14.3_Tech_Exhibit_3_-_Action_Plan.doc

Technical Exhibit 3 –

Middle Rio Grande Endangered Species Collaborative Program Recovery Implementation Program

Final Draft Action Plan

July 18, 2013

Contents

2Part I.

Introduction

3I.1 Purpose of the Action Plan

4I.2 Organization of the Action Plan

4I.3 Formulation of Elements, Actions, and Tasks

6I.4 Tools and Strategies

7I.5 Drought Management and Other Extreme Contingencies

8I.6 Adaptive Management

10Part II.

Elements, Actions, and Tasks

11II.1

Elements for Rio Grande Silvery Minnow

12II.2

Elements for Southwestern Willow Flycatcher

13II.3

RIP Management Elements

14II.4

Estimated Costs

15Part III.

Sufficient Progress Determination

15III.1 Process for Metrics Formulation

17III.2 Sufficient Progress Metrics

18References

20Definitions

Tables

14Table 1. Estimated Funding Levels for Action Plan Implementation

16Table 2. Examples of types of Metrics to be utilized after interim period

Appendices

Appendix

A Table of RIP Elements, Actions, and Tasks for 2014 – 2018

Acronyms

AM

adaptive management

ABCWUA

Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority

BDANWR

Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge

BO

Biological Opinion Collaborative Program Middle Rio Grande Endangered Species Collaborative Program

CPUE

catch per unit effort

EC

Middle Rio Grande Endangered Species

Collaborative Program Executive Committee

ELOHA

Ecological Limits of Hydrologic Alteration

ESA

The Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.)

flycatcher

Southwestern Willow Flycatcher (Empidonax traillii extimus)

LTP

Long-Term Plan Metrics Sufficient Progress Metrics

MRG

Middle Rio Grande

MRGCD

Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District

NMISC

New Mexico Interstate Stream Commission Program Middle Rio Grande Endangered Species Collaborative

Program

PVA

population viability analysis

RIP

recovery implementation program

RPA

reasonable and prudent alternative

RPM

reasonable and prudent measure Reclamation Bureau of Reclamation Service U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service silvery minnow Rio Grande silvery minnow (Hybognathus amarus)

USACE

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Part I. Introduction The Middle Rio Grande Endangered Species Collaborative Program (Collaborative Program or Program) has directed efforts to pursue implementation of the Collaborative Program through the structure of a recovery implementation program (RIP). The Executive Committee (EC) of the Collaborative Program has engaged in the development of the RIP’s governance and structure (Program Document) and has prepared an agreement with the Service (Cooperative Agreement) for commencement of the RIP (links will be provided). The Program Document should be referred to for descriptions of the roles and responsibilities of the RIP’s committees, groups and teams, including those of the Executive Director and the Science Coordinator. The Adaptive Management Committee and the Action Team are the primary groups that will be addressing the technical and science-based activities described elsewhere in this Action Plan. The Action Team will provide recommendations regarding the annual needs of the species. The committees, teams, and any subgroups will serve at the direction of the EC, as will the Executive Director and staff.

In addition to the governing documents, the EC will rely on three main documents to plan and implement activities to benefit the Rio Grande silvery minnow (Hybognathus amarus) (silvery minnow) and the Southwestern Willow Flycatcher (Empidonax traillii extimus) (flycatcher): the Long Term Plan (LTP), the Action Plan, and the Annual Work Plan.

· The LTP is a reference document that provides an inventory describing potential beneficial activities that may be implemented by the RIP to meet its purposes and goals.

· The Action Plan tiers off the LTP and includes the activities, endorsed by the Program parties that are projected to be implemented during the first five years after the RIP is established. The Action Plan is expected to be updated on an annual basis, with each update covering the next five years of RIP activities.

· The Annual Work Plan describes the activities, schedule, and budget that will be funded during the upcoming federal fiscal year by the RIP. It will incorporate, to the extent possible, all federal and nonfederal resources for the activities associated with the RIP.

I.1 Purpose of the Action Plan The Collaborative Program signatories and other participants have agreed that improving cooperation and increasing collaborative partnerships in the development and implementation of RIP activities is a shared vision. This Action Plan was developed by the Program to improve its ability to achieve this vision. The Action Plan has a five-year planning horizon that identifies substantive RIP elements, actions, and tasks along with tools and strategies proposed to meet the purpose and goals of the RIP. The substantive elements, actions, and tasks within the Action Plan are endorsed by the Program parties to place an increased emphasis on species recovery, in addition to Endangered Species Act (ESA) compliance for entities that rely on the RIP as a conservation measure.

Participation in the RIP is voluntary and in no way alters the Secretary of the Interior’s ultimate responsibility for administering the ESA, nor shall it affect the authorities and responsibilities of the Federal and State agencies, districts, local governments, Pueblos and Tribes to manage and administer their resources (e.g., water, fish, wildlife). Entities are expected to make independent decisions regarding their RIP participation and their abilities to accomplish RIP activities.

