BIOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT FOR FEDERALLY LISTED THREATENED OR ENDANGERED PLANT SPECIES

AND

BIOLOGICAL EVALUATION FOR FOREST SERVICE SENSITIVE PLANT SPECIES

for

Taylor and Long Meadow Grazing Allotment Renewal Kern River Ranger District Sequoia National Forest Kern County, California

March 2017

7 Prepared/ Approved 1u+- ~ nATE TI Fletcher Linton Forest Botanist Sequoia National Forest I. INTRODUCTION

The Taylor/Long Grazing Project and allotment is located on approximately 875 acres within the Kem River Ranger District of the Sequoia National Forest, Tulare County, California. This allotment is located is the southern central and western portions of the Kem Plateau between 7 ,000 and 7, 700 feet, near the Domeland Wilderness. The allotment consists of Taylor Meadow and Long Meadow, mostly located on formerly private land, acquired by the National Forest System (NFS). These two meadows are about two miles apart, but managed as one allotment. The proposed action is to continue current, authorized livestock grazing with modifications.

Along with reauthorizing grazing, certain improvements are proposed for resource improvement. The resulting Allotment Management Plan and Term Grazing Permit would be issued for a 10-year period. All proposed activities would be expected to be in place within a two year period and would be described in the Allotment Management Plan.

The purpose of this biological assessment (BA) and biological evaluation (BE) is to review the proposed Taylor and Long Meadow Grazing Allotment Renewal Project in sufficient detail to determine the potential effects on Threatened, Endangered, and Sensitive (TES) plant species. Specifically, the BA will document effects on proposed, threatened, or endangered species and/or critical habitat; and determine whether formal consultation or conference is required with the United States Department of Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), pursuant to the Endangered Species Act. The BE will analyze effects on Forest Service sensitive plant species in order to determine whether the proposed action will result in a trend toward a sensitive species becoming Federally listed. This BA/BE was prepared in compliance with standards and direction established in Forest Service Manual 2670 .3 and 2672.42 and conforms with legal requirements set forth under Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act (19 U.S.C. 1536 (c), 50 CFR 402.12 (t) and 402.14 (c).

No federally proposed or listed plant species would be expected to occur in the project area.

The Forest Service sensitive plant species considered in this Biological Evaluation are:

Upland Guild • Muir's Raillardella, ( Carlquista muirii) • Greenhorn Fritilary, (Fritillaria brandegeei) • Yosemite Bitterroot, (Lewisia disepala) • Twisselmann's Nemacladus, (Nemacladus twisselmannii)

Meadow/Riparian Guild • Scalloped Moonwort, (Botrychium crenulatum) • Mingan Moonwort, (Botrychium minganense) • Mountain Moonwort, (Botrychium montanum) • Blandow's Bog Moss, (He/odium blandowii) • Broad Nerved Hump-Moss, (Meesia uliginosa)

Please see Appendix A and 'Species and Habitat Accounts' in Existing Environment for the rationale behind including and dismissing specific sensitive plants in this analysis.

II. CONSULTATION TO DATE

Taylor and Long Meadow Grazing Allotment Renewal - Biological Assessment I Biological Evaluation for Plants Page 2of15 Pursuant to 50 CFR 402.12, the Sequoia National Forest received a species list from the US Fish and Wildlife Service showing which federally listed, proposed, or candidate species might be affected by projects in the Sequoia National Forest. The species list for the Sequoia National Forest was obtained from the USDI Fish and Wildlife Service, Sacramento Field Office web site: https://www.fws.gov/sacramento/es species/Lists/es species lists-overview.htm

This list is updated on a project-by-project basis and every 90 days. The list was updated March 6th, 2017 and is reflected in Appendix A. The list contains and 1 category of critical habitat and 2 plant species that occur within the Forest.

Keck's checkerbloom (Sidalcea keckii) is only known from outside the Forest to the north in clay soils below 1,400 feet. The proposed critical habitat for Sidalcea keckii falls entirely outside the national forest boundary.

The Sequoia National Forest (Sequoia NF) currently has two plant species federally listed by the USFWS and 62 species designated as sensitive, i.e., identified by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service (FS) Regional Forester for Region 5 (RS) as requiring special management attention (See Appendix A).

Springville clarkia (Clarkia springvillensis), is listed by the FWS as threatened, is restricted to the foothills of the Tule River drainage. There is neither potential habitat nor likelihood for it to exist within the analysis area for the Taylor Long Grazing project, therefore, it may be eliminated from further consideration and preparation of a Biological Assessment (BA) is not required. Bakersfield cactus (Optunia basilaris var. treleasei), is listed by the FWS as threatened. It is endemic to a limited area of central Kern County in the vicinity of Bakersfield. There is neither potential habitat nor likelihood for it to exist within the analysis area for the Taylor Long grazing project, therefore, it may be eliminated from further consideration and preparation of a BA is not required.

ID. CURRENT MANAGEMENT DIRECTION

Existing management direction for federally listed or candidate species and Forest Service Pacific Southwest Region sensitive plant species is summarized as follows:

Forest Service Manual 2672 provides standards for biological evaluations and provides a list of all Regional Forester designated sensitive wildlife and plant species occurring on National Forest System lands. Supplemented by: 2006 Region 5 Revised Sensitive Plant and Animal Lists (FSM 2600).

