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HABITAT CONSERVATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE
for the Washington County Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP)
A regular meeting of the Habitat Conservation Advisory Committee (HCAC) was held in the Washington County Commission Chambers on August 22, 2017.
Committee members present were:
Chris Blake, Chairman Environmental Organization
Henry Maddux Utah Dept. of Natural Resources (UDNR)
John Bramall, Vice Chairman Mayors Association
Chris Hart Local Development
Larry Crist U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS)
Dawna Ferris-Rowley Bureau of Land Management (BLM)
Bette Arial Citizen-at-Large
Also present were:
Cameron Rognan HCP Administrator
Sarah Thomas HCP Recorder
Dean Cox County Commissioner
John Kellam Technical Committee (BLM)
Mike Schijf Technical Committee (HCP)
Celeste Maloy Washington County Attorney
Adam Snow Rep. Chris Stewart Office
Susan Crook Conserve Southwest Utah
Lisa Rutherford Citizen
Paul VanDam Citizen
Chris Gorzalski Citizen
Scott Edmondson Rocky Mountain Power
Mike Shepard Rocky Mountain Power
Jim Raines Brennan Holdings
Arthur LeBaron Hurricane City Engineer
Allan Carter Landowner
1. CALL TO ORDER
Vice Chairman John Bramall called the meeting to order at 1:00 p.m. noting that a quorum was present.
2. CONSENT AGENDA
The Consent Agenda is a means of expediting routine matters which come before the committee for approval. The consent portion of the agenda is approved by one (1) non-debatable motion. If any member wishes to remove an item from the consent portion of the agenda, then that item becomes the first order of business on the regular agenda.
a. Approval of Agenda
b. Review and Approve Regular and Work Meeting Minutes
1. July 25, 2017
c. Next Meeting Date
1. September 26, 2017
3. DECLARATION OF CONFLICTS OF INTEREST
None.
4. PRESENTATIONS
a. Pole replacement / maintenance—Rocky Mountain Power
Scott Edmondson and Mike Shepard from Rocky Mountain Power passed out a map (Exhibit 4-a-1) showing a proposed pole replacement project that is part of the Purgatory Sub-station. Two poles need to be replaced by the substation, and some work needs to occur between the substation fencing and the tortoise fencing. A portion of the project will go into the Red Cliffs Desert Reserve (RCDR). They’ve worked with the BLM on permitting, and received a categorical exclusion with NEPA.
Mike Shepard, project manager, explained that there will be 3 new structures installed outside the substation fence, and work will occur on 1 structure inside the tortoise fence. Contractors plan to work between December 1st and February 15th. They’re willing to have a monitor present for work that occurs on the RCDR.
Larry Crist asked about the project’s “footprint.” Mike replied that disturbed areas will be 50 by 50 feet with a 6 man crew and 2 or 3 bucket trucks. Larry asked if there is a road leading out there, and Mike replied no. After the existing road ends, they’d have to follow the transmission line, but wouldn’t have to do any grating or drop a blade. Any disturbance would be reseeded with an approved seed mix, and they would adhere to existing utility development protocols for RCDR.
John Kellam said that he has done surveys in this area. The primary project area is a tortoise exclusion area covered under NEPA. NEPA has already been completed for habitat loss or degradation. This project is just an amendment to build the 3 new structures necessary for completing the power line.
b. HCP 2nd Quarter 2017 Outreach and Education—Lacey McIntyre
Lacey presented exhibit 4-b-1, a power point titled “Outreach and Education – 2nd QTR” that summarized 2nd quarter stats for outreach efforts. She made 28 presentations at a variety of locations including elementary schools, libraries, the Desert Garden, Pioneer Park, Southland Bible Church, and Tuacahn (Get Outdoors Day). Presentations reached 1,958 people including students, members of the community, scout troops, special education groups, BLM volunteers, and rotary club members. Second quarter 2017 showed an increase of 13 more presentations and 800 more people than second quarter 2016. The Visitor Center saw 230 more visitors than second quarter 2016 and an associated increase in revenue.
Additionally, Lacey organized 5 summer program dates in the visitor center in June. These dates involved a tour of the center and a presentation, story, video, and craft revolving around a specific desert animal. Advertising in St. George News and the Southern Utah Family and Kids Magazine was successful and filled up spots almost immediately. 146 people attended during the June dates. Limited space at the visitor center prevented more people from attending this very popular program.
