Eco-Logical Webinar
Eco-Logical in Cross-Agency Coordination
Tuesday, November 18, 2014
2:00 PM - 3:00 P.M. Eastern
Presenter: Roberta Gerson, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Presenter: Rich Muzzy, Pike's Peak Area Council of Governments
Presenter: Judy Gates, Maine Department of Transportation
Table of Contents
Eco-Logical in Cross-Agency Coordination
Cross Agency Coordination - California Regional Advance Mitigation Plan
Pikes Peak Area Council of Governments
Implementing Eco-Logical in a World of Schedules and Salmon
Eco-Logical in Cross-Agency Coordination
Slide 1: Eco-Logical in Cross-Agency Coordination
Presenters
- Roberta Gerson, US Fish and Wildlife Service
- Rich Muzzy, Pike's Peak Area Council of Governments
- Judy Gates, Maine Department of Transportation
November 18, 2014
(Learn more about Eco-Logical at the FHWA website)
Images: Logos of Volpe, The National Transportation Systems Center and the U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Highway Administration
Image: Collage of colored photographs of a bridge, a deer, a fish, and a curved rural road from the cover of the Eco-Logical: An Ecosystem Approach to Developing Infrastructure Projects report
Slide 2: Steps to Ensure Optimal Webinar Connection
This webinar broadcasts audio over the phone line and through the web room, which can strain some internet connections. To prevent audio skipping or webinar delay we recommend participants:
- Close all background programs
- Use a wired internet connection, if possible
- Do not us a Virtual Private Network (VPN), if possible
- Mute their webroom audio (toggle is located at the top of webroom screen) and use phone audio only
Slide 3: Steps of the Eco-Logical approach
- Build and strengthen collaborative partnerships
- Integrate natural environment plans
- Create a Regional Ecosystem Framework (REF)
- Assess effects on conservation objectives
|
- Partner
- Share Data
- Analyze Effects
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- Establish and prioritize ecological actions
- Develop crediting strategy
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- Identify key sites and actions
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- Develop programmatic consultation, biological opinion, or permit
- Implement agreements, adaptive management, and deliver projects
- Update REF
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- Document
- Implement
- Evaluate
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Slide 4: Step 1: Build and Strengthen Collaborative Partnerships
When getting started, consider…
- What are the boundaries of your planning region?
- What types of expertise would be helpful to your organization or planning effort?
Slide 5: Step 1: Next…
- Using relationships your organization already has developed, identify potential partners.
- Approach new partners individually or through convening a team meeting with a shared goal.
- Think about a structure for your partnerships.
Slide 6: Step 1: Challenges
Step 1 necessitates cross-agency coordination but can often present challenges such as:
- Key people to reach out to
- When and how often to reach out to partner agencies
- Managing expectations for the level of coordination
Slide 7: Eco-Logical Webinar Series: Eco-Logical in Cross Agency Coordination
(Learn more about Eco-Logical at the FHWA website)
Image: Collage of colored photographs of a bridge, a deer, a fish, and a curved rural road from the cover of the Eco-Logical: An Ecosystem Approach to Developing Infrastructure Projects report
Images: Logos of Volpe, The National Transportation Systems Center and the U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Highway Administration
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Cross Agency Coordination - California Regional Advance Mitigation Plan
The slides in this presentation are branded with the logo of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Slide 8: Cross Agency Coordination - California Regional Advance Mitigation Plan
Roberta Gerson, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
November 18, 2014
Image: Manipulated image, labeled “Conservation and Conflict,” showing an armored tank riding on top of a field of sunflowers
Slide 9: What is RAMP - A Process
Collaborative State and Federal partnership
- Landscape level conservation-based mitigation
- Develop a process - RAMP
- Multiple State, Federal Agencies, NGOs
- State Departments: Caltrans, Water Resources, Fish and Wildlife, Regional Water Quality Control Board
- Federal: FWS, EPA, Corps, NMFS
- NGOs: The Nature Conservancy, CA Strategic Growth Council
- MOU - commitment
- Statewide Advance Mitigation Initiative (SAMI)
Slide 10: Early Coordination
Defining
- Conceptual work at each stage moving towards implementation stage
- Common needs
- Best data sources
- Finances/Funding - looking for ways to generate funding
Slide 11: Ongoing Coordination
- Integration and Consistency with Other Efforts
- Financial Support
- Modifying and Implementing Actions
- Government structure
- Defining draft agreements
- Work products
Image: Photograph, labeled “Land acquisition recon,” of two men and two SUVs in a barren, rural field with mountains in the background
Slide 12: Challenges
- Moving Forward
- Slower than expected
- Many different State laws and regulations
- Agency workloads and priorities
- Assurances
- Infrastructure and regulatory agencies
- State Laws include:
- CA Endangered Species Act
- CA Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)
- Regional Water Quality Control Board (RWQCB)
- Coastal Commission
Slide 13: Challenges, continued
Funding $$$$
- Ongoing monitoring and management of acquired lands prior to mitigation need
- Lack of overlap of action agencies
- Combining funding sources
Image: Photograph, labeled “Wetland restoration; monitoring for listed snake,” of a man in a small boat, fishing in a wetland
Slide 14: Improvements
Efficient use of time
- Improve the decision process
- Take small steps
- Defining roles and responsibilities
- Engaging government structure
- External and internal coordination
Image: Drawing of an alarm clock
Slide 15: Improvements, continued
Reality checks
- Willing to recognize when approach isn't working.
