Proposed Covered Species in Thurston County

​The County's HCP will focus on prairie, and wetland/riparian habitat for species located in unincorporated Thurston County which are protected by the Endangered Species Act:

  1. Mazama pocket gopher (Listed in 2014 as Threatened)
  2. Oregon spotted frog (Listed in 2014 as Threatened)
  3. Taylor’s checkerspot butterfly  (Listed in 2013 as Endangered)
  4. Streaked horned lark  (Listed in 2013 as Endangered)

The plan also includes six additional at-risk species in similar habitats that may become listed under the Endangered Species Act in the future. Covering these species in the HCP now can eliminate the need for an additional HCP in the future; and because these species habitats overlap, mitigation will be more efficient and less costly.