Final

Algoma Vegetation Management Project

Biological Evaluation for Sensitive Plants

Prepared by: Rhonda Posey Shasta-Side Planning Botanist Shasta-McCloud Management Unit Shasta-Trinity National Forest

Date February 29, 2012

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Table of Contents

Introduction ...... 1 Project Location ...... 1 Regulatory Framework ...... 1 Compliance with Forest Plan, and Other Relevant Laws, Regulations, Policies and Plans ...... 1 Federal Law ...... 1 Endangered Species Act of 1973 as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531-1544) ...... 1 Forest Service Manual Direction ...... 2 2600-Wildlife, Fish and Sensitive Plant Habitat Management, Chapter 2670-2671 ...... 2 Forest Plan ...... 3 Preferred Alternative ...... 4 Biological Assessment ...... 4 Determination ...... 5 Biological Evaluation ...... 5 Alternatives ...... 5 Affected Environment ...... 6 Environmental Consequences ...... 10 Determination of Effects ...... 12 Monitoring Recommendations ...... 12 References (Literature Cited) ...... 12 Appendices ...... 14 Appendix A – Federally Listed Species ...... 14 Appendix B - Shasta-Trinity National Forest, Sensitive Plant Species ...... 16

List of Tables

Table 1: Threatened, Endangered and Candidate species as listed by the Arcata office of USFWS ...... 4 Table 2: Species targeted during surveys for the Algoma Vegetation Management Project ...... 8

Biological Evaluation for Sensitive Plants, Algoma Vegetation Management Project – February 29, 2012

List of Abbreviated Terms

BA Biological Assessment BE Biological evaluation CNPS California Native Plant Society CNDDB California Natural Diversity Database DEIS Draft Environmental Impact Statement FSM Forest Service Manual GIS Geographical Information Systems (maps) LRMP Land and Resource Management Plan aka Forest Plan LSR Late Successional Reserve MA Management Area MLSA Managed Late Successional Reserve S&M Survey and Manage T&E Threatened and Endangered USFWS U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

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Forest Service Manual Direction

2600-Wildlife, Fish and Sensitive Plant Habitat Management, Chapter 2670-2671 Threatened, Endangered and Sensitive Plants and Animals; effective date 09/23/2005 sets USDA Forest Service Directives in management of TES species and their habitats:

2670.11 – Endangered Species Act (see Endangered Species Act above)

2670.12 – Department Regulation 9500-4 directs the Forest Service to: 1. 1. The Department will conduct its activities and programs to assist in the identification and recovery of threatened and endangered plant and animal species and to avoid actions which may cause a species to become threatened or endangered. 2. 2. Conduct activities and programs “to assist in the identification and recovery of threatened and endangered plant and animal species.” 3. 3. Avoid actions “which may cause a species to become threatened or endangered.”

2670.22 – Sensitive Species (objectives) 1. Develop and implement management practices to ensure that species do not become threatened or endangered because of Forest Service actions. 2. Maintain viable populations of all native and desired nonnative wildlife, fish and plant species in habitats distributed throughout their geographic range on National Forest System lands. 3. Develop and implement objectives for populations and/or habitat of sensitive species.

2670.32 – Sensitive Species (policy) 1. Assist states in achieving their goals for conservation of endemic species. 2. Review programs and activities as part of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 process through a biological evaluation, to determine their potential effect on sensitive species. 3. Avoid or minimize impacts to species whose viability has been identified as a concern. 4. Analyze, if impacts cannot be avoided, the significance of potential adverse effects on the population or its habitat within the area of concern and on the species as a whole. (The line officer, with project approval authority, makes the decision t allow or disallow impact, but the decision must not result in loss of species viability or create significant trends toward federal listing.) 5. Establish management objectives in cooperation with the states when projects on National Forest System lands may have a significant effect on sensitive species population number or distributions. Establish objectives for federal candidate species, in cooperation with the FWS or NOAA Fisheries and states.

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2671.1 Cooperation with State Agencies The Forest Service cooperates with state agencies to inventory, protect, manage and plan for threatened, endangered, proposed and sensitive species.

2672.4 Biological Evaluations (1990) Review all Forest Service planned, funded, executed or permitted programs and activities for possible effects on endangered, threatened, proposed or sensitive species.

2672.42 – 2672.43 Standards for Biological Evaluations (1990) This language provides direction on conducting and preparing biological evaluations.

Forest Plan The Shasta-Trinity National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan (LRMP) provides standards and guidelines for botanical resources. The following excerpt is particularly pertinent to the proposed action: Forest Goals1 Manage habitat for sensitive plants and animals in a manner that will prevent any species from becoming a candidate for T&E status. Forestwide Standards & Guidelines for Sensitive & Endemic Plants2 Standards and Guidelines applicable at the project level are: • 4a. Map, record and protect essential habitat for known and newly discovered Sensitive and endemic plant species until conservation strategies are developed. • 4b. Analyze the potential effects of all ground-disturbing projects on Sensitive and endemic plants and their habitats. • 4c. Monitor the effects of management activities on Sensitive and endemic plants. If monitoring results show a decline in species viability, alter management strategy.

