Issue Overview

The purpose of this section is to provide information and boilerplate language that will help to provide a basic understanding of the issue by factually describing the issue, its scope, and dimensions.

The Utah Sensitive Species List is prepared pursuant to Utah Division of Wildlife Resources' Administrative Rule R657-48. By rule, wildlife species that are federally-listed candidates for federal listing, or for which a conservation agreement is in place automatically qualify for the list. The additional species on the Utah Sensitive Species List , “wildlife species of concern,” are those species for which there is credible scientific evidence to substantiate a threat to continued population viability. It is anticipated that wildlife species of concern designations will act as an “early warning” system to identify species for which conservation actions are needed, and that timely and appropriate conservation actions can then be implemented on their behalf, precluding the need to list these species under the provisions of the federal Endangered Species Act. This is important because when a species is federally-listed, there are restrictions on land use within the species' habitat. These restrictions, which may have significant negative economic impacts, can be avoided if appropriate measures are taken before federal-listing becomes necessary. State-listed species are not protected by any special regulations.

Options & Trade-Offs

The County should contact the Division of Wildlife Resources to help them with this section. The Division can help each County assess their unique situation.

Potential for Conflict

The County should elaborate on their perspective of the potential for conflict (i.e. between development and conservation interests).

Range of Alternatives

The County should contact the Division of Wildlife Resources to help them consider management options / alternatives that can help define their desired management preference. The Division can help each County assess their unique situation.

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Existing Condition

The purpose of this section is to provide information and boilerplate language that will help to describe the existing condition.

Data Review

The current version of the Utah Sensitive Species List is available on the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources' web site at: http://dwrcdc.nr.utah.gov/ucdc/ViewReports/sslist.htm . Appendix A of the list, which is also available on the web site, includes the detailed rationale behind each wildlife species of concern designation. In addition, a list of sensitive species by county is available at: http://dwrcdc.nr.utah.gov/ucdc/ViewReports/sscounty.htm .

Detailed location information for populations of sensitive species is managed and distributed by the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources' Utah Natural Heritage Program. General (masked to the 7.5' USGS topographic quadrangle map level) sensitive species occurrence data are available to the public as a GIS data layer ( http://dwrcdc.nr.utah.gov/ucdc/DownloadGIS/disclaim.htm ) or on an Internet Map Server ( http://atlas.utah.gov/wildlife ), which allow users to create and print maps for any area of Utah. Local governments and government agencies may obtain site-specific sensitive species occurrence information by contacting the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources at: habitat@utah.gov or 801-538-4759.

Items to Consider
The County should contact the Division of Wildlife Resources to help them with this section. The Division can help each County assess their unique situation.

Boilerplate Language

The sensitive species to be addressed will vary greatly from county to county. Please see http://dwrcdc.nr.utah.gov/ucdc/ViewReports/sscounty.htm for a list of the sensitive species in each Utah county.

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Desired Future Condition

The purpose of this section is to provide information and boilerplate language that will help to describe the improvements and changes that need to be made to the existing condition in order to achieve the desired future condition. It also provides the basis for the development of policy statements that support the desired future condition.

As stated above, the purpose of wildlife species of concern designations is to preclude the need for future listings under the Endangered Species Act. The Utah Sensitive Species List allows the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, land management agencies, local governments, and others to prioritize their efforts so that those species in the most need will benefit from conservation actions. Common conservation actions for sensitive species include: 1) habitat conservation/restoration, 2) research to learn more about the species and the causes for its decline, and 3) minimizing/mitigating impacts from development.

Meaningful long-term mitigation for impacts to sensitive species is essential for maintaining healthy populations of those species. The Greater Sage-grouse, for example, is a sensitive species that has experienced range-wide population declines and is very susceptible to habitat loss. If a hypothetical pipeline through Greater Sage-grouse habitat was proposed, appropriate mitigation could include routing the pipeline to avoid known sage-grouse breeding areas where possible, pausing construction during the critical spring breeding season in breeding areas that could not be avoided, and providing new or enhanced sage-grouse habitat to compensate for important habitats impacted by construction.

Range of Alternatives

Are there alternative perspectives on desired resource conditions?

Boilerplate Language

The sensitive species that will need to be addressed will vary greatly from county to county. Web links for existing sensitive species conservation agreements/management plans are listed in the “Sources” section.

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Policy and Position Statements

The purpose of this section is to provide boilerplate policy statement language that will support the desired future conditions. A range of possible conditions is provided here.

In order to preclude the need for future listings under the Endangered Species Act, impacts to sensitive species and their habitats should be avoided when possible. When impacts are unavoidable, meaningful long-term mitigation is necessary. Depending upon the species in question, meaningful long-term mitigation could include rangeland restoration, wetland enhancement, noxious weed control, pinyon-juniper removal, or other actions that provide new or enhanced wildlife habitats when existing habitats are impacted by development.

