BOTANY REPORT BIOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT/BIOLOGICAL EVALUATION and INVASIVE WEED RISK ASSESSMENT
for
Baldy Mesa OHV Trails and Staging Area Front Country Ranger District, San Bernardino National Forest
Prepared by: _Debra Nelson______08/15/2013______Debra Nelson, District Botanist Date
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SUMMARY This report addresses the potential effects of the proposed actions of the Baldy Mesa OHV Trails Project on Threatened, Endangered, Sensitive, Watch list plant species that are known or likely to occur in the project area and general vegetation. It also serves as the Invasive Weed Risk Assessment.
The project area is located in the Cajon Pass and Baldy Mesa area of the San Bernardino National Forest (Forest) on the Front Country Ranger District (District), north of California Highway 138, and near Interstate Highway 15 where it crosses the summit of Cajon Pass. The legal description for the project area is Township 3 North, Range 6 West, Sections 3, 4, 5, 6, 10, 11, 12, 13, and 23. Baldy Mesa is the District’s “hot spot” for Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) use (Figure 1). Baldy Mesa is very popular for OHV use due to its isolation, terrain, and historic use. OHV use on Baldy Mesa includes four wheeled vehicle, quad, and dirt-bike use on 14.84 miles of National Forest System (NFS) roads 3N21 and 3N24.(Figure 1).
A Travel Analysis Process (TAP) was completed for the Cajon Place of the San Bernardino National Forest, which includes the project area. The TAP analyzed the capacity of the existing road and motorized trail system and helps to identify some of the associated issues. From the TAP, recommendations were made based on the risks and benefits in the area. This process helped to inform the recreational use and management capability needs for this project.
Federally-Listed Species and Critical Habitat: No currently-listed threatened or endangered plant species are known to occur within in the project area. There is also no designated Critical Habitat for plants within the project area or Modeled Habitat for any Federally listed plant species within the project boundary.
Determination of effects: This is no known mapped modeled or occupied habitat within the project area, therefore no adverse effects are expected for T/E species and Section 7 Endangered Species Act consultation with the US Fish & Wildlife Service is not required.
Forest Service Sensitive Species: The following Forest Service Sensitive species are known from within the Project Area: Opuntia basilaris var. brachyclada Many occurrences of this species were found within the project area and adjacent. areas.
Determination of effects: It is my determination that due to design criteria included in the proposed action, the implementation of the proposed action may affect individuals, but is not likely to result in a trend toward Federal listing or loss of viability for Opuntia basilaris var. brachyclada (Table 1), or any other FS Sensitive plant species that may occur in the project area undetected.
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SBNF Watch List Species: There are no known records and surveys conducted found no Forest Service Watch list plant species in the project area. No threat to the viability of any of the SBNF Watch list plants is expected from the proposed project.
Summary of Determinations: Table 1 provides a summary of special status species known to occur in or adjacent to the project area or those with a high probability of occurrence. Table 3 and 4 of this document display all of the FS Watch list and Sensitive species considered in this evaluation.
Management Indicator Species: No SBNF Management Indicator vascular plant species are known from the Project Area.
Table 1. Summary of Effects Determinations for TESW Species Common Name Occurrence Information1 Determinations 2 Threatened & Endangered Plants None
Forest Service Sensitive Plants Astragalus bernardinus P MAI Canbya candida P MAI Chorizanthe parryi var. parryi P MAI Chorizanthe xanti var. leucotheca P MAI Dienandra mohavensis P MAI Opuntia basilaris var. brachyclada Y MAI Orobanche valida supsp. valida P MAI Saltugilia latimeri P MAI
SBNF Watch list Plants Calochortus plummerae P NA
SBNF MIS Plants None
1Occurrence Codes: MH = Modeled habitat exists Y = Species is known to occur. P = Occurrence of the species is possible; suitable habitat exists and it is within the distribution of the species. H = Historic record. 2Determination Codes: NA = No affect expected NLAA = not likely to adversely affect for T/E species; MAI = may affect individuals but not likely to lead to a trend to Federal listing for Sensitive species. n/a =Not Applicable. Determinations are not made for Watch species – this is simply documentation of an occurrence.
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TABLE of CONTENTS SUMMARY ...... 2 LIST OF TABLES ...... 5 LIST OF FIGURES AND PHOTOS ...... 5 ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS USED...... 6 PART I: INTRODUCTION ...... 7 I-1 METHODS ...... 7 I-2 CURRENT MANAGEMENT DIRECTION ...... 9 LMP “Place” Designations ...... 9 Special Area Designations ...... 10 LMP Land Use Zones ...... 10 SBNF LMP Direction ...... 10 National Goals ...... 11 Compliance with Management Direction and Regulations ...... 11 I-3 DESCRIPTION OF THE PROPOSED ACTION ...... 11 I-3.1 Proposed Action ...... 11 I-3.2 Proposed Action –Design Criteria ...... 12 I-4 NO ACTION ALTERNATIVE ...... 21 PART II: BOTANY REPORT...... 21 II-1 INTRODUCTION ...... 21 II-2 EXISTING ENVIRONMENT – GENERAL ...... 21 II-2.1 Existing Environment - Vegetation ...... 21 II-3 EFFECTS OF PROPOSED ACTION – GENERAL ...... 26 II-3.1 Levels of Impact Analyses ...... 26 II-3.2 Impacts of Proposed Action – Plants...... 29 II-4 Impacts of No Action ...... 31 II-5 EXISTING ENVIRONMENT AND POTENTIAL IMPACTS – SBNF WATCH LIST PLANTs ...... 32 II-5.1 Existing Environment and Potential Impacts to SBNF Watch list Plants – Proposed Action ...... 32 II-5.2 SBNF Watch list Plants – No Action ...... 34 PART III: BIOLOGICAL EVALUATION OF IMPACTS TO FOREST SERVICE SENSITIVE SPECIES .... 37 III-1 SENSITIVE PLANT SPECIES BASELINE CONDITIONS AND POTENTIAL IMPACTS ...... 37 III-1.1 Sensitive Plants – Baseline Conditions and Potential Impacts of Proposed Action ...... 37 III-1.2 Sensitive Plants – Potential Impacts of No Action ...... 44 III-2 SUMMARY OF DETERMINATION OF EFFECTS –FS SENSITIVE PLANTS ...... 44 PART IV: BIOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT OF IMPACTS TO THREATENED, ENDANGERED, PROPOSED, AND CANDIDATE SPECIES ...... 49 IV-1 INTRODUCTION ...... 49 IV-2 CONSULTATIONS AND CONFERENCES TO DATE ...... 49 IV-3 BASELINE CONDITIONS AND POTENTIAL EFFECTS FOR T/E SPECIES ...... 50 IV-3.1 Baseline Conditions for T/E Plants and Potential Effects – Proposed Action ...... 51 IV-3.2 T/E Plant Species and Potential Effects – No Action ...... 53 IV-4 DETERMINATION OF EFFECTS FOR T/E SPECIES ...... 53
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PART V: INVASIVE WEED RISK ASSESSMENT ...... 53 V-1 INTRODUCTION ...... 53 V-2 SURVEY RESULTS AND RISK ASSESSMENT...... 53 V-2.1 Known Noxious and Invasive Weeds on SBNF ...... 55 V-2.2 Risk Assessment for Soil Disturbance Impacts ...... 60 V-2.3 Risk Assessment for Travel Routes ...... 60 V-2.4 Risk of Transporting New Infestations Into Project Area ...... 60 V-2.5 Weeds Risk Checklist ...... 60 V-2.6 Measures to Reduce Weed Risk...... 60 V-3 RISK DETERMINATION ...... 60 REFERENCES CITED ...... 61 APPENDIX A. Management direction & Regulations ...... 64 APPENDIX B. FLORAL COMPENDIA ...... 83
LIST OF TABLES Table 1. Summary of Effects Determinations for TESW Species ...... 3 Table 3. Current (in progress) and reasonably foreseeable future actions ...... 28 Table 4. San Bernardino National Forest Watch List Plant Species ...... 35 Table 5. San Bernardino National Forest Sensitive Plant Species ...... 45 Table 6. Threatened and Endangered Plant Species ...... 52 Table 7. Noxious and Invasive Plant Species of the SBNF ...... 56 Table 8. LMP Consistency Review for the Baldy Mesa OHV Trails Project ...... 80
LIST OF FIGURES AND PHOTOS Figure 1. Proposed project location ...... 19 Figure 2. Existing Vegetation in the Baldy Mesa OHV Trail Project Area ...... 26 Figure 3. Locations of Opuntia basilaris var. brachyclada (short-joined beavertail cactus) in the Baldy Mesa OHV Trail Project Area ...... 40
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ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS USED
BA Biological Assessment for species & habitats designated under the Endangered Species Act BE Biological Evaluation for Forest Service Sensitive species BMP Best management practices BO Biological Opinion rendered by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Caltrans California Department of Transportation CDFA California Department of Food and Agriculture CDFG California Department of Fish and Game CEQ Council on Environmental Quality CFR Code of Federal Regulations CNDDB California natural diversity database CNPS California native plant society DBH Diameter at breast height E Endangered species (listed under the Endangered Species Act) EIS Environmental impact statement FSH Forest service handbook FSM Forest service manual GIS Geographic information system GPS Global positioning system LMP San Bernardino National Forest Land Management Plan (2006) MIS Management indicator species NFS National Forest System NRCS Natural resource conservation service NRIS Natural resource inventory system P Proposed – species proposed for listing under the Endangered Species Act PAC Protected activity center for California spotted owl RCA Riparian conservation area S Forest Service Sensitive species SBCM San Bernardino County Museum SBNF San Bernardino National Forest SCE Southern California Edison T Threatened species (listed under the Endangered Species Act) USFS U.S. Forest Service USFWS U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service USGS U.S. Geological Survey W Watch list species
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PART I: INTRODUCTION
The purpose of this document is to review a Proposed Action and determine what the effects will be to federally listed plant species and plants listed as Sensitive by Forest Service Region 5 (Forest Service Manual 2670.31-32). This document is prepared in accordance with legal requirements set forth under Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, and follows standards established in Forest Service Manual (FSM) direction (2672.42) and the Code of Federal Regulations (50 CFR 5402). In the past 10 years, there have been numerous changes in conditions and management direction. The SBNF completed a new Land Management Plan (LMP; USDA Forest Service 2005). The LMP contains management direction for all aspects of managing the National Forest and includes direction on impact analysis for Management Indicator Species. The 2005 LMP also contains special status plant species accounts. This document has five parts: Part I is an introduction with the project description, methods, and management direction. Part II is a Botany Report that describes the existing environment in the project area and also documents the occurrences of species that are on the San Bernardino National Forest (SBNF) Watch list (W) of plants. This part addresses general potential impacts to species and habitats in the project area. Subsequent sections of this document may refer to the general effects discussion in Part II. Part III is a Biological Evaluation (BE) of potential impacts to species that are on the Regional Forester’s Sensitive (S) species list. Part IV is a Biological Assessment (BA) of potential impacts to federally-listed Threatened (T), Endangered (E), Proposed (P), and Candidate (C) plant species and Critical Habitat. Part V is an Invasive Weeds Risk Assessment.
These reports are required for all Forest Service funded, executed, authorized, or permitted programs and activities.
I-1 METHODS
Species Considered and Species Accounts: Each chapter of this report contains the current list of special status species being considered during the surveys and in the analysis of potential effects. Only those species with known occurrences or a high likelihood of occurrence within the project areas are discussed in depth and in the analysis of potential effects.
Species Accounts for SBNF Threatened, Endangered, Proposed, Candidate, Sensitive and Watch (TEPCSW) that were included in those lists at the time of the SBNF LMP decision, are contained in the SBNF LMP species accounts section (USDA Forest Service. 2005). Species accounts for plant species recently added to the SBNF Sensitive Species list (as of
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August 2013), as well as updated species previously included in the list, can be found on the US FS SBNF O-drive at: O:\NFS\SanBernardino\Program\2600WFRP\2600Restricted\2670TESGen\GEN\BABE- Templates&SpeciesLists\PlantAccounts
Species accounts for FS Sensitive species that are listed in Table 5 as present or potentially present in the project area are also available in the project file at the Lytle Creek Ranger Station. These species accounts include information on current status of populations and habitat, natural history, risks, conservation considerations, and viability analyses. These species accounts are incorporated by reference into this analysis and are not repeated in full. Scientific nomenclature and common names for species referred to in this report follow those used in the SBNF LMP, with species name updates that follow the Jepson Manual Second Edition (Baldwin et.al. 2012).
Pre-Field Reviews: Pre-field reviews were conducted to determine which species are known from the area or have suitable habitat present and could potentially occur. Data regarding biological resources on the project areas were obtained through literature review, existing reports, and field investigations. Sources reviewed include California Natural Diversity Data Base (CNDDB, 2011), California Native Plant Society (CNPS, 2000), SBNF, the most current information available in the NRIS occurrence database, results from previous species-specific surveys in the area, field guides and other project-related analyses.
All Threatened, Endangered, Sensitive, and Watch list (TESW) or other species of interest listed for the SBNF were considered during this review. There are currently no Proposed or Candidate plant species known on the SBNF. SBNF Modeled habitat GIS layers for Threatened and Endangered plant species within the project area were also considered. The objective of this review was to determine if suitable habitats were present, and if further surveys would be required. Surveys are not required for species for which suitable habitat is not present, and for which the project area is outside of the current known range of the species.
Botanical Surveys and Survey Limitations: Botanical surveys were conducted by qualified botanists familiar with the identification of the target species and their habitats. Field surveys of the project area were conducted by Forest Service botanists Darren Coffey, Kate VinZant, Gina Richmond, Todd Elliott, Bob Reed, and contract biologist R.T. Hawke. Field surveys were conducted on numerous days from 5/23/2006 through 7/12/2006, and were limited to the Project Area and approximately +/-20 feet beyond the actual project area boundary. Vegetation was mapped using a Garmin GPS 12 and/or a Thales. Data was taken according to NRIS and USFS standards and entered into the NRIS database.
Field studies were conducted and focused on general floristic plant surveys, and surveys for Threatened, Endangered, Sensitive and Watch list plants known to occur in the vicinity of the project area, or occupy habitats similar to those associated with the project area, and invasive plant species.
All plant species encountered during the field surveys were identified and recorded following the guidelines adopted by CNPS (2001) and CDFG (2002). A complete list of the plant species
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observed during the surveys is provided in Appendix B. Scientific nomenclature and common names used in this report follow Hickman (1993).
The entire project area was surveyed in 2006. Detectibility was high for most of the species including: Poa atropurpurea (E), Sidalcea hickmanii spp. Parishii (S), Astragalus lentiginosus var. antonius (S), Calochotrus palmeri var. palmeri (S), Opuntia basilaris var. brachyclada (S), Scutellaria bolanderi spp. Austromontanum (S), Swertia neglecta (W), Astragalus leucolobus (W), Lilium humboldtii var. ocellatum (W), Muhlenbergia californica (W), Castilleja plagiotoma (S), Imperata brevifolia (S), Oreonana vestita (S), Streptanthus bernardinus (W), and Symphyotrichum defoliatum(S) .
It is possible that other Sensitive plants are present but undetected in the project area because several annual species may not have been flowering when surveys were conducted. These species include: Canbya candida (D), Chorizanthe parryi var. parryi (S), Deinandra mohavensis (S), Androsace elongate spp. acuta (W), Chorizanthe xanti var. leucotheca (S), Phacelia mohavensis (W), Syntrichopappus lemmonii (W), Viola aurea (W), Eriogonum evanidum (S), and Saltugilia latimeri (S). Opuntia basilaris var. brachyclada were easily detected. It was the consensus of the District Ranger and the Interdisciplinary Team for this project that although the plant surveys were conducted in 2006, there have been adequate surveys done in the area, and additional surveys in this drought year would likely not render any significant new information.
No specific vegetation mapping was done in association with this project. However, vegetation association mapping for the SBNF was developed using the CALVEG series-level classification system (USDA Forest Service 1981). Vegetation of the project area is discussed in Part II-2 of this document, and shown in Figure 2.
I-2 CURRENT MANAGEMENT DIRECTION
Applicable requirements and direction may be found in the SBNF LMP, Endangered Species Act, National Forest Management Act, Department of Agriculture 9500-4 Regulations, Forest Service Manual, and the Southern California Conservation Strategy. Appendix A contains more details of jurisdictions, legal requirements, management direction, and BMPs that are applicable to this project.
LMP “Place” Designations The project area is within the Cajon Places (LMP Part 2, p. 59).
Cajon Place Desired condition: The Cajon Pass Place is maintained as a natural appearing landscape providing managed recreation opportunities, a transportation gateway, a utility corridor and a wildlife habitat linkage. A wide variety of dispersed recreation opportunities are maintained over time. The OHV route system is improved and unauthorized use is directed to roads and trails that are designated for this use. The valued landscape attributes to be preserved over time are an age-class mosaic in chaparral, riparian habitat, native grasses, and the rock outcrops in the dissected terrain.
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Chaparral is managed to provide fire protection for adjacent communities, recreation areas, and wildlife habitat and to protect from type conversion to nonnative grass. Invasive species within riparian areas are reduced over time. Habitat conditions for threatened, endangered and sensitive species are improving over time. Heritage properties and paleontological resources are identified, evaluated and interpreted. Native American gathering areas are protected. Property lines are located and managed and administrative rights-of-way are appropriately acquired. Program Emphasis: Community protection from wildland fire is of the highest priority. It will be emphasized through public education, fire prevention, and fuels management in cooperation with city, county and state agencies. Efforts will also be made to reduce fire occurrence and frequency next to I-15, railroads, powerlines, and other utility infrastructures. Habitats for federally listed and Region 5 sensitive species within the Place will be managed to promote species conservation and recovery. The regional landscape linkages between the coast and the desert and the San Gabriel Mountains and the San Bernardino Mountains will be kept intact, functioning and improved. The identification, evaluation, interpretation and protection of heritage properties, paleontological resources and the San Andreas Fault will be emphasized. Partnerships with Native American tribes will be improved.