Management Areas McCloud Flats – Management Area 23 Management Area Direction – Two sensitive plants grow in the MA; long-haired star-tulip (Calochortus longebarbatus var. longebarbatus) and Columbia cress (Rorippa columbiae). A third rare plant, Salmon Mountains wake robin (Trillium ovatum ssp. oettingeri), grows within MA 2 as well. In 1998, Salmon Mountains wake robin was removed from the Region 5 Sensitive Plant List and Columbia cress was added to the Sensitive plant list. Salmon Mountains wake robin is now a watch list plant for the Shasta-Trinity National Forest and a CNPS List 4 – Plants of Limited Distribution. See Supplemental Botanical Report for analysis of watch list species. Long-haired star-tulip is found approximately 10.0 air miles east of the eastern project boundary in seasonally wet meadows having heavy clay soils that crack when they dry. These soil types are not found within the project boundary.

1 LRMP goals for sensitive plants are listed on page 4-5 2 LRMP direction for sensitive and endemic plant species is found on pages 3-7 and 4-14 3 LRMP page 4-79

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Columbia cress is known to occur at Dry Lake and White Deer Lake, approximately 4.0 air miles

northeast of the eastern project boundary. There are no vernally wet areas within the Algoma project boundary.

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Species or Species

Species Habitat Range/Habitat Status Present Pinus albicaulis No habitat; project area is well below elevational Whitebark pine C NO range of this species. Known to occur at upper Does not appear on USFSW elevations on Mt. Shasta (above 7,000 ft.) report; Appendix A *NCoRO = Outer Northern Coast Range Determination It is my determination that implementation of the Algoma Vegetation and Road Management Project will have no effect on any species listed as Threatened, Endangered or Proposed under the Endangered Species Act.

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Activity Alternative Road Closure Miles 21.7 21.7 21.7 0 21.7 Road Decommissioning Miles 14.4 14.4 14.4 0 14.4 Road Reconstruction Miles 10.4 10.4 10.4 0 10.2 Road Maintenance Miles 46 46 46 0 41 Temporary Road Construction Miles 1.6 0 1.6 0 1.3 Roads Added to System Miles 4.0 4.0 4.0 0 4.0 [1] Enhancement of hardwoods would occur in any treatment unit where it is determined to be beneficial and feasible. [2] Enhancement of Riparian Reserves would occur in any treatment unit where it is determined to be beneficial and feasible. [3] May include mastication, removal and utilization, and/or piling and burning.

Certain activities such as fuel treatments including prescribed fire are proposed on the same acres proposed for timber harvest activities. Affected Environment Existing Conditions Related to Sensitive Plants Algoma Vegetation Management Project lies within the McCloud Watershed. According to the McCloud Flats Watershed Analysis written by Forest Service personnel in 1995: • Human disturbance: 1895-1920, heavy selective logging and, grazing, up to 10 times current usage. • l921-1959, additions to national forest land and logging increasing on private land during and after World War II. • l960-1979. Extensive sanitization, overstory removal and thinning harvest; plantation establishment in 9,000 acres of shrub fields and grass and forb habitats. Roughly 300 miles of road constructed. 1980's, clear-cut and plantation establishment on 3,000 acres of under stocked, diseased or mature stands. Continued thinning and salvage logging.4

More than 100 years of activities related to logging, fire suppression and grazing have resulted in what we see today including over stocked plantations, dense stands of ponderosa pine and ponderosa pine mixed conifer, Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) mixed conifer and white fir (Abies concolor) stands with an understory of white fir and/or manzanita (Arctostaphylos patula) and other shrubs. Most overstory species are in the early seral age class (30 to 60 years of age) or the mid seral age class (60 to 120 years of age). Most trees are between 40 and 100 years of age with scattered late seral dominants (120 + years of age). Due to fire suppression and other past management practices, natural openings, riparian vegetation along streams, aspen stands and oak stands are being lost from the system. Signs of insect and disease damage are found in many conifer stands. Over stocking of conifers has also reduced understory species diversity including habitat for many sensitive plant species that are early seral and require disturbance and lots of sunlight. Elevation ranges between 3800 (McCloud River) to 6200 feet (Little Black Fox Mtn.). Aspen (Populus tremuloides)/black cottonwoods (Populus balsamifera ssp. trichocarpa) stands tend to be along edges of wet and seasonally wet meadows. Three units along the McCloud River propose to enhance habitat for black cottonwood by removing conifers. There are few aspen in the project area and none are in treatment units. Moderate amounts of black oak (Quercus kelloggii) are found throughout the project area. Most black oak is found growing in conifer stands. An emphasis on hardwood management will take place in 9 units. Black oak will be a leave species in any unit where it is found.

[3] May include mastication, removal and utilization, and/or piling and burning. 4 Information is from the McCloud Flats Watershed Analysis, USDA Forest Service, 1995; page 6.

