Importance of Private Lands. Unlike endangered forest birds in the Hawaiian Islands, which are usually restricted to remote forested habitats that are often under State or Federal jurisdiction, the koloa and nēnē are highly mobile and utilize a geographically and biologically diverse range of habitats. In addition, few endangered birds in the Hawaiian Islands will recover solely on public land and nēnē and koloa are no exception. Of the Island of Hawai‘i’s 2,573,400 acres, less than 10 percent are under federal jurisdiction, and only 14 percent are protected by conservation management. The core area for koloa on the Island of Hawai‘i is approximately 260,000 acres (Xxxxxx 1983), of which nearly 50 percent is privately owned (Juvik and Juvik 1999). Nēnē routinely travel between open grassland areas that are privately owned. Very little nēnē habitat is on lands under the jurisdiction of government conservation agencies; in fact, the majority of good nēnē habitat is on private lands that are used for cattle grazing. Experience indicates that these grazed pastures are excellent for nēnē because cattle grazing stimulates the production of new grass shoots, which are favored nēnē food; water is available in stock ponds or mechanical water units; and feral dogs are often controlled as part of normal ranch operations (X. Xxxxx, Hawai‘i DOFAW, pers. comm. 1999). As noted above, the availability of private land to nēnē and koloa is therefore an important aspect of their recovery. Therefore, a significant aid to the recovery of these species is the development of a Safe Harbor Agreement under section 10(a)(1)(A) of the Federal Endangered Species Act (ESA) and §195D-22 of the Hawai‘i Revised Statutes (HRS) that encourages the assistance of private landowners in the recovery of threatened and endangered species, in return for protection, a "safe harbor," from any additional regulatory requirements under the State and Federal endangered species laws. This Safe Harbor Agreement will assist in the recovery of koloa and nēnē on the Island of Hawai‘i by permitting UMIKOA RANCH to encourage the species’ use of the lands enrolled under the Agreement without additional regulatory burden.
Importance of Private Lands. Both the historical and current existing freshwater habitats of CCC coho salmon and CCC steelhead are largely on properties owned by private citizens, states, and local governments. Non-federal lands represent 95 percent of CCC coho salmon and CCC steelhead habitats. Therefore, conservation on non- federal properties is critical to the survival and recovery of these species. NMFS and CDFW strongly believe that a collaborative stewardship approach to the proactive management of listed salmon and steelhead involving government agencies and the private sector is critical to achieving the ultimate goal of the ESA. The “Safe Harbor” approach provides an avenue to xxxxxx the non-Federal landowners’ support for species conservation on non-Federal lands. Through implementation of the Safe Harbor Policy (64 FR 32717) and Safe Harbor Agreement Program Act (SHAPA) (Fish and Game Code Sections 2089.2 – 2089.26), NMFS and CDFW are able to create incentives for non- Federal property owners to implement conservation measures for listed salmonid species by providing certainty with regard to possible future land, water, or resource use restrictions should the Covered Species later become more numerous as a result of the property owners actions. Yellowjacket Creek and the segments of Xxxxxxx Creek on Xxxxxxx Ranch are designated critical habitat (freshwater spawning and rearing sites and migration corridors) for the Covered Species. During the low flow season (summer and early fall), these two streams, whose headwaters are at the base of Mount St. Helena, sustain high quality base flows with temperatures suitable for juvenile rearing coho salmon and steelhead. The following Section 5 describes the generally high value salmonid habitats located on Xxxxxxx Ranch.
Importance of Private Lands. Nearly all of the stream reaches that are currently or may potentially be used by the covered species occur on privately owned land in the upper Little Red River watershed. There are approximately 331 individuals, corporations, or entities that collectively own approximately 87,000 acres adjacent to the streams. The long term survival of the covered species is dependent on habitat on private lands. Aquatic species are not only affected by loss of instream habitat, but also by activities on lands adjacent to streams and within the watershed that subsequently affect water quality and habitat. The majority of lands in the upper Little Red River watershed are privately owned. However, a large portion of the upper South Fork subwatershed is publicly owned by the U. S. Forest Service and AGFC. A major step in the conservation of the covered species in the upper Little Red River watershed, therefore, is to encourage their presence and management on private lands. This Agreement sets a goal of restoring aquatic and terrestrial (riparian) habitat and utilizing best management practices to reduce sediment and pollutant runoff in the upper Little Red River watershed in order to allow for the expansion of the covered species through natural reproduction/recolonization or reintroduction, if necessary. By including all properties in the upper Little Red River watershed in the covered area of this Agreement, the covered species are much more likely to establish viable population(s) and inhabit unoccupied reaches in each of the forks. There is a reasonable likelihood that the covered species may subsequently occupy any or all of the properties enrolled under this Agreement that are adjacent to a fork of the Little Red River. Although the species will never occupy properties that are not adjacent to a fork, management of these properties directly impacts water quality and habitat occupied by the covered species; therefore the inclusion of these properties within the scope of the Agreement is critical to achieving the Agreement’s stated goals. Protection should cover a large enough area, including public and private lands, such that activities in the watershed no longer adversely affect the streams. To date, very few landowners in the focus watersheds have been contacted concerning this Agreement. However, those that have been contacted are very supportive and eager to enroll in the Agreement and provide habitat for the covered species on their lands. This Agreement will be...
