Project Planning and Consultation

About our work:

The Project Planning and Consultation team provides Fish and Wildlife Service expertise to large-scale planning efforts in the areas of energy, transportation, water and coastal development. Projects include flood control, transportation, navigation, water supply, hydroelectric power, private development, recreation, streambank and shoreline protection and beach nourishment. Our biologists assist project proponents, planners, and agency personnel in developing plans that conserve, restore or enhance fish and wildlife while at the same time accomplishing the objectives of the proposed action.

We accomplish our mission by:

• Reviewing and providing recommendations on plans and development designs.

• Crafting mitigation plans.

• Providing expertise in wildlife and habitat management.

• Serving as members of planning teams.

• Working cooperatively with partners early in the planning process to identify ways to conserve wildlife while accomplishing project objectives simultaneously.

• Supplying the best possible technical information to ensure fish and wildlife resources and the public benefit are brought into consideration.

• Working at a landscape level, providing guidance that can be applied broadly over a large area with numerous projects.

• Focusing on high priority habitats and projects.

• Working cooperatively with other Service biologists and other resource agencies to efficiently gather information on species, their habitats, and the potential impacts of human development.

• Participating in statewide/metropolitan planning processes or State Transportation Plans (STPs).

• Identifying and promoting innovative practices that protect natural resources; while streamlining the environmental review process.

• Developing partnerships with other Federal, State, and local governments and non-governmental organization to address the efforts above.

Endangered Species Act: Section 7(a)(2)

Consultations

The Endangered Species Act (ESA) directs all Federal agencies to work to conserve endangered and threatened species and to use their authorities to further the purposes of the Act. Section 7 of the Act, called "Interagency Cooperation," is the mechanism by which Federal agencies ensure the actions they take, including those they fund or authorize, do not jeopardize the existence of any listed species.