Recommendations of Independent Science Advisors for The California Desert Renewable Energy Conservation Plan (DRECP)

This report presents consensus recommendations from a group of independent scientists1 to the Renewable Energy Action Team (REAT)2 for the California Desert Renewable Energy Conservation Plan (DRECP). DRECP is intended to be a Natural Community Conservation Plan (NCCP) under California’s NCCP Act of 2003 and will be the primary vehicle for obtaining authorizations to “take” or harm some state or federally listed Threatened or Endangered species incidental to constructing and managing renewable energy projects. The Act requires NCCP plans to obtain independent scientific input to guide Plan decisions. The DRECP science advisors include experts in desert ecology, wildlife biology, botany, hydrogeology, and other fields pertinent to the conservation of desert species and natural communities.