Planning and Consultation Tools in Georgia

Our biologists are here to share effective practices that protect fish, plants, and wildlife and their habitats. This collection of resources can help in planning your future projects or simply learn about imperiled species and best conservation practices.

How can we help?

1. Species Info
2. Project Review
3. Conservation Measures
4. Energy Industry Guidance
5. Survey Guidance
6. Federal Programmatic Agreements
7. Emergency Consultation Resources

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For questions related to the recent proposal to reclassify the Northern Long-eared Bat, check out Common QnA's about the Proposed Northern Long-Eared Bat Uplisting 2022, NLEB Critical Habitat, and NLEB 4(d) Rule

About Our Species in Georgia

• USFWS Environmental Conservation Online System
• Georgia Department of Natural Resources Biodiversity Portal

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Requesting Project Review by Your State and Federal Agencies

State Agency Project Review

Georgia Department of Natural Resources' Environmental Review Page

Endangered Species Act Project Review

• USFWS Information for Planning and Consultation (IPaC) -- To learn about the federally protected species that may occur in your area or project footprint, you can request a Official Species Report using IPaC IPaC
  Information for Planning and Consultation (IPaC) is a project planning tool that streamlines the USFWS environmental review process
  
  Learn more about IPaC . IPaC will also lead you through "determination keys" that can help in determining whether a project may impact a species. Currently, the follow determination keys are available for Georgia and more are coming soon: Northern long-eared bat, Multi-state Indiana bat. Finally, the IPaC Consultation Package Builder provides an interactive, step-by-step process to help you prepare a biologist assessment leveraging U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service data and recommendations, including conservation measures designed to help you avoid or minimize effects to listed species. See this demo to learn more. All of these tools are available to use for free.

• USFWS Georgia Ecological Services Project Planning and Review -- This will help you prepare a report to send to us if you would like us to review your project or simply request assistance in the planning stages.

• USFWS Georgia Ecological Services HUC10 Watershed Tool -- Our office developed a this tool to provide a list of state and federally protected species that may occur within a HUC10 watershed.

Conservation Measures

• USFWS Eastern Indigo Snake Standard Protection Measures
• USFWS Migratory Birds Program
• USFWS Avoiding and Minimizing Incidental Take of Migratory Birds Library Collection
• USFWS Bald and Golden Eagle Management Library Collection
• USFWS Monarch Butterfly Conservation Measures
• USFWS Eastern Black Rail Conservation Recommendations
• U.S. Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act Considerations
• 2022 Stream Crossings in Georgia Handbook

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Energy Industry-Specific Considerations

• USFWS Energy Project Review Guidelines
• USFWS Energy Technologies and Impacts Library Collection
• The Nature Conservancy’s Low-Impact Siting Tool for Solar Facility Development in Georgia 

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Survey Guidelines

• Georgia Department of Natural Resources' Bat Survey Guidelines 
• USFWS 2022 Range-wide Indiana Bat and Northern Long-eared Bat Survey Guidelines
• Bats and Transportation Structures Survey Training / Audio-Described Training
• U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Savannah District's Courtesy List of Georgia Environmental Consultants 
• USFWS Freshwater Mussel Survey Protocol for the Southeastern Atlantic Slope and Northeastern Gulf Drainages in Florida and Georgia

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Federal Programmatic Agreements

• U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Savannah District - Effect Determination Guidance Tools (EDGES)
  • Altamaha Spinymussel
  • Eastern Black Rail
  • Eastern Indigo Snake
  • Flatwoods Salamanders
  • Granite Outcrop Plants
  • Gray Bat
  • Northern Long-eared and Indiana Bats
  • Northwest Georgia Aquatics
  • Southwest Georgia Aquatics
  • Plants
  • Red-cockaded Woodpecker
  • Sea Turtles
  • Shorebirds
  • Wood Stork
  • West Indian Manatee
• Federal Highway Administration - Joint Coordination Procedures for Interagency Consultation among the Federal Highway Administration's Georgia Division and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Georgia Ecological Services, Georgia Department of Natural Resources and Georgia Department of Transportation
• U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development - Federally Insured Loan and Grant Projects - Region wide clearance letter for projects that meet criteria for "no effect" determinations
• U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency - Section 7 Section 7
  Section 7 Consultation 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.
  
  Learn more about Section 7 consultation guidance developed by USDA-FSA and Georgia Ecological Services - GAES clearance letter for FSA Emergency Conservation Program, Emergency Forest Restoration Program, Farm Storage Facility Loan, Tree Assistance Program, and FSA Loan Activities
• U.S. Federal Communications Commission - Georgia Ecological Services Clearance to Proceed with Construction or Co-location of New Communications Towers less than 200 feet Above Ground Level in accordance with FCC Environmental Review Rules and Guidelines - Document

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