United States Forest Deschutes Bend-Ft. Rock Ranger District Department of Service National 63095 Deschutes Market Road Agriculture Forest Bend, OR 97701

File Code: 2670 Date: November 4, 2014

Subject: Biological Evaluation –Threatened, Endangered, and Sensitive Plants Two Bulls Salvage

To: The Project Record

This is a biological evaluation to document consideration of Threatened, Endangered, and Sensitive (TES) plants related to the Two Bulls Salvage project. It is prepared in compliance with the Forest Service Manual (FSM) 2672.4 and the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (Subpart B; 402.12, section 7 consultation). Effects of this activity are evaluated for those TES plant species on the current Regional Forester’s Sensitive Species List (FSM 2670.44, January 2011) that are documented or suspected to occur on the Deschutes National Forest.

Summary Finding

Implementation of the action alternatives will not impact individuals or habitat for TES plant species on the Deschutes National Forest list. There are no extraordinary circumstances to warrant further analysis.

Project Description/Affected Environment

The Two Bulls Timber Salvage Project occurs on 250 acres within the Bull Creek 12th field sub watershed. The Project Area is dominated by dry ponderosa pine, bitterbrush and Idaho fescue. Most of the project area is in the Xeric Ponderosa Pine Plant Association Group, which is on the drier end of the scale for Ponderosa Pine plant associations.

Much of the vegetation was burned in the June 2014 wildfire.

Two Bulls Salvage Project Area. September 10, 2014.

Two Bulls Salvage Plant Biological Evaluation Page 1

Green manzanita (Arctostaphylos patula) Rabbitbush (Ericameria bloomeri) sprouting following fire. September 10, 2014 starting to bloom. September 10, 2014.

Pre-field Review

The U.S. Forest Service Regional Forester lists 69 Sensitive plant species as suspected or documented to occur on the Deschutes National Forest Sensitive (USDA Forest Service 2011a; see Appendix A): 36 vascular plants (18 documented to occur), 26 bryophytes (11 documented), 2 lichens (1 documented) and 5 fungi (4 documented).

A pre-field review was completed to determine if any of the 69 Sensitive Plant Species occur within the Two Bulls salvage project area. The following sources were used in this review: 1. U.S. Forest Service NRIS-TESP Database (the National Database where U.S. Forest Service Sensitive plant locations are entered and tracked. 2. Professional input from Bend/Ft. Rock District Botanist, Charmane Powers (Personal communication, 2014). 3. Bull Creek Watershed Analysis (USDA Forest Service 2011b).

There are no Threatened or Endangered plant species documented or suspected on the Deschutes National Forest. Whitebark pine (Pinus albicaulis) is a Candidate for Federal listing as Threatened or Endangered but does not occur within the Two Bulls Salvage Project Area.

Peck’s milkvetch (Astragalus peckii) is the only known sensitive plant that occurs within the Bull Creek 12th field sub watershed (USDA Forest Service 2011b). There are no documented sites in the project area. The closest known site is more than one mile away (as measured using a straight line in GIS) and occurs in shrub-steppe habitat (sagebrush dominated); this habitat does not occur in the Two Bulls Project Area.

Three other species on the Deschutes National Forest Sensitive Plant List can occur in ponderosa pine- habitats: tall agoseris (Agoseris elata), green-tinged paintbrush (Castilleja chlorotica), and Peck’s penstemon (Penstemon peckii). However, extensive surveys have been done for these species and the Two Bulls Project Area does not contain habitat for any of them. Tall agoseris and Peck’s penstemon occur on Sisters District and have never been found anywhere else on the Forest. Green-tinged paintbrush occurs on Bend/Ft. Rock District but has not been located in the vicinity of the Project Area.

In summary, the pre-field review did not find any suspected or documented TES plants in the Project Area nor potential habitat for any of these species (USDA Forest Service 2014).

Two Bulls Salvage Plant Biological Evaluation Page 2

Environmental Effects

There are no direct, indirect or cumulative effects to Sensitive plants from the proposed action. The Two Bulls Salvage Area does not contain known occurrences or potential habitat for any of the Sensitive plant species on the Deschutes National Forest Sensitive Plant List.