The Action Plan is the “living” document that describes the Program’s and its members’ commitments to the RIP over five year increments. Annual updates of the Action Plan will ensure that the Collaborative Program both recognizes its successes and acknowledges any challenges and impediments to accomplishing the elements, actions, and tasks set forth in the plan. On an annual basis, new elements, actions, and tasks will be added to the Action Plan as needed, generally from the inventories of actions described in the Program’s LTP and species recovery plans, which include possible additional species recovery actions. All updates or revisions to the RIP Action Plan shall be approved by the EC. The addition of specific commitments in the form of responsibilities and tools from various Program parties will occur during the annual update process.

The Action Plan integrates adaptive management principles into the elements, actions, and tasks so that management decisions are timely and effective. The EC will also consider new information including recommendations from the RIP’s Adaptive Management Committee, Action Team and other appropriate sources of information. Changes in the Action Plan may also occur based on the Service’s recommendations made during its annual sufficient progress evaluation, and also if newly listed species become included in the RIP.

I.2 Organization of the Action Plan The Action Plan has three main parts. The remainder of Part I contains further detail on: (1) the formulation of elements, actions, and tasks; (2) how the RIP can utilize certain tools and strategies (such as water management plans and recovery plans) that have been developed by the RIP or from outside resources, for accomplishing Action Plan elements, actions, and tasks; (3) how the RIP will work with the water management agencies to modify or enhance water operations in ways that can benefit the listed species; (4) how the RIP will address drought and extreme conditions; and (5) how the Action Plan elements, actions, and tasks integrate and utilize adaptive management principles.

Part II of this document outlines the substantive activities that the Collaborative Program, through its signatory entities, is committing to accomplish within a five-year period for the RIP, assuming sufficient budgets and authorities. Appendix A provides the substantive Elements, Actions, and Tasks in tabular format along with the EC signatories’ commitments and ESA conservation measures.

Part III addresses the Metrics that comprise the criteria by which the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) will assess sufficient progress under the RIP for ESA compliance purposes for actions that are identified in section III.C of the Program Document.

I.3 Formulation of Elements, Actions, and Tasks The Action Plan activities are described in a manner that focuses on obtaining recovery for the listed species and are, therefore, separated into major elements, with more detailed or specific actions and tasks associated with each element. Elements are intended to describe general species or Program needs; actions describe broad activities to meet those needs; and tasks break down the specific steps needed to implement an action.

The elements, actions, and tasks described in this Action Plan and in the LTP are founded on the work and accomplishments of the Collaborative Program from 2000 to 2012 (see http://www.middleriogrande.com ). In addition, the Action Plan used numerous reference documents including the Collaborative Program’s 2006 Long-Term Plan (Program, 2006), the recovery plans for the flycatcher and the silvery minnow (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 2002, 2010), biological assessments (Bureau of Reclamation, 2003, 2013; U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 2003, 2013), the 2003 Biological Opinion (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 2003), and the framework for adaptive management (Murray et al., 2011). An ad hoc group of Collaborative Program members designated by the Executive Committee prepared the plan, which has been subsequently reviewed by the Collaborative Program’s technical workgroups and the EC.

This Action Plan includes recovery activities for the silvery minnow and the flycatcher. The threatened Pecos sunflower (Helianthus paradoxus), the endangered Interior Least Tern (Sternula antillarum athalassos), the candidate Yellow-billed Cuckoo (Coccyzus americanus), and the candidate New Mexico meadow jumping mouse (Zapus hudsonius luteus) currently are not addressed in this Action Plan. This Action Plan can be modified in the future to incorporate recovery activities for newly listed species and/or designated critical habitat.

This Action Plan is organized to focus RIP activities on the species of concern in a manner that promotes and emphasizes the integration of the essential components of species habitat (water, channel morphology, floodplain, food, water quality, etc.) within an adaptive management framework. This framework is an important premise underlying Action Plan implementation, as it directs that the RIP activities pertaining to and affecting species should be designed and coordinated to incorporate, where warranted, the testing of appropriate hypotheses, as well as research and monitoring of species needs and responses, in order to reduce species management uncertainties. This information will allow water managers and regulators to address species needs in a more effective and resource-efficient manner.

This Action Plan builds on and formalizes the existing coordination of water management agencies in the Middle Rio Grande (MRG), regulatory authorities, and program participants to ensure that MRG activities, including those accomplished outside the RIP, are coordinated among the various agencies throughout the year and are well informed by science.

The recovery actions and tasks identified in this Action Plan include those considered to be most important, within a five-year timeframe, to alleviate threats to species and promote recovery. Among other activities, the Action Plan also includes specific actions and tasks that were required under the 2003 Biological Opinion (BO) and are still important to continue.

Because down listing and delisting depend on multiple self-sustaining populations of silvery minnow, it is important to assist with efforts on reestablishing populations within their historical range. The Big Bend 10(j) efforts that have been underway, and supported by the Program since 2007, may provide one additional area if stocked fish become self-sustaining. The RIP may consider assistance for additional repopulation efforts outside the MRG and expansion of silvery minnow’s current range within the Program Area.

