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Haystack Development August 2, 2017 HAYSTACK DEVELOPMENT Moonlight Basin Overall Development Plan Wildlife Summary Report HAYSTACK DEVELOPMENT Wildlife Summary Report TABLE OF CONTENTS 1.0 INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................................... 1 2.0 EXISTING WILDLIFE AND HABITAT ..................................................................................... 4 2.1 HABITAT ........................................................................................................................................ 4 2.2 FEDERALLY LISTED SPECIES ......................................................................................................... 6 2.2.1 Grizzly Bear .......................................................................................................................... 6 2.2.2 Canada Lynx ......................................................................................................................... 7 2.2.3 Wolverine ............................................................................................................................ 10 2.3 OTHER SPECIES OF REGIONAL SIGNIFICANCE ............................................................................ 10 2.3.1 Species of Greatest Conservation Need .............................................................................. 10 2.3.2 Migratory Birds ................................................................................................................... 13 2.3.3 Big Game Species ............................................................................................................... 13 3.0 EFFECTS ON WILDLIFE AND HABITAT, RECOMMENDATIONS ................................ 16 3.1 FEDERALLY LISTED SPECIES ....................................................................................................... 18 3.2 SPECIES OF GREATEST CONSERVATION NEED AND OTHER MIGRATORY BIRDS........................ 19 3.3 BIG GAME SPECIES...................................................................................................................... 19 4.0 REFERENCES .............................................................................................................................. 21 FIGURES: FIGURE 1 EXISTING DEVELOPMENT...................................................................................... 2 FIGURE 2 EXISTING AND PROPOSED ODP DEVELOPMENT.............................................. 3 FIGURE 3 LAND COVER ............................................................................................................. 5 FIGURE 4 GRIZZLY BEAR HABITAT ASSOCIATION ............................................................ 8 FIGURE 5 CANADA LYNX HABITAT ASSOCIATION ........................................................... 9 FIGURE 6 WOLVERINE HABITAT ASSOCIATION ............................................................... 11 FIGURE 7 BIG GAME GENERAL AND WINTER RANGE .................................................... 15 TABLES: TABLE 1 THREATENED AND ENDANGERED SPECIES WITH POTENTIAL TO OCCUR IN OR NEAR THE PROJECT AREA ........................................................... 6 TABLE 2 SPECIES OF GREATEST CONSERVATION NEED DOCUMENTED TO OCCUR WITHIN THE PROJECT AREA ............................................................................... 12 APPENDICES: APPENDIX A SPECIAL STATUS SPECIES WITH POTENTIAL FOR OCCURRENCE ............. 23 APPENDIX B MONTANA NATURAL HERITAGE PROGRAM ENVIRONMENTAL SUMMARY REPORT FOR MOONLIGHT BASIN ODP ....................................... 26 HLY 199-069 (BOI PER 02 02 01) HAYSTACK (5/9/2017) 145724 PAGE i HAYSTACK DEVELOPMENT Wildlife Summary Report 1.0 INTRODUCTION MB MT Acquisition LLC/Lone Mountain Land Company is proposing to continue expanding residential, recreational, and commercial development at Moonlight Basin in eastern Madison County, located approximately 30 miles southwest of Bozeman, Montana and within/adjacent to Big Sky Resort. Development will proceed according to the Moonlight Basin Overall Development Plan (ODP; formerly the Moonlight Basin Ranch Overall Development Plan) which has been the guiding document for development within the 8,669-acre Moonlight Basin ODP area (Project Area). Development nodes included in the 2017 updated ODP have been established and refined throughout the duration of the ODP process using the constraints-based land use planning method. The objective has been to locate these nodes as sensitively as possible to protect the natural resource amenities of the area and to provide for public safety and convenience. Current land uses within the boundaries of Project Area consist of various residential developments which are primarily tied to the recreational nature of the area. Also included are undeveloped