Ecological Services

Species Conservation
Conservation Planning & Permitting

Safe Harbor Agreements

Safe Harbor Agreements involve a private landowner or non-Federal agency agreeing to some voluntary action(s) that benefits a listed species in exchange for a guarantee that no additional regulatory restrictions related to the action(s) will be imposed by the Federal agency [Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) or National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administrations-Fisheries (NOAA-Fisheries)]. A net conservation benefit for the species must be met. At the end of the agreement period, the landowner is authorized to return to the original agreed to baseline condition and to take covered species if incidental to the action.

Completed Safe Harbor Agreements in Nevada:

Safe Harbor Agreement for Voluntary Enhancement/Restoration Activities Benefiting Lahontan Cutthroat Trout on Private Lands within the Northwest DPS

Safe Harbor Agreement for White River Spinedace at Indian Springs, White PiJuly 19, 2008 Map

Candidate Conservation Agreements With Assurances

Candidate Conservation Agreements with Assurances involve a private landowner or non-Federal agency agreeing to some voluntary action(s) that benefits a candidate (currently not listed, but could be listed in the future) species in exchange for a guarantee that no additional regulatory restrictions related to the action(s) will be imposed by the Service or NOAA-Fisheries if the candidate species becomes listed at some time in the future. A determination is needed that benefits to the species, if implemented on other necessary properties, would preclude or remove the need to list the species.

These agreements can be with an individual (individual agreement) or to an intermediary entity which holds the “umbrella agreement” for a specific area for several landowners. The intermediary coordinates with individual landowners to develop written agreements covered by the intermediary’s umbrella agreement.

To date we have not completed a Candidate Conservation Agreement with Assurances in Nevada.

Both Safe Harbor Agreements and Candidate Conservation Agreements with Assurances require Enhancement of Survival Permits. These permits are possible through section 10(a)(1)(A) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act) because with some exceptions the Act prohibits activities affecting threatened and endangered species unless authorized by a permit from the Service or NOAA-Fisheries.

Your proposed activity may also require a state permit. You should contact your state wildlife agency for additional information. Obtaining a Service permit is contingent upon obtaining any required state permit.

For more information about candidate conservation, visit our website at http://www.fws.gov/endangered/candidates/index.html.

Non-Federal entities must obtain an incidental take permit for taking of a listed species incidentally to an otherwise lawful activity. These incidental take permits are possible through section 10(a)(1)(B) of the Act. This section 10 process involves three phases: development of a Habitat Conservation Plan phase, a formal permit processing phase, and a post-issuance phase.

We have completed several Habitat Conservation Plans (HCP) in Nevada. They include the following:

Habitat Conservation Plan for the Carson wandering skipper for Pioneer Meadows.

For more information about HCPs see our website at www.fws.gov/endangered/hcp.

Recovery and interstate commerce permits provide a means to obtain authorization to conduct some form of take of a listed species and are associated with activities such as captive breeding and research to further the recovery of a listed species. These permits are possible through section 10(a)(1)(A) of the Act.

For more information about these various permits for our native species, see our website at www.fws.gov/endangered/permits.