Covered Activities

The ECCC HCP/NCCP describes the activities and projects within the inventory area for which the HCP/NCCP will provide compensation, avoidance, and minimization of impacts for covered species.  These are the covered activities for which incidental take authorization will be obtained. 

Activities are actions that occur repeatedly in one area or over a wide area.  Projects are well-defined actions that occur once in a discrete location.  Covered activities in this HCP/NCCP fall into three distinct categories. 

  • All activities and projects associated with urban growth within the urban development area.
  • Activities and projects that occur inside the HCP/NCCP preserves. 
  • Specific projects and activities outside the UDA. 

All activities or projects seeking coverage under the HCP/NCCP are subject to approval by the local jurisdiction.  Activities or projects that do not fall clearly within the descriptions provided below will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.  An activity or project will be covered under the HCP/NCCP if it:  

  • does not preclude achieving the biological goals and objectives of the HCP/NCCP, 
  • is a type of impact evaluated in Chapter 4 of the HCP/NCCP, and
  • is consistent with the amount of take coverage assumed for the project or activity and sufficient take coverage under the permits remains available.  

Activities Within the Urban Development Area (Urban Limit Line)

This category includes all ground- or habitat-disturbing projects and activities that may occur within the urban development area/urban limit line.  This category is intended to be as inclusive as possible to accommodate urban growth; it includes the construction and maintenance of typical urban facilities, public and private, consistent with local general plans and local, state, and federal laws.  This category includes, but is not limited to, the construction, maintenance, and use of the following facilities. 

  • Residential, commercial, and industrial facilities (e.g., homes, retail centers, office buildings, factories, warehouses).
  • Public service facilities such as police stations, fire stations, hospitals, churches, public health centers, schools, administration centers, private airports, and community centers.
  • Funeral and internment services such as mortuaries, crematoriums, mausoleums, and cemeteries are also included in this category.
  • Recreational facilities such as neighborhood parks, golf courses, indoor and outdoor sports centers, racetracks, campgrounds, and trails.
  • Transportation facilities including sidewalks, bikepaths, paved and unpaved roads, culverts, fords, bridges, and highways.
  • Public and private utilities including transmission lines, telecommunications lines, and gas lines. 
  • Water supply and delivery facilities including water treatment plants, water supply pipelines, and canals.
  • Flood control and other stream-related facilities including dams, armored creeks, detention ponds, streams, and urban stream restoration projects.
  • Waste management facilities including sewage treatment plants, recycling centers, and transfer stations. 

Rural Infrastructure Projects

Specific projects taking place outside the urban limit line are also included as covered activities in this Plan.  These rural infrastructure projects provide infrastructure that supports urban development within the urban development area/urban limit line.  Only projects that were reasonably well defined at the time of HCP/NCCP approval are included in the Plan.  The Plan would allow activities encompassing up to 933 acres for the rural infrastructure projects and activities listed below. Projects are divided into three categories:  transportation projects, flood protection projects, and utility projects.  Most rural road projects covered by the Plan will be led by Contra Costa County.  All flood protection projects covered by the Plan will be led by the County Flood Control District.  Utility projects will likely be led by the private companies that own the utility lines. 

See Chapter 2 of the ECCC HCP/NCCP for named rural infrastructure projects that are covered and included in the Plan. 

Activities within the HCP/NCCP Preserves

Some activities expected to occur within the HCP/NCCP Preserve System may adversely affect some covered species.  These effects are expected to be of limited severity and generally temporary.  Because they may result in take, these activities require coverage under this Plan.  All activities within HCP/NCCP preserves will be designed to avoid or minimize take of covered species.  The ESA and NCCP permits will cover the activities of HCP/NCCP Implementing Entity personnel, their contractors, and lessees consistent with this Plan. These activities include: Management and Recreational Facilities. Management Activities, Recreation,  Habitat Enhancement, Restoration, and Creation,  Species Surveys, Monitoring, and Research, Emergency Activities, Utility Construction and Maintenance, and Neighboring Landowner Activities.