The Action Plan contains elements, actions, and tasks to support recovery efforts for the flycatcher. The majority of these RIP activities will be within the Program Area. Because the range of the flycatcher includes other Western states and Mexico there are a number of other recovery efforts underway outside of the Collaborative Program’s area. There are also separate biological opinions for other areas in New Mexico. Consequently, the RIP’s actions and tasks for the flycatcher will be primarily limited to the Program Area, with the exception of increasing the RIP’s information exchange with these other groups. Generally, many of the recovery activities to be taken for the benefit of the silvery minnow are expected to also benefit the flycatcher and its habitat. Therefore, more specific efforts on the flycatcher are focused on in the Action Plan.

I.4 Tools and Strategies

A number of tools and strategies will be used to accomplish RIP actions within an adaptive management framework. These tools and strategies identify resources that might be used or provide details needed to fully implement the actions and tasks within the Action Plan. It is recognized that there are inherent governmental responsibilities that will be respected in development of tools and strategies.

The RIP will develop tools and strategies to be described in plans addressing RIP actions, including, but not limited to, a Habitat Restoration Strategy, a Habitat Plan for Rio Grande Silvery Minnow, a Fish Population Monitoring Plan, a Plan to Investigate and Identify Additional Introduction Sites for Minnow, a Communication and Outreach Plan, and an Adaptive Management Plan.

Relevant tools and strategies that are not developed by the RIP are expected to be used by the RIP to further the Program’s goals. These tools and strategies include, but are not limited to the annual operating plans of the water management agencies, the Service’s Captive Propagation and Genetics Plan, Rio Grande Silvery Minnow Augmentation Plan, Rio Grande Silvery Minnow (Hybognathus amarus) Recovery Plan, First Revision, and Final Recovery Plan, Southwestern Willow Flycatcher (Empidonax traillii extimus).

Contained in this Action Plan are a suite of water management tools – each having independent utility and in concert creating greater flexibility to manage the system for the benefit of listed species. The general categories of these tools include water acquisition and upstream storage, modified reservoir and water operations, infrastructure projects that salvage water, and planning for drought. It will take time to develop a number of the possible water management tools and strategies due to many complexities such as the need for negotiations among responsible and interested parties, new authorizations from Congress, compliance with Federal and State environmental laws, and/or permitting from the New Mexico Office of the State Engineer. Water management tools may be evaluated using an Ecological Limits of Hydrologic Alteration (ELOHA) framework and other ecological modeling tools that incorporate-ecosystem benefit criteria. Together, the water management tools are intended to provide the desired hydrologic conditions for the species and for the habitat upon which these species rely.

I.5 Drought Management and Other Extreme Contingencies

In case of severe and prolonged drought, it will be necessary to implement contingencies to ensure species survival. These might include alternative water management and recession management operations, higher fish propagation targets, alternative fish rescue provisions, and many other actions. The Action Team will be engaged in annual recommendations to include evaluating the best options for drought contingencies.

This Action Plan proposes to develop specific provisions for modifications to the RIP activities that will be necessary during drought conditions or to address long-term effects of climatic changes. Other activities necessary to address extreme contingencies, such as fire management, will also be addressed by the RIP. To ensure that the RIP can act in a timely and effective manner, the Action Plan includes a task to develop a Drought Management Plan for completion in the first six months of the RIP. The Drought Management Plan will include a revised action plan with modified elements, actions, and tasks that addresses a drought scenario.

Specifically the RIP will include as part of drought management:

a. Existing operational captive propagation facilities – with shared funding for all facilities.

b. Support for addressing operational refinements at the Minnow Sanctuary primarily through actions of Reclamation, FWS, ISC and MRGCD.

c. Operate the Atrisco Habitat Restoration project as a drought refuge for RGSM and other refugia operated as needed on the river.

d. Refine future RGSM spawning plans and operations through critical evaluation of 2013 MAT team activities, river operations, and RGSM monitoring and salvage activities.

I.6 Adaptive Management To achieve the RIP goals of conserving and contributing to the recovery of species and of protecting existing and future water uses, the Collaborative Program will be using adaptive management (AM) as a structured and systematic approach for designing, implementing, monitoring and evaluating management actions to maximize learning about critical scientific questions and to reduce uncertainties that affect management decisions regarding the use of Program resources.

There are a number of uncertainties and related hypotheses about the listed species and their habitats that are integral to water management and species recovery activities. The highly variable southwestern climate, increasing demands on limited water supplies; and uncertainties regarding the listed species’ life history provide strong motivation for implementing adaptive management in the MRG. The Action Plan’s integration of water, species, and habitat activities will rely heavily on reducing uncertainties through scientific investigation and hypothesis testing.

