BIOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT/EVALUATION FOR SHASTA-TRINITY NATIONAL FOREST AUTHORIZATION OF EXPIRED SPECIAL USE PERMITS SHASTA MCCLOUD, SHASTA LAKE NATIONAL RECREATION AREA, SOUTH FORK AND TRINITY RIVER MANAGEMENT UNITS SISKIYOU, SHASTA, TRINITY AND TEHAMA COUNTIES, CALIFORNIA

Project Description: The Shasta-Trinity National Forest is proposing to reauthorize approximately 60 expired special use authorizations Forest-wide. The existing authorizations include approximately 48 private roads, one paved parking lot, five buildings, one monument and one sign. The roads provide access to private property within the Shasta-Trinity National Forest and will authorize the continued use and general road maintenance of these roads. General maintenance is classified as: brushing, grading, spot rocking, installing and maintaining cross drain pipes, energy dissipaters, water bars and rolling dips and the cleaning of culverts and ditches to prevent resource damages. The parking lot, buildings, marker and sign will authorize the continued use, operation and general routine maintenance of these facilities which would include: general upkeep of the sign and monuments, maintaining proper drainage, repaving and striping of the parking lot, re-paint, re-roof and general maintenance to the water and septic systems that serve the buildings.

Major maintenance is classified as: replacing culverts, installing low water crossings or bridges, replacing of septic lines, etc. and will require a separate environmental analysis and prior approval from the Forest Service.

Project Location: County Permit ID Name Legal Description Length Width (Miles) (Feet) Siskiyou MTS15 Wintun Development T40N, R3W, Sec 16, 0.68 30 Corp. MDBM Roads MTS171 DeGray Access Roads T40N, R5W, U40N27DA access b Sec 11,12 0.65 10 U40N27OAD access b Sec 1, 12 0.91 10 MDBM

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Shasta SLK510501 Gregory Ck. Property T35N, R4W, Sec 19, 0.07 14 Owners Association MDBM Roads SLK195 Laughridge T34N, R4W, Sec 8, 0.03 12 MDBM SLK400701 AT&T T35N, R4W, Sec 19, 1.49 10 MDBM SLK231 Exley T35N, R4W, Sec 14, 0.13 12 MDBM SLK400001 Union Pacific Railroad T35N, R5W, Sec 25, 1.29 12 MDBM SLK507001 O’Brien Mtn. Property T34N, R4W, Sec 8, 0.17 10 Owners Association MDBM SLK18 McDonagh T35N, R5W, Sec 28, 0.46 10 MDBM SLK516801 Hoover T34N, R4W, Sec 8, 0.02 10 MDBM SLK516201 Hinman/Skinner T34N, R3W, Sec 11, 0.43 10 MDBM SLK516001 Weidenkeller T35N, R3W, Sec 36, 0.30 10 MDBM SLK512401 Lakeshore Hts. Mutual T35N, R5W, Sec 22 1.49 10 Water Co. & 23, MDBM SLK508801 Sublet T35N, R4W, Sec 28, 0.44 14 MDBM SLK512201 Lakatos T35N, R5W, Sec 23, 0.02 10 MDBM SLK504201 Bollibokka/Westland T36N, R3W, Sec 32, 0.03 14 Water District MDBM SLK509501 Wright T35N, R5W, Sec 0.09 12 2, MDBM SLK507101 Parker T33N, R2W, Sec 5, 0.03 16 MDBM

