Draft California Eelgrass Mitigation Policy PUBLIC MEETING Oakland, California June 27, 2012 Korie Schaeffer NMFS Habitat Conservation Division

Presentation Overview I. Background II. Eelgrass Conservation III. Purpose and Need IV. General Description V. Specific Elements VI. Next Steps

I. Background

Sources: Duarte et al (2008) & Costanza et al (1997) One of the Most Valuable Ecosystems in the Biosphere

 Fisheries  Habitat for microbes, invertebrates, and vertebrates  Food source for invertebrates  Coastal Protection  Sediment stabilization  Shoreline protection  Wave attenuation  Biodiversity  Oxygenates water and sediments  High primary production  Organic carbon export  Trapping and cycling of nutrients  Improvement of water transparency  Carbon sequestration Economic Value of Seagrass Source: Conservation International (2008)

Habitat for Recreationally and Commercially Important Species

II. NMFS Conservation Efforts  Mapping  Monitoring  Protection  Restoration  Research

Mapping and Monitoring

Protection – Regional Planning  San Francisco Bay Subtidal Goals Project  Humboldt Bay Initiative  Integrated Natural Resource Management Plans

Protection – Environmental Laws  Magnuson-Stevens Act Essential Fish Habitat Habitat Area of Particular Concern  Clean Water Act Special Aquatic Site under 404(b)(1) guidelines  Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act  National Environmental Protection Act

Contact Information Korie Schaeffer