The Adaptive Management Plan, Version 1.1 (AMP-1; Murray et al., 2011) provides an initial framework for the development of a scientifically defensible adaptive management design specific to the RIP. As an important priority, the RIP will use guidance in AMP-1 and the AM experience of this and other programs to develop a formal Adaptive Management Plan (AMP-2), within the first year of the RIP’s existence.

The AMP-1 suggested that the Program establish a policy and technical group to collaboratively conduct an evaluation of alternative sets of actions to both meet the Program’s goals and concurrently reduce critical management uncertainties under a wide range of possible future conditions. The chosen actions that emerge from this iterative evaluation process would then be the focus of the content when developing AMP-2. The policy and technical group would reside within the larger Adaptive Management Committee described in the Program Document.

The RIP will identify specific management activities, monitoring, and research that will be used to evaluate and improve management decisions and will identify the decision-making framework for flexible water management and non-flow-related activities that provide for meeting the RIP goals.

Implementation and periodic revision of elements, actions, and tasks of this Action Plan will proceed according to AM principles. Future actions and tasks will address critical uncertainties regarding water management effects on species’ survival and recovery, testable hypotheses related to these uncertainties, alternative management actions to test those hypotheses, and explicit predictions of the outcomes. The following criteria will be considered as future actions are determined:

· Cost-benefit: It is believed, on sound evidence, that there is a good probability that it will work as intended and will be worth adopting (i.e., feasible and economical).

· Acceptable risk: The range of plausible outcomes if it does not work as intended are either tolerable or controllable, the early warning detection monitoring is in place, and the damage control capability is ready to deploy.

· Learning potential: There is a commitment to monitoring to determine if an action does or does not work, and the statistical design of the monitoring has sufficient power for that task.

· Management commitment: There is a commitment to revise management, as well as a clear and achievable allocation of responsibilities to do so, based on the outcome of the monitoring, and decision rules are endorsed in advance to determine whether the experimental action will be either adopted as routine (and no longer experimental), modified and tested further, or abandoned.

Development and implementation of AMP-2 is included in the Action Plan. AM principles will guide planning and decision-making processes of the RIP such as the Action Team’s recommendations to the EC on each specific year’s operations and management of species-related resources.

Hypothesis testing and learning over time pursuant to these AM procedures and as contemplated in relevant BOs will allow for adjustment of RIP management activities in the LTP, the RIP Action Plan, the Annual Work Plan, and other components of the RIP, as appropriate over time, without automatically requiring reinitiation of consultation.

Part II. Elements, Actions, and Tasks

Appendix A contains a table of the RIP’s activities that the Collaborative Program considers important for accomplishing the RIP goals. These activities will be accomplished over the initial five-year period assuming sufficient budgets and authorities. Modifications to the Action Plan will occur annually to accommodate changes in budgets and schedules and to incorporate new information that may lead to changes in the activities. The Action Plan activities are described in a manner that focuses on making progress towards recovery for the listed species and are therefore separated into major elements, with more detailed or specific actions and tasks associated with each element. Elements are intended to describe general species or Program needs, actions describe broad activities to meet those needs, and tasks break down the specific steps needed to implement an action. Five elements are described for the silvery minnow and three elements are described for the flycatcher. Under these elements, a number of actions and tasks are listed. In addition, two elements describe the program management actions and tasks.

The “Tools and Resources” column in Appendix A lists programs, studies, documents, services, and resources that could be necessary or helpful to accomplish each task. The list of tools includes existing work products or work in progress and resources that relate to the actions and tasks.

The “Commitments and Responsibilities” column in Appendix A paraphrases commitments and conservation measures of parties to the ESA consultation. This column also includes RIP programmatic commitments and responsibilities that may require combined resources (including financial), efforts, and decision-making. The objective of Appendix A is, in part, to underscore the substantive commitments already made that will facilitate accomplishing the RIP activities and to describe those commitments as specifically as possible. Appendix A also provides the framework for evaluating where additional commitments are needed. Because of the complex roles and responsibilities of the agencies, maintaining this information in the annual updates of the Action Plan will be important for the RIP’s progress toward its goals. Because the commitments and responsibilities are paraphrased, it may be necessary to refer to the source documents for a complete understanding of the agencies’ intent: Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge Biological Assessment; USACE MRG Reservoir Operations Biological Assessment; and Reclamation’s Joint Biological Assessment: Bureau of Reclamation and Non-Federal Water Management and Maintenance Activities on the MRG.

II.1 Elements for Rio Grande Silvery Minnow The elements and actions anticipated to be pursued during the period of this five-year Action Plan to fulfill the Collaborative Program’s purposes and goals relative to the silvery minnow are outlined in Sections II.1.1 through II.1.5 below, and are summarized together with their associated tasks in Appendix A.

Element 1.1 – Spawning and Survival of Larvae Action 1.1.1.

Create habitat for spawning and larval survival (including nursery habitat).

Action 1.1.2.

Work to provide spring-time hydrologic (flow) conditions and suitable habitat to facilitate spawning and larval fish survival.

