Plant Survey Report

DJR Operating

Proposed WC 21-1 Carson Well Project SW/4 Section 21, Township 25 North, Range 12 West San Juan County, New Mexico

April 18, 2018

Prepared by Celia Cook

37 Verano Loop Santa Fe, NM 87508

INTRODUCTION DJR Operating (DJR) proposes to drill up to eight wells on a 435’ x 460’ well pad and construct length of gas pipeline within a 40 foot Right-of-Way (ROW) that extends approximately 19 feet beyond the proposed well pad approximately 23 miles northwest of Nageezi on Bureau of Land Management Farmington Field Office (FFO) administered lands in in San Juan County, New Mexico. The project is collectively called the WC 21-1 Carson Well Project. The proposed project would disturb approximately 6.878 acres, including a 50-foot area around the proposed well pad. Of those acres, approximately 4.069 would be new disturbance, while 0.970 of those acres are within the footprint of existing oil and gas disturbances.

The legal location for the project is the SW ¼ of Section 21, T. 25 North R. 12 West within the Carson Trading Post NW 7.5 minute, USGS 7.5” quadrangle.

Purpose of this Report This botanical survey report discusses the results of a botanical survey of the proposed project area and the potential for disturbance to federal and state listed plant species and designated critical habitats protected under the Endangered Species Act (ESA, 16 USC 1531 et seq.), the corresponding New Mexico State Endangered Plant Species List (Section 75-6-1 NMSA 1978, EMNRD 2017), and the New Mexico Bureau of Land Management State Office’s list of sensitive species (NMSO BLM) that have the potential to occur in San Juan County and in the vicinity of the proposed WC 21-1 Carson Well project area. The project area is located within an area that the BLM has recently mapped as having suitable habitat for Brack’s fishhook cactus (Sclerocactus cloveriae var. brackii) (BLM 2017a, 2017b, Kendall 2017).

Project Area The project area is located on the Paleocene Nacimiento formation within the San Juan Basin of northwestern New Mexico (NMBGR 2003). The elevation of the proposed WC21 Carson Well project well pad is approximately 6,350 feet amsl.

The proposed WC21 Carson Well project is located at the top and along the southwesterly facing slope of a small hill.

The landscape in the area generally consists of a gently rolling sagebrush plain crossed by small and medium-sized shallow drainages. A surface outcropping of the Nacimiento Formation is located approximately 900 feet (277 meters) northwest. The plant community is dominated by stands of big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata) and blue grama (Bouteloua gracilis) with scattered rubber rabbitbrush (Ericameria nauseosa var. graveolens) plants, and areas of galleta (Pleuraphis jamesii), Indian rice grass (Oryzopsis hymenoides), and sand dropseed (Sporobolus cryptandrus). There are no trees in the project area.

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The project area has been extensively grazed by cattle. No perennial streams, waterbodies, or wetlands, were observed within the vicinity of the project area (USFWS, 2018a).

Soils in the project area are predominantly loams and clay loams derived from the underlying Nacimiento Formation (NMBGR 2003). Most of the soils in the project area surrounding the well pad are comprised of the Sheppard-Huerfano-Notal complex, gently sloping (NRCS 2018). Sheppard soils are found on the treads of terraces and are formed eolian deposits derived from sandstone. These are well somewhat excessively drained soils, with a very low runoff class, high to very high capacity to transmit water (Ksat), and low available water storage capacity. Sheppard soils are non-saline to very slightly saline.

Huerfano soils are found on the treads of terraces, and are formed in alluvium derived from siltstone over residuum weathered from shale (NRCS 2018). These are well drained soils have a high runoff class, a very low to moderately high capacity to transmit water, and very low water storage capacity. Huerfano soils are slightly saline to strongly saline.

Notal soils are found on the rises of alluvial fans and are formed from fan alluvium derived from shale (NRCS 2018). These well drained soils have a very high runoff class, a very low to moderately low capacity to transmit water, and a low water storage capacity. Notal soils are slightly saline to moderately saline.

METHODOLOGY The proposed project area was surveyed on March 6, 2018 by wildlife biologist Celia Cook Weather during the survey was cool and breezy with temperatures in the mid-50s (°F). Prior to conducting the survey, databases identifying the Threatened and Endangered plant species and species of concern listed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Information, Planning, and Conservation System (IPaC 2018), the State of New Mexico’s Endangered Plant Species Program (EMNRD 2017), the New Mexico Rare Plant Technical Committee (NMRPTC 1999, revised April 12, 2017), and the Bureau of Land Management, Farmington Field Office (BLM FFO 2013, BLM 2017a) were examined.