References

Powers, Charmane. 2014. Personal Communication. Botanist, Bend/Ft. Rock District, Deschutes National Forest, Bend, Oregon.

USDA Forest Service. 2011a. Regional Forester’s Sensitive Plant List, Portland, Oregon.

USDA Forest Service. 2011b. Bull Creek Watershed Analysis. Bend/Ft. Rock Ranger District, Deschutes National Forest, Bend, Oregon.

PREPARED BY _/s/ Katie Grenier______Katie Grenier, Botany Program Manager, Deschutes National Forest

Two Bulls Salvage Plant Biological Evaluation Page 3

Appendix 1. Deschutes National Forest Sensitive Plant Species (U.S. Forest Service 2011). Status: D = documented to occur on the Forest; S = suspected to occur on the Forest.

Scientific Common Status Habitat Name Name and Code Vascular Plants Agoseris elata tall agoseris D Forest openings and forest edges adjacent to wet/moist meadows, lakes, rivers, streams. Ponderosa pine/bitterbrush/Idaho fescue plant associations; also with lodgepole pine, mixed conifer forests, and Englemann spruce. Arabis horizontal S Meadows, woods; summits, ridges; steep, exposed rock suffrutescens woody outcrops. TNC records (as recent as 1993) only from var. rockcress Crater Lake NP, Lake of the Woods, and Mt. horizontalis McLoughlin. Arnica viscosa Mt. Shasta D Sparsely vegetated openings at high elevations. Scree, arnica talus gullies and slopes w/ seasonal water runoff. Lava flows. May be w/in moraine lake basins or crater lake basins. Astragalus Peck’s D Basins, benches, gentle slopes, pumice flats. Generally a peckii milkvetch non-forest species but can occur in lodgepole pine openings. Mostly in sagebrush/grassland habitats. Botrychium pumice D Alpine and subalpine ridges, slopes and meadows. pumicola moonwort Montane LP forest openings, open forest in basins containing frost pockets or pumice flats. Calamagrostis Brewer’s D Alpine to subalpine habitats in meadows, open slopes, breweri reedgrass streambanks, and lake margins. Carex capitata capitate sedge D Usually in open, wet places, but sometimes in drier sites at high elevations. Known from five sites on the Sisters, Bend, and Crescent districts of the Deschutes National Forest. Carex diandra lesser S Lesser panicled sedge. Swamps, sphagnum bogs, lake panicled margins, and wet, often calcareous meadows at moderate sedge elevations. Carex slender sedge D Swamps and wet meadows at mid elevations. Found on lasiocarpa var. the Deschutes National Forest along the Deschutes River, americana south of Bend. Carex livida livid sedge S Occurs in all forest types in peatlands including fens and bogs; wet meadows with still or channelled water. Carex retrorsa retrorse sedge S Wet meadows, bogs, swamps, and edges of streams, lakes, and rivers. Foothills and lowlands. ORNHIC data elevations range from 10’ – 3,000’. Carex native sedge S Moist or wet places at high elevations, especially at the vernacula edges of melting snowfields and in meltwater streams. ORNHIC data elevations range from 7760’ – 9110’. Castilleja green-tinged D Ponderosa pine, lodgepole pine, and mixed conifer forest chlorotica paintbrush openings. Cheilanthes feei Fee’s lip-fern S Located in crevices on cliffs. Known from NE Oregon. Collomia Mt. Mazama S Meadows (dry to wet, level to sloping); stream banks and mazama collomia bars; lakeshores and vernal pool margins; forest edges and openings; alpine slopes.

