San Luis Valley Regional Habitat Conservation Plan Draft for Public Review
|
|  Yüklə 4.45 Mb.
|
2.6Existing Local Land Use PoliciesColorado law delegates the authority and responsibility to regulate land use to counties and municipalities. This authority and responsibility includes a requirement that counties prepare and adopt master plans or comprehensive plans, requires subdivision regulations, and requires zoning and other planning tools. All of the Applicant counties in the Valley have general guidance and/or development stipulations that are used to limit development in wildlife habitat areas on a case-by-case basis. Proposed land use policies associated with the implementation of this HCP are described in Section 5.7. General Floodplain RestrictionsFloodplains have been designated along the Rio Grande, Conejos River, and other major streams. While specific floodplain development requirements vary by county, they typically require additional oversight and approval criteria for development projects. While these policies do not eliminate development in the floodplain, they do have the potential to reduce the frequency and magnitude of riparian habitat impacts within the designated floodplain. 2.7Existing Conservation EffortsThe communities of the Valley have a history of proactive and collaborative conservation dating back to the establishment of the Great Sand Dunes National Monument in 1932. These efforts have led to the establishment of the Alamosa and Monte Vista NWRs, local habitat protection efforts, numerous private conservation programs, and the acquisition of the Baca Ranch to allow the creation of the Baca NWR and Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve. The legacy of these ongoing efforts is found in the existing mosaic of protected lands that sustain the covered species in the Valley, and can be enhanced through the HCP’s strategic and collaborative conservation approach. This section describes the many conservation efforts underway in the Valley that will continue to protect and enhance wetland and riparian habitat, and will contribute to the conservation and enhancement of habitat for the covered species. Conservation Programs and InitiativesColorado Wetlands Program and Wetlands InitiativeThe Colorado Wetlands Program was launched by the Colorado Division of Wildlife (now CPW) in 1997 to foster cooperation among wetland protection interests and achieve wetlands conservation through voluntary, incentive-based means that include willing-to-participate landowners and local communities. As part of the Wetlands Program, the Colorado Wetlands Initiative is an endeavor to protect wetlands and wetland-dependent wildlife through the use of voluntary, incentive-based mechanisms. The Wetlands Initiative is a partnership and a cooperative venture among Ducks Unlimited, The Nature Conservancy (TNC), Partners for Fish and Wildlife, Great Outdoors Colorado, the Colorado Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation, and the CPW (CDOW 2005). Within the Valley, the Wetlands Initiative has contributed to five conservation projects that help protect habitat for the covered species. These projects have been supported by North American Wetlands Conservation Act grants, as well as contributions from project partners. Wetlands Initiative projects that have contributed to riparian habitat protection include efforts to protect the L Cross Ranch in Saguache County, as well as habitat restoration and mapping on the Alamosa NWR, Higel SWA, and Rio Grande/Shriver-Wright SWA.
San Luis Valley Wetlands Focus Area CommitteeThe San Luis Valley Wetlands Focus Area Committee (WFAC) was originally formed as an advisory group to the CDOW in 1990. When the CDOW created its statewide Wetlands Program and Wetlands Initiative, the local committee developed into a Valley-wide forum for wetlands and riparian conservation and restoration. The group includes several local conservation organizations; the Federal, State, and local land management and wildlife agencies; water and soil conservation districts; and numerous local farmers, ranchers, and interested citizens. The WFAC collaboratively raises funds to implement voluntary, incentive-based wetlands and riparian conservation and restoration projects. It provides a forum for interested parties to meet, share ideas and research efforts, avoid duplication, and optimize collaboration. Since a large extent of the Valley’s water and wetlands are components of private agricultural operations, the WFAC works closely with private landowners to enhance and sustain wetlands and riparian areas. Rio Grande InitiativeIn 2006, the WFAC and the Rio Grande Headwaters Land Trust (RiGHT) began a focused effort to protect and restore (through conservation easements or other means) riparian and wetland habitat on private lands along the Rio Grande. The Rio Grande Initiative is a partnership between RiGHT, Ducks Unlimited, TNC, the Colorado Cattleman’s Agricultural Land Trust (CCALT), and others. The goal of the Rio Grande Initiative has been to work with individual landowners to voluntarily protect land and habitat along the Rio Grande corridor. (See the Conservation Easements section below for more details). Since its initiation, the Rio Grande Initiative partners have raised more than $10 million in Federal, State, and private funding and have protected over 18 properties and 13,600 acres of land along the Rio Grande (not including lands in Mineral County). Notable conservation successes have included the River Valley Ranch I (585 acres near the Rio Grande/Shriver-Wright SWA), the 1,025-acre Gilmore Ranch near Alamosa, and the 3,200-acre Cross Arrow Ranch at the confluence of the Rio Grande and Conejos River (adjacent to the BLM’s McIntire-Simpson property) (Butler 2010). Rio Grande Natural AreaOn October 12, 1996, the Rio Grande Natural Area Act was signed into law (P.L. 109-337; 16 United States Code (USC) 460). This act established the Rio Grande Natural Area along a 33-mile stretch of the Rio Grande from the southern boundary of the Alamosa NWR to the New Mexico state line, extending ¼ mile on either side of the river. The purpose of the Natural Area is to conserve, restore, and protect the natural, historic, cultural, scientific, scenic, wildlife, and recreational resources along the Rio Grande. The newly established Natural Area includes about 10,000 acres of both Federal (BLM) and private land. Implementation of the Rio Grande Natural Area Act will include the following elements. Rio Grande Natural Area Commission – A commission composed of nine members will prepare a management plan for non-federal lands within the Natural Area. The commission will include representatives of the following:
Natural Area Management Plans – The BLM and the Commission will prepare two management plans, one for BLM land and one for private lands. The Natural Area Act provides that the management plans will include the following:
The Rio Grande Natural Area planning and implementation process will provide an additional framework for riparian habitat conservation and management along the Rio Grande, including the high quality habitat areas south of the Alamosa NWR. Saguache Creek Corridor ProjectThe Saguache Creek corridor is defined by a narrow, but unbroken chain of irrigated agricultural lands stretching west from Saguache, bordered on both sides by sagebrush-covered BLM uplands, and the forested mountaintops of the Rio Grande National Forest. The Great Outdoors Colorado Trust Fund (GOCO) awarded $3.7 million to the Saguache Creek Corridor Project, which will allow the CCALT to assist willing landowners in the perpetual protection of agricultural, wildlife, and scenic values in the corridor through below market value purchases of conservation easements. CCALT envisions purchasing easements on 17 ranches, permanently protecting 18,400 acres (GOCO 2004). All of the proposed conservation easement ranches include stretches of Saguache Creek or its primary tributaries. These areas contain significant patches of willow, which could potentially provide habitat for the flycatcher and cuckoo. CCALT currently has about 3,800 acres of land under conservation easements in this area, divided among four properties. Conservation EasementsAs of October 2011, over 32,000 acres of land and 1,762 acres of riparian habitat in the HCP area protected by conservation easements (see Tables 4 and 5 and Figure 9). Conservation easements are restrictions that landowners voluntarily place on their properties to protect environmental resources and restrict future development. Easements are generally sold at a reduced rate or donated to a qualified conservation organization (i.e., land trust), or Federal or local government entity, and are usually granted in perpetuity. These transactions are often supported financially through State and Federal programs, as well as private conservation organizations and donors. Conservation easements allow continued private ownership and use of the land, subject to the specific parameters of the easement, and are granted for lands that contain specified conservation values and will be managed to maintain those values. However, the easement terms and management requirements vary between properties, and are arranged on a case-by-case basis. Of the numerous conservation easements throughout the Valley, several include potential habitat for the covered species. Conservation easements within the Valley that have the potential to support the covered species are generally described below, are listed in Table 4, and are illustrated in Figure 9. The specific locations of these easements are withheld to protect the privacy of the landowners. Rio Grande Headwaters Land TrustRiGHT focuses on the protection of agricultural land and water resources, and is the only locally based land trust that operates in the Valley. Priority areas include the Rio Grande corridor and the Rock Creek corridor to the west of the Monte Vista NWR. RiGHT has been the lead entity in the Rio Grande Initiative, and holds easements on about 8,100 acres of land along the Rio Grande corridor. Ducks UnlimitedDucks Unlimited currently holds easements on eight properties totaling about 4,000 acres along the Rio Grande corridor. Ducks Unlimited is focusing on the Rio Grande corridor to protect its important wetland and riparian habitat, and is a partner in the Rio Grande Initiative. The Nature ConservancyIn addition to their large Medano-Zapata Ranch (100,000 acres) adjacent to the Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve, and their Mishak Lakes preserve, TNC has several conservation easements throughout the Valley. Along the Rio Grande corridor, TNC holds an easement on about 1,000 acres of the Gilmore Ranch near Alamosa. Along the west side of the Valley, TNC has two easements covering a total of about 6,000 acres, including riparian habitat along La Garita Creek and Carnero Creek. Along the east side of the Valley, TNC also has a small easement of about 100 acres that includes riparian habitat along Cottonwood Creek near Crestone. Colorado Cattleman’s Agricultural Land TrustCCALT currently has conservation easements on several properties along Saguache Creek (part of the Saguache Creek Corridor Project), totaling about 4,100 acres, including riparian habitat. Riparian habitat was considered to be one of the primary conservation values for these easements (West, pers. comm. 2005). As part of the Rio Grande Initiative, CCALT holds a 1,600-acre easement in Rio Grande County. Colorado Open LandsIn 2004, Colorado Open Lands acquired an 80,000-acre conservation easement on the Forbes Trinchera Ranch along the western slopes of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains in the southeastern part of the Valley. While most of this easement covers the forested highlands of the property, it also includes riparian habitat within the HCP plan area along Sangre de Cristo Creek, Trinchera Creek, and smaller tributaries. Rocky Mountain Elk FoundationRocky Mountain Elk Foundation has a 1,000-acre easement that is bisected by the Alamosa River on the western edge of the plan area. They also hold an easement on about 13,000 acres of the Taylor Ranch east of San Luis in Costilla County. Natural Resources Conservation ServiceThe NRCS has several existing and numerous potential conservation easements on a variety of properties providing riparian habitat in the Valley. The terms and conditions attached to these easements contain prohibitions to any activity that alters or diminishes the value of the wildlife habitat including haying or mowing; altering grassland, woodland, or wildlife habitat; harvesting wood products; creating new or altering existing water control structures; installing buildings or structures; and harvesting crops or grazing. Most of these easements and potential easements are along the Rio Grande between Del Norte and the Conejos River confluence. The existing conservation easements cover about 2,200 acres of land in the plan area, including a 1,300-acre easement straddling Alamosa and Conejos counties. Table 4. Existing conservation easements by county (October 2011).