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Early seral habitats include shrub fields and open grass/forb land. Primary shrub species are: 1) green-leaf manzanita (Arctostaphylos patula); 2) forest carpet (Ceanothus prostrates); 4) white thorn (Ceanothus cordulatus); 5) Bloomer’s goldenbush (Ericameria bloomeri); 6) Scouler’s willow (Salix scouleriana); 7) wax current (Ribes cereum) and 8) chokecherry (Prunus virginiana var. demissa). Primary grass species are: 1) western needlegrass (Achnatherum occidentalis); 2) California brome (Bromus carinatus) and 3) blue wild rye (Elymus elymoides). Ross’s sedge (Carex rossii) is also common in the area. Common forb species are Lupines (Lupinus sp.), dusty horkelia (Horkelia fusca), and California stickseed (Hackelia californica). Generally there is a band of riparian vegetation along both banks of the McCloud River and Tate Creek, but it is threatened in some areas by dense conifer stands. Vegetation includes willows, alder, and a trace of aspen and cottonwood, sedges (Carex) and rushes (Juncus), cow parsnip, tiger lilies, Bigelow’s sneeze weed, and monkey flowers. Habitat for mountain lady’s slipper and Botrychium species is also found along the McCloud River and Tate Creek. Seasonal creeks have little to no riparian habitat. The little that does exist is being shaded out by dense conifer stands. Other activities in the Algoma project area include a small part of the Bartle Grazing Allotment in the western part of the Algoma project boundary above Highway 89. This is an active allotment permitted for 177 cow/calf pairs and 8 bulls (362 cattle) from June 1 through October 31. A large portion of the Algoma project area is part of the McCloud/Hambone Allotment. This allotment was last used in 2001. It was permitted for either 1,200 or 1,280 sheep.5

Climate The Algoma project area is located in the extreme northern end of the Mediterranean Highland Climate Region and is characterized by warm, dry summers and cool wet winters. The mean annual precipitation averages 40 inches.6 Approximately 90 percent of the annual precipitation falls from October through April with much of it falling as snow.

Fire History Historical fire occurrence was characterized as a short term interval, low intensity and surface fire regime with disturbance intervals of 5 to 30 years. Such regimes are typically dominated by fire adapted, fire resistant species. Fire suppression, as well as other human caused disturbances, has initiated the transition to a regime typified by infrequent, high intensity, stand replacing fire events.7 Sensitive species Habitat: Habitat was evaluated through review of the GIS layers for known sites of sensitive plants on the Shasta-Trinity National Forest, district species files, “Soil Survey of Shasta-Trinity National Forest Area, California and California Native Plant Society Inventory or Rare and Endangered Plants (//www.rareplants.cnps.org/). The following species were determined to have potential to occur in the project area. Field surveys were then done in those areas of the project where habitat characteristics necessary for each species were found.

5 Information from an email from Philip Brownsey, Forest Range Conservationist , on March 2, 2012. 6 Climate records are available from the city of McCloud. Maps and general information are also found in Soil Survey of Shasta-Trinity Forest Area, California. 7 Bartle WA, Ch. 2.

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Table 2: Species targeted during surveys for the Algoma Vegetation Management Project Species, CNPS Category Habitat Occurrences in Project Area and Status Botrychium subg. Botrychium and Riparian edges in mid to high subg. Sceptridium (except B. elevation forest. Fields, shrubby Habitat only; nearest sensitive species multifidum) slopes, shady forests; riparian areas. is B. pinnatum. It is found growing near moonwort, grapefern 1000-6000 feet elev. Mt. Shasta Ski Park. G3/G4/G5 /S1/S2 Sensitive/S&M Buxbaumia viridis Bug-on-a-stick No known sites within project assessment Non-vascular/moss Large diameter, advanced decay logs boundary. Habitat along the McCloud CNPS Listed 2.2 in riparian habitat in conifer forest. River. There are two sites on the Trinity G3G4/S2 Low elevation to alpine. side of the S-T; none on the Shasta side. Sensitive /S&M

Cypripedium fasciculatum Occurs in wet to dry habitats of Habitat only; McCloud River, No known Clustered lady’s slipper varying soil types and elevations. sites within assessment area. Not known CYFS Known to occur in the Cascade. to occur on the Shasta side of the forest. CNPS List 4.2 Klamath and Sierra Nevada Mtns. as Does occur on the Trinity side of the S3.2/G4 well as other western states. forest. Sensitive Cypripedium montanum Mountain lady’s slipper Broadleaf upland forest, cismontane Vascular plant Habitat only; nearest population is woodland, lower montane coniferous CYMO approximately 1.0 air miles west of Mt. forest and North Coast coniferous CNPS List 4.2 Shasta City or 13 miles west of McCloud. forest; elevation 600-7300 feet. G4/ S4.2 Sensitive/S&M Ptilidium californicum Pacific fuzzwort Generally found growing at the base Bryophyte of larger white fir trees, stumps and PTCA5 6 known sites within project assessment logs in relatively undisturbed old CNPS List 4.3 area growth/late seral habitats. Elevation Non-vascular/Bryophyte 3500-5500 feet. G3G4/S2S3 Sensitive/S&M Smilax jamesii English Peak greenbrier Habitat only; along the McCloud River and Streambanks and lake margins; Vascular plant other streams. No known sites. Nearest Riparian areas in moist montane SMJA population approx. 3.5 air miles southeast coniferous forest; elevation 3280- CNPS List 1B.3 of the project boundary in the Moosehead 6560 feet G2G3 S2.3 Ck. area. Sensitive

Habitat and Geographic Range of Target Species Botrychium & subg (moonworts/grapeferns): Habitat for Botrychium species depends on the species. However most require a mesic to wet habitat. The project area is within the geographical range for several Botrychium species including Sensitive and S&M species. The McCloud River and Tate Creek are the only streams that are entirely perennial within the project assessment area and support a band of riparian vegetation. This species is listed as a Survey and Mange species for

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Northern California forests in the range of the northern spotted owl. It was added to the Region 5 Sensitive list in 2004 along with several other bryophytes, fungi, lichens and vascular plants. Surveys were started under S&M guidelines in 1999. Strategic surveys were conducted in 2002 and 2003. Several project surveys occurred during this time also.

