Thurston County

Habitat Conservation Plan

Photo credit: Rod Gilbert

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• 4 ESA listed species.

• Predictability.

• Local control.

• Protection from liability

for County and private

land owners.

• Better conservation.

• Access to federal

conservation funding.

Why an HCP for Thurston County?

Proposed Covered Species

Streaked

horned lark

Oregon spotted

frog

Taylor’s checkerspotMazama pocket

gopher

Puget blue Oregon branded

skipper

Mardon skipper

Vesper sparrow

Hoary elfin

Valley silverspot

SBWB NuthatchW. Gray Squirrel

1. What gets financed and when?

2. How much will it cost?

3. How will we fund the program?

4. Who will oversee the financing plan?

Elements of HCP financing plan

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1. The conservation strategies in the HCP

• Securing habitat conservation lands

• Habitat enhancement

• Ongoing habitat management

• Monitoring and reporting

2. HCP management and administration

What needs to get financed?

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When do actions need to get financed?

1. At HCP Start-up: Before take is permitted

• Generate credits in advance of County-permitted impacts.

2. Ongoing over HCP

• Habitat credits generated in pace with impacts

• Overall Conservation Strategy

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Costs can be partitioned

1. Actions needed to compensate for the direct impacts causing take.

2. Strategies to avoid impacts and to account for some of the overall effects of growth in the County.

How will the plan get financed?

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1. Compensating for actions that harm, harass, or kill species (take)

• Fees charged to permitted development to compensate for impacts

• Contributions from utility and road infrastructure development funds

• A portion of Conservation Futures

• Open Space tax credit

How will the plan get financed?

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2. Sources of funding to avoid impacts and achieve broader conservation goals

• USFWS Section 6 grants

• USDA Farm Bill (ACEP, EQIP)

• Sentinel Lands (REPI)

• WDFW grants

• Other options (Land Trusts, Private foundations)

How will the plan get financed?

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The cost of a Credit

100 acre parcel

Enhance habitat

Secure the land

Manage & Monitor

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Compensating for a new Single Family Residence

Typical compensation obligation for a new, single family residence – Focus on gopher habitat

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Estimated typical compensation obligation for a new, single family residence – Focus on gopher habitat

Assuming:• New home and driveway• Impacts in development envelope around structures (60 ft)• No added mitigation ratio

Results in:• ~ Planning estimate* of 1 acre of impact for single family

residence on an undeveloped lot

Cost determined by:• Gopher soil preference • Proximity to gopher locations (Best Available Info – no additional survey)

*Permitted impacts will be assessed on actual footprints

Compensating for a new Single Family Residence

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* As of August 13, 2015. Final analysis pending second half of 2015 gopher survey results.

Projected New Development Units: Unincorporated Thurston County

Soil Preference

Low Medium High

> 650 feet from known gophers 50% 29% 8%

≤ 650 feet from known gophers 1% 4% 6%

Gophers detected * 0.04% 1.2% 0.5%

TOTAL PROJECTED UNITS by 2045on gopher habitat

20,768

30-Year Projected New Development by Habitat Category

Compensating for a new Single Family Residence

5 acre parcel

New home & driveway

60ft envelope

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• New home & driveway

• Impact in 60ft development envelope

• ~ 1 acre of impact area

• Habitat value less for lower preference soils and further from known gopher locations

Ways to Reduce Impacts within a Lot

High

5 acre parcel

Med

New home & driveway

60 ft envelope

• Avoid high preference soils

Low

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Ways to Reduce Impacts within a Lot

High

5 acre parcel

Med

New home & driveway

60 ft envelope

• Avoid high preference soils

• Cluster development Low

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Ways to Reduce Impacts within a Lot

High

5 acre parcel

Med

New home & driveway

60ft envelope

• Avoid high preference soils

• Cluster development• Decrease

development footprint

Low

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The full cost of habitat conservation

Variables Value Range

Acquisition Cost per Acre $4,000 to $50,000Initial Stewardship/Maintenance per acre $300 to $750On-going Stewardship/Maintenance per acre $200 to $500Project Management per acre $200 to $600

*based on sample of 5 prairie projects in Thurston County

Average cost for a functional acre of conservation: $

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The full cost of habitat conservation

Variables Value Range

Acquisition Cost per Acre $22,180 $4,000 to $50,000Initial Stewardship/Maintenance per acre $500 $300 to $750On-going Stewardship/Maintenance per acre $300 $200 to $500Project Management per acre $300 $200 to $600

*based on sample of 5 prairie projects in Thurston County

Average cost for a functional acre of conservation: $

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The full cost of habitat conservation

Variables Value Range

Acquisition Cost per Acre $22,180 $4,000 to $50,000Initial Stewardship/Maintenance per acre $500 $300 to $750On-going Stewardship/Maintenance per acre $300 $200 to $500Project Management per acre $300 $200 to $600

Average cost for a functional acre of conservation: $42,020

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59%

10%

31%

Elements of the Cost of Conservation

Acquisition

Enhancement

Maintenance

Compensating for a new Single Family Residence

* Based on 3050 sq ft house + driveway, actual costs based on actual footprint and impact of development.

Estimated cost* per Single Family Residence on open lot

Soil Preference

Low Medium High

> 650 feet from known gophers $6,303 $12,600 $37,800

≤ 650 feet from known gophers $31,500 $37,800 $42,000

Gophers detected * $42,000 $42,000 $42,000

TOTAL PROJECTED UNITS by 2045on gopher habitat

20,768

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59%

10%

31%

Elements of the Cost of Conservation

Acquisition

Enhancement

Maintenance

Complete financing plan for HCP

• Assuming 88% build-out with little avoidance within developed properties

• Compensating for direct impacts of new development

• Leveraging resources and partnerships

• Estimating cost of plan administration

Next Steps

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