California Department of California Department of Fish and GameFish and Game

Conservation and Mitigation Conservation and Mitigation Banking Program UpdateBanking Program Update

by by Cara RoderickCara Roderick

Statewide Banking CoordinatorStatewide Banking Coordinator6/29/20106/29/2010

Bank Definition A conservation or mitigation bank is

privately or publicly owned land managed for its natural resource values. In exchange for permanently protecting the land, and providing management and monitoring funding, the bank sponsor is allowed to sell credits to those needing to compensate for environmental impacts.

CDFG Staffing and Roles

Regions 1-6

– 8 lead staff, plus others– Site visits, first line contact with bank

sponsors, initial bank review and final approval, compliance and tracking, IRT participation

CDFG Staffing and Roles(Cont.)

Headquarters: Habitat Conservation Planning Branch

– 1 Supervisor and 3 staff, plus land agent– Final bank review, tracking, legislative

reporting, policy communication and coordination with Regions, help coordinate multi-agency template team, and process land packages

CDFG Bank Policy 1995 Official Policy on Conservation 1995 Official Policy on Conservation

Banks between the Natural Resources Banks between the Natural Resources Agency and Cal/EPAAgency and Cal/EPA

Banks conserve important habitat and Banks conserve important habitat and linkageslinkages

Can incorporate into larger ecosystem- Can incorporate into larger ecosystem- based regional conservation plans based regional conservation plans

Provide funding for ecosystem preserves Provide funding for ecosystem preserves under a regional conservation planunder a regional conservation plan

Should be large enough to be self- Should be large enough to be self- sustaining or part of a regional cons. plansustaining or part of a regional cons. plan

CDFG Bank Policy(Cont.)

1996 Supplemental Policy of USFWS/CDFG 1996 Supplemental Policy of USFWS/CDFG for banks and NCCPs:for banks and NCCPs:

– 1) further the conservation of habitat1) further the conservation of habitat– 2) aid regional open space planning2) aid regional open space planning– 3) help implement NCCPs3) help implement NCCPs– 4) assist endangered species and provide 4) assist endangered species and provide

incentive to private land ownersincentive to private land owners

CDFG Bank Policy(Cont.)

CA Fish and Game Code

– Chapter 7.8. Sacramento-San Joaquin Valley Wetlands Mitigation Bank Act of 1993

– Chapter 9. Wetlands Mitigation Banking

Conservation and Mitigation Banks Conservation and Mitigation Banks in the Queuein the Queue

Currently 67 proposed/pending banks in Currently 67 proposed/pending banks in the queuethe queue

Includes new bank proposals and Includes new bank proposals and amendmentsamendments

Most are undergoing Region review Most are undergoing Region review and coordinationand coordination

Banks within Regional

Conservation Plans

Challenges

Ensuring same monitoring and management standards

Service areas outside of the Regional Conservation Plan area

Competition with fee-based approach Communication and timing banks and

plans

Opportunities

Banks offer: Streamlined approach at local level Baseline biological inventories,

management plans, secure funding, permanent managment and monitoring, permanent protection

Real estate and private-market expertise

CDFG Banking StatsCDFG Banking Stats

Since the Program’s inception, Bank Since the Program’s inception, Bank Sponsors have provided 34,923 acres of Sponsors have provided 34,923 acres of conserved landconserved land

Mitigation bank acres: 7,687Mitigation bank acres: 7,687

Conservation Bank acres: 27,236Conservation Bank acres: 27,236

CDFG Banking StatsCDFG Banking Stats(Cont.)(Cont.)

Signatory to 55 BanksSignatory to 55 Banks29 Conservation29 Conservation

CDFG is the only signatory agency to 6 CDFG is the only signatory agency to 6 banksbanks

26 Mitigation26 Mitigation36 Active Banks Selling Credits36 Active Banks Selling Credits16 Sold Out or Closed16 Sold Out or Closed 3 Pending 13 Pending 1stst Credit Release Credit Release27 with CDFG as CE Grantee27 with CDFG as CE Grantee

Complementary Mapping and Modeling Efforts to ID Areas of

High Biological Value

California Essential Habitat Connectivity Project

Areas of Conservation Emphasis (ACE) II

California Essential Habitat

Connectivity Project

Connectivity Values

Areas of Conservation

Emphasis (ACE) II

Hot Spots of Biodiversity

For More InformationFor More Information Visit Visit www.dfg.ca.gov/habcon/conplan/mitbank

for policies, procedures, multi-agency approved for policies, procedures, multi-agency approved templates, list of banks, etc.templates, list of banks, etc.

For new bank discussions, or appropriateness of For new bank discussions, or appropriateness of mitigation & bank review status contact your mitigation & bank review status contact your local CDFG regional representative (at website).local CDFG regional representative (at website).

For policy or other statewide banking issues For policy or other statewide banking issues contact:contact:– Cara Roderick: croderick@dfg.ca.govCara Roderick: croderick@dfg.ca.gov

For More InformationFor More Information(Cont.)(Cont.)

For policy or other statewide NCCP issues For policy or other statewide NCCP issues contact: Dr. Brenda Johnson: contact: Dr. Brenda Johnson: bjohnson@dfg.ca.gov

For the Habitat Connectivity Project For the Habitat Connectivity Project contact: Monica Parisi: contact: Monica Parisi: mparisi@dfg.ca.gov

For ACE II contact: Monica ParisiFor ACE II contact: Monica Parisi