Agmt 2008 US Fish & Wildlife Service

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EFFECTIVE DATE OF AGREEMENT This Memorandum of Understanding will become effective on the date that the last signature on this document is signed. TERM OF AGREEMENT Initial Term. The term of this agreement is for five (5) years, beginning on the date that the last signature on this document is signed. This agreement maybe modified by mutual written consent. It also maybe terminated in writing by either party giving the other party written notification of their intent to terminate the agreement no later than 30 days prior to such termination. The USFWS is not obligated to remove all California sea-Mite at the end of the MOU or upon termination of the MOU. AGREEMENT l.) The City agrees to participate voluntarily with the USFWS in an effort to recover the endangered California sea-Mite at Robert's Landing, Alameda County, California, as described: These efforts include allowing limited access to USFWS, their contractors, and volunteers, solely for purposes of reintroducing California sea-Mite to a portion of its historic range and for conducting research, status surveys, and monitoring actions to ensure its success in the wild, as described in the 2006 California Sea-Mite (Suaeda californica) Reintroduction Plan, San Francisco, California (Attachment A). Reintroduction is planned to occur along the high beach, above normal tides. No site preparation is currently indicated, but some local removal of Salsola soda seedlings (if present) may be prudent in a minimum 2 meter radius around transplants. Transplant sites should avoid areas occupied byDistichlis. Intense storm overwash may destroy young transplants, so founder population transplanting should be phased over two years. Five transplanted colonies, each composed of at least three genetic individuals plants each (up to 5 each: minimum total 15, maximum 45) should be reintroduced in the first year. At least one colony should be located at the south end of the beach, in the transitional area between open sand washover/beach habitat and closed high marsh vegetation and dense wracks on stabilized beach ridges. If first-year transplants survive by the beginning of the second growing season, additional colonies should be transplanted to meet a total founder population size of 40 to 50 plants. USFWS agrees to coordinate volunteers for, and conduct initial planting and routine maintenance and monitoring, as described in the 2006 California Sea-Mite (Suaeda californica) Reintroduction Plan, San Francisco, California (Attachment A).