Fishy Definitions

December 14, 2006

Compiled by Julie Kay Smithson, property rights researcher

propertyrights@earthlink.net

http://www.propertyrightsresearch.org 

What do fish and fish definitions have to do with property rights? Anything that effects or impacts one's ability to responsibly use and utilize one's property should be of interest to property owners. Definitions, innocuous as they may seem, should be front and center of interest and concern to all property owners, because definitions play a direct role in the use and utilization of property.

To those impacted, either directly or indirectly, by definitions that pertain to fish and water: Does your state border an ocean? Do you have a lake or stream (even an "intermittent" stream) nearby? Do you fish commercially? Recreationally? Do you require water? Are you, your home, loved ones, way of live, mobility, etc., effected/impacted by such fishy definitions? This means everyone. Please consider, because such definitions are employed to stop things that impact your "quality of life." It is vital to understand how agencies use your tax dollars to define what you are "permitted" to do, whether "voluntarily" or by mandate. As will be seen by the several definitions to many of the words and phrases herein, even the agencies cannot agree on a standard definition. 

Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act – The Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act and related acts express the policy of Congress to protect the quality of the environment as it affects the conservation, improvement, and enjoyment of fish and wildlife resources. Under this act, any Federal agency that proposes to control or modify any body of water, or to issue a permit allowing control or modification of a body of water, must first consult with the Fish and Wildlife Service and State Fish and Game officials. – U.S. Bureau of Reclamation Glossary http://www.usbr.gov/uc/envdocs/eis/navajo/pdfs/deis_glossary.pdf

Fish collection/handling facility — Holding area where juvenile salmon and steelhead are separated from adult fish and debris by a separator and then passed to holding ponds or raceways until they are loaded onto juvenile fish transportation barges or trucks. – U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Lower Snake River Juvenile Salmon Migration Feasibility Report and Environmental Impact Statement, Chapter 10, Glossary http://www.nww.usace.army.mil/lsr/final_fseis/study_kit/Main_Report/chap10.htm

Fish guidance efficiency (FGE) — Percent of juvenile salmon and steelhead diverted away from the turbines by submersed screens or other structures. – U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Lower Snake River Juvenile Salmon Migration Feasibility Report and Environmental Impact Statement, Chapter 10, Glossary http://www.nww.usace.army.mil/lsr/final_fseis/study_kit/Main_Report/chap10.htm

Fish Habitat – The place where a population of fish species lives and its surroundings; includes the provision of life requirements such as food and cover. – Bureau of Land Management "This glossary defines terms used by the Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management to explain natural resource concepts and management activities specific to this final environmental impact statement and proposed plan amendment." http://www.mt.blm.gov/ea/ohv/Glossary.pdf (Page 2/194 of 7 pages; 68 KB) 

Fish passage efficiency (FPE) — Portion of all juvenile salmon and steelhead passing a facility that do not pass through the turbines. – U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Lower Snake River Juvenile Salmon Migration Feasibility Report and Environmental Impact Statement, Chapter 10, Glossary http://www.nww.usace.army.mil/lsr/final_fseis/study_kit/Main_Report/chap10.htm

Fisheries Habitat – Streams, lakes, ponds and reservoirs that contain and support fish. – Appendix H (Biological Assessment and Evaluation for Revised Land and Resource Management Plans and Associated Oil and Gas Leasing Decisions) http://www.fs.fed.us/ngp/final/pdf_feis/Appendix_H.pdf

Fishery – The total population of fish in a stream or body of water and the physical, chemical, and biological factors affecting that population. – Bureau of Land Management "This glossary defines terms used by the Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management to explain natural resource concepts and management activities specific to this final environmental impact statement and proposed plan amendment." http://www.mt.blm.gov/ea/ohv/Glossary.pdf (Page 2/194 of 7 pages; 68 KB)

Future generations – This is never defined and never states that “future generations” means future generations of people. “Future generations” is part of the “official” definition of “sustainable development.” http://www.fao.org/documents/show_cdr.asp?url_file=/DOCREP/005/Y4171E/Y4171E49.htm

