HABITAT CONSERVATION DIVISION

The Habitat Conservation Division reviews and evaluates the impacts of water resource development activities on marine, estuarine and anadromous fishery resources and the habitats which support them. The division provides formal mitigation recommendations for input through National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) environmental review processes and final incorporation in Federal regulatory permits and licenses for in-water developments based upon these reviews. Those reviews are governed in large part by the Regional Habitat Protection Policy and other related policies. The Division also conducts field work and extensive interagency coordination to ensure that measures to mitigate damage, prevent adverse impact and enhance the fishery resources are scientifically sound. Typical project situations include U.S. Army Corps of Engineer's Section 10 and 404 permits; Environmental Protection Agency effluent permits; Federal Energy Regulatory Commission projects and Coastal America projects. The responsibilities of the Division are divided into three geographic areas with offices located in Santa Rosa and Sacramento responsible for central and northern California, and the Long Beach office responsible for southern California.