Exhibit 7.4 SWFL Suitable Habitat Criteria.pdf

SUITABLE HABITAT CRITERIA FOR THE SOUTHWESTERN WILLOW

FLYCATCHER

USFS 2000

Starting point for habitat assessments will be areas identified as “modeled habitat.” These mapped areas are considered potential willow flycatcher habitat based on two simple habitat characteristics -- stream segments with gradient of 4 percent or less, at elevations between 100 and 8000 feet.

AN AREA WILL BE IDENTIFIED AS SUITABLE HABITAT IF IT HAS ALL THREE OF THE FOLLOWING

CHARACTERISTICS:

1. There is a) surface water, b) saturated soil, or c) presence of obligate/facultative herbaceous wetland plants (per the Army Corps of Engineers’ wetlands delineation manual), present during the early summer months (surface water should be present at least throughout the month of May).

Field assessments for this characteristic need to meet the following criteria:

a) Site visits need to occur between May 15th and June 30 th

b) This characteristic is considered to be present at a site if surface water or saturated soil is detected within 200 meters of the site. Saturated soil is defined as soil that is wet or moist on its surface.

c) Assessments conducted in years when precipitation amounts are less than 80 percent of normal may give false negative results. Therefore, during these years, if surface water or saturated soils are not observed, but the site contains the other two suitable habitat characteristics, the area will not be excluded from suitable habitat. Weather data can be obtained from the nearest available National Weather Service or Forest Service fire station.

2. Woody riparian vegetation is present and covers a minimum aerial extent of 20 percent over a 0.2 ha (0.5 ac) section of floodplain or adjacent streamside terrace.

„Woody riparian vegetation‟ is defined as an assemblage of shrubs and/or trees that contains at least one species which is classified as an obligate or facultative wetland species (per the Army Corps of Engineers‟ wetlands delineation manual).

3. Dense clumps or stands of woody vegetation are present.

This is defined by the presence of one or more clumps of woody vegetation which have the following characteristics:

a) Clumps or stands of woody vegetation are at least 5 meters by 10 meters in size. The individual shrubs or trees in these stands are growing close enough together that some of their branches overlap or at least touch each other.

b) Tree and/or shrub cover in these stands is 50 percent or greater.

Other items to consider:

- During the FY2000 field season, Forests will complete field forms at known flycatcher sites to develop additional data about flycatcher habitat. If analysis of this new data reveals opportunities to refine, add to, or change the above criteria, we will reconvene next year to revise these guidelines.

References and unpublished reports reviewed for this process include:

Uyehara, Jamie 2000. Personal communication. Los Padres National Forest wildlife biologist and SW Willow Flycatcher / Brown headed cowbird researcher on Kern River. Now located on Los Padres NF, Goleta, CA.

Whitfield, Mary 2000. Personal communication on habitat suitability criteria developed in

Arizona and New Mexico. SW Willow researcher on Kern River for past 10 years.

McKernan, Robert 2000. Personal communication on habitat criteria for SWWF based on field studies from San Bernardino mountains and Colorado River area of California/Arizona.