Habitat – The place or environment where a plant or animal naturally lives and grows (a group of particular environmental conditions). (DOI/USFWS) – This glossary is intended to give the meaning of key words, but does not necessarily provide a legal definition or thorough description. Legal definitions can be found in the Endangered Species Act, and throughout its implementing regulations in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR). Title 50 of the CFR is called Wildlife and Fisheries and its shorthand designation is written as: 50 CFR. Title 50 contains the regulations governing all programs of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and NOAA Fisheries. The 50 CFR is subdivided into nearly 700 parts, with each part covering a different general topic. For example, part 17 covers endangered and threatened wildlife and plants. Its shorthand designation is written as: 50 CFR 17. Part 17 is further subdivided into sections, with each section covering a different specific topic. For example, section 3 contains definitions and its shorthand designation is written as: 50 CFR 17.3. This is just one of many sections in the 50 CFR that contain definitions. The list of endangered and threatened wildlife is found at 50 CFR 17.11. The corresponding list of endangered and threatened plants is found at 50 CFR 17.12. Revised April 2005 http://www.fws.gov/endangered/glossary.pdf 2. The location where a particular taxon of plant or animal lives and its surroundings (both living and nonliving) and includes the presence of a group of particular environmental conditions surrounding an organism including air, water, soil, mineral elements, moisture, temperature, and topography. – Glossary for Endangered Species Act terms. (DOI/USFWS) http://www.fws.gov/midwest/Endangered/glossary/ 3. The physical location or type of environment in which an organism or biological population lives or occurs; often characterized by a dominant plant form or physical characteristics (i.e., the oak-savanna, wetland, or a coastal habitat). – (DOI/NPS) Majority of definitions adapted from “A Park and Recreation Professionals' Glossary,” California Department of Parks and Recreation Planning Division, January 1, 2003; other definitions from California State Law, CEQ (NEPA), and Santa Barbara County. Draft Gaviota Coast Feasibility Study & Environmental Assessment http://www.nps.gov/pwro/gaviota/gaviota_draft_report_232-234.pdf 4. Areas that meet the environmental requirements of a species. – (DOI/NPS) Long-Term Monitoring Plan – National Capital Region Network, September 30, 2005. Submitted by: Inventory and Monitoring Program, National Capital Region Network, Center for Urban Ecology, 4598 MacArthur Boulevard NW, Washington, D.C. 20007. http://science.nature.nps.gov/im/monitor/plans/NCRN_MonitoringPlan.pdf (Pages G-1 through G-8 - Glossary – or pages 150 through 156 of 156 pages) 5. The location and the combination of biotic and abiotic surroundings that a particular kind or type of plant or animal occupies for part of its life cycle. It typically includes the substrate (soil, rocks, water), other nonliving features, vegetation, and often, other organisms. – (DOI/NPS) Long-Term Monitoring Plan – National Capital Region Network, September 30, 2005. Submitted by: Inventory and Monitoring Program, National Capital Region Network, Center for Urban Ecology, 4598 MacArthur Boulevard NW, Washington, D.C. 20007. http://science.nature.nps.gov/im/monitor/plans/NCRN_MonitoringPlan.pdf (Pages G-1 through G-8 - Glossary – or pages 150 through 156 of 156 pages) 6. The environment in which a plant or animal lives (includes vegetation, soil, water, and other factors). – U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Glossary of Planning Terms http://www.fws.gov/pacific/planning/gloss1.htm 7. The natural home or dwelling place of an organism, including its total environment (physical features, vegetation, climate, etc.). DOI/USFWS http://www.fws.gov/midwest/FoxRiverNEPA/documents/AppendixA.pdf 8. Suite of existing environmental condition required by an organism for survival and reproductions. The place where an organism typically lives. http://pacific.fws.gov/planning/LPOccp/v2.pdf 9. The particular type of place where an organism lives within a more extensive area or range. Habitat is characterized by its biological components and/or physical features (e.g., sandy bottom of the littoral zone, or on kept blades within 10 m of the water surface). – "DEIS for EFH for the Gulf of Mexico FMPs" [Fishery Management Plans] – Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Generic Essential Fish Habitat Amendment to the following fishery management plans for the Gulf of Mexico (GOM): Shrimp Fishery of the Gulf of Mexico; Red Drum Fishery of the Gulf of Mexico; Reef Fish Fishery of the Gulf of Mexico; Stone Crab Fishery of the Gulf of Mexico; Coral and Coral Reef Fishery of the Gulf of Mexico; Spiny Lobster Fishery of the Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic; and the Coastal Migratory Pelagic Resources of the Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic. This is a publication of the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council pursuant to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Award No. NA17FC102. http://permanent.access.gpo.gov/websites/www.nmfs.noaa.gov/habitat/habitatprotection/eis/Full%20Gulf%20EFH%20EIS%20703.pdf (pages 9-13 of 654) 10. An area that provides some portion of the requirements for the life history of a given species. (Corps of Engineers) http://www.nww.usace.army.mil/lsr/final_fseis/study_kit/Main_Report/chap10.htm 11. An area that provides some portion of the requirements for the life history of a given species. – U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Lower Snake River Juvenile Salmon Migration Feasibility Report and Environmental Impact Statement, Chapter 10, Glossary http://www.nww.usace.army.mil/lsr/final_fseis/study_kit/Main_Report/chap10.htm 12. The place where an organism lives and its surrounding environment, including its biotic and abiotic components. Habitat includes everything an organism needs to survive. http://www.epa.gov/glnpo/solec/96/landbylakes/glossary.html and http://iaspub.epa.gov/trs/search$.startup 13. The place where a plant or animal organism lives. – Appendix H (Biological Assessment and Evaluation for Revised Land and Resource Management Plans and Associated Oil and Gas Leasing Decisions) http://www.fs.fed.us/ngp/final/pdf_feis/Appendix_H.pdf 14. The place, including physical and biotic conditions, where a plant or an animal usually occurs. http://biology.usgs.gov/s+t/SNT/noframe/zy198.htm 15. The sum of the physical, chemical, and biological environment occupied by individuals of a particular species, population, or community, including the food, cover, and space resources needed for plant and animal livelihood. – Patuxent Wildlife Research Center Glossary (DOI, USGS, United Nations) http://www.pwrc.usgs.gov/educatnl/glossary/index.cfm 16. The place where a plant or animal naturally or normally lives and grows. – The Forest Ecosystem Management Assessment Team (FEMAT) http://pnwin.nbii.gov/nwfp/FEMAT/ Chapter 9 Glossary http://pnwin.nbii.gov/nwfp/FEMAT/Chapter_9.htm 17. A specific set of physical conditions in a geographic area(s) that surrounds a single species, a group of species, or a large community. In wildlife management, the major components of habitat are food, water, cover, and living space. – McGregor Range Draft Resource Management Plan Amendment and Environmental Impact Statement, Prepared for United States Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management, Las Cruces (New Mexico) Field Office, January 2005. http://www.nm.blm.gov/lcfo/mcgregor/docs/Draft%20RMPA_EIS_01_05_low.pdf (DOI/BLM)

