Angelus Oaks BA/BE/MIS
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WILDLIFE BIOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT/EVALUATION, WILDLIFE REPORT, AND MANAGEMENT INDICATOR SPECIES ASSESSMENT for the ANGELUS OAKS UNDERSTORY BURN PROJECT San Bernardino National Forest Prepared By: Jeffrey L. Lincer_________________ Date:_15 August 2011______ Jeffrey L. Lincer, PhD, Consulting Wildlife Biologist Prepared by: _ Kim Boss_______________________ Date: 15 August 2011______ Kim Boss, Wildlife Biologist Input and Reviewed by: Kathie Meyer .Date: 16 August 2011____ Kathie Meyer, District Wildlife Biologist This page intentionally left blank Biological Assessment/Evaluation, Wildlife Report and MIS Assessment Angelus Oaks Understory Burn Project SUMMARY This report addresses the potential effects of the proposed project on Federally Threatened, Endangered, Proposed, and Candidate (TEPC) wildlife species, Forest Service Sensitive (S) wildlife species, and wildlife Management Indicator Species (MIS) as well as general wildlife that are known or likely to occur in the Angelus Oaks Understory Burn Project Area (i.e., area considered for this analysis, including downstream). The project is located on the San Bernardino National Forest (SBNF) surrounding the community of Angelus Oaks, in San Bernardino County, California. The proposed treatments are designed to maintain the effectiveness of the fuel reduction treatments developed during the Angelus Oaks Community Defense Project of 2004 and to protect Angelus Oaks and the surrounding areas from wildfire. Proposed treatments would be accomplished through a combination of manual and prescribed fire (pile and broadcast burning with hand-firing methods) treatments to maintain and remove understory hazardous fuels. Non-native Spanish broom will also be removed using mechanical removal and cut-and-daub application method of glyphosate herbicide. Design Criteria are proposed as needed, to minimize impacts to wildlife and other resources. The total project footprint consists of approximately 570 acres. Three federally listed species are addressed in this document: southwestern willow flycatcher, mountain yellow-legged frog, and Santa Ana sucker. Due to Design Criteria that have been incorporated into the project design, and as supported by the Project Soils and Hydrology Report, project-related impacts are anticipated to be both insignificant and extremely unlikely for mountain yellow-legged frog. No impacts to southwestern willow flycatcher or Santa Ana suckers are expected. No impacts to designated Critical Habitat for southwestern willow flycatcher or Santa Ana sucker are expected as a result of this project. Seventeen Region 5 Sensitive wildlife species are known or expected to occur in the Project Area, for which our determination is no effect or may affect individuals but not likely to lead to a trend to federal listing for Sensitive species. Four wildlife MIS are expected to occur in the Project Area (California spotted owl, mountain lion, song sparrow, and mule deer). This project is not expected to affect the province-wide trend for any of the MIS. Table S-1 displays the known and potential occurrences of special status animals in the Project Area and summarizes the “Determinations of Effects” for each. The known and potential occurrences of wildlife MIS are provided in Table 5 in this report. Table S-1. Summary of Effects Determinations for Threatened, Endangered, and Sensitive Species (TES) in the Angelus Oaks Understory Burn Project Area Occurrence in COMMON NAME LATIN NAME Project Area* Determinations** mountain yellow-legged frog Rana muscosa P NLAA southwestern willow flycatcher Empidonax trailii extimus CH;Y N Santa Ana sucker Catostomus santannae CH ; N N i Biological Assessment/Evaluation, Wildlife Report and MIS Assessment Angelus Oaks Understory Burn Project large-blotched ensatina Ensatina eschscholtzii klauberi P MAI yellow-blotched ensatina Ensatina eschscholtzii P MAI croceater California legless lizard Aniella pulchra P MAI San Diego horned lizard Phrynosoma coronatum Y MAI blainvillii southern rubber boa Charina bottae umbratica Y MAI coastal rosy boa Lichanura trivirgata rosafusca P MAI San Bernardino ringneck snake Diadophis punctatus modestus Y MAI San Bernardino mountain Lampropeltis zonata parvirubra Y MAI kingsnake Two-striped garter snake Thamnophis hammondii P MAI California spotted owl Strix