Specific management direction for sensitive plants: Current policy as shown in the Forest Service Manual (FSM 2672.4) is to conduct a pre-field review of available information, and in instances where there is evidence of sensitive plant species or habitat, conduct a field reconnaissance if necessary to determine whether the project poses a threat to sensitive plants. The results of surveys and conflict determination are documented in the BE.

Seguoia National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan (FLRMP, USDA FS, 1988). Sensitive species and their habitats are managed to ensure conservation or enhancement of their populations and habitats so that the species do not become federally listed or suffer loss of viability (FSM 2670.2 and 2670.3).

Sierra Nevada Forest Plan Amendment, 2001, and Supplement. 2004: Two new standards and guidelines for the management of TES plants are found on page A-29 of the Record of Decision:

Taylor and Long Meadow Grazing Allotment Renewal - Biological Assessment I Biological Evaluation for Plants Page 3 of15 • Conduct field surveys for threatened, endangered, proposed, and sensitive (TEPS) plant species early enough in the project planning process so that the project can be designed to conserved or enhance TEPS plants and their habitat. Conduct surveys according to procedures outlined in Forest Service Handbook (FSH 2609.25.11). If additional surveys are conducted as part of project implementation, document the survey results in the project file.

• Minimize or eliminate direct and indirect impacts from management activities on TEPS plant unless the activity is designed to maintain or improve plan populations (FSM 2670).

IV. DESCRIPTION OF PROPOSED PROJECT

The Allotment Management Plan and Term Grazing Permit for the Taylor/ Long Meadow Allotment would be issued for a 10-year period.

Along with reauthorizing grazing, certain improvements are proposed for resource improvement. Specific actions at Taylor meadow include: corral at Taylor Meadow would be dismantled and moved to the south side of meadow; a fence would be constructed to provide a cattle exclosure and to control use of the meadow area; and a small spring area (-1/10 acre) at the north end of Upper Taylor Meadow would be fenced for protection from trampling by livestock. At Long meadow proposed activities are: the fence on east side of meadow would be moved approximately 200 feet east of the existing fence to align with an old skid road and the existing fence would be removed where practical; and modifying or resetting the culvert at the downstream edge of the meadow. This culvert is set at the bottom of the gully and establishes a low point for which the meadow channel will attempt to achieve equilibrium and raising the culvert to match the flood plain would reestablish the point of equilibrium with the rest of the meadow.

All proposed activities would be expected to be in place within a two year period and would be described in the Allotment Management Plan.

V. EXISTING ENVIRONMENT

The project area can be accessed off of Cherry Hill road off of Sherman Pass road. The Taylor/Long Grazing Project and allotment is located on approximately 875 acres within the Kem River Ranger District of the Sequoia National Forest, Tulare County, California. This allotment is located is the southern central and western portions of the Kem Plateau between 7 ,000 and 7, 700 feet, near the Domeland Wilderness. The allotment consists of Taylor Meadow and Long Meadow, mostly located on formerly private land, acquired by the National Forest System (NFS).

Plant communities in the project area consist of eastside pine, montane forest, and montane meadows. Dominant species include Red Fir (Abies magnifica), Lodgepole Pine (Pinus contorta), and Jeffery Pine (Pinus jeffreyi). Both meadow basins within the allotment are underlain by large granitic plutons of late cretaceous age.

Species and Habitat Accounts

The latest available update (July, 2014) of CDFG's database program RAREFIND 3 (CNDDB, 2014) was used to retrieve Natural Diversity Data Base (NDDB) records for Special Plants List species listed for the U.S. Geological Survey quadrangle map included in the Taylor and Long Meadow Grazing Allotment Renewal Project area (Cannell Peak). Potential habitat and likelihood of occurrence were determined by

Taylor and Long Meadow Grazing Allotment Renewal~ Biological Assessment I Biological Evalualion for Planls Page 4of15 established habitat parameters of elevation, soil, slope, aspect, and associated plant communities, as well as proximity to locations of known species' occurrences and sub-watershed boundaries.

TES Species were eliminated from further consideration if: 1) they had no known occurrences in or near the project area; and/or 2) no potential habitat existed in the project area.

No R5 Sensitive Plants are known from the project area based on previous survey. The analysis area also has potential habitat for the following R5 Sensitive plant species:

Upland Guild • Muir's Raillardella, ( Carlquista muirii) • Greenhorn Fritilary, (Fritillaria brandegeei) • Yosemite Bitterroot, (Lewisia disepala) • Twisselmann's Nemacladus, (Nemacladus twisselmannii)

Meadow/Riparian Guild • Scalloped Moonwort, (Botrychium crenulatum) • Mingan Moon wort, (Botrychium minganense) • Mountain Moonwort, (Botrychium montanum) • Blandow's Bog Moss, (He/odium blandowii) • Broad Nerved Hump-Moss, (Meesia uliginosa)

None of the above plants are federally listed as endangered or threatened with the FWS. The project area has no potential habitat for any of the 3 listed species that occur or have potential to occur on the Sequoia NF.