- Trying to fulfill/satisfy too many agencies and their infrastructure projects
- Must find ways to collaborate with money, and not just on planning
- Analysis paralysis
Slide 16: Contacts
- Roberta Gerson
- Catherine Liller
Pikes Peak Area Council of Governments
Slide 17: SHRP2 Webinar: Eco-Logical in Cross Agency Coordination
November 18, 2014
Rich Muzzy
Pikes Peak Area Council of Governments
Slide 18: PPACG and Region Facts
- PPACG is the MPO for Colorado Springs Urbanized Area - responsible for development of Regional Transportation Plan
- Region has over 600,000 people
- Colorado Springs is Colorado's second largest city
- Five military bases
- Climate: Alpine Desert
- Elevation – 6,000-14,000 feet
- Average Yearly Days of Sunshine: 300+
Slide 19: PPACG History of SHRP2 Projects
- SHRP2 Pilot Test Project 2010-2012
- Received funding to test the Transportation for Communities - Advancing Projects through Partnerships (TCAPP) process.
- Process tested during development of PPACG's Regional Transportation Plan (2035 Plan)
- SHRP2 Development of Integrated Ecological Framework (IEF) 2013-2015
- Conduct Impact Analysis
- Quantify Mitigation Needs - (2040 Plan)
- Development of Google Earth Web based platform
- Development of an Integrated Regional Mitigation Plan
Slide 20: Agency Involvement
- State Agencies
- Colorado Department of Local Affairs
- Colorado Parks and Wildlife
- Colorado Open Lands
- Colorado Department of Natural Resources
- Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment
- Federal Agencies
- United States Environmental Protection Agency
- United States Fish and Wildlife Service
- Housing and Urban Development
- Bureau Land Management
- Army Corps of Engineers
- Colorado Department of Transportation
- Military Installations - Fort Carson
- Local Agencies and Organizations
- Fountain Creek Watershed Flood Control and Greenway District
- Sierra Club
- Palmer Land Trust
- Rocky Mountain Field Institute
Slide 21: Resource Agency Roles
- Identify potential project opportunities
- Review and identify critical areas
- Identify potential opportunities to collaborate with existing sponsors of other projects
- Identify potential regulatory and non regulatory hurdles and barriers
Slide 22: Project Purpose
- Identify potential conservation impacts and opportunities
- Provide a framework to collaborate on mitigation needs
- Conserve and connect important habitats
- Streamline permitting processes
- Integrate planning and decision making between agencies
- Consider both on-site and off-site mitigation opportunities
- Apply the regional ecosystem framework in decision making process
Slide 23: SHRP2 Analysis
Image: Screenshot from a tool used for SHRP2 Analysis, which displays a topographc map of Colorado Springs with many major roads color-coded orange
Slide 24: Potential Conservation Areas
Image: Screenshot from Slide 23 with an additional layer of data: areas are color-coded to show potential conservation areas
Slide 25: Potential Conflict Areas
Image: Screenshot from Slide 23 with an additional layer of data: areas are color-coded to show potential conflict areas
Slide 26: SHRP2: Transportation Project Species Conflict Analysis
Image: Screenshot of a data table of Transportation Projects
Slide 27: SHRP2 Data Attributes
Image: Screenshot from Slide 23 with a pop up box containing a table of data specific to the rehabilitation project at 8th St. over Fountain Creek Bridge
Slide 28: Benefits Using Regional Ecosystem Framework
- Provides a framework to develop and prioritize projects that incorporates economic, community and environmental interests
- Allows for better collaboration, improved understanding and buy in, and increased trust
- Leads to integrated projects and improved outcomes
- Provides a structure to identify and address complex issues early on in the planning process
- Allows for streamlined permitting process for transportation projects
Slide 29: Lessons Learned Using Regional Ecosystem Framework
- Make sure all interests are represented
- Encourage agency representatives to attend meetings - use web based conferencing
- Define the roles of participants and goals of the project during kick off meeting
- Learn from past mistakes
- Consider hiring a facilitator for meetings
- Identify milestones and decision points
Slide 30: ?? QUESTIONS ??
