Box 2.0 Patch (Habitat)
Box 2.0 Patch (Habitat) Patches include cores and islands. A core is a patch of habitat which supports a population which can serve as a source for other habitat patches regardless of connectivity. An island is a patch of habitat separated by natural or artificial means from other patches of the same habitat. Section 2.0 is an assessment of impacts to habitat patches (cores and islands) for target species.
Box 2.1 Patch Impacts: Does the alternative have the potential to impact/impair a habitat core/island or reduce core/island patch size?
The practitioners will determine the potential of the project alternative to impact or impair habitat for target species. Direct impacts to habitat cores/islands (reduction in size or elimination) or impairment impacts should be assessed throughout the length of the entire alternative. The practitioner should assess the number of cores/islands that are impacted, the acreage of direct impact and the effects of impairment. An affirmative answer leads the practitioners to a list of potential mitigation solutions (2.1.b). A negative answer (lack of patch impacts) directs the practitioner to the summarization step for the alternate at 3.0.
Box 2.1A Patch Impact Potential Solutions (Steps 1-4)
Potential Solutions (Box 2.1A) describes a 4 step process to develop a preliminary minimization/mitigation strategy and preliminary cost estimate for the alternative under consideration.
Step 1. Summarize patch impacts for target species (acreage of core and/or island habitat, degree of impairment (full or partial), habitat units, etc).
All patch impacts for the alternative should be considered collectively. The measure of impact such as the acreage of cores and islands impacted, habitat units, or other measures may be used to quantify the impact of the entire project alternative. The quantitative analysis will serve as the baseline measure of habitat and connectivity loss. Mitigation ratio determinations was discussed previously in Section 1.1.A.
Step 2. Review and select patch solutions for minimization/compensation measures from summary table of patch mitigation solutions. The mitigation solutions for patch impacts within the table can be reviewed and assessed for applicability to the project impacts based on species group, opportunity, effectiveness and cost.
Step 3. Summarize measures and provide estimated costs (preliminary) for Patch.
A summary of core/island avoidance, minimization, and mitigation measures should be prepared. The number of crossings, acreage, habitat unit totals, and a preliminary estimate of mitigation costs for the measures should be totaled. This will be carried into the summary of 3.0 Habitat Fragmentation Summary Chart.
Step 4. Go To 3.0 Habitat Fragmentation Summary
Results from the Patch analysis as well as terrestrial and aquatic habitat networks should be totaled as part of Box 3.0 Habitat Fragmentation Summary Chart.