Thinking outside the Endangered Species Act: Minimizing the reliance on compensatory mitigation through effective conservation planning

Background/Question/Methods

Historically, the variability of annual flows and meander tendencies of the Sacramento and San Joaquin Rivers were responsible for the creation of complex ecosystems, hosting diverse wildlife and plant communities. These same river systems have provided ecosystem services and goods important to the economy of California. Activities such as flood management, water resource development, and agriculture have reduced river function and natural land cover extent through river impoundment, floodplain isolation, and bank stabilization. Recent legislation, indicative of a shift in public values, has directed land and infrastructure managers to consider improving riverine geomorphic function, riparian habitats, and native species populations while restoring the resilience and reliability of the flood management system of these river systems. Under the current paradigm of the Endangered Species Act, conservation planning occurs under established permitting mechanisms, in most cases after project alternatives have been developed and designed. Efficacy of these mechanisms is poorly understood, and in some cases mitigation actions fail to provide resources to species, or lead to incremental loss of habitats. We present a novel approach to addressing conservation needs of multiple species that are reliant on the ecosystem functions provided by these floodplain ecosystems.

Results/Conclusions

To minimize the reliance on and need for compensatory mitigation, we set up a planning framework that integrates conservation and restoration potential with flood management objectives. This approach provides important and early consideration for the needs of 17 imperiled species within the Sacramento and San Joaquin River systems that may be affected by improvements to and the operation of the flood management system. To comprehensively address the needs of these species, we used the best available science and consultation with species experts to develop species-specific conservation plans. The conservation plans include conceptual models that outline the linkages between riverine geomorphic processes that create, sustain, and maintain the habitats for each species. The plans will inform the design of flood management infrastructure and the development of operations and maintenance practices prior to their implementation. This approach reduces the impacts to habitats and contributes to species recovery, rather than attempting to mitigate after impacts have been realized. As an example, we will present the systemwide conservation plan for the Bank Swallow and discuss opportunities to resurrect ecosystem processes and recover species through infrastructure improvement and long-term conservation actions.