Draft Environmental Assessment Hunting and Fishing Program on Havasu National Wildlife Refuge April 2021 Prepared by Havasu NWR 317 Mesquite Avenue Needles, CA 92363 Estimated Lead Agency Total Costs Associated with Developing and Producing this EA: $16,000 Contents Proposed Action ..........................................................................................................................1 Background .................................................................................................................................2 Purpose and Need for the Action ................................................................................................3 Alternatives .................................................................................................................................3 Alternative A—Current Management (No-Action Alternative) .................................................3 Alternative B—Expansion of Hunting Opportunities (Proposed Action Alternative) .................5 Alternative C—Expansion of Hunting Opportunities, Including Mule Deer ...............................6 Alternative(s) Considered but Dismissed from Further Consideration .....................................6 Affected Environment and Environmental Consequences ...........................................................7 Natural Resources ...................................................................................................................8 Hunted Species—Waterfowl (Ducks, American Coot, and Geese), Common Gallinule, and Wilson’s Snipe .....................................................................................................................8 Hunted Species—Dove ......................................................................................................11 Hunted Species—Gambel’s Quail ......................................................................................14 Hunted Species—Desert Cottontail Rabbit ........................................................................16 Hunted Species—Black-Tailed Jackrabbit ...........................................................................18 Hunted Species—Bobcat ...................................................................................................20 Hunted Species—Coyote, Gray Fox, and Kit Fox ................................................................22 Hunted Species—Feral Swine ............................................................................................24 Hunted Species—Desert Bighorn Sheep ............................................................................25 Hunted Species—Mule Deer ..............................................................................................27 Fished Species ...................................................................................................................29 Nontargeted Wildlife and Aquatic Species .........................................................................32 Threatened and Endangered Species, and Other Special-Status Species ............................33 Habitat and Vegetation (Including Vegetation of Special Management Concern) ..............36 Soils ...................................................................................................................................37 Air Quality .........................................................................................................................39 Water Quality ....................................................................................................................40 Wilderness ........................................................................................................................41 Visitor Use and Experience ....................................................................................................42 Cultural Resources ................................................................................................................45 Refuge Management and Operations ....................................................................................46 Land Use and Administration on the Refuge ......................................................................46 Socioeconomics .....................................................................................................................48 Local and Regional Economies ...........................................................................................48 Environmental Justice........................................................................................................49 Summary of Analysis .................................................................................................................51 Alternative A—Current Management (No-Action Alternative) ...............................................51 Alternative B—Expansion of Hunting Opportunities (Proposed Action Alternative) ...............51 Alternative C—Expansion of Hunting Opportunities, Including Mule Deer .............................52 List of Sources, Agencies, and Persons Consulted ......................................................................52 List of Preparers ........................................................................................................................53 State Coordination ....................................................................................................................53 Tribal Consultation ....................................................................................................................53 Public Outreach.........................................................................................................................53 Determination ...........................................................................................................................54 Signatures .................................................................................................................................54 References ................................................................................................................................55 Appendix 1 ................................................................................................................................59 Appendix 2 ................................................................................................................................61 Appendix 3 ................................................................................................................................64 List of Figures FIGURE 1.—Map of Pintail Slough Management Unit on Havasu NWR. .......................................61 FIGURE 2.—Havasu NWR management units. .............................................................................62 FIGURE 3.—Feral swine distribution by county, 1982–2015. .......................................................63 List of Tables TABLE 1.—Havasu NWR management units, acreage, hunted species, and fishing information. .64 TABLE 2.—Havasu NWR established hunts: Species and hunting dates. ......................................65 Environmental Assessment for Havasu National Wildlife Refuge Hunting and Fishing Plan This draft Environmental Assessment (EA) is being prepared to evaluate the effects associated with the proposed action and complies with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) in accordance with Council on Environmental Quality regulations (40 CFR 1500–1509) and Department of the Interior (43 CFR 46; 516 DM 8) and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (550 FW 3) regulations and policies. NEPA requires examination of the effects of proposed actions on the natural and human environment. Appendix 1 outlines all laws and executive orders evaluated through this EA. Proposed Action The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) is proposing to maintain the current hunting and fishing programs with modifications to include opening refuge-specific seasons for the harvest of new game species including Eurasian collared-dove (Streptopelia decaocto), African collared- dove (Streptopelia roseogrisea), black-tailed jackrabbit (Lepus californicus), bobcat (Lynx rufus), coyote (Canis latrans), gray fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus), and kit fox (Vulpes macrotis). The Service is also proposing to add the incidental take of feral swine (Sus scrofa) by individuals participating in established hunting opportunities on the Havasu National Wildlife Refuge (Havasu NWR or refuge) in accordance with the refuge’s 2021 Hunting and Fishing Plan. The new 2021 Hunting and Fishing Plan replaces the refuge’s previous plan and proposes to expand upland game hunting to 33,148 total acres. This includes expanded hunting opportunities in the Topock Marsh West Management Unit. The 2021 Hunting and Fishing Plan expands a waterfowl sanctuary to 25,962 acres; permits waterfowl hunting on 11,869 acres; and requires federally approved nontoxic shot for all hunted species, with the exception of desert bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis nelsoni). The 2021 Hunting and Fishing Plan adds additional hunting days for mourning dove (Zenaida macroura) and white-winged dove (Zenaida asiatica), and creates an expanded, refuge-specific season for desert cottontail rabbit (Sylvilagus audubonii), Eurasian collared-dove, African collared-dove, black-tailed jackrabbit, bobcat, coyote, gray fox, and kit fox. The refuge seeks to more closely align the hunting program with State regulations and to provide additional hunting opportunities. A proposed action may