optimum habitat condition

“HQ Expressed as Habitat Suitability Index”

Habitat Suitability

0.0 0.5 1.0

Habitat Suitability Index Scale

No SuitableHabitat

Medium QualityHabitat

High QualityHabitat

ZeroCarrying Capacity

OptimalCarrying Capacity

The Currency of HEP is the Habitat Unit or HU

Quantity X Quality = HU

AREA HSI

Habitat Suitability Index – ranges from zero to one (0-1.0)

50 Acres X 0.50 HSI = 25 HUs

20 Baseline HUs

0 HU credit for existing value

No Net Gain to Wildlife

60 HUs after enhancements

60 HUs – 20 HUs = 40 HUs

Net Gain to Wildlife = 40 HUs: Compensation Achieved

HEP Crediting BasicsProject Area

40 HU Loss

HEP Components• Species Models

-mathematical formulas generate Habitat Suitability Index (HSI)

• HEP Team-selects models and methods

• Field Sampling-measure physical habitat characteristics

• Data Compilation- generate Habitat Units (HUs)

• Report Findings

HEP PHASES

• Pre-field Activities

• Field Activities

• Data Compilation and Reporting

Pre-field Activities

Pre-field Activities (Project Scoping)

•Form an assessment (HEP) team•Define study objectives•Delineate study boundaries

•Assemble baseline data

•Delineate cover types

•Select evaluation species/HSI models

•Select inventory techniques

•Select a sampling design

Species Selection

4Study objectives are established.4Resource categories have been determined.4Study area has been delineated.4Cover types have been defined.

Species can be selected to represent:8Important species.8Important resource categories.8Important habitats.8Important cover types.

Species are selected after:

An evaluation species may be:

A single speciesuChannel catfishuNine-banded armadillouLeast Tern

A life stage or life requisite of a speciesuRainbow trout fryuEastern Cottontail winter coveruBlue-winged teal brood pond

A group of taxonomically related speciesuBlack basses (Spotted, Sm.mouth & Lg.mouth)uChipmunks (Eastern, and Least)uChickadees (Black-capped & Carolina)

A group of species using similar resourcesuCoolwater reservoir fishuCavity usersuForest interior songbirds

A fish or wildlife community

Five Considerations in evaluation species selection

1. Evaluation species MUST relate to the fish & wildlife objectives.

2. The number of evaluation species depends on objectives, project complexity, and constraints.

3. The process of evaluation species selection must be well documented.

4. The way a species responds to the project should not be a reason for selection (i.e., many or few HUs).

5. The Phylum of a species should not be a consideration in the selection.

HEP PHASES (cont.)

• Pre-field Activities

• Field Activities• Data Compilation and Reporting

Field Activities Collect Habitat Data

Percent shrub cover

Basal area

Tree height

Photo documentation

and more……

For example………

HSI models define habitat variables….

Habitat Needs:Shrubby areas, especially nearwater with willows and alders.

Yellow Warbler

Habitat Characteristics that are measured:

• Shrub height• Shrub canopy cover• % cvr riparian shrub species

No Suitable Yellow Warbler Riparian Habitat (HSI = 0)

No riparian shrubs/trees

Low Quality Yellow Warbler Riparian Habitat (HSI = 0.2)

Some riparian shrubs

High Quality Yellow Warbler Riparian Habitat (HSI = 0.8)

Average shrub height =/> 6.6 feetShrub canopy cover near 60-80%Multiple riparian shrub species

HEP PHASES (cont.)

• Pre-field Activities

• Field Activities

• Data Compilation and HU Reporting

Habitat Suitability

Dam Location

Key Habitat Type Evaluation Species

Pre-Dam

HUsMixed Upland Forest BC Chickadee 2700 HUs

Riparian Shrub/Forest Yellow warbler 240 HUs

Riverine/Open Water Lesser Scaup 30 HUsTotals 2970 HUs

Post-Dam

HUs 42 HUs 4 HUs

275 HUs321 HUs

Determine NET Impacts

Net

Change-2658 HUs

-236 HUs

+275 HUs-2619 HUs

Average Annual Habitat Units

AAHUs

“Futures Analysis”

TY0 TY10 TY20 TY35 TY40 TY50TY1

Determine Target Years & HUs for the speciesCalculate habitat units for each periodSum the habitat units over the period of analysisDivide to determine the Average Annual Habitat Units (AAHU)H

abit

at U

nits

AAHUs

A Futures Analysis is conducted on both the project area and compensation site

Without project conditions

HU

s fo

r sp

ecie

s A

TimeTY0 TY1 TY5 TY10 TY20 TY30 TY40 TY50

PROJECT LOSS

With project conditions

HU

s fo

r sp

ecie

s A

TimeTY0 TY1 TY5 TY10 TY20 TY30 TY40 TY50

MANAGEMENT GAIN

Without management

With management

HU

HU

Period of analysis

Compensation area gains due to management

Project area losses due to project

Continued management gains

Continued project losses

NET EFFECTS of “project life”

COMPENSATION GOALS

1. In Kind

2. Equal

3. Relative

Goal 1: In Kind compensation is intended to replace AAHU losses with equal AAHU gains for that same species….no trade-off….only losses are considered.

