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The Road-RIPorter, Summer Solstice 201010

IntroductionBack in 2007, the Western Governors Association (WGA) adopted a

resolution encouraging states to protect wildlife linkage zones and cru-

cial wildlife habitat in the west. To assist in reaching this goal, the WGA

Wildlife Corridors Initiative was created and subsequently issued a report

titled, WGA Wildlife Corridors Initiative.

One key recommendation in the report called for the creation of a

common set of methods to map crucial habitat and wildlife corridors,since each state has varying approaches, data, and maps that do not lend

themselves to multi-state analysis. Additionally, many states inconsistently

choose conservation targets and have not prioritized crucial habitats or

identied wildlife corridors.1 To resolve this problem the report recom-

mended each state establish a Decision Support System (DSS), a history

and description of which can be found in ourRoad RIPorter- Winter Sol-

stice 2009 issue (Vol. 14, No. 4).

Decision Support SystemsSimply put, State DSSs would be used to compile information; assure

data quality; and make the data, models and analyses available at scales

useful to anyone analyzing proposed energy, land use, and transportation

projects or examining climate adaptation strategies.2 In developing indi-vidual DSSs, states rely on several different data sources including wildlife

action plans, and the Nature Conservancys ecoregional assessments,

among many others.

As mentioned in our previous article, a Memorandum of Understand-

ing (MOU) between the WGA and the Departments of Agriculture, Interior

and Energy formalized an agreement between the governors and federal

agencies to create a new DSS in each participating state. The MOU ex-

plains that each party will endeavor to use the new system to inform

applicable decision makers at all levels of government. Notably, there is

a clause that ensures it cannot be used to require a particular action by

federal agencies: This MOU is not intended to, and does not create, any

right or benet, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or equity, by

a Party against the United States, its agencies, its ofcers, or any person.Even with this provision, it is clear that the formalized agreement demon-

strates a commitment by all participants to apply the DSS when consider-

ing specic projects.

1 June, 2008 WGA Wildlife Corridors Initiative Report, p. 8.

2 February, 2010 Western Regional Wildlife Decision Support System:

Denitions and Guidance for State Systems.

Western States Identify Crucial Habitat

and ConnectivityBy Adam Rissien

Crucial Areas Assessment andPlanning System

In implementing the DSS, states are using

different program titles and have varying time-

lines for public release. For example, this past

April the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife

and Parks launched its version of DSS called the

Crucial Areas Assessment and Planning System(CAPS). Arizona has an internal release of its

version, Colorado is still in the process of devel-

oping its statewide application, and Washington

is close to nishing.

Since Montana has a readily available DSS

application, which also serves as a model for

other states, it is useful to explore this system

further. The CAPS website explains, The Assess-

ment evaluated the sh, wildlife and recreational

resources of Montana in order to identify crucial

areas and sh and wildlife corridors. However,

CAPS is more than an assessment, it is also a col-

lection of GIS layers that illustrate key terrestrialand aquatic species along with their associated

habitats. Upon launching the application, one

can choose among several elds to bring up

these layers; see Figure 1.

Figure 1.

http://www.westgov.org/index.php?option=com_joomdoc&task=doc_download&gid=66&Itemid=http://www.wildlandscpr.org/article/western-governors-catalyst-habitat-protectionhttp://www.wildlandscpr.org/article/western-governors-catalyst-habitat-protectionhttp://www.wildlandscpr.org/article/western-governors-catalyst-habitat-protectionhttp://fwp.mt.gov/wildthings/conservationInAction/crucialAreas.htmlhttp://fwp.mt.gov/wildthings/conservationInAction/crucialAreas.htmlhttp://www.wildlandscpr.org/article/western-governors-catalyst-habitat-protectionhttp://www.wildlandscpr.org/article/western-governors-catalyst-habitat-protectionhttp://www.westgov.org/index.php?option=com_joomdoc&task=doc_download&gid=66&Itemid=

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This tool will help people quickly identify places important for key

species, the location of habitat types, and in some cases the threat level.

For example, one may click on riparian areas to see where the highest

concentration occurs based on the amount within one 640-acre square sec-

tion. Alternatively, one may click on watershed integrity to see the level of

human impact based on thirteen variables, including road density overall

and in riparian buffers.

Looking at the aquatic and terrestrial layers, one can easily learn if a

specic stream or area contains species of concern. Furthermore, CAPS

contains a feature that allows one to click anywhere on the map to learn

why the stream or area has a particular rating and which species occur

there.

For example, selecting the sh species of concern eld and zoom-

ing in on the Pioneer Range in southwest Montana, one can see that Wise

River has a class one ranking, (see Figure 2). Then by clicking on the

stream, a window pops up with more hot links providing options to see

why the river is class 1, (see Figure 3).

Figure 2

This new system contains many other

features and elds that will continue to develop

as the agency nishes additional layers. Cur-

rently Montana FWP is generating the connectiv-

ity maps, which will be completed by the end

of 2011. Connectivity layers will incorporate

aquatic, semi-aquatic and terrestrial species,and display both corridors and linkage zones for

each; some of these are already available.

The CAPS tool provides land managers and

developers a starting point for analyzing proj-

ects of all kinds, and gives conservationists an

opportunity to ask better questions early in the

environmental review process. Previously, one

had to examine several reports and management

plans to learn what CAPS can show with a click

of the mouse.

Even though the MOU does not provide any

new substantive requirements, it does urge land

managers to use the CAPS during project devel-

opment. Additionally, it provides an opportunity

for those involved in travel management plan-

ning to ask how the Forest Service is meeting

requirements to minimize impacts. Using our

Wise River example, we know it contains arctic

grayling (a listed species), and has a class 1

rating for aquatic connectivity. This helps direct

monitoring efforts to document any erosion and

sedimentation concerns on adjacent roads or

trails. Monitoring results, coupled with the CAPS

information, allow for more informed comments

during the NEPA process. Furthermore, it can

help direct road mitigation and decommission-

ing efforts to those places most in need.

ConclusionEach western state should complete its own

version of DSS in the next few years, and the

Montana CAPS application provides an example

of how such systems may work. These will pro-

vide conservationists with a quick and effective

method of learning complicated information that

may also help achieve land management goals.

While it does not provide any legal requirements

on its own, when coupled with other substan-

tive requirements, the information may bolster

potential violation claims in ofcial projectcomments.

Figure 3

Policy Primer, continued from page 10