United States Department of the Interior U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 2321 West Royal Palm Road, Suite 103 Phoenix, Arizona 85
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United States Department of the Interior U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 2321 West Royal Palm Road, Suite 103 Phoenix, Arizona 85021 Telephone: (602) 242-0210 FAX: (602) 242-2513 January 31, 2003 AESO/SE 2-21-95-F-441 2-21-01-F-211 2-21-95-F-442 2-21-01-F-300 2-21-95-F-443 2-21-01-F-302 2-21-95-F-446 2-21-01-F-303 2-21-95-F-447 2-21-01-F-306 2-21-01-F-105 2-21-01-F-307 Mr. John C. Bedell Forest Supervisor Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest P.O. Box 640 Springerville, Arizona 85938-0640 RE: Blue and San Francisco Rivers Consultation Dear Mr. Bedell: This biological opinion (BO) responds to your request for consultation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) pursuant to section 7 of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531-1544), as amended (Act). Your request for formal consultation was dated May 14, 2001, and received by us on May 15, 2001. At issue are impacts that may result from the proposed authorization or re- authorization of livestock grazing on multiple allotments along the Blue and San Francisco rivers within the Apache National Forest, located in Apache and Greenlee counties, Arizona, and their effects to spikedace (Meda fulgida), loach minnow (Tiaroga cobitis), critical habitat for spikedace and loach minnow, Mexican spotted owl (Strix occidentalis lucida), and Chiricahua leopard frog (Rana chiricahuensis). Additionally, you requested our concurrence that the proposed action is not likely to adversely affect razorback sucker (Xyrauchen texanus), southwestern willow flycatcher (Empidonax traillii Mr. John C. Bedell 2 extimus), bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus), jaguar (Panthera onca), lesser long-nosed bat (Leptonycteris curasoae yerbabuenae), and Arizona hedgehog cactus (Echinocereus triglochidiatus var. arizonicus). The FWS concurs that the proposed action is not likely to adversely affect these species. Details for these concurrences are provided in Appendix A. This biological opinion is based on information provided in multiple biological assessments (BA), addenda to those BAs, draft and final environmental assessments, project proposals, Decision Notices (DNs), Term Permits and modifications, allotment maps, and other supporting documents; telephone conversations with Forest Service staff, field investigations, and other sources of information. Specific sources of information will be listed under each allotment in the project description below. Literature cited in this biological opinion is not a complete bibliography of all literature available on the species of concern, livestock grazing and its effects, or on other subjects considered in this opinion. A complete administrative record of this consultation is on file at this office. Mr. John C. Bedell 3 TABLE OF CONTENTS BIOLOGICAL OPINION .......................................................8 DESCRIPTION OF THE PROPOSED ACTION ...............................8 Stone Creek Allotment ...............................................9 Upper Campbell Blue Allotment .......................................11 Turkey Creek Allotment .............................................12 Bobcat-Johnson Allotment ...........................................13 Foote Creek Allotment ..............................................15 Red Hill Allotment .................................................17 Bush Creek Allotment ..............................................18 Fishhook-Steeple Mesa Allotments ....................................19 Cow Flat Allotment ................................................20 KP and Raspberry Allotments ........................................22 Pigeon Allotment ..................................................24 Wildbunch Allotment ...............................................26 Sardine Allotment ..................................................27 Hickey Allotment ..................................................28 STATUS OF THE SPECIES [rangewide and/or recovery unit] .....................29 Spikedace .......................................................29 Loach Minnow ....................................................31 Mexican Spotted Owl ..............................................34 Chiricahua Leopard Frog ............................................39 Arizona Hedgehog Cactus ...........................................44 ENVIRONMENTAL BASELINE ..........................................44 Status of the Species and Critical Habitat Within the Action Area ..............45 Stone Creek Allotment ........................................46 Upper Campbell Blue Allotment .................................47 Turkey Creek Allotment .......................................47 Bobcat-Johnson Allotment .....................................48 Foote Creek Allotment ........................................49 Red Hill Allotment ...........................................49 Bush Creek Allotment ........................................49 Fishhook - Steeple Mesa Allotments .............................50 Cow Flat Allotment ..........................................50 Pigeon Allotment ............................................51 Wildbunch Allotment .........................................53 Factors Affecting Species Environment Within the Action Area ................55 Blue River .................................................55 San Francisco River ..........................................59 Past Actions ................................................60 Mr. John C. Bedell 4 Climatic Conditions ..........................................62 Allotment Conditions .........................................63 Stone Creek Allotment ..................................64 Upper Campbell Blue Allotment ...........................66 Turkey Creek Allotment .................................68 Bobcat-Johnson Allotment ...............................69 Foote Creek Allotment ..................................71 Red Hill Allotment .....................................72 Bush Creek Allotment ............................75 Fishhook-Steeple Mesa Allotments ........................76 Cow Flat Allotment ....................................78 KP and Raspberry Allotments ............................80 Pigeon Allotment ......................................83 Wildbunch Allotment ...................................85 Sardine Allotment ......................................88 Hickey Allotment ......................................90 EFFECTS OF THE ACTION ........................................95 Watershed Alteration ...............................................95 Aquatic and Riparian Habitats ........................................97 Downstream Effects of Grazing .......................................101 Faunal Alteration .................................................101 Summary of Effects ...............................................101 Species Specific Effects ............................................102 Spikedace ................................................104 Loach Minnow .............................................104 Mexican Spotted Owl .......................................105 Chiricahua Leopard Frog .....................................107 Allotment-Specific Effects ..........................................110 Stone Creek Allotment .......................................110 Upper Campbell Blue Allotment ................................110 Turkey Creek Allotment ......................................111 Bobcat-Johnson Allotment ....................................112 Foote Creek Allotment .......................................113 Red Hill Allotment ..........................................114 Bush Creek Allotment .......................................116 Fishhook-Steeple Mesa Allotment ..............................117 Cow Flat Allotment .........................................118 KP and Raspberry Allotments .................................119 Pigeon Allotment ...........................................120 Mr. John C. Bedell 5 Wildbunch Allotment ........................................121 Sardine Allotment ...........................................123 Hickey Allotment ...........................................123 CUMULATIVE EFFECTS ...............................................124 CONCLUSION .......................................................125 Spikedace ......................................................125 Loach Minnow ...................................................127 Mexican Spotted Owl .............................................128 Chiricahua Leopard Frog ...........................................128 INCIDENTAL TAKE STATEMENT .............................................129 AMOUNT OR EXTENT OF TAKE ........................................129 Spikedace ......................................................129 Loach Minnow ...................................................130 Mexican Spotted Owl .............................................131 Chiricahua Leopard Frog ...........................................131 EFFECT OF THE TAKE ................................................133 Loach Minnow ...................................................133 Chiricahua Leopard Frog ...........................................133 REASONABLE AND PRUDENT MEASURES ..............................133 Loach Minnow ...................................................133 Chiricahua Leopard Frog ...........................................135 CONSERVATION RECOMMENDATIONS ......................................138 LITERATURE CITED ........................................................140 APPENDIX A - Concurrences ..................................................157