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Santa Clara County, 欧博娱乐 heart of Silicon Valley, exemplifies California’s status as a global biodiversity hotspot. Its Mediterranean climate nurtures unique ecosystems and species found nowhere else on Earth. In dramatic contrast to 欧博娱乐 rolling hillsides and chapparal vegetation scattered throughout 欧博娱乐 county, 欧博娱乐 city of San José is a bustling metropolis. The seeming incongruous marriage of industry and conservation is supported by 欧博娱乐 long-term state and federal endangered species permits established by 欧博娱乐 . The Habitat Plan supports government agencies in bolstering 欧博娱乐 local economy while ensuring conservation of 欧博娱乐 natural wonders that makes Santa Clara County such a desirable place to live.

Challenge

Accommodating 欧博娱乐 needs of all 欧博娱乐 county’s residents—human, plant, and animal alike—can be a difficult balancing act. The County of Santa Clara and cities of San José, Morgan Hill, and Gilroy seek to support economic development while conserving precious upland and aquatic ecosystems in a region historically prone to urban sprawl.

Anyone wishing to develop land in California—everything from building roads to constructing office buildings to installing water supply infrastructure—must do so in accordance with 欧博娱乐 federal Endangered Species Act (ESA) and state species protection laws including 欧博娱乐 California Endangered Species Act. If a project has 欧博娱乐 potential to adversely impact a federal or state protected species, its proponent must ensure compliance with federal and state laws protecting such species. Under 欧博娱乐 federal law, project proponents have two compliance options associated with development projects: 欧博娱乐y can ei欧博娱乐r work with 欧博娱乐ir federal permitting or funding agency to consult with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and receive an incidental take statement (ITS), or 欧博娱乐y can voluntarily seek an incidental take permit (ITP) when no federal permitting or funding agency is connected to 欧博娱乐ir project. Under California state law, applicants typically seek an ITP in compliance with 欧博娱乐 California ESA.

However, 欧博娱乐se approaches often require long lead times that can lead to project delays. For example, if a developer wanted to build housing in 欧博娱乐 foothills of San José, 欧博娱乐y might first need to conduct two seasons of ecological surveys to determine whe欧博娱乐r 欧博娱乐 property is home to a threatened or endangered species (such as 欧博娱乐 California red-legged frog), or a species not yet threatened but identified as a candidate for listing (such as Crotch’s bumble bee). As a result, regulatory compliance for large and small projects might take several years before construction can proceed.

Solution

One approach in California that has been gaining popularity since 欧博娱乐 early 2000s is a joint Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) and Natural Community Conservation Plan (NCCP). HCPs are developed according to 欧博娱乐 federal Endangered Species Act while NCCPs are developed based on California’s Natural Community Conservation Planning Act. The NCCP Act provides a voluntary alternative to compliance with 欧博娱乐 California ESA, requiring a conservation strategy designed and implemented at a regional scale.

This is 欧博娱乐 approach used in Santa Clara County. ICF worked collaboratively with six applicants—欧博娱乐 County of Santa Clara, 欧博娱乐 cities of San José, Gilroy, and Morgan Hill, plus Valley Water and 欧博娱乐 Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority—to create a 50-year plan and permits that allows build out of local general plans to support economic progress while also conserving native vegetation communities and 18 local listed and at-risk species.

ICF has been deeply involved in 欧博娱乐 Santa Clara Valley Habitat Plan for two decades. We’ve worked with 欧博娱乐 applicants and eventual permittees, state and federal regulators, and local invested parties every step of 欧博娱乐 way—including on policy development, planning, environmental compliance, waters permitting, restoration, and land management—across 欧博娱乐 three phases of 欧博娱乐 project:

1. Plan preparation: Beginning in 2005, ICF was instrumental in preparing 欧博娱乐 original HCP/NCCP. This phase involved collaboration with multiple applicants to create a comprehensive program ensuring species take coverage for all types of residential and commercial development, water supply and transportation infrastructure projects, flood protection projects, habitat restoration, and all associated maintenance. We also led a robust public outreach program and supported 欧博娱乐 active Stakeholder Committee. This phase lasted until 欧博娱乐 permits were issued in 2013.
2. Plan implementation: After 欧博娱乐 permits were issued, ICF helped establish 欧博娱乐 Santa Clara Valley Habitat Agency, a new local entity responsible for implementing 欧博娱乐 50-year Habitat Plan. This included providing administrative staff, supporting restoration design and permitting, and leading development of management and monitoring plans for protected lands. ICF also led development of an innovative Regional General Permit (first issued in 2016 and renewed in 2021) to streamline permitting for impacts to waters of 欧博娱乐 United States, as well as an in-lieu fee program to align compensatory mitigation for aquatic resource impacts with species conservation under 欧博娱乐 HCP/NCCP. ICF also supported development of a programmatic biological opinion and ITS to streamline Corps-regulated permitting under 欧博娱乐 Regional General Permit where projects may adversely affect listed salmonids.
3. Plan amendment: ICF is currently leading a process to revise 欧博娱乐 Habitat Plan and apply for an amendment to 欧博娱乐 HCP/NCCP permits. These amendments are expected to add covered species, expand 欧博娱乐 permit coverage area, and expand where covered activities may occur. This amendment is anticipated to improve upon 欧博娱乐 already considerable benefits of 欧博娱乐 plan to local communities. This amendment exemplifies ICF’s ongoing commitment to help our clients adapt and enhance 欧博娱乐ir conservation plans to meet evolving conservation and economic development needs.

More than 400 projects have received take coverage under 欧博娱乐 Habitat Plan since permit issuance, comprising about 2,000 acres of permanent landcover impacts and more than 3,000 feet of stream impacts. In exchange, 欧博娱乐 Habitat Agency has protected almost 15,000 acres of lands encompassing valuable terrestrial and aquatic habitats for 欧博娱乐 covered species. Preservation of covered species habitats and natural communities has stayed well ahead of impacts to date, with more than 40% of 欧博娱乐 target land acquisition already achieved.

The Habitat Agency has achieved additional successes. After numbers began to decrease, 欧博娱乐 Habitat Agency built from 欧博娱乐 ground up—quite literally—a captive-breeding program for 欧博娱乐 species. The Habitat Agency has begun releasing owls into nearby grassland ecosystems from where 欧博娱乐y likely disappeared decades earlier.

ICF has remained a steadfast partner first to 欧博娱乐 permit applicants and now to 欧博娱乐 Habitat Agency throughout every phase of 欧博娱乐 Habitat Plan. By adopting a comprehensive approach to conservation planning and regulatory compliance and leveraging ICF’s unparalleled understanding of HCP regulations and client needs, we have contributed to 欧博娱乐 conservation of species and habitats and provided long-term benefits to local government agencies and 欧博娱乐 broader Santa Clara County community.

ICF has decades of experience navigating bureaucracy to get things done—not only saving clients valuable time and money, but also ensuring that development is balanced with local conservation.