United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service

Draft Biological Evaluation

for the Columbia County and Plum Creek Land Exchange

U.S. Forest Service National Forests in Baker, Columbia and Union Counties, Florida

Prepared by: Jason Drake, Ecologist, National Forests in Florida [email protected], 850-523-8560

and

Jeff Gainey, Wildlife Program Manager, National Forests in Florida [email protected], 850-523-8553

June 2014

National Forests in Florida Columbia Co. and Plum Creek Land Exchange

I. Introduction

This Biological Evaluation (BE) summarizes and documents the process and makes determinations regarding the effects on the Regional Forester’s Sensitive (RFSS) of the Osceola National Forest for management activities as proposed within the Columbia County and Plum Creek Land Exchange (CCPLE) Project. The proposed project would convey a 6.3 acre right-of-way easement on the Osceola NF (“Rail Spur Area”) to Columbia county for construction of a rail spur connecting to the adjacent RACEC Catalyst Project site in exchange for a 6.3 acre permanent easement for the Florida National Scenic Trail along the western perimeter of Plum Creek’s land (“FNST Area”). The affected areas are shown on the maps in Sections II and III of this document. A complete description of the proposed action is in the Environmental Assessment for this project, available with supporting document on the project website (http://goo.gl/aID2s4).

All U.S. Forest Service planned, funded, executed, and or permitted programs and activities require a biological evaluation (BE) as outlined in Forest Manual (FSM) Section 2672.41. A separate Biological Assessment documenting the effects of the proposed exchange on species listed under the Endangered Species Act was prepared for consultation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

II. Affected Areas

A. Rail Spur Area

The rail spur area on the Osceola NF consists primarily planted slash pine (Pinus elliottii) overstory on areas that were historically flatwoods communities (mesic, wet, and scrubby) based on current vegetation and hydrology (Table A1, Figure A1). The two stands that the rail spur easement would cross (Compartment 28, Stands 11 and 23) are both approximately 30 years old and have not been thinned. A few relic longleaf pine (Pinus palustris) occur along the northern boundary with the existing railroad right- of-way. There is an east-west oriented woods road that dissects the parcel approximately 230m north of US 90. The flatwoods north of this road appears to have burned within the last two years and south of the road shows evidence of fire that occurred within the last four to six years. In a 1957 aerial photograph the area south of the woods road had been cleared and possibly used for cattle pasture. The northern portion appears largely undisturbed within the 1938, 1949, 1957, and 1970 aerial photographs. As a result of past land use and fire history the ground cover north of the east-west oriented woods road remains largely intact. No invasive exotic on the Florida Exotic Pest Council (FLEPPC) list were documented on the property.

Approximately 70% of the parcel was historically mesic flatwoods that currently is planted with slash pine and has a moderately dense shrub layer consisting primarily of saw palmetto (Serenoa repens) and gallberry (Ilex glabra) (Table 1). Occasional shrub species include gopher apple ( michauxii), Chapman’s oak (Quercus chapmanii),

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National Forests in Florida Columbia Co. and Plum Creek Land Exchange running oak (Quercus pumila), coastalplain staggerbush (Lyonia fruticosa), and shiny blueberry (Vaccinium myrsinites). In some areas typical mesic flatwoods groundcover species remain and include wiregrass (Aristida stricta), Curtiss’ dropseed (Sporobolus curtissii), and lopsided Indiangrass (Sorghastrum secundum). Approximately 15% of the parcel consists of scrubby flatwoods with dominant shrubs including saw palmetto, water oak (Quercus nigra), Chapman’s oak, sand live oak (Quercus geminata), turkey oak (Quercus laevis), gopher apple, and sparkleberry (Vaccinium arboreum). Because of past disturbance it is difficult to definitively determine if portions of the scrubby flatwoods community may have been sandhill, a rare natural community on Osceola National Forest. The Rail Spur scrubby flatwoods groundcover is sparse and typically includes tall nutgrass (Scleria triglomerata) and a few small populations of wiregrass. The remaining portion of the Rail Spur parcel consists of wet flatwoods with a thick shrub layer dominated by gallberry, saw palmetto, large gallberry (Ilex coriacea), and sweetbay (Magnolia virginiana). The groundcover is sparse with occasional small populations of Curtiss’ dropseed and chalky broomsedge (Andropogon virginicus var. glaucus) (FNAI 2014).