Buxbaumia viridis (bug-on-a-stick): Habitat includes rotten logs, peaty soil and humus in dense, shady and humid coniferous forest, low elevation to subalpine. The logs and stumps will be in an advanced stage of decay, the kind you can stick your foot into with little exertion (USDA-USDI, 1996).8The best habitat within the assessment area occurs along the McCloud River. Large, rotten logs are scarce. This species is listed as a Survey and Mange species for Northern California forests in the range of the northern spotted owl. It was added to the Region 5 Sensitive list in 2004 along with several other bryophytes, fungi, lichens and vascular plants. Surveys were started under S&M guidelines in 1999. Strategic surveys were conducted in 2002 and 2003. Several project surveys occurred during this time also. Cypripedium fasciculatum (clustered lady’s slipper): Occurs in many different habitats of varying soil types and elevation. It is known to occur in the Cascade, Klamath and Sierra Nevada Mountains as well as many western states. The nearest population is found on the Trinity side of the forest. The project area is within the geographic range of this species. This species is listed as a Survey and Mange species for Northern California forests in the range of the northern spotted owl. It was added to the Region 5 Sensitive list in 2004 along with several other bryophytes, fungi, lichens and vascular plants. Surveys were started under S&M guidelines in 1999. Strategic surveys were conducted in 2002 and 2003. Several project surveys occurred during this time also. Cypripedium montanum (mountain lady’s slipper): On the Shasta-McCloud Management Unit, Cypripedium populations are associated with mesic conifer stands with Douglas fir, Pacific dogwood and Scouler’s willow, wet to seasonally wet meadows and stream banks. The nearest population is approximately 1.0 air mile west of the City of Mt. Shasta or 13 miles west of McCloud. This species has not been found in the McCloud Flats to date, but is known to occur in areas bordering the McCloud Flats. The project area is within the geographical range of this species.This species is listed as a Survey and Mange species for Northern California forests in the range of the northern spotted owl. It was added to the Region 5 Sensitive list in 2004 along with several other bryophytes, fungi, lichens and vascular plants. Surveys were started under S&M guidelines in 1999. Strategic surveys were conducted in 2002 and 2003. Several project surveys occurred during this time also. Ptilidium californicum (Pacific fuzzwort): This species is generally found on the butts of larger (> 26” DBH) 9white fir trees, but can also be found on down logs, snags and stumps. It has also been found on smaller trees in moist habitats with late seral/old growth habitat characteristics. Elevation on the McCloud-Mt. Shasta Management Unit ranges from 3985 to 6060 feet. It has been found occasionally growing on predominate Douglas firs and on an incense cedar log. Habitats range from very mesic to very dry, overstory cover is 45% and greater. This species is listed as a Survey and Mange species for Northern California forests in the range of the northern spotted owl. It was added to the Region 5 Sensitive list in 2004 along with several other bryophytes, fungi, lichens and vascular plants. Surveys were started under S&M guidelines in 1999. Strategic surveys were conducted in 2002 and 2003. Several project surveys occurred during this time also. Smilax jamesii (English Peak greenbrier): Generally found growing along stream banks, lake margins, along the edges of seasonally wet and wet meadows and riparian areas in moist montane coniferous forest

8 Found in Part VII. Species treatments; mosses page 15 9 DBH is an acronym for ‘Diameter at Breast Height’. The diameter of trees is generally measured at breast height. Breast height is defined as 4.5 feet measured from the ground on the uphill side of the tree.

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at elevations of 3280 to 6560 feet. The best habitat occurs along the McCloud River and Tate Creek. The nearest population is approximately3.5 air miles east of the eastern project boundary.

Survey Methods and Results Surveys were floristic, that is each plant found was identified to the degree necessary to determine if it was a species of concern (Sensitive, S&M or Listed). All field surveys were conducted by Forest Service Botany personnel. Field surveys were then done in those areas of the project where habitat characteristics necessary for each species were found. The species identified in the assessment process were targeted during surveys. All plants found were identified to the degree necessary to determine if they were a TES species. Project surveys were started in 2002 and continued in 2003 focusing mainly on Pacific fuzzwort, moonworts/grapeferns and lady’s slippers. Field surveys for sensitive plants within the Algoma project started up again during the 2007 field season and continued throughout the 2008 field season. Seasonally wet and wet areas were surveyed for Botrychium species, clustered and mountain lady’s slippers, bug-on- a-stick and English Peak greenbrier. White fir stands were surveyed for Pacific fuzzwort. No new Sensitive plant populations were found during recent surveys. All Pacific fuzzwort populations were found during the 2002 to 2003 surveys. There are six known occurrences of Pacific fuzzwort within the assessment boundary. All are outside of any treatment units. If new TES species are discovered during project implementation, an agency botanist will be notified so that measures can be taken to maintain population viability. Measures to protect population viability and habitat for all known and newly discovered occurrences may include any of the following; altering or dropping proposed units from activity, modifying the proposed activity, implementing buffers around plant occurrences or putting a limited operating period (LOP) on a specific area.