Motorized and non-motorized trails that are sustainable to the environment will be developed to improve existing trail opportunities. Off-highway vehicle trails will be established in areas of low environmental sensitivity to provide an attractive alternative to unlawful use and to promote user cooperation in avoiding sensitive areas. There will be a continued emphasis on preventing establishment of user created, off-route vehicle travel and unauthorized off-trail use by mountain bikes. Remote control glider recreation opportunities and locations will be explored. The Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail will remain a priority for management and maintenance. Eradication efforts for arundo will be emphasized and prevention of unauthorized off-road driving in Cajon Wash and Crowder Canyon will continue. There will be an emphasis on OHV management in Baldy Mesa. Law enforcement activities will be coordinated with other functional areas for the protection of national forest resources and the safety of national forest visitors and employees. Special Area Designations There are no Special Area Designations (e.g. Critical Biological Areas, Research Natural Areas, Special Interest Areas, eligible Wild and Scenic Rivers, established or recommended Wilderness, or Inventoried Roadless Areas) from the Forest Plan that relate to the biological resources in the project area. LMP Land Use Zones Land use zones in the project area are Developed Area Interface (DAI) and Backcountry. The recreational opportunity spectrum in the project area includes Roaded Natural and Semi- Primitive Non-Motorized. SBNF LMP Direction The LMP includes forest goals and desired conditions for resources, strategic management direction, and guidance for designing actions and activities (Design Features) during project planning. Applicable LMP direction has been incorporated into the project design.
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The LMP includes several goals applicable to this project: Goal 1.2: Restore forest health where alteration of natural fire regimes has put human and natural resource values at risk. Goal 5.2: The desired condition is that watercourses are functioning properly and support healthy populations of native and desired nonnative riparian dependent species. Riparian vegetation consists mainly of natives species, with minimal or no presence of invasive nonnative plants...Riparian and aquatic ecosystems (including vegetation, channel stability, water quality and habitat for aquatic and riparian dependent species) are resilient and able to recover after natural events, such as floods and wildland fires. Goal 6.2: Provide ecological conditions to sustain viable populations of native and desired nonnative species.
The desired condition is that habitats for federally-listed species are conserved, and listed species are recovered or are moving toward recovery. Habitats for Sensitive species and other species of concern are to be managed to prevent downward trends in populations or habitat quality and to prevent listing. National Goals There are two National Goals that are applicable to this project: National Strategic Plan Goal 1: Reduce the risk from catatrophic wildland fire National Strategic Plan Goal 2: Reduce the impact from invasive species Compliance with Management Direction and Regulations The Proposed Action complies with the Endangered Species Act, National Forest Management Act, and SBNF LMP. See the tables in Appendix A for more details, including the LMP standards applicable.
I-3 DESCRIPTION OF THE PROPOSED ACTION
I-3.1 Proposed Action Location: The project area is located in the Cajon Pass and Baldy Mesa area of the San Bernardino National Forest (Forest) on the Front Country Ranger District (District), north of California Highway 138, and near Interstate Highway 15 where it crosses the summit of Cajon Pass. The project is within the Cajon Place as designated in the Forest Land Management Plan.The legal description for the project area is Township 3 North, Range 6 West, Sections 3, 4, 5, 6, 10, 11, 12, 13, and 23. Baldy Mesa is the District’s “hot spot” for Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) use (Figure 1). Baldy Mesa is very popular for OHV use due to its isolation, terrain, and historic use. OHV use on Baldy Mesa includes four wheeled vehicle, quad, and dirt-bike use on 14.84 miles of National Forest System (NFS) roads 3N21 and 3N24. (Figure 1). A Travel Analysis Process (TAP) was completed for the Cajon Place of the San Bernardino National Forest, which includes the project area. The TAP analyzed the capacity of the existing road and motorized trail system and helps to identify some of the associated issues. From the TAP, recommendations were made based on the risks and benefits in the area. This process helped to inform the recreational use and management capability needs for this project.
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Proposed Action: The Front Country Ranger District, San Bernardino National Forest proposes to:
1. Construct and maintain 13.4 miles of 50 inch OHV trails for use; A 50 inch OHV loop trail designated as 3W25 would connect with NFS Road 3N24 and NFS Trail 3W24. A 50 inch OHV loop trail designated as 3W26 would connect NFS Trail 3W25 with NFS Road 3N24 and NFS Trail 3W24 as described in Exhibit A.
2. Designate and maintain 9.6 miles of NFS Trail 3W24 that are temporarily designated for OHV use; The existing NFS Trail 3W24 that roughly parallels NFS Road 3N24 would be designated as a 50 inch OHV trail along the entire length of 3N24 that is designated for OHV use.
3. Remove OHV use on 1.2 miles of NFS Road 3N24; The most westerly section of NFS Road 3N24 that connects to private lands and State Highway 138 would be removed from the OHV system.
4. Reorganize the existing staging area to include additional amenities; The staging area would be designated as an Adventure Pass site and use limited to designated areas as described in Exhibit B.
5. Rehabilitate existing unauthorized routes within the project area within 200’ of center line of the final designated route, which included currently existing routes to be officially designated and portions of the route to be newly constructed. In minor instances, rehabilitation may occur to the line of sight in an attempt to dissuade the continuance of unauthorized OHV use in the area.
Exhibit A identifies the final proposed route for construction and designation and Exhibit B displays the staging area alignment. These exhibits are included in the project file at the US FS Ranger Station in Lytle Creek, CA.
I-3.2 Proposed Action –Design Criteria Staging Area Layout parking area following guidelines, design to most efficiently accommodate design vehicle. o Match the size of the trailhead facility to the carrying capacity of the area to be served. o Other considerations include pull-through parking for vehicles with trailers, space for unloading trailers and stock trucks, and safety of vehicles while unattended (FSH 2309.18,2). When designing the staging area to dissipate rather than concentrate runoff, also design to reduce the risk that weed seed from existing infestations would be directed toward currently un-infested areas (FSM 2903.3). The area of disturbance shall be confined to the smallest practical area. All parking and equipment storage shall be confined to existing dirt access roads and previously disturbed areas.
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Hydrology Apply appropriate Best Management Practices (BMPs) to all design, construction, and reconstruction, including appropriate erosion control measures (Forest Service Handbook R5 2509.22 Chapter 10). Riparian Conservation Areas (RCAs) would be defined through the 5-step process identified in Appendix E of the Forest Plan (S-47, LMP Part 3, p. 11), and would generally be 100 meters (328 feet) on perennial streams, or 30 meters (98 feet) on intermittent streams, measured as the slope distance from either bank of the channel. Other special aquatic criteria, such as wetlands, seeps and springs, also have 100-meter RCAs.
Practice 2.2. Locate and design roads to minimize problems and risks to water and minimize stream crossings. Practice 2.3. Road Construction and Reconstruction - Minimize erosion and sediment deliver from roads during construction and reconstruction. Practice 2.4. Road Maintenance and operations Practice 2.7. Road Decommissioning - Stabilize, restore, and vegetate unneeded roads. Practice 2.11. Prevent fuels, lubricants, cleaners, and other harmful materials from discharging into nearby surface waters or infiltrating through the soil to contaminate groundwater resources. Select service and refueling areas well away from wet areas and surface flow. Practice 2.13. Prepare Erosion Control Plan and BMP checklist. Include wet weather operations standards, as necessary. Practice 4.7.8. Restore OHV-damaged areas, watercourse crossings, and OHV trails no longer designated for use. Trails and roads would be constructed outside of RCAs whenever possible, unless limited by topography. Where channel/riparian crossings are necessary, the crossing sites would be determined in coordination with a wildlife biologist/botanist and hydrologist/soil scientist. Crossings must be engineered to limit damage to streambeds and riparian zones.
Heritage Heritage sites, both archaeological sites and living history sites (buildings, roads, etc) located within the analysis area would be protected from all adverse project actions as provided by the terms of the interim protocol to the Regional Programmatic Agreement. Some heritage sites are archaeological sites that are within or adjacent to trails or roads. These archaeological sites would have their boundaries identified and flagged prior to any maintenance that may damage the sites. No maintenance would occur in any archaeological site that has not had the site components identified or recorded for appropriate avoidance and for monitoring. Monitoring would follow the standards of the Forest Plan and as provided by the interim protocol to the Regional Programmatic Agreement. Monitoring requirements are at the discretion of the Heritage staff and may occur during or after project implementation. If additional heritage resources are identified during project activities all work would stop in that area until the Heritage staff has been notified and the resource assessed.
Botanical Resources
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Sensitive plant occurrences would be identified for avoidance prior to the onset of work. A botanical monitor or their representative would be on site during work in these areas to ensure that impacts to Sensitive plants are avoided or minimized. The project leader would coordinate with the qualified botanist or their representative. Known occurrences of Opuntia basilaris v. brachyclada would be avoided to the greatest extent possible during new trail creation and restoration of unauthorized trails. If avoidance is not possible mitigation would be conducted as determined by coordination with a qualified botanist. If other sensitive plant species are located during trail construction or trail restoration consultation with a qualified botanist would occur to determine mitigation requirements. While no threatened or endangered plant species are known from or expected to occur in the project area, if any are located over the life of the project, work would stop immediately and a qualified botanist would be consulted. The extent of allowable ground disturbance during construction would be clearly marked (with flagging or other visible means), and is subject to Forest Service approval with input from appropriate specialists. A qualified monitor would assure disturbance is limited to designated area.
Invasive plants Every effort would be made to prevent the accidental spread of invasive species carried by contaminated vehicles, equipment, personnel, or materials (including plants, wood, plant/wood products, water, soil, rock, sand, gravel, mulch, seeds, grain, hay, straw, or other materials)(FSM 2903.7b). Any off-site materials, used for erosion control or restoration on the project, would be certified weed-free.” No material from off-site sources (fill, gravel, or erosion control materials) would be permitted except as subject to approval by Forest Service Line Officer with input from appropriate resource specialists. The invasive plant species assessment included in the Biological Evaluation would be used to identify weed issues and locations where disturbance from equipment and project-related weed vectors would be mitigated (FSM 2903.4). All equipment used during project implementation would be cleaned to be free from invasive weeds before entering the San Bernardino National Forest. o If equipment is moved from the project area, used on a project elsewhere and returned to the project area, cleaning is also required before returning. o Cleaning should include wheels, tires, buckets, stabilizers, undercarriages and bumpers. Visual inspection of the equipment shall not show plant material, seeds, dirt clods, or other such debris on any part of the vehicle. o All washing must take place where rinse water is handled according to BMPs to prevent seeds and fragments of invasive species from washing into un-infested areas (FSM 2903.7a). Weed inspection of the equipment would be coordinated near the project site prior to use off road on NFS lands. o A Forest Service approved form that requires a signature from the person performing the inspection for documentation of cleaning of all equipment would be used. If work is contracted, agreement clauses would be used to require contractors or permittees to meet Forest Service-approved vehicle and equipment cleaning requirements/standards prior to using the vehicle or equipment in the NFS (FSM 2903.6).
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o A Forest Service approved form that requires a signature from the person performing the inspection for documentation of cleaning of all equipment would be used. All equipment used off road in the project area would also be cleaned of dirt clods and plant fragments to the extent possible before leaving the construction site to prevent the spread of invasive species known to be present on the site (FSM2903.3) Mapped occurrences of highly invasive plants that are not already ubiquitous throughout the project area, such as bull thistle, would be flagged for avoidance prior to ground disturbance to the greatest extent possible. o Ground disturbance or staging in all areas containing these invasive species should be avoided to the greatest extent possible. o If avoidance is not possible, the weed seed containing soil should either be removed from the site and legally disposed off-site, or replaced in the original location with erosion control measures to prevent weed contaminated soil from leaving the original location. o All equipment used in these areas should be field cleaned of all dirt and vegetation debris within the infested area prior to moving into un-infested area of the project. An interpretive message about reducing the risk of weed introduction wouldbe designed for display at the OHV staging area. It wouldinclude guidelines for the public (e.g.,thoroughly washing OHVs before coming to the staging area).
Wildlife No side-casting of materials. Do not leave any trash behind. Work leaders and/or crew would receive information from a wildlife biologist and botanist to educate workers on special status species. Crew members would not bring pets to the work sites. Temporary overburden and material/supplies storage piles would be stored in road bed or other previously disturbed site/clearing. No work after dusk or before dawn allowed (including lighting of work areas). Only vegetation encroaching in the road would be trimmed or removed. This includes riparian (e.g., wouldows) vegetation. If exceptions are needed for work outside the roadbeds, a biologist would need to do pre-work surveys. Flagging of avoidance areas and a monitor may be needed, depending on the survey findings. Modeled habitat for T/E species is considered to be suitable unless surveys indicate otherwise. Suitable habitat is considered to be occupied unless protocol level surveys are conducted and results are negative. Crews would not intentionally injure or kill wildlife species (including snakes). Instead, animals would be allowed to leave the work area before work resumes. Any trenches/pits left open overnight shall have a branch or other type of suitable material placed inside that would allow animals to climb out of the trench. The project manager would coordinate with the biologist to minimize disturbance of existing downed logs and rock outcrops that are suitable for rare species. If disturbance is
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unavoidable, a biologist may need to be present to monitor for sensitive species during disturbance of the habitat. Project administrators, inspectors, and crews would be provided information on rare animals, rare plants, and weeds within project areas and provided direction for what to do if those species are encountered (including notification of a qualified biologist or botanist). If water from NFS sources is needed for project activities, the project manager would coordinate with a qualified biologist and botanist in advance of the work to ensure that no impacts occur. A biological monitor would be present immediately before and during implementation at stream crossings (e.g., low water crossings, culverts, and trenches), including all perennial streams and intermittent streams with water present, and meadows and springs to ensure protection of stream banks, water quality, and aquatic species. o For stream crossings with water present and only road blading is occurring, no biological monitor or pre-surveys would be needed if the blade is lifted at the crossing. o For stream crossings where the work is entirely within the roadbed and where no water is present on the road (e.g., culverted crossings), the biological monitor would not be necessary. Do not leave cut materials in drainage crossings. Crews are not permitted to loiter within riparian zones. The Forest Service and/or contractor(s) should develop a Water Pollution Control Plan. This plan should specify details related to sediment and hazardous materials control, dewatering or diversion structures, fueling and equipment management practices, and other factors determined by the forest project engineer and earth scientist or biologist. Refueling should not occur within RCAs. Fuel and other hazardous materials would also not be staged/stored in RCAs.
Restoration of unauthorized routes Decompaction (e.g., ripping, chunking) would be used where necessary. Chipped material or other mulches may be incorporated into the soil during ripping or used to reduce the potential for erosion and non-native plant establishment. Water bars may be constructed and straw wattles and jute netting may be used to stabilize sites and reduce sedimentation. Horizontal and vertical slash may be installed to stabilize sites and promote revegetation. Existing non-native plants would be removed, to the extent possible, before ground disturbance and during restoration efforts. Barriers (e.g.,boulders, fencing, etc.) would be used to exclude vehicle access on restored sites. Signing would be installed as needed. Seeding and/or planting of native species representative of the site would be done where needed. Plantings would be weeded, watered, and maintained as necessary to promote survival. Closed and restored sites would be patrolled periodically and maintainedto ensure that barriers are intact. Photo points would be used to help with assessing restoration success and need for supplemental actions.
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Information regarding restoration activities and necessity to remain on designated routes would be would be displayed on bulletin boards at the staging area.
Monitoring Botanical or biological monitoring wouldbe conducted, as needed, during implementation to ensure that protection measures and objectives are met. Post-implementation monitoring of special treatment areas wouldalso be conducted as needed. Selected locations within the project area wouldbe monitored at least quarterly (4 times/year) under the Habitat Management Program (HMP) under the San Bernardino National Forest’s California State Parks Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Division Ground Operations grant. Funds for this monitoring have been secured for Fiscal Year 2014. Problems identified during HMP monitoring wouldtrigger immediate action (e.g.,barrier repair, disguise of unauthorized routes, revegetation, etc.). Weed monitoring wouldbe conducted as part of the HMP monitoring.When located, weeds wouldbe mapped using GPS and removed immediately if possible. In some cases where immediate removal is not possible or effective, a plan wouldbe developed for future treatment. Designated routes would be monitored via USFS OHV staff, recreation staff, law enforcement personnel, and the Southern California Mountains Foundation OHV volunteer patrol. Heritage sites would be monitored utilizing SBNF staff and the site steward program.
Maintenance of OHV routes Consists of tread maintenance (loose rock removal, rock and root removal, slough and berm removal, slide maintenance, and grooming of the tread surface), drainage maintenance (maintenance of water bars, rolling dips, culverts, French drains and other water control/diversion devices), maintenance of water and gully crossings, route maintenance (removal of fallen logs, brushing along trail prism, removal of hazard trees (see separate discussion below), litter removal, slope re-vegetation, and closure/restoration of off-route impacts), structure maintenance (barriers, barricades, retaining walls, trail tread protection measures, cattle guards, fences, and gates), and traffic services (sign repair and installation).
Roads – Motorized Use For public use, and to administer and protect resources, roads must be periodically reconstructed and maintained. Some roads may be constructed for specific recreation use, and some roads may need to be reconstructed over time to make needed improvements in alignment, grade, width and drainage. Road maintenance (as defined in Forest Service Handbook 7709.58-95-1) includes any expenditure in the repair or upkeep of a road necessary to retain the road's approved traffic service level. Work items may include surface rock replacement, grading, slide removal, and other items that contribute to the preservation of the existing road. Road maintenance is not intended to substantially improve conditions above those originally constructed. Typical examples of these activities include installing additional minor culverts and traffic control devices, implementing traffic management strategies, placing small
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quantities of spot surfacing, and re-vegetating cut and fill slopes, and blocking and/or disguising unauthorized routes originating on or crossing system routes
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Figure 1. Proposed project location
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I-4 NO ACTION ALTERNATIVE
The Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) regulations (40 CFR 1502.14d) requires that a "No Action" alternative be analyzed. The intent of including a No Action alternative is to disclose the effects of not implementing vegetation treatments in the project area at this time. It does not preclude activities occurring in another area or in the project area at some time in the future. This alternative represents the existing and projected future condition against which other alternatives are compared.
