Incidental Take Permit (ITP) and Resource Management Plan

Upcoming Public Outreach Events

The City of Marina will be holding two upcoming events regarding a City-Wide Incidental Take Permit (ITP) application that the City of Marina staff has been working with Denise Duffy & Associations (DD&A) are in the early stages of developing.  Late last year the City Council held a Study Session to discuss the various City owned properties that contain Sand Gilia populations and to receive general feedback from the City Council and community on potential future development and conservation areas.  These two upcoming events are the next step in engaging the public further in this process now that we have more detailed information and Sand Gilia population data.

Next Monday December 12^th from 5 pm to 6:30 pm the City is holding a Community Open House in the City Council Chambers to discuss the various City owned properties, and the additional Sand Gilia data collected, with members of the Community. This Open House will be held in person only at 211 Hillcrest Avenue.

Then on Tuesday the 13^th there is a Special City Council Meeting to be held via Zoom at 7 pm.  At the Special Meeting staff and DD&A will be presenting the various sites with the Sand Gilia population data and receiving further feedback from the City Council and the community.  To participate in this meeting, the public can use the Zoom information below to join the meeting at 7 p.m. on the 13th.

VIRTUAL SPECIAL MEETING OF CITY COUNCIL

Tuesday, December 13, 2022 at 7 pm
https://zoom.us/j/730251556
Tel:1-669-900-9128
Zoom ID: 730 251 556

Any questions from the public can be directed to Matt Mogensen, Assistant City Manager, at mmogensen@cityofmarina.org or 831-884-1240.

Background & History

The U.S. Army’s decision to close and dispose of the Fort Ord military base was considered a major federal action that could affect listed species under the federal Endangered Species Act (ESA).   In 1993, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) issued a biological opinion in accordance with Section 7 of the ESA requiring that a habitat management plan be developed and implemented to reduce the incidental take of listed species and loss of habitat that supports these species.  The Installation-Wide Multispecies Habitat Management Plan for Former Fort Ord (HMP) was prepared to assess impacts on vegetation and wildlife resources, and provide mitigation for their loss associated with the remediation, disposal, and reuse of former Fort Ord. 

The HMP establishes guidelines for the conservation and management of species and habitats on former Fort Ord lands by identifying lands that are available for development, lands that have development restrictions, lands designated as habitat corridors, and lands that are habitat reserve areas.  The intent of the plan is to establish large, contiguous habitat conservation areas and corridors to compensate for future development in other areas of the former base.   The HMP identifies what type of activities can occur on each parcel at former Fort Ord; parcels are designated as “development,” “habitat reserve,” “habitat corridor,” and “development with reserve areas or development with restrictions.”  The HMP sets the standards to assure the long-term viability of former Fort Ord's biological resources in the context of base reuse so that no further mitigation should be necessary for impacts to species and habitats considered in the HMP.   This plan has been approved by the USFWS; the HMP, deed restrictions, and Memoranda of Agreement between the Army and various land recipients provide the legal mechanism to assure HMP implementation.  It is a legally binding document, and all recipients of former Fort Ord lands are required to abide by its management requirements and procedures.

The HMP anticipates some losses to special-status species and sensitive habitats as a result of redevelopment of the former Fort Ord.  With the designated habitat reserves and corridors and habitat management requirements approved and in place, the losses of individuals of species and sensitive habitats considered in the HMP are not expected to jeopardize the long-term viability of those species, their populations, or sensitive habitats on former Fort Ord.  Recipients of disposed land with restrictions or management guidelines identified in the HMP are obligated to implement those specific measures through the HMP and through deed covenants. 

City Requirements of the former Fort Ord HMP

The City is responsible for four Habitat Management Areas (HMAs), including the Salinas River, Airport, Northwest Corner, and Landfill HMAs. In accordance with the requirements described in the HMP and the deed restrictions for the parcels, a Resource Management Plan (RMP) must be prepared and implemented.   The RMP shall identify the habitat management activities required for each parcel, describe any proposed development activities that are consistent with the terms of the HMP, and outline the monitoring and reporting requirements.

Pursuant to the deed covenants, the local land use jurisdictions that receive disposed land with restrictions or management guidelines identified in the HMP, including the City, are required to prepare their respective RMPs within six (6) months of land transfer and acquisition.