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Yellow Pine Solar Project Desert Tortoise Survey Report

DECEMBER 2018

PREPARED FOR Yellow Pine Solar, LLC

PREPARED BY SWCA Environmental Consultants

YELLOW PINE SOLAR PROJECT DESERT TORTOISE SURVEY REPORT

Prepared for Yellow Pine Solar, LLC 700 Universe Boulevard Juno Beach, Florida 33408 Attn: Eric Koster

Prepared by SWCA Environmental Consultants 7210 Placid Street , 89119 (702) 248-3880 www.swca.com

SWCA Project No. 37729

December 2018

Yellow Pine Solar Project Desert Tortoise Survey Report

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Yellow Pine Solar, LLC (Yellow Pine Solar), a wholly owned subsidiary of NextEra Energy Resources, LLC (the Applicant) is proposing to develop the Yellow Pine Solar Project (YPSP), which would consist of photovoltaic (PV) solar panels and lithium-ion–based energy storage (battery) located on approximately 3,000 acres of public lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Southern Nevada District, Las Vegas Field Office. The YPSP would be located within , approximately 10 miles (16 kilometers [km]) southeast of Pahrump, Nevada, and approximately 32 miles (51 km) west of Las Vegas, Nevada. The project would be bounded by (SR 160) to the north and Tecopa Road to the east. The YPSP would provide renewable energy to the electrical transmission grid at a newly constructed substation, the Trout Canyon Substation (TCS), owned by GridLiance West, LLC. The proposed project area contains habitat suitable for tortoise (Gopherus agassizii), a species federally listed as threatened (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service [USFWS] 1990) and protected by the state of Nevada (Nevada Administrative Code 503.080). SWCA Environmental Consultants was retained by the Applicant to conduct USFWS protocol-level presence/absence surveys for desert tortoise within the proposed project area.

Surveys for the YPSP began on September 17, 2018, and continued through October 23, 2018. Biologists surveyed 2,517.58 km (1,564.35 miles) of transects. A total of 54 live tortoises were encountered during surveys, 41 of which were included in the population estimate (adult tortoises greater than 180 millimeters in midline carapace length). Based on the USFWS population estimate spreadsheet, the estimated tortoise density is 3.04 adult tortoises/km2 (Appendix A).

While surveying for desert tortoise, biologists also noted any observations of burrowing owls (Athene cunicularia) within the survey area and recorded a total of seven burrowing owls and 48 burrows with sign of owl use. Sign of owl use included whitewash at the entrance of the burrow, owl pellets, and owl feathers.

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CONTENTS

Executive Summary ...... i 1 Introduction ...... 1 1.1 Project Description ...... 1 1.2 Application History ...... 1 1.3 Habitat Description ...... 2 2 Methods ...... 2 3 Results...... 4 3.1 Desert Tortoise ...... 4 3.2 Burrowing Owl ...... 6 4 Discussion ...... 9 5 Literature Cited ...... 11

Appendices

Appendix A. USFWS Desert Tortoise Pre-Project Survey Guidance: Density Estimate Calculations

Figures

Figure 1. Yellow Pine Solar Project location...... 3 Figure 2. Locations of desert tortoise observed during fall 2018 presence/absence surveys for the proposed Yellow Pine Solar Project...... 5 Figure 3. Locations of desert tortoise burrows observed during fall 2018 presence/absence surveys for the proposed Yellow Pine Solar Project...... 7 Figure 4. Locations of burrowing owl and burrowing owl sign observed during fall 2018 desert tortoise presence/absence surveys for the proposed Yellow Pine Solar Project...... 8

Tables

Table 1. Live Desert Tortoise Observed during Yellow Pine Solar Project Presence/Absence Surveys ...... 4 Table 2. Desert Tortoise Population Estimates for Yellow Pine Solar Project ...... 4 Table 3. Desert Tortoise Burrows Observed during Yellow Pine Solar Project Presence/Absence Surveys ...... 6 Table 4. Desert Tortoise Carcasses Observed during Yellow Pine Solar Project Presence/Absence Surveys ...... 6 Table 5. Winter Precipitation (October through March) in Millimeters for Pahrump, Nevada, 2011 through 2018 ...... 9

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1 INTRODUCTION

1.1 Project Description

Yellow Pine Solar, LLC (Yellow Pine Solar), a wholly owned subsidiary of NextEra Energy Resources, LLC (the Applicant) is proposing to develop the Yellow Pine Solar Project (YPSP), which would consist of photovoltaic (PV) solar panels and lithium-ion–based energy storage (battery) located on approximately 3,000 acres of public lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Southern Nevada District, Las Vegas Field Office. The YPSP would be located within Pahrump Valley, approximately 10 miles (16 kilometers [km]) southeast of Pahrump, Nevada, and approximately 32 miles (51 km) west of Las Vegas, Nevada (Figure 1). The project would be bounded by Nevada State Route 160 (SR 160) to the north and Tecopa Road to the east. The YPSP would provide renewable energy to the electrical transmission grid at a newly constructed substation, the Trout Canyon Substation (TCS), owned by GridLiance West, LLC (GWL). The plant would generate electricity using multiple arrays of PV panels electrically connected to associated power inverter units. The current from the power inverters would be gathered by an internal electrical collection system and transformed to transmission voltage prior to leaving the project area. The energy storage system would be sized to be no larger than the maximum solar output and would allow for energy from the solar panels to be stored and released into the electrical grid at a later time.