Watch list plant species in Region 5 are plants of local concern that are not on the R5 sensitive list. The watch list may include plants on various California State or California Native Plant Society (CNPS) lists or may be added due to local rarity, human impacts (such as collection), location at the edge of their range, or other reasons. Generally the potential for watch list plants to occur in a proposed analysis area would not necessitate botanical surveys, but they are inventoried incidentally, while performing surveys for any Sequoia NF sensitive plants.

The upland and meadow portions of Taylor and Long Meadow grazing allotment area was surveyed for sensitive plants and watch list plants in the spring and summer of 2013. Of the nine potential R5 Sensitive species with habitat or proximity to the Taylor and Long Meadow Grazing Allotment Renewal, none were discovered in the project area.

Scalloped Moonwort, Mingan Moonwort, Mountain Moonwort, Blandow's Bog Moss, and Broad Nerved Hump-Moss are water loving plants found in meadow environments. No populations or individuals of these plants were discovered in the meadow or riparian environments of the allotment.

For species accounts of plants with potential to occur within but were not found see Appendix B.

VI. EFFECTS OF THE ALTERNATIVES

The effects section discusses effects to known occurrences as well as suitable habitat and any possible undiscovered sensitive plants that might grow in the project area.

Alternative 1 - Proposed Action and Alternative 2 - Current Management

Taylor and Long Meadow Grazing Allotment Renewal - Biological Assessment I Biological Evaluation for Plants Page 5of15 Direct Effects of the Proposed Action and Current Management Alternatives

There are no direct effects anticipated for Muir's Raillardella, Greenhorn Fritilary, Yosemite Bitterroot, Twisselmann's Nemacladus, Scalloped Moonwort, Mingan Moonwort, Mountain Moonwort, Blandow's Bog Moss, and Broad Nerved Hump-Moss.

No known populations of Muir's Raillardella, Greenhorn Fritilary, Yosemite Bitterroot, Twisselmann's Nemacladus, Scalloped Moonwort, Mingan Moonwort, Mountain Moonwort, Blandow's Bog Moss, and Broad Nerved Hump-Moss were known from grazing areas of the Taylor and Long Meadow grazing allotment. Additionally, no new populations were found during surveys of the allotment. As such, there is very low potential that these alternatives will cause direct effects on the R5 Sensitive Species with the highest likelihood to occur in the project area (Muir's Raillardella, Greenhorn Fritilary, Yosemite Bitterroot, Twisselmann's Nemacladus, Scalloped Moonwort, Mingan Moon wort, Mountain Moonwort, Blandow's Bog Moss, and Broad Nerved Hump-Moss).

Indirect Effects of the Proposed Action and Current Management Alternatives

Without direct effects there are no indirect effects, so there are no indirect effects anticipated for Muir's Raillardella, Greenhorn Fritilary, Yosemite Bitterroot, Twisselmann's Nemacladus, Scalloped Moonwort, Mingan Moonwort, Mountain Moonwort, Blandow's Bog Moss, and Broad Nerved Hump-Moss.

Cumulative Effects of the Proposed Action and Current Management Alternatives

Without direct and indirect effects there are no cumulative effects of any of the above species.

Alternative 3 - No Action (No Grazing)

· Direct Effects of No Action

There are no direct effects anticipated for the species considered in this BA/BE with the No Action alternative.

Indirect Effects and Cumulative Effects

Without direct effects there are no indirect or cumulative effects.

Vil.DETERMINATION

For Threatened and Endangered Species

It is my determination that the Taylor and Long Meadow Grazing Allotment Renewal Project would have no effect on threatened, endangered or proposed plant species.

For Sensitive Species

It is my determination that the Taylor and Long Meadow Grazing Allotment Renewal Project:

1) would have no effect on Muir's Raillardella, Greenhorn Fritilary, Yosemite Bitterroot, Twisselmann's Nernacladus, Scalloped Moonwort, Mingan Moonwort, Mountain Moonwort, Blandow's Bog Moss, and Broad Nerved Hump-Moss ..

Taylor and Long Meadow Grazing Allotment Renewal - Biological Assessmenl I Biological Evaluation for Plants Page 6of15 2) may affect undiscovered individuals but is not likely to result in a trend toward federal listing or loss of viability for Muir's Raillardella, Greenhorn Fritilary, Yosemite Bitterroot, Twisselmann's Nemacladus, Scalloped Moonwort, Mingan Moonwort, Mountain Moonwort, Blandow's Bog Moss, and Broad Nerved Hump-Moss.

Other plant species listed on the Sequoia National Forest as Forest Service Sensitive do not have habitat within the project area, and therefore will not be impacted by the project (see Appendix A for a summary of rationale supporting this statement).

VIII. REFERENCES

CNDDB, 2014. California Natural Diversity Database. California Department of Fish and Game. Online: htto://www .dfg.ca.gov/biogeodata/cnddb/

CNPS, 2014. California Native Plant Society's Inventory of Rare and Endangered Plants of California. Online http://www.cnps.org/cnps/rareplants/in ventory/

Hickman, J.C. 2013. The Jepson Manual- Higher Plants of California, Second Edition James C. Hickman, Editor. University of California Press, Berkeley.