Under the No Action Alternative, the Baldy Mesa OHV Trails Project would not be implemented. The existing conditions would not be altered but would undergo natural changes related to site succession and existing land use and land management practices. It is likely that additional impacts to the plant community from unauthorized OHV use would occur. Additional discussion of the No Action Alternative can be found in Part II – 4 of this document.
PART II: BOTANY REPORT
II-1 INTRODUCTION
Part II addresses impacts and concerns regarding vegetation, general botany, Watch list species, and impacts that are common to those species as well as special status species that are discussed in depth in Parts III, and IV of this document. The purpose of Part II is to generally describe species and habitats in the project area as well as to document the types and degree of potential effects from the proposed project.
II-2 EXISTING ENVIRONMENT – GENERAL
II-2.1 Existing Environment - Vegetation
The proposed project area is located on National Forest System lands in the San Bernardino Mountains approximately 3 miles south of the community of Phelan at an elevation of approximately 4000 feet. The area is dominated by scrub oak and semi-desert chaparral and desert transition vegetation. Elevations range from approximately 3400 to 4700 feet. The north facing slope of Baldy Mesa is an alluvial fan where slopes range from 5 percent to 50%.
About 90 percent of the annual precipitation occurs between November and April and the remaining 10 percent is produced by thunderstorms that occur between May and October. Annual precipitation varies considerably from year to year. The area is subject to high intensity storms. Flooding and increased erosion can result from rain on snow events or high intensity thundershowers.
The USDA Forest Service Region 5 employs the CALVEG (Classification and Assessment with Landsat of Visible Ecological Groupings) system and its standards to classify Existing
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Vegetation (EVEG). CALVEG is a dynamic system that is updated by Region 5 and maintains strict standards for classification and naming conventions that are consistent across California. The Region 5 CALVEG classification system conforms to the upper levels of the National Vegetation Classification Standard (USNVC) hierarchy as it currently exists. The USNVC sets guidelines for all federal agencies involved in this work. EVEG GIS data were reviewed during development of this document. There are five vegetation alliances identified within the Project area with areas greater than 1 acre (Figure 2). These vegetation alliances were originally developed by the Region's Ecology Program in 1978. (USDA Forest Service. 1981. CALVEG: A Classification of California Vegetation. Pacific Southwest Region, Regional Ecology Group, San Francisco CA. 168 pp.). These vegetation alliance descriptions can be found at: http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/r5/landmanagement/resourcemanagement/?cid=stelprdb5347 192
The dominant vegetation within the project area consists of the following vegetation types (see also Figure 2 for distribution of these vegetation types in the project area):
CHAMISE ALLIANCE Chamise (Adenostoma fasciculatum) is a shade-intolerant, relatively long-lived but fire- sensitive evergreen shrub, is considered to be the most characteristic and widely distributed chaparral species in California’s foothills and coastal mountains. As a dominant shrub identifying this alliance, it often develops on sites that are harsher in terms of having shallow soils, recent fire disturbance, or having more xeric or sunnier environments (e.g., south facing slopes) than the adjacent Lower Montane Mixed Chaparral Alliance. Chamise appears to be affected by extreme winter temperatures, which limits its distribution in colder climates to the north and east, its natural range being from Mendocino County to Baja California, east to the Sierra Nevada foothills and west to the Channel Islands. This type has been mapped extensively in the Coast and Mountains Sections occupying most aspects and slope gradients. The elevation of these sites are generally below about 4800 ft in the Coast Section, and somewhat higher in interior sites of the Mountains Section. Very little other vegetation is found on these sites but Chaparral Yucca (Yucca whipplei) often occurs on more open sites and Coast Live Oak (Quercus agrifolia) is sometimes present in the immediate vicinity.
SCRUB OAK ALLIANCE Scrub Oak (Quercus berberidifolia) or other species of shrubby oaks may become dominant on north facing and often steep, mesic slopes at low to moderately high elevations in southern California. The Scrub Oak Alliance has been mapped extensively in the Mountains Section within sixteen subsections, and less frequently in the Coast Section in six subsections. These elevations are as low as near sea level and as high as about 9000 ft (2745 m). Any combination of Scrub Oak, Alvord Oak (Q. x alvordiana), Tucker or Muller Shrub Oak (Q. john-tuckeri, Q. cornelius-mulleri), Shrub Interior Live Oak (Q. wislizenii var. frutescens), Brewer Oak (Q. garryana var. breweri), Leather Oak (Q. durata), various shrub oak hybrids, and shrub Canyon Live Oak (Q. chrysolepis var. nana) may be present in this Alliance. Common chaparral associates are the shrubs Chamise (Adenostoma fasciculatum), Birchleaf Mountain Mahogany (Cercocarpus betuloides), Toyon (Heteromeles arbutifolia),
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species of Ceanothus, Sumacs (Rhus spp.), and Manzanita (Arctostaphylos spp.). In drier areas closer to the distribution of Tucker and Muller Oak, Redshank (Adenostoma sparsifolium), California Juniper (Juniperus californica), Singleleaf Pinyon Pine (Pinus monophylla), and Big Sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata) may associate with species of this alliance. Vines such as Poison Oak (Toxicodendron diversilobum), Cucumber Vine (Marah macrocarpus), and Honeysuckle (Lonicera spp.) also are common in mesic sites.
SEMI-DESERT CHAPARRAL ALLIANCE This alliance develops on interior (transmontane) slopes at elevations between about 1400 – 7400 ft (427 – 2256 m) in the Mountains Section. Sites, often open and sparsely vegetated, have been abundantly mapped in the San Gabriel Mountains and Desert Slopes Subsections and occasionally in eleven other sections. It is a transitional type that includes a mixture of common chaparral shrubs such as Chamise (Adenostoma fasciculatum), Birchleaf Mountain Mahogany (Cercocarpus betuloides), Bigberry Manzanita (Arctostaphylos glauca), and California Buckwheat (Eriogonum fasciculatum) with other desert or semi-desert shrub or perennial species such as Flannel Bush (Fremontodendron californicum spp. californicum), Tucker or Miller Scrub Oak (Quercus john-tuckeri, Q. cornelius-mulleri), Mojave or Desert Ceanothus (Ceanothus greggii var. vestitus), Brittlebush (Encelia farinosa), White Bursage (Ambrosia dumosa), Catclaw Acacia (A. greggii), Rabbitbrush (Chrysothamnus spp.), Mojave Yucca (Yucca schidigera), Prickly Pear or Cholla (Opuntia spp.), Desert Almond or Desert Apricot (Prunus fasciculata, P. fremontii), Big Sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata), and more rarely Creosote Bush (Larrea tridentata). As the main environmental factors are macroclimatic, no prominent slope aspects or gradients are indicated for this Alliance.
ANNUAL GRASSES AND FORBS ALLIANCE Low to mid-montane areas of southern California may develop extensive or restricted areas of dry grasslands in otherwise well-vegetated shrub or woodland regions. Conditions that restrict the growth and maintenance of, and invasion by species of surrounding vegetation include the occurrence of pockets of fine-textured (clayey) soils, a frequent fire regime, and ground-disturbing activities such as grazing, crop agriculture, and mining. Many exotic grasses are characteristic of this type, including species of wild oats (Avena spp.), various Bromes (Bromus spp.), Foxtail Fescue (Vulpia myuros), and Kentucky Bluegrass (Poa pratensis). This alliance also includes some perennial grasses that develop on coarse, well- drained soils occurring within sunny openings of Jeffrey and Ponderosa Pine (Pinus jeffreyi, Pinus ponderosa) savannas. In addition to species mentioned above, the Alliance may also include more natives such as some Sedges (Carex spp.), Melic Grass (Melica spp.), and Checker Bloom (Sidalcea malviflora). This type has been mapped typically on sites up to 4600 ft (1402 m) in the Coast Section and up to about 7800 ft (2379 m) in the Mountains Section.
DESERT BUCKWHEAT ALLIANCE This alliance identifies the occurrence of California Buckwheat (Eriogonum fasciculatum) and other Buckwheats (Eriogonum spp.) found in true desert or desert-fringe environments in contrast to those found in more coastal or dry chaparral areas (Buckwheat Alliance). Other species such as the shrubby Wright's Buckwheat (Eriogonum wrightii) and the perennial Desert Trumpet (Eriogonum inflatum) may be included as well as other Buckwheats adapted
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to arid and desert environments. This type is often initiated through fire or brush clearing and has been mapped sparsely in six subsections of the Mountains Section at elevations from about 1800 – 6800 ft (549 – 2074 m) on most slopes and aspects. Associated species are White Bursage (Ambrosia dumosa), Big Sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata), California Juniper (Juniperus californica), and Chamise (Adenostoma fasciculatum).
DESERT MIXED SHRUB ALLIANCE This alliance consists of clearly desert subshrub and shrub species along the dry margins of the Colorado and Mojave Deserts in the Mountains Section. No single species is dominant in this mixture. It is widespread and especially abundant in the Little San Bernardino – Bighorn Mountains and Desert Slopes Subsections and is found in scattered sites within nine others, having been mapped at elevations up to about 6600 ft (2012 m). The Desert Mixed Shrub Alliance may include any combination of desert shrubs, such as Cholla or Prickly Pears (Opuntia spp.), Joshua Tree, Chaparral, or Mojave Yuccas (Yucca brevifolia, Y. whipplei, Y. schidigera), Creosote Bush (Larrea tridentata), White Bursage (Ambrosia dumosa), Catclaw Acacia (Acacia greggii), species of Saltbush (Atriplex spp.), Ocotillo (Fouquieria splendens), Brittlebush (Encelia farinosa), Hop-Sage (Grayia spinosa), Agave (Agave spp.), Mormon Tea (Ephedra spp.), Barrel (Ferocactus spp.) and other species of Cacti, Boxthorn (Lycium spp.), Saltbush (Atriplex spp.), Blackbush (Coleogyne ramosissima), and other non-dominant desert species in any combinations. Creosote Bush and shrubby California Juniper (Juniperus californica) tend to be prominent in this mixture.
LOWER MONTANE MIXED CHAPARRAL ALLIANCE The Lower Montane Mixed Chaparral Alliance occurs extensively on cismontane low to moderately high elevation slopes in southern California. It has been mapped with greater acreage than other alliance in this zone. The species mixture is highly variable across this diverse area and includes any combination of non-dominant Wedgeleaf (Ceanothus cuneatus), Cupleaf (Ceanothus greggii perplexans), Hoaryleaf (Ceanothus crassifolius), or Hairy Ceanothus (Ceanothus oliganthus); non-dominant Scrub Oak (Quercus berberidifolia), Bigberry (Arctostaphylos glauca), Eastwood (Arctostaphylos glandulosa), or other species of Manzanita (Arctostaphylos spp.), Toyon (Heteromeles arbutifolia), Chaparral Yucca (Yucca whipplei), Silktassel (Garrya spp.), California Buckwheat (Eriogonum fasciculatum), Chaparral Whitethorn (Ceanothus leucodermis), Sugar Bush (Rhus ovata), shrub Interior and Canyon Live Oaks (Quercus wislizenii, Quercus chrysolepis), Hollyleaf Redberry (Rhamnus ilicifolia) and Hollyleaf Cherry (Prunus ilicifolia). Chamise (Adenostoma fasciculatum) is usually abundant but not dominant in this Alliance. In the Coast Section, it has been mapped at elevations from sea level to around 5400 ft., and up to about 8000 ft. in the Mountains Section. Higher elevation sites typically have more prominent shrubby live oaks, which often resprout quickly after fires. The transformation from erect hardwoods to shrubs tends to raise this alliance into upper montane environments. Slope aspects and gradients are variable in this type.
CANYON LIVE OAK ALLIANCE
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Canyon Live Oak (Quercus chrysolepis), a long-lived, evergreen hardwood, is the most widely distributed California oak, growing from southwestern Oregon into Baja California and east as relict stands into Nevada and Arizona. It forms extensive pure stands throughout southern California as a tree and shrubby species on steep and often rocky canyon and mountain slopes. Its sprouting ability allows it to persist in fire-prone areas. This alliance has been mapped very abundantly or occasionally in fifteen subsections of the Mountains Section at elevations up to about 8500 ft (2593 m) and sparsely in four subsections of the Coast Section up to about 4400 ft (1342 m). The geographic distribution in this zone is also wide- ranging, enabling an association with Bigcone Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga macrocarpa) in canyon bottoms and with Coulter Pine (Pinus coulteri) on gentle slopes or more xeric sites and with Singleleaf Pinyon Pine (P. monophylla) in transmontane semi-arid areas. Other conifer associates include Knobcone, Ponderosa, Jeffrey or Gray Pines (P. attenuata, P. ponderosa, P. jeffreyi, P. sabiniana), and White Fir (Abies concolor). In sheltered slopes and in mesic ravines closer to the coast, its hardwood associates include Madrone (Arbutus menziesii) and California Bay (Umbellularia californica), especially in Santa Barbara County. This oak often associates with Coast Live (Q. agrifolia) and Blue (Q. douglasii) Oaks in the Interior Mixed Hardwood Alliance, with tree and shrub forms of Interior Live Oak (Q. wislizenii), especially in the Transverse Ranges, and with Black Oak (Q. kelloggii) in the Peninsular Ranges. Deerbrush (Ceanothus integerrimus), Chaparral Whitethorn Ceanothus (C. leucodermis), Birchleaf Mountain Mahogany (Cercocarpus betuloides), Poison Oak (Toxicodendron diversilobum), and Manzanita (Arctostaphylos spp.) are common chaparral shrub associates.
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Figure 2. Existing Vegetation in the Baldy Mesa OHV Trail Project Area
II-3 EFFECTS OF PROPOSED ACTION – GENERAL
II-3.1 Levels of Impact Analyses The analysis of potential effects includes direct and indirect impacts associated with implementation of the Proposed Action. In later sections of this document, cumulative effects will also be analyzed for T/E and Sensitive plant species. Those discussions will address the potential for the project-specific impacts to combine with other impacts from past, present, or future actions/activities in a cumulative way. The factors considered in each of level of analysis are explained below.
Direct Impacts: Direct impacts are considered actions or activities that are immediate in space and/or time (e.g., physical damage to plants and habitat degradation, etc.).
Indirect Impacts: Indirect impacts are actions or activities that could result in impacts to the species but are removed from the project activities in space and/or time (e.g., downstream sedimentation, changes to hydrological patterns, impacts to pollinators, etc.).
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Cumulative Effects: Cumulative effects analyses consider the effects of present and future actions that may combine with the predicted effects of the Proposed Action. Cumulative impacts result when the effects of an action are added to or interact with other effects in a particular place and within a particular time. The analysis area for cumulative effects analysis depends on the distribution, life history, and ecology of the species. The cumulative effects analysis area for some species is small (project area), but larger for some species where local effects can be extended to a larger area because of pollination ecology or seed dispersal.
Cumulative Effects - Past and Ongoing Activities/Action: The baseline used for cumulative effects analysis is the current condition. The cumulative effects analysis does not attempt to quantify effects of past human actions by adding up all prior actions on an action-by-action basis. There are several reasons for not taking this approach. First, a catalog and analysis of all past actions would be impractical to compile and unduly costly to obtain. Current conditions have been impacted by innumerable actions over the last century (and beyond), and trying to isolate individual actions that continue to have residual impacts would be nearly impossible. Second, providing details of past actions on an individual basis would not be useful to predict cumulative effects of the proposed action or alternatives. By looking at current conditions, all residual effects of past human actions and natural events will be captured, regardless of which particular action or event contributed those effects. The cumulative effects analysis in this document is consistent with Forest Service National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Regulations (36 CFR 220.4(f). For these reasons, the analysis of past actions in this section is based on current environmental conditions.
Ongoing activities are recurring activities that have occurred over time and will continue to occur (e.g., road maintenance, trail maintenance, recreational use of the SBNF, hazard tree removal along SCE power lines and State/County highways, SCE periodic replacement of deteriorated poles, etc.). The LMP and supporting EIS contain also contain discussions of various past influences on the SBNF.
Current and Foreseeable Future Activities/Actions: In this analysis, current activities/actions are those that are one-time projects that are in the implementation phase (see Table 3).
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Table 3. Current (in progress) and reasonably foreseeable future actions
Project Name Type of Project Area Size Location HUC-12 Subwatershed Project Baldy Mesa OHV OHV Staging 6.6 miles (8 ac) new OHV Baldy Mesa area of Cajon Upper Cajon Wash, Manzanita Wash, Oro Trails and Staging Area/Trail construction; 5.6 miles (6.8 Pass Grande Wash Area Project Construction ac) newly designated OHV and trail; 1.3 miles (3.2 ac) Maintenance remove from OHV system; 570 acres of restoration along trails
CalNev Pipeline High Pipeline Approximately 12 miles long. Running from the Forest Upper Cajon Wash, Oro Grande Wash Pressure Line Installation Boundary near Devore; Expansion along Route 66; at HWY 138 up along Baldy Mesa Road; Northeasterly to Forest Boundary
Miller Canyon OHV Construct & Reduce Staging current One mile East of Silverwood Lake - West Fork Mojave River Staging Area designate a staging area to 1.1 acres; Silverwood Lake State developed Rehabilitate 1.4 acres of Recreation Area day use site current staging area
Upper and Lower Fuelbreak 560 acres Ridgeline northwest and North Fork Lytle Creek and Lower Cajon Wash Lytle Creek Divide Maintenance southeast of Boa Project Fuelbreak area; includes Lower Lytle Maintenance Creek Ridge State Route 138 Highway 6 miles / 175 acres (including Cajon Wash watershed Upper Cajon Wash Widening Improvement paved surface)
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II-3.2 Impacts of Proposed Action – Plants The following discussion describes potential direct and indirect impacts that may be common to many of the plants, or plant communities/habitats in the project area. These discussions may also apply to TESW species discussed in later sections of this document. Parts of this discussion will be referenced later in the document for specific special status species that are known to occur or have the potential to occur in the project area.