Current technology allows for between 6 and 9 megawatts (MW) per acre depending on buildable area available, allowing for approximately 500-MW electrical production within the unconstrained 3,000-acre site. However, PV technology is rapidly improving, and the potential MW/acre is likely to increase. The exact final project output may be higher or lower depending on the procured panel technology. The exact siting of the project area has not been finalized and will be designed to avoid resource concerns, where applicable.

1.2 Application History In October 2011, Boulevard Associates, LLC, a subsidiary of the Applicant, filed an application for a right-of-way (ROW) grant (N-090788) with the BLM’s Southern Nevada District Office for 3,272 acres of land for the proposed Sandy Valley Solar Project (herein referred to as the Original Application Area). The Sandy Valley Solar Project has not been built to date. However, the application was filed prior to the BLM’s Final Solar Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (BLM and U.S. Department of Energy [DOE] 2012) (Final Solar PEIS), and, as a pending solar application at the time of this publication, the project is not subject to the decisions adopted by the Record of Decision (ROD) for Solar Energy Development in Six Southwestern States (BLM 2012).

In June 2016, Yellow Pine Solar submitted an amended application, with a new project name, the YPSP. The Applicant is proposing to develop the YPSP to construct, operate, and maintain an efficient, economic, reliable, safe, and environmentally sound solar-powered generating facility. Based on preliminary discussions with the BLM and an initial evaluation of resource concerns, areas to the northwest of the original 3,272-acre ROW are being included to provide more flexibility for resource conflict avoidance within a larger 9,290-acre area (herein referred to as the Application Area).

Based on comments submitted during the public scoping process for the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the project, the focus for the proposed development of the YPSP shifted to include only the 4,624-acre portion of the Application Area northwest of Tecopa Road (herein referred to as the Study Area). The Study Area was targeted for in-depth surveys for desert tortoise and baseline botanical surveys. Areas with tortoise fencing along SR 160 and surrounding a gravel pit at the intersection of SR 160 and Tecopa Road were excluded from surveys. An additional 222 acres on the north side of SR 160

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were included to accommodate a 230-kilovolt (kV) transmission line from the TCS to the GWL Pahrump to Mead 230-kV transmission line for a total Action Area of 5,032 acres (see Figure 1). The Action Area is the entire area that may be impacted by development activities, including associated infrastructure ( Fish and Wildlife Service [USFWS] 2017).

The proposed Action Area contains habitat suitable for Mojave desert tortoise (Gopherus agassizii), a species federally listed as threatened (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service [USFWS] 1990) and protected by the state of Nevada (Nevada Administrative Code 503.080). SWCA Environmental Consultants (SWCA) was retained by the Applicant to conduct protocol-level presence/absence surveys for desert tortoise in the Action Area.

1.3 Habitat Description The Action Area is located within the Eastern Mojave Recovery Unit as revised in the most recent recovery plan (USFWS 2011). The YPSP is not located in or near any critical habitat units or Areas of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC) designated for desert tortoise. The nearest critical habitat unit (Ivanpah) lies approximately 30 miles (48 km) to the south of the Action Area. The Stump Spring ACEC lies approximately 4 miles (6 km) to the south of the Action Area, but this ACEC is designated to protect the area around Stump Spring and is not intended to protect desert tortoise habitat.

Vegetation cover in the Action Area consists of Mojave desert scrub dominated by creosote bush (Larrea tridentata) and burrobush (Ambrosia dumosa), with scattered Mojave yucca (Yucca schidigera). Elevation is suitable for desert tortoise and ranges from 915 to 1,050 meters (3,002 to 3,445 feet). The soil report indicates that the soils are also expected to be suitable for burrowing by desert tortoise (Natural Resources Conservation Service [NRCS] 2018). The Action Area lies within a large contiguous area of modeled desert tortoise habitat (see Figure 1). Within the Action Area the modeled habitat suitability is 0.9 out of 1, indicating that the Action Area has a high probability of being suitable for desert tortoise (Nussear et al. 2009).

2 METHODS Following USFWS survey protocol (USFWS 2017), SWCA authorized biologists conducted 100% coverage presence/absence surveys of the Action Area for all desert tortoises above ground (both out of burrows and within burrows but still visible), as well as all desert tortoise sign (burrows, scat, tracks, carcasses, etc.), using 10-meter-wide (~33-foot-wide) east-west belt transects. Biologists recorded all locations of desert tortoise and sign discovered during the survey effort using tablets (Samsung Galaxy Tab2 and Panasonic Toughpads) running Arc Collector. Electronic data forms were developed based on the USFWS 2017 Desert Tortoise Pre-Project Survey Data Sheet. Temperature was recorded at the beginning and end of each day’s survey, following the methods described in the USFWS protocol (USFWS 2017). For each live tortoise encountered, biologists recorded the location (Latitude/Longitude), sex (if determined), approximate size (≥ or < 180-millimeter[mm] midline carapace length [MCL]), and any indications of poor health (if the head was visible). For all other tortoise sign encountered, biologists recorded the location (Latitude/Longitude), type of sign (burrow, scat, tracks, or carcass), and class of sign (Class 1 to 5, using definitions described in USFWS 2009 and USFWS 1992), if applicable. Surveys were conducted from September through October, a period when tortoises were expected to be active.

