San Luis Valley Regional Habitat Conservation Plan Draft for Public Review

5.6HCP Administration

District Staff Support

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  Develop and track mitigation sites
  
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  Track ongoing permanent impacts
  
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  Maintain database of impacts and mitigation credits
  
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  Implement education and outreach efforts
  
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  Coordinate monitoring efforts
  
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  Coordinate the Steering Committee
  
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  Prepare annual HCP report for submission to the Service
  
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  Serve as a point of contact for agencies, landowners, and the general public
  
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  Other tasks, as needed
  

The specific implementation tasks and staffing needs are expected to change during the course of HCP implementation. While the first several years will require a high degree of coordination, this HCP is anticipated to have relatively few requirements over the long term. For these reasons, the District and Applicants will commit to the effective administration of this HCP rather than a fixed level of staffing. (However, for the purposes of funding assurances, the District anticipates funding a ½ full-time equivalent (FTE) for the first 10 years of HCP implementation, and the equivalent of a ¼ FTE thereafter).

County HCP Enabling Ordinance

Steering Committee

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  Officials from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Ecological Services and Refuges);
  
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  Officials from the U.S. Bureau of Land Management;
  
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  County officials or representatives;
  
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  Representative(s) from the District;
  
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  Representative(s) of the State of Colorado Department of Natural Resources;
  
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  Representative(s) of the NRCS;
  
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  Representative(s) of farming/ranching organizations;
  
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  Representative(s) of conservation/environmental organizations;
  
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  Representative(s) of water user associations; and
  
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  Individual(s) representing the public.
  

The primary responsibilities of the steering committee will be to:

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  Work with landowners to establish and maintain mitigation opportunities;
  
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  Establish, implement, and evaluate the monitoring program;
  
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  Implement new monitoring techniques as new technology and information becomes available;
  
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  Review and resolve any HCP implementation issues;
  
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  Develop adaptive management strategies to address implementation issues;
  
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  Pursue grants to facilitate riparian habitat conservation;
  
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  Coordinate with the Rio Grande Natural Area Commission; and
  
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  Assist in the preparation of an annual report to the Service.
  

The steering committee is anticipated to meet two times per year (spring and fall), and may schedule additional meetings or field trips on an as-needed basis. A representative from the steering committee will present the HCP progress to the District Board once each year.

Annual Work Plan

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  Existing and mitigation parcels and projects
  
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  Potential mitigation credit opportunities
  
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  Short- and long-term monitoring results (see Section 6.1)
  
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  Proposed adaptive management strategies (see Section 6.2)
  
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  Education and outreach opportunities
  
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  Partnership opportunities
  
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  Other factors, as necessary
  

Annual Reporting

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  Summary of key tasks identified and implemented in the work plan
  
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  Description of mitigation lands added (or removed), and the mechanisms by which those areas are eligible for mitigation (e.g., conservation easement, habitat restoration)
  
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  Summary of the current impact totals and mitigation credits
  
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  Summary of habitat and species monitoring efforts and findings
  
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  Description of outreach and education contacts
  
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  Identification of upcoming issues and opportunities
  
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  Description of implementation priorities for the following year
  

The annual report will be developed by District staff, with input from Applicant staff and steering committee members. The final report for each calendar year will be submitted to the Service by March 1 of the following year.