Using GIS-based Systematic Conservation Planning Tools to Inform Caltrans Environmental Mitigation Planning Efforts Evan Girvetz, Jim Thorne, Jim Quinn, Mary Madison, Michael McCoy Information Center for the Environment University of California, Davis Information Center for the Environment

Elkhorn Slough Pilot Project Caltrans Headquarters Division of Environmental Analysis Goal is to implement early and regional biological mitigation planning at the watershed scale Pilot project in Elkhorn Slough Watershed –Collaboration with Caltrans District 5 and Elkhorn Slough Foundation

Elkhorn Slough Pilot Project Traditional Mitigation Assessment has been on a ‘project-by-project’ basis The US Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act (SAFETEA – LU 2005) directs agency planners to use regional planning Regional planning will enable earlier mitigation needs assessments, better mitigation practices, and save time and money Agencies with long planning horizons may be able to more effectively implement projects if they can predict mitigation needs effectively.

Elkhorn Slough Pilot Project Regional Planning Permits assessment of cumulative impacts a. From multiple projects (GAP analysis over multiple projects): How much of a landcover type is there? What T&E species are associated with that type? b. Over time – delayed effect c. Road and urban impacts combine on environment Permits inclusion of regional phenomena, connectivity, ecosystem processes Permits development of regional conservation designs that multiple groups may be able to use in the their mitigation and conservation actions.

Elkhorn Slough Pilot Project Early Planning Improves efficiency of projects by reducing delays Cost savings by reducing delays Opportunity costs- price of or availability of mitigation sites change Advanced mitigation may also permit the acquisition of lands that would become too expensive, or vegetation types that simply are no longer available to acquire.

Elkhorn Slough Watershed Located in the center of the Monterey Bay of California Multiple scales of environmental planning

Elkhorn Slough Watershed

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Fine Scale Land Cover

Protected Areas

Vegetation Representation Goals

Caltrans Transportation Projects

Transportation Project Impacts Base on estimates from Caltrans biologist environmental reports, including a 3:1 mitigation ratio (63.4 acres wetland; 186 acres Oak woodland; 39.8 acres maritime chaparral)

Systematic Conservation Planning Meet mitigation area requirements –Insure that all habitat types necessary for mitigation are included in assessment Minimize financial cost of parcels Minimize the boundary length –Parcels adjacent to other protected parcels are prioritized

Computing Reserve Design Computer software that delivers decision support for reserve system design Identifies a collection of sites that meet a suite of mitigation targets Minimizes cost to purchase the parcels and the total boundary length while meeting the mitigation targets

Key Question –How are the mitigation portfolios suggested by project level analysis, watershed level analysis and district level analysis related?

Transportation Project Impacts Base on estimates from Caltrans biologist environmental reports, including a 3:1 mitigation ratio (63.4 acres wetland; 186 acres Oak woodland; 39.8 acres maritime chaparral)

Biological Mitigation Needs

Vegetation Representation Goals

Boundary Modifier 0

Boundary Modifier 500

Boundary Modifier 1000

Boundary Modifier 2000

Boundary Modifier 5000

Boundary Modifier 10,000

Best trade-off between boundary length and total cost

Boundary Modifier 1000

Boundary Modifier 2000

Boundary Modifier 5000

Transportation Project Impacts

Base on estimates from Caltrans biologist environmental reports, including a 3:1 mitigation ratio

Acknowledgements: Caltrans Headquarters Division of Environmental Analysis for providing funding for this project Gregg Erickson, Amy Pettler, Gary Ruggerone, Nancy Siepel, Veda Lewis