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SLK502501 Matthew/Tucker T35N, R2W, Sec 10, 1.52 10 MDBM SLK516901 Manalis T35N, R5W, Sec 26, 0.29 14 MDBM YOB15 Davis T29N, R10W, Sec 33 0.47 12 & 34; T28N, R10W, Sec 3 & 4, MDBM YOB7 Fenton T29N, R10W, Sec 21 0.36 12 & 22, MDBM Building YOB107801 Shasta County Fire T29N, R9W, Sec 18, Point Department MDBM Trinity BBR158 Purdy T33N, R11W, Sec 2, 0.49 14 MDBM Roads BBR500101 Allan (foot trail) T5N, R8E, Sec 8 & 9, 0.92 5 HBM BBR505001 Marshall T35N, R10W, Sec 29, 0.23 12 MDBM BBR509901 Lancaster/Mok T32N, R10W, Sec 5 0.12 10 & 32 MDBM HKF510301 Gates T3N, R7E, Sec 14, 15 1.39 12 & 22, HBM HKF508401 Smith T31N, R9W, Sec 6, 0.09 14 MDBM HKF505301 Claborn T32N, R12W, Sec 30, 0.18 10 MDBM HKF7 Schraeder T30N, R12W, Sec 13, 0.09 14 MDBM HKF511501 Hurlbut T3N, R7E, Sec 19, 0.60 12 HBM HKF504001 Aschert/Moore T3N, R6E, Sec 25, 0.11 10 HBM HKF513301 Messenger T3N, R6E, Sec 25, 0.38 10 HBM

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HKF9 Nichols T3N, R6E, Sec 2, 1.40 12 HBM HKF909002 Rapf T2N, R7E, Sec 7, 0.31 12 HBM WVL508701 Strope Ck. Land T35N, R8W, Sec 17, 0.07 12 Maintenance Assoc. MDBM WVL48 Pan Pacific Hydro T35N, R9W, Sec 28, 0.03 14 MDBM WVL103 Wesner T37N, R7W, Sec 5, 0.29 14 MDBM WVL401401 Happy Valley T35N, R8W, Sec 30, 0.17 12 Telephone (TDS) MDBM WVL36 R&R Timber Co. T37N, R7W, Sec 20, 0.53 12 MDBM WVL47 Eisenhauser T35N, R8W, Sec 9, 0.04 12 Recreation Ent. MDBM WVL724201 Brown T35N, R8W, Sec 17, 0.14 10 MDBM WVL515801 Councilman T36-1/2N, R7W, Sec 0.01 10 34, MDBM WVL507201 Life T35N, R8W, Sec 26 0.76 12 &35, MDBM WVL724601 Wheeler/Eaker T37N, R7W, Sec 20, 0.05 12 MDBM WVL115 Abrott T36N, R7W, Sec 20, 0.33 12 MDBM WVL114 Long T36N, R6W, Sec 12, 0.11 10 MDBM YOB701001 Maguire T27N, R11W, Sec 2, 0.39 14 MDBM Building BBR502601 Junction City Fire T34N, R11W, Sec 24, Point Protection Dist. MDBM BBR502701 Big Bar Post Office T34N, R12W, Sec 31, Point

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MDBM BBR300601 Burnt Ranch Indian T5N, R6E, Sec 3, Point Building HBM Parking Lot WVL56 Trinity County Library T33N, R10W, Sec 12, Point MDBM Sign WVL4 Holder T33N, R10W, Sec 12, Point MDBM Monument BBR21 Trinity County T35N, R10W, Sec 29; Point Historical Society T33N, R12W Sec 3; T34N, R11W, Sec 9; T37N, R7W, Sec 20, MDBM Tehama YOB506201 Ehorn T27N, R8W, Sec 28, 0.92 12 MDBM Road Building YOB104101 CDF Pattymocus T28N, R9W, Sec 10, Point Lookout MDBM

Species Considered: This document serves as the Biological Assessment/Evaluation for reauthorization of 60 expired special use roads, buildings, monuments, and parking lot permits across the Shasta-Trinity National Forest. The Arcata and Yreka U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Office were contacted to determine threatened and endangered species to be analyzed for the project and recommendations for species and habitat protections. The following table is threatened, endangered, and sensitive (TES) species analyzed in this document:

Scientific name Common Name Status Habitat Strix occidentalis Northern Threatened Older forested habitat, multi-layered, caurina Spotted Owl multi-species canopy with moderate to (NSO) high canopy closure (USDI 2011) Canis lupus gray wolf Endangered Wide range of habitats forest to grassland generalist (natureserve 2015) Accipiter gentilis Northern Sensitive Generally dense forest with large trees, goshawk high canopy closure (natureserve 2015) Empidonax traillii Willow Sensitive Riparian, willow thickets, swamps, flycatcher wetlands, streamside, open woodland, mountain meadows (natureserve 2015)