II-3.2.1 Potential Impacts to Vegetation and Special Status Plants - General Under the Proposed Action, a variety of direct and indirect project related impacts to plants and general vegetation would occur, however most of the project related activities will occur in areas that are already devoid of vegetation due to on-going OHV damage and related erosion.
Where ground disturbance such as re-contouring, water bar installation, and chunking will occur, if vegetation is present, these activities would directly impact plants leading to death and injury of individual plants from crushing, uprooting, and burying of plants in the localized areas where these activities occur. Where these impacts to existing vegetation are unavoidable, they would interrupt and retard vegetation processes, including germination, re- sprouting, and establishment. Such impacts will be minimal due to the fact that in most cases this activity is proposed in areas already devoid of vegetation and would be minimized with regard to rare plants and within Riparian Conservation Areas through implementation of Design Criteria and BMPs (Part I-3 of this document). Indirect impacts are discussed below in section II-3.2.3
The proposed action is expected to have an over-all beneficial effect on the native plant community by more clearly defining the authorized OHV trails and limiting the activity and disturbance from OHV use to those areas (only) by closing and restoring unauthorized, user- created trails. This will reduce the damage currently being caused by an expanding network of unauthorized OHV trail use, the effects of which are discussed in the section of this document called “Impacts of No Action”( Part II-4).
II-3.2.2 Impacts to Riparian Habitat/Zones Riparian Conservation Areas (RCAs) would be managed according to established guidelines and would allow only limited activities (see Design Criteria and BMPs). RCAs are areas defined in the SBNF LMP to provide for management of riparian resources. They are areas that consist of geographically distinct resource values and characteristics, which are composed of the aquatic and riparian resources, floodplains and wetlands. They include, but are not limited to, meadows, all areas within a horizontal distance of 328 feet (100 meters) from the edge of perennial streams, and lakes/reservoirs or within approximately 98 feet (30 meters) of the edge of seasonally flowing/intermittent streams (FSH 2509.22). Those management guidelines would help limit impacts to plant communities in riparian ecosystems
Generalized impacts to the hydrology may occur as a result of equipment use and soil disturbance. These may include a temporary increase in erosion and sedimentation. Channeling may occur along compacted soils. However, because restoration of disturbed
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areas is part of the proposed action, and the use of applicable design criteria and BMPs to minimize erosion (and associated sediment deposition), impacts are not expected to be substantial.
There are only a few RCAs in the project area. One which occurs in the Manzanita wash will be avoided by re-routing the authorized trail out of the wash to the bench to the west. In the other location where the proposed authorized trail crosses an RCA, Watershed Design Criteria and BMPs will minimize impacts to RCAs (see Design Criteria in Part I-3 of this document). Impacts to riparian areas from the Proposed Action would be minimized with regard to Riparian Conservation Areas through implementation of these Design Criteria and BMPs.
II-3.2.3 Potential Indirect Impacts to Plants and Plant Community Structure Indirect effects may occur due to ground disturbing activities such as ripping and chunking where heavy equipment is used to implement restoration and maintenance activities. These may include soil compaction and erosion that might inhibit germination, re-sprouting, and establishment of plants, but this activity is limited to areas generally devoid of vegetation already. There may be changes in plant community composition and structure, as activities can also reduce the amount of canopy cover in the immediate vicinity and may cause short- term shifts in the plant community composition favoring sun loving species until the canopy recovers. This is expected to be a short-term impact due to native plant community restoration efforts that will follow.
The restoration prescriptions will help prevent continued OHV damage and improve the conditions for re-establishment of native vegetation in the long term. To protect and improve soil, water, and other resources, BMPs would be included in road maintenance and improvements.
II-3.2.4 Spread or Establishment of Non-native Invasive Species Any ground-disturbing activity can facilitate the establishment and spread of noxious or invasive weed species. The ground disturbance associated with the use of heavy equipment used for chunking and preparing the soil for restoration is expected to create open soil which may leave the disturbed area vulnerable to invasion by cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum) and other invasive annual grasses which readily establish after ground disturbance. Annual grasses can out-compete native plant species and develop a monoculture groundcover of a grass that can suppress native forb species by out-competing native plant species including special status species for available water and nutrients.
Once established, these invasive non-native species can eliminate native vegetation and associated plant and wildlife habitats. Exotic plant species such as cheat grass and other opportunistic invasive plant species could occupy the open areas during successional shifts or longer if their presence alters the fire return interval and increases the fire risk as can be the case when annual grasses invade (Brooks et al. 2004). For example, cheatgrass dries early in the summer creating a flashy continuous fuel that carries fire in unnatural fire patterns introducing the risk of increasingly frequent fire within treated areas. Studies have shown that burns in intervals of less than 5 years can greatly facilitate the increase in alien species
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and increase the risk conversion to alien dominated annual grasslands. Too-frequent fire can ultimately lead to type conversion (Keeley et al. 2012). Cheatgrass and other non-native annual grasses, while present in much of the project area, are not currently present in a continuous coverage. While it is unlikely that they can be eradicated from the SBNF, it is critical to ecosystem health to limit their spread into currently unoccupied areas.
Pre-arrival washing of equipment, stockpiling/re-spreading duff (or slash) layers after completion of disturbance, restoration of native plants, and minimizing soil disturbance to the extent practical should all help reduce this impact, but to an unknown extent that depends on a complex interaction of canopy cover, pre-existing weed seedbanks, temperatures, rainfall, soil types, and patterns and types of ground disturbance.
This project will reduce the incidence of unauthorized vehicle use, and design criteria that will minimize the introduction and spread of invasive plant species during and after project implementation also include:
“When designing the staging area to dissipate rather than concentrate runoff, also design to reduce the risk that weed seed from existing infestations would be directed toward currently un-infested areas (FSM 2903.3).”
“An interpretive message about reducing the risk of weed introduction wouldbe designed for display at the OHV staging area. It would include guidelines for the public (e.g.,thoroughly washing OHVs before coming to the staging area).”
Potential adverse effects would be minimized but not eliminated, through the implementation of Design Criteria included in the Proposed Action
II-3.2.5 Cumulative Effects The potential impacts of the proposed project are limited to short-term disturbance impacts, minimal habitat alterations, and long-term beneficial effects of reduced threat of damage resulting from unauthorized vehicle use. The potential short-term disturbance impacts are minimal and would not be expected to contribute to the cumulative effects of other projects/actions in the foreseeable future.
II-4 IMPACTS OF NO ACTION
II–4.1 General Vegetation and Special Status Plant Species – No Action Under the No Action alternative, the vegetation in the project area would experience increasing levels of disturbance from continued unauthorized OHV use. This can lead to direct impacts from the vehicles including destruction of mature plants, disturbance to plant root structure, and disruptions to reproduction from direct damage to plants during reproductive stages. There would also be indirect effects to plants and vegetation via impacts to soils and hydrology. Soil structure could be significantly altered by repeated OHV use in areas of highly erodible soils, resulting in loss of topsoil, exposure of plant roots, sediment accumulation burying vegetation, and reduced soil/slope stability. These impacts have already occurred from this activity and have left large areas of bare soils in steep terrain
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where erosion exacerbates the problem. The resulting loss of vegetative cover which acts as a natural barrier to unauthorized OHV use also increases the probability of damage and loss of botanical resources from continued and increased illegal off-road vehicle use.
No Action may also lead to degradation of the plant community from increased invasive plant infestation. Due to the presence of non-native annual grasses, non-native mustards and other invasive plant species in the vicinity, OHVs can serve as vectors for these invasive species spreading them from current locations to additional locations via the network of unauthorized trails. Disturbed soil is particularly vulnerable to invasive species establishment. Invasive plant species can outcompete native plants forming monocultures that change plant community structure, degrade wildlife habitat, displace rare plant species. As more acreage is infested by non-native species, future control efforts would become more difficult and more expensive. If no action is taken, it is likely that more acres of native vegetation, rare plant and wildlife habitats would be degraded in quality.
II-5 EXISTING ENVIRONMENT AND POTENTIAL IMPACTS – SBNF WATCH LIST PLANTS
SBNF Watch list species are those that the local biologists and botanists have expressed concern about either because of apparent downward trends, apparent changes in habitat availability, vulnerability of associated habitats, or very narrow or localized distributions. Because of limited knowledge and/or understanding of the species, it is not yet known whether listing as Sensitive is warranted (the effort to gather such information is one of the purposes of the Watch list).
The purpose of the Watch list Report is to document occurrences of these species in the project area as well as to document the types and degree of potential effects from the proposed project. Species accounts for most of the Watch list species are contained in the LMP (species accounts for some recent additions to the list have not been developed yet); references are included in those accounts and generally are not repeated here.
II-5.1 Existing Environment and Potential Impacts to SBNF Watch list Plants – Proposed Action There are is one SBNF Watchlist plant species, Calochortus plummerae (Plummer’s mariposa lily) known to occur within the reach of direct and indirect effects of the project. For species not known to occur in the project area, the likelihood of occurrence is based on available habitat and proximity to known occurrences. There are no SBNF Watchlist plant species known to occur within the reach of direct and indirect effects of the project. For species not known to occur in the project area, the likelihood of occurrence is based on available habitat and proximity to known occurrences. All species listed in Table 4 were considered in this analysis. See the LMP for complete species accounts with citations. It is possible that Watchlist and other limited/vulnerable plant occurrences are present but undetected/unmapped in the project area.
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The existing environment described in Part II-2.0 and the effects analyses common to general vegetation and special status plant species in Part II-3.0 contains a full discussion of potential impacts that apply to all plant resources including any Watch list plants that may be present but were undetected in surveys.
Calochortus plummerae (Plummer’s mariposa lily) Calochortus plummerae was formerly listed as a R-5 Forest Service Sensitive species, but was removed from the R5 Sensitive plant species list officially on Aug. 16, 2013, and placed on the SBNF Watchlist based on its wide distribution and numerous stable populations within its range. It is found in the San Gabriel, San Bernardino, San Jacinto, Santa Ana, and Santa Monica mountains. It is an uncommon, narrow endemic but can be locally abundant in appropriate habitat. It is found at elevations of 325–5,580 feet on rocky, granitic soils, or gravelly alluvium, generally in chaparral or coastal sage scrub habitats and occasionally in yellow pine forest, alluvial fan sage scrub habitat, grasslands, and lower montane conifer forests below 5500 feet (Hickman 1993). The California Natural Diversity Database lists 232 occurrences of this species recorded in the CNDDB (California Natural Diversity Database 2013). Some of these occurrences are located on the Angeles and San Bernardino National Forests, however many are located on private lands slated for development. The species is vulnerable to development projects, trail construction and maintenance, fire suppression, habitat conversion, grazing, trampling, and sand and gravel mining (California Natural Diversity Database 2004).
Baseline Conditions for Calochortus plummerae Calochortus plummerae is a southern California endemic, known from scattered occurrences across the coastal foothills and alluvial fans. While none of these occurrences are fully protected from identified threats, several occurrences across the range at not at risk, and considerable areas of un-surveyed suitable habitat exists for this species. This species is locally abundant on the Front Country District of the SBNF in a several locations such as in Lone Pine Canyon, City Creek area, along FS road 1N09, Lower Santa Ana River, Cajon Junction in the San Bernardino Mountains (California Natural Diversity Database 2013), and Banning Bench and Banning Canyon areas (Debra Nelson, pers. observation). Other occurrences in the San Bernardino Mountains are at Cleghorn Canyon, Badger Canyon, Oak Glen, Water Canyon, Mill Creek, the Seven Oaks Dam area, Cajon Pass (USDA Forest Service 2002), and Wildwood Canyon State Park (Debra Nelson, pers. observation).
Potential Effects to Calochortus plummerae Direct Effects: There are numerous occurrences of Calochortus plummerae found in open areas surrounding the project area. This species was not found during surveys of the project area, but since the botanical surveys for this project were minimal, this species could be present but undetected in or around the project area. Though this species has been found several locations in the Cajon Pass area, the disturbance associated with the project is unlikely to impact suitable habitat for this species since the work is to be confined to existing disturbed areas. Any potential impact would be to a very tiny percentage of the total potential appropriate habitat available in the vicinity. The project will have an over-all beneficial effect on the available habitat for this species by limiting the expansion of the staging area footprint and associated damage to the adjacent vegetation.
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Due to design features, and the fact that while this species is a narrow endemic there are numerous relatively stable, large populations within the SBNF, and because the number of individuals potentially impacted is extremely low compared to the numbers known in populations across its range: No threat to the viability of Calochortus plummerae is expected from the proposed project.
II-5.2 SBNF Watch list Plants – No Action Under the No Action Alternative, no impacts to Watchlist Plants are expected to occur relative to the baseline condition, other than increased threat from unauthorized OHV use of the area and the direct damage to plants and indirect damage from erosion and changes discussed in Part II-4 which are applicable for any Watch list plants that may be present but were undetected in surveys. .
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Table 4. San Bernardino National Forest Watch List Plant Species Species Name Common Name Occurrence Information* Mountaintop Front Occurs District Country In/Near District Project Area* Allium parishii Parish’s onion P Androsace elongata ssp. acuta California androsace P P P Antennaria marginata white-margined everlasting X X Arabis dispar pinyon rock-cress X Astragalus leucolobus Bear Valley woollypod X X P Boykinia rotundifolia round-leaved boykinia X Plummer’s mariposa lily Plummer’s mariposa lily X X X Calyptridium pygmaeum Pygmy pussypaws X X Castilleja montigena Heckard’s paintbrush X X Chaenactis parishii Parish’s chaenactis Chorizanthe polygonoides var. longispina long-spined spineflower Cordylanthus eremicus ssp. eremicus desert bird’s beak P Erigeron breweri var. jacinteus San Jacinto Mts. daisy Eriogonum microthecum var. corymbosoides San Bernardino Mountains buckwheat X Eriogonum umbellatum var. minus alpine sulpher-flowered buckwheat X P Eriophyllum lanatum var. obovatum southern Sierra woolly sunflower X X Galium angustifolium ssp. gabrielense San Antonio Canyon bedstraw P Galium jepsonii Jepson’s bedstraw P Galium johnstonii Johnston’s bedstraw X X Hulsea vestita ssp. callicarpha Beautiful hulsea Hulsea vestita ssp. parryi Parry’s sunflower X X Juglans californica Southern California black walnut X Juncus duranii Duran’s rush X Layia ziegleri (syn. Layia platyglossa) Ziegler’s tidy tips Lepidium virginicum var. robinsonii Robinson’s pepperweed P Linanthus maculatus Little San Bernardino Mountains gilia P Lilium humboldtii var. ocellatum ocellated Humboldt lily X X Monardella cinerea Gray monardella P Muhlenbergia californica California muhly grass X Muilla coronata Crowned muilla P Oxytropis oreophila var. oreophila Mountain oxytrope X Packera ionophylla Tehachapi ragwort X X Perideridia parishii ssp. parishii Parish’s yampah X X
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Species Name Common Name Occurrence Information* Mountaintop Front Occurs District Country In/Near District Project Area* Phacelia mohavensis Mojave phacelia X P Phacelia exilis Transverse Range phacelia X Piperia leptopetala Narrow-petaled rein orchid X X Podistera nevadensis Sierra podostera X Rupertia rigida Parish’s rupertia X P Swertia neglecta pine green gentian X P Syntrichopappus lemmonii Lemmon’s syntrichopappus X P P Viola aurea Golden violet P P P *Occurrence Information: Y = Species is known to occur in project area. X= Known to occur on district P = Occurrence of the species is possible; suitable habitat exists, and the species is known from nearby locations. U = Occurrence of the species is unlikely based on habitat present. H = Part of the historical range but the species has likely been extirpated. N = Outside known distribution/range of the species.
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PART III: BIOLOGICAL EVALUATION OF IMPACTS TO FOREST SERVICE SENSITIVE SPECIES
III-1 SENSITIVE PLANT SPECIES BASELINE CONDITIONS AND POTENTIAL IMPACTS
Part I of this document contained descriptions of the methods/evaluation process, Proposed Action, and habitat for this project. Part II addresses general plant species, Watch list species, and impacts that are common to those species as well as special status species that are discussed in depth in Parts III, IV.
This part, Part III, covers discussions of potential direct, indirect, and cumulative impacts to species on the Region 5 Forest Service Sensitive species list. The Forest Service treats Federal Candidate species as Sensitive; if any are present, they are discussed in the Biological Evaluation (and not in the Biological Assessment of impacts to T/E species). The Proposed Action contains Design Features that apply to Sensitive species and their habitats. Detailed species accounts for all of the Sensitive species discussed below are contained in the LMP; relevant species account information is summarized in the following discussions. References are included in the full LMP species accounts and generally are not repeated here.
See Part II-3.1 for an explanation of Direct, Indirect, and Cumulative Effects. That section also contains discussions about present and foreseeable future projects that are considered in the Cumulative Effects discussions for each species.
III-1.1 Sensitive Plants – Baseline Conditions and Potential Impacts of Proposed Action Table 5 contains a list of the Forest Service Sensitive that were considered in this analysis and those that are known to occur in the project area are indicated in the table. See the existing environment described in Part II-2.0 and the effects analyses common to general vegetation and special status plant species in Part II-3.0 for a discussion of potential impacts that apply to all plant resources including Sensitive Plants. Only those FS Sensitive plant species that are known to occur in the project area are individually addressed in depth below. It is possible that other Sensitive plant occurrences are present but undetected/unmapped in the project area (Table 5). These are discussed only briefly below. III-1.1.1 Opuntia basilaris var. brachyclada (Short-jointed beavertail cactus) Opuntia basilaris var. brachyclada is a Forest Service sensitive species that occurs primarily along the northern slopes of the San Gabriel Mountains. There are several reports east of Cajon Pass in the northern San Bernardino Mountains, extending through Horsethief Canyon and Summit Valley to the Mojave River Forks south of Hesperia. It also occurs on the coastal slope of the transverse ranges in the Cajon Pass area at Mormon Rocks. Opuntia basilaris var. brachyclada has also been reported from Vulcan Mountain in San Diego County, a long distance from the taxon's main range (Benson 1969). Threats include increased fire frequency, collection, and OHV activity.
