ESA CANDIDATE SPECIES SURVEYS AT MARINE CORPS MOUNTAIN WARFARE TRAINING CENTER BRIDGEPORT, CALIFORNIA

Background
This project will support the US Marine Corps (USMC) Mountain Warfare Training Center (MWTC) at Bridgeport, CA. MWTC is under USFS management and permits the use of 46,000 acres of Toiyabe National Forest for Marine Corps training under certain agreements. The project aims to ensure compliance with these agreements with the US Forest Service (USFS), including the Special-Use Authorization (SUA) and Annual Operating Plan (AOP). These land use agreements provide critical training space and habitat for the USMC and augment the training footprint otherwise limited to MWTC.

The project also supports the annual review and periodic revision of the base Integrated Natural Resource Management Plan (INRMP) and compliance with various environmental regulations.

Grant Details
The primary objective of this project is to document populations of specific Federal candidate and state-tracked species at MWTC. The Cooperator shall determine habitat conditions and make management and monitoring recommendations for conservation of any encountered species.

Tasks include: conducting three surveys to document nesting locations for Northern Goshawks and Great Gray Owls; conducting three surveys for Federal Endangered Species Act candidate species and state species of concern such as Western Bumblebee, Monarch Butterfly, Black-backed Woodpecker, American Wolverine, and raptors; conducting three surveys to monitor bat species occurrence related to white-nose syndrome; conducting two surveys for Yosemite Toads and Sierra Nevada Yellow-legged Frogs; and preparing draft and final technical reports that include comprehensive scientific data.

Eligibility Requirements
Eligible applicants include any Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit Californian cooperative partner who qualifies under DoDGARS Part 34 or 2 CFR 200. Cost sharing is not required.

Period of Performance
The period of performance is 12 months from the date of award, with four option years available, each lasting 12 months.

Grant Value
Estimated total funding for the base period is $155,167.33, with a total potential value across all option years amounting to $809,113.28.

Place of Performance
The grant will be performed at Marine Corps Mountain Warfare Training Center in Bridgeport, California.