and recreational lands which include those utilized for ski terrain and other recreational endeavors along with vast expanses of open spaces intended to protect the natural environment. The uses that are proposed as part of the 2017 ODP are similar in nature and consistent with those anticipated in each of the prior versions of the ODP. Proposed development within the 8,669-acre Project Area will include a mix of redevelopment types. Of the 1,651 allocated housing units that were approved with the current 2007 ODP, 453 of them have already been subdivided and/or developed (Figure 1) and 1,198 remain to be developed (Figure 2). Figure 1 identifies housing densities within currently developed or platted subdivisions, along with other existing developments including the ski area and golf course. Figure 2 identifies housing densities associated with all current and proposed development under the ODP. Most of the current and planned development has been focused into small, relatively densely developed subdivisions. Approximately 97 percent of the housing units are contained on approximately 15 percent of the total Project Area, leaving large tracts of sparsely developed to undeveloped land (Figure 1 and Figure 2). Proposed development will include single family homes, town homes, condominiums, employee housing, restaurants and retail spaces, and ski resort facilities. The areas proposed for development within the Project Area are focused in areas within or adjacent to existing developments or in areas that have been determined to likely have less impacts on natural resources (e.g., wildlife, wetlands and waterways, native vegetation). The majority of development will occur within established spaces, infilling in areas with previous development. Open space and wildlife movement corridors will be maintained to the greatest extent practicable to create a development that does not restrict wildlife or associated natural resource features of the area. The purpose of this document is to analyze the potential impacts from the proposed developments included in the 2017 ODP to wildlife species that are present within the Project Area. HLY 199-069 (BOI PER 02 02 01) HAYSTACK (5/9/2017) 145724 PAGE 1 Moonlliightt Terrrriittorry Arrea Strawberry Ridge Sub Lee's Pool Golf Timber Course Ridge Sub. Overlook Lower Madison Ulery's Hillside Village Lakes Sub. Hidden Ulery's Lake Moonlliightt Lake Eastt Arrea Three Peaks Lodge South Jack Pony Village Area Legend Silver Jefferson Moonlight Basin Bow Gallatin Project Area Golf Course Figure 1 Development Areas Ski and Moutain Bike Recreation Area Project Existing Location Development Neighborhoods Subdivision Housing Density: Acres per Platted Unit Madison 0 0.25 0.5 0.75 1 Roads Unit Higher Density: 0.0 - 10.0 Miles Rural Moderate Density: 10.1 - 25.0 Beaverhead Minor Rural or Local Lower Density 25.1 - 220.0 ´ Trail Path: W:\145724_HAYSTACK MOONLIGHTODP\PER\Environmental\GIS\Apps\Report_20170707\Fig1_Dev.mxd Date: 7/11/2017 Moonlliightt Terrrriittorry Arrea Strawberry Ridge Sub Lee's Pool Golf Timber Course Ridge Sub. Overlook Lower Madison Ulery's Hillside Village Lakes Sub. Hidden Ulery's Lake Moonlliightt Lake Eastt Arrea Three Peaks Lodge South Jack Pony Village Area Legend Silver Jefferson Moonlight Basin Bow Gallatin Project Area Golf Course Figure 2 Development Areas Ski and Moutain Bike Recreation Area Project Existing and Proposed Location OPD Development Subdivisions Subdivision Housing Density: Acres per Allocated Unit Madison 0 0.25 0.5 0.75 1 Roads Higher Density: 0.0 - 10.0 Miles Rural Moderate Density: 10.1 - 25.0 Beaverhead Minor Rural or Local Lower Density 25.1 - 220.0 ´ Trail Path: W:\145724_HAYSTACK MOONLIGHTODP\PER\Environmental\GIS\Apps\Report_20170707\Fig2_PropDev.mxd Date: 7/11/2017 HAYSTACK DEVELOPMENT Wildlife Summary Report 2.0 EXISTING WILDLIFE AND HABITAT 2.1 Habitat The Project Area is located in the upper Jack Creek drainage on the north side of Lone Peak. Elevations within the Project Area range from approximately 6,360 feet to 11,162 feet above mean sea level (amsl), with most of the housing development between 6,500 and 8,000 feet amsl. The Project Area is in the Madison Range within the Middle Rockies, Middle Elevation Sedimentary Mountains ecoregion (Woods et al. 2002). This ecoregion is dominated by conifer forest composed primarily of subalpine fir (Abies lasiocarpa), Engelmann spruce (c), Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii), and lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta). This region is part of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem (GYE), a vast area of national park and wilderness areas which provides habitat for many species that require large tracts of wilderness, such as grizzly bear (Ursus arctos), Canada lynx
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