Glossary (Pages 259-268 of 282) 18. The physical location or type of environment in which an organism or biological population lives or occurs. – City of Scottsdale, Arizona, Planning, Building and Zoning Reference Guide Glossary. http://www.scottsdaleaz.gov/generalplan/Glossary.asp 19. The environment occupied by individuals of a particular species, population, or community. – U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Waterways Experiment Station, Wetlands Research Program Technical Report Y-87-1 (on-line edition) 1987 Wetlands Delineation Manual by Environmental Laboratory, January 1987, Final Report, Approved For Public Release; Distribution Is Unlimited. http://el.erdc.usace.army.mil/elpubs/pdf/wlman87.pdf (Page A5/109 of 143)

Habitat Areas of Particular Concern (HAPCs) – "HAPCs are localized areas that are especially vulnerable or ecologically important" 50 CFR, Part 600 2357. – "DEIS for EFH for the Gulf of Mexico FMPs" [Fishery Management Plans] – Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Generic Essential Fish Habitat Amendment to the following fishery management plans for the Gulf of Mexico (GOM): Shrimp Fishery of the Gulf of Mexico; Red Drum Fishery of the Gulf of Mexico; Reef Fish Fishery of the Gulf of Mexico; Stone Crab Fishery of the Gulf of Mexico; Coral and Coral Reef Fishery of the Gulf of Mexico; Spiny Lobster Fishery of the Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic; and the Coastal Migratory Pelagic Resources of the Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic. This is a publication of the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council pursuant to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Award No. NA17FC102.

http://permanent.access.gpo.gov/websites/www.nmfs.noaa.gov/habitat/habitatprotection/eis/Full%20Gulf%20EFH%20EIS%20703.pdf (page 159 of 654; not defined in the Glossary)