Two Bulls Salvage Plant Biological Evaluation Page 4

Scientific Common Status Habitat Name Name and Code Cyperus short-pointed D On the Deschutes NF, located on damp mineral soil of a acuminatus cyperus broad, low-gradient shore of reservoir, in a community just below the Spiraea community. Sites on Crane Prairie Reservoir, Davis Lake. Cyperus Great Plains S Upper shorelines. Known from NE Oregon. lupulinus ssp. flatsedge lupulinus Elatine short-seeded S In California, 164 - 1640 ft elev. Hitch. and Cron. says brachysperma waterwort Cent. OR. Known sites in Grant, Lake, Malheur, Union, Wallowa Counties. In addition, Lucile Housley (BLM) reported (2004) Harney, Malheur Cos. One site says heavy horse, cattle use. Eucephalus Gorman’s S Alpine or subalpine mixed conifer, open to partially gormanii aster closed canopy. Rocky ridges, outcrops, or rocky slopes. (formerly Aster gormanii) Gentiana alpine gentian D Alpine-subalpine mixed conifer openings. Deschampsia newberryi var. cespitosa meadows. Montane wet to dry meadows, newberryi sometimes adjacent to springs, streams, or lakes. Heliotropium salt S Alkaline w/ greasewood. Harney, Malheur, Union, curassavicum heliotrope Baker, Lake Cos. Lipocarpha aristulate S Documented in Washington with Rorippa columbiae and aristulata lipocarpha Rotala ramosior. Wallowa and Malheur Cos. Lobelia Dortmann’s D In water of lake, pond, slow river or stream, or wet dortmanna cardinalflowe meadow. Only one known location in Oregon on r Deschutes National Forest. Lycopodiella inundated D Deflation areas in coastal back-dunes; montane bogs, inundata clubmoss including Sphagnum bogs; less often, wet meadows. Lycopodium ground cedar S Edges of wet meadows; dry, forested midslope with 25% complanatum canopy cover. Muhlenbergia annual S Weathered lava soils in riparian; only ORNHIC site in minutissima dropseed Oregon is Jordan Crater, Malheur Co. Ophioglossum northern S Dune deflation plains; marsh edges; vernal ponds and pusillum adderstongue stream terraces in moist meadows. Penstemon Peck’s D Ponderosa pine forest openings, pine/mixed conifer peckii penstemon openings; recovering fluvial surfaces (streambnaks, overflow channels, inactive floodplains); seeps, rills, springs, vernal pools; draws, ditches, skid roads; dry or intermittant stream channels; moist-wet meadows. Pilularia American S Alkali and other shallow vernal pools; not recently used americana pillwort stock ponds; reservoir shores. Pinus albicaulis Whitebark D Often on rocky, exposed sites with shallow, well-drained pine soils. In upper portions of mountain hemlock vegetation series or above, in subalpine parkland. Associated tree speices may inlcude lodgepole pine, western white pine, subalpine fir and Pacific silver fir. Potamogeton Rafinesque’s S Lakes, ponds, including created habitat. Klamath, diversifolius pondweed Harney and Lake Cos.

Two Bulls Salvage Plant Biological Evaluation Page 5

Scientific Common Status Habitat Name Name and Code Rorippa Columbia D Wet to vernally moist sites; meadows, fields, playas, columbiae yellowcress lakeshores, intermittent stream beds, banks of perennial streams, along irrigation ditches, river bars and deltas. Rotala lowland S In Oregon, low elevation (<2300 ft) below high water, ramosior toothcup including created habitat in wet, swampy places, lakes and pond margins, and free-flowing river reaches. Benton, Columbia, Marion, Hood River., Harney, Multnomah and Linn Cos. Scheuchzeria rannoch-rush D Open canopied bogs, fens, and other wetlands where palustris ssp. often in shallow water. americana Schoenoplectus swaying D Generally submerged to emergent in quiet water 2-8 subterminalis bulrush decimeters deep, in peatlands, sedge fens, creeks, ditches, (formerly ponds and lakes. Scirpus subterminalis) Utricularia lesser D Occurs underwater in lowland and montane fens, sedge minor bladderwort meadows, low-nutrient lakes and peatbog pools. Deschutes, Clackamas, Lane, Klamath, Jackson, Coos, Douglas, Harney, Marion and Linn Cos. There are documented populations on the Bend and Sisters districts of the Deschutes National Forest. Bryophytes Anastrophyllum liverwort S Typically associated with other bryophytes in tight mats minutum on ledges or at the base of cliffs in the mountain hemlock zone. Anthelia liverwort D Found on peaty soil in subalpine/alpine habitats above julacea 5,000 ft. Grows on wet crags, streamsides and areas where snow lies late in the year. In Oregon often associated with low ericaceous shrubs. Blepharostoma liverwort S On rotten logs in old growth forests in mesic habitats arachnoideum from British Columbia to California. Brachydontium moss S Forming loose mats on exposed acidic boulders or soil in olympicum rock crevices. In boulder fields, moraines, and ledges of cliffs, often in areas of late snowmelt. Subalpine to alpine elevations between 5,000 and 6,000 feet. On Oregon's Mt. Hood Brachydontium occurs above timberline at about 6,000 ft where the plant association is probably Phyllodoce empetriformis and Cassiope mertensiana heath. Elsewhere in the Pacific Northwest, Brachydontium probably also occurs in Pinus albicaulis, Tsuga mertensiana, Abies lasiocarpa, and Abies amabilis associations. Cephaloziella liverwort S Bogs and fens; boreal and montane. Known from spinigera Fremont/Winema National Forest. In OR, associated with moss genera Warnstorfia, Drepanocladus, Tomentypnum and Meesia in moss-dominated communities.

