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Biological Assessment and Evaluation for the Rio Costilla Terminal Fish Barrier Project, Questa Ranger District, Carson National Forest

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Biological Assessment and Evaluation for the Rio Costilla Terminal Fish Barrier Project, Questa Ranger District, Carson National Forest Biological Assessment and Evaluation for the Rio Costilla Terminal Fish Barrier Project, Questa Ranger District, Carson National Forest Prepared by the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish for the U.S. Forest Service, Carson National Forest, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 7 June 2015 New Mexico Department of Game and Fish Fisheries Management Division 1 Wildlife Way Santa Fe, New Mexico 87504 New Mexico Department of Game and Fish SUMMARY This biological assessment and evaluation analyzes potential effects on special-status species from proposed construction of a fish barrier on the Rio Costilla in north-central Taos County, New Mexico, on the Valle Vidal Unit of the Questa Ranger District, Carson National Forest. The purpose of the project is to enable continued restoration of the native Rio Grande cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarkii virginalis) and other native fishes to the Rio Costilla drainage. The U.S. Forest Service - Carson National Forest, in cooperation with the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, propose to construct the fish barrier on the Rio Costilla. The proposed action consists of four major components: 1) realignment of a 255-m (837-ft) segment of Forest Road 1950 at the proposed fish barrier site; 2) temporary stream diversion to dewater the in-channel work area; 3) construction of the proposed fish barrier; and 4) removal of the temporary stream diversion and site restoration. Construction would be initiated in September 2016 and would take approximately 90 days to complete. Included in this biological assessment and evaluation are determinations of effects of the proposed action on special-status species, which includes Forest Service sensitive species on the Carson National Forest and federal listed or proposed species, as well as any designated or proposed critical habitat for those species. Eleven special-status species were identified as potentially occurring in the project area. These eleven species included three plant species, one invertebrate species, three fish species, one amphibian species, one bird species, and two mammal species (Table S-1). Ten of the special-status species are designated as Forest Service sensitive species on the Carson National Forest. The eleventh species (New Mexico meadow jumping mouse) is federally listed as endangered with proposed critical habitat (Table S-1). The project action area is not within proposed critical habitat. The proposed action would have no effect on nine of the special-status species (Table S-1). Northern leopard frog and American water shrew, both listed as Forest Service sensitive species, may be affected in the short term by construction of the proposed fish barrier. In the long term, potentially suitable wetland and aquatic habitat for both species may be improved in an area encompassing approximately 0.98 ha (2.42 ac) upstream from the proposed fish barrier due to increased water-surface elevation in the backwater of the fish barrier. Biological Assessment and Evaluation for the Rio Costilla Terminal Fish Barrier Project, Questa Ranger District, Carson National Forest Page i New Mexico Department of Game and Fish Table S-1. Special-status species effects analysis summary. Status codes for Forest Service (USFS), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and the State of New Mexico (NM) are: SEN = Forest Service sensitive; FE = federal endangered; CH = critical habitat has been designated; SOC = species of concern or sensitive (no legal protection); ST = state threatened; and SE = state endangered. STATUS COMMON NAME SCIENTIFIC NAME EFFECT DETERMINATION USFS USFWS NM yellow lady’s-slipper Cypripedium parviflorum var. pubescens SEN --- --- NO EFFECT robust larkspur Delphinium robustum SEN --- SOC NO EFFECT Arizona willow Salix arizonica SEN --- SOC NO EFFECT nokomis fritillary Speyeria nokomis nokomis SEN --- --- NO EFFECT Rio Grande cutthroat trout Oncorhynchus clarkii virginalis SEN --- SOC BENEFICIAL EFFECT Rio Grande chub Gila pandora SEN --- SOC BENEFICIAL EFFECT Rio Grande sucker Catostomus plebeius SEN --- --- BENEFICIAL EFFECT northern leopard frog Lithobates pipiens SEN --- --- MAY EFFECT bald eagle Haliaeetus leucocephalus SEN --- ST NO EFFECT American water shrew Sorex (palustris) navigator SEN --- --- MAY EFFECT New Mexico meadow jumping mouse Zapus hudsonius luteus --- FE/CH SE NO EFFECT The effects determinations and analyses in this report were made by John Pittenger of Blue Earth Ecological Consultants, Inc., 7 June 2015. They were reviewed and approved by Michael Gatlin, Carson National Forest. John Pittenger, Sr. Biologist Michael Gatlin, Forest Fisheries Biologist Blue Earth Ecological Consultants, Inc. Carson National Forest 1345 Pacheco Street 208 Cruz Alta Road Santa Fe, New Mexico 87505-3907 Taos, NM 87571 (505) 983-2687 ext. 103 (575) 758-6200 [email protected] [email protected] Biological Assessment and Evaluation for the