ESA Technical Assistance to Washington Department of Natural Resources for Development of the Aquatic HCP on State-Owned Aquatic Lands

Client: Washington Department of Natural Resources

Location: Washington

Summary: Cardno ENTRIX was selected by the Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to plan for conservation of threatened, endangered, and other species of concern that can be affected by activities conducted by DNR on state-owned aquatic lands. This effort was undertaken to respond to the requirements of the Endangered Species Act (ESA). As a steward of Washington?s aquatic lands, DNR manages 2.2 million acres of beaches and lands beneath marine and fresh waters (e.g., pacific coast, Puget Sound, Columbia River, tributaries, and lakes). The statewide contract included an evaluation of all listed Threatened, Endangered and Candidate species in all freshwater, marine and estuarine habitats in the state of Washington. The initial list of species under consideration was approximately 90 species including fish, birds, mammals, invertebrates, and plants. Cardno ENTRIX developed an innovative approach to identify potential impacts to these species by activities under DNR?s management and to develop conservation measures to promote sustainable ecosystems, minimize cumulative impacts, and increase protection and recovery efforts for state and federal sensitive species. The completed analysis will be used to develop an HCP and associated environmental documents to comply with ESA.