Habitat Capability – The ability of an area to support selected wildlife species for all or a part of its life cycle. – Appendix H (Biological Assessment and Evaluation for Revised Land and Resource Management Plans and Associated Oil and Gas Leasing Decisions) http://www.fs.fed.us/ngp/final/pdf_feis/Appendix_H.pdf 2. The estimated number of pairs of spotted owls that can be supported by the kind, amount, and distribution of suitable habitat in the area. As used in the Final Draft Recovery Plan for the Northern Spotted Owl, this means the same as capability to support spotted owl pairs. – The Forest Ecosystem Management Assessment Team (FEMAT) http://pnwin.nbii.gov/nwfp/FEMAT/ Chapter 9 Glossary http://pnwin.nbii.gov/nwfp/FEMAT/Chapter_9.htm 

Habitat conservation area (HCA) – As proposed by the Interagency Scientific Committee, a contiguous block of habitat to be managed and conserved for breeding pairs, connectivity, and distribution of owls. Application may vary throughout its range according to local conditions.

Habitat conservation plan (HCP) - An agreement between the Secretary of the Interior and either a private entity or a state that specifies conservation measures that will be implemented in exchange for a permit that would allow taking of a threatened or endangered species. – The Forest Ecosystem Management Assessment Team (FEMAT) http://pnwin.nbii.gov/nwfp/FEMAT/ Chapter 9 Glossary http://pnwin.nbii.gov/nwfp/FEMAT/Chapter_9.htm 

Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) – A plan that outlines ways of maintaining, enhancing, and protecting a given habitat type needed to protect species; usually includes measures to minimize impacts, and may include provisions for permanently protecting land, restoring habitat, and relocating plants or animals to another area. Required before an incidental take permit may be issued. (DOI/USFWS) – This glossary is intended to give the meaning of key words, but does not necessarily provide a legal definition or thorough description. Legal definitions can be found in the Endangered Species Act, and throughout its implementing regulations in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR). Title 50 of the CFR is called Wildlife and Fisheries and its shorthand designation is written as: 50 CFR. Title 50 contains the regulations governing all programs of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and NOAA Fisheries. The 50 CFR is subdivided into nearly 700 parts, with each part covering a different general topic. For example, part 17 covers endangered and threatened wildlife and plants. Its shorthand designation is written as: 50 CFR 17. Part 17 is further subdivided into sections, with each section covering a different specific topic. For example, section 3 contains definitions and its shorthand designation is written as: 50 CFR 17.3. This is just one of many sections in the 50 CFR that contain definitions. The list of endangered and threatened wildlife is found at 50 CFR 17.11. The corresponding list of endangered and threatened plants is found at 50 CFR 17.12. Revised April 2005 http://www.fws.gov/endangered/glossary.pdf 2. A plan [that] outlines ways of maintaining, enhancing, and protecting a given habitat type needed to protect species. The plan usually includes measures to minimize impacts, and might include provisions for permanently protecting land, restoring habitat, and relocating plants or animals to another area. A HCP is required before an incidental take permit may be issued. – Glossary for Endangered Species Act terms. (DOI/USFWS) http://www.fws.gov/midwest/Endangered/glossary/ Also: http://endangered.fws.gov/hcp/index.html (Note from RG: ITPs are generally based on HCPs. USFWS "allows" you to use part of your property IF you agree to a Permanent Conservation Easement on your land, pay fees, etc. I have seen ITPs granted when only a fee is paid for mitigation -- meaning the federal agency really just wants your money to fund a land grab. A HCP on your land is an easy way for them to get it. Many ITPs/HCPs are "voluntary" actions by landowners who are in fear of persecution by USFWS. In other cases, local governments -- alone or with other "partners" -- establish Regional Habitat Conservation Plans, or RHCPs. Regional HCPs are another way of grabbing land without the landowner's permission -- they generally/usually impose the requirement of the RHCP on all lands within a certain area.... such as within an area designated as "Critical Habitat" for a species. Then there are Multiple-Species RHCPs; see http://www.montereycountyfarmbureau.org/Habitat%20conservation%20planning.htm for more. A big problem with HCPs is that they -- as with many Conservation Easements -- are enforceable by third parties. Environmental Defense can sue because it says you are not fully complying with the requirements found in your agreement with USFWS, etc. RHCPs, like individual HCPs, are "voluntary agreements" that are used to prove "mutual cooperation" in accomplishing USFWS goals. In one area, the head USFWS employee threatened to effectively shut the county down by declaring an endangered species in immediate peril. The answer was for the county to come up with a RHCP to "voluntarily" sacrifice Property Rights to "protect the species." HCPs permanently reduce the taxable value of land -- and USFWS does not pay one penny to make up for the lost tax income.) 