Concurrent with desert tortoise surveys, SWCA also surveyed for sign of burrowing owls (Athene cunicularia), a species designated as Sensitive by the BLM (BLM 2017) and by the State of Nevada as a Species of Conservation Priority (Wildlife Action Plan Team 2012). There are no specific survey requirements for this species in the State of Nevada. However, it is general practice that burrowing owls and any other notable wildlife sightings are recorded during desert tortoise surveys.

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Figure 1. Yellow Pine Solar Project location.

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3 RESULTS

3.1 Desert Tortoise

Surveys for the YPSP began on September 17, 2018, and were completed on October 23, 2018. Mean start temperature during the survey period was 16.4℃ (61.6℉), with a minimum of 12.1℃ (53.7℉). Mean end temperature during the survey period was 29.6℃ (85.3℉), with a maximum recorded temperature of 37.1℃ (98.7℉). Every effort was made to conduct surveys when air temperatures were below 35℃ (95℉), as recommended by the most recent Mojave desert tortoise survey protocol (USFWS 2017). Air temperatures did exceed 35 ℃ before surveys could be concluded on some occasions, particularly towards the end of the day during surveys in mid-September. However, this is likely to only have affected a small portion of the surveyed transects.

Biologists surveyed 2,517.58 km (1,564.35 miles) of transects. A total of 54 live tortoises were encountered during surveys, 41 of which were included in the population estimate (adult tortoises greater than 180 millimeters in midline carapace length) (Table 1; Figure 2). Based on the USFWS population estimate spreadsheet, the estimated tortoise density is 3.04 adult tortoises/km2 (Appendix A). The estimated number of adult tortoises within the Action Area is 62, with 57 adults estimated to be within the 4,624-acre study area (Table 2).

Table 1. Live Desert Tortoise Observed during Yellow Pine Solar Project Presence/Absence Surveys

Observation Type Female Male Unknown Combined

Adult ≥ 180 mm 7 12 22 41 In burrow 1 3 20 24 Out of burrow 6 9 2 17 Sub-adult/Juvenile < 180 mm 2 0 11 13 In burrow 1 0 7 8 Out of burrow 1 0 4 5 Total 9 12 33 54

Table 2. Desert Tortoise Population Estimates for Yellow Pine Solar Project

Tortoise Size Class Action Area (5,032 acres) Study Area (4,624 acres)

Adult ≥ 180 mm 62 (42, 93) 57 (38, 85) Sub-adult/Juvenile < 180 mm 322 (215, 482) 296 (198, 442) Hatchlings (young-of-year) 81 (54, 121) 74 (49, 111)

Note: Numbers in parentheses next to estimates represent the 95% lower and upper confidence intervals for that estimate.

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Figure 2. Locations of desert tortoise observed during fall 2018 presence/absence surveys for the proposed Yellow Pine Solar Project.

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Tortoise sign was observed throughout the Action Area and included burrows, scat, tracks, and carcasses. Numerous tortoise burrows in good condition (Class 1 or Class 2) were found throughout the Action Area, and soil association did not appear to have an impact on abundance of burrows (Table 3; Figure 3). A total of 126 tortoise carcasses, ranging from Class 2 to Class 5, were recorded during surveys (Table 4; see Figure 2).

Table 3. Desert Tortoise Burrows Observed during Yellow Pine Solar Project Presence/Absence Surveys

Burrow Class Count Class 1: Currently active, with desert tortoise or recent desert tortoise sign 351 Class 2: Good condition, definitely desert tortoise; no evidence of recent use 1,022 Class 3: Deteriorated condition; definitely desert tortoise including collapsed burrows 366 Class 4: Good condition; possibly desert tortoise 345 Class 5: Deteriorated condition; possibly desert tortoise, including collapsed burrows 45 Total 2,129

Table 4. Desert Tortoise Carcasses Observed during Yellow Pine Solar Project Presence/Absence Surveys

Carcass Class Count Class 1: Fresh or putrid 0 Class 2: Scutes adhered to bone 11 Class 3: Scutes peeling off bone 35 Class 4: Shell falling apart 23 Class 5: Disarticulated and scattered 56 Unknown 1 Total 126

3.2 Burrowing Owl

While conducting desert tortoise presence/absence surveys, biologists noted all sign of burrowing owl use within the Action Area. Biologists recorded a total of seven burrowing owls and 48 burrows with sign of owl use (Figure 4). Sign of burrowing owl use included whitewash at the entrance of the burrow, owl pellets, and/or owl feathers.

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Figure 3. Locations of desert tortoise burrows observed during fall 2018 presence/absence surveys for the proposed Yellow Pine Solar Project.

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Figure 4. Locations of burrowing owl and burrowing owl sign observed during fall 2018 desert tortoise presence/absence surveys for the proposed Yellow Pine Solar Project.

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4 DISCUSSION Tortoise estimates are known to be affected by the amount of rainfall during the previous winter. Winter precipitation preceding the 2018 season (Table 5) was above the 40-mm threshold (1.57-inch threshold) that the USFWS uses to determine the probability that a desert tortoise will be visible (USFWS 2017).