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National Forests in Florida Columbia Co. and Plum Creek Land Exchange

Figure A1. The natural communities of the Rail Spur parcel on Osceola National Forest (2013 aerial photograph).

Table A1. The areal extent of each natural community delineated on the Rail Spur parcel on Osceola National Forest. Natural Community Acres Percentage Mesic flatwoods 4.35 69% Scrubby flatwoods 0.97 16% Wet flatwoods 0.96 15% TOTAL 6.28

B. FNST Area

The proposed FNST easement on Plum Creek property traverses approximately 16 kilometers primarily through short rotation pine plantations. Years of mechanical site preparation on what was formerly mesic and wet flatwoods natural communities have impacted the groundcover. No wiregrass (Aristida stricta) or many of the other typical flatwoods herbaceous species were observed along the proposed hiking trail route. Additional natural communities encountered along the corridor included basin swamp, dome swamp, floodplain swamp, mesic hammock, bottomland forest, blackwater stream and depression marsh. The trail was routed 15 times onto adjacent gravel or woods roads when a wetland was encountered for a total road distance of approximately 1962 meters. However, the trail still traverses portions of 11 natural wetlands for a total of 567 meters (FNAI 2014).

III. Proposed Action

A. Rail Spur Area

Under the proposed exchange, a right-of-way easement on the Osceola NF would be conveyed to Columbia Co. for construction of a rail spur connecting the RACEC Catalyst Project site (part of the larger 2,600-acre mixed use development owned by Plum Creek) to the CSX Railroad mainline. The easement would be approximately 1,700 feet long and 100 feet wide; the total area of the easement would be approximately 6.3 acres (Figure 2). The southernmost 700 feet (~ 1.6 acres) of the rail spur easement would be in compartment 28, stand 23 of the Osceola National Forest, and the northern 1,000 feet (~5.7 acres), including the interchange and diverging tracks, would occur in compartment 28, stand 11.

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National Forests in Florida Columbia Co. and Plum Creek Land Exchange

Figure A2. Location of proposed rail spur on Osceola National Forest.

Recent management activities in this compartment have included roller chopping of understory palmetto to favor native perennial fire-dependent graminoid species. Prescribed burning is the primary ongoing activity in this area. Future management activities will likely include thinning of young slash pine plantations that are adjacent to the rail spur.

B. FNST Area

Under the proposed action the easement for the FNST would be 10 feet wide (5 feet on either side of the trail’s centerline) and would extend for a distance of approximately 10 miles through Plum Creek’s land. Approximately half of this distance (totaling 6.27 acres) would formally be included in the exchange to comply with equal value requirements in Forest Service land exchange regulations (36 CFR 254.3(c)). The other half would be conveyed by a donation from Plum Creek to the Forest Service to allow a continuous path for the FNST. The interest in land to be conveyed to the United States would be a permanent public trail easement that would run with the land in perpetuity (i.e., the easement would remain even if Plum Creek sold the land). When connected to existing portions of the FNST, the expectation is that the section of trail currently running through Plum Creek’s Lake Butler Forest would be relocated to the easement.

C. Related Activities

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National Forests in Florida Columbia Co. and Plum Creek Land Exchange

The action (actual exchange of easements) would not have any environmental effects, but the expected activities resulting from the exchange (construction of a railroad spur and construction, rerouting and connecting a trail) and donation of trail easement may affect a range of resources. Therefore, in the analysis below, the proposed uses of the easements are considered as connected actions when evaluating the environmental effects of the exchange.

On the rail spur easement, construction would entail clearing all trees and vegetation within the easement, excavating to a depth of approximately 3ft below the rail line, leveling and stabilizing the bed of the track with ballast and using a variety of heavy equipment that would compact and rut soil throughout the area. Maintenance of the rail spur would be similar to that along the CSX main line, including herbicide use, brush removal and occasional repair. Developing the rail spur would increase train frequency on the CSX line through the Osceola National Forest, though the magnitude of that increase is unknown. The location of the rail spur would require an at-grade railroad crossing on Highway 90 which, although it is beyond Forest Service jurisdiction, would nevertheless have reasonably foreseeable indirect effects.

