2008-08-08_APPLICATION CORRESPONDENCE - C2008086

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DRAFT DRAFT DRAFT abundant prey populations. Fertilization and/or watering programs may be necessary to successfully establish the vegetation. Need references. 2. If the proposed project and effects thereof are long term or permanent, then upfront habitat acquisition, development, and/or improvement to mitigate for impacted areas should be considered. The amount and type of mitigation should be based on losses in habitat value. Onsite, in-kind mitigation is preferred, however, offsite and/or out-of-kind mitigation may be considered if the resulting benefits to raptor populations offset the predetermined losses for the project area. STEP 3 Post-project monitoring to determine the effectiveness of habitat mitigation measures on raptor populations should be an integral component of the mitigation plan. Publishing data and results should also be considered to develop information regarding raptor populations and responses to human activities and developments. NEST AND ROOST PROTECT/ON General Guidelines Raptors typically demonstrate a high degree of fidelity to nesting locations. Successful habitat management should be complemented by efforts to attain natural or predevelopment nesting success of local raptor populations and protection of winter roosting activities. Spatial and seasonal buffer zones have regularly been used to protect individual nest sites/territories to ensure successful breeding and to maintain high use areas by raptors. No temporary or permanent surface occupancy occur within species-specific spatial and seasonal buffer zones. Coordination with appropriate Service, State wildlife resources management agency, and/or land management agency biologists should occur when implementing nest/roost site protective measures to ensure that the intent of these guidelines and associated State and Federal regulations are realized. Buffer zones are defined as seasonal or spatial areas of inactivity in association with individual nests or nesting territories. Spatial buffers are defined as radii from known occupied and unoccupied nest sites. Seasonal buffers are restrictions on the times when human activities should be allowed to occur within the spatial buffers. Raptor nesting information and buffer recommendations provided in these guidelines were developed following review of pertinent literature and coordination with knowledgeable wildlife professionals (Call 1979, Jones 1979, Fitzner 1980, Wood 1980, Dubois 1984, USDI Fish and Wildl. Serv. 1984, White and Thurow 1985, Palmer 1988, Johnsgard 1988, Johnsgard 1990, 16