Table 5. Winter Precipitation (October through March) in Millimeters for Pahrump, Nevada, 2011 through 2018

Month Total Winter Year Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Rainfall

2007-2008 0.0 0.0 18.0 17.0 3.8 0.0 38.8 2008-2009 0.3 16.5 b 10.2 a 2.5 29.5 0.3 o 59.3 2009-2010 0.0 0.0 16.3 36.3 34.8 5.3 a 92.7 2010-2011 50.3 1.8 137.4 0.0 a 29.7 i 3.8 223.0 2011-2012 4.6 0.0 f 10.2 c 2.0 3.0 0.0 e 19.8 2012-2013 1.8 d 0.0 3.6 a 10.9 b 6.4 a 5.1 27.8 2013-2014 2.3 18.5 b 0.8 a 0.0 9.4 0.0 31.0 2014-2015 0.0 0.0 20.6 17.0 s 15.5 24.4 77.5 2015-2016 30.5 a 9.9 0.8 54.9 3.3 1.5 100.9 2016-2017 5.1 0.5 a 59.9 56.4 47.0 0.0 168.9 2017-2018 0.0 0.0 0.0 41.1 8.4 17.0 66.5

Source: Data from Western Regional Climate Center for Pahrump, Nevada (Western Regional Climate Center 2018) a = 1 day missing, b = 2 days missing, etc., z = 26 or more days missing

In 2008, during their annual range-wide monitoring program, the USFWS included two survey areas on BLM-administered lands in the Pahrump Valley (Pahrump North and Pahrump South). These two areas were surveyed using the USFWS range-wide monitoring program line distance sampling procedures (USFWS 2012). The density estimates for these areas were 1.7 tortoises/km2 for Pahrump North and 2.9 tortoises/km2 for Pahrump South (USFWS 2012). The area surveyed in 2008 for Pahrump South overlaps with the YPSP Action Area, and our estimate of 3.04 adult tortoises/km2 suggests relatively little change in the tortoise density of the Action Area between 2008 and 2018. However, pre-translocation surveys conducted in the fall of 2014 for the Stump Springs translocation area (which also overlaps with the 2008 Pahrump South survey area) recorded only nine live tortoises for an estimated density of 0.9 adult tortoise/km2 (Clark County and USFWS 2017).

Tracy et al. (2004) analyzed the ratio of dead to live tortoise observations collected during USFWS line distance sampling surveys from 2001 to 2003, with the assumption that tortoise populations with roughly equal numbers of live animals and carcasses were likely to be healthier than populations with disproportionately large numbers of carcasses. Out of 15 Desert Wildlife Management Areas (DWMA), the average dead to live tortoise ratio was 1.92 and ranged from 1.08 in the Pinto Mountains DWMA to 3.67 in the Fenner DWMA (Tracy et al. 2004). In our study, a total of 126 tortoise carcasses were observed during 2018 presence/absence surveys in the Action Area, compared to a total of 54 live tortoise observations, a ratio of dead to live tortoises of 2.33. Unpublished data from the USFWS collected during the 2008 surveys of the Pahrump Valley (Pahrump North and Pahrump South combined) yielded 28 observations of shell remains and 30 live tortoise observations, a ratio of 0.93 dead to live tortoises; this ratio exceeded all other areas surveyed that year in Nevada (Averill-Murray et al. 2013). In the spring of 2013, surveys of the Greater Trout Canyon translocation area (also in the Pahrump Valley) found

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24 carcasses and 22 live tortoises, a ratio of 1.09 dead to live tortoises (Averill-Murray et al. 2013). Surveys of the Stump Springs translocation area in the fall of 2014 yielded 111 carcasses compared to only nine live tortoises, a ratio of 12.33 dead to live tortoises (Clark County and USFWS 2017). However, because tortoise carcasses can persist for many years, it is difficult to pinpoint the timing and duration of a possible die-off. In the case of this study, most of the carcasses observed were Class 3 or greater, which suggests that the die-off likely happened at least several years ago.

Overall, the results of our surveys indicate that there is a tortoise population of moderate density in the Action Area when compared to the mean Recovery Unit-level tortoise density estimate of 5.54 adult tortoises/km2, which was calculated using range-wide monitoring data collected in 2014 (USFWS 2015). However, the estimated density for the Eastern Mojave Recovery Unit (which includes Pahrump Valley) was only 1.5 adult tortoises/km2 (USFWS 2015). Therefore, the Action Area yielded a lower density than was observed across the tortoise’s range, but higher when compared to the density calculated within the Eastern Mojave Recovery Unit. The ratio of dead to live tortoises of 2.33 is slightly higher than average, compared to 2001–2003 data (Tracy et al 2004), and may indicate that the Action Area has suffered from a period of high mortality at some point in the last few years. However, this die-off has clearly been less severe than that observed in the Stump Springs translocation area (Clark County and USFWS 2017). There are many factors that may have contributed to the large number of tortoise carcasses, including drought, disease (particularly Mycoplasma agassizii and/or M. testudineum), and predation. Based on the winter rainfall data for the area (see Table 5), it appears that there was a 3-year stretch from 2011 to 2014 with low levels of winter rainfall, which may have created drought conditions in the Pahrump Valley. However, without additional data it is difficult to pinpoint the precise timing or cause of the large number of tortoise carcasses observed in the Action Area and the nearby Stump Springs translocation area. While a relatively recent die-off in the Action Area was apparent, the local population seems to be relatively stable.

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5 LITERATURE CITED

Averill-Murray, R.C., K.J. Field, L.J. Allison, C. Engel, J. Perry, J.M. Germano, J. Braun, and N. Lamberski. 2013. Translocation Plan: Greater Trout Canyon Area, Clark County, Nevada. Revised and updated on August 20, 2013. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Desert Tortoise Recovery Office, Reno, Nevada.

Bureau of Land Management (BLM). 2012. Approved Resource Management Plan Amendments/Record of Decision (ROD) for Solar Energy Development in Six Southwestern States. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Bureau of Land Management. October 2012.

