Douglas County Multi Species HCP

Burrowing Owl

Several fish and wildlife species that use habitat in Douglas County are listed on the Federal Endangered Species List pursuant to the Federal Endangered Species Act (FESA) of 1973 as amended and/or on the State of Washington's Threatened and Endangered Species list. These species presently include: greater sage grouse (State Threatened, 1991), steelhead trout (Federal Endangered, 1997), bull trout (Federal Threatened, 1998), sharp-tailed grouse (State Threatened 1998), spring Chinook salmon (Federal Endangered 1999), and pygmy rabbit (Federal and State Endangered 2003), bald eagle (Federally De-listed 2007, State Threatened). More wildlife species in Douglas County are listed as Federal or State Candidate Species for listing, or Federal or State Species of Concern. In addition, 56 other wildlife species found in Douglas County may need special protection measures to ensure long-term viable populations.

Over the past century, about 75 percent (880,000 acres) of Douglas County has been converted from native habitat to agricultural production lands. Because of this past land-use conversion, there have been marked impacts on the inhabitant local wildlife species generally leading to a decline in species populations. It is the expressed desire of the private agricultural land owners in Douglas County to assist in reversing the declining population trend of both FESA Species as well as other key fish and wildlife species within the County.

In the fall of 1999 the Foster Creek Conservation District embarked on an effort to investigate the level of interest among the County's agricultural producers in participating in the development of a Habitat Conservation Plan for application of a Section 10(a) permit under the FESA. Obtaining a Section 10(a) permit requires the submission of a Habitat Conservation Plan to the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) and completion of a National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) analysis a review of the USFWS's action to approve a Section 10(a) permit under NEPA. A Section 10(a) permit would allow the "take" of threatened or endangered species resulting from otherwise lawful activities on non-Federal agricultural lands within the county, providing agricultural producers protection against prosecution under the FESA for such agricultural activities as approved under a Section 10(a) permit.

It is understood that a Habitat Conservation Plan would most likely reduce the likelihood of the listing of additional species located in Douglas County as threatened or endangered under the FESA. Thus, to meet Douglas County landowners desires, this Douglas County Multiple Species Habitat Conservation Plan has been developed and designed to create Desired Future Conditions within the County that will benefit fish and wildlife species over the period 2008-2057. As this Plan is implemented, the possible take of some FESA species due to land-use practices can be anticipated. Thus, the standards of the Plan has been prepared in accordance with Section 10(a) (1) (B) of the FESA Act as well as 50 CFR 17.32(b) and 1&.22(b). This Plan identifies those actions that will be implemented to maintain the viability of natural habitats for 20 species present in Douglas County.