The survey of the project area was accomplished by walking zigzag transects on each side of the centerline of the proposed pipeline route, covering the 40-foot ROW corridor width and a buffer zone of 25 feet on each side. The survey of the proposed well pad included walking a series of parallel belt transects across the well pad, then walking a zigzag belt transect around the perimeter of the well pad through an encircling 50-foot buffer zone. The emphasis of the survey was to inspect for potential species of concern; however, most plants were identified in order to provide a more complete

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description of the project area’s environment. A list of the plants observed in the project area is included at the end of this report in Table 2.

SURVEY RESULTS Federally Listed Threatened and Endangered Plant Species and BLM Sensitive Species There are four species of plants listed as endangered or threatened by the by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Information, Planning, and Conservation System (IPaC 2018), and five species listed as sensitive by the BLM (EMNRD 2017, NMRPTC 1999, revised 2017). The project area is located within an area that the BLM has recently mapped as having suitable habitat for Brack’s fishhook cactus (Sclerocactus cloveriae var. brackii) (BLM 2017a, 2017b, Kendall 2017). Details of the status, habitat, and the potential to occur in the project area for each of these species are presented below in Table 1.

Table 1. Species of interest, status, habitat, and potential to occur in the project area

SPECIES/STATUS HABITAT POTENTIAL TO OCCUR IN THE PROJECT AREA Aliciella formosa Salt desert scrub communities in soils No appropriate habitat: Aztec gilia of the Nacimiento Formation near there are no salt desert scrub Aztec and Bloomfield, New Mexico. communities in the project

Elev. 5,000-6,400 ft. Flowers April and area. (NP) BLM Sensitive May (NMRPTC 1999, last update April 2017; Heil and Herring, 1999a). Asclepias sanjuanensis Sandy loam soils, usually in disturbed No appropriate habitat: San Juan milkweed sites, in juniper savanna and Great there are no Juniper Basin desert scrub. Flowers late April savanna, Great Basin desert

thru early May (NMRPTC 1999; Heil scrub, or open dunal sites in BLM Sensitive and Herring, 1999b). Typically found in the project area. (NP) open dunal locations, often with sandhill muhly (Muhlenbergia pungens) and sand wild-buckwheat (Eriogonum leptocladon). Elev. 5000-6420 ft. (NMRPTC 1999, last update April 2017; Heil and Herring, 1999b, Roth, 2001a). Astragalus humillimus Cracks or eroded depressions on No appropriate habitat: Mancos milkvetch sandstone rimrock ledges and mesa there is no Point Lookout tops in Point Lookout sandstone. Elev. sandstone or rimrock ledges

5,000-6,000 ft. Flowers late April thru and mesa tops in the project USFWS Endangered early May (NMRPTC 1999, last update area. The project area is April 2017; McDonald, 1999a). slightly above the elevation range of the species. (NP)

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SPECIES/STATUS HABITAT POTENTIAL TO OCCUR IN THE PROJECT AREA Erigeron rhizomatus Nearly barren detrital clay hillsides No appropriate habitat: Zuni fleabane with soils derived from shales of the there are no Chinle or Baca Chinle or Baca Formations in open Formations or nearly barren piñon-juniper woodlands. Elev. 7300- clay hillsides in the project USFWS Threatened 8000 feet. Flowers May and June area. The project area is well (NMRPTC 1999, last update April 2017; below the elevation range of McDonald, 1999, last updated 2008). the species. (NP) Pediocactus knowltonii On rolling, gravelly hills in a piñon- No appropriate habitat: Knowlton cactus juniper-sagebrush community. Elev. there are no rolling gravelly 6,200-6,300 feet. Flowers April and hills in the project area. The USFWS Endangered May. Known only from the type project area is located location near the Los Piños River approximately 52 miles (NMRPTC 1999, last update April 2017; south-southwest of the only McDonald and Ferguson, 1999). known population of this species. The project area is slightly above the known elevation range of the species. (NP) Proatriplex pleiantha On saline clay soils of the Mancos and No appropriate habitat: Mancos saltplant Fruitland shale formations in desert there are no desert badlands of the Colorado Plateau. Elev. badlands, and no saline clay BLM Sensitive 5,000-5,500 ft. Flowers mid-May to soils derived from Mancos or mid-June (NMRPTC 1999, last update Fruitland shale formations in April 2017; Roth, 1999). the project area. The project area is well above the elevation range of the species. (NP) Puccinellia parishii Alkaline springs, seeps, and seasonally No appropriate habitat: Parish’s alkali grass wet areas that occur at the heads of there are no alkaline springs, drainages or on gentle slopes Elev. seeps, or seasonally wet BLM Sensitive 2,600-7,200 ft. range-wide. Flowers areas in the project area. May to June (NMRPTC 1999, last (NP) update April 2017; McDonald, 1999c). Sclerocactus cloverae ssp. Sandy clay strata of the Nacimiento No appropriate habitat: brackii Formation in sparse shadscale scrub. A Vegetation within the project Brack hardwall cactus more recent analysis conducted by the area is dominated by Natural Heritage Program of New sagebrush and grasses. BLM Sensitive Mexico (Muldavin et al. 2016) and Sandy clay soils are limited modeling by the BLM-FFO (2017b) have within the project area. (NP) extended the range of this species to 5 | P a g e

