Clark County and Clark County and the Endangered the Endangered

Species Act Species Act

February 11th, 2008

John TylerClark CountyEndangered Species Program

Today’s PresentationToday’s Presentation

Brief overview of the ESA listingsBrief overview of the ESA listings What has Clark County done in What has Clark County done in

response?response? Where are we today?Where are we today? Where are we going?Where are we going? How does this influence land use How does this influence land use

planning in Clark County?planning in Clark County?

Westward Expansionism, profound land use implicationsWestward Expansionism, profound land use implications Salmon are indicators of environment, economy, cultureSalmon are indicators of environment, economy, culture Declining populations; approximately 16 mil fish in 1900Declining populations; approximately 16 mil fish in 1900 Current pop. ave. fluctuates 1-3 mil fish; 90% hatcheryCurrent pop. ave. fluctuates 1-3 mil fish; 90% hatchery

ESA listed species in ESA listed species in the Lower Columbia the Lower Columbia River, Clark County.River, Clark County.

Chinook,Chinook, Coho,Coho, Steelhead,Steelhead, Chum,Chum, Bull Trout.Bull Trout.

Threatened Species

Clark County’s Response to Clark County’s Response to the ESAthe ESA

Assess land use regulations for Assess land use regulations for consistency with the ESA.consistency with the ESA.

Use this information, and Best Available Use this information, and Best Available Science when updating regulations as Science when updating regulations as required by GMA.required by GMA.

Establish an environmental baseline Establish an environmental baseline against which current - future condition against which current - future condition can be measured.can be measured.

Partner with LCFRB and others to Partner with LCFRB and others to develop and implement Watershed develop and implement Watershed (WRIA) and Salmon Recovery Plans.(WRIA) and Salmon Recovery Plans.

Recently Revised Recently Revised OrdinancesOrdinances

ESA issues incorporated in the revision ESA issues incorporated in the revision of:of:

Habitat Conservation Ordinance,Habitat Conservation Ordinance, Wetlands Protection Ordinance,Wetlands Protection Ordinance, Flood Hazard Areas Ordinance,Flood Hazard Areas Ordinance, Geologic Hazard Areas Ordinance,Geologic Hazard Areas Ordinance, Critical Aquifer Recharge Areas Ordinance.Critical Aquifer Recharge Areas Ordinance.

(Currently being Revised)(Currently being Revised) Stormwater and Erosion Control Ordinance.Stormwater and Erosion Control Ordinance.

Lower Columbia Fish Lower Columbia Fish Recovery Board (LCFRB)Recovery Board (LCFRB)

LCFRB worked cooperatively with relevant LCFRB worked cooperatively with relevant stakeholders.stakeholders.

It has no authority to override It has no authority to override governmental decisions at any level.governmental decisions at any level.

Reasonable expectations that plans Reasonable expectations that plans will be put into action will be put into action

20062006, NMFS adopts the LCFRB - , NMFS adopts the LCFRB - Lower Columbia Fish Recovery Plan. Lower Columbia Fish Recovery Plan.

Interim recovery plan for the Interim recovery plan for the Washington side of the Columbia Washington side of the Columbia River.River.

Where are we Now?Where are we Now? Having Completed these;Having Completed these; Revised - revising land use ordinances.Revised - revising land use ordinances. Established an environmental baseline.Established an environmental baseline. Partnered with LCFRB and others on the Partnered with LCFRB and others on the

development of the WRIA and Recovery development of the WRIA and Recovery Plans.Plans.

We are now in the We are now in the Implementation Implementation PhasePhase. . Recovery and WRIA Plans.Recovery and WRIA Plans.

Clark County’s Clark County’s Responsibilities as Defined Responsibilities as Defined

in the Recovery Planin the Recovery Plan Protect floodplains from development impacts.Protect floodplains from development impacts. Identify - correct passage barriers.Identify - correct passage barriers. Ensure septic systems don’t pollute streams.Ensure septic systems don’t pollute streams. Implement regional Watershed Plans.Implement regional Watershed Plans. Assist in protecting and enhancing fish habitat.Assist in protecting and enhancing fish habitat. Ensure ordinances adequately protect habitat.Ensure ordinances adequately protect habitat. Ensure county operations comply with the ESA.Ensure county operations comply with the ESA. Ensure Comp Plan protects watershed Ensure Comp Plan protects watershed

processes.processes. Manage for recreation and fish use.Manage for recreation and fish use. Monitor implementation and effectiveness.Monitor implementation and effectiveness.

Desired Outcomes of Desired Outcomes of ImplementationImplementation

Better environmental response to Better environmental response to mitigation actions.mitigation actions.

More effective - coordinated restoration More effective - coordinated restoration activities.activities.

Statutory compliance.Statutory compliance. Clean Water for a variety of beneficial Clean Water for a variety of beneficial

uses.uses. Listed salmon and steelhead recovery.Listed salmon and steelhead recovery.

Example of the how it Example of the how it can workcan work

The recovery plan has detailed The recovery plan has detailed information.information.

Organized by reach and ‘limiting factors’.Organized by reach and ‘limiting factors’. Data can be used to consolidate mitigation Data can be used to consolidate mitigation

activities.activities. Project impact mitigation based on Project impact mitigation based on

watershed needs.watershed needs. Easily identifiable mitigation activities that Easily identifiable mitigation activities that

have significant environmental outcomes.have significant environmental outcomes.

Things to ConsiderThings to Consider Understanding how the Recovery Understanding how the Recovery

and WRIA Plans work, can help and WRIA Plans work, can help identify mitigation opportunities for identify mitigation opportunities for proposed development projects. proposed development projects.

The greater number of mitigation The greater number of mitigation ‘limiting factors’ that are addressed ‘limiting factors’ that are addressed by all interests; public and privateby all interests; public and private

The sooner recovery of listed The sooner recovery of listed salmonids will occur when compared salmonids will occur when compared to having this work done solely by to having this work done solely by the public sector.the public sector.

Contact InfoContact Info

Clark County’s Endangered Species Clark County’s Endangered Species Program’ (360) 397-2022, or Program’ (360) 397-2022, or http://www.clark.wa.gov/esa/index.htmlhttp://www.clark.wa.gov/esa/index.html

The Lower Columbia Fish recovery Board, The Lower Columbia Fish recovery Board, http://www.lcfrb.gen.wa.us/default1.htmhttp://www.lcfrb.gen.wa.us/default1.htm