Two Bulls Salvage Plant Biological Evaluation Page 6

Scientific Common Status Habitat Name Name and Code Conostomum moss S Occurring as small sods or inconspicuous individual tetragonum shoots intermixed with other bryophytes, on soil in rock crevices in boulder fields, moraines, and ledges of cliffs. Subalpine to alpine elevations, often in areas of late snowmelt. On Oregon's Mt. Hood, Conostomum occurs above timberline at about 6,500 ft, where the plant association is probably Phyllodoce empetriformis and Cassiope mertensiana heath. Elsewhere in the Pacific Northwest, Conostomum probably also occurs in Pinus albicaulis, Tsuga mertensiana, Abies lasiocarpa, and Abies amabilis associations. Encalypta moss S Occurs in soil on ledges and in crevices on cliffs on both brevipes igneous and siliceous substrates; sites may be subject to frequent fog penetration; apparently restricted to unglaciated regions; +/- circumboreal, British Columbia to Oregon. Known from Rogue River/Siskiyou National Forest. Associated with Pacific silver fir, subalpine fir, and mountain hemlock communities. Entosthodon moss S Grassland, oak savanna, grassy balds and rock outcrops. fascicularis Individual plants or small patches on seasonally wet, exposed soil in seeps or along intermittent streams. Occurs on Eugene BLM but not documented on Oregon National Forests. Including but not necessarily limited to mountain hemlock, Douglas fir and white oak communities. Haplomitrium liverwort S On soil in open areas, intermixed with other liverworts hookeri and hornworts. Harpanthus liverwort D Associated with bogs and fens. Associated bryophyte flotovianus genera include Warnstorfia, Drepanocladus, Tomentypnum and Meesia. On Deschutes, collected by Rick Dewey at about 5600’ in a smallish, low gradient, persistently groundwater-fed community in the Three Sisters Wilderness Area. Associated with 8 fen reference species: Dodecatheon jeffreyi, Triantha (Tofieldia) glutinosa, Eleocharis quinqueflora, Pedicularis groenlandica, Hypericum anagalloides, Vaccinium uliginosum, Kalmia microphylla and Platanthera (Habenaria) sp Helodium moss D Forming mats and small hummocks in medium to rich blandowii montane fens with calcareous groundwater. Sometimes under sedges and shrubs around the edges of fens or along streamlets in fens. Elevations range from 5000- 6000 feet. Forest types include Abies amabilis, Abies concolor, Abies x shastensis, and Pinus contorta ssp. latifolia associations. Accompanying vascular species include Betula glandulosa, Salix geyeriana, Carex limosa, Eleocharis quinqueflora and Scheuchzeria palustris. Associated mosses include Aulacomnium palustre, Calliergon stramineum, Hamatocaulis vernicosus, Meesia triquetra, and Tomenthypnum nitens.