SPECIES/STATUS HABITAT POTENTIAL TO OCCUR IN THE PROJECT AREA include the project area the Nageezi and Lindrith areas Elev. 5,000-6,400 ft. Flowers in May (NMRPTC 1999, last update April 2017; Ferguson, 1998, last updated 2016). Sclerocactus mesae-verdae Sparsely vegetated low rolling clay hills No appropriate habitat: Mesa Verde cactus in the Mancos or Fruitland shale there are no Mancos or formations. Commonly associated Fruitland shale formations. USFWS Threatened plants include mat saltbush (Atriplex The project area is well corrugata) and shadscale (A. above the known elevation confertifolia). Elev. 4,900-5,500 ft. of the species. (NP) Flowers late April to May (NMRPTC 1999, last update April 2017; McDonald, 1999d). Status USFWS – U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (IPaC, 2017) Endangered – a species that is in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of its range Threatened – a species that is likely to become endangered in the foreseeable future. BLM – Bureau of Land Management (NMRPTC, 1999, revised 2017) Sensitive – a species that has recently undergone, is undergoing, or is predicted to undergo a downward trend such that the viability of the species or a distinct population segment of the species is at risk across all or a significant portion of the species' range, or the species depends on ecological refugia or specialized or unique habitats on BLM-administered lands, and there is evidence that such areas are threatened such that the continued viability of the species in that area would be at risk. Potential to Occur K – Known, documented observation within project area. S – Habitat suitable and species suspected to occur within the project area. NS – Habitat suitable but species is not suspected to occur within the project area. NP – Habitat not present and species unlikely to occur within the project area

No plant species of interest to the United States Fish and Wildlife Service or the Bureau of Land Management were observed within the proposed project area during the plant survey.

No perennial streams, alkali seeps or wetlands were recorded in the immediate area of the project and none were observed within the boundaries of the proposed well pad and water line/access road corridor or the buffer zones around these proposed features.

Noxious weeds The New Mexico Department of Agriculture lists 36 noxious weed species (Witte 2016). There are twenty-one species of Class A Noxious Weeds and ten species of Class B Noxious Weeds found within the boundaries of the Farmington Field Office of the BLM (BLM 2015). None of these species were observed within the project area during the March 6, 2018 plant survey.

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DISCUSSION

No plant species of interest to the United States Fish and Wildlife Service or the Bureau of Land Management were observed within the proposed project area.

The initial map contained in Attachment 1 of the Instruction Memorandum (dated April 14, 2017) and used in the May 1, 2017 survey, does not indicate that the project area is located in suitable habitat for BLM Status Plant Species (SPSS) -- Brack’s cactus and Aztec gilia. However, the revised map from Attachment 1 of the Instruction Memorandum (dated May 2, 2017 and obtained from BLM on May 7, 2017) clearly indicates that the project area is located in SPSS suitable habitat. In addition, more recent analyses conducted by the Natural Heritage Program of New Mexico (Muldavin et al. 2016), as well as the recently issued modification (BLM 2017b), to the map contained in Attachment 1 of BLM Instruction Memorandum No. NMF0120-2017-003, and modeling conducted by the BLM-FFO (Kendall 2017) have extended the range of suitable habitat for Brack’s cactus, to include the project area.