Boilerplate Language

The sensitive species that will need to be addressed will vary greatly from county to county. Web links for existing sensitive species conservation agreements/management plans are listed in the “Sources” section.

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Goals, Objectives, and/or Action Items

The purpose of this section is to provide boilerplate examples of the types of improvements or changes that typically would be needed to reach the desired future condition. “Goal” is the desired condition. “Objectives” are improvements or changes that need to be made to reach the goal. “Action Items” are specific actions that can be taken in order to achieve the objective.

Goals, objectives, and actions to maintain/restore healthy populations of select sensitive species are found in appropriate species conservation agreements or species management plans. These conservation agreements/management plans are developed by working groups composed of entities such as the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, federal agencies, water conservancy districts, researchers, and other interested parties. Web links for existing sensitive species conservation agreements/management plans are listed in the “Sources ” section.

In addition to the existing species conservation agreements/management plans, the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, with the assistance of the Nature Conservancy, the Utah Farm Bureau, the Utah Audubon Society, Sportsmen for Fish and Wildlife, the Utah Department of Agriculture, the Natural Resources Conservation Service, the Bureau of Land Management, the U.S. Forest Service, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, is currently developing the Utah Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy (UCWCS). The UCWCS, which will be completed in 2005, will contain objectives and conservation actions for the management of all species included on the Utah Sensitive Species List.

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Monitoring Methods and Mechanisms

The purpose of this section is to provide suggested techniques and methods for monitoring progress towards the desired condition.

Monitoring of sensitive species is conducted by the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (UDWR), sometimes in conjunction with federal agencies and other members of species working groups. Each of the UDWR regional offices has at least one dedicated sensitive species biologist on staff. These biologists monitor sensitive species populations in a designated area of the state and compile regional sensitive species databases. These data are then provided to UDWR's headquarters office in Salt Lake City, where statewide sensitive species information is maintained.

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Sources and Resources to Assist

This section is intended to be a reference guide to help locate any sources of assistance.

To obtain further information or assistance regarding sensitive species issues, please consult the following resources:

•  Utah Division of Wildlife Resources Administrative Rule R657-48, Implementation of the Wildlife Species of Concern and Habitat Designation Advisory Committee, http://www.rules.utah.gov/publicat/code/r657/r657-048.htm

•  The Utah Sensitive Species List and Appendices, http://dwrcdc.nr.utah.gov/ucdc/ViewReports/sslist.htm

•  The list of Utah sensitive species by county, http://dwrcdc.nr.utah.gov/ucdc/ViewReports/sscounty.htm

•  UDWR's sensitive species GIS data (masked), http://dwrcdc.nr.utah.gov/ucdc/DownloadGIS/disclaim.htm

•  UDWR's Utah Conservation Data Center web site and links, http://dwrcdc.nr.utah.gov/ucdc

•  Vertebrate Information Compiled by the Utah Natural Heritage Program: A Progress Report, http://dwrcdc.nr.utah.gov/ucdc/ViewReports/UNHPVertReport.pdf

•  Rare, Imperiled, and Recently Extinct or Extirpated Mollusks of Utah, http://dwrcdc.nr.utah.gov/ucdc/ViewReports/mollrpt.pdf

•  UDWR's Utah Natural Heritage Program, habitat@utah.gov or 801-538-4759

For examples of sensitive species plans, please consult:

• Strategic Management Plan for Sage-grouse 2002 - http://www.wildlife.utah.gov/uplandgame/pdf/2002manplan.pdf
• Strategic Management Plan for Columbian Sharp-tailed Grouse, 2002 - http://www.wildlife.utah.gov/uplandgame/pdf/02sharptail.pdf
• Range-wide Conservation Agreement and Strategy for Bonneville Cutthroat Trout - http://www.wildlife.utah.gov/pdf/cacs7.pdf
• Conservation Agreement and Strategy for Bonneville Cutthroat Trout in the State of Utah - http://www.wildlife.utah.gov/pdf/bnvlcutt.pdf
• Conservation Agreement and Strategy for Colorado River Cutthroat Trout in the State of Utah - http://www.wildlife.utah.gov/pdf/cocutt.pdf
• Conservation Agreement and Strategy for Least Chub in the State of Utah - http://www.wildlife.utah.gov/pdf/lchub.pdf
• Conservation Agreement and Strategy for Virgin Spinedace - http://www.wildlife.utah.gov/pdf/virgspin.pdf
• Conservation Agreement and Strategy for Spotted Frog - http://www.wildlife.utah.gov/pdf/spotfrog.pdf

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