Rio Costilla Terminal Fish Barrier Project, Questa Ranger District, Carson National Forest Page ii New Mexico Department of Game and Fish AUTHOR QUALIFICATIONS This biological evaluation was prepared by John Pittenger, Sr. Biologist, Blue Earth Ecological Consultants, Inc. (1345 Pacheco Street, Santa Fe, New Mexico, 87505) under contract to the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish. Forest Service regulations require that biological assessments and evaluations be prepared by journey-level biologists or botanists (Forest Service Manual §2634.03[3]). Mr. Pittenger has a B.S. degree in Biological Sciences from Northern Illinois University (1982) and a M.S. degree in Fisheries Science from New Mexico State University (1986). He also has graduate education in plant ecology from Northern Illinois University. He has 31 years of experience in ecological field surveys and data collection, endangered species survey and consultation, and impact assessment. He has worked as a biologist for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Forest Service, and the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish prior to becoming a private consultant with Blue Earth Ecological Consultants, Inc., in 1998. Mr. Pittenger has prepared over 110 biological evaluations or assessments for informal or formal section 7 consultations. He has contributed ecological effects analysis to many NEPA documents (EAs and EISs) for federal and state agencies including the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New Mexico Department of Transportation, New Mexico State Parks, and the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish. He has conducted field surveys for special-status species throughout New Mexico including for bird species (southwestern willow flycatcher, yellow-billed cuckoo, burrowing owl), native fishes and herptiles (loach minnow, spikedace, White Sands pupfish, Gila trout, Rio Grande silvery minnow, roundtail chub, narrowheaded gartersnake, northern Mexican gartersnake, northern leopard frog, Chiricahua leopard frog), and rare plants (Pecos sunflower, Kuenzler’s hedgehog cactus, Holy Ghost ipomopsis, night-blooming cereus cactus). He has also conducted biological surveys throughout the state and to develop lists of flora and fauna and characterize habitats. Mr. Pittenger has extensive experience in development and field implementation of monitoring programs for wetland vegetation, soils, and hydrology; surface water quality; aquatic habitat conditions; and fish populations. He also has experience in developing recovery and conservation plans for sensitive taxa (Gila trout, White Sands pupfish, endangered aquatic invertebrates in the Roswell basin). Mr. Pittenger has conducted basic ecological research on fishes in New Mexico including Rio Grande chub, White Sands pupfish, and fishes of the Canadian River drainage. He has also conducted basic ecological research on other taxa including Sacramento Mountains checkerspot butterfly and aquatic invertebrates of spring systems in the San Andres Mountains. A detailed resume is available on request by contacting: Mr. John Pittenger, Sr. Biologist Blue Earth Ecological Consultants, Inc. 1345 Pacheco Street Santa Fe, New Mexico 87505-3907 (505) 983-2687 ext. 103 [email protected] Biological Assessment and Evaluation for the Rio Costilla Terminal Fish Barrier Project, Questa Ranger District, Carson National Forest Page iii New Mexico Department of Game and Fish TABLE OF CONTENTS SUMMARY..........................................................................i AUTHOR QUALIFICATIONS.. iii 1.0 INTRODUCTION.. 1 1.1 Location of the Project Area. 1 1.2 Description of the Proposed Action. 4 1.2.1 Forest Road 1950 Realignment.. 4 1.2.2 Temporary Stream Diversion. 4 1.2.3 Fish Barrier Construction. 7 1.2.4 Diversion Removal and Site Restoration. 7 1.3 Action Area. 11 1.3.1 Construction Area.. 11 1.3.2 Rio Costilla Downstream. 11 1.3.3 Rio Costilla Upstream.. 13 1.3.4 Area Affected by Construction Noise.. 13 2.0 BASELINE CONDITIONS. 15 2.1 Existing Fish Community and Habitat Conditions.. 15 2.2 Forest Plan Management Direction. 17 3.0 IMPACTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE PROPOSED ACTION. 19 3.1 Direct Impacts. 19 3.2 Indirect Impacts. 19 3.3 Cumulative Effects.. 21 4.0 SPECIAL-STATUS SPECIES ANALYSIS.. 23 4.1 Potentially Affected Special-Status Species in the Action Area. 23 4.2 Yellow Lady’s-Slipper. 26 4.2.1 Description, Distribution, and Habitat. 26 4.2.2 Status in the Action Area. 27 4.2.3 Future Condition Without the Proposed Action. 27 4.2.4 Determination - No Effect. 27 4.3 Robust Larkspur. 27 4.3.1 Description, Distribution, and Habitat. 27 4.3.2 Status in the Action Area. 27 4.3.3 Future Condition Without the Proposed Action. 27 4.3.4 Determination - No Effect. 27 4.4 Arizona Willow. 28 Biological Assessment and Evaluation for the Rio Costilla Terminal Fish Barrier Project, Questa Ranger District, Carson National Forest Page iv New Mexico Department of Game and Fish 4.4.1 Description, Distribution, and Habitat. 28 4.4.2 Status in the Action Area. 28 4.4.3 Future Condition Without the Proposed Action. 28 4.4.4 Determination - No Effect. 28 4.5 Nokomis Fritillary. 29 4.5.1 Description, Distribution, and Habitat. 29 4.5.2 Status in the Action Area.
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