222 Miles of Sacramento River Habitat Opens to New Voluntary Restoration Proposed Safe Harbor Agreement Will Protect Landowners Who Help Imperiled Species Published on Dec 21, 2009 - 11:21:31 AM
Dec. 21, 2009 - A 222-mile stretch of the Sacramento River would open for new voluntary landowner efforts to improve rare species habitat under a proposed agreement between the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) and the California Department of Fish and Game (Department) on one hand and the Sacramento River Conservation Area Forum (Forum).
Termed a Safe Harbor Agreement (SHA), the voluntary pact between the federal government and the Forum would give landowners along the river the opportunity to gain legal protection from violating the federal and state Endangered Species Acts (ESA) while they improve native habitat in the course of their ranching and farming operations.
Under the draft SHA, seven species could benefit from landowner activities, the federally listed valley elderberry longhorn beetle and giant garter snake, and the state-protected western pond turtle, Swainson's hawk, bank swallow, willow flycatcher and western yellow-billed cuckoo.
The species would benefit from a number of good land management practices carried out by property owners along the river, such as maintaining good tree cover, planting and protecting elderberries, removing invasive species and avoiding essential habitats during breeding. The activities would be consistent with the landowners' overall needs.
The draft SHA would cover the main stem Sacramento River from river mile 80, its Feather River confluence at Verona, upstream to mile 302 at Keswick Dam, just above Redding.
"Voluntary partnerships with farmers and ranchers who know and understand the Sacramento River riparian habitat is an ideal way to help at-risk species," according to Susan K. Moore, Field Supervisor in the Sacramento Fish and Wildlife Office. "The Sacramento River Safe Harbor Agreement will be a major step forward in the common effort to recover these important species."
According to Beverly Anderson-Abbs, manager of the Forum, "The Safe Harbor Agreement will be an excellent example of the landowners and the agencies working together to find workable solutions to the challenges we face in restoring these species."
Public comments on the draft SHA can be submitted through Jan. 20 2010 to: Kathy Brown, Conservation Partnerships Program, 2800 Cottage Way, Room W-2605, Sacramento, California 95825. (916) 414-6600; fax: (916) 414-6712/6713
The agreement would give participating landowners protection from violating the ESA as they improve habitat. The draft SHA also will enable neighboring landowners to get ESA incidental take protection even if they do not undertake habitat enhancement efforts themselves.
The Service encourages partnerships such as these because they provide a net benefit to the imperiled species, while protecting landowners who might incidentally harm a species.
The Sacramento River Conservation Area Forum is a non-profit organization that helps guide cooperative efforts to protect, restore and enhance the fisheries and riparian habitat along the Sacramento River from Keswick Dam Verona. The Forum works to ensure that habitat restoration and management address not only the dynamics of riparian ecosystems, but also the realities of local agricultural and recreational issues associated with land use along the river.
The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working with others to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. We are both a leader and trusted partner in fish and wildlife conservation, known for our scientific excellence, stewardship of lands and natural resources, dedicated professionals and commitment to public service. For more information on our work and the people who make it happen, visit www.fws.gov.
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