On the trail easement, construction and maintenance of a trail would likely involve removing vegetation from a corridor up to 10ft wide, with larger areas cleared for parking and a camp site. The trail would be designated for foot travel only, so indirect effects of the exchange would likely include hiking and camping along the easement. Designating connections between the proposed trail easement and other sections of the FNST is beyond the scope of this project and, given the fragmented nature of the FNST and uncertainty regarding the location and timing of new trail segments, such designations are not considered connected actions for purposes of this analysis.

Previously approved Forest Service activities within the rail spur area include thinning of some plantations, mowing or rollerchopping of palmetto in some stands and ongoing prescribed fire. These activities have already undergone Section 7 consultation and the USFWS concurred with the determination that these activities were not likely to adversely affect federally listed species.

IV. Survey History

Before any field surveys were conducted, we worked with the Florida Natural Areas to develop a custom report based on their existing Biodiversity Matrix Report (FNAI 2014a). This report included: 1) a query of all Element Occurrences known to occur in the project area, 2) Likely and Potential Rare species for this project area based on habitat models and species range models for species that are tracked by FNAI and 3) for RFSS that are not tracked by FNAI, a Natural Community Based Potential species list was derived based on habitat associations with those species and the list of natural communities that occur within the project area.

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National Forests in Florida Columbia Co. and Plum Creek Land Exchange

FNAI also conducted an ecological survey of the two land parcels involved in the exchange and described in sections I and II above and in the CCPLE EA. The survey work occurred in February and March 2014 Pedestrian surveys were conducted for all RFSS, state and federally listed species, and other rare species tracked by FNAI on the proposed rail spur site on the Osceola NF (Figure A3) and along the entire area of the proposed easement on Plum Creek’s lands.

The RFSS list for Osceola National Forest (see Table A2 below) was provided by the USFS to FNAI. Dip-nets with 4 mm mesh were used to sample for rare amphibians and fish within wetlands adjacent to the Rail Spur and when encountered along the proposed Florida Trail route. Locations of all (Gopherus polyphemus) burrows observed were recorded with descriptions of burrow size (small, medium, and large) and activity status (abandoned, inactive, or active). A video camera with a 7m long scope was used to assess the majority of all known tortoise burrows for commensal species and to determine tortoise occupancy. When an occurrence of a sensitive, listed, or rare species was located data describing the population were recorded using a hand-held Trimble Global Positioning System (GPS) Nomad datalogger. All field surveys were conducted by FNAI biologists Gary Schultz and Jim Surdick. The Rail Spur was surveyed on February 10 and March 4, 2014 and the Florida Trail route on February 11-12, 2014 and March 3 and 5, 2014. The survey work is more fully described in a final submitted report from FNAI (FNAI 2014b).

Table A2: Sensitive Species that have the potential to occur in the project area based on habitat models and Natural Communities present in the project area (FNAI, 2014a) Scientific Name Common Name Group Notophthalmus perstriatus Striped newt Amphibian Aimophila aestivalis Bachman's sparrow Bird Atrytone arogos arogos Arogos skipper (candidate) Insect Corynorhinus rafinesquii Rafinesque's big-eared bat Mammal Sciurus niger shermani Sherman's fox squirrel Mammal Ursus americanus Florida black bear Mammal floridanus Gopherus polyphemus Gopher tortoise Reptile Pituophis melanoleucus Florida pine snake Reptile mugitus Agalinis divaricata Pinelands false foxglove Agrimonia incisa Incised agrimony Vascular Plant Andropogon arctatus Pinewoods bluestem Vascular Plant Aristida rhizomophora Florida threeawn grass Vascular Plant Arnoglossum floridanum Florida cacalia Vascular Plant Asclepias viridula Southern milkweed Vascular Plant Berlandiera subacaulis Florida greeneyes Vascular Plant Cleistes bifaria Small spreading pogonia Vascular Plant nudata Georgia tickseed Vascular Plant Ctenium floridanum Florida toothache grass Vascular Plant Forestiera godfreyi Godfrey's swampprivet Vascular Plant

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National Forests in Florida Columbia Co. and Plum Creek Land Exchange