Element 1.2 – Post-Spawning Survival Action 1.2.1.

Provide wetted habitat areas during summer, fall, winter, and early spring that can be shown to facilitate survival of silvery minnow to the spring spawning period.

Action 1.2.2.

Work to provide hydrologic (flow) conditions to support survival in all years.

Action 1.2.3.

Minimize silvery minnow mortality associated with river drying.

Action 1.2.4.

Increase reach boundary connectivity.

Element 1.3 – Propagation and Augmentation Action 1.3.1.

Plan and evaluate silvery minnow propagation and augmentation program.

Action 1.3.2.

Develop, support, and maintain propagation and rearing facilities for silvery minnow.

Action 1.3.3.

Rear and maintain silvery minnow in captivity.

Action 1.3.4.

Augment MRG wild populations as necessary.

Element 1.4 – Research, Monitoring, and Adaptive Management for Silvery Minnow Action 1.4.1.

Develop and implement fish population monitoring programs with sufficient reliability, precision, and accuracy for RIP needs.

Action 1.4.2.

Identify and prioritize specific research and monitoring activities as input to AM process and for informing RIP actions.

Action 1.4.3.

Conduct, evaluate, and refine monitoring activities.

Action 1.4.4.

Conduct research on silvery minnow for the RIP.

Action 1.4.5.

Continue to evaluate the viability of silvery minnow populations.

Action 1.4.6. Test and evaluate assumptions underlying the Hydrologic Objective and refine as appropriate.

Action 1.4.7.

Evaluate the use of the Ecological Limitations of Hydrologic Alteration (ELOHA) or other similar framework to model historic and future flow conditions for producing riverine and riparian habitat.

Element 1.5 – Additional Wild Self-Sustaining Populations of Silvery Minnow Action 1.5.1.

Support the development of additional wild self-sustaining populations of silvery minnow outside of the MRG.

II.2 Elements for Southwestern Willow Flycatcher The elements and actions anticipated to be pursued during the period of this five-year Action Plan to fulfill the Collaborative Program’s purposes and goals relative to the flycatcher are outlined in Sections II.2.1 through II.2.3, and are summarized together with their associated tasks in Appendix A.

Element 2.1 – Flycatcher Territory Establishment and Nesting Success Action 2.1.1.

Create habitat conducive to territory establishment and nesting success. Determine the viability of flycatcher populations and specifically the habitat patches they occupy.

Action 2.1.2.

Create hydrologic conditions conducive to territory establishment and nesting success. Implement provisions of Drought Management Plan when triggered.

Element 2.2 – Flycatcher Research, Monitoring, and Adaptive Management Action 2.2.1.

Assess, identify, and prioritize specific science activities that address overall Program goals.

Action 2.2.2.

Develop and implement monitoring programs using established protocols.

Element 2.3 – Flycatcher Populations Outside of the Program Boundaries Action 2.3.1.

Coordinate and share information range-wide of other flycatcher populations.

II.3 RIP Management Elements The elements and actions anticipated to be pursued during the period of this five-year Action Plan to fulfill the Collaborative Program’s purposes and goals relative to RIP management are outlined in Section II.3.1, and are summarized together with their associated tasks in Appendix A.

Element 3.1 – RIP Management Action 3.1.1.

Administer the RIP.

Action 3.1.2 Manage and Participate in RIP Management and Administration

Action 3.1.3.

Implement and coordinate RIP activities.

Action 3.1.4.

Establish and maintain a Database Management System for RIP needs, including all appropriate data generated through implementing RIP actions.

Action 3.1.5.

Develop sufficient progress metrics for listed species.

II.4 Estimated Costs The estimated funding commitments by budget category to support the Elements, Actions, and Tasks contained in Appendix A are listed in Table 1. The funding commitments are in the form of cash, in-kind contributions, and/or work performed under agency-specific authority from ABCWUA, City of Albuquerque, MRGCD, NMISC, USACE, Reclamation, and BDANWR over a five year period.

Table 1. Estimated Funding Levels for Action Plan Implementation

Total

$77,500,00 to $119,000,000

Part III. Sufficient Progress Determination The Service will make an annual determination of whether the RIP is making sufficient progress toward recovery of listed species. A determination of sufficient progress ensures continued ESA compliance for covered actions that are referenced in Section III.C of the Program Document. The sufficient progress assessment process is described in Section VI of the Program Document. The Metrics by which the Service will assess sufficient progress will be identified in Section III.1 of this Action Plan.

III.1 Process for Metrics Formulation

The Metrics are expected to incorporate and reflect both measures of implementation of RIP activities and of species response, as well as standards of avoiding jeopardy (and adverse critical habitat modification) and of advancing species recovery. The Metrics will address:

· Implementation of tasks under the RIP designed to reduce threats to the species and improve their status;

· Measurements of the status of the species, including the status of designated critical habitat (ability to maintain the PCEs);

· Indications of positive population response and improvement in habitat for the species, or reduction in the threat of immediate extinction; and

· Implementation of the Action Team’s annual recommendation as approved by the EC.