Larry Crist commented that summer outreach efforts seemed to focus on a younger age demographic. He asked if Lacey plans to focus on different age demographics at other times of the year. She replied that education and outreach programs for a variety of age demographics are in the works.
c. Report on tortoise surveys on private in-holdings—Mike Schijf
Mike presented exhibit 4-c-1, a power point titled “Red Cliffs Desert Reserve Survey Report: Tortoise Abundance on Private Inholdings.” He shared slides showing the location of private inholdings in the Reserve. Habitat in the survey area was similar to habitat in other parts of the Reserve at a similar elevation of around 3,000 feet. Dominant vegetation included creosote, ephedra, white bursage, black brush, sand sage, galleta grass, rabbit brush and snakeweed. There was very little human disturbance except for water line and power line roads.
Surveyors walked 97 east-west survey lines for a total of 146 km of transects. They used protocol taken from the Desert Tortoise Field Manual published by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). They found a total of 19 live tortoises (15 adults and 4 juveniles), 4 carcasses and shell remains, and a lot of other tortoise sign including scat, burrows and tracks.
This data was used to arrive at an abundance estimate of 76 tortoises, and a density estimate of 17.6 tortoises/km2. This is higher than the Reserve average of 15.3 tortoises/km2.
Mike summarized the results of the survey with the following main points: -Tortoise sign was found on all properties; -the density estimate was 17.6 tortoises/km2, compared to the Reserve average of 15.3; and –the conservation value is based on higher than normal tortoise density, its location in Zone 3, and its unburned nature.
Larry asked if the surveyors used the same methodology used for transects in other parts of the Reserve so that apples-to-apples comparisons could be made. Mike replied that they used a different methodology than Ann McLuckie uses, because they wanted to use the same method that was being used in the Green Valley Gap surveys. Both methods provide a density estimate that is comparable.
d. Report on tortoise surveys on SITLA and BLM properties—Cameron
Cameron presented exhibit 4-d-1, a power point presentation titled “Washington County Survey Report: Tortoise abundance on SITLA & BLM lands west of Bloomington & St. George.” Surveys were completed in an area west of St. George and south of Santa Clara. The survey area was roughly 5,150 acres, with 3,000 acres on School and Institutional Trust Lands Administration (SITLA) lands and 2,150 acres of Bureau of Land Management (BLM) lands. The survey area was almost entirely adjacent to the Red Bluff Area of Critical Concern (ACEC). Two other ACEC’s in the Area were the Lower Virgin River ACEC and the Santa Clara Land Hill ACEC.
Surveyors walked over 340 kilometers for a total of 230 east-west transects. Vegetation was similar to that listed in the private in-holdings above, but with the addition of shad scale, desert almond and bottlebrush.
Surveyors encountered a wide variety of habitats and designated 3 different types:
The first habitat type was characterized by gypsum soils, thick biological crust, gentle slopes and hills with small washes, trails, and lots of dwarf bearclaw poppies. This habitat was a continuation of the Red Bluff ACEC habitat. Surveyors didn’t expect to see a lot of tortoises here because of trails, but they ended up finding many.
The second habitat type was characterized by limestone, river rock, caliche caves, deep washes and moderately hilly terrain. It had few trails and grazing impacts. Tortoises liked the caliche caves on this BLM land.
The third habitat type was characterized by sandstone cliffs, deep rock canyons, and steep terrain with flat areas in between. This SITLA property was really steep and rocky. The fewest number of tortoises were found here, and those that were found were very clustered.
Surveyors found 78 live tortoises: 56 adults and 22 juveniles. They also found 4 carcasses or shell remains and a lot of sign, including 300 burrows. Survivorship seems high in this location, based on the few shell remains found. Thirty percent of the observations were juvenile tortoises which suggests a strong population that is breeding and reproducing at a higher than normal rate.
They came up with an abundance estimate of 468 tortoises, and a density estimate of 22.5 tortoises/km2. This density estimate was much higher than they expected, and is also higher than the reserve-wide density estimate of 15.3 tortoises/km2.