———. 2017. 2017 Final BLM NV Sensitive and Special Status Species List. Available at: https://www.blm.gov/policy/nv-im-2018-003. Accessed November 28, 2018.

Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). 2012. Final Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement for Solar Energy Development in Six Southwestern States. FES 12-24, DOE/EIS-0403. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Department of Energy.

Clark County and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). 2017. Translocation Plan: Stump Springs, Clark County, Nevada. Revised and updated on June 30, 2017. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Desert Tortoise Recovery Office, Reno, Nevada.

Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). 2017. Web Soil Survey. Available at: http://websoilsurvey.nrcs.usda.gov/. Accessed November 5, 2018.

Nussear, K.E., T.C. Esque, R.D. Inman, L. Gass, K.A. Thomas, C.S.A. Wallace, J.B. Blainey, D.M. Miller, and R.H. Webb. 2009. Modelling habitat of the desert tortoise (Gopherus agassizii) in the Mojave and parts of the Sonoran Deserts of , Nevada, Utah, and Arizona: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2009-1102.

Tracy, C.R., R.C. Averill-Murray, W.I. Boarman, D. Delehanty, J.S. Heaton, E.D. McCoy, D.J. Morafka, K.E. Nussear, B.E. Hagerty, and P.A. Medica. 2004. Desert Tortoise Recovery Plan Assessment. Report to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Reno, Nevada. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). 1990. Rules and Regulations. Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Determination of Threatened Status for the Mojave Population of the Desert Tortoise. Federal Register 55(63):12178–12191. ———. 1992. Field survey protocol for any federal action that may occur within the range of the desert tortoise. January 1992. ———. 2009. Desert Tortoise (Mojave Population) Field Manual: (Gopherus agassizii). Region 8, Sacramento, California. Available at: https://www.fws.gov/nevada/desert_tortoise/documents/field_manual/Desert-Tortoise-Field- Manual.pdf. Accessed November 5, 2018. ———. 2011. Revised recovery plan for the Mojave population of the desert tortoise (Gopherus agassizii). U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Pacific Southwest Region, Sacramento, California. 222 pp. Available at: https://www.fws.gov/nevada/desert_tortoise/documents/recovery_plan/RRP_Mojave_Desert_Tor toiseMay2011.pdf. Accessed November 5, 2018.

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———. 2012. Range-wide Monitoring of the Mojave Desert Tortoise (Gopherus agassizii): 2008 and 2009 Reporting. Report by the Desert Tortoise Recovery Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Reno, Nevada.

———. 2015. Range-wide Monitoring of the Mojave Desert Tortoise (Gopherus agassizii): 2013 and 2014 Annual Reports. Report by the Desert Tortoise Recovery Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Reno, Nevada.

———. 2017. Preparing for any action that may occur within the range of the Mojave Desert Tortoise (Gopherus agassizii). Protocol Guidance by the Desert Tortoise Recovery Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Reno, Nevada.

Western Regional Climate Center. 2018. Monthly Total Precipitation for Pahrump, Nevada. Available at: https://wrcc.dri.edu/cgi-bin/cliMAIN.pl?nv5890. Accessed November 5, 2018.

Wildlife Action Plan Team. 2012. Nevada Wildlife Action Plan. Nevada Department of Wildlife, Reno, Nevada. Available at: http://www.ndow.org/Nevada_Wildlife/Conservation/Nevada_Wildlife_Action_Plan/. Accessed November 5, 2018.

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APPENDIX A

USFWS Desert Tortoise Pre-Project Survey Guidance: Density Estimate Calculations

Table 2. USFWS Desert Tortoise Pre-Project Survey Guidance What is the estimated number of tortoises in the action area and project footprint? INSTRUCTIONS Use this tab when your transects were of differing lengths. Enter the appropriate values from the survey into the yellow cells below. The number of tortoises for the action area and project footprint will be calculated.

Action area Study area

N = 61.9 56.9 Lower 95%CI = 41.37 38.02 Upper 95%CI = 92.70 85.19 Number of hatchlings (young-of-year) = 80.5 74.0 Number of tortoises < 180 mm MCL, not young-of-year = 322.0 295.9 Total action area (acres) 5032 4624 D (tortoises/km2) in surveyed area = 3.041 Average density in Recovery Unit = 1.5 Based on USFWS (2015) Project/site name Yellow Pine Solar Project Desert tortoise Recovery Unit Eastern Mojave Survey start date 17-Sep-18 Survey end date 23-Oct-18 Pre-survey Oct-March rainfall (mm) 49

