FOREST SERVICE HANDBOOK PACIFIC SOUTHWEST REGION (R5) VALLEJO, CA
2609.26_20
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FOREST SERVICE HANDBOOK
PACIFIC SOUTHWEST REGION (R5)
VALLEJO, CA
FSH 2609.26 - BOTANICAL PROGRAM MANAGEMENT
CHAPTER 20 - GUIDELINES FOR PROGRAM MANAGEMENT
Amendment No.: R5 FSH 2609.26-2014-3
Effective Date: May 20, 2014
Duration: This supplement expires 5 years from the effective date unless superseded or removed earlier.
Approved: RANDY MOORE
Regional Forester
Date Approved: 5/20/2014
Posting Instructions: Amendments are numbered consecutively by Handbook number and calendar year. Post by document; remove the entire document and replace it with this supplement. Retain this transmittal as the first page(s) of this document. The last amendment to this handbook was 2609.26-2014-2 to chapter 10.
10 Pages New Document
Superseded Document(s) by Issuance Number and
Effective Date
2609.26_20
2609.26_20-2007-1 9 Pages
Digest
Conducted a mandatory review and made minor formatting changes by adding a transmittal page to each chapter.
R5 AMENDMENT R5_2609.26-2014-3
EFFECTIVE DATE 5/20/2014
DURATION: This amendment is effective until superseded or removed.
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FSH 2609.26 - BOTANICAL PROGRAM MANAGEMENT HANDBOOK
CHAPTER 20 - GUIDELINES FOR PROGRAM MANAGEMENT
TABLE OF CONTENTS
24 - Disclosure of Location Data and Identification Information............................... 6
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DURATION: This amendment is effective until superseded or removed.
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FSH 2609.26 - BOTANICAL PROGRAM MANAGEMENT HANDBOOK
CHAPTER 20 - GUIDELINES FOR PROGRAM MANAGEMENT
21 - PROJECT COORDINATION
Provide input to proposed land management activities through the environmental analysis process. Many projects and practices authorized or carried out by the Forest Service are of such nature that modification of the vegetation or land is often a direct or indirect result. These include, but are not limited to, activities such as:
1. Recreational site development.
2. Land exchanges.
3. Timber sales.
4. Revegetation and reforestation.
5. Type conversions.
6. Water impoundments.
7. Road and trail construction.
8. Grazing by domestic livestock and development that result in significant increases in the level of human activity in an area.
9. Shaded fuel breaks.
10. Prescribed burns.
11. Forest roads.
12. Mineral extraction.
The areas on which such activities occur are localized and are normally well defined. Where sensitive plant species occur on the influenced area, they may be affected. The environmental assessment process must ensure that sensitive plant species receive special management emphasis to ensure their viability and to preclude trends toward endangerment that would result in the need for Federal listing. Project coordination is discussed in FSM 2672.41. Analysis should be consistent with this.
There must not be impacts on sensitive species without an analysis of the significance of adverse effects on the population and on the viability of the species as a whole. It is essential to establish population viability objectives when making decisions that would significantly reduce sensitive species numbers.
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R5 AMENDMENT R5_2609.26-2014-3
EFFECTIVE DATE 5/20/2014
DURATION: This amendment is effective until superseded or removed.
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FSH 2609.26 - BOTANICAL PROGRAM MANAGEMENT HANDBOOK
CHAPTER 20 - GUIDELINES FOR PROGRAM MANAGEMENT
21.1 - Coordination Process
To minimize delays in the planning process, address the sensitive plant issue at the earliest possible stage. Schedule field investigations for sensitive plants only during seasons when positive identification is possible. Inform the appropriate line officer through the project coordinator of any potential time delays. Conduct sensitive plant surveys early in the planning process and design project to conserve or enhance sensitive plant species.
1. Early during the project planning and/or environment analysis of each project activity, review available habitat and location records and other information to determine whether or not known or suspected locations of sensitive plant species or their habitat occur within the area of influence of the project or activity.
2. If no suitable habitat or reported locations of sensitive plants are identified, document these findings. This identification does not require further investigation; however, watch for the occurrence of previously unknown populations. Where local conditions warrant, it may be desirable to perform field reconnaissance of such areas even though available records do not indicate the presence of sensitive plant species.
3. Perform a field reconnaissance when suitable habitats or reported locations are suspected to occur in the area of influence of the project. Precisely identify the presence, abundance, and distribution of any sensitive species. If conducting the search during a season of the year when positive identification is probable and no sensitive species are found, document this fact and investigate no further. Again, project personnel should remain alert to the possibility of overlooked populations. Conduct the field reconnaissance for sensitive plant surveys early in the planning process.
4. Determine current sensitive plant species distribution and status/condition of sensitive plant populations located within the project influence area. Consider in project design the species as a whole and how this project relates to conservation or enhancement of the sensitive plant species as a whole. Attempt to modify the activity by changing either the location or the project proposal so as to ensure the continued viability of the species.
