Common use of NET CONSERVATION BENEFIT Clause in Contracts

NET CONSERVATION BENEFIT. Historically, LCT occurred in what were considered networked populations or metapopulations (Ray et al. 2000; USFWS 1995), which refers to a collection of discrete local breeding populations. The potential for networked populations to persist despite local catastrophes has long been recognized (▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ 1958; Andrewartha and Birch 1954). Networked populations are those where individuals experience different environmental conditions at different locations but are capable of moving between these locations at sufficient rates to modulate population fluctuations that might otherwise lead to local extinction (Ray et al. 2000). The presence of several subpopulations increases the probability that at least one will survive through periods of disturbance and consequently protect the genetic variation available for adaptation to change. One of the recovery actions identified in the 1995 Recovery Plan and State Management Plan was securing at risk populations of LCT within the Northwest DPS. This objective was achieved by reintroducing LCT into several isolated streams within the DPS. These reintroductions accomplished several important recovery tasks: preserving unique LCT genetic material and decreasing risks to the original LCT populations from severe environmental perturbations (i.e. fire and drought). As LCT recovery continues, these isolated populations have become extremely important for providing source LCT to repopulate the networked populations. Research shows LCT population persistence is associated with the ability to maintain connectivity among populations, i.e., networked populations. A networked system is defined as an interconnected, stream and/or stream-lake system in which individuals can migrate from or disperse into areas from which fish have been extirpated (Ray et al. 2000). This ability to disperse and repopulate habitats allows populations to persist (▇▇▇▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ 2003; ▇▇▇▇▇▇ and ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇; ▇▇▇ et al. 2000; ▇▇▇▇▇▇ et al. 1997). Periodic repopulation by upstream or downstream sources enabled LCT to survive extreme circumstances and provided for genetic exchange (▇▇▇▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ 2003). The conservation measures associated with this Agreement will contribute, directly and/or indirectly, to recovery of LCT. Private lands comprise only a small portion of the stream habitats within the recovery stream systems. However, LCT use private land areas to access many miles of publicly owned stream habitats for recovery activities that are currently not useable. These private lands encompass streams needed for both the isolated populations as well as networked populations. Currently, LCT are only found in the isolated streams on public lands due to private landowners reluctance to participate in activities that will benefit LCT due to fear of regulatory impacts from having threatened species on their land. Having landowners participate in this Agreement will open areas to reintroduction, expansion, and/or preservation of LCT populations needed to protect the species’ genetic material. It will also help to implement networked populations and increase numbers of LCT for use in stocking networked populations. Additionally, private lands will be needed for LCT spawning areas, migration corridors, and healthy population dynamics within the networked areas. Implementation of this Agreement is expected to result in increased numbers of LCT or amount of habitat in excess of the established baseline for each enrolled property. If all the landowners return their property to baseline conditions after 30 years, which is not expected, populations will still exist within public lands that have become linked due to conservation activities, and within private lands which serve as migration corridors, spawning habitat, and overwintering habitat. Isolated populations that were part of the baseline will have been utilized for repopulating the networked areas, and will still exist. They will no longer need to be tapped for species recovery in other areas, and therefore will be more stable. Delisting of LCT within this DPS may be realized during the 30 year permit timeline, depending on how quickly landowners sign up, habitat conditions stabilize, and LCT numbers increase.

NET CONSERVATION BENEFIT. Historically, LCT occurred in what were considered networked populations or metapopulations (Ray et al. 2000; USFWS U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1995), which refers to a collection of discrete local breeding populations. The potential for networked populations to persist despite local catastrophes has long been recognized (▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ 1958; Andrewartha and Birch 1954)recognized. Networked populations are those where individuals experience different environmental conditions at different locations locations, but are capable of moving between these locations at sufficient rates to modulate population popUlation fluctuations that might otherwise lead to local extinction (Ray et al. 2000). The presence of several subpopulations increases the probability that at least one will survive through periods of disturbance and consequently protect the genetic variation available for adaptation to change. One of the recovery actions identified in the 1995 Recovery Plan and State Management Plan was securing at risk populations of LCT within the Northwest DPS. This objective was achieved by reintroducing LCT into several isolated streams within the DPS. These reintroductions accomplished several important recovery tasks: preserving unique LCT genetic material and decreasing risks to the original LCT populations from severe environmental perturbations (i.e. fire and drought). As LCT recovery continues, these isolated populations have become extremely important for providing source LCT to repopulate the networked populations. Research shows that LCT population persistence is associated with the ability to maintain connectivity among populations, i.e., networked populations. A networked system is defined as an interconnected, stream and/or stream-lake system in which individuals can migrate from or disperse into areas from which fish have been extirpated (Ray et al. 2000). This ability to disperse and repopulate habitats allows populations to persist (▇▇▇▇▇▇▇-- ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ 2003; ▇▇▇▇▇▇ and ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇2000; ▇▇▇ et alat. 2000; ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Dunham et al. 1997). Periodic repopulation by upstream or downstream sources enabled LCT to survive extreme circumstances and provided for genetic exchange (▇▇▇▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ 2003). The conservation measures associated with this Agreement will contribute, directly and/or indirectly, to recovery of LCT. Private lands comprise only a small portion of the stream habitats within the recovery stream systems. However, LCT use private land these areas to access many miles of publicly publicly-owned stream habitats for recovery activities that are currently not useable. These private lands encompass streams needed for both the isolated populations as well as networked populations. Currently, LCT are only found predominant in the isolated streams on public lands due to private landowners reluctance reluctant to participate in activities that will benefit LCT due to fear of regulatory impacts from having threatened species on their land. Having landowners participate in this Agreement will open many areas to reintroduction, expansion, and/or preservation of LCT populations needed to protect the species’ ' genetic material. It will also help to implement networked populations and increase numbers of LCT for use in stocking networked populations. Additionally, private lands will be needed for LCT spawning areas, migration corridors, and healthy population dynamics within the networked areas. Implementation of this Agreement is expected to result in increased numbers of LCT or amount of habitat in excess of the established baseline for each enrolled property. If all the landowners Cooperators return their property to baseline conditions after 30 yearsupon completion of their CNCI term, which is not expected, populations will still exist within public lands that have become linked due to conservation activities, and within private non-Federal lands which serve as migration corridors, spawning habitat, and overwintering habitat. Isolated populations that were part of the ofthe baseline will have been utilized used for repopulating the networked areas, and will still exist. They will no longer need to be tapped for species species' recovery in other areas, and therefore will be more stable. Delisting of LCT within this DPS may be realized during the 30 year permit timeline, depending on how quickly landowners sign up, habitat conditions stabilize, and LCT numbers increase.