Total length of transects walked (km) = 2518

Number of transects walked = 568

Number of tortoises found during surveys (n) = 41

Transects of various lengths Tortoises within l_i*((n_i/l_i) - Transect Length (km) 5m of centerline (n/L))^2 T001 1.4 0 0.00031596 T002 5.6 1 0.150472018 T002b 1.1 0 0.000246056 T003 5.6 0 0.001238441 T003b 1.1 0 0.000246402 T004 5.6 0 0.001242095 T004b 1.1 0 0.000246748 T005 5.6 0 0.001245749 T005b 1.1 0 0.000247095 T006 5.7 0 0.001249402 T006b 1.1 0 0.000247441 T007 5.7 0 0.001253056 T007b 1.1 0 0.000247788 T008 5.7 0 0.001256709 T008b 1.1 0 0.000248134 T009 5.7 0 0.001260363 T009b 1.1 0 0.000248481 T010 5.7 0 0.001264016 T010b 1.1 0 0.000248827 T011 5.7 0 0.00126767 T011b 1.1 0 0.000249174 T012 5.8 0 0.001271323 T012b 1.1 0 0.00024952 T013 5.8 0 0.001274977 T013b 1.1 0 0.000249867 T014 5.8 1 0.144379274 T014b 1.1 0 0.000250213 T015 5.8 1 0.143890497 T015b 1.1 0 0.00025056 T016 5.8 0 0.001285938 T016b 1.1 0 0.000250907 T017 5.8 0 0.001289591 T017b 1.1 0 0.000251253 T018 5.9 0 0.001293245 T018b 1.1 0 0.0002516 T019 5.9 0 0.001296898 T019b 1.1 0 0.000251946 T020 5.9 0 0.001300552 T020b 1.1 0 0.000252293 T021 5.9 1 0.141015686 T021b 1.1 0 0.000252639 T022 5.9 0 0.001307859 T022b 1.1 0 0.000252986 T023 5.9 0 0.001311512 T023b 1.1 0 0.000253332 T024 6.0 1 0.139614492 T024b 1.1 0 0.000253679 T025 6.0 0 0.00131882 T025b 1.1 0 0.000254025 T026 6.0 0 0.001322473 T026b 1.2 0 0.000254372 T027 6.0 0 0.001326127 T027b 1.2 0 0.000254718 T028 6.0 0 0.001329781 T028b 1.2 0 0.000255065 T029 6.0 0 0.001333434 T029b 1.2 0 0.000255411 T030 6.1 0 0.001337088 T030b 1.2 0 0.000255758 T031 6.1 0 0.001340741 T031b 1.2 0 0.000256104 T032 6.1 0 0.001344395 T032b 1.2 0 0.000256451 T033 6.1 0 0.001348049 T033b 1.2 0 0.000256797 T034 6.1 0 0.001351702 T034b 1.2 0 0.000257144 T035 6.1 0 0.001355356 T035b 1.2 0 0.000257491 T036 6.1 0 0.001359009 T036b 1.2 0 0.000257837 T037 6.2 0 0.001362663 T037b 1.2 0 0.000258184 T038 6.2 0 0.001366317 T038b 1.2 0 0.00025853 T039 6.2 0 0.00136997 T039b 1.2 0 0.000258877 T040 6.2 0 0.001373624 T040b 1.2 0 0.000259223 T041 6.2 0 0.001377278 T041b 1.2 0 0.00025957 T042 6.2 0 0.001380931 T042b 1.2 0 0.000259916 T043 6.3 0 0.001384585 T043b 1.2 0 0.000260263 T044 6.3 1 0.130842953 T044b 1.2 0 0.000260609 T045 6.3 0 0.001391892 T045b 1.2 0 0.000260956 T046 6.3 0 0.001395546 T046b 1.2 0 0.000261303 T047 6.3 0 0.0013992 T047b 1.2 0 0.000261649 T048 6.3 0 0.001402853 T048b 1.2 0 0.000261996 T049 6.4 0 0.001406507 T049b 1.2 0 0.000262342 T050 6.4 0 0.001410161 T050b 1.2 0 0.000262689 T051 6.4 0 0.001413814 T051b 1.2 0 0.000263035 T052 6.4 0 0.001417468 T052b 1.2 0 0.000263382 T053 6.4 0 0.001421122 T053b 1.2 0 0.000263728 T054 6.4 0 0.001424775 T054b 1.2 0 0.000264075 T055 6.5 0 0.001428429 T055b 1.2 0 0.000264422 T056 6.5 0 0.001432083 T056b 1.2 0 0.000264768 T057 6.5 0 0.001435736 T057b 1.2 0 0.000265115 T058 6.5 0 0.00143939 T058b 1.2 1 0.803003137 T059 6.5 0 0.001443044 T059b 1.2 0 0.000265808 T060 6.5 0 0.001446698 T060b 1.2 0 0.000266154 T061 6.6 0 0.001450351 T061b 1.2 0 0.000266501 T062 6.6 0 0.001454005 T062b 1.2 1 0.798679958 T063 6.6 0 0.001457659 T063b 1.2 0 0.000267194 T064 6.6 0 0.001461312 T064b 