1. Developing GIS tools to facilitate complex ESA consultations
Jeff Dreier, Fish and Wildlife Biologist
Washington State Department of Transportation
May 15, 2017
Roger Millar, Secretary of Transportation
Keith Metcalf, Acting Deputy Secretary of Transportation

2. The Challenge
Pavement preservation projects may cover as much as 50 linear miles of highway
Many highways in Washington are adjacent to forested habitats that support listed species
Biologists often do not have access to these lands
Impacts have to be quantified

3. The Species: Marbled Murrelet
Seabird that nests in trees
Characteristics of suitable nesting habitat are spatially complex
USFWS established maximum disturbance threshold distance of 328 ft from highway

4. The Species: Northern Spotted Owl
Characteristics of suitable nesting and roosting habitat are complex
USFWS established maximum disturbance threshold distance of 195 ft from highway

5. The Biologist’s Job
Assess habitat suitability in area affected by noise disturbance
Quantify suitable habitat exposed to noise disturbance
Prepare ESA biological assessment

6. The Biologist’s Tools
Existing GIS layer representing spotted owl habitat
Definitions of suitable nesting habitat
Aerial photos
Statewide Programmatic Biological Opinion for Transportation Projects

7. A New Tool is Needed
Quantifying the area of suitable habitat within the two thresholds is time consuming.
Can GIS help?

8. A New Tool is Developed
Based on an existing habitat layer suggested by USFWS
Custom Python script
Includes habitat patch size definitions
Quantifies suitable habitat within thresholds
Tool is installed on WSDOT GIS “Workbench”

9. A New Tool is Used
Biologist enters highway segment and output destination folder
Output includes layers
Biologist compares output polygons with aerial photos
Biologist conducts site visit

10. Adjustments to Output Biologist subtracts areas based on aerial photos
Biologist subtracts or adds areas based on site visit
Final acreage of habitat disturbed by construction noise is reported in biological assessment

11. Training WSDOT Biologists
Video conferencing training sessions included demonstrations
Help documents were prepared and made available on WSDOT internal website

12. Benefits of the GIS Tool
Quickly identifies potential habitat within specific threshold distances
Significant time savings
Adjusted output layers clearly illustrate areas of habitat disturbance for reviewers of biological assessment
Standardized approach facilitates ESA consultations

13. Why was the outcome successful?
Existing GIS habitat layer for northern spotted owl
USFWS suggested owl model could be used as a surrogate for marbled murrelet
WSDOT had personnel that could develop and test the GIS tool, and train biologists in its use

14. Questons?
USFWS photo