Goal 2: Equal Replacement goal is to offset HU losses through a gain of an equal number of HUs. A gain of 1 HU for any target species can be used to offset the loss of 1 HU for any evaluation species. The list of target species may or may not be identical to the list of impacted species. Can apply an average HSI in a single cover type.

Habitat Type Evaluation Species

Without Annualization

Mixed Upland Forest BC Chickadee -2700 HUs

Riparian Shrub/Forest Yellow warbler - 240 HUs

Riverine/Open Water Lesser Scaup 0 HUsTotals -2940 HUs

With Annualization

-1563 HUs -136 HUs

0 HUs -1699 HUs

In Kind

Equal

Habitat Type Evaluation Species

Without Annualization

Mixed Upland Forest BC Chickadee -2700 HUs

Riparian Shrub/Forest Yellow warbler - 240 HUs

Riverine/Open Water Lesser Scaup +275HUsTotals -2665 HUs

With Annualization

-1563 HUs -136 HUs

+208 HUs -1491 HUs

Goal 3: Relative Replacement is used when 1 HU for a target species is used to offset the loss of 1 HU for an evaluation species at a differential rate depending on the species involved.

RVI Example

If the RVI values for white-tailed deer and ruffed grouse are 1.0 and 0.5 respectively, one white-tailed deer HU can be used to offset two ruffed grouse HUs, or two RUGR HUs could be traded for one WTDE HU.

RVI CONSIDERATIONS

After modifying HUs with an RVI, HUs no longer relate to habitat potential (carrying capacity) because they include value judgments.

RVIs should be used to trade less important habitat HUs for critical habitat HUs….never from the “top - down.”

RVIs (trade-off decisions) …….Based on resource management goals, administrative policy, or both.

Weighting values are determined by a user defined set of socioeconomic and ecological criteria.

Trade-off analysis does not imply a desirableway of dealing with HUs..only a method to document changes that will result in gains and losses of different wildlife resources.

A RELATIVE VALUE INDEX IS….

A CompromiseA Framework for making value comparisons between species or cover typesA Record and Documentation of your decision process

A Subjective Value Judgment to compare HU changes for different evaluation species or cover types.

HEP Methods Summary

•Formed an assessment (HEP) team•Defined HEP study objectives•Delineated study boundaries and cover types•Determined baseline and enhancement HUs•Collected and analyzed habitat variable data•Selected evaluation species/HSI models•Selected inventory techniques and sampling protocols•Selected type of compensation•Document and report findings

HEP Versus Columbia River Wildlife Mitigation Program

Inconsistencies

1. Did not annualize HU losses or gains as outlined in HEP protocols

2. Net HU losses/gains were either not reported and/or were inconsistent between States/Regions

3. HU credit was awarded for compensation site baseline HUs

Primary Inconsistencies

4. Compensation strategies not clearly defined and/or followed leading to a mix of “Equal” and “In-Kind” compensation resulting in “paradigm” conflicts

Primary Inconsistencies (cont.)

5. “Follow-up” HEP surveys/HUs appear to be unique to our situation6. Time between impacts and compensation

Regional HEP Team (RHT)

Regional HEP Team Mission Statement: “To conduct HEP analyses in the most consistent, objective, impartial, and biologically sound manner possible.”

The Regional HEP Team conducts HEP analyses throughout the Region and provides HEP training to wildlife managers bringing consistency to the HU accounting process.

The RHT not only conducts HEP analyses, but also actively consults with Wildlife Managers and BPA COTR staff to resolve HEP related issues e. g., HU “stacking” in out of kind cover types….

The RHT is committed to collecting robust habitat variable data using consistent and proven techniques and sampling protocols.

Habitat Unit Stacking refers to the number of HEP species models used to evaluate a given cover type

For Example….

“Out of Kind” Loss/Comp. Site MatrixHames Parcel/Deep Canyon Dam 2009 HEP Comparison Matrix

Deep Canyon Dam Loss Assessment Cover Types and Number of Species

Open water Herbaceous WetlandScrub Shrub

WetlandForested Wetland

Wet Meadow    

3 5 6 5 2    

Hames Parcel Paired Cover Types and Number of Species

Open water Herbaceous Wetland  Forested Wetland

  Shrubsteppe Conifer Forest

3 5   5   ? ?

Bald eagle breeding   x x x      

Bald eagle wintering   x x x      

Black-capped chickadee       x      

Canada Goose x x x   x    

Mallard x x x x x    

Muskrat x x          

Yellow Warbler     x        

White-tailed deer x x

   

Mule deer  

 

Number of Species3 5 6 5 2    

• Genesis and Mitigation Process• HEP Overview• Case Study Example (“how HEP should be applied”)• Annualization and Compensation Options

– In kind, Equal, Relative

• HEP/Columbia River W/L Mitigation Comparison• Regional HEP Team

In Summary……

Thank You

Questions?