Level/Type of Take. Impacts A CCAA does not cover take of a species until the species is listed. Therefore, this portion of the CCAA must quantify the level and type of take anticipated for each covered species once the species is listed. This take is most often expressed as the number of individuals that will be taken or, if appropriate for the covered species, the number of breeding pairs or other species- specific designations that can accurately quantify the take. Where a census or other estimation of the individuals is not possible or appropriate, habitat may be used as a substitute. When habitat is used for determining the quantity and type of take, the Service may want to quantify take by habitat quality, such as by nesting, foraging, or breeding habitat, or as suitable or unsuitable habitat, or as occupied, unoccupied, or transitional/seasonal habitat. In addition, this section of the CCAA should describe all conservation measures related to the CCAA and all other activities proposed for the enrolled property which may result in authorized (i.e., permitted) take of the covered species. This will include on-going take that is the result of day-to-day management or operation of the enrolled property and any take that is the result of specific conservation measures or other actions. Such activities might include harvesting, forestry, livestock grazing, or the use of vehicles or other equipment. Cumulatively, these activities may result in short-term and/or long-term impacts and direct and/or indirect impacts to the covered species. For example, such impacts might result from pond or wetland construction, habitat improvement or maintenance, or the moving of a structure or some other mobile habitat (e.g., moving a shed where bats are living). Take may also result from monitoring and other species management activities, such as translocation or relocation of the covered species. This section of the CCAA should also identify any take minimization measures that will be undertaken. For instance, if the property owner agrees to alter his or her crop harvesting, forestry, or livestock grazing schedule to benefit the covered species, those activities should be considered take minimization measures. Similarly, the Service should encourage the property owner to use trained personnel to implement the conservation measures (e.g., certified prescribed burners) or other activities that could result in take, which would further minimize take of the covered species. All such measures are...
Level/Type of Take. Impacts The potential for incidental take of Covered Species resulting from the Covered Activities is minimal because of the SHA conservation and minimization measures. The conservation measures are expected to result in higher quality and greater amounts of habitat for NSO, thereby increasing the likelihood of attracting NSO onto the Property. If NSO do become established on the Property, there would be some risk of incidental take resulting from timber operations. The most likely form of incidental take would be impairment of NSO breeding, feeding, and sheltering from habitat loss during timber harvest activities. It is unlikely that NSO habitat will be removed during the early decades of the SHA because there is currently only a small amount of high-quality NSO habitat present on the Property, and the Easement requires an increase in the number of large trees and amount of older, more complex forest conditions across the Property that will be maintained in perpetuity. Incidental take, if it does occur, would most likely take place decades into the future when additional NSO habitat develops above the existing baseline conditions. Although the SHA would allow the Property Owners to return the Property to baseline conditions even if Covered Species have become established on the Property, this is unlikely because of the Easement requirements to develop and perpetually maintain forests that are older and structurally more complex. These requirements will provide more suitable conditions for NSO than currently exist. Incidental take of NSO may also occur if operations are conducted on the Property within 0.25- mile of an active nest site and result in NSO abandoning their nest or young. However, the SHA take avoidance and minimization measures in section 4.2.1.2 will minimize this potential through a combination of surveys and seasonal timing restrictions prior to any timber operations in suitable habitat. Direct injury or death of an adult NSO associated with timber operations is not anticipated because owls are mobile and can avoid areas where active disturbance is occurring. Incidental take of wolves may occur if cattle operations or timber harvesting significantly impairs their feeding, breeding, or sheltering. This could occur if operations are conducted near an active den or rendezvous site, which may lead to abandonment of the site or young because of the disturbance. However, the monitoring of wolf activity and protection measures in section
