This document discusses the timeline of observations and conservation efforts related to the Bay checkerspot butterfly population in Santa Clara County, California from 1986 to 2012. Key events include the first observations in 1986, recognition of nitrogen deposition impacts in 1993, habitat loss from 1992-2000, conservation activities from 1999-2012 including land acquisition and creation of the Habitat Conservation Now organization, and votes finalizing the habitat conservation plan from 2012. The timeline shows increasing awareness of and response to threats to the butterfly population over 26 years of observation and conservation work.

1. Charismatic meso-invertebrate

4. Timeline
• 1986 – first observations

5. In absence of cattle grazing in South Bay
(1 cow-calf/10 ac), introduced annual
grasses overrun habitat within several years
(repeatable- too many times).

6. Timeline
• 1986 – first observations
• 1993 – N-deposition awareness

7. Dry Nitrogen Deposition
Smog is slow release N-fertilizer

8. Timeline
• 1986 – first observations
• 1993 – N-deposition awareness
• 1992-2000 – Silver Creek Hills Trainwreck
• 1999 – Cars, cows and checkerspot butterflies
Conservation Biology 13:1476-1486 Dec 1999

9. Keystone Species: Ranchers

10. Timeline
• 1986 – first observations
• 1993 – N-deposition awareness
• 1992-2000 – Silver Creek Hills Trainwreck
• 1999 – Cars, cows and checkerspot butterflies
• 1999-2001 – Metcalf Energy Center
• 2001 – Highway 101, HCP commitment
• 2002-2006 – Los Esteros, Silicon Valley Power
Powerplants

11. Metcalf Energy Center, Tulare Hill
Large point source,
incremental effects in an
already polluted region
(cumulative impacts)
Precedent setting
mitigation in 2000:
131 acres + $1.4 million
endowment + operating
expenses 30-years
Two other powerplants,
80 acres + $700,000
endowment

12. Widening Highway 101: 2001
500+ acres. Fee title VTA, managed by
SCCOSA
Commit to Santa Clara County HCP/NCCP:

13. N-side Tulare Hill 2002

14. N-side Tulare Hill 2007

15. Timeline
• 1986 – first observations
• 1993 – N-deposition awareness
• 1992-2000 – Silver Creek Hills Trainwreck
• 1999 – Cars, cows and checkerspot butterflies
• 1999-2001 – Metcalf Energy Center
• 2001 – Highway 101, HCP commitment
• 2002-2006 – Los Esteros, Silicon Valley Power
Powerplants
• 2003 – Flower Power I tours
• 2005-2012 HCP/NCCP
• 2011 – Flower Power II tours

16. Operation Flower Power: The
Ultimate Grassroots Lobbying
Dry deposition – Dominant in California
Santa Clara Co. Supervisor
Blanca Alvarado (2002)

17. Congressman
Dry deposition – Dominant in(2005)
Jerry McNerney California
Docent led tours 2007-present

18. Timeline
• 1986 – first observations
• 1993 – N-deposition awareness
• 1992-2000 – Silver Creek Hills Trainwreck
• 1999 – Cars, cows and checkerspot butterflies
• 1999-2001 – Metcalf Energy Center
• 2001 – Highway 101, HCP commitment
• 2002-2006 – Los Esteros, Silicon Valley Power
Powerplants
• 2003 – Flower Power I tours
• 2005-2012 HCP/NCCP
• 2011-2012 – Habitat Conservation Now
• 2011 - Flower Power II tours

19. Habitat Conservation Now
www.habitatconservationnow.org
Santa Clara Valley Chapter CNPS
Greenbelt Alliance
Committee for Green Foothills
Santa Clara Valley Audubon Society
The Nature Conservancy
Loma Prieta Chapter Sierra Club
Funding from Moore Foundation

20. Timeline
• Fall 2012 Votes on Final Plan
• Santa Clara Valley Water District ↑ 7-0
• Santa Clara County ↑ 3-2
• Morgan Hill ↑ 5-0
• Gilroy ↑ 4-3
• San Jose ? – Dec 4, 2012 vote
•Many thanks to USFWS and CDFG!
•2011-2012 – Habitat Conservation Now
• 2011 - Flower Power II tours

21. www.bayarealands.org
CLN Final Report
Chapter 9
Viability Summary 2
N-deposition

22. Chemical
Climate of
California
Initiative with CNPS, Cal-
IPC, and others to inject
N-deposition mitigation
into CEQA and ESA
Powerplants in San
Diego Co.
Antioch Dunes NWR

23. Tons NOx/day
TWC
250
200
150 San Francisco
San Mateo
100 Santa Clara
50
0
1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015 2020
NOx is down, but NH3 is up!