Attachment A and B_Locations and Staffing_revised 12.06.19.pdf

Attachment A - Task 1: Conservation Planning Technical Assistance Locations and Staffing Requirements

1 12/6/2019

Geographic Area Designated Colocation

Staffing Requirement

1 FTE = 2,080 hrs Tasks

Western Shasta & Trinity Counties

Redding Field Office

0.4 FTE Task 1: Working Lands Programs Technical Assistance

1. Coordinate assistance with NRCS personnel to fill staffing gaps where there are biologist vacancies.

2. Develop biological assessments and exercise environmental due-diligence on landowner applications.

3. Conduct outreach, planning, contracting, and certification for water bird, riparian, sage grouse, pollinator, monarch projects and other terrestrial and aquatic species projects addressing site-specific resource concerns.

4. Conduct biological inventory and monitoring activities related to National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA) compliance for federally funded activities.

5. Monitor NRCS contracted practices. (A partial list of practices is enclosed as Attachment D).

6. Attain certified conservation planner credentials, and appropriate job-approval-authorities

(JAA).

7. Attend and participate in NRCS training as requested.

8. Provide suggestions to NRCS Area Biologist on improving practice standards, implementation methods and program opportunities.

9. Coordinate daily work tasks with NRCS Field Office District Conservationist.

10. Establish a work schedule with NRCS Field Office District Conservationist.

11. Provide guidance for potential impacts of planned conservation practices on Threatened and Endangered (T&E) species and assist with appending projects to Biological Opinion

(BO).

12. Identify and develop wildlife habitat enhancement projects and plans.

13. With concurrence from District Conservationist, collaborate with conservation partners and producer groups on outreach and projects.

14. Conduct conservation planning and inventory for wildlife factors using science-based tools; such as, but not limited to, Wildlife Habitat Evaluation Guides (WHEGS), Stream Visual Assessment Protocol (SVAP), Pollinator Habitat Assessment (PHA), Environmental Evaluation (EE or CPA-52 form).

15. Review and certify biological conservation practices with appropriate Job Approval Authority (JAA), including the development of implementation requirements.

16. Inspect, measure, and certify completed project work in accordance with NRCS Practice Standards, Specifications and Implementation Requirements. Review documentation for accuracy, compliance with regulations, and justification of requests for payment to clients for goods and services.

Nevada, El Dorado & Placer Counties

Grass Valley Field Office

1 FTE

Yolo, Yuba and Sutter Counties

Woodland Field Office

1 FTE

Bay-Delta Area Vacaville Field Office

1 FTE

Bay-Delta Area

Petaluma Field Office

1 FTE

Central & Southern Sierra Ecoregion

Mariposa Field Office

1 FTE

High Desert Ecoregion (Southern California)

Victorville Field Office

1 FTE

Attachment B – Task 1 and 2 - Locations and Staffing Requirements

2 12/6/2019

Geographic Area Ideal Office Percent Needed Tasks Del Norte, Humboldt & Mendocino counties

Eureka Field Office

Task 1: 0.25 FTE Task 2: 0.75 FTE

Task 1: Working Lands Programs Technical Assistance

1. Coordinate assistance with NRCS personnel to fill staffing gaps where there are biologist vacancies.

2. Develop biological assessments and exercise environmental due-diligence on landowner applications.

3. Conduct outreach, planning, contracting, and certification for water bird, riparian, sage grouse, pollinator, monarch projects and other terrestrial and aquatic species projects addressing site-specific resource concerns.

4. Conduct biological inventory and monitoring activities related to National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA) compliance for federally funded activities.

5. Monitor NRCS contracted practices. (A partial list of practices is enclosed as Attachment D).

6. Attain certified conservation planner credentials, and appropriate job-approval-authorities (JAA).

7. Attend and participate in NRCS training as requested.

8. Provide suggestions to NRCS Area Biologist on improving practice standards, implementation methods and program opportunities.

9. Coordinate daily work tasks with NRCS Field Office District Conservationist.

10. Establish a work schedule with NRCS Field Office District Conservationist.

11. Provide guidance for potential impacts of planned conservation practices on Threatened and Endangered

(T&E) species and assist with appending projects to Biological Opinion (BO).

12. Identify and develop wildlife habitat enhancement projects and plans.

13. With concurrence from District Conservationist, collaborate with conservation partners and producer groups on outreach and projects.

14. Conduct conservation planning and inventory for wildlife factors using science-based tools; such as, but not limited to, Wildlife Habitat Evaluation Guides (WHEGS), Stream Visual Assessment Protocol (SVAP), Pollinator Habitat Assessment (PHA), Environmental Evaluation (EE or CPA-52 form).

15. Review and certify biological conservation practices with appropriate Job Approval Authority (JAA), including the development of implementation requirements.

16. Inspect, measure, and certify completed project work in accordance with NRCS Practice Standards, Specifications and Implementation Requirements. Review documentation for accuracy, compliance with regulations, and justification of requests for payment to clients for goods and services.

Task 2: Provide Easement Program Technical Assistance

1. Conduct easement compliance and habitat monitoring.

2. Develop Wetland Reserve Plans of Operations (WRPO) and Grazing Management Plans (GMP) for easements.

3. Develop Compatible Use Authorizations and biological recommendations for easements.

4. Develop wetland enhancement and restoration designs for easements.

5. Conduct biological assessments and environmental due-diligence on new landowner easement applications

6. Complete the Environmental Evaluation (NRCS-CPA-52) for easement applications, management actions, and WRPOs/GMPs.

7. Monitor NRCS contracted practice installation and performance.

8. Attend and participate in NRCS training as requested.

9. Collaborate with conservation partners and producer groups on outreach and projects.

Modoc, Eastern Siskiyou Counties

Alturas Field Office

Task 1:0.75 FTE Task 2:0.25 FTE

Lassen & Plumas counties

Susanville Field Office

Task 1: 0.50 FTE Task 2: 0.50 FTE

Tehama, Butte counties

Oroville Field Office Task 1: 0.75 FTE Task 2: 0.25 FTE

Southern San Joaquin Ecoregion (Covering Fresno, Kings, Tulare, Kern & Madera counties)

Madera Field Office

Task 1: 0.50 FTE Task 2: 0.50 FTE

TOTAL = 11.4 FTE