* CCALT = Colorado Cattleman’s Agricultural Land Trust; COL = Colorado Open Lands; DU = Ducks Unlimited; NRCS = Natural Resources Conservation Service; RiGHT = Rio Grande Headwaters Land Trust; RMEF = Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation; TNC = The Nature Conservancy. ** Riparian acres are within the HCP plan area only; riparian habitat data is limited to areas described in Section 2.1. *** Limited to acres below 8,500 feet only. The total COL easement is over 80,000 acres. Figure 9. Existing Conservation Easements Table 5. Existing conservation easements by drainage (October 2011).
* Riparian acres are within the HCP plan area only; riparian habitat data is limited to areas described in Section 2.1. Other EasementsIn addition to the easements listed in Table 4 and described above, numerous conservation easements are on upland, wetland, and/or agricultural lands in the Valley. These easements are held by RiGHT, Colorado Open Lands, CCALT, the Trust for Public Land, and American Farmland Trust. While these easements may not directly contribute to woody riparian habitat conservation, they are an important part of the overall private land conservation context. Riparian and Wetlands Restoration EffortsRio Grande Headwaters Restoration ProjectThe primary purposes of the Rio Grande Headwaters Restoration Project (Restoration Project) are to analyze and develop a restoration master plan for the Rio Grande from the upstream corporate limit of the Town of South Fork, Colorado to the Alamosa-Conejos county line. The study assesses and presents a plan to enhance the adequacy of the Rio Grande to fulfill the following historical functions:
The Restoration Project plan takes a comprehensive approach to the river’s functions, and provides a variety of recommendations including structural projects such as levee and geomorphic improvements, and non-structural projects such as riparian buffers, grazing management, land use planning, and floodplain management. While this effort will not directly lead to the protection or enhancement of riparian habitat, the implementation of this project will provide an ecological and administrative framework for long-term habitat conservation and enhancement (SLVWCD 2001). Alamosa River Restoration ProjectThe Alamosa River Watershed Project was established in 1995 by the NRCS and the Alamosa-La Jara Conservancy District to address environmental and restoration issues along the Alamosa River. As part of this effort, the Alamosa River Restoration Project has been working to restore the river, which was channelized in the 1970s. Restoration efforts include streambank stabilization, boulder placement, vegetation plantings, fencing of the riparian area, and other measures that will restore riparian habitat in the long term. The Alamosa River Restoration Project has dedicated funds of $5 million to restore and enhance the Alamosa River, and is part of a greater effort to restore the entire Alamosa River watershed (CWCB 2005). Conejos River Restoration EffortsThe Conejos Water Conservancy District is currently working with the NRCS and individual landowners on an informal effort to implement bank stabilization and restoration along the Conejos River. The elements of these projects range from structural bank and streambed improvements to revegetation, and have been partially funded by the District and CDOW (Robbins, pers. comm. 2005). Partners for Fish and WildlifeThe Service’s Partners for Fish and Wildlife program (PFW) has supported habitat protection and enhancement efforts, including conservation easements and management contracts, on numerous properties in the Valley. The PFW program uses Federal money to help private landowners restore, enhance, and conserve important wildlife habitat. A major focus of this program in the Valley is on conservation of riparian habitats, primarily in areas to the north of Alamosa. The Service enters into contracts with landowners to provide financial assistance in exchange for specified conservation measures such as excluding grazing and fencing riparian areas. The lengths of the contracts vary from a few years to perpetual easements; most contracts are for 10 years. Within the Valley, PFW easements or contracts cover over 2,000 acres of land along the Rio Grande, Conejos River, and Alamosa River. Most of these projects are within the 100-year floodplain, and most include riparian habitat areas. These projects are typically coupled with habitat restoration efforts including riparian fencing, deferred grazing, willow plantings, and water control structures. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||