Habitat Conservation Plans

Taking action to conserve habitat

To offset the impacts of dam and reservoir operations on threatened, endangered and at-risk species, SRP developed two Habitat Conservation Plans (HCPs). The plans detail conservation measures we will take to minimize the impact of our activity on native habitats and species near the bodies of water we manage.

SRP also obtained two 50-year incidental take permits (ITPs) under Section 10 of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) issued by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS). Along with the HCPs, these permits provide ESA coverage for the operations of Roosevelt, Horseshoe and Bartlett dams and lakes.

Together, the permits and plans lay the foundation for our approach to conserve the habitats of 17 threatened, endangered or sensitive native species, including the southwestern willow flycatcher, bald eagle, Gila topminnow and northern Mexican gartersnake.

Roosevelt Lake Habitat Conservation Plan

SRP’s Roosevelt Lake HCP was issued in 2003 and provides a 50-year plan to preserve and protect nearly 3,000 acres along Tonto Creek and the Salt, San Pedro, Gila and Verde rivers in Arizona.

The goal is to mitigate the impact of our reservoir operations in order to protect the habitat of the birds, fish, snakes and other species that live there.

The actions we’re taking to help conserve these habitats include:

• Monitoring habitat around Roosevelt Lake
• Creating and monitoring habitat for avian species
• Purchasing, preserving and protecting riparian habitat away from the reservoirs along the San Pedro, Gila and Verde rivers
• Conducting annual surveys for flycatchers and cuckoos
• Improving habitat conditions for gartersnake populations in the Tonto Creek basin
• Measuring and removing non-native fish in Tonto Creek
• Stocking and rearing native fish and frogs
• Supporting statewide bald eagle conservation efforts

Horseshoe-Bartlett Habitat Conservation Plan

The Horseshoe-Bartlett Reservoirs HCP was issued in 2008 and covers 16 species, including:

• Southwestern willow flycatchers
• Western yellow-billed cuckoos
• Bald eagles
• Narrow-headed gartersnakes
• Northern Mexican gartersnakes
• Lowland leopard frogs
• 10 native fish species

We’re working to support tall, dense vegetation at the upper end of Horseshoe Reservoir to benefit flycatcher and cuckoo populations. We’re also taking steps to minimize non-native fish production while strengthening the populations of covered native fish, frogs and gartersnakes.

Additionally, SRP works collaboratively with the Arizona Game and Fish Department to fund and support native fish production at Bubbling Ponds Fish Hatchery. The fish are then stocked back into the Verde and Salt river watersheds.

Our partners

To broaden our impact, we work cooperatively with these state and federal agencies: