California Department of Transportation
This site is produced by the Caltrans Division of Environmental Analysis (DEA) and Division of Local Assistance (DLA).

Adobe Acrobat Reader is required to view and print PDF files. Adobe Acrobat is required to edit online forms and save them to your computer.

acrobat reader

logo

Caltrans > SER > MOUs/MOAs

Last Updated: Wednesday, May 8, 2013 7:45 AM

Memoranda of Understanding (MOU)/Memoranda of Agreement (MOA)

NEPA Assignment

CE Assignment

Statewide Programmatic Agreements

Biological - Mitigation Planning

Statewide Advance Mitigation Initiative MOU (2011) acrobat icon (2.3 MB) between Caltrans, CDFG, USACE South Pacific Division, U.S. EPA, USFWS, and NMFS. The purpose of the MOU is to establish a mutual framework for coordinated review concerning the development of SAMI in California by Caltrans and CDFG for advance mitigation of planned transportation projects at a landscape scale.

Compensatory Mitigation for Transportation Projects on National Forests in California (2009) acrobat icon (416KB)between CA Department of Transportation, US Army Corps of Engineers and US Department of Agriculture Forest Service. This MOU provides a framework for integrating Caltrans aquatic resource mitigation and US Forest Service watershed based restoration needs while reducing administrative and endowment costs. It also establishes appropriate methods to ensure long term management and protection of Caltrans sponsored mitigation on Forest Service lands consistent with US Army Corps regulations.

Programmatic Biological Opinion on the Effects of Minor Transportation Projects on the San Joaquin Kit Fox, Giant Kangaroo Rat, Tipton Kangaroo Rat, Blunt-nosed Leopard Lizard, California Jewelflower, San Joaquin Woolly-threads, Bakersfield Cactus, and Recommendations for the San Joaquin Antelope Squirrel. (12.5MB). Fish and Wildlife Service's (Service) programmatic biological opinion based on the Federal Highway Administration's (FHWA) proposed minor transportation projects in Fresno, Kern, Kings, Madera, Mariposa, Merced, Stanislaus, San Joaquin, Tulare, and Tuolurnne counties, California and their effects on the aforementioned endangered species.

Planning Guidelines for Standard Approaches to Mitigation Site Monitoring and Maintenance (1991) (282 KB) - This MOU estables the success criteria, monitoring and maintenace of mitigation sites, and guarantees that financial resources are available to provide remedial site work and alternate mitigation, if necessary.

Fish and Wildlife Service (1988) (578 KB) - The purpose of this MOU is to establish procedures for the early and continuous coordination of transportation project development activities between Caltrans and the Service.

Fish and Game (1990) (354 KB) - Early Mitigation Planning for Transportation

Memorandum of Agreement, Early Mitigation Planning for Transportation Improvements in California (1990) (219 KB) - Establishes procedures for endangered and threatened species consultation between Caltrans, FHWA, DFG, FWS and the Corps.

