To: Board of Supervisors
From: John Kopchik, Director, Conservation and Development
Report Title: Funding for County-wide Golden Eagle Nest Surveys
☒Recommendation of the County Administrator ☐ Recommendation of Board Committee
RECOMMENDATIONS:
APPROVE and AUTHORIZE the Auditor-Controller to issue a payment to the U.S. Geological Survey to support their research on golden eagle nest locations in Contra Costa County for $45,000, as recommended by the Director of the Department of Conservation and Development (100% Contra Costa Avian Fund).
FISCAL IMPACT:
100% of recommended funding will come from unallocated Contra Costa Avian Fund monies and therefore will have no impact on the County’s General Fund.
BACKGROUND:
Contra Costa Avian Fund: The Contra Costa Avian Fund (Fund) was established as a condition of approval to the permitting of the Buena Vista Windfarm in east Contra Costa County. The windfarm operator was required to set up and contribute to an avian conservation fund to be used by the County for conservation efforts to benefit the bird species potentially impacted by the project. These funds are held and managed by the Department of Conservation and Development.
The Contra Costa Avian Fund receives annual contributions from the windfarm operator of $500 per megawatt of nameplate capacity of each turbine, up to a maximum of $20,750 per year. There is currently $175,564.33 in the Fund. $45,900 is currently committed but not expended, leaving $129,644.33 available. This project would expend an additional $45,000 from the Fund.
Project: The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is undertaking a regional (multi-county) effort to identify golden eagle nest sites to inform future conservation efforts of the species. Funding provided through the Contra Costa Avian Fund would support work in Contra Costa County.
Golden eagles (Aquila chrysaetos) are under increasing threat and present a management concern in California and western North America. The species is considered fully protected in California by state (California Department of Fish and Wildlife codes) and federal regulations (i.e., the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act). Golden eagles are listed as target conservation species of the East Contra Costa County Habitat Conservation Plan/Natural Community Conservation Plan and are a key indicator species identified for continued monitoring under the East Bay Stewardship Network’s Ecological Health Assessment that includes all of Contra Costa County.
Results of the study will enable land managers to identify areas with the greatest potential for site-occupancy and reproduction in relation to current and planned developments and change in climatic conditions. This information will be useful for setting priorities to promote the conservation of golden eagles within Contra Costa County.
Staff has reviewed the proposal and finds it consistent with the purpose of the Contra Costa Avian Fund because it is a research effort that will generate information that can be used in Contra Costa County to inform decisions that may impact the golden eagle population. Staff recommends approving expenditure of $45,000 from the Contra Costa Avian Fund to support this study, and completing a project donation certification form to transmit funds to the U.S. Geological Survey for this work.
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
This work will not be completed in Contra Costa County.