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Haliaeetus Bald eagle Sensitive Riparian habitat, lakes, rivers (USDI leucocephalus 2007) Coturnicops Yellow rail Sensitive Marsh habitat, fresh water, sedges, grass noveboracensis (natureserve 2015) Antrozous pallidus Pallid bat Sensitive Caves, crevices, mines buildings, bridges, and hollows in trees (CDFW 2016) Corynorhinus Townsend’s big- Sensitive Caves, mines, tunnels, buildings, other townsendii eared bat man-made structures (CDFW 2016) Myotis thysanodes Fringed myotis Sensitive caves, mines, and buildings (IUCN 2016) Gulo gulo luteus California Sensitive Mixed conifer, red fir, lodgepole pine, wolverine possibly subalpine conifer, alpine dwarf shrub wet meadow montane rip (CDFW 2016) Martes americana American Sensitive Dense deciduous, mixed, or (especially) marten coniferous upland and lowland forest (CDFW 2016) typical found above 4,000 feet elevation in true fir. Pekania pennanti Pacific fisher Sensitive Mature conifer and mixed conifer/hardwood forests characterized by dense canopies and abundant large trees, snags, and logs (CDFW 2016) Also frequents riparian habitats. Rhyacotriton Southern torrent Sensitive Cold, well shaded permanent streams variegatus salamander and spring seepage in redwood, Douglas fir, mixed conifer, montane riparian and hardwood conifer habitat (CDFW 2016) Rana boylii Foothill yellow- Sensitive Shaded, rocky streams at low to legged frog moderate elevations, in areas of chaparral, open woodland, and forest (CDFW 2016) Rana cascadae Cascades frog Sensitive Siskiyou County mountain lakes, small streams and ponds in meadows up to timberline and surrounding vegetation (CDFW 2016) Hydromantes Shasta Sensitive cool, wet ravines and valleys; recorded shastae salamander from both forested and nonforested areas; often in moist limestone fissures or caves, sometimes under nearby logs and talus in wet weather (CDFW 2016)

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Actinemys Northwestern Sensitive Permanent or nearly permanent water in marmorata pond turtle a variety of habitats (CDFW 2016) Monadenia Shasta sideband Sensitive Shasta County along McCloud River troglodytes snail arm and near Pit River arm of Shasta trogloytes Lake Limestone areas caves, talus slopes, rocky areas (USDI 1999) Monadenia Wintu sideband Sensitive Shasta County, along Pit River arm of troglodytes wintu snail Shasta Lake over to Squaw Creek and at Mountain Gate (USDI 1999) Trilobopsis roperi Shasta chaparral Sensitive Shasta County lightly to deeply shaded snail limestone rockslides, draws, or caves (USDI 1999) Triobopsis Tehama Sensitive Tehama, Butte, Siskiyou Counties Rock tehamana chaparral snail talus (USDI 1999) Vespericola Pressley Sensitive Trinity County conifer/hardwood trees pressleyi Hesperian snail near seeps, springs, and stable streams (USDI 1999) Vespericola shasta Shasta Sensitive Klamath Province Shasta Lake riparian, Hesperian snail springs, seeps marshes mouth of cave (USDI 1999) Anodonta CA floater Sensitive Trinity and Shasta Counties, California californiensis (freshwater Clean lakes, streams, and rivers (CDFW mussel 2016) Fluminicola Nugget Sensitive Pit River and McCloud River basins. 2 seminalis pebblesnail sites in Shasta National Forest and 3 sites in Whiskeytown-Shasta-Trinity National Recreation Area. (CDFW 2016) Juga (Calibasis) Scalloped Juga Sensitive Pit River (IUCN 2016) occata Juga nigrina Black Juga Sensitive Sacramento River and interior drainages in northeastern California (IUCN 2016) Lanx patelloides Kneecap lanx Sensitive McCloud and Pit and large limnocrenes tributary several sites throughout Shasta County. Freshwater (EOL 2016) Pisidium Montane Sensitive Streams, lakes, pools, that are spring (Cyclocalyx) peaclam influenced Klamath River, Shasta River, ultramontanum Pit River (IUCN 2016) Bombus Western Bumble Sensitive Western United States shrub dominated occidentalis Bee habitat

