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 ...
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