MEMORANDUM

Re: Sonoran Desert Conservation Plan Science and Geographic Information Systems Update

I. Background

This memorandum summarizes four documents that reflect some of the work that Pima County and Department of Interior staff, along with the Science and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Technical Teams, have created to develop the biological component of the Sonoran Desert Conservation Plan. The first document, entitled Determining Vulnerable Species Within Pima County, updates the April 30, 1999 discussion paper, and describes over 100 species, 12 habitat types, and 20 plant communities that are currently being considered for protection under the Sonoran Desert Conservation Plan.

The second document is the request for proposals for the biological consultant for the Sonoran Desert Conservation Plan. It contains a detailed work plan and describes the tasks that will be carried out by the consultant. Through the efforts of Congressman Kolbe and Secretary Babbitt, and with the support of Congressman Pastor and Senator Kyl, an appropriation for $1 million is included in the latest version of the federal budget. The work plan for the biological evaluation requires that seven major deliverables be received by Pima County on or before June 30, 2000. Described in more detail below, these work products will allow the County to issue a major status report about the Sonoran Desert Conservation Plan in the summer of 2000.

The third document is a habitat conservation plan decision support system work plan for which Pima County has applied for funding from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. Pima County has entered into a collaborative relationship through the United States Geological Survey with four prominent California conservation biologists and geographic information scientists to create a decision support model that will combine the best available biotic, cultural resource and socio-economic data to produce alternative potential preserves that attain a balance of fiscal and natural resources.

The fourth document is an interim report from Pima Association of Governments on a study being conducted to create geographic information system coverages for perennial and intermittent streams and shallow groundwater. In addition to these efforts, County staff along with staff from the Department of the Interior have gathered data from other jurisdictions and performed analysis of this information to accelerate the time line involved in developing the Sonoran Desert Conservation Plan. Whereas the County GIS system had about 175 coverages before planning began, we now have 1004 data layers, gathered by County staff.

II. Determining Vulnerable Species within Pima County

In April of 1999 a report entitled Determining Species of Concern was issued to launch the work of the Science Technical Advisory Team. The report described the status, location, distribution and habitat needs of species already recognized by the federal government as imperiled, extirpated species, and the surprisingly large number of species that are in decline and potentially on the way toward listing if conservation measures are not put in place. Since the release of this report, the Science Technical Advisory Team has met on a monthly basis and refined the original report.

The second draft, found at attachment 1, is renamed Determining Vulnerable Species within Pima County, Arizona. It includes a statement of the goals and objectives of the Science Technical Advisory Team and expands the list from 75 species of concern to over 100 vulnerable species. The report also presents two systems of categorizing species that are preliminarily recommended for protection under the conservation plan.

Under one method of categorization, the report describes 24 federally listed, proposed and candidate species for Pima County; 13 extirpated species are described (most of which were dependant on aquatic habitat that is now lost); and four subcategories of vulnerable species are described: (1) species at risk in Pima County and for whom habitat in Pima County is crucial for their existence; (2) species at risk in Pima County and /or are generally declining throughout their range; (3) species that are rare in Pima County, but the overall status is unknown; and (4) species that are at risk in Pima County, but are not at risk overall.

Under a second method of categorizing vulnerable species, the report describes (1) keystone species, i.e., those who enrich ecosystem function in a unique and significant manner, with effects beyond their numerical abundance; (2) flagship species, i.e., charismatic species that have wide appeal; and (3) umbrella species, who generally serve as mobile links at the landscape scale through predation, seed dispersal or pollination.

In addition to making preliminary recommendations about particular species to protect, the report recommends protection of particular habitats and plant communities. Foremost are aquatic environments, wetlands, and riparian woodlands, which the Science Team considers "to be a high priority for conservation.... A large number of species listed within the report either live in aquatic or riparian habitats, or utilize them in some way. Primary threats include groundwater pumping, which has reduced water tables needed to sustain these ecosystems."

The importance of the Riparian Restoration element of the Sonoran Desert Conservation Plan becomes more apparent as the Science Team continues its work. Accordingly, riparian vegetation mapping is included in the scope of work for the biological consultant, and data layers for shallow ground water and perennial and intermittent streams are now being developed.

III. Biological Consultant Services for the Sonoran Desert Conservation Plan

On November 12, 1999, the request for proposals found at attachment 2 was publicly noticed and sent to all known interested biological consultants. Proposals are due to Pima County on December 16, 1999. A recommendation by a subcommittee of the Science Technical Advisory Team will be forwarded to the County Administrator and the Board so that work may begin in January, pending funding availability. It was noted earlier that the latest version of the federal budget contains an appropriation of $1 million for the Sonoran Desert Conservation Plan. County staff is working with the Department of Interior to determine how quickly these funds can be transferred, if adopted in the final budget. The work plan was developed over a six month period by the Science Team and it was the subject of extensive peer review. In general, the biological consultant contract will create a program of work needed to achieve the biological goals of conserving Pima County's indigenous plants and animals. The contract will have several phases, with services including the following:

• Compile, document and synthesize existing information on vulnerable species, and high priority biotic communities as recommended by the Science Team. Produce or synthesize new GIS-based data layers on selected biotic communities. Identify data gaps and prioritize data needs. Produce a threats assessment.
  