United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service. 1990. Forest Service Manual. Washington D.C.

USDA Forest Service. 2004. Record of Decision - Sierra Nevada Forest Plan Supplement

USDA Forest Service. 1988. Sequoia National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan. San Francisco, California.

USDA Forest Service. 2013. Sequoia National Forest Sensitive Plant List. Pacific Southwest Region, Vallejo, CA (on file at Sequoia Nation Forest, Porterville, CA).

USDI, 2011. United States Department of Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service. Federal Endangered and Threatened Species that may be affected by Projects in the Sequoia National Forest. Database last updated August 5th, 2014. http://www.fws.gov/sacramento/es species/Lists/es species lists NF-form-page.htm

Taylor and Long Meadow Grazing Allotment Renewal - Biological Assessment I Biological Evaluation for Plants Page 7 of 15 I Appendix A : Region 5 8ensitive_Plants with potential to occur in or near the Taylor and Long Meadow Grazing Allotment Renewal 2014

SPECIES HABITAT TYPE I SOILS ELEVATION FLOWERING Potential to Occur in the Project Area Waker Pass Milk-Vetch Openings in Pinyan-Juniper , Canyon Oak Woodlands 5,600 to 6,200 ft. April to May No (Astraoa1us ertterae) Dn Sandy-loam, Granitic Soils Kern Plateau Milk-Vetch Open Flats around Montane Meadows with Sagebrush and Lodgepole Pine 7 ,700 to 8,500 ft. June and July No (Astraoalus lentioinosus var. kernensis) Dn1 Sandv- l?favel, Granitic Soils Tulare Rockcress Openings in Upper Montane and Subalpine Forest 8,000 to 10,500 ft. June and July No (Boechera tularensis)* Talus or Rock Outcroo Scalloped Moonwort Among Thick Grass/Herbs in Meadows within Conifer Forest 4,500 to 10,000 ft. June and July Yes f801-...,chiu1n crenulatum) Moist Fine Sediment and Peatv Soils Mingan Moonwort Among Thick Grass/Herbs in Meadows within Conifer Forest 4,900 to 8,750 ft. July to September Yes (Botruchium mincranense) Moist Fine Sediment and Peatv Soils Mountain Moonwort Among Thick Grass/Herbs in Meadows within Conifer Forest 5,000 to 8,500 ft. July to September Yes (Botrvchium montanum) Moist Fine Sediment and Peatv Soils Pygmy Pussypaws Openings in Upper Montane or Subalpine Conifer Forest 6,500 to 10,500 ft. June and August No fCal··"'tridium ""'"crmaeum)* Sandv to Gravelly Soils Palmer's Mariposa Lily Openings in Montane Coniferous Forest, Chaparral, and Meadows 3,500 to 7,500 ft. May and June No (Calochortus nalmeri var. nalrneri) Moist Upland or Meadow Soils Alkali Mariposa Lily Alkaline Seeps, Meadows and Springs, Moist Creosote Bush Scrub 2,600 to 4,600 ft. April to June No (Calochortus striatus) Moist Fine Alkaline Soils Pygmy Poppy Openings in Joshua Tree woodland and Mojave Desert Scrub 1,800 to 6,200 ft March to June No (Canbva candida) o~ Sandv Alluvial Soils Muir's Raillardella Openings in Chaparral, Ponderosa Pine, or Mixed Coniferous Forest 3,600 to 8,200 ft. July and August Yes (Carlnuista muirii) Granite Led~es/Cracks or Gravelly/Sandv Flats Kern Plateau Bird's-Beak P-J and Joshua Tree Woodland, Upper Montane Coniferous Forest 5,500 to 9,800 ft. July and August No (Cordvlanthus eremicus var. kernensis) Steep Rockv Slones in Granitic or Metamo.-nhic Substrate Rose-flowered Larkspur Openings in Cismontane Woodland/Chaparral, Pinyan/Juniper Woodland 1,000 to 4,500 ft. April to May No (Delnhinium numusii\* Talus or Rock Outcron, often Carbonate Hall's Daisy Steep, Rocky, Crevices in Conifer Forest & P-J Woodland 5,200 to 8,000 ft. June and July No fEri(l'eron a''"""Uifolius) Granitic Substrate (Carbonate or Basalt Occasiona1lv) Kern River Daisy Dry Meadow Edges in Mixed Conifer or Aspen Forest 5,000 to 8,400 ft. June and July No (Ericreron multicens) Granitic Gravellv Banks and Sandv Flats Greenhorn Fritilary Openings in lower mixer Conifer Forest and Black Oak Woodland 4,200 to 7 ,300 ft. April to June Yes (Eritillaria brandecreei)* Sandv Granitic soil or Shallow Decornoosed Granite Denosits Blandow's Bog Moss Meadows and Seeps within Subalpine Conifer Forest 6,5550 to 8,850 June and July Yes (Helodium blandowii) Moist Fine Sediment Kern Plateau Horkelia Rocky Soils in Montane Conifer Forest (Jeffrey Pine & Western Juniper) 7,500 to 9,450 ft. May and June No (Horkelia tularensis) Soi1s with Surface Rocks in Metamo.-nhic (Gabbro & Schist) Substrate

