The Habitat Section Assistant Chief is responsible for soliciting proposals, reviewing, contracting, tracking, and reporting on SPA accomplishments. This position serves on several multi-partner groups as a representative for the DWR. Currently, this position also serves as the coordinator for the Utah Wildlife Action Plan, participates in AFWA and WAFWA, and represents DWR on multiple ESA related groups. This proposal is to cover the costs associated with the Habitat Section Assistant Chief. The Species Protection Account (SPA) was created during the general session of the 1997 State Legislature (Utah Code 63-34-14) and is administered by the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources. The purpose of the SPA is to serve as a species protection account "to protect any plant or animal species identified as sensitive by the state or as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 [ESA]" by providing funding to facilitate the conservation of sensitive species and their habitats in need of protection. The primary objective of SPA is to direct funds towards the protection of federally listed and state sensitive species, to promote their recovery and conservation thereby making progress toward down-listing or de-listing federally listed species and precluding the need for listing additional species under the ESA. SPA is funded through a portion of a 1/16th percent sales tax on water and by a tax provided for in the Brine Shrimp Royalty Act (Title 59, Chapter 23). A total of more than $3 million ($2.45 million plus approximately $1,000,000 from water tax and brine shrimp tax, respectively) is available on an annual basis. To be eligible for SPA funding, proposed projects must meet the intent of the legislation. The SPA program will continue to address species in need of conservation attention and conflicts, and work to develop cost effective measures to minimize conflict and ensure the long term species protection.

The purpose of this position is to provide oversight of SPA spending, to insure that all projects are conducted in a biologically sound manner and to monitor projects from grant award through final reporting or deliverable. This position coordinates with project leaders to ensure that funding is available, projects are initiated and deliverables are completed in a timely manner. The tasks completed by the Habitat Section Assistant Chief include: 1) Participate in the prioritization and selection of projects working on T&E and species in need of conservation attention; 2) Prepare and manage contracts for successful grant applications; 3) Assist project leaders in resolving funding, performance and reporting Issues; 4) Track project accomplishments by working with project leaders to ensure timely completion of project deliverables and reports; 5) Attend species workshops, conservation and recovery teams, symposia, researchers' meetings, etc. to understand issues facing species in need of conservation attention and associated state-wide priorities; 6) Coordinate compilations of successful grant applications and project reports respectively into annual work plans and accomplishment reports; 7) Represent the Division of Wildlife Resources on issues affecting the conservation and recovery of Utah's species in need of conservation attention; and 8) Coordinate the Utah Wildlife Action Plan

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The Habitat Section Assistant Chief position will coordinate and work with T&E recovery teams and species conservation teams for Utah and rangewide groups. These teams have all developed management plans for their perspective species. The Utah Wildlife Action Plan is a Fish and Wildlife Service required document for Utah to receive State Wildlife Grant funding. This plan is roadmap to prevent future ESA listings.

Some SPA funded projects will address fire and fuels.

Some SPA funded projects will address water quality/quantity.

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The Habitat Section Assistant Chief position administers SPA for the DWR. The SPA program will continue to address species in need of conservation attention and conflicts, and work to develop cost effective measures to minimize conflict and ensure the long term species protection.

The results of this effort include: 1) An annual work plan featuring projects from successful grant applications; 2) Contracts for all non-DWR projects funded through SPA; 3) Monitoring of each project to insure appropriate expenditure of funds and completion of project deliverables; 4) An Annual Accomplishment Report that summarizes the status of projects funded through SPA; and, 5) An improved electronic filing and reporting system for SPA. Reports for all projects funded in fiscal year 2025 will be completed by August 31, 2025. The SPA web accessible database has been integrated into WRI and is currently being used for the FY25 grant application period.

The Habitat Section Assistant Chief coordinates on a regular basis with project leaders for all successful grant applications. In addition, this position coordinates with conservation and recovery teams, resource agencies, industry representatives, stakeholders, native species biologists and state coordinators to ensure sufficient understanding of state-wide native species issues and priorities.

This position is considered on-going and funding for this position will be requested in future fiscal cycles.

By utilizing the Species Protection Account to implement the Utah Wildlife Action Plan, we can collect the needed information to keep species off the Endangered Species Act list and keep management in state control.