We convened a Gathering entitled 'Managing Land with Science in Hand' and this is the presentation from Matt Freeman (from Santa Clara County Open Space Authority). More about the event on our blog: http://openspacecouncil.typepad.com/bay-area-open-space-council/2012/11/liveblogging-from-the-harvest-gathering.html

1. Santa Clara Valley Habitat Conservation Plan /
Natural Communities Conservation Plan:
Conservation Planning and Management Highlights
Bay Area Open Space Council Fall Gathering
November 15, 2012
Santa Clara Valley Habitat Conservation Plan / Natural Communities Conservation Plan

2. What is the Habitat Plan?
 Mitigation and Conservation Plan for Development in
the Santa Clara Valley
 Programmatic Endangered Species Permitting
 50-Year Timeframe
o Plan conserves habitats and species in exchange for permit
to “take” threatened and endangered species
o Complies with Federal Endangered Species Act and
California NCCP Act
 Provides Numerous Benefits
o Establishes local and streamlined permitting process
o Addresses cumulative impacts
o Results in landscape-level conservation strategy
Santa Clara Valley Habitat Conservation Plan / Natural Communities Conservation Plan

3. HCP Planning Area
Santa Clara Valley Habitat Conservation Plan / Natural Communities Conservation Plan

4. Who is Involved?
 Local Partners
o County of Santa Clara, Valley Transit Authority, Santa Clara
Valley Water District, and Cities of San Jose, Morgan Hill &
Gilroy
 Local “Participating Special Entity”
o Santa Clara County Open Space Authority
 Wildlife Agencies
o U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
o California Department of Fish and Game
 Regulatory Agencies
o U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
o Regional Water Quality Control Board?
Santa Clara Valley Habitat Conservation Plan / Natural Communities Conservation Plan

5. Covered Species
Invertebrates Amphibians and Reptiles
Bay checkerspot butterfly California tiger salamander
California red-legged frog
Plants Foothill yellow-legged frog
Tiburon Indian paintbrush Western pond turtle
Coyote ceanothus
Mount Hamilton thistle Birds
Santa Clara Valley dudleya Western burrowing owl
Fragrant fritillary Least Bell’s vireo
Smooth lessingia Tricolored blackbird
Metcalf Canyon jewelflower
Most beautiful jewelflower Mammals
Loma Prieta hoita San Joaquin kit fox
Santa Clara Valley Habitat Conservation Plan / Natural Communities Conservation Plan

6. Conservation Strategy Goals
 Creation of a Reserve System
 Landscape Connectivity and Regional
Connections Between Protected Areas
 Long-term Management and
Enhancement of Natural Communities
 Development of a Comprehensive
Aquatic Conservation Strategy
 Adaptive Management and Monitoring
Program
 Avoidance and Minimization Measures
on Covered Activities
Santa Clara Valley Habitat Conservation Plan / Natural Communities Conservation Plan

7. Reserve System Highlights
 Reserve System will cover ~ 46,920 acres:
o Acquisition of 33,629 acres from willing sellers
o Contribution of 12,291 acres from the County
o Contribution of 1,000+ acres from the Open Space Authority
 Focused on Highest-Quality Habitat
 Includes Landscape Linkages and Wildlife Corridors
 Provides Climate Resilience
 Protects 100 miles of Streams
Santa Clara Valley Habitat Conservation Plan / Natural Communities Conservation Plan

8. Reserve Design Conservation Strategy
Santa Clara Valley Habitat Conservation Plan / Natural Communities Conservation Plan

9. Reserve Management Goals and Objectives
Landscape Level Example Implement
Protect and maintain natural landscapes… Comprehensive
Adaptive
o Enhance 33,000 acres of terrestrial and aquatic land Management
cover, and restore 90 – 500 acres of riparian, wetlands,
and ponds
and Monitoring
Program
Natural Communities
Maintain and enhance grassland communities…
o Protect 4,130 acres of serpentine grassland
o Protect 13,000 acres of annual grassland in a diversity of
soils and env gradients
Species
Increase size and sustainability of burrowing owl
population…
o Protect 21,310 acres of overwintering habitat and
protect manage 5,300 acres of nesting habitat on the
Valley floor
o Enhance 800 acres nesting habitat in the Gilroy
conservation region to promote owl expansion within
HCP area
Santa Clara Valley Habitat Conservation Plan / Natural Communities Conservation Plan

10. Plan Implementation
 JPA will be established to form the Santa Clara Valley Habitat Agency
• Governing Board will establish budget and fees
o 8 members – 2 elected officials from each agency
o Comprised of County, San Jose, Gilroy, and Morgan Hill
• Implementing Board will oversee Plan operation
o 11 members – 2 each from County, Gilroy, Morgan Hill, San Jose, SCVWD & one from VTA
 Technical Advisory Committee will advise the Implementing Board
• USFWS, CDFG and Local Agencies
• Science Advisors
 Public Advisory Committee
 Plan Implementation Cost: $658,000,000 over 50 years
Santa Clara Valley Habitat Conservation Plan / Natural Communities Conservation Plan

11. Resources
Habitat Plan documents & further information:
www.scv-habitatplan.org
A Conservation Vision: Water, Wildlife, and Working
Lands (Open Space Authority Greenprint)
www.cvw3.org
Santa Clara Valley Habitat Conservation Plan / Natural Communities Conservation Plan