This framework for developing Metrics may be visualized as filling in the following matrix, which is presented purely as an example of the types of Metrics that the RIP could utilize and not as a proposal to adopt these particular Metrics. As represented here, this framework would allow the RIP to assess with some precision its level of success in implementing activities and promoting species responses that maintain and advance listed species’ likelihood of survival and recovery, as well as allowing the RIP to select and develop future activities, adaptive management approaches, and Metrics that are informed by such assessments.

Table 2. Examples of types of Metrics to be utilized after interim period

Example Operational Measures

RIP Action Plan Species Response

x miles of river bank lowered x acre-feet of water pumped into river demographic indicators, CPUE index from monitoring sites

PVA assessment of probability of survival at 100 years

x + y miles of river bank lowered x + y acre-feet of water pumped into river demographic indicators

PVA assessment of probability of recovery

PVA

= population viability analysis

CPUE

= catch per unit effort

Particular values for these types of Metrics would be determined as a result of the incorporation of upcoming scientific analysis from various sources (e.g., 2013 Workshop[s], Program science, science compiled for Biological Assessments, Biological Opinions) after assessment and decision by the EC. The Program’s PVA modeling may be able to assess the contribution of each factor underlying such types of Metrics (e.g., flow or habitat) to the likelihood of species’ survival and recovery. PVA model outputs can thus validate indicators of progress and, further, can be used to propose other indicators and thereby assume an important role in ongoing development and refinement of the Metrics.

The Metrics will be approved by the EC. Updating Metrics, as part of annual update and amendments of the five-year Action Plan, is expected to be the responsibility of the Executive Director, in coordination with and with the approval of the EC. Because Metrics must continually remain relevant to species status and prospects for survival and recovery, using the best available scientific information as this information is developed, key considerations to be utilized by the Executive Director and the EC in updating Metrics include:

· Relevance to species population viability (i.e., to maintaining the risk of extirpation below an acceptable level and the probability of recovery above an acceptable level);

· Relevance to RIP recovery actions identified in the Action Plan and Annual Work Plan (since the Metrics serve to evaluate these);

· Measurability of demographic and other factors important as indicators of viability (e.g., survival, reproduction, recruitment, distribution, genetic diversity), appropriate correlate measures, and the degree of confidence in such correlations; and

· Feasibility and achievability of measured activities and/or population viability factors within resource (funding, water) and RIP organizational and institutional constraints.

During the initial and subsequent formulation of Metrics, the Executive Director and EC will ensure that proposed Metrics maintain relevance to species population viability, utilizing the RIP protocols and procedures for internal science review and external peer review as needed.

III.2 Sufficient Progress Metrics

Under development References Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge (BADNWR). 2013. Bosque del Apache NWR Revised Biological Assessment. Bosque del Apache NWR Intra-Service Section 7 Consultation. 86 pp. (Accessed at: <<insert MRGESCP URL>> on July 10, 2013).

Middle Rio Grande Endangered Species Act Collaborative Program (Program). 2006. Middle Rio Grande Endangered Species Act Collaborative Program Long-Term Plan 2005 – 2014. 50pp. (Accessed at: http://www.middleriogrande.com/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=t%2BhLdM%2Fjvp4%3D&tabid=210&mid=548 on July 8, 2013)