  
• Recommend species/habitat goals. Review remaining focal species and special habitats or plant communities to devise conservation strategies. Investigate pest species important to the planning area and planning goals.
  
  
• Prepare and recommend preserve designs with specific management recommendations that meets the goals of the plan for selected species, habitats and plant communities as approved by the Science Team.
  

These phases are divided into fifteen categories within the scope of work, each containing a number of specific tasks. A number of draft, interim and final work products are called for under the work plan, with seven major deliverables due to Pima County by June 30 of 2000:

1. Threats assessment;
2. Recommendations on adjustments to vulnerable species list;
3. Draft vulnerable species data summaries, including distribution maps;
4. Draft data analysis;
5. Pilot riparian vegetation mapping;
6. Draft land cover community map; and
7. Draft reserve design guidelines.
   

These work products will allow County staff to draft a major status report about the scientific research and other elements of the Sonoran Desert Conservation Plan, by next summer. A detailed description of each component of the biological evaluation work plan is found on pages 2 through 14 of the sample contract in attachment 2.

IV. Habitat Conservation Plan GIS Decision Support System

The Pima County Geographic Information System has an extensive library of data layers. Prior to work being conducted to develop the Sonoran Desert Conservation Plan, the County held approximately 175 coverages within its system. Since April of 1999, County staff members have gathered additional data bases, bringing the total number of coverages to over 1000. Currently, county staff is dividing and analyzing all relevant data layers into subarea units. This data will become the basis of the initial subarea draft concept plans which will be issued to land panels in early 2000.

County staff members have also entered into a collaborative effort with conservation biologists who have experience with complex modeling to create a habitat conservation plan GIS decision support model. The principal investigators working with Pima County in this effort are: Dr. Michael Gilpin from the Department of Biology at the University of California at San Diego; Dr. Peter Stine of the United States Geological Survey at California State University; Dr. Richard Church of the University of California at Santa Barbara; and Dr. Ross Gerrard. A full description of the project is found at attachment 3. In general, the project attempts to address issues that have plagued prior habitat conservation planning efforts, such as whether sufficient desirable alternatives are being considered; whether there has been an objective analyses of a full range of alternative outcomes; and whether the proposed preserve alternatives maximize all desired features and minimize risks and costs.

The research effort to improve decision support in the area of habitat conservation planning focuses on combining the best available biotic, cultural and fiscal data within an optimization models with the intent that this approach will produce potential solutions that appropriately evaluate conservation goals as well as socio-economic goals and identify high-quality alternatives that attain the best balance of both. The approach shows the trade-offs between various levels of conservation, obtained by reserving certain lands, and the economic and social costs of doing so. The components of the proposed decision support tool can be summarized within these four categories:

1. Incorporation of expert biological data and opinion;
2. Computer-based processing to determine relative habitat suitability and socio-economic suitability in the region of interest;
3. Modeling viable territories for basic demographic units of the target species; and
4. Optimizing the selection of species territories to balance the conflicting goals of environmental and human needs.
   

The primary product expected from this effort is a customized software package, combined with linkages to commercially available software that executes this entire model. Several scientific publications will result from the research and development activities of this project. Pima County has applied for an award from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation to pursue this project. Both the California and Southwest Regions of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service also have committed funding to support this project.

V. GIS Coverage for Perennial Streams, Intermittent Streams, and Shallow Groundwater

Reports issued since April of 1999 consistently point out the need to protect and restore riparian habitat. To accelerate the development of information in this area, County staff along with the Pima Association of Governments have created three GIS coverages to show perennial streams, intermittent streams, and areas of shallow groundwater within eastern Pima County. An interim report on this project is found at attachment 4. Final maps and the GIS product will be delivered in December, in time for the Science Team to review the results, and the consultant to incorporate this information into the biological evaluation.

VI. Conclusion

Since the Board adopted the Sonoran Desert Conservation Plan in concept in March of 1999, technical teams have been meeting to review staff reports and existing data, and create workplans to carry out the components of the Sonoran Desert Conservation Plan. Reports on the progress of other technical teams will be sent to the Board in the coming weeks. This memorandum conveys information about some of the work that Pima County and Department of Interior staff, along with the Science and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Technical Teams, have carried out so far to develop the biological component of the Sonoran Desert Conservation Plan. Recommendations for award of contract to a biological consultant will also be sent to the Board as soon as possible so that work can begin and deliverables can be produced to create the Sonoran Desert Conservation Plan.

Attachments

PCPD-02