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Critical Habitat: Critical habitat for NSO is designated on the Forest; designation occurred in 2008 and updated in 2012. Critical habitat analysis is bases on 2012 critical habitat designation. Direct, Indirect, and Cumulative Effects: The California Natural Diversity Database was queried on August 31, 2016. Forest Service wildlife GIS data was analyzed for TES species, critical habitat and late successional reserve areas. Contact with Shasta-Trinity National Forest biologist occurred for additional information concerning TES species. The Shasta-Trinity National Forest inventoried expired special use permits in August 2016. Results indicate permit holders have kept buildings, monuments, and roads in good condition; needing no major repairs. General maintenance will be authorized and continued. Any major maintenance; replacing culverts, installing low water crossings or bridges, replacement of septic lines, etc. will require a separate environmental analysis and prior approval from the Forest Service. Reauthorization of permits and general maintenance will have no effect on threatened or endangered species. It is my determination that the cumulative effects of the proposed activities may affect individuals of sensitive species, but potential effects to the population demography of these species are very limited, and are not likely to cause a trend toward federal listing. Though maintenance will be not conducted outside the developed permitted sites and roadways, noise may preclude species from using areas until work is complete. If any major maintenance needs arise the Forest Service will be contacted for appropriate approval. “A limited operating period (LOP) from February 1 through July 31 is incorporated into the project design to avoid disturbance to northern spotted owls during their breeding season. This measure will apply to all activities within 0.25 mi of suitable NSO nesting/roosting or foraging habitat that produce loud and continuous noise or smoke (continuous defined here as two hours or more) that will potentially disturb this species.” “Surveys to protocol can be used to generate new breeding activity results. If subsequent protocol compliant surveys show no nesting activity within 0.25 miles of proposed activities at the time of implementation or by mutual agreement with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), LOP’s may be lifted. If surveys indicate that NSO are not resident in the area and LOPs are lifted, the FWS will be informed of the change (email comm. Goldsmith 2016).”

Determination and Rationale of Effects: Northern spotted owl: Special use permits located in NSO critical habitat are:

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Historical Markers – BBR21 Dedrick Town site, is located in critical habitat. The site is located at a pullout along a main highway. General maintenance and upkeep will not cause disturbance to NSO or critical habitat. Buildings- BBR502701 Big Bar Post Office Roads - BBR500101, BBR509901, HFK511501, HFK505301, MTS 171 access #2 WVL507201, YOB7, YOB15, YOB701001. Critical habitat will not be affected by reauthorizing special use permits. Activities associated with special use permits are not expected to occur outside the developed sites e.g. buildings, parking lots, or roadways, within designated areas. Reauthorization of 60 special use permits is an administrative action that will not cause effects to NSO. Suitable NSO habitat will not be altered as a result of permit reauthorization, this includes late successional reserves (LSR), foraging and dispersal habitat. Standards and guidelines set in the Northwest Forest Plan will be followed regarding NSO as well as limited operating period. There will be no effects to NSO or critical habitat. Gray Wolf: Currently, the known wolf population is extremely low in California. There is one known pack that is documented in northern California from 2015 (CDFW 2016). However, ongoing surveys with CDFW and the Shasta-Trinity National Forest have not re-detected this pack or any other wolves this year (pers. comm. Jordan 2016). Gray wolves tend to avoid human interactions especially areas with high road densities. Special use permits are located near residences or connect to main roads. The developed roads and sites are existing and established. General maintenance activities expected to occur will not expand outside the developed sites or roadways. General maintenance to roads and buildings will not alter habitats in areas that could be considered denning, or rendezvous sites. Habitat for denning and rendezvous sites tends to be located away from areas of human habitation. No effects to gray wolf or denning and rendezvous sites will occur from reauthorization of special use permits. If major maintenance or any new changes arise, the Forest Service will be contact for further environmental analysis and authorization. Sensitive Species Goshawk: According to Forest Service GIS data special use permits are located 800 meters or further from historic and current territories. General maintenance activities are not expected to occur outside the developed sites or roadways, suitable habitat will not be altered as a result of permit reauthorization. The limited operating period for NSO will further reduce impacts to goshawks. As a result, the proposed activities will not cause a trend toward federal listing of the species.