Image: Photograph of a river at the bottom of a tall cliff
Image: Photograph of eroded land encroaching a neighborhood of suburban houses
Image: Photograph of a large building at the edge of eroded land along a raging river
Image: Aerial photograph of a curving river in a wide valley
Implementing Eco-Logical in a World of Schedules and Salmon
Slide 31: Implementing Eco-Logical in a World of Schedules and Salmon
Judy Gates, Environmental Office
Eco-Logical Webinar Series
November 18, 2014
MaineDOT
Integrity ~ Competence ~ Service
Image: the MaineDOT logo
Slide 32: Atlantic salmon
Image: Photograph of the Altlantic salmon
Image: Map of Maine, color-coded to show Distinct Population Segment areas and Critical Habitat areas of the Atlantic salmon
Slide 33: The Facts
- Schedule (>85% on time) & budget (< 20% vs. award) are two of MaineDOT's “Capstone” performance measures.
- Approximately 25% of stream projects per work plan year (~50) require consultation for Atlantic salmon.
- Of those 50, about 10 require formal consultation.
- Section 7 is critical path on 100% of projects intersecting with Atlantic salmon.
- Expectations vary widely; design & construction methods do not.
- ~98% of projects qualify for Categorical Exclusions
- Where salmon are an issue, 100% of projects have missed their original target date for completing consultation
Image: Reproduction of the cover of MaineDOT's report: “Strategic Plan (2014 Update): Your On-the-Job Road Map”
Slide 34: AHHHHHH!!!!
Image: Screenshot from the Addams Family televison show: Uncle Fester has his head in a vise which is being adjusted by Morticia Addams
Slide 35: (No title)
Image: Cover of the Eco-Logical: An Ecosystem Approach to Developing Infrastructure Projects report
Image: Six logos: SHRP2, FHWA, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, NOAA Fisheries, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, and MaineDOT
Slide 36: So how are we doing?
| Deliverable/Activity |
Timeframe |
|
| Gap analysis |
6/2013 - 8/2013 |
✔ |
| Draft modified REF |
8/2013 - 9/2013 |
✔ |
| Draft work flow map |
9/2013 - 10/2013 |
✔ |
| Design and construction BMPs |
7/2013 - 1/2014 |
✔ |
| Programmatic Agreement |
1/2014 - 9/2014 |
|
| Draft ecosystem crediting strategy |
10/2013 - 6/2014 |
✔ |
| Final work flow map |
9/2014 - 12/2014 |
|
| Documented benefits/efficiencies |
9/2014 - 11/2014 |
|
| Implementation schedule for full work plan |
11/2014 - 12/2014 |
|
Slide 37: (No title)
- Build/strengthen collaborative partnerships
- Integrate natural resource, transportation, and land use plans
- Create a regional ecosystem framework
- Assess effects on conservation priorities
- Establish and prioritize ecological actions
- Develop a crediting strategy
- Develop programmatic agreements and consultations
- Implement agreements and deliver projects
Image: Cover of the Eco-Logical: An Ecosystem Approach to Developing Infrastructure Projects report
Slide 38: Beginning with Habitat
Image: Aerial photograph marked with color-coded lines denoting these labeled areas: Deer Wintering Area, Musk Turtle, Inland Wading Bird and Waterfowl Habitat, Eagle Nest, Wood Turtle, and Atlantic Salmon
Slide 39: “Priority” Crossings
Image: Screenshot from MaineDOT's Maine Stream Habitat Viewer tool
Slide 40: Maine Conservation Priorities
Image: Aerial photograph with these elements labeled: four brooks and six land areas (acreage)
Slide 41: (No title)
- Build/strengthen collaborative partnerships
- Integrate natural resource, transportation, and land use plans
- Create a regional ecosystem framework
- Assess effects on conservation priorities
- Establish and prioritize ecological actions
- Develop a crediting strategy
- Develop programmatic agreements and consultations
- Implement agreements and deliver projects
Image: Cover of the Eco-Logical: An Ecosystem Approach to Developing Infrastructure Projects report
Slide 42: (No title)
Image: Process flowchart for the Multi-agency for Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act
Slide 43: Things we've learned from the wise (or not so wise) salmon…
- The stream less traveled is that way for a reason
- And we don't always get to know why
- Once you're in the turbulence, it's hard to see where you're going
- Some people focus on the lipstick, some focus on the pig
- Sometimes throwing money at a problem is helpful, if distasteful
- Even a village can get discouraged
- A step in any direction is progress
Image: Photograph of a bear at the top of a small waterfall in a river trying to grab an Atlantic salmon as it swims upstream
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