1.2 0 0.000267541 T065 6.6 0 0.001464966 T065b 1.2 0 0.000267887 T066 6.6 0 0.00146862 T066b 1.2 0 0.000268234 T067 6.7 0 0.001472274 T067b 1.2 0 0.00026858 T068 6.7 0 0.001475927 T068b 1.2 0 0.000268927 T069 6.7 0 0.001479581 T069b 1.2 0 0.000269273 T070 6.7 0 0.001483235 T070b 1.2 0 0.000269621 T071 6.7 0 0.001486888 T071b 1.2 0 0.000269967 T072 6.7 0 0.00149054 T072b 1.2 0 0.000265067 T073 6.8 1 0.119661059 T073b 1.2 0 0.000259467 T074 6.8 0 0.001497843 T074b 1.1 0 0.000253868 T075 6.8 0 0.001501494 T075b 1.1 0 0.000248268 T076 6.8 1 0.118595686 T076b 1.1 0 0.000242669 T077 6.8 0 0.001508796 T077b 1.1 0 0.000237069 T078 6.8 0 0.001512448 T078b 1.0 0 0.00023147 T079 6.9 0 0.001516099 T079b 1.0 0 0.00022587 T080 6.9 0 0.00151975 T080b 1.0 0 0.000220271 T081 6.9 0 0.001523401 T081b 1.0 0 0.000214671 T082 6.9 0 0.001527052 T082b 0.9 0 0.000209072 T083 0.1 0 1.7259E-05 T083 6.6 0 0.001458633 T083b 0.9 0 0.000203472 T084 6.6 0 0.001458624 T084b 0.9 0 0.000197873 T085 6.6 1 0.123232661 T085b 0.9 0 0.000192273 T086 6.6 0 0.001458608 T086b 0.8 0 0.000186674 T087 6.6 0 0.0014586 T087b 0.8 0 0.000181075 T088 6.6 0 0.001458592 T088b 0.8 0 0.000175475 T089 6.6 0 0.001458584 T089b 0.8 0 0.000169876 T090 6.6 0 0.001458576 T090b 0.7 0 0.000164277 T091 6.6 0 0.001458568 T091b 0.7 0 0.000158677 T092 6.6 0 0.00145856 T092b 0.7 0 0.000153078 T093 6.6 0 0.001458552 T093b 0.7 0 0.000147479 T094 6.6 0 0.001458544 T094b 0.6 0 0.000141879 T095 6.6 0 0.001458535 T095b 0.6 0 0.00013628 T096 6.6 0 0.001458527 T096b 0.6 0 0.000130681 T097 6.6 0 0.001458519 T097b 0.6 0 0.000125082 T098 6.6 0 0.001458511 T098b 0.5 0 0.000119482 T099 6.6 0 0.001458503 T099b 0.5 0 0.000113883 T100 6.6 0 0.001458495 T100b 0.5 0 0.000108284 T101 6.6 0 0.001458487 T101b 0.5 0 0.000102685 T102 6.6 0 0.001458479 T102b 0.4 0 9.70856E-05 T103 6.6 0 0.001458471 T103b 0.4 0 9.14864E-05 T104 6.6 0 0.001458462 T104b 0.4 1 2.543357717 T105 6.6 0 0.001458454 T105b 0.4 0 8.02881E-05 T106 6.6 0 0.001458446 T106b 0.3 0 7.4689E-05 T107 6.6 0 0.001458438 T107b 0.3 0 6.90899E-05 T108 6.6 0 0.00145843 T108b 0.3 0 6.34908E-05 T109 6.6 0 0.001458422 T109b 0.3 0 5.78917E-05 T110 6.6 0 0.001458414 T110b 0.2 0 5.22926E-05 T111 6.6 0 0.001458406 T111b 0.2 0 4.66935E-05 T112 6.6 0 0.001458398 T112b 0.2 0 4.10945E-05 T113 6.6 0 0.00145839 T113b 0.2 0 3.54954E-05 T114 6.6 0 0.001458381 T114b 0.1 0 2.98964E-05 T115 6.6 1 0.123257651 T115b 0.1 0 2.42974E-05 T116 6.6 0 0.001458365 T116b 0.1 0 1.86984E-05 T117 6.6 0 0.001458357 T117b 0.1 0 1.30994E-05 T118 6.6 0 0.001458349 T118b 0.0 0 7.50045E-06 T119 6.6 0 0.001458341 T119b 0.0 0 1.90149E-06 T120 6.6 0 0.001458333 T121 6.6 0 0.001458325 T122 6.6 0 0.001458317 T123 6.6 0 0.001458301 T124 6.6 1 0.123267084 T125 6.6 0 0.001458262 T126 6.6 0 0.001458243 T127 6.6 0 0.001458223 T128 6.6 0 0.001458204 T129 6.6 0 0.001458185 T130 6.6 0 0.001458165 T131 6.6 0 0.001458146 T132 6.6 0 T133 6.6 0 T134 6.6 0 T135 6.6 0 T136 6.6 0 T137 6.6 0 T138 6.6 0 T139 6.6 0 T140 6.6 1 T141 6.6 0 T142 6.6 0 T143 6.6 0 T144 6.6 0 T145 6.6 0 T146 6.6 0 T147 6.6 0 T148 6.6 0 T149 6.6 0 T150 6.6 1 T151 6.6 0 T152 6.6 0 T153 6.6 1 T154 6.6 1 T155 6.6 0 T156 6.6 1 T157 6.6 0 T158 6.6 0 T159 