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Baseline Conditions for Opuntia basilaris var. brachyclada Opuntia basilaris var. brachyclada is known to occur in chaparral, Joshua tree woodland, Mojave Desert scrub, and pinyon-juniper woodland communities at elevations of 3,000- 6,500 ft. (900-2,000 m). It has been reported from a variety of soils, from sandy to rocky, in open stream beds, alluvial fans, and on rocky slopes (CNDDB 2004). There are 56 total occurrences of Opuntia basilaris var. brachyclada on the Angeles and San Bernardino National Forests (California Natural Diversity Database 2004). It occurs mostly at elevations between 3,000 and 6,500 ft. Its easternmost reported occurrence is near the Mojave River Forks dam at Deep Creek. (USDA Forest Service Species Viability accounts, 2005). It is likely that the distribution of Opuntia basilaris ssp. brachyclada is wider than what is documented because much of the land within the species range is privately owned, making field surveys difficult (USDA Forest Service 2005).
There are 108 documented occurrences of Opuntia basilaris var. brachyclada in California (CCH 2011, CNDDB 2011), although 33 of these occurrences are intermediate in morphology and possibly intergraded with O. b. var. basilaris. Many areas where this plant occurs on the San Bernardino NF are in areas where unauthorized off road use occurs and in areas of many permitted special uses that require maintenance such as pipelines and transmission lines and also occurs along routes for upcoming proposed projects. There are multiple occurrences of this species within the project area (see Figure 3).
Potential Effects to Opuntia basilaris var. brachyclada The Lone Pine Canyon area which is within 4 miles of the project area, is known to support both the rare Opuntia basilaris var. brachyclada as well as the more common Opuntia basilaris var. basilaris and there appears to be some individuals with intermediate morphological characters making positive identification difficult (MacKay and Sanders 1997), therefore all Opuntia cactus will be flagged for avoidance and crews will be instructed to avoid any cactus species encountered during project implementation (to the extent possible). It is very unlikely that undetected impacts to this species will occur due to the fact that the succulent above ground parts remain visible and can be recognized at any time of the year.
Project activities such as decompaction, chunking and water bar installation will result in short- term disturbances to the soil surface and some loss of individuals may occur as a result of attempts to re-locate individuals that can’t be avoided. It is possible that some mortality of individuals might occur during the process of digging and re-planting individuals that could not be avoided by crews during implementation of the project. Other disturbance such as trampling related to cutting of brush for slash, or fence/ barrier installation would be unlikely due the high visibility of this species and the effects would be minimal and localized. Some loss of plants may occur during project work, but only if the plants were undetected by biologists. The work will generally occur on unauthorized trails that already experience heavy disturbance from OHV use, so any impact will be short term and closing unauthorized trails will result in improved habitat conditions for this species.
Indirect effects: Removal of pockets of vegetation from ground disturbance and barrier installation will open up the canopy in small localized areas allowing sunlight to reach
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previously shaded soil. This will result in changes in the temperature regimes as well as soil moisture levels in those areas. These changes are not expected to result in significant adverse impacts, in fact opening the canopy is likely to improve the habitat suitability for this sun-loving species..
Any ground disturbance or introduction of equipment that could be vectors for weed seed has the potential for introducing or spreading non-native invasive weeds. The potential effects of invasive plants relative to plants in general are discussed in Section II-3.2.4 and includes a brief discussion of the effect of non-native annual grasses on the fire frequency. This discussion is relevant here in that most species of Opuntia evolved in areas where they were not subjected to frequent fires. It has been suggested that the rapid infiltration of desert ecosystems by introduced grasses most likely increases fire frequency, and this may decimate some Opuntia species (Sauer 1988). Introduced European grasses are increasing their range and numbers within the range of Opuntia basilaris var. brachyclada, especially in the Cajon Pass area, Oak Hills, and Phelan. This will most likely alter future fire frequency, but it is unclear if this increased frequency will pose a threat to Opuntia basilaris var. brachyclada. The risk of weed introduction and spread will be minimized to the extent possible by design criteria to be followed during the implementation of project activities and all follow-up maintenance.
The project is expected to have a net beneficial effect for this species by preventing the continued damage to its habitat from unauthorized OHV use, thus improving the over-all habitat quality for this species.
Cumulative Effects: Current or planned projects which may affect other known occurrences of this species within the SBNF are summarized in Table 3.
Also other unauthorized OHV activity, road and trail maintenance, and visitor use may also impact this species but is difficult to quantify. Design criteria included in the project may not completely avoid, but will minimize adverse effects to this species. There may be small cumulative impacts to this species within the project area from the project or maintenance activities. These reasonably foreseeable impacts, together with the actions of this project, would affect a small fraction of the known populations within the range of the species.
There is very low likelihood that the proposed project would have direct or indirect impacts to this species because design criteria call for flag and avoid, and even if individuals have been missed during flagging, they are easily recognized. Where it is not feasible to avoid impacts to individuals during implementation, design criteria call for relocating those individuals into suitable habitat nearby.
Determination of Effects: Due to design criteria calling for flag/avoid (but the possibility that there are individuals of this species that cannot be avoided), it is my determination that the implementation of the proposed action may affect individuals but is not likely to result in a trend toward Federal listing or loss of viability for Opuntia basilaris var. brachyclada
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Figure 3. Locations of Opuntia basilaris var. brachyclada (short-joined beavertail cactus) in the Baldy Mesa OHV Trail Project Area
Sensitive plant occurrences that may be present but undetected/unmapped in the project area:
Astragalus bernardinus (San Bernardino milk-vetch) is found in rocky areas on slopes, ridges, hills, mesas, or in small washes at 2950-7545 ft. Found in the southern Mojave Desert from the eastern San Bernardino Mountains, the species has been documented on the San Bernardino National Forest in the northeastern part of the San Bernardino Mountains.
There are no known occurrences within the project area. This species would have been visible during the time surveys were conducted and none were found. There may be appropriate habitat within the desert buckwheat alliance found in the project area, however its presence is unlikely and project activities would affect only a very small percentage of the habitat available.
Canbya candida (pygmy poppy) is endemic to the western Mojave Desert and adjacent mountain slopes in Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Kern, and Inyo counties. Canbya candida is found on sandy, granitic soils, dry rocky areas, and openings in Joshua tree woodlands,
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pinyon-juniper woodlands, and Mojavean desert scrub habitat, at elevations of 1,970–3,940 feet. At least 31 occurrences of pygmy poppy are known; most are located on private lands . Several old collections were made from the Victorville and Hesperia areas in areas likely lost to development. .
Little information is available on current population trends, however it is possible that this species is under-collected and potentially more common that records indicate due to its tiny stature and very short blooming time (Scott Eliason, pers. com.) Though this species has been found in the Cajon Pass area, the disturbance associated with the project would impact a very small percentage of the total potential appropriate habitat.
Castilleja plagiotoma (Mojave paintbrush) occurs in the San Bernardino Mountains, it occurs in the Mohave Desert, in Coxey Meadow, and at the head of Lytle Creek Canyon. It is found in Great Basin scrub communities in alluvial conditions, at 900 – 7500 ft. elevations. Population trends are difficult to discern at this time due to limited information. Castilleja plagiotoma is threatened by recreational activities and road maintenance, and possibly by renewable energy development.
There is appropriate habitat and host plants occur in the project area, however there are no known occurrences within the project area. This species would have been visible during surveys and none were found. Its presence is unlikely and project activities would affect only a very small percentage of the habitat available.
Chorizanthe parryi var. parryi (Parry’s spineflower) occurs in valley-floor and foothill habitats between 100 and 3,700 ft., and occasionally up to 5,600 feet. The plant is found in dry, sandy or gravelly soils in washes, alluvial benches, and in foothill microhabitats with unconsolidated soils and low vegetation cover. It most commonly occurs in openings in coastal sage scrub, chaparral, alluvial fan scrub, and the ecotone between chaparral and oak woodland. It is known to occur in Cajon Wash near Devore.
There are 96 records for C. p. var. parryi in the California Natural Diversity Database (2011). Trends in abundance and distribution are unknown. However, many of the historical occurrences in California Natural Diversity Database were originally found within or near currently developed metropolitan areas, and it is likely that abundance and distribution of this plant is negatively correlated with residential and commercial development. Occurrences on private land are threatened by vehicular use, proposed development, altered flood regime, and sand and gravel mining operations.
There are no known occurrences within the project area. There may be appropriate habitat within the project area, but project activities would affect only a very small percentage of the available habitat.
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Chorizanthe xanti var. leucotheca (white-bracted spineflower) is endemic to California and occurring locally in the eastern San Bernardino Mountains and on the eastern slopes of the San Jacinto Mountains and there documented sites on San Bernardino National Forest.
It is found in open flats, ridges, hillsides or slopes, alluvial fans, terraces or benches, washes, canyons, and pebble plains at 200-4265 ft. The soil is usually sandy, gravelly, or rocky; sometimes a sandy loam; soft to compacted; and sometimes with large boulders. It may be alluvial or derived from granitic or metamorphic rock. Threats to C. xanti var. leucotheca include development, road or trail construction or maintenance, flood control projects, mining, vehicles, grazing, and non-native plant competition. It is unclear how severe each threat is, although there is some indication that C. xanti var. leucotheca does not compete well with non-native annual grasses.
There are no known occurrences within the project area. There may be appropriate habitat within the project area, but project activities would affect only a very small percentage of the available habitat.
Deinandra mohavensis (Mojave tarplant) inhabits sandy-gravelly soil of granitic origin in washes and mesic areas of chaparral between 2700-4200 ft. There are known occurrences on the San Bernardino National Forest, but in the Jacinto Ranger District. No occurrences are known from the Cajon Wash or Baldy Mesa area. There are 66 occurrences of Deinandra mohavensis reported in the California Natural Diversity Database (2010). This is more than twice the number of occurrences that were reported in 2005. However, some occurrences are from historical collections and may be extirpated. Several new occurrences have been documented at the northern end of this species range in Kern County. Threats to Deinandra mohavensis include vehicle use off of classified roads, grazing, recreational use, and alteration to hydrology.
There are no known occurrences within the project area. There may be appropriate habitat within the project area, but project activities would affect only a very small percentage of the available habitat.
Eriogonum evanidum (vanishing wild buckwheat) occurs in sandy or gravelly flats and slopes in sagebrush, oak woodland, and montane conifer woodlands. It grows between 3300 and 6300 ft. Suitable habitat for this species is widely distributed on the SBNF. It occurs in Riverside, San Bernardino, and San Diego counties, California and northern Baja California. Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden relocated several historic occurrences of E. evanidum in Holcomb Valley in the San Bernardino Mountains, Garner Valley in the San Jacinto. There are nine records for E. evanidum in the CNDDB (2011), population sizes range from 40 plants to over 100 plants. There are several new occurrences in the Pine Valley and Mount Laguna area that do not yet appear in CNDDB; these occurrences are on the Cleveland National Forest. Surveys conducted in 2007 and 2008 confirmed that E. evanidum is extant and occurs on Forest System lands. Threats to this species include dispersed recreation (vehicle use off designated roads, hiking, equestrian use, etc.), altered fire regime due to fire suppression, nonnative plant establishment and development. It is likely that populations
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may have been locally extirpated in the vicinity of Big Bear Valley in San Bernardino County.
There are no known occurrences within the project area. While there may be appropriate habitat within the project area, it is unlikely the species would be present and project activities would affect only a very small percentage of the available habitat.
Orobanche valida subsp. valida (Rock Creek broom-rape) is found on coarse, well-drained soils in fairly open chaparral and pinyon-juniper woodlands at elevations of 4,100–6,600 feet. The flowering stalks of O. valida subsp. valida are inconspicuous and thus easily overlooked when growing under the canopy of its host shrub.
Abundance data collected in the past two decades indicate that known occurrences are stable or increasing. It is considered to have low vulnerability on National Forest System lands, but the distribution of O. valida subsp. valida on National Forest System lands is poorly known.
While it has been found in the North Fork of Lytle creek, there are no known occurrences in the Baldy Mesa area and none were found during surveys. There may be appropriate habitat within the project area, but project activities would affect only a very small percentage of the available habitat.
Saltugilia latimeri (Latimer's woodland gilia) is an uncommon species, endemic to California where it is known from several scattered occurrences in the western Mojave Desert and outlying areas to the north. It occurs in dry rocky and sandy desert canyons. While it is possible there may be suitable habitat for this species in the project area, the nearest known locations are Yucca Valley, Joshua Tree National Park and Cactus Flats area on the Mountain top District of SBNF (Consortium of California Herbaria). There are no known occurrences within the project area and none were found during surveys. Little is known about this species and while there may be appropriate habitat in the general area, it has not been documented in the vicinity, so its presence is unlikely.
Streptanthus campestris southern jewelflower grows on rocky soils in chaparral (including high desert transitional chaparral), conifer forest, and pinyon-juniper woodlands. It is distributed in a limited number of occurrences but currently is not considered to be at risk of extinction. Vulnerability of southern jewelflower on National Forest System lands is moderate. There are no known occurrences within the project area and none were found during surveys.
Determination of Effects for all FS Sensitive plant species that may be present but undetected/unmapped in the project area: The discussions above are based on information contained in Species Accounts recently updated by Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden (Naomi Fraga) based on available literature, known occurrences, and input from FS botanists. These accounts are available in the project file at The US FS Lytle Creek Ranger Station. Based on the discussions above, by species, it is my determination that the implementation of the proposed action may affect individuals but is not likely to result in a trend toward Federal listing or loss of viability for all FS Sensitive plant species discussed.
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III-1.2 Sensitive Plants – Potential Impacts of No Action Under the No Action Alternative, no closure or rehabilitation of unauthorized trails would occur and the current level of unacceptable resource damage would continue to occur. Direct damage to vegetation and special status plant species resulting from continued use of unauthorized trails and new user created trails would continue. Indirect damage from erosion caused by these uses would also continue to degrade the natural plant community structure and habitat for known occurrences of FS Sensitive plant species. The risk of introduction and spread of invasive weed species would continue and increase as user created trails provide travel routes for OHVs serving as vectors for weed seed. The discussion of the potential impacts of no action on the general vegetation in Part II-4 is also applicable for all Sensitive plant species that occur in the project area.
III-2 SUMMARY OF DETERMINATION OF EFFECTS –FS SENSITIVE PLANTS
Forest Service Sensitive Plant Species: While this project is not expected to affect any Sensitive plant species due to the reasons discussed above, it is not possible to completely rule out the potential. Therefore, it is my determination that the proposed action as described may affect individuals, but is not likely to result in a trend toward Federal listing or loss of viability for the Sensitive plants that are known to occur, or may occur undetected in the project area (Table 5).