Scientific Name Common Name Group Galactia microphylla Littleleaf milkpea Vascular Plant Litsea aestivalis Pondspice Vascular Plant Matelea pubiflora Trailing milkvine Vascular Plant Micranthemum glomeratum Manatee mudflower Vascular Plant Myriophyllum laxum Loose watermilfoil Vascular Plant Najas filifolia Needleleaf waternymph Vascular Plant Paronychia rugelii Rugel's nailwort Vascular Plant Phlox floridana Florida phlox Vascular Plant Physalis arenicola Cypresshead groundcherry Vascular Plant Physalis carpenterii Carpenter's groundcherry Vascular Plant Pieris phyllyreifolia Climbing fetterbush Vascular Plant Pinckneya bracteata Fevertree Vascular Plant Plantago sparsiflora Pineland plantain Vascular Plant Polygala leptostachys Slender spike milkwort Vascular Plant Pteroglossaspis ecristata Giant Orchid Vascular Plant Rhynchospora breviseta Shortbristle beaksedge Vascular Plant Rhynchospora macra Large beakrush Vascular Plant Rudbeckia nitida Shiny coneflower Vascular Plant Ruellia noctiflora Night flowering ruellia Vascular Plant Schoenolirion albiflorum White sunnybells Vascular Plant Silphium simpsonii Simpson's rosinweed Vascular Plant Spiranthes longilabris Giant spiral ladies'-tresses Vascular Plant Sporobolus curtisii Curtiss’ dropseed Vascular Plant Sporobolus floridanus Florida dropseed Vascular Plant Tridens carolinianus Carolina fluffgrass Vascular Plant Verbesina heterophylla Diverseleaf crownbeard Vascular Plant Xyris drummondii Drummond's yelloweyed Vascular Plant grass

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National Forests in Florida Columbia Co. and Plum Creek Land Exchange

Figure A3. The combined survey routes of FNAI researchers during the ecological survey of the Rail Spur parcel on Osceola National Forest.

V. Sensitive Species and Determination of Effects

A. Rail Spur Area Sensitive Plants

No state or federally listed plant species or plant species tracked by FNAI were documented on the rail spur parcel. Curtiss’ dropseed, on the RFSS List, was documented in several areas within the mesic and wet flatwoods on the rail spur parcel and in the mesic flatwoods to the east (Figure A4). A small population of Florida dropseed (Sporobolus floridanus), another species on the RFSS List, was observed in wet flatwoods adjacent to the parcel. Florida toothache grass (Ctenium floridanum), a species on the RFSS List and listed as State Endangered, and tracked by FNAI was observed within the mesic flatwoods east of the parcel (Figure A4).

Curtiss’ dropseed (Sporobolus curtissii) is a perennial tufted grass with narrow leaves and a flowering stalk to 80cm. It is found in dry to moist pinelands and often on the ecotone between mesic and wet flatwoods. Curtiss’ dropseed is not listed as rare in Florida but is considered critically imperiled in and South Carolina and is included on the USFS Sensitive Species List. Small scattered populations were documented throughout the Rail Spur parcel particularly in the mesic flatwoods in the northern portion (FNAI 2014b).

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National Forests in Florida Columbia Co. and Plum Creek Land Exchange

Florida dropseed (Sporobolus floridanus) is a perennial tufted grass with relatively long leaves (to 50cm) and a flowering stalk up to 2m tall. Typical habitat includes fire maintained mesic to wet flatwoods, seepage bogs, and along ecotones with wetland communities. Florida dropseed is not listed as rare in Florida but is considered critically imperiled in South Carolina and is included on the USFS Sensitive Species List. Approximately 12 plants were observed growing immediately adjacent to the Rail Spur parcel in flooded wet flatwoods on the ecotone of a small depression marsh (FNAI 2014b).

Florida toothache grass (Ctenium floridanum) is a perennial rhizomatous grass that can be up to 1m tall when flowering. It grows in fire maintained mesic to dry pine flatwoods only in northeastern Florida and southeastern Georgia. This species is state listed as Endangered, included on the USFS Sensitive Species List, and tracked by FNAI (G2,S2). There are approximately 10 records for this species in the FNAI database, with the closest occurrence being 11km north and within Osceola National Forest. Although not documented directly on the Rail Spur parcel a relatively large population was observed 200m to the east in habitat with similar groundcover associates as the mesic flatwoods found within the northern portion of the Rail Spur parcel. This species is difficult to identify without the presence of the dense comb-like spike. The recent prescribed fire on the adjacent mesic flatwoods may have helped to induce flowering of this population (FNAI 2014b).