Habitat Database – The relational database of habitat preferences and functional relationships between fish species and their habitat created for the EFH analysis. – "DEIS for EFH for the Gulf of Mexico FMPs" [Fishery Management Plans] – Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Generic Essential Fish Habitat Amendment to the following fishery management plans for the Gulf of Mexico (GOM): Shrimp Fishery of the Gulf of Mexico; Red Drum Fishery of the Gulf of Mexico; Reef Fish Fishery of the Gulf of Mexico; Stone Crab Fishery of the Gulf of Mexico; Coral and Coral Reef Fishery of the Gulf of Mexico; Spiny Lobster Fishery of the Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic; and the Coastal Migratory Pelagic Resources of the Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic. This is a publication of the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council pursuant to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Award No. NA17FC102. http://permanent.access.gpo.gov/websites/www.nmfs.noaa.gov/habitat/habitatprotection/eis/Full%20Gulf%20EFH%20EIS%20703.pdf (pages 9-13 of 654)

Habitat diversity – The number of different types of habitat within a given area. – The Forest Ecosystem Management Assessment Team (FEMAT) http://pnwin.nbii.gov/nwfp/FEMAT/ Chapter 9 Glossary http://pnwin.nbii.gov/nwfp/FEMAT/Chapter_9.htm

Habitat Effectiveness – The percentage of available habitat that is usable by elk during the non-hunting season (Lyon and Christensen 1990) http://permanent.access.gpo.gov/websites/fsfedus/www.fs.fed.us/r1/gallatin/projects/darroch-eagle/ea/glossary.pdf 2. As used in this document, habitat effectiveness refers to the capability of an area to support big game based on forage, cover, open roads and the spatial distribution of the three factors, regardless of the time of year. – Appendix H (Biological Assessment and Evaluation for Revised Land and Resource Management Plans and Associated Oil and Gas Leasing Decisions) http://www.fs.fed.us/ngp/final/pdf_feis/Appendix_H.pdf

Habitat Effectiveness Index (HEI) – A calculation of how habitat is influenced by the presence of roads and cover. The HEI ranges between zero and one; with one representing 100% HEI (or 100% habitat availability); 0.7 mile of road per square mile is equal to 70 percent HEI. http://permanent.access.gpo.gov/websites/fsfedus/www.fs.fed.us/r1/gallatin/projects/darroch-eagle/ea/glossary.pdf