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Table 5. San Bernardino National Forest Sensitive Plant Species
Table 5. SBNF Sensitive Plant Species list updated 08/2/2013 Species Name Common Name Occurrence Information Mountaintop Front Country Occurs In/ District District Near Project Area Abronia nana var. covillei Coville’s dwarf abronia Y Abronia villosa var. aurita chaparral sand verbena Acanthoscyphus parishii var. cienegensis Cienega Seca puncturebract Y P Allium marvinii Yucaipa onion P Antennaria marginata white-margined everlasting Y Y Arctostaphylos glandulosa subsp. gabrielensis San Gabriel Manzanita Y Arctostaphylos parryana subsp. tumescens interior manzanita Y Arenaria lanuginosa subsp. saxosa rock sandwort Y Y Astragalus bernardinus San Bernardino milk-vetch Y P Astragalus bicristatus crested milk-vetch Y P Astragalus lentiginosus var. antonius San Antonio milk-vetch Y Astragalus lentiginosus var. sierrae Bear Valley milk-vetch Y P Astragalus pachypus var. jaegeri Jaeger's milk-vetch Astragalus tidestromii Tidestrom’s milk-vetch Y Atriplex parishii Parish’s brittlescale P Boechera johnstonii Johnston’s rockcress Boechera parishii Parish's rockcress Y Boechera peirsonii San Bernardino rockcress Y Boechera shockleyi Shockley's rockcress Y Botrychium crenulatum scalloped moonwort Y Y Calochortus palmeri var. munzii Munz's mariposa lily Calochortus palmeri var. palmeri Palmer's mariposa lily Y P Calochortus striatus alkali mariposa lily P Calyptridium pygmaeum pygmy pussypaws Y Canbya candida pygmy poppy Y Y P Castilleja lasiorhyncha San Bernardino Mountains owl's clover Y P Castilleja plagiotoma Mojave paintbrush Y P P Caulanthus simulans Payson's jewelflower P
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Table 5. SBNF Sensitive Plant Species list updated 08/2/2013 Species Name Common Name Occurrence Information Mountaintop Front Country Occurs In/ District District Near Project Area Chorizanthe parryi var. parryi Parry's spineflower P P Chorizanthe xanti var. leucotheca white-bracted spineflower Y P Cladium californicum California saw grass Y Claytonia lanceolata var. piersonii Pierson’s spring beauty Y P Deinandra mohavensis Mojave tarplant H P P Delphinium hesperium subsp. cuyamacae Cuyamaca larkspur Dieteria canescens var. ziegleri Ziegler's aster Draba saxosa rock draba Drymocallis cuneifolia var. cuneifolia wedgeleaf woodbeauty Y Dudleya abramsii subsp. affinis San Bernardino Mts. dudleya Y Ericameria parryi var. imula Parry’s rabbitbrush Y Eriogonum evanidum vanishing wild buckwheat Y P Eriogonum kennedyi var. alpigenum southern alpine buckwheat Y Eriogonum microthecum var. johnstonii Johnston’s buckwheat Y Y Eriogonum microthecum var. lacus-ursi Bear Lake buckwheat P Galium angustifolium subsp. jacinticium San Jacinto Mtns bedstraw Galium californicum subsp. primum California bedstraw Gentiana fremontii moss gentian Y Gilia leptantha subsp. leptantha San Bernardino gilia Y Y Heuchera abramsii Abrams’ alumroot P Heuchera caespitosa urn-flowered alumroot Y Heuchera hirsutissima shaggy-haired alum root Heuchera parishii Parish's alumroot Y Y Horkelia cuneata subsp. puberula mesa horkelia P Horkelia wilderae Barton Flats horkelia Y Y Hulsea vestita subsp. gabrielensis San Gabriel Mountains sunflower P Hulsea vestita subsp. pygmaea pygmy hulsea Y Y Imperata brevifolia California satintail P Ivesia argyrocoma var. argyrocoma Silver-haired ivesia Y Ivesia callida Tahquitz ivesia Lepechinia fragrans fragrant pitcher sage Y
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Table 5. SBNF Sensitive Plant Species list updated 08/2/2013 Species Name Common Name Occurrence Information Mountaintop Front Country Occurs In/ District District Near Project Area Leptosiphon floribundus subsp. hallii Santa Rosa Mtns leptosiphon Lewisia brachycalyx short-sepaled Y Lilium parryi Lemon lily Y Y Limnanthes alba var. parishii Parish’s meadowfoam Linanthus concinnus San Gabriel linanthus Y Linanthus jaegeri San Jacinto prickly phlox Linanthus killipii Baldwin Lake linanthus Y Malaxis monophyllos var. brachypoda Adder’s mouth Y Marina orcuttii var. orcuttii California marina Matelea parvifolia spearleaf Meesia uliginosa Broad-nerved hump moss P Mimulus exiguus San Bernardino Mountain monkeyflower Y Mimulus purpureus purple monkeyflower Y Monardella australis subsp. jokersti Jokerst’s monardella Y Monardella macrantha subsp. hallii Hall's monardella Y Monardella nana subsp. leptosiphon San Felipe monardella Monardella saxicola rock monardella Y Navarretia peninsularis Baja navarretia Y Opuntia basilaris var. brachyclada Short-joint beavertail P Y Y Oreonana vestita woolly mountain parsley P Y Orobanche valida subsp. valida Rock Creek broom-rape Y P Oxytropis oreophila var. oreophila rock loving point vetch Y Packera bernardina San Bernardino butterweed Y Parnassia cirrata var. cirrata Fringed grass-of-Parnassus Y Penstemon californicus California penstemon Phlox dolichantha Bear Valley phlox Y Plagiobothrys collinus var. ursinus Cooper’s popcorn flower Y Potentilla rimicola cliff cinquefoil Pyrrocoma uniflora subsp. gossypina Bear Valley pyrrocoma Y Saltugilia latimeri Latimer's woodland gilia Y P P Schoenus nigricans black sedge Y
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Table 5. SBNF Sensitive Plant Species list updated 08/2/2013 Species Name Common Name Occurrence Information Mountaintop Front Country Occurs In/ District District Near Project Area Scutellaria bolanderi subsp. austromontanum southern mountain skullcap P Sedum niveum Davidson's stonecrop Y Y Sidalcea hickmanii subsp. parishii Parish’s checkerbloom Y P Sidalcea malviflora subsp. dolosa Dwarf checkerbloom Y Sidalcea neomexicana Salt Spring checkerbloom P P Sidotheca caryophylloides chickweed starry puncturebract Y P Sidotheca emarginata white-margined puncturebract Sisyrinchium longipes Timberland blue-eyed grass Y Streptanthus campestris southern jewelflower Y P P Symphyotrichum defoliatum San Bernardino aster Y Y Thelypteris puberula var. sonorensis Sonoran maiden fern Y Thysanocarpus rigidus rigid fringepod P P *Occurrence Information: Y = Species is known to occur. P = Occurrence of the species is possible; suitable habitat exists, and the species is known from nearby locations. H = Part of the historical range but the species has likely been extirpated. U = Occurrence of the species is unlikely based on habitat present. N = Outside known distribution/range of the species.
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PART IV: BIOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT OF IMPACTS TO THREATENED, ENDANGERED, PROPOSED, AND CANDIDATE SPECIES
IV-1 INTRODUCTION
This Biological Assessment (BA) part of this document addresses proposed and listed Threatened, Endangered (T/E) species and their proposed and designated Critical Habitat. Under agreement with USFWS, the Forest Service only addresses Candidate species in programmatic consultations. Because this is a project-level analysis, Candidate species are not addressed in the Biological Assessment. Candidate Species, if any, are addressed in the Biological Evaluation.
IV-2 CONSULTATIONS AND CONFERENCES TO DATE
The Endangered Species Act (ESA) requires that federal agencies evaluate effects to federally-listed species and Critical Habitat in consultation with USFWS when proposing federal actions. The quarterly species list request was sent to USFWS on July 2 2013 for projects being evaluated on SBNF. We received a concurrence letter on July 29, 2013 from USF&WS. In that response, the USFWS concurred with our list of species and Critical Habitats. The species listed in the SBNF letter and previous USFWS responses are included in this evaluation.
Under the Counterpart Regulations of Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act, projects implemented under the National Fire Plan (50 CFR 402.31) provide for determinations of “not likely to adversely affect” by the action agency without concurrence by USFWS.
There are several programmatic and project-specific consultations that have set the stage for this consultation.
Riparian Obligate BA/BO of 1999 (1999 Riparian Consultation): The SBNF prepared a Biological Assessment for “The SBNF Problem Areas for Riparian Obligate Species” in 1998 (USFS 1998). USFWS issued a Biological Opinion (1-6-99-F-21) on the BA in March 2000 (USFWS 2000). The BA/BO covered the site-specific effects of activities related to roads, trails, developed recreation sites, general recreation, and several special use permits in known occupied habitats for the above-mentioned species. The 1999 Riparian Consultation addressed arroyo toad, California red-legged frog, southwestern willow flycatcher, and least Bell’s vireo. At that time, mountain yellow-legged frog was not listed and none of the riparian obligate species had designated or proposed Critical Habitat on the SBNF.
Programmatic Consultation on LMP in 2000/2001 (2001 LMP Consultation): In 2000, the SBNF and the other National Forests in the Southern Province prepared a Programmatic BA for the existing LMPs at the time (USFS 2000). USFWS issued a Biological Opinion (1-6-00-F-773.2) in 2001 (USFWS 2001). The 2001 LMP BO incorporated by reference the 1999 Riparian
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Consultation and kept in place the terms and conditions and the take statements from the 1999 Riparian Consultation.
Hazardous Fuels Management Programmatic Consultation 2004/2005 (2005 Fuels Consultation): In 2004, the SBNF initiated consultation on the Forest’s fuels reduction and vegetation management programs (USFS 2004b). A USFWS letter dated August 29, 2005 (FWS-SB/WRIV-3468.2) included concurrence of the “not likely to adversely affect” determinations (by using the Proposed Action’s Design Features) for several species.
The formal consultation for this programmatic BA was withdrawn due to a change in strategies; no BO was written for the species with “may adversely affect” determinations and no “incidental take” statement was issued to the SBNF.
Programmatic Consultation on LMP in 2005 (2005 LMP Consultation): In 2005, the SBNF and other the three Southern Province National Forests initiated consultation on the updated LMP (Biological Assessment for the Revised Land Management Plans, dated March 18, 2005) (USFS 2005). A BO was issued Sept. 15, 2005 (1-6-05-F733.9 – Biological and Conference Opinions on the Revised Land and Resource Management Plans for the Four Southern California National Forests, California) (USFWS 2005).
Riparian Obligate Ongoing Effects Consultation in 2008: In July 2008, the SBNF initiated consultation on the ongoing effects from Forest management activities to seven riparian- dependent species. A BO has not yet been issued but is expected later in 2011.
T/E Plant Consultations: The SBNF has consulted with USWFS on the three groups of listed plants on the Mountaintop Ranger District (USFS 1999a, 1999b, 1999c, 2000). Three listed pebble plain plant species and five listed carbonate were included in Biological Opinions in 1999. Four listed meadow plant species were included in Province Programmatic Forest Plan Biological Opinion in 2001. \
Modeled habitats: The SBNF completed Section 7 programmatic formal consultation on interim management guidelines for the San Bernardino National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan (USDA Forest Service 2000a). The consultation for impacts to meadow plant species was included in the Programmatic Consultation. The Programmatic Biological Assessment (USDA Forest Service 2000a) and Biological Opinion (USFWS 2001b) for ongoing activities on the SBNF has applicable management direction that is relevant to this project regarding Modeled Habitat. Modeled habitats were mapped jointly by US Fish & Wildlife Service and US Forest Service. The mapping is based on physiographic and vegetative features (GIS databases). The Forest is required to complete a habitat assessment to determine whether modeled habitat is currently suitable for or occupied by the species. For new activities to be authorized or carried out by the Forest Service, modeled habitat will be treated as occupied habitat until surveyed for suitability (based on mutually agreed upon suitability criteria) and, if necessary, for occupancy.
IV-3 BASELINE CONDITIONS AND POTENTIAL EFFECTS FOR T/E SPECIES
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Part I of this document contains descriptions of the methods/evaluation process, the Proposed Action, and habitat in the project area. Part II includes general effects discussions that may also be applicable to T/E species.
Detailed species accounts for all of the T/E species are contained in the LMP.
The following discussions focus on T/E species known to occur in the project area, those that have a high likelihood of occurrence based on proximity to the project area or those that have modeled or suitable habitat present in or adjacent to the project area. This is based on records from CNDDB, SBCM, SBNF, observations during surveys of the project area, and/or presence of modeled habitat mapped in or near the project area.
See Part II-3.1 for an explanation of Direct, Indirect, and Cumulative Effects. That section also contains discussions about present and foreseeable future projects that are considered in the Cumulative Effects discussions for each species. The Cumulative Effects discussions below include two definitions: Under the NEPA, “cumulative impacts” are those impacts caused by past, present, and future federal, state, and private activities within or onto special status species and their habitats. Under the ESA, “cumulative effects” only consider future non-federal activities that are reasonably certain to occur. Future federal activities or activities permitted by federal agencies are not included under ESA “cumulative effects” because any proposed future federal activities or federally permitted activities must undergo Section 7 consultation with the USFWS.
See Part II-3.1 for a discussion of past and ongoing activities, current actions, and foreseeable future activities. Those discussions also apply to the following discussions.
IV-3.1 Baseline Conditions for T/E Plants and Potential Effects – Proposed Action All T/E plant species, (as well as any Critical and Modeled Habitat for these T&E species) in Table 5 were considered in this evaluation. These species were considered during the surveys and analysis of potential effects; only those species with known occurrences or a high likelihood of occurrence within the project area, those that have a high likelihood of occurrence based on proximity to the project area or those that have modeled or suitable habitat present in or adjacent to the project area are discussed in depth. Species Accounts for the current SBNF Threatened, Endangered, Proposed, Candidate, lists are contained in the SBNF LMP. These species accounts include information on current status of populations and habitat, natural history, risks, conservation considerations, and viability analyses. These species accounts are incorporated by reference into this analysis and are not repeated in full.
The pre-field review (see Methods section Part I) found no federally-listed Threatened, Endangered, Proposed or Candidate species with known occurrences (as documented by field surveys) within the project area. There is no designated Critical Habitat for these species within the project area. There is also no Modeled Habitat for any Federally listed plant species within the project area.
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Table 6. Threatened and Endangered Plant Species Species Name Common Name Occurrence Information* Critical Habitat Type Habitat on SBNF Mountaintop Front San Country Jacinto ENDANGERED SPECIES Acanthoscyphus parishii var. Cushenbury puncturebract X Designated Carbonate soils goodmaniana Arenaria paludicola marsh sandwort Freshwater marsh Astragalus albens Cushenbury milk vetch X Designated Carbonate soils Astragalus brauntonii Braunton’s milk-vetch P Limestone soils in chaparral Astragalus lentiginosus var. coachellae Coachella Valley milk vetch P Sandy Sonoran desert scrub Astragalus tricarinatus triple-ribbed milk-vetch P P Sandy/gravel, desert margin Berberis nevinii Nevin's barberry P P Clay soils/vernally wet areas Dodecahema leptoceras slender-horned spineflower X X Alluvial scrub Eriastrum densifolium ssp. sanctorum Santa Ana River woollystar P Alluvial scrub Eriogonum ovalifolium var. vineum Cushenbury buckwheat X Designated Carbonate soils Nasturtium gambelii Gambel’s water cress Freshwater marsh Poa atropurpurea San Bernardino bluegrass X P P Designated Meadows Physaria kingii ssp. bernardina San Bernardino Mtns. bladderpod X Designated Carbonate soils Sidalcea pedata bird's foot checkerbloom X P Meadows Taraxacum californicum California taraxacum X X Designated Meadows Thelypodium stenopetalum slender-petaled mustard X Meadows THREATENED SPECIES
Brodiaea filifolia thread-leaved brodiaea P P Clay soils/vernally wet areas Castilleja cinerea ash-gray Indian paintbrush X X Designated Pebble plains; openings in conifer forest Erigeron parishii Parish's daisy X Designated Carbonate soils Eriogonum kennedyi var. southern mountain buckwheat X Designated Pebble plain austromontanum Eremogone ursina Bear Valley sandwort X Designated Pebble plain * Presence: X=Known to occur; P=Potential occurrence.
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IV-3.2 T/E Plant Species and Potential Effects – No Action Under the No Action alternative, no impacts to T/E Plant Species or Critical Habitat are expected to occur relative to the baseline condition. The discussion in Part II-3.5 is applicable for all T/E plant species that may occur in the project area.
IV-4 DETERMINATION OF EFFECTS FOR T/E SPECIES
Threatened, Endangered Plant Species, Designated Critical Habitat: No currently-listed threatened or endangered plant species are currently known to occur in the project area, therefore it is my determination that the Proposed Action as described would not affect any designated threatened or endangered plant species.
Species Proposed for Federal Listing or Proposed Critical Habitat: There is no proposed Critical Habitat in the project area, and no plants proposed for listing under the Endangered Species Act are known to occur in or near the project area. There is also no designated Critical Habitat for plants within the project area, therefore it is my determination that the Proposed Action as described would not affect any designated Critical Habitat.
Consultation Requirements: Based on the proposed action and analysis of effects, Section 7 Formal Consultation is not required.
PART V: INVASIVE WEED RISK ASSESSMENT
V-1 INTRODUCTION
Forest Service Manual direction for Invasive Species Management is contained in a new manual section, FSM 2900, effective December 5, 2011. This direction sets forth National Forest System policy, responsibilities, and direction for the prevention, detection, control, and restoration of effects from aquatic and terrestrial invasive species (including vertebrates, invertebrates, plants, and pathogens). This new chapter replaces FSM 2080 (Noxious Weed Management). Some of the relevant policy direction is found in FSM 2900 is excerpted in Appendix A.
This Weed Risk Assessment has been prepared to evaluate the effect of the Proposed Action on California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) listed noxious weeds and other invasive non-native plant species. The overall purpose of this assessment is to identify risks of weed invasion and spread in the project area and to recommend measures to offset these risks. The primary focus for noxious and other invasive plant management is on prevention of introduction, establishment, and spread. See Part I -3 of this document for a description of the Proposed Action and the Design Criteria related to minimizing the risk of introduction and spread of invasive plant species.
V-2 SURVEY RESULTS AND RISK ASSESSMENT
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Weed surveys were conducted concurrently with rare plant surveys. Surveys had a moderate likelihood of detecting all target species, but were likely not sufficient to detect all weeds present in the project area.
Those non-native species that were recorded during surveys of the project area that are recognized as having high potential for ecological disruption (listed as “red alert” or list A) based on evaluation by California Invasive Plant Council (Cal-IPC), will be discussed below.
Cheat grass & red brome, Cal-IPC Inventory rating: Red alert Cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum) & Red brome (Bromus madritensis ssp. rubens): Cheatgrass and red brome are annual grasses native to southern Europe, northern Africa, and southwestern Asia, where they occur from sea level to about 5,000 feet (1,500 m). Cheatgrass has been in the shadow of livestock production since ruminants were first domesticated in southwestern Asia (Young et al. 1972), and was accidentally introduced to northeastern California late in the nineteenth century (Robbins 1940).
On the SBNF, non-native Bromus species including cheatgrass, red brome, and ripgut brome are widespread weedy non-native species. Cheatgrass has spread across millions of acres in the west and is thought to have altered the natural fire frequency in many plant communities. Cheatgrass has the ability to carry fire into areas that would not ordinarily burn because it creates a relatively continuous cover of fine, flashy fuel where none would have otherwise been present (Young and Evans 1978, Young et al. 1987). The early-maturing fine-textured herbage of the non-native bromes increase the chance of ignition and the rate of spread of wildfires. Repeated wildfires lead to the loss of native shrubs and continued cheatgrass dominance (Young and Evans 1978, Young et al. 1987, Brooks et al. 2004) and can lead to type conversion to grass (Keeley et al. 2012).
The continued spread and dominance of cheatgrass represents several potential impacts to native species, by out-competing native plant species and altering native plant community structure and alter the soil components and productivity. Non-native annual grasses establish by seeds only and have a tremendous seed production capacity, with a potential in excess of 300 seeds per plant, depending on plant density. Cheatgrass has the potential to completely alter the ecosystems it invades. Shoot growth occurs in early spring and continues until soil moisture is exhausted. Cheatgrass grows rapidly and may produce dry matter at a rate of 2.9 g/mm2/day (growth varies widely from year to year).
Cheatgrass was found throughout the entire project area as was ripgut brome, and to a lesser extent, red brome. While these invasive non-native annual grassses will never be eradicated from the SBNF, it is critical to ecosystem health to limit its spread into currently unoccupied areas and to prevent small low density occurrences from becoming more dominant. The Proposed Action includes several measures to reduce the likelihood of spread and establishment of this species. Limiting soil disturbance from equipment use to smallest area possible, washing of equipment, and restoring disturbed soils with native plants after disturbance (see Restoration of unauthorized routes design criteria in Part I 3.2 of this document), should help reduce the spread of this species throughout the project area.