Attachment 2 of the Instruction Memorandum outlines the requirements for surveys for all proposed surface-disturbing activities within mapped SPSS suitable habitat. The FFO biologist with sensitive plant responsibilities, in coordination with the project lead, will determine whether the proposed action as described above will affect suitable habitat for Brack’s cactus and if additional protocol level surveys for the cactus are needed to provide the BLM with information to analyze the direct, indirect, and cumulative impacts on its habitat.

Attachment 3 of the Instruction Memorandum establishes a consistent approach for addressing the occurrence of Brack’s cactus within project areas and rights-of-ways when designing projects in the Nageezi-Lindrith SPSS core area. Based on the procedures outlined in Attachment 2, additional mitigations and actions may be applied to this project to minimize or eliminate impacts to Brack’s cactus during construction.

CONCLUSIONS The proposed project would have no effect on federal or state listed threatened or endangered plant species.

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Report Preparer and Certification The results and conclusions contained in this report represent my best professional judgment and are based on my field survey of the proposed project area as conducted on March 6, 2018, information provided by the project proponent, applicable agencies, and other sources.

Signature of Author: Celia Cook April 18, 2018

Permits West, Inc. 37 Verano Loop Santa Fe, NM 87508 (505) 466-8120

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Plant species that were observed during the March 6, 2018 survey are listed in Table 2 below. Plant identifications are based on Heil et al (2013) and Ivey (2003). Scientific names are from these sources and from Allred (2007).

Table 2. Plants observed in the vicinity of the proposed project area

Shrubs and Subshrubs Artemisia tridentata Big sagebrush Ericameria nauseosa var. graveolens Rubber rabbitbrush Ephedra cutleri Cutler’s ephedra Gutierrezia sarothrae Broom snakeweed Yucca sp. Yucca

Cactus Opuntia polyacantha Starvation prickly-pear

Grasses Achnatherum hymenoides Indian ricegrass Aristida purpurea var. purpurea Purple three-awn Bouteloua gracilis Blue grama Bromus tectorum Cheatgrass Pleuraphis jamesii Galleta Sporobolus cryptandrus Sand dropseed

Forbs Plantago patigonica Woolly plantain Penstemon sp. Penstemon

REFERENCES Allred, Kelly, 2007. A Working Index of New Mexico Vascular Plant Names. Range Science Herbarium at New Mexico State University. Las Cruces, New Mexico. http://web.nmsu.edu/~kallred/herbweb/Working%20Index-title.htm.

Bureau of Land Management- Farmington Field Office (BLM FFO) 2013. BLM FFO Noxious Weeds May 2013. Noxious Weed List prepared as part of “Bare Soil Reclamation Procedures – May 2013.”

Bureau of Land Management- Farmington Field Office (BLM FFO) 2015. BLM FFO Onsite Noxious Weed Form. Received June 4, 2015.

Bureau of Land Management, Farmington Field Office. 2017a. BLM Instruction Memorandum No. NMF01210-2017-003. Bureau of Land Management Special Status Plant Species (SSPS) – Brack’s Cactus and Aztec Gilia. https://www.blm.gov/policy/im-nmf01210-2017-003, accessed April 18, 2018.

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Bureau of Land Management, Farmington Field Office. 2017b. E-mail from Matt Dorsey with attached GIS polygons for Attachment 1, SSPS suitable habitat, Bracks/Aztec. April 18, 2018.

Heil, Kenneth D., Steve L. O’Kane, Jr., Linda Mary Reeves, and Arnold Clifford. 2013. Flora of the Four Corners Region: Vascular Plants of the San Juan River Drainage, Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah. Missouri Botanical Garden Press, St. Louis, Missouri.

Ivey, Robert DeWitt. 2008. Flowering Plants of New Mexico, fifth edition. R. D. & V. Ivey, Publishers. Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Kendall, John. 2017. Wildlife Biologist – Threatened and Endangered Species Program Lead. Bureau of Land Management. Farmington, NM. Brack’s cactus training for contractors, Farmington Field Office. May 2, 2017

Muldavin, E., R. Sivinski, M. East, Y. Chauvin, and Mark Horner. 2016. Brack's hardwall cactus distribution, habitat, and status survey 2015. Unpublished report prepared for the BLM State Office, Santa Fe, NM by Natural Heritage New Mexico, Museum of Southwestern Biology and Department of Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM. 61 pp.

Natural Resources Conservation Services, United States Department of Agriculture (NRCS). 2017. Web Soil Survey. http://websoilsurvey.nrcs.usda.gov/app/WebSoilSurvey.aspx. Accessed April 30, 2017.