Murray, C., C. Smith and D. Marmorek. 2011. Middle Rio Grande Endangered Species Collaborative Program Adaptive Management Plan Version 1. Prepared by ESSA Technologies Ltd. (Vancouver, BC) and Headwaters Corporation (Kearney, NE) for the Middle Rio Grande Endangered Species Collaborative Program, Albuquerque, NM. 108 pp. (Accessed at: http://www.middleriogrande.com/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=d%2fzdKUAz9LI%3d&tabid=460&mid=1307 on July 8, 2013) U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). 2013. Final Biological Assessment and Request for Reinitiation of Consultation, Corps of Engineers Reservoir Operations. February 15, 2013, 249 pp. (Accessed at: http://www.spa.usace.army.mil/Portals/16/docs/environmental/fonsi/USACE%20MRG%20Res%20Ops_Amended%20BA_2013-02-15.pdf on July 10, 2013) U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation). 2003. Programmatic Biological Assessment of Bureau of Reclamation’s Water and River Maintenance Operations, Army Corps of Engineers’ Flood Control Operation and Non-Federal Actions on the Middle Rio Grande, New Mexico, March 1, 20013 – February 28, 2013. February 2013.(Accessed at: http://www.middleriogrande.com/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=vff8bu9o9k8%3d&tabid=215&mid=553 on July 8, 2013) Reclamation. 2013. Joint Biological Assessment: Bureau of Reclamation and Non-Federal Water Management and Maintenance Activities on the Middle Rio Grande, New Mexico. July 2012, amended January 2013. Middle Rio Grande Project, New Mexico, San Juan-Chama Project, New Mexico, Upper Colorado Region. (Accessed at: http://www.usbr.gov/uc/albuq/envdocs/ba/MRG/BA.pdf on July 9, 2013) U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). 2002. Southwestern Willow Flycatcher Recovery Plan. Albuquerque, New Mexico. i-ix + 210 pp., Appendices A-O. (Accessed at: http://www.fws.gov/southwest/es/arizona/Documents/SpeciesDocs/SWWF/Final%20Recovery%20Plan/ExecSummary_Contents.pdf on July 8, 2013) USFWS. 2003. Biological and Conference Opinions on the Effects of Actions Associated with the Programmatic Biological Assessment of Bureau of Reclamation's Water and River Maintenance Operations, Army Corps of Engineers' Flood Control Operation, and Related Non-Federal Actions on the Middle Rio Grande, New Mexico. March 17, 2003. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Albuquerque, NM. (Accessed at: http://www.middleriogrande.com/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=AEEgbvFYYp8%3d&tabid=222&mid=579 on July 8, 2013) U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 2010. Rio Grande Silvery Minnow (Hybognathus amarus) Recovery Plan, First Revision. Albuquerque, NM. viii + 210 pp. (Accessed at: http://ecos.fws.gov/docs/recovery_plan/022210_v2.pdf on July 8, 2013) Definitions Adaptive Management – A structured, iterative, and analytical process for designing and implementing management actions to maximize learning about critical uncertainties that affect decisions, while simultaneously striving to meet multiple management objectives. It involves synthesizing existing knowledge and identifying critical uncertainties, developing hypotheses related to those critical uncertainties, exploring alternative management actions to test those hypotheses, making explicit predictions of their outcomes including level of risk involved with implementation, selecting one or more actions to implement, conducting monitoring and research to see if the actual outcomes match those predicted, and then using these results to learn and adjust future management and policy.

Flycatcher – The shortened name given in this document to the Southwestern Willow Flycatcher (Empidonax traillii extimus).

Larval fish – The larval stage begins with hatching until all fin rays are present and the growth of fish scales has started (squamation). A key event is when the notochord associated with the tail fin on the ventral side of the spinal cord develops flexion (becomes flexible). The larval stage can be further subdivided into preflexion, flexion, and postflexion stages. In many species, the body shape and fin rays, as well as the ability to move and feed, develops most rapidly during the flexion stage.

Minnow – The shortened name given in this document to the Rio Grande silvery minnow (Hybognathus amarus).

Population Viability Analysis (PVA) – A risk-assessment methodology applied to calculate species extinction or recovery probability. PVA uses population-specific time-series and life history data to construct a probabilistic population model that includes provisions for uncertainty about environmental drivers, uncertainty about chance demographic processes, and uncertainty about parameters of the model.

Sufficient Progress Metric – In a recovery implementation program, sufficient progress metrics are generally a series of factors or criteria used by the RIP and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to evaluate whether the program is performing satisfactorily to promote progress toward recovery and can continue to allow coverage for related proposed actions under Section 7 (jeopardy) or Sections 9 (take) of the ESA.

Viability (genetic) – To be genetically viable, a population must start out with, and maintain, sufficient genetic diversity to adapt to the anticipated range of environmental conditions that it will encounter. Factors that can work against the maintenance of genetic diversity include episodes of extremely small numbers of breeding individuals, high frequency of inbreeding, and selection in artificial environments.

Viability (population) – A species population’s ability to persist and to avoid extinction. The viability of a population typically varies with changes in the rates of birth, death, and growth of individuals. In natural populations, these rates themselves fluctuate in response to external forces (floods, droughts, introduced species) and internal forces (competition and genetic composition). Such factors can drive populations to extinction if they are severe or if several detrimental events occur before the population can recover.

Note: Because the commitments and responsibilities are paraphrased, it may be necessary to refer to the source documents for a complete understanding of the agencies’ intent: Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge Biological Assessment; USACE MRG Reservoir Operations Biological Assessment as amended; and Reclamation’s Joint Biological Assessment: Bureau of Reclamation and Non-Federal Water Management and Maintenance Activities on the MRG.

Element 1.1: RGSM Spawning and Survival of Larvae

· Habitat Restoration Workgroup Products including: Analysis & Recommendation reports, HR Project reports, mapping tools, Rapid Assessment Tool, and matrix

· PVA Model

· Habitat Restoration Plans (basin-wide)

· Adaptive Management Plan Version 1

· Sediment Management Plan

· Inundation Analysis Model

· Recruitment Analysis

· Land use planning tools

· Regional Water Plans

· Geomorphic studies and reach plans conducted by ISC, Pueblos, USACE Funding commitments:

· Numerous agencies have funding to assist in preparing this plan

· Streamlined environmental compliance

· River maintenance planning

· Geomorphic study and reach plan

· Habitat restoration workgroup Products including: Analysis & Recommendation reports, HR Project reports, mapping tools, Rapid Assessment Tool, and matrix Funding commitments:

· MRGCD, NMISC, Reclamation, and other RIP participants - Plan, design and construct habitat. The NMISC, Reclamation, and MRGCD cooperate to construct 200 acres of RGSM spawning/rearing habitat over the next five years with a focus within 10 miles upstream and downstream of Angostura, Isleta, and San Acacia Diversion Dams where water is or can be made available.