Bald Eagle: Bald eagles are known to nest on the Shasta-Trinity National Forest. Eagles are unlikely to be disturbed by routine use of roads, homes or other facilities where such use occurred prior to or

9 during the successful nesting of an eagle pair (USFWS 2016). Reauthorizations are for existing special use permits. Willow flycatcher: Special use permits are located outside of known locations of willow flycatchers, and those areas will not be impacted by the reauthorization of permits. Because general maintenance activities are not expected to occur outside the developed sites or roads, suitable habitat will not be altered as a result of permit reauthorization. Activities will not cause a trend toward federal listing of the species. Any major maintenance will require further analysis and authorization by the Forest Service. Yellow rail: Yellow rail will not be affected by special use reauthorizations. Roads are not located in areas of wet meadows or sedge habitat. Reauthorization of special use permits will not cause a trend toward federal listing of this species. Amphibians and Reptiles: Western pond turtles are known to use areas of permanent to semi-permanent water, and as turtles traverse across roads and trails there is a low chance to directly impact them since this is an infrequent occurrence. Roads are located in areas where water is seasonal and low flowing, which is not suitable habitat for western pond turtles. Known locations of western pond turtles are more than a mile away from special use sites. Impacts to habitat are not expected to occur as special use permits are limited to developed sites and roadways, which are not located in suitable habitat. Reauthorization of special use permits will not cause a trend toward federal listing of the species. Foothill yellow-legged frog and Cascades frog known locations and habitat will not be impacted by reauthorizing special use permits. Impacts to known and unknown habitat locations are not expected to occur, as special use permits are limited to the developed areas and roadways. HFK9 is located with foothill yellow-legged frog habitat, however no maintenance is required at this time. Though no streams or rivers appear to be within the boundary of the foothill yellow- legged frog habitat, if maintenance issues arise the Forest Service will be notified. Roads that cross either smaller drainages or creeks with seasonal water flow, are not preferred habitat of either species. If maintenance issues arise for special use roads which have bridges or existing low water crossings, the Forest Service will be notified and analysis of the project will be completed, to minimize impacts to frogs and habitat. Reauthorization of special use permits will not cause a trend toward federal listing of foothill yellow-legged frog or Cascades frog. Southern torrent salamander and Shasta salamander will not be impacted by reauthorizations. Known locations and preferred habitat are located outside of special use permit sites. Activities are not expected to occur outside the developed sites or roadways, and suitable habitat will not be altered as a result of permit reauthorization. Proposed activities will not cause a trend toward federal listing for either of these species.

Snails:

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Shasta sideband, Wintu sideband, Shasta chaparral, Tehama chaparral, Pressley Hesperian, Shasta Hesperian, black juga, and kneecap lanx will not be impacted by the reauthorization of special use permits. Special use permits are outside of known snail locations. Activities are not expected to occur outside the developed sites or roadways, suitable habitat will not be altered as a result of reauthorizations and will not cause a trend toward federal listing of the species. Western Bumble Bee: Reauthorizing special use permits will not cause a trend toward federal listing of this species. General maintenance is not expected to occur outside developed sites or roadways, and suitable habitat will not be altered as a result of reauthorizations. Mammals: Wolverine, Pacific fisher, American marten Special use permits located in wolverine habitat are: Building - BBR300601 Roads – BBR500101, SLK400001, SLK400701, SLK510501, SLK509501, SLK512401, SLK516901, SLK18, MT15 Special use permits located in Pacific fisher habitat as documented in California Natural Diversity Data: Roads: SLK18, YOB701001 General maintenance activities are not expected to occur outside the developed sites or roadways, suitable habitat will not be altered as a result of reauthorizations. Wolverines, Pacific fisher, and American marten are known to traverse across forested landscapes. Wolverine populations are considered low, and currently no breeding populations reside in California (USFWS 2014). Observations of Pacific fisher and American marten occur on the Shasta-Trinity National Forest (CNDDB 2016, USFS GIS). Occurrences of American marten are documented approximately 2,700 meters or further from permit sites. In the Pacific fisher habitat extant boundary (CNDDB 2016) road SLK 18 needs brushing and culvert cleanup and YOB701001 will not require maintenance. Pacific fisher habitat will not be altered by these activities and fishers tend to avoid human habitation especially while denning. General maintenance may precluded individuals from using the area, until work has subsided, however, habitat will not be altered. Reauthorization of permits will not cause a trend toward federal listing of the species.