No other plants from the RFSS list were found during field surveys of the Rail Spur parcel. Given the very thorough nature of the survey on the Rail Spur parcel (Figure A3), it is unlikely that other plants were missed in this area. If other RFSS were missed the effects on those plants would be the same as the effects disccused below for the RFSS species found on and near the parcel.

Figure A4. Location of RFSS plants found during field surveys (see Figure A3 for survey tracks).

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National Forests in Florida Columbia Co. and Plum Creek Land Exchange

Direct, indirect, and cumulative effects The action (actual exchange of easements) would not have any environmental effects, but the expected activities resulting from the exchange (construction of a railroad spur and construction, rerouting and connecting a trail) and donation of trail easement may affect a range of resources. Therefore, in the analysis below, the proposed uses of the easements are considered as connected actions when evaluating the environmental effects of the exchange.

Implementation of the proposed action would directly impact Sporobolus curtissii since they occur within the footprint of the proposed rail spur. All of the Sporobolus curtissii plants within the rail spur easement would be destroyed during the clearing and construction of the railroad spur. Additionally, any other RFSS plants that are present in the rail spur area but not observed during field surveys would also be destroyed.

Excavation of plants and soil for the construction of the rail spur may alter the hydrology of adjacent natural communities. For example, sheet flow could be altered to the adjacent and slightly downslope wet flatwoods site where the RFSS plant Sporobolus floridanus is located (Figure A5). Sporobolus floridanus is found in mesic to wet flatwoods (NatureServe, 2014) and may be able to adapt to the altered hydrology, so effects are possible but uncertain. It is not expected that there would be hydrologic impacts to the mesic flatwoods further to the east where the RFSS Ctenium floridanum is located because LiDAR elevation estimates suggest that there is a slight rise between the S. floridanus and the C. floridanum locations that likely reduces hydrological connectivity (Figure A5). Because reasonably foreseeable activities are not likely to adversely affect the sensitive plant species found in and near the project area, cumulative effects from implementing the proposed action are not anticipated.

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National Forests in Florida Columbia Co. and Plum Creek Land Exchange

Figure A5. Elevation of the rail spur site and surrounding area derived from LiDAR.

Determination for Sensitive plant species Implementation of the proposed action may impact individuals, but is not likely to cause a trend to federal listing or a loss of viability for Sporobolus curtissii or Sporobolus floridanus. The individuals of Ctenium floridanum found in project surveys are over 500m from the rail spur site and are not likely to be affected by implementation of the project. Implementation of the proposed action will have no impact on any other RFSS plants that were listed as potential species for the Rail Spur parcel.

B. Rail Spur Area Sensitive Animals

Information on the natural history of RFSS animals used to identify potential effects of the proposed action was synthesized from reports, published guides and professional experience on the Osceola National Forest. General information was obtained from Hipes et al. 2000 and NatureServe Explorer (NatureServe 2014).

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National Forests in Florida Columbia Co. and Plum Creek Land Exchange

Sherman's fox squirrel (Scuirus niger shermani) is a species that requires mature oaks or longleaf pine forests. Their large platform nests can be found in tall pines or large turkey oaks and are most visible during winter. They prefer open habitat for ground foraging on pine mast during the summer and on acorns the rest of the year. Home range size varies depending on habitat quality and food abundance. It is possible to have young in nest from late February to early September. Fox squirrels are uncommon on the Osceola, but are occasionally observed.

The Florida black bear (Ursus americanus floridanus) requires large areas of undisturbed habitat with dense cover. Bears select their habitat first for food availability and then for cover (Wooding, per. comm.). Habitat use will usually follow the fruiting chronology of the soft and hard mast producing species. The Osceola/Okefenokee ecosystem currently maintains a healthy black bear population. The most recent population estimate is 830 bears (Dobey et al. 2002). This bear population is almost entirely restricted to that portion of the forest north of I-10.

Bachman's sparrow (Aimophila aestivalis) is uncommon over most of its range and population numbers are declining in most areas. It favors open pine stands with grasses and scattered shrubs, oaks, or other hardwoods. Maintenance of old growth longleaf, 20-25 foot spacing between trees and thinning benefits this species as well as the RCW. Nesting requirements include dense herbaceous cover interspersed with, or bordered by, shrubs and trees. It forages on the ground primarily for insects and spiders, but also consumes seeds of a variety of plants. Forested areas burned between the months of April and August will benefit this bird. A 2-5 year burn rotation is recommended for maintenance of dense, short ground cover. This bird is fairly common on the Osceola in suitable habitat and can be heard frequently in suitable habitat.

