Home

Survey and Monitoring Protocols and Guidelines

The protocols and guidelines available here are from various sources and are recommended as tested and reviewed methods for their intended purposes. These purposes include determining the presence or support for a negative finding for a particular species or its local status. In some cases, these protocols and guidelines represent what the Department believes to be the best available methodology for the intended purpose.

Plants

Protocols for Surveying and Evaluating Impacts to Special Status Native Plant Populations and Natural Communities (PDF) (California Department of Fish and Wildlife, 3/2018)
Guidelines for Conducting and Reporting Botanical Inventories for Federally Listed, Proposed and Candidate Plants (PDF) (U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, 1/2000)

Invertebrates

Survey Considerations for California Endangered Species Act Candidate Bumble Bee Species (PDF) (California Fish and Wildlife, 6/2023)
Survey Protocol For Aquatic Mollusk Species: Preliminary Inventory & Presence/Absence Sampling (PDF) (Bureau of Land Management, 7/2008)
Visual Survey Protocol Framework for Western North American Freshwater Mussels (Xerces Society, 6/2024)
Interim Survey Guidelines for the Morro Shoulderband Snail (PDF) (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 6/2003)
Framework for Assessing Impacts to the Valley Elderberry Longhorn Beetle (PDF) (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 5/2017)
Interim Survey Guidelines to Permittees for Recovery Permits under Section 10(a)(1)(A) of the Endangered Species Act for the Listed Vernal Pool Branchiopods (PDF) (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 4/1996)
Survey Guidelines for the Listed Large Branchiopods (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 11/2017)
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Vernal Pool Data Sheet [form] - Wet and Dry Season Surveys (PDF)

Amphibians

Fieldwork Code of Practice (PDF) (The Declining Amphibian Task Force)
Revised Guidance on Site Assessment and Field Surveys for the California Red-legged Frog (PDF) (U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, August 2005)
Interim Guidance on Site Assessment and Field Surveys for Determining Presence or a Negative Finding of the California Tiger Salamander (PDF) (U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and California Department of Fish and Game, 10/2003)
Generalized Range Map of the California Tiger Salamander (Ambystoma californiense) (PDF) (California Department of Fish and Game and U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, 10/2003)
Potential Range of the Sonoma County California Tiger Salamander (PDF) (U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, 10/2003)
Sampling Procedures for Determining Presence or Absence of the Santa Cruz long-toed Salamander (PDF) (California Department of Fish and Game, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, 5/1993)
Considerations for Conserving the Foothill Yellow-legged Frog (PDF) (California Department of Fish and Wildlife, 05/2018)
Visual Encounter Survey Protocol for Rana Boylii in Lotic Environments (University of California, Davis, 06/2017)
A Standardized Protocol for Surveying Aquatic Amphibians (PDF) (National Park Service, 05/1995)

Reptiles

Survey Protocol for the Barefoot Banded Gecko (PDF) (California Department of Fish and Game, 8/2011).
Survey Protocol for the Blunt-nosed Leopard Lizard (PDF) (California Department of Fish and Wildlife, 10/2019).
Preparing for Any Action that May Occur within the Range of the Mojave Desert Tortoise (PDF) (U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, 2019)
Draft USGS Western Pond Turtle (Emys marmorata) Visual Survey Protocol for the Southcoast Ecoregion (PDF) (U.S. Geological Survey, 2006)
Draft USGS Western Pond Turtle (Emys marmorata) Trapping Protocol for the Southcoast Ecoregion (PDF) (U.S. Geological Survey, 2006)
Guidelines for Section 10(a)(1)(A) Permits Specific to the Giant Garter Snake (PDF) (U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, 12/2003)

Birds

Northern Goshawk Inventory and Monitoring Technical Guide (PDF) (U.S. Forest Service, 6/2006)
Protocol for Golden Eagle Occupancy, Reproduction, and Prey Population Assessment (PDF) (Driscoll, 2010)
Staff Guidance Regarding Avoidance of Impacts to Tricolored Blackbird Breeding Colonies on Agricultural Fields in 2015 (PDF) (California Department of Fish and Wildlife, 2015)
Staff Report Regarding Mitigation for Impacts to Swainson's Hawks (Buteo swainsoni) in the Central Valley of California (PDF) (California Department of Fish and Wildlife, 1994)
USFWS Interim Golden Eagle Inventory and Monitoring Protocols; and Other Recommendations (PDF) (U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, 2010)
Swainson's Hawk Survey Protocols, Impact Avoidance, and Minimization Measures for Renewable Energy Projects in the Antelope Valley of Los Angeles and Kern Counties, California (PDF) (California Energy Commission and Department of Fish and Wildlife, 6/2010)
Protocol for Evaluating Bald Eagle Habitat and Populations in California (PDF) (Garcia and Associates & PG&E, 2004)
Bald Eagle Nesting Territory Survey Form and Instructions (PDF) (California Department of Fish and Game, 2010)
Staff Report on Burrowing Owl Mitigation (PDF) (California Department of Fish and Game, 3/2012)
Burrowing Owl Survey Protocol and Mitigation Guidelines (PDF) (The California Burrowing Owl Consortium, 1993)
Coastal California Gnatcatcher Presence/Absence Survey Guidelines (PDF) (U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, 2/1997)
Survey Protocol for the Great Gray Owl in the Sierra Nevada of California (PDF) (U.S. Forest Service, 5/2000)
Least Bell's Vireo Survey Guidelines (PDF) (U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, 1/2001)
Methods for Surveying Marbled Murrelets in Forests: A Revised Protocol of Land Management and Research (PDF) (Pacific Seabird Group, 1/2003)
A Natural History Summary and Survey Protocol for the Southwestern Willow Flycatcher (U.S. Geological Survey, 2010)
Protocol for Surveying Proposed Management Activities that May Impact Northern Spotted Owls (PDF) (PDF) (U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, 2012)
Recommended Timing and Methodology for Swainson's Hawk Nesting Surveys in California's Central Valley (PDF) (Swainson's Hawk Tech. Advisory Committee, 5/2000)
A Willow Flycatcher Survey Protocol for California (PDF) (H. L. Bombay et al., 5/2003)

Mammals

American Marten, Fisher, Lynx, and Wolverine: Survey Methods for Their Detection (PDF) (USDA Forest Service, 8/1995)
Mohave Ground Squirrel Survey Guidelines (PDF) (October 2023) and Mohave Ground Squirrel Survey Form (Excel) (2024)
Survey Protocol for the Morro Bay Kangaroo Rat (PDF) (U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, 4/1996)
Standardized Recommendations for Protection of the San Joaquin Kit Fox Prior to or During Ground Disturbance (PDF) (Sacramento Fish & Wildlife Office, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, 6/1999)
Camera-trapping for Conservation: A Guide to Best-practices (PDF) (World Wildlife Fund, 2017)
Remote Camera Trap Installation and Servicing Protocol (PDF) (Conservation Northwest and Wilderness Awareness School, 4/2017)

Monitoring

Amphibian Monitoring Program (U.S. Geological Survey)
Handbook of Field Methods for Monitoring Landbirds (PDF) (USDA Forest Service)
Photo Point Monitoring Handbook (PDF)(USDA Forest Service)

Wildlife Branch - Wildlife Diversity Program
1010 Riverside Parkway, West Sacramento, CA 95605
wildlifemgt@wildlife.ca.gov

About CDFW

Opportunities

Get in Touch