Habitat elements – The following elements will be evaluated when assessing wildlife habitat. Not all may apply to every habitat type. 1. Food a. type b. amount 2. Cover a. type – nesting, brood rearing, resting/roosting, protection/escape, and winter. b. amount c. quality 3. Water a. quality b. quantity c. accessibility d. seasonal availability 4. Interspersion and Distance to a. crops b. grasses and or legumes c. shrubs d. trees e. water f. openings 5. Migration a. routes b. season of use c. corridors. As indicated by the wildlife habitat evaluation, certain habitat elements may be weak or missing. For the desired natural community or selected wildlife species, identify the types, amount, and distribution of habitat elements and management actions necessary to achieve the management objectives. The amount and kinds of habitat elements planned, their location, and management shall be identified in a management plan. Existing wetlands will be preserved and protected from being manipulated or used in a manner that would reduce the functions (type or capacity) the wetlands are providing. All disturbed areas will be vegetated according to a revegetation plan using a seed mixture recommended for wildlife. Use CONSERVATION COVER (327) unless the area is subject to frequent overflows or spillway protection is needed, then CRITICAL AREA PLANTING (342) will be used. Vegetation used will be adapted for use on the local soil/site conditions. Native plant materials will be used whenever possible to provide the intended protection. Biological control of undesirable plant species and pests (e.g., using predator or parasitic species) shall be implemented where available and feasible. Any habitat management technique will ensure that the soil resource base is protected. Livestock grazing or haying and prescribed burning can be used to maintain or improve vegetation structure and composition so as to improve the desired wildlife habitat. This will require a detailed management plan for grazing or haying, or a prescribed burning plan. See the PRESCRIBED GRAZING (528A) and/or PRESCRIBED BURNING (338) standards. Management measures shall be provided to control invasive species and noxious weeds on a “spot” basis. The landowner is responsible for obtaining any necessary local, state, and federal permits. (USDA - NRCS) http://efotg.nrcs.usda.gov/references/public/IL/644.pdf 2. Substrate, pools, large woody debris, off-channel habitat, refugia. http://www.icbemp.gov/html/aqripfrm7804.pdf Federal Register / Vol. 68, No. 210 / Thursday, October 30, 2003 / Notices. Restoration Approaches: Three programmatic restoration approaches will be considered and evaluated in the environmental impact statement. The first approach is the No Action alternative and would include various agencies and groups continuing to implement small-scale restoration projects but within a less coordinated framework than under the other proposed alternatives. Continued implementation of restoration projects might include reconnecting isolated habitat elements, localized bank revegetation, and some placement of large woody debris. The second approach is an ecosystem processes approach to habitat restoration within a comprehensive framework. Under this approach, benefits to many fish and wildlife species will be targeted. The third approach is restoration of ESA-listed … species. http://www.ed.gov/legislation/FedRegister/announcements/2003-4/103003b.pdf Ecosystem Restoration Project [excerpt] October 30, 2003: Corps of Engineers activities in ecosystem restoration will concentrate on bio-engineering solutions to water and related land resource problems. The proposed action would restore aquatic ecosystem habitat and processes by reconnecting isolated habitat elements, increasing channel diversity, establishing areas of estuarine habitat, increasing floodplain habitat and connectivity, restoring small tributaries, increasing the amount of large woody debris in the river, replenishing river sediments, and improving the water temperature regime. If the proposed action were approved, initial construction would begin in 2006. http://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/EPA-IMPACT/2003/October/Day-30/i27358.htm

Habitat fragmentation – The breaking up of a habitat into unconnected patches interspersed with other habitat which may not be inhabitable by species occupying the habitat that was broken up. The breaking up is usually by human action, as, for example, the clearing of forest or grassland for agriculture, residential development, or overland electrical lines. http://biology.usgs.gov/s+t/SNT/noframe/zy198.htm 2. The breaking up of habitat into discrete islands through modification or conversion of habitat by management activities. – The Forest Ecosystem Management Assessment Team (FEMAT) http://pnwin.nbii.gov/nwfp/FEMAT/ Chapter 9 Glossary http://pnwin.nbii.gov/nwfp/FEMAT/Chapter_9.htm 3. The disruption (by division) of extensive habitats into smaller habitat patches. The effects of habitat fragmentation include loss of habitat area and the creation of smaller, more isolated patches of remaining habitat. – McGregor Range Draft Resource Management Plan Amendment and Environmental Impact Statement, Prepared for United States Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management, Las Cruces (New Mexico) Field Office, January 2005.

http://www.nm.blm.gov/lcfo/mcgregor/docs/Draft%20RMPA_EIS_01_05_low.pdf (DOI/BLM) Glossary (Pages 259-268 of 282)

Habitat function – Actions performed by habitat that are useful to or required by organisms for survival. Examples of wetland habitat functions include water purification, nutrient cycling, and vegetative cover for protection and nesting. DOI/USFWS http://www.fws.gov/midwest/FoxRiverNEPA/documents/AppendixA.pdf

Habitat Management Plan (HMP) – A written and officially approved plan for a specific geographical area of public land that identifies wildlife habitat and related objectives, establishes the sequence of actions for achieving objectives, and outlines procedures for evaluating accomplishments. – McGregor Range Draft Resource Management Plan Amendment and Environmental Impact Statement, Prepared for United States Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management, Las Cruces (New Mexico) Field Office, January 2005.

http://www.nm.blm.gov/lcfo/mcgregor/docs/Draft%20RMPA_EIS_01_05_low.pdf (DOI/BLM) Glossary (Pages 259-268 of 282)

Habitat Management Units (HMUs) – …parcels of land scattered along the river and reservoirs that the Corps [of Engineers] purchased and manages as mitigation for the land that was inundated as a result of the dams and reservoirs. These HMUs are managed to replace hunting, fishing, and recreation opportunities lost as a result of inundation, as well as to benefit and provide for wildlife that lost habitat to inundation. (Corps of Engineers) http://www.nww.usace.army.mil/lsr/final_fseis/study_kit/Main_Report/chap10.htm