6.6 0 T160 6.6 0 T161 6.6 0 T162 6.6 0 T163 0.0 0 T163 6.6 0 T164 7.3 0 T165 7.3 0 T166 7.3 0 T167 7.3 0 T168 7.3 0 T169 7.3 0 T170 7.3 0 T171 7.3 1 T172 7.3 0 T173 7.3 0 T174 7.3 0 T175 7.2 0 T176 7.2 0 T177 7.2 0 T178 7.2 0 T179 7.2 0 T180 7.2 0 T181 7.2 0 T182 7.2 0 T183 7.2 0 T184 7.2 0 T185 7.2 0 T186 7.1 1 T187 7.1 0 T188 7.1 0 T189 7.1 0 T190 7.1 0 T191 7.1 0 T192 7.1 1 T193 7.1 0 T194 7.1 0 T195 7.1 1 T196 7.1 0 T197 7.1 0 T198 7.0 0 T199 7.0 0 T200 7.0 0 T201 7.0 0 T202 7.0 0 T203 7.0 0 T204 7.0 0 T205 7.0 0 T206 7.0 0 T207 7.0 0 T208 7.0 0 T209 6.9 0 T210 6.9 0 T211 6.9 0 T212 6.9 0 T213 6.9 0 T214 6.9 0 T215 6.9 0 T216 6.9 0 T217 6.9 0 T218 6.9 0 T219 6.9 0 T220 6.9 1 T221 6.8 0 T222 6.8 0 T223 6.8 0 T224 6.8 0 T225 6.8 0 T226 6.8 0 T227 6.8 0 T228 6.8 0 T229 6.8 0 T230 6.8 0 T231 6.8 0 T232 6.7 0 T233 6.7 0 T234 6.7 0 T235 6.7 0 T236 6.7 0 T237 6.7 0 T238 6.7 0 T239 6.7 0 T240 6.7 0 T241 6.7 0 T242 6.7 0 T243 6.6 0 T244 6.6 0 T245 6.6 0 T246 6.6 0 T247 6.6 0 T248 6.6 0 T249 6.6 0 T250 6.6 0 T251 6.6 0 T252 6.6 1 T253 6.6 0 T254 6.6 0 T255 6.5 0 T256 6.5 0 T257 6.5 0 T258 6.5 0 T259 6.5 0 T260 6.5 0 T261 6.5 0 T262 6.5 0 T263 6.5 0 T264 6.5 0 T265 6.5 1 T266 6.4 0 T267 6.4 0 T268 6.4 0 T269 6.4 0 T270 6.4 0 T271 6.4 0 T272 6.4 1 T273 6.4 0 T274 6.4 0 T275 6.4 1 T276 6.4 0 T277 6.4 0 T278 6.3 0 T279 6.3 0 T280 6.3 0 T281 6.3 0 T282 6.3 0 T283 6.3 0 T284 6.3 0 T285 6.3 1 T286 6.3 0 T287 6.3 0 T288 6.3 0 T289 6.2 0 T290 6.2 0 T291 6.2 0 T292 6.2 0 T293 6.2 0 T294 6.2 0 T295 6.2 0 T296 6.2 0 T297 6.2 0 T298 6.2 0 T299 6.2 0 T300 6.2 1 T301 6.1 0 T302 6.1 0 T303 6.1 0 T304 6.1 0 T305 6.1 0 T306 6.1 1 T307 6.1 0 T308 6.1 0 T309 6.1 0 T310 6.1 1 T311 6.1 0 T312 6.0 0 T313 6.0 0 T314 6.0 0 T315 6.0 0 T316 6.0 0 T317 6.0 0 T318 6.0 0 T319 6.0 0 T320 6.0 0 T321 6.0 0 T322 6.0 0 T323 5.9 0 T324 5.9 0 T325 5.9 0 T326 5.9 1 T327 5.9 0 T328 5.9 0 T329 5.9 0 T330 5.9 0 T331 5.9 0 T332 5.9 0 T333 5.9 0 T334 5.9 0 T335 5.8 0 T336 5.8 0 T337 5.8 0 T338 5.8 0 T339 5.8 0 T340 5.8 1 T341 5.8 2 T342 5.8 0 T343 5.8 1 T344 5.8 0 T345 5.8 0 T346 5.7 0 T347 5.7 0 T348 5.7 0 T349 5.7 0 T350 5.7 0 T351 5.7 0 T352 5.7 0 T353 5.7 0 T354 5.7 1 T355 5.7 0 T356 5.7 0 T357 5.7 0 T358 5.6 0 T359 5.6 0 T360 5.6 0 T361 5.6 1 T362 5.6 0 T363 5.6 0 T364 5.6 0 T365 5.6 0 T366 1.1 0 T366 1.7 0 T367 1.0 0 T368 1.0 0 T369 1.0 0 T370 1.0 0 T371 1.0 0 T372 1.0 0 T373 1.0 0 T374 1.0 1 T375 1.0 0 T376 1.0 0 T377 1.0 0 T378 0.9 0 T379 0.9 0 T380 0.9 0 T381 0.9 0 T382 0.9 0 T383 0.9 0 T384 0.9 0 T385 0.9 0 T386 0.9 0 T387 0.9 0 T388 0.9 0 T389 0.9 0 T390 0.8 0 T391 0.8 0 T392 0.8 0 T393 0.8 0 T394 0.8 1 T395 0.8 0 T396 0.8 0 T397 0.8 0 T398 0.8 0 T399 0.8 0 T400 0.8 0 T401 0.8 0 T402 0.7 0 T403 0.7 0 T404 0.7 0 T405 0.7 0 T406 0.7 0 T407 0.7 0 T408 0.7 0 T409 0.7 0 T410 0.7 0 T411 0.7 0 T412 0.7 0 T413 0.7 0 T414 0.6 0 T415 0.6 0 T416 0.6 0 T417 0.6 0 T418 0.6 0 T419 0.6 0 T420 0.6 0 T421 0.6 0 T422 0.6 0 T423 0.6 0 T424 0.6 0 T425 0.5 0 T426 0.5 0 T427 0.5 0 T428 0.5 0 T429 0.5 0 T430 0.5 0 T431 0.5 0 T432 0.5 0 T433 0.5 0 T434 0.5 0 T435 0.5 0 T436 0.5 0 T437 0.4 0 T438 0.4 0 T439 0.4 0 T440 0.4 0 T441 0.4 0 T442 0.4 0 T443 0.4 0 T444 0.4 0 T445 0.4 0 T446 0.4 0 T447 0.4 0