Taylor and Long Meadow Grazing Allotment Renewal~ Biological Assessment I Biological Evaluation for Plants Page 8of15 Y osemitc Bitterroot Gravel Shelves in Rock Outcrops within Conifer Forest 3,400 to 11,500 ft. March to June Yes (Lewisia di sen ala) Decomposed Granite Deposits Hockett Meadows Lupine Dry Meadows within Upper Montane Conifer Forest (Jeffery Pine) 8,200 to 9,800 ft. June and July No (Luninus Ienidus var. culbertsonii) Sandy Loam with or without Surface Rock Broad Nerved Hump-Moss Short-Grass Meadows within Conifer Forest 8,000 to 11,500 ft. August and Yes

Taylor and Long Meadow Grazing Allotment Renewal M Biological Assessment I Biological Evaluation for Plants Page 9 of 15 APPENDIXB Species Accounts for Species not found within the Taylor and Long Meadow Grazing Allotment Renewal

Muir's tarplant (Carlquista muirii) Abundance: Known from 19 occurrences: 7 in the Sierra National Forest in the North Fork Kings River drainage (Fresno County), 2 in the Sequoia National Forest in the Kem River drainage (Tulare County), 5 in Kings Canyon National Park in the Kings River drainage (Fresno Co.), 4 in Sequoia NP in the Kaweah River drainage, 1 on BLM land at Owens Peak in Kem County, and one in the Los Padres National Forest in the Ventana Wilderness near the coast. Number of plants reported in each occurrence varies from 24 to over 500. Range/Distribution: Roughly a 200 mile length of the southern Sierra Nevada from Fresno to Kem counties, and one disjunct population 160 miles to the west in the Ventana Wilderness of the Los Padres NF. Elevations range from 4,000 to 8,000 feet. Trend: Apparently stable. Protection of Occurrences: Nine occurrences are located in national parks, one Sequoia NF population is in a Botanical Area, the Los Padres NF population is in the Ventana Wilderness. The Sierra NF occurrences are in areas managed for dispersed and developed recreation, hydroelectric power, and timber harvest. Threats: For occurrences next to trails or near lookouts (Baker Point), foot traffic, cattle trampling, or trail maintenance could impact populations. Most Sierra NF occurrences are next to roads or trails, and one is along an access road to a PG&E penstock, where penstock construction work or road work pose potential threats. Habitat is generally undisturbed. Fragility/habitat specificity: Granite ledges and cracks, decomposed granitic soils, gravelly or sandy flats within openings in chaparral, ponderosa pine, or mixed conifer forest.

Greenhorn Fritillary, (Fritillaria brandegeei) Abundance: Thirty-four occurrences are reported on NDDB from 1960's to 2000's, with wide range of population size from 2 to 400. There are approximately 16 occurrences on the Sequoia National Forest primarily in the Greenhorn Mountains. A number of historical populations have been extirpated. Range/Distribution: West side of Southern Sierra Nevada (Greenhorn Mountains) from central Tulare county (Balch Park) to northern Kem County (lower Kern river gorge). Trend: There is a long-term decline from historical distribution and abundance. Plants of Fritillaria brandegeei have been reported to be scattered, but probably are patchy in forest openings. Population sizes from 2 to 400 have been documented. At one site, about 400 plants were observed in 1981, and 300 in 2003. The number of plants flowering in a given year probably varies with climatic conditions, and some years only a few plants will flower even in a large population. Protection of Occurrences: Most populations occur on Sequoia National Forest and Giant Sequoia National Monument lands utilized for grazing, where current practices do not appear to be harmful to the species' viability. Threats: Grazing, logging, foot traffic, and over-collecting have been named as threats. The reduction or loss of this species' forest opening habitat, due to growth and reproduction of conifers in these areas, may also be a threat. Fritillaria brandegeei is found exclusively on granitic soils, not on soils derived from ferro-magnesium rocks, and therefore its distribution may be related to edaphic conditions. Fragility/habitat specificity: Fritillaria brandegeei is found in openings in lower Mixed Conifer/Hardwood forest. It has been found in pine groves, in woodland, at the edges of meadows, in marshes, and on road banks. Fritillaria brandegeei is found at elevations between about 1,600 to 7,200 feet, although most sites are above 14, 100 ft. It grows on loamy Granitic soil with good organic matter enrichment.

