Show All Answers

1. What species are covered by the Habitat Plan?

Covered species are those species addressed in the Habitat Plan. Conservation actions in the Habitat Plan will be implemented to minimize impacts on these species. Each species was selected based on its potential to be affected by covered projects and activities, its occurrence in the area, the adequacy of data for the species, and its current or foreseeable listing status.
It is important to note, however, that the Habitat Plan does not cover all threatened and/or endangered species in the area; specifically, the Plan does not cover listed fish. Some species like the California condor are fully protected species, meaning that the State prohibits take of these species expect for relocation or scientific research. Because covered activities are not expected to affect these species, and because permits are generally not issued for these species, they also are not covered under the Habitat Plan. Instead, the Habitat Plan includes conservation measures to avoid take of fully protected species.

• Invertebrate
  Bay Checkerspot Butterfly
• Amphibians & Reptiles
  California Tiger Salamander
  California Red-legged Frog
  Foothill Yellow-legged Frog
  Western Pond Turtle
• Birds
  Western Burrowing Owl
  Least Bell’s Vireo
  Tricolored Blackbird
• Mammals
  San Joaquin Kit Fox

• Plants
  Tiburon Indian Paintbrush
  Coyote Ceanothus
  Mount Hamilton Thistle
  Santa Clara Valley Dudleya
  Fragrant Fritillary
  Loam Prieta Hoita
  Smooth Lessingia
  Metcalf Canyon Jewelflower
  Most Beautiful Jewelflower

2. How does the Habitat Plan affect western burrowing owls?

To avoid or minimize direct impacts of covered activities on western burrowing owls, the procedures described in the Habitat Plan will be implemented. Until the owl population in the South Bay Population reaches the population growth trend described in Section 5.4.6 of the Habitat Plan, the Habitat Plan does not cover take of owls, except for altering habitat for conservation strategy implementation or if an exception to the passive relocation prohibition is granted. (Passive relocation is a technique of relocating owls by forcing them to move off a site by preventing access to burrows; under the Habitat Plan, passive relocation is prohibited until positive population growth is achieved. Under some circumstances, however, exceptions to the passive relocation prohibition may be granted. See Chapter 6, Condition 15, of the Habitat Plan for details.)

Avoidance measures will be used to minimize such impacts. Few exceptions to the passive relocation prohibition are anticipated. These provisions are anticipated to maximize the possibility of success of the conservation strategy by initially preserving owls in the region as much as possible.