The gopher tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus) prefers open stands with a grassy understory. It forages on grass, leaves, wild fruit and berries. Over 60 vertebrate and 302 invertebrate species use gopher tortoise burrows. The Eastern indigo snake, the Florida pine snake, the Florida gopher frog, and the Florida mouse are commensals of the gopher tortoise. Areas which support tortoises generally have sunlit open ground for egg laying, loose sand with a deep enough water table for burrowing and an abundance of vegetation within the tortoise’s foraging reach of a few inches above the ground. The burrow provides protection during fire and weather extremes. Eggs are frequently laid in the excavated sand in front of the burrow or in nearby surrounding areas.

The striped newt (Notophthalmus perstriatus) is known to occur from southeastern Georgia and northern Florida - west to Tallahassee and south to Orlando. They are restricted to isolated, acidic, wetlands of two distinctly different types: sinkhole ponds in sandhill communities and cypress or bay ponds in pine flatwoods communities. Generally the surrounding habitat is xeric and supports pine, turkey oak and other vegetation representative of deep sand areas. The wetlands need to be largely free of

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National Forests in Florida Columbia Co. and Plum Creek Land Exchange predatory fish. They feed on aquatic fly larvae and breed in early spring. Striped newt larvae can be found in ponds from April to December. This newt is almost totally restricted to Florida and very little is known about this rare creature.

The Arogos skipper (Atrytone arogos arogos) is a rare and declining butterfly found in native grassland habitats in the eastern and midwestern United States. Five distinct populations of the butterfly occur in specific parts of the range. It historically occurred from southern South Carolina through eastern Georgia and peninsular Florida as far south as Miami. The six known sites in Florida are located on public lands with dry prairie or longleaf pine savanna having an abundance of the larval host grass, Sorghastrum secundum. Colonies of the butterfly are threatened by catastrophic events such as wild fires, land management activities or no management, and the loss of genetic integrity (Shepherd, 2005)

Rafinesque's big-eared bat (Corynorhinus rafinesquii) is found across the southeastern U. S. and has been recorded from less than a dozen locations within Florida. A wide range of forested communities support bat populations and caves as well as hollow trees in floodplains supply roost sites. This species mates in autumn and winter. Gestation lasts possibly 2.5-3 months. Litter of one is born in late May-early June in the north, apparently mostly in May in Florida. This is a bat of forested regions. In the Coastal Plain they are suspected to hibernate in hollow trees for cold weather and possibly winter roosts in the southern portions of the range these bats often roost in buildings year round. Summer roosts often are in hollow trees, occasionally under loose bark, or in abandoned buildings in or near wooded areas.

The Florida pine snake (Pituophis melanoleucus mutigus) is a large, stocky, tan or rusty colored snake with an indistinct pattern of large blotches on a lighter background; blotches are more distinct posteriorly and the underside is white. This species prefers habitats with relatively open canopies and dry sandy soils, in which it burrows. More abundant in sandhill and former sandhill, including old fields and pastures, but also sand pine scrub and scrubby flatwoods. Pine snakes often coexist with pocket gophers and gopher tortoises. Threats include collection for pets (now restricted); highway mortality; and habitat loss and fragmentation from development, intensive agriculture, and mining.

Direct, indirect, and cumulative effects No direct, indirect, or cumulative effects are expected for Sherman’s fox squirrel, Florida Black bear, Bachman’s sparrow, striped newt, Arogos skipper, and Rafinesque's big- eared bat because the rail spur area does not contain suitable habitat or these species are not known to occur within the project area.

Implementing the proposed action could directly impact the pine snake if individuals are present. Heavy equipment used for logging and preparing the site for the rail spur could kill individuals, but is highly unlikely since habitat within the project areas is of poor quality. Indirect and cumulative impacts are not likely.