occidentalis occidentalis Y MAI American peregrine falcon Falco peregrinus anatum P MAI Willow flycatcher (migrant) Empidonax traillii P N Townsend’s big-eared bat Corynorhinus townsendii P MAI pallid bat Antrozous pallidus P MAI western red bat Lasiurus blossevillii P MAI San Bernardino white-eared Perognathus alticolus alticolus P MAI pocket mouse San Bernardino flying squirrel Glaucomys sabrinus Y MAI californicus *Occurrence Information: P = Occurrence of the species is possible; suitable habitat exists. Y = Species is known to occur. **Determination Codes: NLAA = not likely to adversely affect for T/E species MAI = may affect individuals but not likely to lead to a trend to federal listing for Sensitive species N = no effect ii Biological Assessment/Evaluation, Wildlife Report and MIS Assessment Angelus Oaks Understory Burn Project CONTENTS PART I: INTRODUCTION -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7 I-1.0 METHODS -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 9 I-2.0 CURRENT MANAGEMENT DIRECTION ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 9 I-3.0 DESCRIPTION OF PROPOSED ACTION AND ALTERNATIVES -------------------------------------- 10 I-3.1 Proposed Action --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 11 I-3.2 No Action Alternative --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 27 I-4.0 MANAGEMENT AND MONITORING RECOMMENDATIONS ------------------------------------------- 28 PART II: WILDLIFE REPORT ------------------------------------------------------------------------- 29 II-1.0 INTRODUCTION ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 29 II-2.0 EXISTING ENVIRONMENT – GENERAL ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 29 II-2.1 Existing Environment – Vegetation Descriptions --------------------------------------------------------- 29 II-2.1.1 Mixed Conifer Forest -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 30 II-2.1.2 Montane Chaparral ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 31 II-2.1.3 Mixed Hardwood/Conifer Forest ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 32 II-2.2 Existing Environment – Roads and Trails ------------------------------------------------------------------- 32 II-2.3 Existing Environment – Wildlife -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 33 II-2.3.1 Fish ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 33 II-2.3.2 Amphibians -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 33 II-2.3.3 Reptiles ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 33 II-2.3.4 Birds ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 34 II-2.3.5 Mammals ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 34 II-3.0 EFFECTS OF PROPOSED ACTION – GENERAL ---------------------------------------------------------- 35 II-3.1 Levels of Impact Analyses -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 35 II-3.1.1 Direct Impacts: ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 35 II-3.1.2 Indirect Impacts: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 35 II-3.1.3 Cumulative Effects: ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 35 II-3.2 Impacts of Proposed Action – Forest Stand Conditions ------------------------------------------------- 37 II-3.3 Impacts of Proposed Action – Fire Hazard and Fire Behavior ----------------------------------------- 37 II-3.4 Impacts of Proposed Action – Wildlife------------------------------------------------------------------------ 38 II-3.4.1 Spread or Establishment of Non-native Invasive Species --------------------------------------- 38 II-3.4.2 Changes in Microclimates -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 39 II-3.4.3 Potential Impacts to Vegetation Used as Wildlife Habitat ---------------------------------------- 39 II-3.4.4 Potential General Impacts to Wildlife Habitat ------------------------------------------------------- 40 II-3.4.5 Potential Impacts to Aquatic and Riparian Species and Habitats ------------------------------ 41 II-3.4.6 Temporary Noise Disturbance/Displacement/Abandonment ------------------------------------ 48 II-3.4.7 Death and Injury of Individuals -------------------------------------------------------------------------- 49 II-3.4.8 General Impacts to Breeding Animals ---------------------------------------------------------------- 49 II-3.4.9 Potential Impacts to Snag-Dependent Species – Wildlife ---------------------------------------- 50 II-3.4.10