Two Bulls Salvage Plant Biological Evaluation Page 7

Scientific Common Status Habitat Name Name and Code Jungermannii liverwort D Subalpine to alpine habitats above 5,000 ft. Forms small polaris to sometimes extensive mats over peaty soil on damp ledges and crevices of rocks, sometimes along streams and rivulets, sometimes aquatic. Associated with Tsuga mertensiana and Abies lasiocarpa forests. Also found within Waldo Lake at depths up to 330 ft. Lophozia liverwort S Cliffs and ledges; boreal and montane. One Oregon site gillmanii in wet meadow at 6500’. Marsupella liverwort S In pure patches or intermixed with other bryophytes on sparsifolia sandy stream terraces or on acidic soil in late snow areas. Nardia liverwort D Open sites on rocky ledges or in rocky meadows. japonica Mountain hemlock zone. Polytrichium moss S Forming green to brown sods on igneous rocks in sphaerothecium exposed or sheltered sites, subalpine parkland to alpine (= krummholz. On Oregon's Mt. Hood, occurs at or above Polytrichastrum timberline at about 6,500 ft elevation, where the plant sexangulare association is probably Phyllodoce empetriformis or var. Cassiope mertensiana heath. Elsewhere in the Pacific vulcanicum) Northwest it probably also occurs in Pinus albicaulis, Tsuga mertensiana, Abies lasiocarpa, and possibly Abies amabilis associations. Associated bryophytes may include Conostomum tetragonum and Gymnomitrion. Preissia liverwort D On soil with little organic material, often on cliff ledges quadrata or in crevices in rocky areas. Pseudocallierg moss D Forming lawns or inconspicuously intermixed with other on trifarium bryophytes in medium to rich montane fens where it grows submerged to emergent in pools or on saturated ground, usually in full sunlight. Fen pools may dry up in late summer. Elevations range from 5000-6000 feet. Forest types include Abies amabilis, Abies concolor, Abies x shastensis, and Pinus contorta ssp. latifolia associations. Calliergon trifarium is one of several species of so-called "brown mosses" that occur in mineral-rich fens. Associated vascular plants in Oregon and Washington include Eleocharis quinqueflora, Carex limosa, Scheuchzeria palustris, and Triglochin maritimum. Associated bryophyte species include Hamatocaulis vernicosus, Tomentypnum nitens, Meesia triquetra and Helodium blandowii. Rhizomnium rhizomnium D On humus or mineral soil in seepages, vernally (at least) nudum moss wet depressions or intermittently wet, low gradient channels. Exposure varies from full sun to full shade. Coniferous forests, that include silver fir, western hemlock, mountain hemlock, western red cedar and Engelman spruce, and on Deschutes NF include lodgepole pine, Engelman spruce, mountain hemlock and western white pine.

Two Bulls Salvage Plant Biological Evaluation Page 8

Scientific Common Status Habitat Name Name and Code Schistidium moss S In large loose mats on wet or dry rocks or on soil in rock cinclidodonteu crevices, often along intermittent streams. Shrub m associates include Phyllodoce empetriformis and Cassiope mertensiana. Ponderosa pine, grand fir, Pacific silver fir, subalpine fir, mountain hemlock and possibly whitebark pine communities. Schistostega luminous D Usually on mineral soil in crevices on lower and more pennata moss sheltered parts of root wads of fallen trees. A rare occurrence in a natural cave in upper bank of perennial creek. Often near steams or other wet areas. Canopy often full but as low as 20% at humid sites near water. Most commonly found within silver fir plant series but also common in western hemlock and mountain hemlock series. Also in lodgepole pine stands near water. Stands are typically late seral or old growth. Schofieldia liverwort S Under heather or beside small streams. Long considered monticola endemic to Pacific Northwest but recently reported from Russia. With Cassiope, Phyllodoce and liverworts such as Moerckia. Splachnum moss S Forms green sods on old dung of herbivores, or on soil ampullaceum enriched by dung, in peatlands or other wetlands. The sodden, decomposed dung will scarcely be visible, or may be completely humified. The two known sites for Splachnum ampullaceum in Oregon are at 5000 feet elevation, but Hutten et al. (2005) report it from as low as 500 feet in Olympic National Park. Plants in Oregon occur in fens dominated by Eleocharis quinquefolia, Hamatocaulis vernicosus, and Pinus contorta var. latifolia. Splachnum ampullaceum tends to outcompete Tetraplodon mnioides in wet habitats, indicating that wetlands are optimal habitat for this species (Studlar and Byers 2007). Tomentypnum moss D Forming loose or dense sods or intermixed with other nitens bryophytes in medium to rich montane fens where it favors slightly elevated sites such as logs, stumps, or hummocks formed by Vacccinium uliginosum and Betula glandulosa. Elevations range from 5000 to 6000 feet. Fens occur in openings in forest types that include Abies amabilis, Abies concolor, Abies lasiocarpa, and Pinus contorta ssp. latifolia associations. Tomentypnum nitens is one of the more conspicuous of several species of so- called "brown mosses" that occur in mineral-rich fens. Associated vascular plants in Oregon and Washington include Eleocharis quinqueflora, Carex limosa, Carex aquatilis ssp. dives, Scheuchzeria palustris, and Triglochin maritimum. Associated bryophyte species include Hamatocaulis vernicosus, Pseudocalliergon trifarium, Meesia triquetra and Helodium blandowii. Many sites on all three districts of the Deschutes National Forest. Tortula moss Riparian Populus and montaine Abies. Higher elev mucronifolia (5000-7000 ft).