Environmental Consequences

Spatial and Temporal Context for Effects Analysis Cumulative effects analyses comply with § 220.4 (f) and FSH 1909.15 chapter 10 (15.1). Individual resource areas will be evaluated for direct and indirect effects of the project looking at how long effects would last and how far reaching the effects would be felt. Past, present and future project effects that overlap in time and space with project effects would be determined. Those effects would be analyzed for cumulative impacts. The spatial boundary for the Algoma project is the project boundary. The temporal scope of analysis is the current environmental conditions as they reflect the aggregate impact of all prior human actions and natural events that have affected the environment and might contribute to cumulative effects, and are a proxy for the impacts of past actions.10 Twenty years into the future was used for future project cumulative effects analysis.

Resource Protection Measures for Sensitive Plants All six known sites of Pacific fuzzwort occur outside of areas where treatments or road work will occur.

10 This approach is consistent with the Council on Environmental Quality June 24, 2005 memorandum regarding analysis of past actions.

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Effects

Direct Effects

Alternatives 1 – 3 and 5 Pacific Fuzzwort: There will be no direct effects to Pacific fuzzwort tree sites from any of the alternatives. All known sites are outside of treatment units or areas where road work will occur. There will be no direct effects from the No Action alternative.

Indirect Effects

Alternative 1 Pacific fuzzwort: Thinning of dense conifer stands may help to protect Pacific fuzzwort by removing unhealthy trees and ladder fuels. This may provide some protection from wildfire for the late seral habitat that Pacific fuzzwort occupies. Shade and understory plants needed to maintain the microhabitat needed by Pacific fuzzwort will be retained.

Alternative 2 This alternative treats approximately 230 fewer acres than Alternative 1. Pacific fuzzwort: Thinning of dense conifer stands may help to protect Pacific fuzzwort by removing unhealthy trees and ladder fuels. This may provide some protection from wildfire for the late seral habitat that Pacific fuzzwort occupies. Shade and understory plants needed to maintain the microhabitat needed by Pacific fuzzwort will be retained.

Alternative 3 This alternative eliminates sanitation treatments, but treats the same number of acres as Alternative 1. Pacific fuzzwort: Thinning of dense conifer stands may help to protect Pacific fuzzwort by removing unhealthy trees and ladder fuels. This may provide some protection from wildfire for the late seral habitat that Pacific fuzzwort occupies. Shade and understory plants needed to maintain the microhabitat needed by Pacific fuzzwort will be retained. This alternative may not provide as much protection from insects and disease as Alternatives 1, 2 and 5 because it eliminates sanitation treatments and replaces them with thinning treatments.

Alternative 4 – No Action With Alternative 4, no actions would be undertaken in the project area. Conditions for sensitive plants and habitat would remain the same. There will be no direct effects or indirect effects and therefore no cumulative effects to sensitive plant species or their habitat from the Algoma Vegetation Management Project. Although there would be no effects under Alternative 4, ongoing trends would continue. Any change in conditions would occur as a natural progression of botanical changes over time and would occur regardless of this decision. Trends are leading toward a continued loss of riparian vegetation and loss of habitat for Botrychium species, English Peak greenbrier, bug-on-a-stick, clustered lady’s slipper and mountain lady’s slipper habitat from conifer encroachment and a possible loss of Pacific fuzzwort habitat from fire, insects and disease.

Alternative 5 – The Preferred Alternative This alternative would treat 4,666 acres including 930 acres of thinning with sanitation.

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Pacific fuzzwort: Thinning of dense conifer stands may help to protect Pacific fuzzwort by removing unhealthy trees and ladder fuels. This may provide some protection from wildfire for the late seral habitat that Pacific fuzzwort occupies. Shade and understory plants needed to maintain the microhabitat needed by Pacific fuzzwort will be retained.

Cumulative Impact Analysis: Past actions affecting the species: Past and current projects include thinning and savage projects over the last 30 years. These projects voided treatments in nesting and roosting habitat for the northern spotted owl. All known Pacific fuzzwort sites are located within this habitat. These projects did not affect known Pacific fuzzwort sites. Foreseeable Future Actions: There may be the possibility of a new project to treat the 11 units forgone under Alternative 5. This project will be treated under a separate NEPA action. This action is tentative and dependent on field review, surveys, and further work with FWS. There are no other foreseeable future actions planned for the Algoma project area. Private timber harvest is regulated through the timber harvest planning program administered by CalFire, with resource management oversight provided by the California Dept. of Fish & Game. The Dept. of Fish & Game Region 1 Timber Harvest program staff in Redding exercises limited review of Pacific fuzzwort in their THP (Timber Harvest Plan) review because it is not listed by the State of California. California Native Plant Society Inventory of Rare and Endangered Plants lists Pacific fuzzwort as 4.3, uncommon in California; .3 not very endangered in California. Cumulative impacts to Pacific fuzzwort within the foreseeable future: The overall geographic range and numbers of Pacific fuzzwort are not likely to change in the next two decades, although local extirpations and new recruits may happen after infrequent disturbance to its habitat. The biggest threat on National Forest is stand-replacing wildfire.

