EXHIBIT 7-A

19045 Portola Dr, Ste F-1

Salinas CA 93908

P: (831) 455-9514

F: (831) 455-2846

www.ventanaws.org

SCOPE OF WORK

PROPOSAL FOR PROFESSIONAL AVIAN MONITORING SERVICES

The Carmel River Riparian Corridor Point Count Census and

Monitoring Avian Productivity and Survivorship (MAPS)

This proposal encompasses the five tasks outlined below. Exhibits B and C (attached) detail a fee and work schedule

Task 1: Transect monitoring: NESTING PERIOD 2008 for Avian Point Count Census

A biologist from the Ventana Wildlife Society will collect point count data along 18 transects at 9 sites in the Carmel River riparian corridor. Sites will be visited twice, once in the morning from sunrise until 10 am and once in the evening from 4 pm until sunset during the period from June 1 through July 15, 2008. SDI sampling protocol will follow the avian point count method described below.

Avian Point Counts: We will use 5-minute unlimited-radius plots to record all birds detected within each of two categories: 1) within 50 meters, and 2) outside 50 meters. Observers will note all birds detected for a full 5 minutes to enable comparisons of the number of species detected by increasing the length of the count. All data, including date, time, point count location (PCL) number, species, number of individuals per species, and distance from observer will be recorded on a standardized data sheet. Birds will be counted at each PCL between 06:00 and 10:00 am on mornings with little wind and no rain. Visual cues, calls, and songs will be used to identify birds to species.

Task 2: Transect monitoring: FLEDGLING PERIOD 2008 for Avian Point Count Census

A biologist from the Ventana Wildlife Society will collect point count data along 18 transects at 9 sites in the Carmel River riparian corridor. Sites will be visited twice, once in the morning from sunrise until 10 am and once in the evening from 4 pm until sunset during the period from July 15 through August 7, 2008. SDI sampling protocol will follow methodology used in the NESTING PERIOD census.

Task 3: Transect monitoring: Results Report

A brief, non-text, report will be submitted based on results of Tasks 1-2. The report will contain tables of species encountered, their abundance, and overall Species Diversity Index (SDI) for the 2008 field season. Two graphs, separated by Tasks 1 and 2, will also be generated that will compare SDI results from 2008 with those from previous years.

Task 4: Monitoring Avian Productivity and Survivorship (MAPS) 2008

An experienced team of biologists from the Ventana Wildlife Society will assess demographics of avian communities at 3 key sites in the Carmel River riparian corridor. Three sites will correspond to 3 of the 9 transect sites monitored during the avian breeding period (see tasks 1-3). Incorporating point count surveys with mist-netting and banding following the MAPS protocol reduces bias and provides a more complete account of avian abundance and habitat use than does either method alone. Sampling protocol will consist of mist-netting and banding as well as area searches on all three sites. Mist-net locations and area search plots will remain standardized following the study design in 2003. Operating MAPS stations in conjunction with conducting point counts provides: (a) annual indices of adult population size and post-fledgling productivity; and (b) annual estimates of adult survival rate, adult population size, proportion of residents in the adult population, and recruitment into the adult population (Desante et al. 2004), in addition to determining bird/habitat relationships over time.

Ventana Wildlife Society biologists shall conduct mist-netting at 3 sites (denoted Rancho San Carlos, Red Rock, and Schulte, see below) following the MAPS protocol, which involves operating each site once per 10-day period throughout the breeding season (May 15 through August 8, 2008). Each site visit will include five hours of operation, beginning 15 minutes after sunrise, using 10 nets. Nets will be checked and birds extracted at strict 40-minute intervals. All MAPS data collected will be submitted to the national data repository at the Bird Banding Lab of the Biological Resources Division of the U.S. Geological Survey in Washington, D.C.

The Schulte site is located along the Carmel River and divided by the Schulte Road Bridge. Schulte Road Bridge is approximately 470 meters south of the intersection of Carmel Valley Road and Schulte Road. From the bridge, the study area extends about 500 meters upstream to create a narrow 6-hectare site ranging in elevation from 22-33 meters (North 36˚31’, West 121˚50’). This site was subject to 2 phases of restoration, the first beginning in 1987. Restoration maintenance of this site is still current. The Rancho San Carlos site is located on the Carmel River downstream of the Rancho San Carlos Road bridge, which bounds its eastern/upstream end. Rancho San Carlos Road bridge is located approximately 260 meters south of the intersection of Carmel Valley Road and Rancho San Carlos Road. The study area continues downstream for about 450 meters until reaching the Hacienda Carmel residential community (North 36˚32’, West 121˚52’). Rancho San Carlos has not undergone restoration and is considered an unmanaged site in this study. The Red Rock site is located on the Carmel River, 1 kilometer west of the intersection of Robinson Canyon Road and Carmel Valley Road, and 300 meters south of Carmel Valley Road (North 36˚31’, West 121˚49’). Robinson Canyon Road leads to River Meadows Road which dead ends at a private gate 20 meters southwest of the plot’s center. From that point, the 5.7-hectare study plot extends 260 meters upstream to the Sambosa Buddhist Center and 340 meters downstream. This site underwent riparian habitat restoration in 1997 and 1998.