Two Bulls Salvage Plant Biological Evaluation Page 9

Scientific Common Status Habitat Name Name and Code Trematodon moss S Forming loose mats on moist bare soil along the edges of asanoi (= T. trails, streams and ponds in the subalpine zone. Soils boasii) usually have some organic content and are irrigated by meltwater from late-season snowbeds. Little is known about associated species. Habitats probably include Phyllodoce empetriformis and Cassiope mertensiana heath and Tsuga mertensiana, Abies lasiocarpa, and Abies amabilis forest associations. Tritomaria liverwort D Within the Pacific Northwest, currently known from mid- exsectiformis elevation (3200-5200 feet) riparian zones. Typically open to shaded coniferous forest in association with low volume, perennial water flow at or near springs and seeps, along very gentle topographic gradients. Lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta) present at nearly all sites within Oregon and Washington Cascades. Other tree species include white fir, ponderosa pine, Engelmann spruce (Picea engelmannii), Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii), western hemlock (Tusga heterophylla), mountain hemlock (Tusga mertensiana), and subalpine fir (Abies lasiocarpa). Currently, all but one T. exsectiformis sites in the Oregon and Washington Cascades occur within spring-fed hydrologic systems. Lichens Tholurna Urn lichen D Occurs on Sisters District, Black Butte - Open Pinus dissimilis albicaulis stand on moderate slope, with dense understory of shrubs; also open Abies lasiocarpa forest with low stunted trees. Texosporium Woven spore S Whitish soil crust lichen often found on old root clumps sancti-jacobi lichen of P. secunda or scat. Documented on The Island and Canadian Bench, CRNG. Undocumented occurrences by R. Demmer on BLM along breaks of lower John Day R. Fungi Alpova fungus D Occurs principally on soil in Pacific Silver Fir (44%) and alexsmithii Mountain Hemlock (44%) series at elevations of 2742- 5764 feet. A mycorrhizal associate of Tsuga. Associated species include Pacific silver fir, lodgepole pine, Engelmann spruce and mountain hemlock. Other woody associates include Vaccinium membranaceum and Vaccinium scoparium. Fruits August-December. Documented from the Mt. Jefferson Wilderness on the Deschutes National Forest. Gastroboletus fungus S Found in association with the roots of Abies magnifica vividus and Tsuga mertensiana above 5,000’. Fruits July- September. A known site at Crater Lake National Park. Helvella fungus D Occurs in montane forests containing Abies spp., from crassitunicata old growth and younger age groups, from low to high elevation in the fall and winter, occasionally on trails, or other moderately disturbed areas. Documented on the Sisters district of the Deschutes National Forest.

Two Bulls Salvage Plant Biological Evaluation Page 10

Scientific Common Status Habitat Name Name and Code Hygrophorus fungus D Associated with roots of Pinaceae; may be restricted to caeruleus Abies. Typically fruits in mid-elevation to montane conifer forests in the spring near melting snowbanks. Fruits May-July. Documented on the Deschutes National Forest. Ramaria fungus D Humus or soil. Fruits in September and October. Found amyloidea in Douglas fir, grand/white fir, and hemlock forests.

Two Bulls Salvage Plant Biological Evaluation Page 11