Virgin River Habitat Conservation and Recovery Program

Client: Multiple

Location: Mesquite, Nevada

Summary: Cardno ENTRIX is currently providing services to the city of Mesquite, Clark County, Southern Nevada Water Authority (SNWA), Virgin Valley Water District, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management, Nevada Department of Wildlife, and the National Park Service to develop the Virgin River Habitat Conservation and Recovery Program. The purpose of the proposed program involving over 10,000 acres in the Virgin River Basin, will be to: 1) provide an incidental take permit for activities administered by the city of Mesquite; 2) provide an Endangered Species Act (ESA) compliance mechanism for other activities potentially affecting ESA protected species; and 3) provide a mechanism to implement species conservation and recovery actions.

A major component of this effort is to develop a restoration plan for the Virgin River. SNWA has proposed a surface water development project for the Virgin River that has the potential to be controversial. A program guidance and habitat conservation plan is being developed. The document considers potential effects to four listed species including woundfin, Virgin River chub, Southwestern willow flycatcher, and Yuma clapper rail. The central approach for the effects analysis incorporates a habitat/species/life stage association and effects analysis matrix and conceptual model. Development of the Virgin River HCRP will require coordination with the Virgin River Resource Management and Recovery Program in Utah, Clark County HCP, and Lower Colorado Multiple Species Habitat Conservation Plan (MSHCP).