Biological - District/Region - all files pdf icon

Programmatic Document Date Area(s) Covered - Comments Status
SECTION 7 - FHWA
Giant Garter Snake 1-24-05 Within the geographic range of the giant garter snake in the California counties of Butte, Colusa, Glenn, Sacramento, San Joaquin, Solano, Sutter, Yolo, and Yuba. Programmatic covers small highway projects, as defined, with relatively small effects on the snake, is determined to be non-growth inducing or facilitating and meets specific "Project Design Criteria". ACTIVE
Valley Elderberry Longhorn Beetle 3-11-97 “Generally” Sacramento and San Joaquin Valleys. A total of 250 elderberry plants, each with at least one stem measuring one-inch or greater at ground level, or 2,000 elderberry stems measuring one-inch or greater in diameter at ground level may be impacted in a six-month period. No designated critical habitat can be affected. ACTIVE
1 Desert Tortoise (hwy maintenance) 8-4-95 Portions of Kern, Inyo counties (Districts 6 and 9). Covered in portions of Kern and Inyo Counties. Two desert tortoises per year may be taken in the form of direct mortality. Twenty desert tortoises per year may be taken in the form of harassment through moving tortoises from harm's way during highway maintenance activities. ACTIVE
2 Desert Tortoise (hwy maintenance) 9-28-94 Most State Routes within District 8 ACTIVE
California Red-legged Frog 4-24-03 Covers projects meeting four "suitability criteria." The first criterion is that the project "do[es] not contribute to a decline of the species in the affected area." This programmatic is applicable within the jurisdiction of Ventura Fish and Wildlife Office: San Benito, Santa Cruz, Monterey, Santa Barbara and Ventura counties, also portions of San Luis Obispo and Los Angeles counties. ACTIVE
SECTION 7 - USACOE
Listed Vernal Pool Crustaceans 2-28-96 Within the Jurisdiction of the USFWS Sacramento Field Office - generally Sacramento and San Joaquin Valleys. Take of species is permitted in up to 50 acres of habitat within an unspecified time period. ACTIVE
Giant Garter Snake 11-13-97 Within Butte, Colusa, Glenn, Fresno, Merced, Sacramento, San Joaquin, Solano, Stanislaus, Sutter and Yolo Counties. Per year, a permanent loss of up to 50 acres of habitat and snakes within up to 250 acres can be impacted. ACTIVE
Valley Elderberry Longhorn Beetle 9-19-96 Within the Jurisdiction of the USFWS Sacramento Field Office ACTIVE
SECTION 7 - NOAA Fisheries
Programmatic Biological Opinion on the issuance of section 10(a)(1)(A) scientific research permits for take of threatened fish species 10-22-2002 For threatened Central California Coast coho salmon, threatened Southern Oregon/Northern California Coasts coho salmon, threatened California Coastal Chinook salmon, threatened Central California Coast steelhead, and threatened Northern California steelhead. ACTIVE
SECTION 1601 - MOU's and Maintenance Agreements with Department
MOU 8-21-03 District 12 Active to 8/21/05
MOU 9-27-00 District 3 Expired on 9/27/01
MOU 11-12-97 District 5 (Santa Barbara Co.) ACTIVE to 12/31/02
MOU 10-10-97 District 5 (San Luis Obispo, Monterey, and San Benito Counties) ACTIVE to 6/30/02
Maintenance Agreement 04-22-03 District 8 ACTIVE to 04/22/05
Maintenance Agreement 10-29-02 District 7 (L.A. and Ventura Counties) ACTIVE to 12/31/03
Maintenance Agreement 3-1-99 District 6 ACTIVE to 3/1/04
Maintenance Agreement for Test Bore Drilling 10-28-99 Districts 5, 6, 9, and 10 (Central Region) ACTIVE to 10/28/04
MOAs with Department of Fish and Game
Mohave Ground Squirrel, Desert Tortoise 4-1992 Includes amendment and correspondence Expired in 1999
Pilgrim Creek Mitigation Bank 9-1999    
Rancho San Diego Mitigation Bank 1-1996    
D-11 Various Parcels Mitigation Bank 3-1999    
Beach Lake Mitigation Bank 5-1991    
1, 2 Standard Section 7’s covering programmatic activities; 2 Includes clarification letter from USFWS dated August 1, 1995; 3 Update in progress

Contributors: HQ: R. Hill; D3: C. Brown; D5: T. Edell, D. Hacker, and G. Ruggerone; D6: V. VonBerg; D8: T. Moore; D-10: S. Abafo; D-12: K. Ketelsa; DFG: Jack Miller (Region 1)

NEPA/404 Integration Process - Current MOU, Procedures and Memos

NEPA/404 MOU (2006) (281 KB)

OLD MOU Procedures (Note: For general information only. Superceded by April 2006 MOU. )
Guidance Papers to Facilitate the Implementation of the MOU for the NEPA and Section 404 Integration Process for Surface Transportation Projects in Arizona, California, and Nevada.

US Coast Guard Bridge Permits

U.S. Forest Service

 

(Last content update: 05/7/2013: MtC, GMapp)