· USACE - Plan, design and construct habitat (subject to obtaining a non-federal partner and appropriation from Congress)

· COA - Bosque maintenance including minnow habitat

· BDANWR - Contribute to planning, designing and construction of projects to benefit the species such as: Channel Realignment River Mile 81 Project, degradation management project, river bar management, minnow refugia, living streams

NMISC:

- Lease water from SWR for habitat depletion offsets

MRGCD:

- Maintain outfalls to enhance habitat areas

- Create habitat by assisting in obtaining funding, and/or land with goal of 75 acres

USACE:

- Continue to implement ecosystem restoration projects with the support of local, cost-sharing sponsors

BDANWR:

- To be added

1.1.1c. Develop and implement a long-term integrated habitat restoration strategy with the objective of achieving a population level response.

[Note: The strategy should address techniques for managing river system geomorphology for the benefit of the species including engineered modifications to control river loss rates. This should result in a prioritized list of new habitat projects, indicating which projects need to be maintained or enhanced in the Middle Rio Grande that will provide improvements for overbanking and other habitat needs. Plan and design these projects for construction in years 6 through 10 based on evaluation of previous projects and new concepts.] Existing Resources:

· Habitat Restoration Workgroup Products including: Analysis & Recommendation reports, HR Project reports, mapping tools, Rapid Assessment Tool, and matrix

· PVA Model

· Habitat Restoration Plans (basin-wide)

· Inundation Analysis Model

· Recruitment Analysis

· Land use planning tools

· Regional Water Plans

· Geomorphic studies and reach plans conducted by ISC, Pueblos, and USACE

· Transport Plan Funding commitments:

· Numerous agencies have funding to assist in preparing this plan

USACE:

- Continue to document and investigate geomorphic conditions and trends to improve sediment transport

- Coordinate with all pueblos along the Middle Rio Grande regarding sediment management at Corps reservoirs

· SJC water for depletion offsets

· RG water for depletion offsets

· Force account (internal) field services

· Contract field services

· Monitoring Programs

· River Eyes Program

· Sediment Modeling MPT monitoring reports, HRW Rapid Assessment Tool Funding Commitments:

· COA - Bosque maintenance

· NMISC - Habitat monitoring and maintenance (including Atrisco backwater)

· Reclamation - Habitat monitoring and maintenance

· BDANWR - Habitat monitoring and maintenance USACE - Habitat monitoring

NMISC:

- Maintain existing overbank habitat constructed by the State in Albuquerque and Isleta reaches for up to ten years.

- Continue to contribute depletion offsets for the State’s habitat restoration projects in Albuquerque and Isleta reaches in accordance with existing agreements

- Continue to contribute depletion offsets for selected existing USACE MRG Floodway Projects

MRGCD:

- Maintain outfalls to enhance habitat areas

- Construct siphon to manage water supply at San Acacia

- Create habitat by assisting in obtaining funding, and/or land with goal of 75 acres

USACE:

- Continue to monitor habitat restoration effectiveness.

Reclamation:

- Supplemental Water Program

· PVA Model

· Fish population monitoring data

· URGWOM/hydrologic models

· NRCS Forecasts

· Agency Annual Operating plans

· Previous Action Team reports

· Service’s final Sufficient Progress Report (2015 - 2018)

· Annual RGCC Report

· Annual species management objectives

· Sediment Transport Plan Funding commitments:

· Numerous agencies will assist in preparing these annual recommendations Reclamation:

- Coordinate to successfully accomplish environmental water operations

ABCWUA:

- Continue coordination of water releases/ diversions

USACE:

- Coordinate with water and resource management entities on operations of dams and reservoirs

- Work with water management entities to produce Annual Operating Plan

- Work with water management entities to develop Annual Water Management Plan

- Continue to operate reservoirs to allow seasonal overbank flooding to the extent feasible within the limits of the safe channel capacities

- Investigate and evaluate potential for facilitating recruitment and spawning flows

· Reservoir storage and release schedules

· Water supply for depletion offset associated with spawning flow manipulation

· Storage and diversion management

· LFCC pumping

· Supplemental water supply for flow management

· SJC delivery management

• Adaptive Management Plan Version 1

• Sediment Transport Plan Funding commitments:

• ABCWUA - San Juan-Chama flow efficiency, Establish 30,000 Acre Foot conservation storage pool in Abiquiu with environmental group• MRGCD - Manage conveyance, operational changes, develop and administer groundwater leasing program, minimize entrainment, provide Isleta and San Acacia discharges, provide return flow/outfalls

• NMISC - assist in management of river flows, seek opportunities to obtain water rights for strategic water reserve, utilize…