Toward a Common Ecological Framework: Part 1- Watershed Approaches

TRB Webinar: Toward a Common Ecological Framework
Part 1: Watershed Approaches—Corps, EPA, State, and Region Cooperative Models
July 29, 2010, 1:00–4:00 PM EDT

This webinar will introduce the upcoming products of SHRP 2 project C06 and share processes and benefits where similar approaches have been tried. The webinar will include agency dialogue and share discoveries of important elements in workability. Register at https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/377075745. This is first part of a two-part series; more information about part 2 is available on the following page.

1. Overview of C06 products that are being developed. The presenters will provide an overview of the draft Framework for Integrated Conservation and Transportation Planning (ESA, CWA 404, biodiversity, transportation) and associated products that will be available at shrpc06.com. They will also answer questions about the upcoming pilot tests of ecological approaches in SHRP 2 Project C21. To view the RFP, visit the SHRP 2 RFP page on or after July 27, 2010.
Steve Andrle, SHRP 2 Capacity Chief Program Officer, [email protected]
Marie Venner, SHRP 2 Project C06A Principal Investigator, [email protected]

2. Virginia Southern Watershed Area Management Plan. The presenter will explore a multiresource, regulatory and nonregulatory, watershed area management plan developed by a state agency with a biodiversity focus, local and regional planning involvement, and conservation/restoration accomplishments.
Steve Martin, USACE Norfolk District & Institute for Water Resources, [email protected]

3. Southern California Special Area Management Plans. The presenter will explore steps in a practical watershed approach and observed outcomes in the 404 permitting processes.
Dr. Jae Chung, USACE LA District and Institute for Water Resources, [email protected]

4. Watershed Resources Registry. The presenters will identify multiple priority resource goals, including water quality §401, §402, and §303(d) listed streams. They will also explore targeting and opportunity value assessment processes and outcomes.
Bill Seib, Chief, Regulatory Branch, USACE Baltimore District, [email protected]
Ellen Bryson, Geographer, Regulatory Branch, [email protected]
Dominique Luekenhoff, US EPA Region 3, Associate Director, Water Protection Division, [email protected]

5. St. Paul District Watershed Pilots in the Sunrise and Bad River Watersheds. The presenters will discuss steps and learning in the pilots thus far as well as the anticipated application in the 404 permitting program.
Thomas Mings, Mitigation Specialist, [email protected]
Tim Smith, Regulatory, [email protected]

6. Economical compilation of wetlands data and identification of restoration priorities.
Jimmy Kagan, Director, Oregon Institute for Natural Resources, [email protected]

Additional Documents
There isn’t enough air time to cover the wealth of available material. Here are some additional items of interest.  Those without web addresses will be posted on shrpc06.com.

• North Carolina Ecosystem Enhancement Program (EEP)– steps for watershed planning and identifying priority areas for mitigation, steps in the permitting process for NCEEP, accomplishments to date. 
• Colorado Front Range watershed pilot: Selecting Mitigation Sites with a Watershed Approach (USEPA, USACE, CDNR, CDOT, CNHP, CSU, Feb. 2010) 
• Seattle District, EPA Region 10, Washington State: Selecting Wetland Mitigation Sites Using a  Watershed Approach (Hruby et al, 2009) http://www.ecy.wa.gov/pubs/0906032.pdf
  
• Ecological Integration Framework + draft of combined steps of above watershed approaches 
• Watershed approach to compensatory mitigation (33 CFR 332.3(c)/40 CFR 230.93(c)), USACE 
• Proposal for Nationwide Wetland Mapping and identification of vetted mitigation sites in every 4th field Hydrologic Unit Code watershed Proposal for development of Species Distribution Models for all listed species 
• Regional Advance Mitigation and Conservation Planning (RAMP) - Caltrans-FWS MOU (whereas doc) 2009, State Depts. of Water Resources, Fish & Game, Transportation, Natural Resources, federal agencies. 
• San Diego TransNet Environmental Mitigation Program (EMP) interagency memorandum of understanding, and sample letter from FWS supporting advance mitigation site acquisition and concurring on offset of potential impacts for set of anticipated transportation projects, and program overview (www.sandag.org/uploads/publicationid/publicationid_1138_4880.pdf) 
• Florida Efficient Transportation Decision Making process, https://etdmpub.fla-etat.org/est/ 
• Colorado Shortgrass Prairie MOA (FWS, TNC, CDNR, CDoW, CDOT, FHWA, CSU, CNHP) proactive recovery and advance mitigation program, primarily aimed at not-yet-listed species, based on projected species ranges, analysis of a buffer of the existing network & existing bridges, resulting in protection and annual monitoring and management of 30,000 acres of the eastern third of the state’s “last best places.” http://environment.fhwa.dot.gov/strmlng/comoa.asp.  Agreement with TNC-FWS also posted at shrpc06.com.  Precursor to current California advance mitigation efforts.