5. If the project can be modified to ensure maintenance of sensitive plant species viability, document these modifications and investigate no further. Clearly spell out identified safeguards in the environmental assessment and project plan. Project personnel shall be fully responsible for being aware of and implementing modifications. Supervision of the activity must ensure that actions do not contribute to loss of viability of sensitive species. See FSM 2672.4.
6. If it is not possible to avoid actions that contribute to the endangerment of sensitive species, defer the activities until such time as the significance of the involved populations, as related to total distribution and endangerment, can be assessed. See FSM 2672.4.
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DURATION: This amendment is effective until superseded or removed.
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FSH 2609.26 - BOTANICAL PROGRAM MANAGEMENT HANDBOOK
CHAPTER 20 - GUIDELINES FOR PROGRAM MANAGEMENT
7. In cases where other high values or uses would be foregone if the proposed activity were modified or withdrawn, a full conservation assessment of the species involved may be necessary. In these cases, develop management guidelines that will make possible an assessment of the significance of the specific population involved. Based on these findings, determine an appropriate course of action, which may include preparation and filing of an environmental statement.
8. All projects involving revegetation, plant or seeding shall adhere to the revegetation direction found in chapter 50.
22 - DOCUMENTATION, SIGNATURES, AND APPROVALS
Within the process for resolving conflicts between sensitive plant species and proposed project activities, there are several decision points which require documentation of findings and certification as to technical adequacy of the investigation and resulting conclusions. See also
FSM 2672.4, 2672.41, 2672.42, and 2672.43.
1. Documentation. Include formal documentation of findings, positive or negative, in the environmental assessment for the project or activity.
2. Approval. Approval must be a written certification as to the technical adequacy of the investigation, conclusions, and recommendations. The Forest Officer (on Forest wide projects usually Forest Supervisor, on District projects, usually District Ranger) assigned accountability for sensitive plant species activities shall approve the certification. Include the certification as an appendix item to the environmental analysis or otherwise make it a part of the project record.
23 - USE OF KNUTSON-VANDENBERG (K-V) ACT FUNDS
The K-V Act provides for the use of funds within a sale area boundary for monitoring and for protection and enhancement of habitat of sensitive plant species. All projects must respond to issues and management concerns identified in the environmental analysis process and must also be supported by an approved Sale Area Improvement Plan. Coordinate with the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service as appropriate.
Potential activities under this Act include, but are not limited to:
1. Surveys to monitor or evaluate impacts of K-V funded treatments on species habitat(s) as the treatments affect progress toward meeting conservation strategy goals.
2. Habitat protection and improvement projects.
Refer to FSH 2609.13 and FSM 2477 for direction on the use of K-V Funds and the preparation of Sale Area Improvement Plans.
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EFFECTIVE DATE 5/20/2014
DURATION: This amendment is effective until superseded or removed.
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FSH 2609.26 - BOTANICAL PROGRAM MANAGEMENT HANDBOOK
CHAPTER 20 - GUIDELINES FOR PROGRAM MANAGEMENT
24 - DISCLOSURE OF LOCATION DATA AND IDENTIFICATION INFORMATION
Determine desirability of disclosure of species location data on a case-by-case basis. For some species, disclosure of exact locations may add to endangerment, for example where overcollection may be a threat. While for other species, disclosure could be much less critical, for example species with more populations. .
Ideally, information on distribution and ecological requirements, are developed in partnership with other members of the botanical community. The FWS during the Federal Endangered
Species Act (ESA) Federal-listing process, of necessity, places heavy reliance on these sources for information supporting formal review of species and for the management criteria needed for their conservation. FS Region 5, Pacific Southwest Region, manages approximately 20% of the lands in California. The local FWS California Field Offices, as much as possible, coordinate with R5 Forests. The FWS field offices prepares listing packages which are based on information from local experts, landowners, and State NatureServe (California Natural Diversity
Database).
Until such time as adequate information about a species is available so that appropriate determinations can be made, follow this guidance on information disclosure:
1. Share information, including exact locations, with members of the professional botanical community on a case-by-case basis upon a showing of legitimate need, as determined by the Memorandum of Understanding with the State of California
2. Make available records concerning sensitive species (including those records containing exact locations of known populations) to the general public, upon request by the
Freedom of Information Act coordinator. Requests should indicate the specific documents sought.
3. It may be appropriate in some cases, to furnish the news media with information on general locations of identified sensitive species. In these cases, a clear public value must be served by providing such information.
4. Do not withhold from public disclosure information relating to the recognition, identification, and/or ecological requirements of a species.
5. Maintain and encourage communication and sharing of available information between those Forest Service administrative staff with program implementation or direction responsibilities and those Pacific Southwest Research Station staff with research and/or program responsibilities.
6. In interpretative applications (such as nature trails, botanical areas, and so forth), do not routinely identify the exact location of known populations and individual specimens by
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DURATION: This amendment is effective until superseded or removed.
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FSH 2609.26 - BOTANICAL PROGRAM MANAGEMENT HANDBOOK
CHAPTER 20 - GUIDELINES FOR PROGRAM MANAGEMENT signing, or other posting. Interpretive signing for the area as a whole shall provide informative and educational values.
