SR 826 – Endangered Species Biological Assessment
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SR 826/Palmetto Expressway PD&E Study From SR 93/I-75 to the Golden Glades Interchange FM #: 418423-1-22-01 FAP #: 4751 146 P ETDM #: 11241 ENDANGERED SPECIES BIOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT Submitted by: RS&H, Inc. 6161 Blue Lagoon Drive, Suite 200 Miami, Florida 33126 OCTOBER 2014 Endangered Species Biological Assessment SR 826/PALMETTO EXPRESSWAY PROJECT DEVELOPMENT & ENVIRONMENT STUDY FROM SR 93/I‐75 TO GOLDEN GLADES INTERCHANGE ENDANGERED SPECIES BIOLOGOCAL ASSESSMENT Financial Project ID: 418423‐1‐22‐01 FAP No.: 4751 146 P / ETDM No.: 11241 Miami‐Dade County Prepared For: FDOT District Six 1000 NW 111th Avenue Miami, Florida 33172 Prepared by: RS&H, Inc. 6161 Blue Lagoon Drive, Suite 200 Miami, Florida 33126 October 2014 SR 826/Palmetto Expressway PD&E Study FM #: 418423‐1‐22‐01 / FAP #: 4751 146 P / ETDM #: 11241 Endangered Species Biological Assessment TABLE OF CONTENTS SECTION PAGE 1.0 INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................... 1 1.1 Project Description .................................................................................... 1 1.2 Purpose and Objectives ............................................................................ 4 1.3 Need for the Project .................................................................................. 5 2.0 PROJECT ALTERNATIVES ............................................................................ 6 2.1 No Build Alternative ................................................................................... 6 2.2 Recommended Alternative ........................................................................ 6 3.0 PROJECT AREA DESCRIPTION ..................................................................... 11 3.1 Existing Land Use ..................................................................................... 12 3.2 Soils .......................................................................................................... 14 4.0 METHODS ........................................................................................................ 16 4.1 Data Collection .......................................................................................... 16 4.2 Field Survey Methodology ......................................................................... 17 5.0 LISTED SPECIES OCCURRENCES ................................................................ 18 5.1 Federally Listed Species ........................................................................... 20 5.1.1 Florida Bonneted Bat ................................................................... 20 5.1.2 West Indian Manatee ................................................................... 20 5.1.3 Red Knot ...................................................................................... 21 5.1.4 Piping Plover ............................................................................... 21 5.1.5 Wood Stork .................................................................................. 22 5.1.6 Everglade Snail Kite .................................................................... 22 5.1.7 Kirtland's Warbler ......................................................................... 22 5.1.8 American Crocodile ..................................................................... 23 5.1.9 Eastern Indigo Snake .................................................................. 23 SR 826/Palmetto Expressway PD&E Study i FM #: 418423‐1‐22‐01 / FAP #: 4751 146 P / ETDM #: 11241 Endangered Species Biological Assessment 5.1.10 Florida Leafwing Butterfly ............................................................ 24 5.1.11 Miami Blue Butterfly ..................................................................... 24 5.1.12 Schaus Swallowtail Butterfly ........................................................ 25 5.1.13 Bartram's Hairstreak Butterfly ...................................................... 25 5.2 State-Listed and Other Species ................................................................ 25 5.2.1 Bald Eagle ................................................................................... 25 5.2.2 Burrowing Owl ............................................................................. 26 5.2.3 Gopher Tortoise ........................................................................... 27 5.2.4 Wading Birds ............................................................................... 27 6.0 ANALYSIS OF EFFECTS ................................................................................. 28 6.1 ETAT Member Reviews ............................................................................ 28 6.2 Direct Effects ............................................................................................. 33 6.2.1 Florida Bonneted Bat ................................................................... 33 6.2.2 West Indian Manatee ................................................................... 33 6.2.3 Wood Stork .................................................................................. 34 6.2.4 Eastern Indigo Snake .................................................................. 35 6.2.5 State Listed/Other Species .......................................................... 36 6.3 Indirect Effects .......................................................................................... 37 6.4 Cumulative Effects .................................................................................... 38 6.5 Avoidance and Minimization of Impacts .................................................... 38 7.0 CONCLUSION .................................................................................................. 39 8.0 REFERENCES ................................................................................................. 40 SR 826/Palmetto Expressway PD&E Study ii FM #: 418423‐1‐22‐01 / FAP #: 4751 146 P / ETDM #: 11241 Endangered Species Biological Assessment LIST OF FIGURES FIGURE PAGE 1-1 Project Study Area ............................................................................................ 2 2-1 Proposed Typical Section – SR 826 .................................................................. 8 2-2 GGI Ultimate Improvements .............................................................................. 10 3-1 Waterways Map ................................................................................................ 12 3-2 Land Use Map ................................................................................................... 13 3-3 Soils Map .......................................................................................................... 15 LIST OF TABLES TABLE PAGE 3-1 Soils within the Project Corridor ........................................................................ 14 5-1 Federal and State-Listed Species That Could Potentially Occur ....................... 19 SR 826/Palmetto Expressway PD&E Study iii FM #: 418423‐1‐22‐01 / FAP #: 4751 146 P / ETDM #: 11241 Endangered Species Biological Assessment LIST OF APPENDICES Appendix A USFWS Concurrence Letter, dated June 14th, 2013 Appendix B USFWS Official Species List for SR 826 and GGI Ultimate Improvements, dated October 7th 2014. Appendix C FNAI Tracking List for Miami-Dade County, dated June 2014. Appendix D ETDM Summary Report for SR 826 PD&E Study (Project #11241) Appendix E ETDM Summary Report for GGI PD&E Study (Project # 11300) Appendix F Standard Protection Measures for Eastern Indigo Snake (February 12, 2004) Appendix G Standard Manatee Conditions for In-Water Work (2011) SR 826/Palmetto Expressway PD&E Study iv FM #: 418423‐1‐22‐01 / FAP #: 4751 146 P / ETDM #: 11241 Endangered Species Biological Assessment 1.0 INTRODUCTION The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) District Six is conducting a Project Development and Environment (PD&E) Study to evaluate alternatives for the improvement of the State Road (SR) 826/Palmetto Expressway and the Golden Glades Interchange (GGI) in Miami-Dade County, Florida. On June 5, 2013, the FDOT, on behalf of the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), sent an Endangered Species Biological Assessment (ESBA) to the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) for the GGI Interim Improvements (FPID: 428358-1-22- 01). On June 14, 2013, the USFWS sent a letter to the FDOT stating the USFWS concurred with the FDOT determinations that the project “may affect, but not adversely affect” the West Indian manatee (Trichechus manatus), Eastern indigo snake (Drymarchon corais couperi), and wood stork (Mycteria americana). A copy of the USFWS concurrence letter is provided in Appendix A. A copy of the 2013 ESBA for the GGI Interim Improvements is available for review at the FDOT District Six office. The purpose of this 2014 ESBA is to document potential involvement with protected species for the SR 826 PD&E Study (FPID: 418423-1-22-01) in compliance with Section 7(c) of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.). The following information is provided to determine the anticipated effects that the proposed SR 826 and GGI Ultimate Improvements will have on federal and state endangered or threatened species. State designated species of special concern were also considered. 1.1 Project Description The Palmetto Expressway is one of the most traveled transportation corridors in Miami- Dade County. This multi-lane expressway extends from US-1 to the GGI for a distance of approximately 25 miles. The project is located along a segment of SR 826 in northern