Importance of Private Lands. Large-scale conservation efforts on non-federal lands have been important for conservation and recovery of the northern spotted owl since the species was listed (Xxxxxx et al. 1990, 1993; USDI FWS 1992, 2011). Nonfederal lands provide suitable habitat and developing habitat throughout the species’ range, and are particularly important in areas where public lands are lacking. Private lands can play several roles in owl conservation, such as helping reduce the risk of local or widespread extirpation of owl populations by maintaining owl pairs and a variety of habitat conditions throughout the range; and providing for the survival and movement of local populations by protecting core use areas and maintaining habitat conditions and spacing between local populations. Approximately 92 percent of the Northern California Coast Province is in non- Federal ownership (USDI Fish and Wildlife Service 1992). In 2016, a Service GIS exercise (Service files) reported 1,683 known northern spotted owl territories (with multiple Activity Centers) within the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) Coast Forest District. The majority of sites are on privately-owned timberlands that have been subject to timber management for decades. In recognition of the importance of non-federal lands in supporting recovery of the northern spotted owl, the Recovery Plan (USFWS 2011) contains the following Recovery Actions:
Importance of Private Lands. Razorback sucker and bonytail require predation-free, stable pond environments for the rapid growth of juvenile fish to a size range suitable for release to unprotected habitats. Suitable pond environments on public lands in Xxxxx County are limited primarily to managed, isolated backwaters along the shoreline of Lake Mohave which are subject to uncontrolled public access and variable environmental and water level conditions which cannot be fully manipulated to the benefit of the covered species. Ponds located on private lands which are maintained for landscape, recreation and irrigation purposes frequently have more controlled access and have a higher ability to control certain environmental variables including water level, contaminants, and contamination with undesirable species which would limit productivity and the ability to provide suitably-sized individual covered species for augmenting wild populations. The total acreage of suitable grow-out ponds available on public lands is not adequate to meet production needs of covered species to address current and future recovery and population augmentation goals, and this acreage cannot be expanded on public lands without construction of new pond facilities or substantive renovation of existing backwaters and other habitats, which may be of detriment to other wildlife species dependent on wetland and backwater habitats. Similarly, isolated pond and backwater habitats suitable for long-term maintenance of adult razorback sucker and bonytail populations are very limited on public lands, and will not meet the identified need for environments to sustain replicate, persistent adult populations to maintain the security of genetic stocks independent of production requirements for fish to be released to the wild. Existing private pond facilities in Xxxxx County can meet much of the existing needs for production and refuge habitats without the need to construct new facilities and without the loss of existing habitat values for resident wildlife.
Importance of Private Lands. Unlike endangered forest birds in Hawaii, nene routinely use open non-forested areas at both low and high elevations that are privately owned. The majority of lands on Molokai are privately owned or owned by Hawaiian HomeLands. A major step in the restoration of nene on Molokai therefore, is to encourage the presence of nene on private lands. The ASafe Harbor Agreement for the Reintroduction of the Nene to Puu O Hoku Ranch, island of Molokai@ sets a goal of restoring 200 nene to the Island of Molokai, however all of these birds cannot be supported on Puu O Hoku Ranch. By including additional properties on Molokai under safe harbor agreements nene are much more likely to establish a large population on the island, thus improving the chances of the species= statewide recovery. There is a reasonable likelihood that nene, first established on Puu O Hoku Ranch, may subsequently occupy any or all of the properties enrolled under this Agreement.
Importance of Private Lands. Both the historical and current existing freshwater habitats of CCC coho salmon and CCC steelhead are largely on properties owned by private citizens, states, and local governments. Non-federal lands represent 95 percent of CCC coho salmon and CCC steelhead habitats. Therefore, conservation on non-federal properties is critical to the survival and recovery of these species. NMFS strongly believes that a collaborative stewardship approach to the proactive management of listed salmon and steelhead involving government agencies and the private sector is critical to achieving the ultimate goal of the ESA. The “Safe Harbor” approach provides an avenue to xxxxxx the non-federal landowners’ support for species conservation on non-federal lands. Through implementation of the Safe Harbor Policy (64 FR 32717), NMFS is able to create incentives for non-federal property owners to implement conservation measures for listed salmonid species by providing certainty with regard to possible future land, water, or resource use restrictions should the Covered Species later become more numerous as a result of the property owners’ actions. Xxxxxx Creek on XxxXxxxxx Ranch is designated a critical habitat (freshwater spawning and rearing sites and migration corridors) for the Covered Species. Xxxxxx Creek is also designated as a “Core Area” in NMFS’s CCC Coho Recovery Plan (NMFS 2012) and home to a “Supporting Population” for CCC steelhead in NMFS’s Multi Species Recovery Plan (NMFS 2016). Restoration of these areas is the highest priority for near-term restoration projects and threat abatement actions, which both are necessary to recover the species (NMFS 2012, NMFS 2016).
