Biological Evaluation
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Introduction This biological evaluation (BE) discloses the potential influences of the San Juan Public Lands Plan Revision on Forest Service Rocky Mountain Region (R2) sensitive species and Colorado BLM sensitive species. The list of R2 regional forester sensitive species was updated on June 4, 2007, and became effective on June 8, 2007. The list of BLM Sensitive Species for the San Juan Resource Area is based on the Colorado State Director’s list approved in Information Bulletin No. CO-2000-014, and was last updated on April 14, 2000. One additional species not currently on the Forest Service or BLM lists – the bald eagle – is also included in this BE because it was officially removed from the list of federally-protected species under the Endangered Species Act on August 8, 2007. According to BLM and Forest Service policy, the bald eagle is automatically placed on the BLM and Region 2 Sensitive Species List, and will therefore be assessed as Sensitive on all lands administered by the San Juan Public Lands Center. The FSM directs the Forest Service to develop and implement management practices to ensure that sensitive species do not become threatened or endangered because of Forest Service actions (FSM 2670.22). Sensitive species are those plant and animal species identified by a regional forester for which population viability is a concern as evidenced by a) significant current or predicted downward trends in population numbers or density or b) significant current or predicted downward trends in habitat capability that would reduce a species' existing distribution (FSM 2670.5). The FSM directs the Forest Service to prepare biological evaluations for projects, as part of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, to determine the potential effects from those projects on sensitive species and to ensure that Forest Service actions do not contribute to loss of viability of threatened, endangered, proposed, or sensitive plant and animal species, or contribute to a trend towards federal listing of any species under the ESA (FSM 2672.41 and 2670.32). A biological evaluation is defined as a documented review of Forest Service programs or activities in sufficient detail to determine how an action or proposed action may affect any threatened, endangered, proposed, or sensitive species (FSM 2670.5). The BLM Manual 6840 states that the conservation of special status species, which includes sensitive species, means using all methods and procedures which are necessary to improve the condition of special status species and their habitats to a point where their special status recognition is no longer warranted. The purpose is to ensure that actions requiring authorization or approval by the BLM are consistent with the conservation needs of special status species and do not contribute to the need to list any special status species, either under provisions of the ESA or other provisions. Project Area The project area is the San Juan Public Lands (SJPL) boundary, located in Southwest Colorado at the junction of the Southern Rockies and the Colorado Plateau ecoregions. The Colorado Plateau portion is characterized by sedimentary geology dominated by deep canyons and mesas. The Southern Rocky Mountains portion is characterized by mountains with mixed geology. Life zones represented in the planning area include Semi-Desert, Lower Montane, Upper Montane, Subalpine and Alpine. The area encompasses about 700,000 acres of BLM land and 1,867,800 acres of USFS land, and includes lands in Archuleta, Conejos, Dolores, Hinsdale, La Plata, Mineral, Montezuma, Montrose, Rio Grande, San Juan, San Miguel counties. The west border of the planning area is the Utah state line. The southern border of the planning area is the New Mexico state line. The eastern border is the Continental divide. The northern border covers the administrative boundaries with the Rio Grande, Gunnison, Grand Mesa and Uncompahgre National Forests and the BLM Uncompahgre Field Office. Project Description The San Juan National Forest’s Land Management Plan (1983) and portions of the BLM’s San Juan/San Miguel Resource Management Plan (1985) are being revised jointly. Land use plans provide broad guidance and information needed for project and activity decision-making. This Plan will guide relevant resource management programs, practices, uses, and protection measures. The associated EIS examines potential environmental effects Appendix T – Biological Evaluation – Page T-1 that could occur as a result of implementing projects associated with the land use plan. The key decisions made in this integrated plan for long-term management of SJPL are: • Establishment of desired outcomes, including multiple-use goals and objectives • Establishment