1. California Department of Fish and Game Conservation and Mitigation Banking Program Update by Cara Roderick Statewide Banking Coordinator 6/29/2010

2. Bank Definition   A conservation or mitigation bank is privately or publicly owned land managed for its natural resource values. In exchange for permanently protecting the land, and providing management and monitoring funding, the bank sponsor is allowed to sell credits to those needing to compensate for environmental impacts.

3. CDFG Staffing and Roles   Regions 1-6 – –8 lead staff, plus others – –Site visits, first line contact with bank sponsors, initial bank review and final approval, compliance and tracking, IRT participation

4. CDFG Staffing and Roles (Cont.)   Headquarters: Habitat Conservation Planning Branch – –1 Supervisor and 3 staff, plus land agent – –Final bank review, tracking, legislative reporting, policy communication and coordination with Regions, help coordinate multi-agency template team, and process land packages

5. CDFG Bank Policy  1995 Official Policy on Conservation Banks between the Natural Resources Agency and Cal/EPA  Banks conserve important habitat and linkages  Can incorporate into larger ecosystem- based regional conservation plans  Provide funding for ecosystem preserves under a regional conservation plan  Should be large enough to be self- sustaining or part of a regional cons. plan

6. CDFG Bank Policy (Cont.)  1996 Supplemental Policy of USFWS/CDFG for banks and NCCPs: –1) further the conservation of habitat –2) aid regional open space planning –3) help implement NCCPs –4) assist endangered species and provide incentive to private land owners

7. CDFG Bank Policy (Cont.)   CA Fish and Game Code – –Chapter 7.8. Sacramento-San Joaquin Valley Wetlands Mitigation Bank Act of 1993 – –Chapter 9. Wetlands Mitigation Banking

8. Conservation and Mitigation Banks in the Queue  Currently 67 proposed/pending banks in the queue  Includes new bank proposals and amendments  Most are undergoing Region review and coordination

9. Banks within Regional Conservation Plans

10. Challenges   Ensuring same monitoring and management standards   Service areas outside of the Regional Conservation Plan area   Competition with fee-based approach   Communication and timing banks and plans

11. Opportunities Banks offer:   Streamlined approach at local level   Baseline biological inventories, management plans, secure funding, permanent managment and monitoring, permanent protection   Real estate and private-market expertise

12. CDFG Banking Stats  Since the Program’s inception, Bank Sponsors have provided 34,923 acres of conserved land  Mitigation bank acres: 7,687  Conservation Bank acres: 27,236

13. CDFG Banking Stats (Cont.)  Signatory to 55 Banks  29 Conservation  CDFG is the only signatory agency to 6 banks  26 Mitigation  36 Active Banks Selling Credits  16 Sold Out or Closed  3 Pending 1 st Credit Release  27 with CDFG as CE Grantee

14. Complementary Mapping and Modeling Efforts to ID Areas of High Biological Value   California Essential Habitat Connectivity Project   Areas of Conservation Emphasis (ACE) II

15. California Essential Habitat Connectivity Project Connectivity Values

16. Areas of Conservation Emphasis (ACE) II Hot Spots of Biodiversity

17. For More Information  Visit www.dfg.ca.gov/habcon/conplan/mitbank www.dfg.ca.gov/habcon/conplan/mitbank for policies, procedures, multi-agency approved templates, list of banks, etc.  For new bank discussions, or appropriateness of mitigation & bank review status contact your local CDFG regional representative (at website).  For policy or other statewide banking issues contact: –Cara Roderick: croderick@dfg.ca.gov

18. For More Information (Cont.)  For policy or other statewide NCCP issues contact: Dr. Brenda Johnson: bjohnson@dfg.ca.gov bjohnson@dfg.ca.gov  For the Habitat Connectivity Project contact: Monica Parisi: mparisi@dfg.ca.gov mparisi@dfg.ca.gov  For ACE II contact: Monica Parisi