Taylor and Long Meadow Grazing Allotment Renewal - Biological Assessment I Biological Evaluation for Plants Page 10of15 Yosemite Bitterroot (Lewesia disepala) Abundance: Known from granite domes surrounding Yosemite Valley; locally abundant on Mt. Watkins, Basket Dome, and on the unnamed domes east and west of Mt. Starr King, and on granite domes as far south as Kern County. In 1980, Steve Botti estimated that about 20,000 plants were known from Yosemite National Park, and about 110 plants from Tulare County, 200 miles to the south. In 2004, USGS botanists found approximately 11,000 plants from three populations in Yosemite NP. Populations found outside of Yosemite consist of as few as one hundred to over three thousand plants. As of November 2005, there were a total of twenty-two occurrences outside of Yosemite. Thirteen occurrences have been located on the Sierra National Forest: eight in Madera County and five in Fresno County. The Sequoia NF has seven occurrences: 3 in the Scodie Mountains of Kern County, 2 in the Dome Land Wilderness and 2 west of the Kern Canyon in Tulare County. There are two Tulare County occurrences on BLM land east of the Sequoia NF boundary and west of Lamont Peak. Range/Distribution: Mariposa, Madera, Fresno, Tulare, and Kern counties, from 4400 to 7800 feet elevation. Trend: Apparently stable. It is possible that off-highway vehicle (OHV) and other recreational activities have caused individuals to decrease in number in areas outside of wilderness or National Park status. However, due to the large numbers of plants that do fall within those protective parameters, overall populations are likely to be stable. Protection of Occurrences: Although more than half the known occurrences are in wilderness or on inaccessible domes in Yosemite NP or Sequoia NF, the most recently discovered sites are in relatively unprotected areas outside wilderness on the Sierra NF. Threat(s): The greatest threat is OHV traffic, especially at recently discovered Fresno County locations on the High Sierra Ranger District. Some impacts could also result from recreationists hiking or camping near the domes that are accessible to the public. One particular Fresno County occurrence is a popular spot for OHV activity; this area has since been barricaded with rocks but will need to be carefully monitored in the future. In addition, impacts from timber harvest or fuelbreak construction are possible, especially since the plants are not visible during the normal field season. Fragility/habitat specificity: LEDI grows in pans and shelves of granite gravel found on and next to outcrops surrounded by montane mixed-conifer forest. Plants emerge in the winter, bloom, and set fruit very early in the spring, in many cases before access roads are clear of snow. Once seeds are dispersed, the plants virtually disappear and are nearly impossible to find. Botanical surveys over the past years have completely missed this plant because of its early phenology. By the time OHVs can reach the habitat (in Fresno County), it appears that nothing is growing in the gravelly flats. Damage has been done to the Fresno County populations by repeated driving over the habitat (evidenced by the lack of plants in strips created by tire tracks), while dispersed camping and littering also occurs in certain habitat areas. It has been suggested that climate perturbations may also affect LEDI population numbers from year to year.

Twisselman's nemacladus (Nemacladus twisselmannii) Abundance: Two occurrences known from 1982 and 1992 with approx. 100 and 200 plants each, respectively. Range/Distribution: The two known occurrences are on Sequoia NF lands on the Kern Plateau within approximately 8-10 miles of each other, one in southern Tulare county north of White Dome and one in northern Kern County southwest of Pine Flat. Potential habitat exists in the area for more populations to occur, although they are very small, inconspicuous and easily over-looked. Trend: The trend is unknown. Population size seems to be highly variable from year to year, probably due to weather fluctuations, especially precipitation. Protection of Occurrences: Both sites are in areas of little use/management, and the White Dome occurrence is in the Dome Land Wilderness Threats: None anticipated. Fragility/habitat specificity: Twisselmann's nemacladus is found in arid, decomposed granitic gravels

Taylor and Long Meadow Grazing Allotment Renewal - Biological Assessment I Biological Evaluation for Plants Page 11 of 15 and sands on ridge-tops and rock outcrops in open Jeffrey pine Forests, from approximately 7,300 to 7,800 ft.

Scalloped Moonwort (Botrychium crenulatum) Abundance: Of all the rare Botrychium spp. in California, Botrychium crenulatum has the widest distribution across the state, but is not known to be common anywhere. At this time, the Lassen National Forest has 11 known occurrences, the Tahoe and San Bernardino National Forests each have six occurrences (one of the San Bernardino occurrences is found on private), the Modoc NF has four occurrences, the Inyo has two occurrences, while the Plumas, Lake Tahoe Basin, Tahoe Conservancy lands and Mendocino National Forests each have one known occurrence. In addition, the Angeles National Forest has one confirmed and several historical occurrences of this species. Each occurrence often consists of only a few plants, so overall numbers in California are low. Range/Distribution: B. crenulatum is limited to the western United States, scattered from California to Montana. In California, this species is known from Butte, Colusa, Los Angeles, Nevada, Modoc, Mono, Placer, Plumas, Tehama, Tulare, San Bernardino, Shasta and Sierra Counties. Trend: All occurrences have few individuals. Actual trends in these occurrences are hard to determine since the sporophytes do not appear above ground every year. Protection of Occurrences: Botrychium crenulatum is currently listed as a Sensitive species with the Forest Service in Region 5 and Region 6. In addition, this species is considered critically imperiled in Nevada, a candidate for state listing in Oregon, and is state-listed as Sensitive in Washington. Most known California occurrences are at moderate to high elevations and are found on National Forest lands. A few are found in wilderness areas. In addition to Sensitive status, this species is found in riparian areas, which also generally have some form of streamside or wetlands management protection during timber harvest activities on Forest Service lands. However, protection from grazing impacts varies in the riparian areas that currently support B. crenulatum. Interim Management Prescriptions on several forests require the protection of individuals and their associated habitat. Threats: Soil disturbance can be very detrimental, especially if it is occurring on a regular basis. Soil disturbance includes grazing and trampling by livestock and OHV, where a little disturbance and compaction is tolerated but heavy disturbance will kill individuals. Changes in the hydrologic regime (from erosion, roads, grazing, etc.) may also potentially threaten occurrences. Hot fires have been shown to be detrimental, especially if the soil conditions are very dry during the burn. Some occurrences are near campgrounds or trails, so visitor impacts could be a potential threat. Fragility/habitat specificity: Botrychium crenulatum is often associated moist habitats in California, including meadows, seeps, springs, and riparian area. It is most often found on the lip of creek banks or on their sides, mostly within coniferous forest habitats. These habitats are not highly unusual, so the specific limiting factors for this plant species' abundance and distribution are not known. All Botrychium spp. have strong mycorrhizal requirements, which may be a factor. Riparian habitats are subject to grazing and hydrologic alterations, and conifer stands are subject to timber harvesting.