Task 5: MAPS: Results Report

VWS shall submit a brief, non-text report based on MAPS results. The report will contain tables of species encountered, their abundances, productivity values and overall Species Diversity Index (SDI) for the 2008 field season.

LITERATURE CITED

DeSante, D. F., K. M. Burton, P. Velez, and D. Froehlich. 2004. MAPS manual, 2004 protocol: Instructions for the establishment and operation of constant-effort bird-banding stations as part of the Monitoring Avian Productivity and Survivorship (MAPS) program. Point Reyes Station (CA): The Institute for Bird Populations. 77 pp

Ralph, C. J., J. R. Sauer, and S. Droege (eds). 1997. Monitoring bird populations by point counts. Pacific Southwest Research Station, USDA Forest Service, General Technical Report PSW-GTR-149.

RHJV (Riparian Habitat Joint Venture). 2004. Version 2.0. The riparian bird conservation plan: a strategy for reversing the decline of riparian associated birds in California. California Partners in Flight. http://www.prbo.org/calpif/pdfs/riparian.v-2.pdf.

FEE SCHEDULE

MPWMD Total Cost for Tasks 1-5 is $5681.55

Task 1-5: The total MPWMD cost for Tasks 1-5 is $5681.55. Costs for each task are projected as: Task 1 - $520.68; Task 2 - $520.68; Task 3 - $500.48, Task 4 – $3639.23, and Task 5- $500.48. Invoicing will follow completed work and be submitted in 2 installments. Invoicing for Tasks 1,2 and 4 will follow completion of field work in August 2008. Invoicing for Tasks 3 and 5 will follow data submission in November 2008.

Task 1 (Nesting Period Transects):
Description	Rate	Units	Total
Biologist	$20.00	16 hours	$320.00
Staff Benefits	36%	$320.00	$115.20
Indirect Costs	15%	$435.20	$65.28
Mileage	$0.505	40 miles	$20.20
Total Task 1			$520.68
Task 2 (Fledgling Period Transects):
Description	Rate	Units	Total
Biologist	$20.00	16 hours	$320.00
Staff Benefits	36%	$320.00	$115.20
Indirect Costs	15%	$435.20	$65.28
Mileage	$0.505	40 miles	$20.20
Total Task 2			$520.68
Task 3 (PC Results)
Description	Rate	Units	Total
Biologist	$20.00	16 hours	$320.00
Staff Benefits	36%	$320.00	$115.20
Indirect Costs	15%	$435.20	$65.28
Total Task 3			$500.48
Task 4 (MAPS)
Description	Rate	Units	Total
Biologist	$20.00	12 hours	$240.00
Staff Benefits	36%	$240.00	$86.40
Indirect Costs	15%	$326.40	$48.96
Intern (x2)	$9.00	177.6 hours	$1,598.40
Intern Benefits	24%	$1,598.40	$383.62
Housing (x2)	$28.00	23 days	$644.00
Mileage	$0.505	570 miles	$287.85
Supplies			$350.00
Total Task 4			$3,639.23
Task 5 (MAPS Results):
Description	Rate	Units	Total
Biologist	$20.00	16 hours	$320.00
Staff Benefits	36%	$320.00	$115.20
Indirect Costs	15%	$435.20	$65.28
Total Task 5			$500.48
Total All Tasks			$5,681.55

Budget Justification: Ventana Wildlife Society Staff Biologist hourly rates and intern (X2) are multiplied by projected hours. VWS Biologist benefits are 36% of total salary costs. Intern benefits are billed as 24% of intern salary. Housing is the cost for 2 interns in VWS supplied housing multiplied by total project days, inclusive of data entry days. Auto expenses (fuel and maintenance costs) are projected using the standard U.S. General Services Administration rates for privately owned vehicles of $0.505/ mile (effective March 19, 2008) multiplied by the projected mileage. Indirect costs are billed as 15% of the Staff Biologist Subtotal (salary plus benefits).

WORK SCHEDULE

Task 1: The completion goal for NESTING PERIOD 2008 monitoring is July 2008. Field work will proceed from June 1 – July 15, 2008.

Task 2: The completion goal for FLEDGLING PERIOD 2008 monitoring is August 2008. Field work will span from July 15–August 7, 2008.

Task 3: The completion goal Transect Results Report is November 1, 2008.

Task 4: The completion goal for the 2008 Monitoring Avian Productivity and Survivorship (MAPS) monitoring is August 8, 2008. Monitoring will proceed from May 15 –August 8 to standardize with national protocols at the three sites located within the transect sites.

Task 5: The completion goal MAPS Results Report is November 1, 2008.

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