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Risk = Moderate. These species are already so established on the SBNF that it is unlikely this project will contribute significantly to the establishment of new infestations. Invasive species design criteria will mitigate some risk of further spread.
Tamarisk (Salt cedar), Cal-IPC Inventory rating: 1-A Tamarix aphylla/ramosissima (Salt cedar) is widely distributed throughout the Mojave and Colorado deserts, and occurs in desert washes, riparian, seeps and springs. Disturbed sites, including burned areas, are particularly favorable for saltcedar establishment. It survives, and even thrives, on saline soils where most native, woody, riparian plants cannot. It spreads by seed and vegetative growth. Individual plants can produce 500,000 tiny seeds per year (DiTomaso 1996), which are easily dispersed long distances by wind and water. The roots also sprout adventitiously. The presence of saltcedar is associated with dramatic changes in geomorphology, groundwater availability, soil chemistry, fire frequency, plant community composition, and native wildlife diversity.
Salt cedar was found during plant surveys near access routes in the drainage below lookout point, approximately one quarter mile up from the 15 freeway, but outside of the project area.
Risk = low. The known occurrence of tamarisk is near access routes, but outside of the project area. Seed can blow in and be carried by vehicles into the project area now, and it is unlikely this project will contribute significantly to the establishment of new infestations. Riparian areas are most vulnerable to invasion by tamarisk, and disturbance to riparian areas will be minimized by design criteria and BMPs. Other invasive species design criteria will mitigate some risk of spread, and the closure and rehabilitation of unauthorized routes will restrict vehicles use to authorized routes and further reduce the risk of weed seed spread by eliminating the vehicles (as weed seed vectors) on many currently used unauthorized routes.
Other weeds that pose a moderate risk of further spread are Cirsium vulgare (bull thistle) which was found along the main routes 3N24 and 3N21; and Bromus hordeaceus, Brassica nigra (black mustard), Erodium cicutarium, and Vulpia myuros which are also throughout the entire project area.
V-2.1 Known Noxious and Invasive Weeds on SBNF Table 7 displays noxious and other invasive plants addressed in the EIS for SBNF LMP (2006, Table 463). All of these species were considered in this analysis. Species shown in bold are known to occur in or near the project area, or along access routes into the project area.
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Table 7. Noxious and Invasive Plant Species of the SBNF Species Name Common Name Habitats CALIPC Presence in or Listing* near the Project area RED ALERT: Potential to spread explosively Centaurea stoebe subsp. micranthos spotted knapweed riparian, grassland, meadows, forest red-alert Linaria genistifolia subsp. dalmatica Dalmatian toad flax mountain meadows, pebble plains, forest floor red-alert Bromus tectorum cheatgrass sagebrush, pinyon juniper woodlands, etc. Red Alert X Bromus madritensis spp. rubens red brome shrublands, grasslands, desert scrub Red Alert X LIST A-1&2: Most Invasive Ailanthus altissima tree of heaven Riparian, grassland, oak woodlands High A-2 Arundo donax giant reed riparian A-1 Atriplex semibaccata Australian saltbush grasslands, shrublands, alkali wetlands A-2 Brassica tournefortii African mustard washes, alkaline flats, Sonoran desert scrub A-2 Centaurea solstitialis yellow star thistle grasslands A-1 Cortaderia selloana pampas grass grasslands, wetlands, etc. A-1 Delairea odorata German ivy coastal shrublands, riparian A-1 Eichhornia crassipes water hyacinth waterways A-2 Elaegnus angustifolius Russian olive interior riparian A-2 Eucalyptus globulus Tasmanian blue gum riparian, grasslands A-1 Ficus cairica edible fig riparian woodlands A-1 Foeniculum vulgare wild fennel grasslands, shrublands A-1 Pennisetum setaceum (A) fountain grass roadsides, grasslands, etc A-1 Rubus discolor Himalayan blackberry riparian, marshes, woodlands A-1 Saponaria officinalis bouncing bet meadows, riparian A-2 Tamarix aphylla / ramosissima tamarisk, salt cedar desert washes, riparian, seeps and springs. A-1 X LIST B: Lesser Invasives Ageratina adenophora eupatory coastal slopes and canyons, riparian B Bassia hyssopifolia bassia alkaline habitats B Brassica nigra black mustard coastal grasslands, disturbed areas B X Carduus pycnocephalus Italian thistle Widespread B Centaurea melitensis tocolote widespread B X Cirsium vulgare bull thistle riparian, marshes, meadows B X Conium maculatum poison hemlock riparian, oak woodlands B Festuca arundinacea tall fescue coastal scrub, grasslands B Hedera helix (A) English ivy coastal and mountain forests, riparian B Holcus lanatus velvet grass coastal grasslands, wetlands B Olea europaea olive riparian B
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Species Name Common Name Habitats CALIPC Presence in or Listing* near the Project area Phalaris aquatica harding grass coastal, mesic soils B Potamogeton crispus curlyleaf pondweed ponds, lakes, streams B Ricinus communis castor bean coastal and interior, widespread B Robinia pseudoacacia black locust riparian, canyons B Schinus molle Peruvian pepper tree riparian, canyons B Spartium junceum Spanish broom roadsides, canyons, widespread B Verbascum thapsus woolly mullein widespread B Vinca major periwinkle riparian, oak woodland B Need More Info, and Other Weeds of Note Asphodelus fistulosus asphodel highways Capsella bursa-pastoris shepherd’s purse Chenopodium album common lamb’s quarters widespread Cnicus benedictus blessed thistle Convolvulus arvensis field bindweed disturbed areas Cynodon dactylon Bermuda grass Descurainia sophia tansy mustard Mojave desert scrub, desert transition Dimorphotheca sinuata cape marigold sage scrub, alluvial fan scrub Dipsacus fullonum Fuller’s teasel roadsides and other disturbed sites Dipsacus sativus wild teasel Elytrigia elongata tall wheatgrass Elytrigia intermedia Intermediate wheatgrass meadows, forest floor X Erodium spp. storksbill widespread X Euphorbia lathyris gopher plant interior sage scrub Hirschfeldia incana shortpod mustard widespread in disturbed or open areas X Hordeum murinum barley Hypochaeris glabra Smooth cat’s ear Lactuca serriola Prickly lettuce X Lathyrus latifolius sweetpea many habitat types Malva neglecta common mallow disturbed roadsides Malva parviflora cheeseweed Nicotiana glauca tree tobacco coastal scrub Lepidium perfoliatum Lunaria annua dollar plant riparian, forest, woodland Medicago polymorpha California bur-clover many habitat types Medicago sativa alfalfa roadside, trailside
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Species Name Common Name Habitats CALIPC Presence in or Listing* near the Project area Melilotus albus white sweet-clover many habitat types Melilotus officinalis yellow sweet-clover many habitat types Mentha spicata var. spicata spearmint streamside Nerium oleander oleander persists/naturalizes in riparian Oxalis pes-caprae (A) Bermuda buttercup disturbed grasslands Pennisetum clandestinum Kikuyu grass disturbed sites, roadsides Picris echioides bristly ox-tongue disturbed sites, near Lake Silverwood Piptatherum miliaceum smilo grass creeks and canyons Plantago lanceolata English plantain Poa bulbosa bulbous bluegrass conifer forest and grassy mountain areas Prunus cerasifera cherry plum oak woodland, riparian Ranunculus testiculatus curveseed butterwort Rumex crispus curly dock Salsola tragus Russian thistle many habitats X Salsola paulsenii barbwire Russian thistle Mojave desert scrub, disturbed sites Senecio vulgaris groundsel Silene gallica common catchfly Silybum marianum milk thistle pasturelands, disturbed grasslands Sisymbrium altissimum tumble mustard disturbed places, mainly transmontane X Sonchus oleraceus sow thistle Tribulus terrestris puncture vine dry disturbed areas Taraxacum officinale dandelion Tragopogon dubius goat’s beard Vulpia myuros rat-tail fescue X Xanthium spinosum spiny cocklebur riparian and other wetlands Annual grasses that pose significant threats Avena barbata slender wild oat coastal slopes, coastal sage scrub, disturbed X Avena fatua wild oat coastal slopes, coastal sage scrub, disturbed X Bromus diandrus ripgut brome many habitat types X Lolium spp. ryegrass Meadows/ wetlands, persistent where applied post-fire Schismus barbatus Mediterranean grass coastal and desert shrublands *California Exotic Pest Plan Council (CEPPC) List Categories: List A: Most Invasive Wildland Pest Plants; documented as aggressive invaders that displace natives and disrupt natural habitats. Includes two sub-lists; List A-1: Widespread pests that are invasive in more than 3 Jepson regions, and List A-2: Regional pests invasive in 3 or fewer Jepson regions List B: Wildland Pest Plants of Lesser Invasiveness; invasive pest plants that spread less rapidly, cause a lesser degree of habitat disruption; may be widespread or regional. Red Alert: Pest plants with potential to spread explosively; infestation currently small or localized. If found, alert Cal IPC, County Agricultural Commissioner or California
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Species Name Common Name Habitats CALIPC Presence in or Listing* near the Project area Department of Food and Agriculture. Need More Information: Plants for which current information does not adequately describe nature of threat to wildlands, distribution or invasiveness. Further information is requested from knowledgeable observers. Annual Grasses: A preliminary list of annual grasses, abundant and widespread in California, that pose significant threats to wildlands. Information is requested to support further definition of this category in next list edition.
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V-2.2 Risk Assessment for Soil Disturbance Impacts The weed risk from soil disturbance associated with the Proposed Action is determined to be moderate throughout the project area. Soil disturbance associated with heavy equipmment ground-based operations could lead to an increased prevalence of cheatgrass and the other weeds, especially adjacent to roads and OHV trails where ground disturbance related to trail closure and restoration occur. There is also a risk of new introductions and spread due to bare soil being exposed by ground disturbing project work such as water barring, chunking, grading, and road & trail maintenance. The Proposed Action includes design criteria to minimize these risks.
V-2.3 Risk Assessment for Travel Routes The risk of spreading weeds from use and maintenance of travel routes is moderate overall, and increased by this project to the extent that there will be some ground disturbance from project activities, leaving disturbed areas vulnerable to invasion by weeds until restoration work is completed and native vegetation fills in to help reduce the size of the area vulnerable to weed invasion.
There is also a moderate risk that soil disturbance would lead to erosion of soil containing and seeds of invasive plant species like non-native mustards and annual grasses. These seeds could be carried by water into adjacent drainages to other parts of the project area or even out of the project area into un-infested areas. V-2.4 Risk of Transporting New Infestations Into Project Area The risk of transporting new weed infestations into the project area is determined to be moderate. Design criteria will require cleaning of equipment before entering FS land and after working in infested areas, and disturbance will be limited in riparian areas where seed could be transported by water.
V-2.5 Weeds Risk Checklist Are there known infestations in the project area? Yes Have weed surveys been conducted in the project area? Yes If so, when were the surveys conducted? See section V-2 Survey Results: See Table 7.
V-2.6 Measures to Reduce Weed Risk The Proposed Action includes Design Criteria intended to reduce the potential for introduction and/or spread of invasive weeds during implementation of this project (section I-3.2).
V-3 RISK DETERMINATION
With the incorporation of the Design Criteria , for the Proposed Action, the risk of noxious weed introduction and spread would be moderate for Brome grasses and low for other A-list species in Table 7.
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REFERENCES CITED
Baldwin, B. G., D. H. Goldman, D. J. Keil, R. Patterson, T. J. Rosatti, and D. H. Wilken, editors. 2012. The Jepson manual: vascular plants of California, second edition. University of California Press, Berkeley.
M.L. Brooks, C.M. D’Antonio, D.M. Richardson, J.B. Grace, J.E. Keeley, J.M. DiTomaoso, R.J. Hobbs, M. Pellant, D. Pyke. 2004. Effects of Invasive Alien Plants on Fire Regimes. Bioscience. 54 (7): 677-688.
Butterfield, H.M. 1964. Dates of introductions of trees and shrubs to California. University of California Press, Berkeley, CA.
California Native Plant Society. 2001. Inventory of rare and endangered plants of California (Sixth Edition). Sacramento, CA: California Native Plant Society.
CNDDB The California Natural Diversity Data Base. 2011. California Dept. of Fish and Game, Natural Heritage Program.
CNPS. 2001. List and R-E-D Code changes for sixth edition of the Inventory. Unpublished notes from http/www.cnps.org/rareplants/inventory/6th Edition. California Native Plant Society, Sacramento, CA.
Eliason, Scott. 2013. USFS Botanist, Personal communication August 6, 2013.
Flora of North America Editorial Committee, eds. 1993+. Flora of North America North of Mexico. 7+ vols. New York and Oxford.
Hickman, J. (ed.). 1993. The Jepson Manual: Higher Plants of California . University of California Press, Berkeley, CA.
Holland, R.F. 1986. Preliminary descriptions of the terrestrial natural communities of California. California Dept of Fish and Game. October 1986
Keeley, Jon E, CJ Fotheringham, Melanie Baer-Keeley. 2005. Determinants of postfire recovery and succession in Mediterranean-climate shrublands of California. Ecol Applications. 15: 1515-1534. Keeley, J.E., T.J. Brennan. 2012. Fire-driven alien invasion in a fire-adapted ecosystem. Oecologia 169(4): 1043-1052.
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MacKay, P. M.; Sanders, A. C. 1997. Unpublished "observations of Opuntia basilaris var. brachyclada in Horsethief Canyon."
Robbins, W.W. 1940. Alien plants growing without cultivation in California . Bulletin of the California Agricultural Experiment Station. 637:1-128.
Sauer, J. D. 1988. Plant Migration: The Dynamics of Geographic Patterning in Seed Plant Species. University of California Press, Berkeley, California.
Sawyer, Keeler-Wolf, 1995. A manual of California vegetation. California Native Plant Society. Sacramento, California.
Stephenson, J.R. and G.M. Calcarone. 1999. Southern California mountains and foothills assessment: habitat and species conservation issues. General Technical Report GTR- PSW-172. Albany, CA: Pacific Southwest Research Station, Forest Service, USDA.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1997. National Wetlands Inventory, October 1997. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 2000. Biological Opinion on the Effects of Ongoing Forest Activities that May Affect Listed Riparian Species. Carlsbad, CA. 96 pp.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 2001. Biological and conference opinion on the Continued Implementation of Land and Resource Management Plans for four Southern California National Forests, as Modified by New Interim Management Direction and Conservation Measures. Carlsbad, CA. 366 pp. (1-6-00-F-773.2). Dated February 27, 2001.
U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 2005. Biological and Conference Opinions on the Revised Land and Resource Management Plans for the Four Southern California National Forests, California. 1-6-05-F733.9. Dated Sept. 15, 2005
U.S. Forest Service. 1998. Biological Assessment for the San Bernardino National Forest Problem Areas for Riparian Obligate Species. San Bernardino National Forest.
U.S. Forest Service. 1999c. Biological Assessment for riparian obligate species. San Bernardino National Forest.
U.S. Forest Service. 2000. Southern California Conservation Strategy Province Consultation package. Programmatic Consultation for the Existing Forest Plans for the Four Southern CA Forests.
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U. S. Forest Service. 2004b. Programmatic Biological Assessment for Hazardous Fuels Management Projects on the San Bernardino National Forest, dated 12/22/04. San Bernardino National Forest.
U. S. Forest Service. 2005. Biological Assessment for the Revised Land Management Plans, dated March 18, 2005.
U.S. Forest Service. 2005a. Forest Planning Record: Species Accounts. www.fs.fed.us/r5/scfpr.
U.S. Forest Service. 2005b. FEIS: Land Management Plan for the Angeles, Cleveland, Los Padres, and San Bernardino National Forests. R5-MB-074-B. September 2005.
U.S. Forest Service. 2006. San Bernardino National Forest Land Management Plan. Pacific Southwest Region.
USDA Forest Service. 1981. CALVEG: A Classification of California Vegetation. Pacific Southwest Region, Regional Ecology Group, San Francisco CA. 168 pp.
USDA Forest Service. 2005. San Bernardino National Forest Land Management Plan. R5-MB- 084. September 2005
USDA Forest Service. 2005. San Bernardino National Forest Land Management Plan. Species Viability Accounts (also at http://fsweb.cleveland.r5.fs.fed.us/sccs/plants/)
Whisenant, S.G. and D.W. Uresk. 1990. Spring burning Japanese brome in a western wheatgrass community. J. of Range Management. 43:205-08.
Young, J.A., R.A. Evans, and J.Major. 1972. Alien plants in the Great Basin. J. Range Management. 25:194-201.
Young, J.A. and R.A. Evans. 1978. Population dynamics after wildfires in sagebrush grasslands. J. Range Management. 31:283-89.
Young, J.A., R.A. Evans, R.E. Eckert, Jr., & B.L. Kay. 1987. Cheatgrass. Rangelands. 9:266-76
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APPENDIX A. MANAGEMENT DIRECTION & REGULATIONS
1.0 JURISDICTIONS Other federal agencies, including the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (ACOE), California Department of Fish and Game, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) may regulate impacts to certain habitats and species associated with the project area.
1.1 U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Pursuant to Section 404 of the Clean Water Act, ACOE regulates the discharge of dredged and/or fill material into waters of the United States. The term "waters of the United States" is defined at 33 CFR Part 328 and includes (1) all navigable waters (including all waters subject to the ebb and flow of the tide), (2) all interstate waters and wetlands, (3) all impoundments of waters mentioned above, (4) all tributaries to waters mentioned above, (5) the territorial seas, and (6) all wetlands adjacent to waters mentioned above. Wetlands are defined at 33 CFR 328.3(b) as "those areas that are inundated or saturated by surface or ground water at a frequency and duration sufficient to support...a prevalence of vegetation typically adapted for life in saturated soil conditions."