Mingan Moonwort (Botrychium minganense) Abundance: Botrychium minganense is known to California from only 13 confirmed occurrences, 11 are located within the Lassen National Forest, and one occurrence is known to each, Plumas and Sequoia National Forests. In addition, there is also one unconfirmed reported location on the Modoc National Forest, and a few historical occurrences in Butte County, and a report from the Sequoia National Park. Occurrences often consist of only a few plants, so overall plant numbers in California are low. Range/Distribution: Known to Butte, Fresno, Plumas, Tehama and Tulare Counties in California; and scattered locations throughout Arizona, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, and Washington. Trend: All occurrences have few individuals. Actual trends in these occurrences are hard to determine since the sporophytes do not appear above ground every year.

Taylor and Long Meadow Grazing Allotment Renewal - Biological Assessment I Biological Evalualion for Plants Page 12 of 15 Protection of Occurrences: Botrychium minganense was recently listed as a Sensitive species for the Forest Service in Region 5, and it is also listed as a Sensitive species in Region 6 and is state listed as Sensitive in Idaho. This species is found in ripaiian areas, which generally have some form of streamside or wetlands management protection during timber harvest activities on Forest Service lands, but otherwise are not specifically protected. Sensitive status would result in more likely protection and higher priority for monitoring. Threats: Soil disturbance can be very detrimental, especially if it is occurring on a regular basis. Soil disturbance includes grazing and trampling by livestock and OHV, where a little disturbance and compaction is tolerated but heavy disturbance will kill individuals. An Oregon study found light trampling seemed to benefit some species of Botrychiums including B. minganense. However, untrampled areas in B. minganense occurrences displayed low numbers of individuals while heavily trampled areas completely lost Botrychium individuals. Changes in the hydrologic regime (from erosion, roads, grazing, etc.) may also potentially threaten occurrences. Hot fires have been shown to be detrimental, especially if the conditions are very dry during the burn. Fragility/habitat specificity: B. minganense is usually associated with riparian areas, small streams or fens running throughout coniferous forests. These habitats are not highly unusual, so the specific limiting factors for this plant species' abundance and distribution are not known. All Botrychium spp. have strong mycorrhizal requirements, which may be a factor. Riparian habitats are subject to grazing and hydrologic alterations, and conifer stands are subject to timber harvesting.

Mountain Moonwort (Bot1ychium montanum) Abundance: Botrychium montanum is one of the rarest of the Botrychium spp. in California. At this time, there are only 13 confirmed occurrences of Botrychium montanum in California. Rangeillistribution: The Lassen National Forest has 15 occurrences but only 10 of these have been located since 1985. The Plumas National Forest has two confirmed occurrences and the Modoc has only one known occurrence. In addition, there are a few historic occurrences, which have not been confirmed in recent years within Butte County. In July 2005, Don Farrar confirmed a location in the Greenhorn Mountains, Sequoia National Forest in Kem County. Known occurrences often consist of only a few plants, so overall plant numbers in California are low. B. montanum is limited to scattered locations from British Columbia, to California, Montana, Oregon, and Washington. In California, this species has been found in Butte, Modoc, Plumas, Shasta and Tehama Counties. Trend: Actual trends in the populations are unknown, since sporophytes do not appear above ground every year, and all known occurrences have very few individuals recorded. Protection of Occurrences Botrychium montanum is currently listed as a sensitive species by the Forest Service in Region 5, and is listed as rare in Oregon. In addition, this species is considered Forest Service Sensitive in Oregon. Interim management prescriptions on several forests require the protection of individuals and their associated habitat. In other areas, B. montanum will be provided additional protection since it is found in riparian areas, which generally have some form of streamside or wetlands management protection during timber harvest activities on Forest Service lands. Soil disturbance has been shown to be very detrimental especially if on a regular basis. Threats: This includes grazing and trampling by livestock and OHV, where a little disturbance and compaction is tolerated but heavy disturbance will kill individuals. An Oregon study found light trampling seemed to benefit some species of Botrychiums including B. montanum. However, untrampled areas in B. montanum occurrences displayed low numbers of individuals while heavily trampled areas were devoid of Botrychium individuals. Changes in the hydrologic regime (from erosion, roads, grazing, etc.) may also potentially threaten occurrences. Hot fires have been shown to be detrimental, especially if the soil conditions are very dry during the burn. Fragility/habitat specificity Botrychium montanum grows in varied wet habitats from marshes/meadows to coniferous forest/montane streamside areas. In California, it has primarily been found along shady streams in mixed coniferous forests. These habitats are not highly unusual, so specific factors that limit