Determination of Effects It is my determination that implementation of the Algoma Vegetation and Road Management Project will have no effect on any Region 5 Sensitive plant species or their viability. Monitoring Recommendations The Forest will continue to survey for Pacific fuzzwort and other Region 5 sensitive species with each new project. Monitoring of known Pacific fuzzwort populations during or after project completion is not necessary as no known sites will be affected by this project. References (Literature Cited) California Native Plant Society (CNPS). 2011.Inventory of Rare and Endangered Plants (online edition, v8-01a). California Native Plant Society. Sacramento, CA. Accessed on Monday, May 2, 2011. //www.rareplants.cnps.org/

USDA Forest Service. 1994. Shasta-Trinity National Land and Resource Management Plan

1995. McCloud Flats Watershed Analysis (lasted edited February 27, 2004

USDA Forest Service. 2006. Regional Forester’s Sensitive Plant List for Region 5

USDA-USDA, 1996. Guide for the Identification of Rare, Threatened or Sensitive Bryophytes in the Range of the Northern Spotted Owl, Western Washington, Western Oregon and Northwestern California

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USDI, USFWS. 2011. Report of Listed/Proposed Threatened and Endangered Species for Siskiyou County (Candidates Included) dated December 12, 2011, document number 857366466- 132734 http://arcata.fws.gov

____. 2011. Endangered Species Act / Overview. Last updated December 8, 2011 ____, 2006. Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants: Designation of Critical Habitat for Four Vernal Pool Crustaceans and Eleven Vernal Pool Plants; Final Rule. 50 CFR Part 17. February 10, 2006. Baldwin, B. et al. 2012. The Jepson Manual: Vascular Plants of California, second edition. Univ. of Calif. Press, Berkeley. Nakamura, G. and Nelson, J. 2001. Illustrated Field Guide to Selected Rare Plants of California. Univ. of Calif. Agriculture & Natural Resources Publ. 3395, Davis. Wikipedia. 2012. Accessed on Monday, 1/23/2012 for information on Boletus pulcherrimus. //www.wikipedia.org

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Appendix A – ede al y sted Spec es

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Central Valley Oncorhynchus * spring-run chinook T Y tshawytscha salmon Oncorhynchus winter-run chinook * E Y tshawytscha salmon Amphibians California red- Rana draytonii T Y legged frog Oregon spotted Rana pretiosa C N frog Birds Western yellow- Coccyzus americanus C N billed cuckoo northern spotted Strix occidentalis caurina T Y owl Mammals fisher, West Coast Martes pennanti C N DPS

KEY: (PE) Proposed Proposed in the Federal Register as being in danger of Endangered extinction (PT) Proposed Proposed as likely to become endangered within the Threatened foreseeable future (E) Endangered Listed in the Federal Register as being in danger of extinction Listed as likely to become endangered within the foreseeable (T) Threatened future (C) Candidate Candidate which may become a proposed species Critical Habitat Y = Designated, P = Proposed, N = None Designated Denotes a species Listed by the National Marine Fisheries * Service

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Appendix B - Shasta-Trinity National Forest, Sensitive Plant Species

Table 3: Sensitive Plant species known to or having potential to occur on the Shasta-side of the Shasta Trinity National Forest including McCloud, Mt. Shasta and Shasta Lake Ranger Districts Potential Scientific Name Reason for Non- General Habitat Description to Occur consideration for Project (Common Name) Y/N Area Rocky, often carbonate. Chaparral Ageratina shastensis and lower montane coniferous Project is out of geographic N Shasta Ageratina forest; endemic to Shasta County range for this species (CNPS, 2011).

Anisocarpus scabridus Rocky, open subalpine slopes; No rocky, open subalpine N Scabrid alpine tarplant elevation 5500-7500 feet. slopes. Often in disturbed areas and road cuts. Cismontane woodland and Arnica venosa Project is out of geographic lower montane coniferous forest; N range for this species. Shasta County arnica endemic to Shasta and Trinity Counties (CNPS 2011. Occurs in humus in association Boletus pulcherrimus with the roots of Pseudotsuga N Out of geographical range Red-pore bolete fungi menziesii and Abies grandis in coastal forests. Botrychium Riparian edges in mid to high subg. Botrychium and Not known to occur in the elevation forest. Fields, shrubby subg. Sceptridium Y project area. Habitat in slopes, shady forests; riparian (except B. multifidum) riparian and moist habitats. areas. 1000-6000 feet elev. moonwort, grapefern

Buxbaumia viridis Large diameter, advanced decay No large diameter, advanced logs in riparian habitat in dense, decay logs in riparian habitat. N Green bug-on-a-stick shady and humid conifer forest. Theirs is very little riparian Bryophyte Low elevation to alpine. habitat. Cismontane woodland, meadows and seeps, pinyon and juniper Known sites occur near Calochortus greenei woodland, upper montane N Dunsmuir and northern coniferous forest/ volcanic; Greene’s mariposa lily Siskiyou County. elevation 3400-6200 feet. Modoc and Siskiyou Counties.

