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Writing Biological Assessments for WSDOT
Upcoming Workshops on Biological Assessment Guidance
WSDOT will schedule its next BA Preparation for Transportation Projects seminar for fall of 2009. This is the initial seminar that all authors must take to become qualified BA authors.
Are You an On-Call Consultant Whose Senior or Junior Author Qualification Status Expires in 2009? A Re-Qualification Seminar is scheduled for October 2009.
Compliance with Federal and State Fish & Wildlife Regulations
Habitat Connectivity and Wildlife Crossings
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I-90 Wildlife Underpass Crossing |
WSDOT has a new policy directive (Executive Order 1031, "Protections and Connections for High Quality Natural Habitats") which mandates consideration of habitat values and wildlife movement needs in all transportation activities. WSDOT and the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife are co-leading development of a Statewide Habitat Connectivity Plan that will identify important wildlife corridors between wildland blocks statewide. This plan will be an important tool for the conservation of wildlife habitat and will identify the highway segments where wildlife movements are important to consider in transportation planning, project development, and operation of the transportation system.
In some instances, the needs of wildlife will require installation of fencing or crossing structures. There are several ongoing projects in which wildlife crossing issues play a key role. Some of the most visible projects include:
Wildlife Carcass Removal Database
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Deer carcass removal hotspots in Washington State (Click image for larger map) |
WSDOT maintenance crews submit data on wildlife (primarily deer and elk) carcasses removed from state highways. WSDOT Geographic Information Systems and biological staff make these data available for mapping and general queries to help with project planning and identification of problem areas. These data are being used to identify the most important locations for installation of fencing and crossing structures to reduce wildlife mortalities and improve highway safety.
WSDOT deer and elk - carcass removal contact: Victoria Fursman.
Related Links:
Wildlife-Related WSDOT Research and Guidance:
Wildlife on Bridges
Biologists in the Environmental Services Office have been developing guidance for WSDOT maintenance personnel to assure that highway maintenance activities do not impact protected terrestrial species that occur on WSDOT bridges throughout the state. A summary of species that may inhabit WSDOT bridges and the regulations pertaining to them are highlighted in the Wildlife on Bridges brochure. Commonly asked questions and answers about wildlife on bridges can be found in this Question and Answer page.
Protocols for Evaluating Wildlife, Fish, and Vegetation Resources on Transportation Projects
WSDOT recommends three protocols for evaluating wildlife, fisheries, or vegetation resources on transportation projects. These protocols are useful when preparing Fish, Wildlife, Vegetation or Ecosystem (combination of fish, wildlife and vegetation resources) Discipline Reports during the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)/State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) process.
ESA Listing and Consultation Hot Topics
BA Preparation Re-Qualification Seminar - October 2009
Stormwater Guidance - May 2009
WSDOT has updated their stormwater guidance to aid in the stormwater analysis required for biological assessments.
Biological Assessment Templates - January 2008
WSDOT has developed three templates (no effect letter, no effect assessment, and biological assessment) that can be used for ESA documentation, depending on the effect determination on federally listed species and designated critical habitat, and level of analysis. On-call consultants who prepare biological assessments for WSDOT are required to use the format provided in these templates.
Bald and Golden Eagle Act Compliance Information
The Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act applies to everyone, so for WSDOT projects, a biologist assesses potential project impacts to bald eagles to ensure we are in compliance with the Eagle Act.
Changes in ESA Listings
ESA Listing Updates contains updated information on listing and delisting proposals, status of proposed critical habitat and protective regulations, 90-day petition findings and species undergoing 12-month status reviews for Washington State.
Georgia Basin Rockfish Distinct Population Segments - On April 23, 2009, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) published the results of the 12-month scientific status review of five species of rockfish and proposal to list three species under the Endangered Species Act. Based on the review, NMFS has proposed the Georgia Basin Distinct Population Segment (DPS) of bocaccio as an endangered species and the Georgia Basin DPS’s of yelloweye rockfish and canary rockfish as threatened species. The Georgia Basin DPS boundaries refers to all of Puget Sound, including the area around the San Juan Islands and the Strait of Georgia north to the mouth of the Campbell River in British Columbia. The western boundary of the DPS runs along the Victoria sill from east of Port Angeles to Victoria across the Strait of Juan de Fuca.
Northern Rocky Mountain Gray Wolf Distinct Population Segment - On April 2, 2009, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service published in the Federal Register a Final Rule that identifies the Northern Rocky Mountain (NRM) population of gray wolf as a distinct population segment (DPS), and removes gray wolves within NRM DPS boundaries from the list of threatened and endangered wildlife, except in Wyoming. The NRM DPS encompasses the eastern one-third of Washington and Oregon, a small part of north-central Utah, and all of Montana, Idaho, and Wyoming. This rule becomes effective on May 4, 2009.
Wolves that occur in the eastern one-third of Washington, east of highways 97, 17, and 395, will no longer be federally listed under the ESA. Any wolves in all other parts of the state west of highways 97, 17, and 395 remain federally protected under the ESA.
Yellow-billed Loon - On March 25, 2009, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service published in the Federal Register their 12-month finding on a petition to list the yellow-billed loon as threatened or endangered, under the ESA. The USFWS determined that listing the yellow-billed loon rangewide is warranted but precluded by other higher priority listing actions. As such, the yellow-billed loon is now a candidate for federal listing.
Southwestern Washington/Columbia River DPS of Coastal Cutthroat Trout - On March 24, 2009, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced in the Federal Register that they are reconsidering their 2002 withdrawal of their 1999 proposed rule to list the Southwestern Washington/Columbia River DPS of coastal cutthroat trout as threatened under the ESA. As a result of litigation, the USFWS have reopened the public comment period to reexamine their 1999 proposed rule and will determine if the marine and estuarine areas constitute a significant portion of the range of the Southwestern Washington/Columbia River DPS, and if so, whether that portion is warranted for listing. The comment period closes on April 23, 2009, and the USFWS intends to publish a decision by September 18, 2009. If found warranted and proposed for listing, a final rulemaking would be published in the Federal Register at a later date.
Eulachon (Columbia River Smelt) - On March 13, 2009, the National Marine Fisheries Service published a Proposed rule to delineate Columbia River smelt into two or more distinct population segments (DPS) and to list the Southern DPS as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. This proposed action may become finalized within one year from the date of the proposed rule (by March 13, 2010).
Canada Lynx - Final rule on revised critical habitat designation for the contiguous United States distinct population segment of the Canada lynx - February 25, 2009. The revised critical habitat designation becomes effective on March 27, 2009.
Southern DPS Green Sturgeon - On September 8, 2008, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) published in the Federal Register a Proposed Rule to designate critical habitat for the threatened Southern distinct population segment of North American green sturgeon (Southern DPS of green sturgeon).
Delisting of Bald Eagle - August 8, 2007 - The bald eagle is still protected under the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act (Eagle Act) and the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.