New Mexico Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources (NMBGMR). 2003. Geologic Map of New Mexico. 1:500,000. New Mexico Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources.

New Mexico Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources (NMBGR). 2003. Geologic Map of New Mexico. 1:500,000. New Mexico Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources.

New Mexico Energy, Minerals, and Natural Resources Department (NM EMNRD), State Forestry Division.New Mexico Endangered Plant Program. 2017. http://www.emnrd.state.nm.us/SFD/ForestMgt/documents/NMENDANGEREDPLANTList_000.pdf. Accessed April 30, 2017.

New Mexico Rare Plant Technical Council. 1999. New Mexico Rare Plants. Albuquerque, NM: New Mexico Rare Plants Home Page. http://nmrareplants.unm.edu (Latest update: 12 April 2017).

Ferguson, David J. 1998, last updated 2016. Taxon report for Sclerocactus cloverae ssp. brackii (Brack’s hardwall cactus). http://nmrareplants.unm.edu/rarelist_single.php?SpeciesID=162

Heil, Kenneth D. 2002, last updated 2015. Taxon report for Abronia bolackii (Bolack’s sand verbena). http://nmrareplants.unm.edu/rarelist_single.php?SpeciesID=2

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Heil, Kenneth D. 2012. Taxon report for Allciella cliffordii (Clifford’s gilia). http://nmrareplants.unm.edu/rarelist_single.php?SpeciesID=233

Heil, Kenneth D. and Joey Herring. 1999a. Taxon report for Allciella formosa (Aztec gilia). http://nmrareplants.unm.edu/rarelist_single.php?SpeciesID=7

Heil, Kenneth D. and Joey Herring. 1999b. Taxon report for Asclepias sanjuanensis (San Juan milkweed). http://nmrareplants.unm.edu/rarelist_single.php?SpeciesID=15

Hevron, Bill. 2000. Taxon report for Astragalus oocalycis (Arboles milkvetch). http://nmrareplants.unm.edu/rarelist_single.php?SpeciesID=33

Paul Knight, Paul. 1999. Taxon report for Astragalus cottamii (Cottam’s milkvetch). http://nmrareplants.unm.edu/rarelist_single.php?SpeciesID=185

McDonald, Charlie. 1999a. Taxon report for Astragalus humillimus (Mancos milkvetch). http://nmrareplants.unm.edu/rarelist_single.php?SpeciesID=25

McDonald, Charlie. 1999b. Taxon report for Puccinellia parishii (Parish’s alkali grass). http://nmrareplants.unm.edu/rarelist_single.php?SpeciesID=156

McDonald, Charlie. 1999c. Taxon report for Sclerocactus mesae verdae (Mesa Verde cactus). http://nmrareplants.unm.edu/rarelist_single.php?SpeciesID=163

McDonald, Charlie. 1999, last updated 2016. Taxon report for Erigeron rhizomatus (Zuni fleabane). http://nmrareplants.unm.edu/rarelist_single.php?SpeciesID=75

McDonald, Charlie and David J. Ferguson, 1999, last updated 2008. Taxon report for Pediocactus knowltonii (Knowlton cactus). http://nmrareplants.unm.edu/rarelist_single.php?SpeciesID=127

Roth, Daniela. 1999, last updated 2016. Taxon report for Astragalus chuskanus (Chuska milkvetch onion). http://nmrareplants.unm.edu/rarelist_single.php?SpeciesID=20

Roth, Daniela. 1999a. Taxon report for Astragalus naturitensis (Naturita milkvetch). http://nmrareplants.unm.edu/rarelist_single.php?SpeciesID=30

Roth, Daniela. 1999b. Taxon report for Phlox cluteana (Navajo Mountain phlox). http://nmrareplants.unm.edu/rarelist_single.php?SpeciesID=149

Roth, Daniela. 1999c. Taxon report for Proatriplex pleiantha (Mancos saltplant). http://nmrareplants.unm.edu/rarelist_single.php?SpeciesID=38

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Roth, Daniela. 2016. Taxon report for Allium gooddingii (Goodding’s onion). http://nmrareplants.unm.edu/rarelist_single.php?SpeciesID=199

Robert Sivinski. 1999. Taxon report for Astragalus micromerius (Chaco milkvetch). http://nmrareplants.unm.edu/rarelist_single.php?SpeciesID=28

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). 2018. Information, Planning, and Conservation System (IPaC), Listed and Sensitive Species. https://ecos.fws.gov/ipac/. Accessed April 2018.

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