Salinas River Low Effect Habitat Conservation Plan
Monterey County Water Resources Agency (MCWRA) prepared the Salinas River Lagoon and Sandbar Management Low Effect HCP as the basis for an application to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for a 5-year incidental take permit, under section 10(a)(1)(B) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (ESA; 16 U.S.C. § 1531 et seq.), for take of the federally endangered tidewater goby and federally threatened western snowy plover incidental to periodic sandbar management to facilitate breaching of the Salinas River Lagoon. The low effect HCP also addresses effects to the federally threatened Monterey spineflower. The primary covered activity of the low effect HCP is the continued management by MCWRA of the Salinas River Lagoon and sandbar in response to storm events to prevent flooding of adjacent uplands, including flooding associated with flood control releases from San Antonio and Nacimiento Dams necessitated by storm events. This low effect HCP is expected to be replaced by the more comprehensive Salinas River HCP which is currently in development by MCWRA. The Salinas River HCP will include the covered activities and species described in the low effect HCP, as well as other covered activities and species related to a wider range of MCWRA operations. The permit term of this low effect HCP will help MCWRA remain in compliance with the federal ESA during the expected time needed to complete the Salinas River HCP.
Notice of Availability
The draft Low Effect HCP was published on the Federal Register on June 5, 2023. Follow this link to view the document and for instructions on how to submit comments. Also see the Notice of Availability below.