of management requirements, including criteria that will be applied to guide day-to-day activities. These are primarily expressed as standards and guidelines and other design criteria. • Establishment of management area direction, including identifying allowable uses, or allocations, restrictions, and prohibitions. All lands within the planning area are allocated to one of seven management areas, or zones, that reflect different levels of development and suitable uses or activities. • Designation of suitable timber land and establishment of allowable sale quantity. • Establishment of monitoring and evaluation requirements. Alternatives Four issues drove the development of four alternatives. Issue 1. Balancing Management Between the Ideas of Maintaining “Working Forest and Rangelands” and Retaining “Core Undeveloped Areas” Issue 2. Recreation and Travel Management Issue 3. Management of Special Areas and Unique Landscapes Issue 4. Oil and Gas Leasing and Development The four alternatives are summarized below. Alternative A (No-Action): Alternative A is the continuation of present management under the existing BLM and Forest Service plans. It meets the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act that a no action alternative be considered. “No action” means that current management practices based on existing land use plans and other management decision documents would continue. Alternative B: Alternative B represents a balance among the revision issues. This alternative provides a mix of multiple-use activities with a primary emphasis on maintaining most of the large, contiguous blocks of undeveloped lands and enhancing various forms of recreation opportunities, while maintaining the diversity of uses and active forest and rangeland vegetation management. Alternative C: Alternative C provides a mix of multiple-use activities with primary emphasis on the undeveloped character of SJPL. Production of goods from vegetation management would continue but may be secondary to other non-commodity objectives. Production of goods and services would be slightly more constrained than in Alternatives A, B, and D, and in some cases and areas, uses would be excluded to protect sensitive resources. Alternative D: Alternative D provides a mix of multiple-use activities with a primary emphasis on the working forest and rangelands to produce the highest amounts of commodity goods and services of the alternatives. This Alternative would allow the greatest extent of resource use within the planning area, while maintaining ecosystem management principles to protect and sustain resources. The differences between the four alternatives and their potential implications to sensitive species can be analyzed by the different management areas they are associated with. Management areas outline uses and activities that may occur in them. All San Juan Public Lands have been allocated to one of eight management areas that range from areas where natural processes dominate and shape the landscape to areas that are intensely managed. In general, those alternatives that allow a higher level of management intensity may also require a higher level of management attention to the protection and maintenance of habitats for species that are sensitive to habitat alteration and/or human disturbances. A summary of the differences in management areas by alternative is displayed below. Appendix T – Biological Evaluation – Page T-2 Table BE-1: Acres of Management Areas by Alternative Management Area Alternative A Alternative B Alternative C Alternative D No Action Preferred 1 Natural Processes 538,658 651,838 1,080,844 553,971 Dominate 2 Special Areas & 98,973 191,805 195,979 149,250 Unique Landscapes 3 Natural Landscapes w/ 893,800 823,517 473,207 788,222 Limited Management 4 High Use Recreation 148,465 79,634 54,773 86,248 Emphasis 5 Active Management 674,815 529,067 487,299 683,192 6 Public & Private Lands N/A 82,858 73,031 90,218 Intermix 7 Highly Developed Areas 14,475 10,366 3,952 17,984 (ski areas and dams) Total 2,369,085 2,369,085 2,369,085 2,369,085 Sensitive Species Considered and Evaluated Table BE-2. Forest Service and BLM Sensitive Species and Habitat Associations for the San Juan Public Lands Sensitive Species Agency Habitat Association or Vegetation Type BIRDS American bittern FS Marsh, swamp, or bog with cattails, rushes, grasses, and sedges Botaurus lentiginosus American peregrine falcon BLM and FS Breeds on cliffs, often in association with riparian areas; regular Falco peregrinus anatum breeder SJFO administrative unit American three-toed FS Mature spruce-fir forests; post-fire areas, especially stand woodpecker replacement events Picoides dorsalis Black swift FS Vertical rock faces near waterfalls or in dripping caves Cypseloides niger Bald eagle BLM and FS Forested stands