16 - Shasta-Trinity National Forest, Shasta-McCloud Management Unit Biological Evaluation for Sensitive Plants, Algoma Vegetation Management Project – February 29, 2012

Potential Scientific Name Reason for Non- General Habitat Description to Occur consideration for Project (Common Name) Y/N Area Great basin scrub, lower montane coniferous forest (opening and Calochortus drainages), meadows and seeps, No heavy clay soils. Nearest longebarbatus var. vernal pools/heavy clay soils, N population approximately 3.0 longebarbatus mesic; elevation 3300-6200 feet. air miles to the southeast. Long-haired star tulip Occurs on the east side of the McCloud Ranger District in Siskiyou and Shasta Counties. Calystegia atriplicifolia ssp. Lower montane coniferous forest, Project area out of buttensis rocky and Chaparral; elevation N geographic range. Butte County morning 1970-4920 feet. glory Granite and diorite cliffs; north Campanula shetleri and northwest exposures, Castle N No granite or diorite cliffs Castle Crags hairbell Crags endemic; elevation 3600- 6000 feet. Elevation of project area too Campanula Stream banks and springs in red fir low. It is known to occur at wilkinsiana and subalpine forests; elevation N higher elevations on the east 5500- 8600 feet. Wilkin’s hairbell slope of Mt. Shasta. Rocky open slopes, cobbley river Chaenactis terraces; on ultramafic soils or glacial till w. ultramafics included. Not known to occur east of I- suffrutescens N Elevation 2600-6900 feet. Eastern 5. No ultramafic soils. Shasta Chaenactis Klamath Ranges of CA. Siskiyou and Trinity Counties. Chaparral, cismontane woodland, Clarkia borealis ssp. lower montane coniferous forest; Not known to occur in borealis Likes road cuts; elevation 1300- N Siskiyou Co. northern clarkia 4400 feet; Shasta and Trinity Counties. Alpine boulder and rock field, closed-cone coniferous forest, Known to occur near Little Collomia larsenii subalpine coniferous forest/ Mt. Hoffman Lookout, N talus collomia volcanic talus; elevation 7250- northeast of the project area. 11500 feet; Shasta and Siskiyou No habitat in project area. Counties.

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Potential Scientific Name Reason for Non- General Habitat Description to Occur consideration for Project (Common Name) Y/N Area Lightly disturbed openings in Cordylanthus tenuis ponderosa pine forest; gravelly volcanic or ultramafic soils; Not known to occur on east ssp pallescens N elevation 3600-5200 feet. Only side of Mt. Shasta pallid bird’s beak known from north and west of Mt. Shasta and Weed. Cudonia monticola Spruce needles and coniferous debris No common name N No spruce in the project area fungi Generally coastal Occurs in wet to dry habitats of No known sites in project Cypripedium varying soil types and elevations. area. Potential habitat is fasciculatum Known to occur in the Cascade, Y found in riparian and mesic Klamath and Sierra Nevada Mtns. clustered ladies slipper habitats as well as other western states No known sites on the Cypripedium Broadleaf upland forest, McCloud District. Project montanum cismontane woodland, lower area is eastside pine veg type montane coniferous forest and Y and very dry. There are two mountain lady’s North Coast coniferous forest; populations on the Mt. Shasta slipper elevation 600-7300 feet. District. Both are in mesic, Douglas fir habitats.

Dendrocollybia Small groups or colonies on old racemosa decayed or blackened mushrooms or occasionally in coniferous duff; N Out of geographical range. branched collybia western Trinity and Siskiyou Cos. fungi (Coast & Klamath ranges) Subalpine coniferous forest, upper Draba carnosula montane coniferous forest/ Elevation of project to low. serpentinite, rocky; elevation N No serpentinite soils. Not Mt. Eddy draba 6350-9840 feet. Del Norte, know to occur east of I-5 Siskiyou & Trinity Cos. Wet, gently sloping stream banks, Epilobium oreganum meadows & bogs, generally on N No ultramafic soils Oregon willowherb ultramafic soils; 500-7800 feet. Klamath Ranges. Exposed, rocky serpentine ridges Erioginum alpinum Out of geographical range. & slopes; elevation 6700- 9000 N No serpentinite soils. Trinity buckwheat. feet. W Siskiyou & Trinity Cos.

18 - Shasta-Trinity National Forest, Shasta-McCloud Management Unit Biological Evaluation for Sensitive Plants, Algoma Vegetation Management Project – February 29, 2012

Potential Scientific Name Reason for Non- General Habitat Description to Occur consideration for Project (Common Name) Y/N Area Dry benches & slopes, chaparral, woodlands and lower mixed Fritillaria eastwoodiae conifer opening; elevation 160- Project out of geographic N Butte County fritillary 4900 feet. Known to occur in the area. Squaw Creek and Pit River Arms of Shasta Lake. Streams on McCloud Flats Hydrotheria venosa Aquatic, in spring-fed streams that N are snow fed and tend to never flood veined water lichen flood. Only found near Castle Ivesia longibracteata Granite & diorite outcrops near Crags. and above timberline; Castle Crags N Castle Crags ivesia endemic; elevation 4400-4800 feet No granite or diorite outcrops in project area. Ephemeral drainages & seasonally wet grassy slopes in mixed conifer Ivesia pickeringii Project out of geographic forest, on ultramafic soils; N range. Pickering’s ivesia elevation 2500-4500 feet; Scott Mtn.-Shasta Valley. Moist rock outcrops in broad-leaf Lewisia cantelovii and conifer forests (mesic)/ Project out of elevational N Cantelow’s lewisia granitic, sometimes serpentinite range. No serpentinite soils. seeps; elevation 500-3000 feet. No bogs or fens; some wet to Bogs and fens, meadows and Meesia triquetra seasonally wet meadows; seeps, subalpine coniferous forest N montane coniferous forest, three-ranked hump- and upper montane coniferous but no upper montane or moss bryophyte forest subalpine coniferous forest. No bogs or fens; some wet to Bogs and fens, meadows and Meesia uliginosa seasonally wet meadows; seeps, subalpine coniferous forest N montane coniferous forest, broad-nerved hump- and upper montane coniferous but no upper montane or moss bryophyte forest subalpine coniferous forest.