Taylor and Long Meadow Grazing Allotment Renewal M Biological A'lsessment I Biological Evaluation for Plants Page 13 of 15 the plants' abundance and distribution are not known. All Botrychium spp. have strong mycorrhizal requirements, which may be a factor. Riparian habitats are subject to grazing and hydrologic alterations, and conifer stands are subject to timber harvesting.

Blandow's bog-moss (He/odium blandowii) Abundance: Known from two occurrences in Kings Canyon National Park, three occurrences on Inyo National Forest and two occurrences on Klamath National Forest. Range/Distribution: He/odium blandowii is known from Europe, Asia, and across northern United States from New Jersey and Ohio west to California and Nevada, and northwards to Canada. In California, it is known from Kings Canyon National Park in Fresno Count, from the Inyo National Forest and from the Klamath National Forest. It is also known from the Mt Rose area (Shevock collection) where it was collected in 2004 at Tahoe Meadows, along Ophir Creek on the Humboldt-Toiyabe NF, just outside of the Lake Tahoe Basin. On the Toiyabe National Forest, it is known from Mono County north of Bridgeport. Trend: Trend data is not known, but cattle are known to impact the habitat. Protection of Occurrences: Fens in the National Forests of the Sierra Nevada Mountains are in the Riparian Conservation Area land allocation. Fens are considered "Special Aquatic Features" and receive a default riparian conservation area buffer width of 300 feet from the edge of the fen. Standards and Guidelines for these Special Aquatic Features are listed on pages 340-349 of the Sierra Nevada Forest Plan Amendment. Threats: The two most critical factors affecting the abundance and distribution of fen species such as Helodium blandowii are hydrology and the nutrient concentration of incoming water. Changes in hydrology can occur through ditching, either intentional or inadvertent through road or trail construction or cattle trails. Direct trampling by livestock has also been identified as a threat. Recommend for Sensitive status by California Bryologist Working Group. Fragility/habitat specificity: Grows on wet meadows and seeps in subalpine coniferous forest and alpine lakes. Habitats are sensitive hydrologically.

Broad-nerved hump-moss (Meesia uliginosa) Abundance: There are 48 known occurrences that have been documented in California since 1980 with the majority in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. In addition, there are occurrences that have not been rediscovered since 1980. One of the historical occurrences outside of the Sierra Nevada Mountains appears to be extirpated. Range/Distribution: The worldwide distribution of this species is a continuous circumboreal distribution, with disjunct occurrences in Tierra de! Fuego, the Himalayas and Antarctica. In North America it is widely distributed across the United States, Canada and Greenland. The species is sporadically distributed throughout the Sierra Nevada Mountains: one site on the Sierra NF in Fresno County; one from the Kings River with inadequate site location data; two on the Sequoia NF and one in Kings Canyon NP in Tulare County; two on the Plumas NF in Plumas County; seven on the Lassen NF; two on the Modoc NF in Modoc County; and nine in Nevada County and one in Sierra County on the Tahoe NF, as well as five sites on the Klamath NF. Trend: No trend data are available for this species. Cattle often impact the habitat for the species and there are hydrological concerns with the habitat. Protection of Occurrences: Fens in the National Forests of the Sierra Nevada Mountains are in the Riparian Conservation Area land allocation. Fens are considered "Special Aquatic Features" and receive a default riparian conservation area width of 300 feet from the edge of the fen. Standards and Guidelines for these Special Aquatic Features are listed on pages 340-349 of the Sierra Nevada Forest Plan Amendment. Although these Standards and Guidelines are intended to maintain or restore the geomorphic and biological characteristics of fens and other aquatic features, they do not prohibit other forest activities such as fuel reduction, logging and grazing activities, which could impact this species or

Taylor and Long Meadow Grazing Allotment Renewal - Biological Assessment I Biological Evaluation for Plants Page 14of15 its habitat. Threats: The two most critical factors affecting the abundance and distribution of fen species such as M. uliginosa are hydrology and the nutrient concentration of incoming water. Changes in hydrology can occur through ditching, either intentional or inadvertent through road or trail construction or cattle trails. Direct trampling by livestock has also been identified as a threat. Occurrences on the Klamath NF seem to prefer lodgepole pine substrates that have fallen into the fens. The lack of availability of this material for recruitment may affect populations. Identified threats are listed as a percentage of those fens with listed threats. Fragility/habitat specificity: Meesia uliginosa is strongly tied to montane fens within the Sierra Nevada bioregion. Although there are some occurrences where M. uliginosa has been found in a spring in a meadow without the required 40 cm (15.6 inches) of peat to qualify as a fen, the vast majority of the California occurrences are found in sites that meet the definition of a fen. The species grows from 5,500 to 9 ,200 feet.

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