NET CONSERVATION BENEFIT. Historically, LCT occurred in what were considered networked populations or metapopulations (Ray et al. 2000; USFWS U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1995), which refers to a collection of discrete local breeding populations. The potential for networked populations to persist despite local catastrophes has long been recognized (▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ 1958; Andrewartha and Birch 1954)recognized. Networked populations are those where individuals experience different environmental conditions at different locations locations, but are capable of moving between these locations at sufficient rates to modulate population popUlation fluctuations that might otherwise lead to local extinction (Ray et al. 2000). The presence of several subpopulations increases the probability that at least one will survive through periods of disturbance and consequently protect the genetic variation available for adaptation to change. One of the recovery actions identified in the 1995 Recovery Plan and State Management Plan was securing at risk populations of LCT within the Northwest DPS. This objective was achieved by reintroducing LCT into several isolated streams within the DPS. These reintroductions accomplished several important recovery tasks: preserving unique LCT genetic material and decreasing risks to the original LCT populations from severe environmental perturbations (i.e. fire and drought). As LCT recovery continues, these isolated populations have become extremely important for providing source LCT to repopulate the networked populations. Research shows that LCT population persistence is associated with the ability to maintain connectivity among populations, i.e., networked populations. A networked system is defined as an interconnected, stream and/or stream-lake system in which individuals can migrate from or disperse into areas from which fish have been extirpated (Ray et al. 2000). This ability to disperse and repopulate habitats allows populations to persist (▇▇▇▇▇▇▇-­ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ 2003; ▇▇▇▇▇▇ and ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇; ▇▇▇ et alat. 2000; ▇▇▇▇▇▇ et al. 1997). Periodic repopulation by upstream or downstream sources enabled LCT to survive extreme circumstances and provided for genetic exchange (▇▇▇▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ 2003). The conservation measures associated with this Agreement will contribute, directly and/or indirectly, to recovery of LCT. Private lands comprise only a small portion of the stream habitats within the recovery stream systems. However, LCT use private land these areas to access many miles of publicly publicly-owned stream habitats for recovery activities that are currently not useable. These private lands encompass streams needed for both the isolated populations as well as networked populations. Currently, LCT are only found predominant in the isolated streams on public lands due to private landowners reluctance reluctant to participate in activities that will benefit LCT due to fear of regulatory impacts from having threatened species on their land. Having landowners participate in this Agreement will open many areas to reintroduction, expansion, and/or preservation of LCT populations needed to protect the species’ ' genetic material. It will also help to implement networked populations and increase numbers of LCT for use in stocking networked populations. Additionally, private lands will be needed for LCT spawning areas, migration corridors, and healthy population dynamics within the networked areas. Implementation of this Agreement is expected to result in increased numbers of LCT or amount of habitat in excess of the established baseline for each enrolled property. If all the landowners Cooperators return their property to baseline conditions after 30 yearsupon completion of their CNCI term, which is not expected, populations will still exist within public lands that have become linked due to conservation activities, and within private non-Federal lands which serve as migration corridors, spawning habitat, and overwintering habitat. Isolated populations that were part of the ofthe baseline will have been utilized used for repopulating the networked areas, and will still exist. They will no longer need to be tapped for species species' recovery in other areas, and therefore will be more stable. Delisting of LCT within this DPS may be realized during the 30 year permit timeline, depending on how quickly landowners sign up, habitat conditions stabilize, and LCT numbers increase.