Surveyors couldn’t do transects in the Red Bluff ACEC because of the sensitive nature of the soil and plants there. To get data, they relied on Citizen Science observations and posted “Report Tortoise Sighting” signs at the following trailhead and camping locations: The Gap, Moe’s Valley, SITLA campsites, Bearclaw Poppy, Cove Wash, Tukupetsi, Land Hill, and Anasazi Valley. People were asked to photograph tortoises then text or call to submit their observations.
HCP staff received a lot of observations, mostly from mountain bikers. 40 adult desert tortoise observations and 15 juvenile observations were reported. Most of the reports were of individual tortoises, though there were 8 reports of 2+ tortoises. Cameron would like to see Citizen Science be part of an ongoing and expanded project in new areas.
To conclude, Cameron discussed how the Upper Virgin River Recovery Unit is the smallest desert tortoise recovery unit and represents the tortoise’s most northeastern range. It also supports the highest local densities of tortoises anywhere throughout the range. The Northeastern Mojave Recovery Unit is the next closest. There is very likely connectivity between the recovery units. The shortest distance between the two is about 5.9 miles. If the recently-surveyed area was acquired as mitigation, the two recovery units would be linked by BLM lands, ACEC’s, and Wilderness Areas. Additionally, other listed and sensitive species like the Dwarf Bearclaw Poppy and gila monster would be protected. At this time, 3,000 acres of the survey area is property that could be acquired and applied toward mitigation.
Chris Hart commented on the density of the tortoise population found in such a highly-recreated area. He said that the respect that recreationists have for the tortoise and the environment is worth noting.
5. UTILITY AND DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS
a. St. George City pole repair near Industrial Park
Recent high winds damaged one of the poles near Pioneer Park. HCP staff monitored while they repaired the pole on an emergency basis.
6. General Business
a. Discussion and consideration of Rocky Mountain Power Project
Henry Maddux added that Rocky Mountain Power should coordinate closely with the HCP office.
b. Technical Committee Report – John Kellam
John Kellam updated the committee about the TC’s evaluation of the Pioneer Park Improvements proposal. The TC evaluated and unanimously voted in favor of the proposal as outlined with the following suggestions: 1- try to fit additional parking spaces to deal with increased visitation; 2- provide speed limit and tortoise awareness signs, 3- reinforce road shoulders with no parking signs or large rocks; and 4-coordinate construction activities with HCP Staff.
The TC was also asked to review a proposal by Mayor Hart for a Joint Facility to house HCP staff at Snow Canyon. The TC began to evaluate the following: 1- Mayor Hart’s proposal; 2- a previous proposal to place the HCP offices near the Desert Gardens; 3- the current HCP building location; 4-housing the HCP staff in the new Washington County Administration Building; and 5-any other possible locations. They provided a list of pros and cons for each location and ranked them accordingly. They tabled the discussion, and planned a field trip to visit the proposed locations during the next TC meeting.
To continue the evaluation of the tortoise monitoring program, Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (UDWR) biologist Ann McLuckie presented tables comparing total line lengths necessary to achieve different precision levels. Hilary Whitcomb discussed the power analysis she is working on that will be used to identify the target precision level needed to detect long-term population trends. The TC agreed to table the discussion until the power analysis was presented at the next meeting.
c. Consideration of TC Report on proposed improvements to Pioneer Park Loop Road
d. Discussion on tortoise survey reports
John Bramall commented that it appears the HCAC has some positive areas to look at that could be used to do trade-outs with SITLA and use as mitigation.
Chris Hart said that this quality habitat could be used as mitigation to take all or part of the in-holdings out of the Reserve, and for other mitigation purposes. He added that the cost of this land is dramatically less than other areas they’ve looked at.
Larry Crist said there’s a lot of potential in Green Valley, and there are a lot of options on the table. He does not advocate at this time to take in-holdings out of the reserve.
Cameron added that before the next meeting, the HCAC will receive a copy of the Tortoise Survey Reports.
e. Update on land acquisition efforts – Dawna/Cameron
Dawna said the BLM is currently reviewing the Historic American Landscape Survey (HALS) report for Long Valley.
f. Consideration of 2017 2nd QTR Report
g. Consideration of 2017 2nd QTR Balance and Budget Report