Habitat Mitigation Area (HMA) – (a phrase used by federal agencies relating to "conservation" areas, but there is no definition available at any ".gov" or ".us")

Habitat requirements – Specific aspects or functions of habitat that are required by a particular species for survival. DOI/USFWS http://www.fws.gov/midwest/FoxRiverNEPA/documents/AppendixA.pdf

Habitat Restoration – Management emphasis designed to move ecosystems to desired conditions and processes, and/or to healthy forestlands, rangelands, and aquatic systems. http://pacific.fws.gov/planning/LPOccp/v2.pdf … habitat restoration, general or species-specific, is one of the most common mitigation activities… http://www.highways.dot.ca.gov/ser/vol3/chap5.htm

Habitat sharing – A situation in which species occupy the same habitat without competition, either through requiring different resources or being present at different times. http://biology.usgs.gov/s+t/SNT/noframe/zy198.htm

Habitat Suitability – The ability of an area to support selected wildlife species yearlong or seasonally relative to the site potential of that area to support the species. A low, moderate, and high suitability rating is defined as an area meeting 0 to 33 percent, 34 to 67 percent, and 68-100 percent of its capability to support the species, respectively. – Appendix H (Biological Assessment and Evaluation for Revised Land and Resource Management Plans and Associated Oil and Gas Leasing Decisions) http://www.fs.fed.us/ngp/final/pdf_feis/Appendix_H.pdf

Habitat Suitability Index (HSI) – An index of the suitability of one or more habitat characteristics (e.g. depth, substrate) for a species. HSIs are used in habitat suitability models. – "DEIS for EFH for the Gulf of Mexico FMPs" [Fishery Management Plans] – Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Generic Essential Fish Habitat Amendment to the following fishery management plans for the Gulf of Mexico (GOM): Shrimp Fishery of the Gulf of Mexico; Red Drum Fishery of the Gulf of Mexico; Reef Fish Fishery of the Gulf of Mexico; Stone Crab Fishery of the Gulf of Mexico; Coral and Coral Reef Fishery of the Gulf of Mexico; Spiny Lobster Fishery of the Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic; and the Coastal Migratory Pelagic Resources of the Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic. This is a publication of the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council pursuant to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Award No. NA17FC102.

http://permanent.access.gpo.gov/websites/www.nmfs.noaa.gov/habitat/habitatprotection/eis/Full%20Gulf%20EFH%20EIS%20703.pdf (pages 9-13 of 654)

Habitat Suitability Maps – The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) has developed habitat suitability maps for species managed under the Groundfish FMP (Fishery Management Plan). All of the maps are included in Appendix B.4 to the FMP; the links in the right-hand column below provide access to the maps individually. The shaded areas on the maps represent habitats that are likely to be suitable for individual species and life history stages based on the best available science. The darker areas have a higher probability of suitability than the lighter areas. Appendix B.1 http://www.pcouncil.org/groundfish/gffmp/gfa19/GF_FMP_App_B1.pdf to the FMP describes the methodology used to produce these maps. The left-hand column provides species descriptions for the corresponding species provided by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, the California Department of Fish and Game, or Fish Base, an online database of fish species developed at the World Fish Center http://www.worldfishcenter.org in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) http://www.fao.org/fi/default.asp and many other partners, and with support from the European Commission. Life history descriptions of these species also may be found in the Appendix B.2 http://www.pcouncil.org/groundfish/gffmp/gfa19/GF_FMP_App_B2.pdf to the groundfish FMP. http://www.pcouncil.org/habitat/habsuitmaps.html

Habitat Suitability Model (HSM) – Habitat suitability modeling (HSM) is a tool for predicting the quality or suitability of habitat for a given species based on known affinities with habitat characteristics, such as depth and substrate type. This information is combined with maps of those same habitat characteristics to produce maps of expected distributions of species and life stages. – "DEIS for EFH for the Gulf of Mexico FMPs" [Fishery Management Plans] – Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Generic Essential Fish Habitat Amendment to the following fishery management plans for the Gulf of Mexico (GOM): Shrimp Fishery of the Gulf of Mexico; Red Drum Fishery of the Gulf of Mexico; Reef Fish Fishery of the Gulf of Mexico; Stone Crab Fishery of the Gulf of Mexico; Coral and Coral Reef Fishery of the Gulf of Mexico; Spiny Lobster Fishery of the Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic; and the Coastal Migratory Pelagic Resources of the Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic. This is a publication of the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council pursuant to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Award No. NA17FC102.