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National Forests in Florida Columbia Co. and Plum Creek Land Exchange

Implementation of the proposed action would directly impact gopher tortoises since they occur in the within the footprint of the proposed rail spur. FNAI field surveys documented 12 tortoise burrows on and within the vicinity of the Rail Spur parcel and at least four of the burrows were occupied by tortoises (Figure A6). Construction of the rail spur would require tortoise burrows to be filled and they would no longer be available for occupation. The project area would be resurveyed just prior to construction, and each burrow discovered within the project area would be scoped and occupied borrows would be excavated. Burrow scoping and excavation would be conducted by qualified personnel. Any tortoises removed would be relocated to nearby suitable habitat within the Osceola outside of rail spur footprint. A permit would be obtained from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and requirements of the gopher tortoise permitting guidelines would be followed. Indirect and cumulative effects from implementing the proposed action are not anticipated.

Figure A6. Location of gopher tortoise burrows found during field surveys.

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National Forests in Florida Columbia Co. and Plum Creek Land Exchange

Determination for Sensitive animals Implementation of the proposed action will have no impact on Sherman’s fox squirrel, Florida Black bear, Bachman’s sparrow, striped newt, Arogos skipper, or Rafinesque's big-eared bat.

Implementation of the proposed action may impact individuals, but is not likely to cause a trend to federal listing or a loss of viability for the Florida pine snake or gopher tortoise.

C. FNST Area Sensitive Plants and Animals

No RFSS animals were found on the proposed FNST easement. No federally listed plant species or plant species tracked by FNAI were observed. Only one RFSS plant species (Sporobolus floridanus) was found on the proposed FNST easement. A total of eight Sporobolus floridanus plants were observed growing in three separate locations along the proposed route.

No other plants or animals from the RFSS list were found during field surveys of the FNST parcel. Given the thorough nature of the survey and the very narrow (10 feet) width of the FNST parcel, it is unlikely that other RFSS animals or plants were missed in this area. If other RFSS were missed the effects on those species would be the same as the effects disccused below for the RFSS species found on and near the parcel.

Direct, indirect, and cumulative effects On the trail easement, construction and maintenance of a trail would likely involve removing vegetation from a corridor up to 10ft wide, with larger areas cleared for parking and a camp site. Locations of RFSS plants such as Sporobolus floridanus would be marked prior to construction to minimize damage, however it is possible that some plants would be damaged or removed during trail construction.

The trail would be designated for foot travel only, so indirect effects of the exchange would likely include hiking and camping along the easement. It is possible that some plants would be damaged or killed due to these indirect effects.

No cumulative effects are expected to occur to any species as a result of trail construction and maintenance in the context of other reasonably foreseeable activities or processes.

Determination for Sensitive Species found during surveys The trail construction and use proposed for this area may affect individuals, but is not likely to cause a trend towards federal listing or loss of viability for Sporobolus floridanus.

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National Forests in Florida Columbia Co. and Plum Creek Land Exchange

VI References Cited Dobey, S., D. V. Masters, B.K. Scheick, J. D. Clark, M.R. Pelton and M. Sunquist. 2005. Population ecology of black bears in the Okefenokee-Osceola ecosystem. Wildlife Monographs 158:1-41.

Florida Natural Areas Inventory (FNAI). 2014a. Letter to Matt Trager including: Element occurrences, Likely and Potential Rare Species and Natural Community Based Potential Species. (N. Pasco, contributor). BIOTICS Report to the United States Forest Service. Florida Natural Areas Inventory, Tallahassee, FL.

Florida Natural Areas Inventory (FNAI). 2014b. Ecological Inventory of a Proposed Rail Spur and Trail Extension on Osceola National Forest. (J. Surdick, G. Schultz, and A. Jenkins, contributors). Report to the United States Forest Service. Florida Natural Areas Inventory, Tallahassee, FL.

Hipes, D., D.R. Jackson, K. NeSmith, D. Printiss and K. Brandt. 2000. Field guide to the rare animals of Florida. Florida Natural Areas Inventory, Tallahassee.

NatureServe. 2014. NatureServe Explorer: An online encyclopedia of life [web application]. Version 7.1. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia. Available http://explorer.natureserve.org. (Accessed: May 5, 2014 ).

Shepherd, M. D. 2005. Species Profile: Atrytone arogos. In Shepherd, M. D., D. M. Vaughan, and S. H. Black (Eds). Red List of Pollinator Insects of North America. CD- ROM Version 1 (May 2005). Portland, OR: The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation.

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