Pallid bat, Townsend’s big eared bat, and fringed myotis bat Caves and mines will not be impacted by reauthorizing special use permits, which these species will use for hibernation.

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If hazard tree removal is necessary, permission may be granted, removing trees during the fall and winter will avoid maternity season for tree roosting bats and avoid causing direct effects to the species. These species use live and dead trees for maternity roosts and roosting, and will usually have different roosts in an area during the spring and summer. There is a low probability that removing hazard trees in this area will remove a maternity roost tree, because there are many trees in the above locations. Because 1) bats will use both live and dead trees for roosting, 2) Bats have different roosts in an area, and 3) roads are currently maintained and hazard trees will be removed during fall and winter, the reauthorization of permits will not cause a trend toward federal listing to bat species. Aquatic Invertebrates: Special use permits are outside of the range of known sites and preferred habitat of aquatic invertebrates. General maintenance activities will not expand past the developed sites or roadways, suitable habitat will not be altered and species will not be impacted as a result of permit reauthorizations. Rationale of Determination: Reauthorizing 60 expired special use permits for established, existing buildings, monuments, and roads is an administrative action. General maintenance activities will not expand past the permitted area. If safety issues arise or if major maintenance is required the Forest Service will be contacted for approval and further environmental analysis. Standards and guidelines in the Northwest Forest Plan will be followed to ensure that threatened, endangered, and sensitive species habitat remains suitable and will not cause harmful effects or impacts to species. LOPs for northern spotted owl, gray wolf and bald eagle will be in effect to ensure no effects to species occur. Reauthorization of expired special use permits will have “no effect” on threatened or endangered species and will not cause a trend toward federal listing of Regional Forester sensitive species.

/s/ Antoinette Sitting Up Perez Mark Twain National Forest Ava/Cassville/Willow Springs RD District Wildlife Biologist September 19, 2016

References: California Department of Fish and Game, 1999. Index to California Vertebrate fact sheets http://www.sibr.com/mammals/M033.html

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California Department of Fish and Wildlife. 2016. California Natural Diversity Database. https://www.wildlife.ca.gov/Data/CNDDB Encyclopedia of Life. Available from http://www.eol.org. Accessed 15 Jan 2016. Goldsmith, Mark. 2016. Email Communication about LOPs and suitable habitat for NSO. International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN). 2016. http://www.iucnredlist.org/ Jordan, Christine. 2016. Personal Communication about gray wolf on the Shasta-Trinity National Forest. NatureServe Explorer at http://explorer.natureserve.org were updated to be current with NatureServe's central databases as of October 2015. USDI, Bureau of Land Management. 1999. Field Guide to Survey and Manage Terrestrial Mollusk Species from the Northwest Forest Plan. Oregon State Office.

USDI, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 2007. National Bald Eagle Management Plan.

USDI, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 2011. Northern Spotted Owl (Strix occidentalis caurina). Arcata Fish and Wildlife Office, Arcata, California. https://www.fws.gov/arcata/es/birds/NSO/ns_owl.html USDI, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 2014. Wolverine. Mountain-Prairie Region. https://www.fws.gov/mountain-prairie/species/mammals/wolverine/

USDI, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 2016. Bald eagle management guidelines and conservation measures. https://www.fws.gov/northeast/EcologicalServices/eagleguidelines/intermittentactivities.html

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