http://permanent.access.gpo.gov/websites/www.nmfs.noaa.gov/habitat/habitatprotection/eis/Full%20Gulf%20EFH%20EIS%20703.pdf (pages 9-13 of 654) 2. A description of physical factors, often quantified numerically, that describe the habitat preferred by a species. – Nevada’s Wildlife Action Final Plan http://www.ndow.org/wild/conservation/cwcs/final/283_312.pdf (Page 34/315 of 45/326)

Habitat type – An aggregation of all land areas potentially capable of producing similar plant communities at climax. – http://permanent.access.gpo.gov/websites/fsfedus/www.fs.fed.us/r1/gallatin/projects/darroch-eagle/ea/glossary.pdf and McGregor Range Draft Resource Management Plan Amendment and Environmental Impact Statement, Prepared for United States Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management, Las Cruces (New Mexico) Field Office, January 2005.

http://www.nm.blm.gov/lcfo/mcgregor/docs/Draft%20RMPA_EIS_01_05_low.pdf (DOI/BLM) Glossary (Pages 259-268 of 282) Synonym for Land Type Phase (LTP) See Vegetation Type. http://pacific.fws.gov/planning/LPOccp/v2.pdf

Habitat Types – Carolinian, Estuarine, Forest, Grassland, Lakeshore, Marsh, Savannah, and Wetland (Nature Conservancy, for their ‘projects’). http://www.cec.org/statepage/Physical.rtf (CEC - Commission for Environmental Cooperation http://www.cec.org/ “At the international level there are three programs that attempt to focus restoration and protection activities in the Gulf of Maine. The Eastern Habitat Joint Venture (EHJV) is a partnership between the Province of Nova Scotia, Ducks Unlimited Canada, the Canadian Wildlife Service, Wildlife Habitat Canada, The Nature Conservancy of Canada, the United States Federal Government, Ducks Unlimited Inc. and other American partners. The EHJV was formed as part of the North American Waterfowl Conservation Council. RAMSAR adopted by UNESCO in 1971 attempts to stem progressive encroachment on and loss of wetlands now and in the future.” 

Habitat units (HUs) – A numerical value derived from multiplying the index of suitable habitat for a given species by the size of the area available for that species. The habitat unit is a means of communicating the gains and losses in habitat resulting from the management activities and project implementation. – U.S. Bureau of Reclamation Glossary http://www.usbr.gov/uc/envdocs/eis/navajo/pdfs/deis_glossary.pdf 2. A numerical value used to quantify wildlife habitat. HUs are developed using the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services Habitat Evaluation Procedures (HEP). – U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Lower Snake River Juvenile Salmon Migration Feasibility Report and Environmental Impact Statement, Chapter 10, Glossary http://www.nww.usace.army.mil/lsr/final_fseis/study_kit/Main_Report/chap10.htm 

Habitat units (HUs) – A numberical value used to quantify wildlife habitat. HUs are developed using the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Habitat Evaluation Procedures (HEP). (Corps of Engineers) http://www.nww.usace.army.mil/lsr/final_fseis/study_kit/Main_Report/chap10.htm

Human disturbance – A direct event, intentionally or unintentionally created by people, leading to a reaction of alertness; fright (obvious or inapparent); interruption of activities; flight, swimming, or other displacements; or death or disablement. The event may have long-term or short-term effects. – Patuxent Wildlife Research Center Glossary (DOI, USGS, United Nations) http://www.pwrc.usgs.gov/educatnl/glossary/index.cfm  

Habitat Zones – Also known as ecoregions. From “Biodiversity – From Sea to Shining Sea,” U.S. Ecoregional Map: What's in your backyard? Find out here. If you trekked across the country, it wouldn't take you long to see how much biodiversity varies from place to place. Scientists have subdivided the United States into 84 major habitat zones called "ecoregions." http://www.worldwildlife.org/windows/ecoregion/ and Regions and Biomes: http://sunsite.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/searchkids.pl?title=Regions+&+Biomes&keywords=Regions+&+Biomes&searchtype=subject See: Ecoregions.