1. 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

2. 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

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. 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.

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

8. Elkhorn Slough Watershed

17. 1984

18. 1986

19. 1988

20. 1990

21. 1992

22. 1994

23. 1996

24. 1998

25. 2000

26. 2002

27. 1984

28. 2002

29. Fine Scale Land Cover

30. Protected Areas

31. Vegetation Representation Goals

32. Caltrans Transportation Projects

33. 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)

34. 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

35. 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

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

37. 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)

38. Biological Mitigation Needs

40. Vegetation Representation Goals

41. Boundary Modifier 0

42. Boundary Modifier 500

43. Boundary Modifier 1000

44. Boundary Modifier 2000

45. Boundary Modifier 5000

46. Boundary Modifier 10,000

47. Best trade-off between boundary length and total cost

48. Boundary Modifier 1000

49. Boundary Modifier 2000

50. Boundary Modifier 5000

51. Transportation Project Impacts

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

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