Regional Road Maintenance - Endangered Species Act Program Guidelines

In May 1999, the federal government listed the Puget Sound chinook salmon as "threatened" under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). In December 1999, the bull trout was also listed as "threatened" in the Puget Sound region. In response to these listings, the Regional Road Maintenance ESA Program Guidelines were developed. The purpose of the Regional Road Maintenance ESA Program Guidelines is to provide a consistent, Regional Program that can be used by any agency wishing to limit, reduce or eliminate the prohibition on take of threatened species under the 4(d) Rule (NMFS), special 4(d) rule and/or Section 7 take exemption (USFWS). The Regional Program consists of the following three parts:

Part 1: Regional Program Elements (1.3MB .pdf
Part 2: Best Management Practices (4.9MB.pdf)
Part 3: Application (363K .pdf)

These, along with the introduction and appendices, can be downloaded below.

Covers - downloadable (660K .pdf)

Introduction (373K .pdf)

In May 1999, the federal government listed the Puget Sound Chinook salmon as "threatened" under the Endangered Species Act. In December, the bull trout was also listed as "threatened" in the Puget Sound region.

Part 1 - Regional Program (1.3MB .pdf)

Regional Program Elements is the basic framework for the Regional Road Maintenance ESA Program. It includes ten program elements that make up the Regional Program. Implementation of all ten of the program elements is required for a local agency to obtain a 4(d) take limit (NMFS) special 4(d) rule, and/or a Section 7 take exemption from USFWS.

Part 2 - Best Management Practices (4.9MB .pdf)

Best Management Practices is a set of site-specific best management practices (BMPs) for road maintenance. Under the Regional Program, road maintenance, environmental, and engineering design staff can use these BMPs, in addition to routine BMPs presented in Part 1 to achieve conservation outcomes identified in the Guidelines. It is recognized that state regulations and local ordinances or site specific permit conditions may all dictate use of specific BMPs. For that reason, Part 2 offers a menu of possible BMPs from which the most suitable method of maintenance activity can be selected.

Part 3 - Application Template (363K .pdf)
The Part 3 Application is an individual agency application for a 4(d) take limit (NMFS), special 4(d) rule and/or Section 7 take exemption, to receive an elimination or reduction of the standing prohibition of take for threatened species (USFWS) under the Regional Program. The Part 3 Application, known as the "plug-and play" part of the Regional Program, allows local agencies to "plug" into Parts 1 and 2 of the program. The Part 3 Application is a specific commitment that an agency will comply with the ten program elements in Part 1.

Appendix A (70K .pdf)
A list of contacts for information on the Regional Program.

Appendix B (70K .pdf)
A description of the role of the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) Highway and Local Program (H&LP) or the Regional Forum in screening Part 3 Applications to the Regional Program.

Appendix C (474K .pdf)
A BMP Outcome Category matrix. It is a tool for planning, selecting and implementing BMPs that achieve the conservation outcomes of the Regional Program.

Appendix D (56K .pdf)
Four sample checklists agencies can refer to or use to implement the Regional Program. The checklists contain useful steps for planning and selecting BMPs, conducting pre-construction or pre-maintenance meetings, and implementing BMPs.

Appendix E (115K .pdf)
Fish Exclusion Protocol.

Glossary (109K .pdf)

Index (24K .pdf)

For more information regarding the Regional Program please contact Janine Johanson by phone at 206-205-7101 or e-mail.

Updated: Oct. 5, 2007