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Strategic Habitat Conservation for Endangered Species:. Applying an adaptive management framework to lead to the recovery of North Carolina’s rare aquatic species. Presented by: Sarah McRae 12 January 2012. Presentation Overview. US Fish and Wildlife Service in NC
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Strategic Habitat Conservation for Endangered Species: Applying an adaptive management framework to lead to the recovery of North Carolina’s rare aquatic species Presented by: Sarah McRae 12 January 2012
Presentation Overview • US Fish and Wildlife Service in NC • Strategic Habitat Conservation (SHC) concepts • Recovery Planning using SHC for listed species • Cape Fear shiner • Dwarf wedgemussel • Tar River spinymussel • Future Steps • How YOU can help
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Our Mission: Working with others to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people.
Ecological Services Program Areas • Endangered Species (listing, candidate conservation, consultation, recovery) • Conservation Planning Assistance (NEPA, FERC, federal permit reviews) • Coastal Program (coastal ecosystem restoration, fish passage, invasive control) • Partners for Fish and Wildlife (habitat restoration/improvement/protection on private lands through partnerships) • Environmental Contaminants (evaluating effects of contaminants for pollution prevention and environmental restoration)
USFWS’s Strategic Habitat Conservation Framework • What is SHC? An adaptive resource management framework for making management decisions about where and how to deliver conservation efficiently to achieve specific biological outcomes. Assumption-driven Research
Using SHC for Cape Fear shiner BIOLOGICAL PLANNING Upper Cape Fear River basin Priority Stream reaches/patches Cape Fear shiner
Biological Planning: Formulating Objectives • Population: What constitutes a robust population? • Densities in optimal habitat patches • Minimum viable population size • Landscape: Where in the Upper Cape Fear River basin will we focus efforts? • Prioritize watersheds to focus conservation actions • Habitat: What are the essential habitat constituents? • Focus on water willow beds – what habitat variables are important for water willow? • How many stream miles need to be occupied?
Using SHC for Cape Fear shiner Water Quality studies Captive propagation RESEARCH CFS larva CFS eggs
Assumption-driven Research • Summary: http://www.fws.gov/raleigh/species/es_cfshiner_biblio.html • 1971 – Species is described • 1987 – Species is listed • 1997 – USFWS RFO & WRC start funding science needs identified in the Recovery Plan • Habitat requirements (2 studies) • Reproductive behavior (1 study) • Sensitivity to water-borne contaminants (4 studies) • Genetic diversity (4 studies) • Mortality risk due to electroshocking (1 study) • Suitable surrogate species for future water quality studies (1 study) • Population status across the shiner’s historic range (4 studies) • Threats analysis (1 study)
Interesting Findings • Overall, CFS populations remain genetically similar. But differences do emerge as the distance between populations increases. • Dams, therefore, remain a threat. • CFS not as sensitive to chemical pollutants as previously thought. • Meeting State water quality standards is primary need.
Future Research Priorities • Water Quality tests on all life cycle stages • Establish techniques to assess reintroduction/augmentation success • Quantify water willow distribution and habitat needs • Comparison of Rocky/Deep River habitats vs Haw River habitats and species associates: What are the limiting factors in the Haw? • Emerging threats: • Shale Gas • Invasive species interactions (e.g., cut grass)
Using SHC for Cape Fear shiner CONSERVATION DESIGN • Decision Support Tools: • Section 7 Ranges defined • “Canned” GIS project • Expert CFS-SHC team • Programmatic Priorities: • RFO Top Office Priority • WRC “Section 6” priority for species in • Piedmont
Needed Conservation Actions CATEGORIES OF ACTION: • Education • Write SHC Plan/Re-write Recovery Plan • Augmentation/Reintroduction • Dam Removals • Instream Flows • Habitat Restoration and Protection • Surveys and Mapping • Policy • Water Quality • Research
Possible Programmatic Priorities • Populations: • Upper Rocky River augmentation project • Habitats: • Water willow distribution surveys • Identified threat abatement projects • Landscape: • Lee County Conservation Partnership • Proactive planning in Harnett County
Delivery of Conservation Actions • Carbonton Dam Removal Project • Continue to work with partners to achieve conservation: • Utilize WRC’s Green Growth Toolbox throughout region • Utilize Chatham Conservation Partnership for education/outreach opportunities; project ideas and recommendations • NC Wildlife Resources Commission • NC Natural Heritage Program • NC Parks and Recreation • Chatham Conservation Partnership • Triangle Land Conservancy • Haw River Assembly • NC Zoological Park • Conservation Fisheries, Inc. • Citizens
Using SHC for Cape Fear shiner OUTCOME-BASED MONITORING • Identify data needs and data collection strategies that will fit into the overall adaptive management scheme • Collaborate with partners to collect information/data • Assess effects of management • Assess agency accomplishments • Assess net progress toward population, landscape and habitat objectives
Future Steps for CFS • USFWS has a draft SHC framework report available • Working with WRC on Rocky River augmentation project • Working with SWCD’s along the Deep River to address NPS pollution problems • Exploring dam removal projects to improve connectivity • Expand conservation partnerships to other counties that contain habitat for CFS • Hold additional CFS-SHC team meetings to discuss path forward and assess progress • Ultimate Goal: De-list the CFS!
Using SHC for dwarf wedgemussel Utilizing a Structured Decision Making Approach
DWM-SHC workshop OBJECTIVES
DWM-SHC workshop • Management and Conservation Actions: • Actions that affect habitat, such as, regulation or ordinances, acquisition of land through purchase or easements, restoration, and beaver control. • Actions that directly affect populations, such as, augmentation, reintroduction, or salvage. • Actions that affect public support, such as, outreach or public education.
Future Steps for DWM • Ultimate Goal: Recover DWM in NC! • Developing Models • Life History • Meta-population • Continue to engage • DWM-SHC team • Consider propagation • efforts • Utilize Section 7 process • to benefit species Initial Conceptual Model
Using SHC for Tar River spinymussel Diagram from 2010 More on this from Ashton in a minute…
Questions? U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service www.fws.gov Raleigh office of USFWS www.fws.gov/raleigh/ Check out our new fact sheets! www.fws.gov/raleigh/es_tes.html Sarah McRae sarah_mcrae@fws.gov; 919-856-4520x16