25 - PROGRAM PLANNING AND ACTIVITY FLOW
All National Forest staff shall take those essential steps necessary to ensure protection and bring about recovery of species occurring within areas of responsibility.
This recovery involves identifying, locating, inventorying, protecting, and restoring populations of listed, proposed, and native sensitive plant species on National Forest System lands.
1. The Regional Botany Program is the basis for implementation of the Agency's program in this Region. It requires a three-phased approach to the conservation of each listed or sensitive species: a. Develop an adequate knowledge base. b. Provide interim management to halt further reduction in populations and prevent deterioration of habitat. c. Achieve recovery and declassification and prevent recurrence of endangerment.
Program phases can be further subdivided into tasks and activities that should be performed in more or less chronological order for each sensitive species. The sequence of tasks should serve as guidance for program planning priorities.
2. Expect the workload requirements for various tasks to vary by species. It is possible that individual conservation strategies may be completed and recovery actions underway for some species, while initial investigative work remains to be completed for others. A National
Forest's annual program may typically include a substantial spread among tasks for various species.
3. The following is a breakdown of tasks and activities by program phase: a. Phase I - INVENTORY (Develop Initial Knowledge Base).
(1) Status records.
(2) Field Reconnaissance (historic locations).
(3) Population Records.
(4) Area Field Surveys (suitable habitats - new locations).
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EFFECTIVE DATE 5/20/2014
DURATION: This amendment is effective until superseded or removed.
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CHAPTER 20 - GUIDELINES FOR PROGRAM MANAGEMENT
(5) Research Needs Identification.
(6) Coordination with Others.
(7) Training (plant identification and program management).
(8) Record Maintenance and Reporting.
(9) Delineation of Suitable Habitat. b. Phase II - INTERIM MANAGEMENT (Maintain Present Populations)
(1) Input to Planning (Land and Resource Management Plan (LRMP) and
Environmental Analysis (EA) -Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)).
(2) Project Coordination.
(a) Information Reviews.
(b) Project Field Reconnaissance.
(c) Impact Evaluations.
(d) Certifications.
(e) Surveillance and Supervision.
(3) Population Monitoring (effects of activities and disturbances).
(4) Synecological Studies (administrative studies).
(5) Conservation Assessments.
(6) Consultations (formal and informal).
(7) Coordination with Others.
(8) Land Allocation Actions.
(9) Collection Control (agreements).
(10) Enforcement.
(11) Training (management practices).
(12) Interim Management Prescriptions.
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DURATION: This amendment is effective until superseded or removed.
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FSH 2609.26 - BOTANICAL PROGRAM MANAGEMENT HANDBOOK
CHAPTER 20 - GUIDELINES FOR PROGRAM MANAGEMENT c. Phase III - RECOVERY MANAGEMENT (Removal of Endangerment).
(1) Conservation Strategy Development and Implementation.
(2) Habitat Management and Improvements.
(3) Land Exchanges, Acquisitions, and other land activities.
(4) Artificial Propagation, Re-introductions.
(5) Population Monitoring and Reevaluation.
(6) Recovery Plans for Listed Species.
26 - COOPERATION WITH STATE AGENCIES
Several State agencies also have specific policies and laws to manage and conserve State-listed threatened, endangered, and rare plants. Facilitate coordination with the State through informal written or oral communication. Key contacts are the botanists at the California Department of
Fish and Game’s Habitat Conservation Planning Branch and the California Natural Diversity
Database.
27 - CONSULTATION
Formal consultation with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) as required by the Act is not applicable until a species has been listed as Endangered or Threatened in the Federal Register .
Forward all requests for formal consultation in writing through the Regional Forester. For detailed direction, see FSM 2671.45c.
Conference with FWS is required by the 1979 amendments to the Act for all agency actions that may affect a proposed species. Forward all requests to confer in writing through the Regional
Forester.
Informal consultation with FWS may be initiated at anytime and may be conducted directly between the initiating unit and FWS primary California Fields Offices: Sacramento (for northern
California), and Ventura or Carlsbad (for southern California). The California-Nevada Office
(CNO) provides oversight to these and some Offices like Arcata and Yreka, and CNO could provide clarification as needed. Informal consultations are discretionary and normally used only for plant species in review status (Category 1 or 2) as published in a Federal Register notice, or when the effect of an action can not readily be determined.
28 - DATA MANAGEMENT
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FSH 2609.26 - BOTANICAL PROGRAM MANAGEMENT HANDBOOK
CHAPTER 20 - GUIDELINES FOR PROGRAM MANAGEMENT
Forest Service responsibilities in furthering the purposes of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 include the gathering of data and information needed for the conservation of all Sensitive Plant
Species. Maintain a current exchange of such data and information among the Forest Service,
Fish and Wildlife Service, California Natural Diversity Database, and other collaborating agencies as well as with neighboring National Forests. This data exchange contributes factual data needed for the Federal ESA listing process and facilitates a coordination of activities among all agencies involved in endangered and threatened species conservation.
The California Natural Diversity Data Base maintains an individual plant species master file.
Each Forest Supervisor is responsible for the appropriate reproduction and dissemination of data to others who need it.
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