EASTERN MERCED COUNTY NCCPHCP

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EASTERN MERCED COUNTY NCCP/HCP
COMMUNITY WORKSHOP Saturday, March 23,
2002900 a.m. to 1200 p.m.
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INTRODUCTION

• Welcome
• Initiation of Public Involvement Process
• Opportunity to Help Shape Future of Eastern
  Merced County

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TODAYS PRESENTERS

• Kathleen Crookham--Merced County Board of
  Supervisors
• Bob Smith--Merced County UC Development Office
• Jeff Single--California Department of Fish and
  Game
• Vicki Campbell--U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
• Bill Ziebron--EIP Associates

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AGENDA

• Reception
• Presentation
• Overview and Goals
• Integrating Public Trust and Private Interests
• Eastern Merced County Conservation and Planning
  Activities
• Community Participation
• Questions and Answers
• Refreshments and Stakeholder Group Signups

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GROWTH CONTEXT

• California projected to grow to nearly 60 million
  persons by year 2040
• Central Valley is fastest growing region in State
• Merced County population projected to more than
  double
• 215,000 persons today
• 460,000 persons year 2040

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PROJECTED PERCENT INCREASEIN POPULATION
2000-2020
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RATE OF POPULATIONCHANGE 1999-2040
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WHAT ARE THE IMPLICATIONS OF GROWTH IN MERCED
COUNTY?

• Threats
• Impacts to Quality of Life
• Effects on Agriculture
• Loss of Open Space and Natural Resources
• Traditional Responses are No Longer Effective by
  Themselves

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STATE AND FEDERALWILDLIFE AGENCY CONNECTION

• Natural Community Conservation Plan (NCCP)
  State (California Department of Fish and Game)
• Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) Federal
  (United States Fish and Wildlife Service)
• Integrates State and Federal Wildlife Agency
  Approaches in Working with the Local Community

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UNITED STATES FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE

• What is the Role and Responsibility of the USFWS?
• USFWS Mission
• Working with others to conserve, protect, and
  enhance fish, wildlife, and plants and their
  habitat for the continuing benefit of the
  American people

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UNITED STATES FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE

• Endangered Species Act of 1973
• To provide a means to conserve the ecosystems
  upon which endangered and threatened species
  depend
• Section 10(a)(1)(B) incidental take permit
• Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP)

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CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OFFISH AND GAME

• What is the Role and Responsibility of the DFG?
• DFG Mission
• To manage Californias diverse fish, wildlife and
  plant resources and the habitats upon which they
  depend for their ecological values and for their
  use and enjoyment by the people.

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CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OFFISH AND GAME

• Natural Community Conservation Planning Act
• Legislation Established a Process for DFG to Work
  with Local Governments to Plan for Conservation
  of Biological Resources

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CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OFFISH AND GAME U.S.
FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE

• We Need Partners to Help Accomplish Our Missions
• Local Governments
• Agencies and Districts
• Landowners
• Involved Public, Others . . .

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NCCP/HCP

• Voluntary
• Public Process
• Consider Biological Resources and Activities such
  as Agriculture, Development, Infrastructure and
  Economics
• Promote the Long Term Conservation of Plants and
  Animals
• Allow DFG and USFWS to Authorize the Incidental
  Take of Plants and Animals Covered in the Plan

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NCCP/HCP PROCESS

• Important Natural Resources including Federally
  Listed Species
• Agreement to Begin Planning Process
• Public Involvement Process
• Place Plan Area
• Information Biological, Economic, Land Use,
  Other
• Independent Scientific Input
• A Plan
• Implementation Agreement

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NCCP/HCP CONTENTS

• Description of Covered Plants and Animals
• Covered Activities (Development, Infrastructure,
  etc.)
• Land-use Strategy
• Impacts Analysis
• Conservation Strategy
• Monitoring and Adaptive Management
• Assurances
• Funding Strategy

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WHEN ADOPTED, A PLAN RESULTS IN

• A Regional Incidental Take Permit that Allows
  Landowners to Conduct Activities on Their
  Property which may Affect Covered Plants and
  Animals
• A Conservation Strategy for Covered Plants and
  Animals
• An Alternative to Individual Project-Level
  Incidental Take Permits

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EASTERN MERCED COUNTY NCCP/HCP

• Plan Elements
• Public Outreach
• NCCP/HCP
• EIR/EIS
• Plan Must Meet Needs of Merced County

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COMPLEMENTARY ACTIVITIES

• Growth of Unincorporated Areas Under General Plan
• Easement Acquisition
• UC Merced
• University Community
• Other

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PLAN AREA BOUNDARIES
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PHASES OF ACTIVITY AND INITIAL SCHEDULE
2002
2003
2004
PUBLIC OUTREACH INVOLVEMENT
SCIENTIFIC INPUT
DATA INVENTORY
CONSERVATION STRATEGIES
ECONOMIC ANALYSIS
DEVELOP NCCP/HCP
EIR/EIS
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BACKGROUND STUDIES

• Agricultural Conditions
• Land Use and Policy Framework
• Economic Development
• Biological Resources

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COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT AND PARTICIPATION

• Process will solicit input from a broad base of
  interest groups and individuals
• Committee Process
• Stakeholder Groups
• Advisory Committee

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COMMITTEE PROCESS

• Stakeholder Groups
• Timely Information Sharing
• Full Discussion of All Views
• Makes Recommendations to and Represented on
  Advisory Committee

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COMMITTEE PROCESS

• Advisory Committee
• Facilitates Working Relationships Among Interest
  Groups
• Receives Information and Recommendations from
  Stakeholder Groups
• Guides Development of Plan
• Makes Recommendations to Board of Supervisors

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OTHER WAYS TO STAY INFORMED

• Media Outreach
• Website www.mercednccp-hcp.net
• Newsletters/Brochures
• Public Information Displays
• Regular Briefings of Key Agencies and
  Organizations
• Opinion Surveys

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PLAN PREPARATION PROCESS
Stakeholder Groups Advisory Committee Input
Stakeholder Groups Advisory Committee Input
Stakeholder Groups Advisory Committee Input
Form Committees
Committee Process
Board of Supervisors Decision
Background Studies
Alternatives
Recommended Plan
Goals and Objectives
Plan Development
Evaluate Alternatives
Revise Alternatives
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PLAN APPROVAL PROCESS

• LOCAL Board of Supervisors Other Local
  Entities
• STATE California Department of Fish and Game
• FEDERAL U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

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SUCCESSFUL PROCESS

• Will Conserve Natural Communitiesand Multiple
  Plants and Animals
• Will Facilitate Compatible Economic Development
  and Agriculture
• Will Achieve Local Control of Permitting

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UPCOMING ACTIVITIES NEXT 3 MONTHS

• Background Studies
• Agriculture
• Biology/Ecology
• Land Use
• Stakeholder Group Formation and Initial Meetings
• Advisory Committee Formation
• Public Opinion Survey

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• Questions and Answers

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STAKEHOLDER GROUP VOLUNTEER SIGNUPS

• Agricultural Interests
• Land Development and Business Interests
• Natural Resources and Environmental Interests
• Municipal Government and Other Agencies
• Other Interests