Benefit Environmental Response Sample Clauses

Benefit Environmental Response. The goal of the Sandhill crane benefit is to provide additional foraging and roosting Sandhill crane habitat, anticipated to support an average of 700 additional cranes through the practices of winter field flooding and agricultural/crop management. It is recognized that wintering crane numbers within the Program Water Delivery Area will be influenced by factors beyond the control of the Program including stressors on breeding grounds, population response to climate change, pathogenic disease impacts, and surrounding land uses.

Benefit Environmental Response. During the fall-run Chinook salmon migration period (October to December), fish passage through the lower Cosumnes River is limited by reduced instream flow causing decreased stream connectivity. A minimum instream flow of approximately 20 cfs (0.57 m3/s) would increase stream connectivity helping to aid in and expand Chinook salmon migration. The in-lieu recharge of groundwater levels due to the delivery of recycled water will improve Cosumnes River flows, providing an average annual improvement of 31 days with flows ≥ 20 cfs, and 11 days with connectivity flow ≥ 20 cfs between October and December compared to future baseline conditions, as modeled, and measured at Twin Cities Road.

Benefit Environmental Response. The goal of the passive wetland and riparian benefit is to uplift and improve the functionality of these habitats through elevated groundwater levels. Functionality of these habitats is anticipated to be improved by 10% as measured by modified California Rapid Assessment Method (CRAM).

Benefit Environmental Response. The goal of the active wetland benefit is to uplift and improve the functionality of wetland habitats created, enhanced, or restored by the Program through water supply, and land management activities such as invasive weed management, native species plantings, and browse control. The Program’s aims to improve modified CRAM scores or equivalent ecological index if mutually agreed upon by the Program and the Department, by 10% on lands protected and managed by entities other than the Program (e.g., Cosumnes River Preserve and Stone Lakes NWR) and 50% on lands not previously managed as a percentage of pre-project baseline modified CRAM scores.

Benefit Environmental Response. The Program aims to create, restore, or enhance riparian habitat through elevated groundwater levels and/or direct application of recycled water to vegetation, and land management strategies such as invasive weed management, native species plantings, and browsing protection. It is anticipated that active riparian habitat acres will achieve a minimum modified CRAM score of 70.

Benefit Environmental Response. The Program will maintain or enhance the condition of the vernal pool complex habitat as assessed by modified CRAM, through permanent protection of existing habitats and grazing management strategies. This will be achieved by implementation of conservation easement or obtaining fee title and cooperative grazing plans for three properties (353 acres) within in the Program Area to protect vernal pool complex habitat from future conversion to agricultural or urban uses.