Goals and objectives are statements that articulate the ultimate purpose, philosophy, and outcomes of the planning process. The District and Applicants have developed the following goals and objectives for the HCP planning and implementation process.9
Goal 1. Incidental Take Coverage
This HCP provides incidental take coverage for landowners and local units of government, including quasi-municipal corporations, in a manner that allows them to continue to conduct routine agricultural, infrastructure, and conservation activities unencumbered by concerns about ESA liability.
Objectives -
Obtain an Incidental Take Permit (ITP) for the covered activities with a permit term of 30 years.
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Administer this HCP on behalf of the State, local units of government, including quasi-municipal corporations, and private landowners in a manner that allows landowners to conduct lawful, routine activities in full compliance with the ESA.
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Uphold the HCP commitments, requirements, and assurances that satisfy the ITP issuance criteria as outlined in this HCP and the Implementing Agreement.
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Mitigate the impacts of the covered activities with on-the-ground habitat conservation, restoration, and monitoring to ensure that the area and quality of mitigation habitat is greater than what is impacted by the covered activities.
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Monitor the mitigation lands to ensure that standards for habitat quality are upheld, and use adaptive management to correct habitat losses on mitigation lands.
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Collaborate with the Applicants and outside partners to implement this HCP in a cost-effective manner that is not a financial burden on local communities.
Goal 2. Species Conservation
This HCP protects the nesting, breeding, and foraging habitat for the covered species, and contributes to the long-term recovery of those species.
Objectives -
Protect and manage core habitat (see definitions under Section 2.2) that is known to support the covered species habitat on Federal and State lands.
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Emphasize the conservation and management of buffer habitat areas on private lands to augment and enhance the viability of core conservation areas and provide additional habitat opportunities.
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Coordinate with Federal and State agencies to track covered species populations and trends through surveys and standardized reporting.
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Work with landowners and conservation organizations to demonstrate the effectiveness of voluntary conservation efforts, beyond what is required for mitigation.
This HCP provides a framework for and contributes to the long-term conservation and management of functional riparian habitat in the Valley, beyond what is necessary to meet mitigation requirements.
Objectives -
Work with landowners, conservation organizations, and local governments to support the conservation, education, and enhancement efforts that protect core habitat and buffer habitat areas in a manner that continues to benefit the covered species, private landowners, and community.
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Seek funding and implementation partnerships that leverage HCP implementation and other conservation achievements in a manner that allows the community to raise additional funding for conservation.
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Provide municipalities and counties in the Valley the background and rationale to integrate riparian habitat protection into land use and development decisions in a manner that benefits the community by improving the effectiveness of HCP mitigation efforts.
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Work with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the Rio Grande Natural Area Commission to facilitate the implementation of the Rio Grande Natural Area in a manner that complements this HCP and provides long-term benefits to riparian habitat and the community.
The HCP education and outreach efforts provide landowners with the tools and information they need to manage and protect riparian habitat on private lands while also meeting economic and land management needs.
Objectives -
Continue to work with local governments and community leaders to support HCP implementation and foster an understanding of the community benefits of riparian habitat conservation.
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Provide landowners with information about their HCP coverage in a manner that does not require commitments or obligations of any individual landowners.
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Work with key landowners and community leaders to identify and maintain private mitigation lands on a proactive and voluntary basis.
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Connect landowners with information, resources, and partners to minimize impacts to riparian habitat while providing incentives for voluntary conservation, restoration, and enhancement efforts that are compatible with agricultural production.
Goal 5. Interagency Coordination
The District and Applicants work closely with other Federal, State, and local agencies to protect and enhance core habitat and buffer habitat areas, and provide additional resources to riparian habitat conservation.
Objectives -
Coordinate with experts from various agencies to ensure that habitat quality monitoring is efficient and effective for HCP implementation and covered species conservation.
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Work with the Service and BLM to ensure that core habitat on Federal lands is protected and managed for the benefit of the covered species.
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Collaborate with the NRCS and other Federal and State agencies to partner on conservation and restoration efforts, and to continue to provide resources and incentives for individual landowners.
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Work with the Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW), Applicants, and partners to protect and enhance core riparian habitat within State Wildlife Areas (SWA).
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