Nevada and Northeastern California Greater Sage-Grouse DEIS
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Chapter 3. Affected Environment This page intentionally left blank Draft Resource Management iii PlanEnvironmental Impact Statement Table of Contents Dear Reader Letter ....................................................................................................................... xi Executive Summary .................................................................................................................... xiii _1. Introduction .............................................................................................................................. 1 _2. Proposed Action and Alternatives .......................................................................................... 1 _3. Affected Environment ............................................................................................................. 3 _3.1. Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 5 3.1.1. Organization of Chapter 3 ...................................................................................... 5 _3.2. Greater Sage-Grouse and Greater Sage-Grouse Habitat ................................................. 7 3.2.1. Range and Taxonomy ............................................................................................ 7 3.2.2. Biology and Life History ....................................................................................... 7 3.2.3. Management Zones .............................................................................................. 13 3.2.4. Regional Context ................................................................................................. 32 _3.3. Vegetation (Including Invasive and Exotic Species/Noxious Weeds) .......................... 36 3.3.1. Weed Control Guidance and Programs ................................................................ 36 3.3.2. Current Condition ................................................................................................ 37 _3.4. Riparian Areas and Wetlands ........................................................................................ 48 _3.5. Fish and Wildlife and Special Status Species ............................................................... 51 3.5.1. Conditions on BLM-Administered Lands ........................................................... 51 3.5.2. Conditions on Forest Service-Administered Lands ............................................. 54 3.5.3. Species Accounts ................................................................................................. 54 3.5.4. Federal Endangered, Threatened, Proposed, and Candidate Species .................. 57 3.5.5. Management Indicator Species (Forest Service) ................................................. 61 _3.6. Wild Horses and Burros ................................................................................................ 61 3.6.1. Current Conditions ............................................................................................... 62 _3.7. Wildland Fire and Fire Management ............................................................................ 66 _3.8. Livestock Grazing ......................................................................................................... 76 _3.9. Recreation ..................................................................................................................... 85 _3.10. Comprehensive Travel and Transportation Management ........................................... 87 _3.11. Land Use and Realty ................................................................................................... 93 _3.12. Renewable Energy Resources ................................................................................... 102 _3.13. Mineral Resources .................................................................................................... 106 _3.14. Special Designations ................................................................................................. 122 3.14.1. Areas of Critical Environmental Concern ........................................................ 123 3.14.2. Wilderness ........................................................................................................ 125 3.14.3. Wilderness Study Areas ................................................................................... 126 3.14.4. Wild and Scenic Rivers .................................................................................... 128 3.14.5. Other Special Designations .............................................................................. 128 Table of Contents iv Draft Resource Management PlanEnvironmental Impact Statement _3.15. Water Resources ........................................................................................................ 130 _3.16. Soil Resources ........................................................................................................... 139 _3.17. Cultural Heritage Resources ..................................................................................... 140 _3.18. Tribal Interests (including Native American Religious Concerns) ........................... 141 _3.19. Lands with Wilderness Characteristics (BLM) ......................................................... 153 _3.20. Visual Resources ....................................................................................................... 155 _3.21. Air Quality ................................................................................................................ 157 _3.22. Climate Change ......................................................................................................... 159 _3.23. Socioeconomics and Environmental Justice ............................................................. 168 Table of Contents Draft Resource Management v PlanEnvironmental Impact Statement List of Figures Figure 3.1. Historic Sage Grouse Range .......................................................................................... 7 Figure 3.2. Preliminary Priority and General Sage-Grouse Habitat and WAFWA Management Zones .................................................................................................................................. 13 Figure 3.3. Populations/Subpopulation Management Units and WAFWA Management Zones ... 15 Figure 3.4. Occupied Habitat ......................................................................................................... 20 Figure 3.5. Areas with a High Probability of Cheatgrass Occurance ............................................ 22 Figure 3.6. Fire History 2000-2012 ............................................................................................... 22 Figure 3.7. Landscape Condition ................................................................................................... 33 Figure 3.8. Bioclimate Change Summary: Greater Sage-Grouse .................................................. 35 Figure 3.9. Wild Horse and Burro Herd Areas, Herd Management Areas, and Territories ........... 62 Figure 3.10. Areas with Sagebrush and Pinyon-Juniper Conifer Interface ................................... 69 Figure 3.11. Areas with High Fire Probability ............................................................................... 76 Figure 3.12. .................................................................................................................................... 85 Figure 3.13. Renewable Energy ................................................................................................... 104 Figure 3.14. Existing Oil and Gas Leases and Wells ................................................................... 117 Figure 3.15. Existing Geothermal Leases and Power Plants ....................................................... 117 Figure 3.16. Special Designations and Other Important Resources ............................................ 123 Figure 3.17. Conceptual Groundwater Flow System ................................................................... 136 Figure 3.18. Designations for the Particulate Matter PM10National Ambient Air Quality Standards .......................................................................................................................... 158 Figure 3.19. Forecasted Monthly Maximum Summer Temperature Change (degrees F) by the 2020s, for July, August, and September (Comer et al. 2012a) ........................................ 163 Figure 3.20. Forecasted Monthly Maximum Summer Temperature Increases (degrees F) for 2060, for July and August (Comer et al. 2012a) .............................................................. 163 List of Figures This page intentionally left blank Draft Resource Management vii PlanEnvironmental Impact Statement List of Tables Table 3.1. Characteristics of Sagebrush Rangeland Needed for Productive GRSG Habitat ......... 11 Table 3.2. Habitat Health Indicators and Objectives ..................................................................... 12 Table 3.3. WAFWA Management Zones in the Planning Area ..................................................... 14 Table 3.4. Surface Ownership within Nevada and Northeastern California Population/Subpopulation Areas ........................................................................................ 17 Table 3.5. GRSG Habitat1 within Nevada and Northeastern California Population/ Subpopulation Areas .........................................................................................................