Minuartia stolonifera Rocky slopes on ultramafic soils; montane mixed conifer forest; Project out of geographic N Scott Mountain elevation 2400-3000 feet. Scott range. No ultramafic soils. sandwort Mountain Cismontane woodland, lower Project out of species’ montane coniferous forest, riparian Neviusia cliftonii geographic and elevational woodland/ often streamsides; N range. Known to occur in Shasta snow-wreath sometimes carbonate, volcanic or Shasta Lake area. metavolcanic; elevation 990-1640

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Potential Scientific Name Reason for Non- General Habitat Description to Occur consideration for Project (Common Name) Y/N Area Marshes and swamps and valley Ophioglossum and foothill grassland; elevation pusillum 740-3280 feet. Historically (1894) known to occur in Sisson (West N No marshes or swamps Northern adder’s Mt. Shasta City). Closest tongue occurrence is in Mendocino County Orcuttia tenuis Flood plains, vernal pools, No flood plains, vernal pools slender Orcutt-grass reservoir edges on clay soils; N or reservoir edges on clay (also listed by state & elevation 110-5700 feet. soils. fed.)

Parnassia cirrata var. Lower montane coniferous forest, Out of geographic area. intermedia meadows and seeps and upper Closest populations known to montane coniferous forest/ mesic, N occur in Sacramento River fringed grass of streamsides sometimes calcareous: Canyon near Dunsmuir and parnassus elevation 2560-9840 feet. Sims.

Penstemon filiformis Rocky openings in lower montane thread-leaf coniferous forest/ ultramafic soils; N No ultramafic soils. beardtongue 2000-6000 feet. Only occurs between Hotlum Phacelia cookei Lightly disturbed openings, ashy and Military Pass on the volcanic soils; elevation 4100- N north side of Mt. Shasta. No Cook’s Phacelia 5000 feet. Delaney family soils in project area.

Phacelia greenei Gravelly serpentinized ridges & Project out of geographic and forest openings; elevation 5000- N elevational range. No Scott Valley Phacelia 7000 feet. Scott Mountains serpentine soils. Scattered to densely gregarious, Phaeocollybia often in rings on the ground in mixed woods and under conifers; olivacea Project out of geographic fruiting in fall and winter. N area. olive phaeocollybia Historical site; Castle Crags State fungi Park, Nov. 1967 (Coast & Klamath Ranges). Pinus albicaulis Project is below the Whitebark pine Upper red-fir to timberline, elevational range for this N especially subalpine habitats species. Known to occur Candidate for federal above 7,000 ft. on Mt. Shasta listing

20 - Shasta-Trinity National Forest, Shasta-McCloud Management Unit Biological Evaluation for Sensitive Plants, Algoma Vegetation Management Project – February 29, 2012

Potential Scientific Name Reason for Non- General Habitat Description to Occur consideration for Project (Common Name) Y/N Area Polemonium Project out of elevational Alpine talus & rock outcrops; chartaceum N range. Known to occur in Mt. elevation 8500 & above. Mason’s sky pilot Shasta Wilderness. Generally found growing at the Ptilidium californicum base of larger white fir trees, Six sites within the Algoma stumps and logs in relatively Y Pacific fuzzwort assessment boundary bryophyte undisturbed old growth/late seral habitats. Elevation 3500-5500 feet Wet ultramafic meadow, seeps & Raillardella pringlei No ultramafic meadows, streambanks; elevation 4000-7500 N seeps or streambanks. showy raillardella feet. Seasonal lakebeds & drainages Rorippa columbiae No vernal pools or lakebeds east of Cascade crest; elevation N within project area Columbia cress 500-5900 feet

Sedum paradisum Broadleaf upland forest, chaparral, lower montane coniferous forest Project out of geographic N Canyon Creek and subalpine coniferous forest; range. stonecrop elevation 960-6500 feet.

Silene occidentalis ssp. Chaparral and lower and upper Nearest known site is in longistipitata montane coniferous forest; N northeastern Shasta County Long-stiped campion elevation 3280-6560 feet south of Chalk Mtn. Possible habitat in riparian Smilax jamesii Lakesides, streambanks, riparian areas and mesic areas. areas in moist montane coniferous Y English Peak Known to occur in Colby forest; elevation 2900-7500 feet. greenbrier Meadows area. Moist, undisturbed, older conifer Sowerbyella rhenanas forests. Generally coastal. Project out of geographic Historical site; Castle Crags State N stalked orange peel range. fungus Park, Dec. 1964 (Coast and Klamath Ranges). Usually on hardwoods (white oak), Sulcaria badia sometimes conifers. Known from Project out of geographic N bay horsehair lichen Mendocino Co. / Pollution range; no habitat. Sensitive.

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