Issuance of a Section 404 Permit to discharge dredged or fill material into jurisdictional waters is considered a federal action and cannot be undertaken by the Corps if the permitted actions could adversely affect federally-listed (or proposed) endangered or threatened species unless ACOE consults with USFWS.
Executive Order 11990, 1977; Wetlands Management Executive Order 11990 requires federal agencies to follow avoidance, mitigation, and preservation procedures with public input before proposing new construction in wetlands. To comply with EO 11990, the federal agency would coordinate with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, under Section 404 of the CWA, and mitigate for impacts to wetland habitats.
1.2 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) Pursuant to Section 7 of the Federal Endangered Species Act (ESA), any federal agency undertaking a federal action that may affect a species listed or proposed as threatened or endangered under the ESA must consult with USFWS. In addition, any federal agency undertaking a federal action that may result in adverse modification of critical habitat for a federally-listed species must consult with USFWS.
1.3 California Department of Fish and Game (CDFG) Pursuant to Section 1600 et seq. of the Fish and Game Code, the CDFG may require a Lake or Streambed Alteration Agreement prior to any activity that will substantially divert or obstruct the natural flow or substantially change the bed, channel, or bank of a river, stream or lake, or use material from a streambed. CDFG defines a "stream" (including creeks and rivers) as "a body of water that flows at least periodically or intermittently through a bed or channel having banks and supports fish or other aquatic life. This includes watercourses having surface or subsurface flow that supports or has supported riparian vegetation." CDFG's definition of "lake" includes "natural lakes or man-made reservoirs."
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In addition to the bed and banks of a stream, CDFG jurisdiction includes riparian or wetland vegetation associated with a stream. CDFG’s issuance of a Lake or Streambed Alteration Agreement for a project that is subject to CEQA will require California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) compliance actions by CDFG as a responsible agency. CDFG as a responsible agency under CEQA may consider the lead agency’s Negative Declaration or Environmental Impact Report for the project. Federal projects on federal land do not require the Lake or Streambed Alteration Agreement. However, a Lake or Streambed Alteration Agreement may be required of a non-federal participant for projects on federal land carried out or funded by the non-federal participant.
Pursuant to Section 2080 et seq. of the Fish and Game Code, a California Endangered Species Act (CESA) permit must be obtained to authorize incidental “take” of plants or animals listed under CESA. Revisions to the Fish and Game Code, effective January 1998, may require that the Department issue a separate CEQA document for the issuance of a 2081 permit unless the project CEQA document addresses all project impacts to listed species and specifies a mitigation monitoring and reporting program that will meet the requirements of a 2081 permit. Please note that federal projects on federal land (such as a Forest Service Project on Forest Service land) do not require the 2081 incidental take permit. However, an incidental take permit may be required of a non-federal participant for projects on federal land carried out or funded by the non-federal participant.
Sections 3503, 3503.5 and 3513 of the California Fish and Game Code prohibit take of all birds and their active nests including raptors and other migratory non-game birds (as listed under the Federal MBTA).
2.0 FEDERAL LAWS
2.1 Endangered Species Act Pursuant to Section 7 of the Federal Endangered Species Act (ESA), any federal agency undertaking a federal action that may affect a species listed or proposed as threatened or endangered under the ESA must consult with USFWS. In addition, any federal agency undertaking a federal action that may result in adverse modification of Critical Habitat for a federally-listed species must consult with USFWS.
The Endangered Species Act contains protection for all species federally-listed as endangered or threatened: Federal agencies shall seek to conserve endangered species and threatened species and shall, in consultation with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, utilize their authorities in furthering the purposes of the Endangered Species Act by carrying out programs for the conservation of endangered and threatened species. Regulations for species that are proposed for listing as endangered or threatened are included in the Endangered Species Act Federal agencies shall confer with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on any agency action that is likely to jeopardize the continued existence of any species proposed to be listed.
2.3 Clean Water Act
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Pursuant to Section 404 of the Clean Water Act, the Army Corps of Engineers (ACOE) regulates the discharge of dredged and/or fill material into waters of the United States. The term "waters of the United States" is defined at 33 CFR Part 328 and includes (1) all navigable waters (including all waters subject to the ebb and flow of the tide), (2) all interstate waters and wetlands, (3) all impoundments of waters mentioned above, (4) all tributaries to waters mentioned above, (5) the territorial seas, and (6) all wetlands adjacent to waters mentioned above.
Wetlands are defined at 33 CFR 328.3(b) as "those areas that are inundated or saturated by surface or ground water at a frequency and duration sufficient to support...a prevalence of vegetation typically adapted for life in saturated soil conditions." A recent U.S. Supreme Court decision (“SWANCC”, 2001) has determined that Corps jurisdiction may not necessarily extend to intrastate waters and wetlands where the only federal nexus is potential use by migratory birds. The project area is located within the Santa Ana River watershed, an intrastate waterway tributary to the Pacific Ocean, which is a navigable water subject to Corps jurisdiction because of the existing connection to interstate commerce.
Issuance of a Section 404 Permit to discharge dredged or fill material into jurisdictional waters is considered a federal action and cannot be undertaken by the Corps if the permitted actions could adversely affect federally-listed (or proposed) endangered or threatened species.
2.4 National Forest Management Act The National Forest Management Act of 1976 requires that the Forest provide for diversity of plant and animal communities based on the suitability and capability of the specific land area in order to meet overall multiple-use objectives through its implementing regulation (36 CFR 219). Secretary of Agriculture's policy on fish and wildlife (Department Regulation 9500-4) directs the Forest Service to avoid actions "which may cause a species to become threatened or endangered".
3.0 AGENCY DIRECTION
3.1 Forest Service Manual Forest Service Manual direction for Invasive Species Management is contained in a new manual section, FSM 2900, effective December 5, 2011. This direction sets forth National Forest System policy, responsibilities, and direction for the prevention, detection, control, and restoration of effects from aquatic and terrestrial invasive species (including vertebrates, invertebrates, plants, and pathogens). This new chapter replaces FSM 2080 (Noxious Weed Management). Some of the policy direction found in FSM 2900 is excerpted below:
1. Initiate, coordinate, and sustain actions to prevent, control, and eliminate priority infestations of invasive species in aquatic and terrestrial areas of the National Forest System using an integrated pest management approach, and collaborate with stakeholders to implement cooperative invasive species management activities in accordance with law and policy. 2. When applicable, invasive species management actions and standards should be incorporated into resource management plans at the forest level, and in programmatic environmental planning and assessment documents at the regional or national levels. 3. Determine the vectors, environmental factors, and pathways that favor the establishment
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and spread of invasive species in aquatic and terrestrial areas the National Forest System, and design management practices to reduce or mitigate the risk for introduction or spread of invasive species in those areas. 4. Determine the risk of introducing, establishing, or spreading invasive species associated with any proposed action, as an integral component of project planning and analysis, and where necessary provide for alternatives or mitigation measures to reduce or eliminate that risk prior to project approval. 5. Ensure that all Forest Service management activities are designed to minimize or eliminate the possibility of establishment or spread of invasive species on the National Forest System, or to adjacent areas. Integrate visitor use strategies with invasive species management activities on aquatic and terrestrial areas of the National Forest System. At no time are invasive species to be promoted or used in site restoration or re-vegetation work, watershed rehabilitation projects, planted for bio-fuels production, or other management activities on national forests and grasslands. 6. Use contract and permit clauses to require that the activities of contractors and permittees are conducted to prevent and control the introduction, establishment, and spread of aquatic and terrestrial invasive species. For example, where determined to be appropriate, use agreement clauses to require contractors or permittees to meet Forest Service- approved vehicle and equipment cleaning requirements/standards prior to using the vehicle or equipment in the National Forest System. 7. Make every effort to prevent the accidental spread of invasive species carried by contaminated vehicles, equipment, personnel, or materials (including plants, wood, plant/wood products, water, soil, rock, sand, gravel, mulch, seeds, grain, hay, straw, or other materials). a. Establish and implement standards and requirements for vehicle and equipment cleaning to prevent the accidental spread of aquatic and terrestrial invasive species on the National Forest System or to adjacent areas. b. Make every effort to ensure that all materials used on the National Forest System are free of invasive species and/or noxious weeds (including free of reproductive/propagative material such as seeds, roots, stems, flowers, leaves, larva, eggs, veligers, and so forth). 8. Where States have legislative authority to certify materials as weed-free (or invasive- free) and have an active State program to make those State-certified materials available to the public, forest officers shall develop rules restricting the possession, use, and transport of those materials unless proof exists that they have been State-certified as weed-free (or invasive-free), as provided in 36 CFR 261 and Departmental Regulation 1512-1. 9. Monitor all management activities for potential spread or establishment of invasive species in aquatic and terrestrial areas of the National Forest System. 10. Manage invasive species in aquatic and terrestrial areas of the National Forest System using an integrated pest management approach to achieve the goals and objectives identified in Forest Land and Resource Management plans, and other Forest Service planning documents, and other plans developed in cooperation with external partners for the management of natural or cultural resources. 11. Integrate invasive species management funding broadly across a variety of National Forest System programs, while associating the funding with the specific aquatic or terrestrial invasive species that is being prioritized for management, as well as the
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purpose and need of the project or program objective. 12. Develop and utilize site-based and species-based risk assessments to prioritize the management of invasive species infestations in aquatic and terrestrial areas of the National Forest System. Where appropriate, use a structured decision-making process and adaptive management or similar strategies to help identify and prioritize invasive species management approaches and actions. 13. Comply with the Forest Service performance accountability system requirements for invasive species management to ensure efficient use of limited resources at all levels of the Agency and to provide information for adapting management actions to meet changing program needs and priorities. When appropriate, utilize a structured decision making process to address invasive species management problems in changing conditions, uncertainty, or when information is limited. 14. Establish and maintain a national record keeping database system for the collection and reporting of information related to invasive species infestations and management activities, including invasive species management performance, associated with the National Forest System. Require all information associated with the National Forest System invasive species management (including inventories, surveys, and treatments) to be collected, recorded, and reported consistent with national program protocols, rules, and standards. 15. Where appropriate, integrate invasive species management activities, such as inventory, survey, treatment, prevention, monitoring, and so forth, into the National Forest System management programs. Use inventory and treatment information to help set priorities and select integrated management actions to address new or expanding invasive species infestations in aquatic and terrestrial areas of the National Forest System. 16. Assist and promote cooperative efforts with internal and external partners, including private, State, tribal, and local entities, research organizations, and international groups to collaboratively address priority invasive species issues affecting the National Forest System. 17. Coordinate as needed with Forest Service Research and Development and State and Private Forestry programs, other agencies included under the National Invasive Species Council, and external partners to identify priority/high-risk invasive species that threaten aquatic and terrestrial areas of the National Forest System. Encourage applied research to develop techniques and technology to reduce invasive species impacts to the National Forest System. 18. As appropriate, collaborate and coordinate with adjacent landowners and other stakeholders to improve invasive species management effectiveness across the landscape. Encourage cooperative partnerships to address invasive species threats within a broad geographical area.
4.0 SAN BERNARDINO NATIONAL FOREST POLICY, DIRECTION, LEGAL OBLIGATIONS
4.1 San Bernardino National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan The revised San Bernardino National Forest Land Management Plan (LMP) (Forest Service 2005) contains direction on management of issues and resources within the Forest boundaries.
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The LMP direction that applies to wildlife, plant, and restoration management is included in both Part 2 and Part 3 of the LMP. This direction is summarized below.
4.1.1 Plan Standards Required by (36 CFR 219) Vegetation Management Plan Standards S1: Long-Term Sustained Yield (36 CFR 219.27 (c) (2)). No land is currently identified as suitable for timber sale production in southern California, and the allowable sale quantity (ASQ) is zero. Harvest may occur to meet wildlife, fuels, watershed or other needs.
S2: Appropriate Vegetation Management Practices (Including Limitations on Even-Aged Timber Harvest Methods) (36 CFR 219.27 (c) (6)). The following table (Appropriate Silviculture Systems and Vegetation Treatments by General Forest Type) displays the acceptable silvicultural systems for each forest and rangeland cover-types in order to meet the management objectives for the landscape or individual stands of trees within a landscape setting. These silvicultural systems are to be applied in a manner that will favor natural regeneration when possible. Artificial regeneration will be necessary following uncharacteristic wildland fires, insect and disease attacks, and damaging weather events. Ground based harvest systems will normally operate on slopes up to 35%, and on short steep pitches up to 50%. Ground based equipment will be used on steep slopes when supported by site and operation specific analysis. Cable or aerial systems will generally be used on sustained slopes greater than 35% S6: Seed to be used on National Forest System lands will be certified to be free of noxious weeds. Where available, only locally collected native seed will be used, or seeds will be used from species that are noninvasive and nonpersistent. When available, wattles, mulch and livestock feed to be used on National Forest System lands will be certified to be free of noxious weeds.
S8: Community protection needs within the WUI Defense Zone take precedence over the requirements of other LMP direction, including other standards identified in Part 3 of the LMP. If expansion beyond the 300-foot minimum width of the defense zone is needed due to site- specific conditions, projects will be designed to mitigate effects to other resources to the extent possible.
Fish and Wildlife Standards When Implementing All Activities S11: When occupied or suitable habitat for a threatened, endangered, proposed, candidate or Sensitive (TEPCS) species is present on an ongoing or proposed project site, consider species guidance documents (Appendix H of LMP) to develop project-specific or activity-specific Design Features. This guidance is intended to provide a range of possible conservation measures that may be selectively applied during site-specific planning to avoid, minimize or mitigate negative long-term effects on threatened, endangered, proposed, candidate or Sensitive species and habitat. Involve appropriate resource specialists in the identification of relevant Design Features. Include review of species guidance documents in fire suppression or other emergency actions when and to the extent practicable.
S12: When implementing new projects in areas that provide for threatened, endangered, proposed, and candidate species, use Design Features and conservation practices (see Appendix H) so that discretionary uses and facilities promote the conservation and recovery of these
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species and their habitats. Accept short-term impacts where long-term effects would provide a net benefit for the species and its habitat where needed to achieve multiple-use objectives.
S13: Manage Critical Biological land use zones so that activities and discretionary uses are either neutral or beneficial for the species and habitats for which the area was established. Accept short-term adverse impacts to threatened, endangered, and proposed species if such impacts will be compensated by the accrual of long-term benefits to habitat for threatened, endangered, and candidate species.
S24: Mitigate impacts of on-going uses and management activities on threatened, endangered, proposed, and candidate species.
S29: Avoid collection of special forest products where it may negatively affect recovery or occupied habitat of threatened, endangered and proposed species, except where it is appropriate in response to requests from Native Americans.
S30: Avoid activities that result in removal, crushing, burying, burning, or mowing of host plants within critical and occupied habitat for threatened, endangered, and proposed butterfly species; unless guided differently by a species-specific consultation.
S32: When surveys for species presence/absence are done for threatened, endangered, and proposed species, use established survey protocols, where such protocols exist.
S33: Manage Special Interest Areas so that activities and discretionary uses are either neutral or beneficial for the resource values for which the area was established. Accept short-term adverse impacts to these resource values if such impacts will be compensated by the accrual of long-term benefit.
Fish and Wildlife Standards When Implementing Recreation Activities S34: Where a threatened, endangered, proposed, candidate, or Sensitive species occurs in a recreation site or area, take steps to avoid or minimize negative impacts to the threatened, endangered, proposed, candidate or Sensitive species and its habitat. Use the least restrictive action that will effectively mitigate adverse impacts to the species and habitat (refer to Appendix D).
S35: Manage dispersed recreation activities to ensure that environmental sustainability is maintained by utilizing the following measures:
Discourage camping within 100 feet of Sensitive resources and habitats, including meadows and bodies of water (springs, streams, ponds and lakes), or within 1/4 mile of developed recreation facilities. Discourage camping within 600 feet of any wildlife water source developments, such as guzzlers and water holes, in accordance with state laws. Motorized and non-motorized vehicle travel is restricted to National Forest System roads and trails and limited areas that are designated for vehicle use.
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S36: Recreational target shooting will only be allowed in designated areas and ranges. Shooters shall remove their targets and spent shells when departing designated shooting areas. Shooters shall not use paintballs or other forms of ammunition that would result in visible residue except where authorized in ranges that operate under special-use permit.
Fish and Wildlife Standards When Implementing Fire Management Activities S37: Design and manage fuel treatments to minimize the risk that treated areas will be used by unauthorized motorized and mechanized vehicles. Mitigate impacts where such use does occur.
S38: Avoid establishment of staging areas, helibases, base camps, firelines or other areas of human concentration and equipment use within threatened, endangered and proposed species suitable and occupied habitats and riparian areas to the maximum extent possible when suppression of wildland fire and human safety are not compromised.
S39: Avoid fuel treatments in coastal sage scrub within the range of the California gnatcatcher, except in Wildland/Urban Interface Defense Zones and on fuelbreaks.
Soil, Water, Riparian and Heritage Standards Applicable Within Riparian Conservation Areas S47: When designing new projects in riparian areas, apply the Five-Step Project Screening Process for Riparian Conservation Areas as described in Appendix E - Five-Step Project Screening Process for Riparian Conservation Areas.
Soil, Water, Riparian and Heritage Standards When Implementing Recreation Activities S50: Mitigate negative long-term impacts from recreation use to soil, watershed, riparian or heritage resources (refer to Appendix D - Adaptive Mitigation for Recreation Uses).
Wild and Scenic River Standards S59: Manage eligible wild and scenic river segments to perpetuate their free-flowing condition and proposed classifications, and protect and enhance their outstandingly remarkable values and water quality through the suitability study period and until designated or released from consideration. When management activities are proposed that may compromise the outstandingly remarkable value(s), potential classification, or free-flowing character of an eligible wild and scenic river segment, a suitability study will be completed for that eligible river segment prior to initiating activities.
4.1.2 Forest-Specific Standards for the SBNF (Part 2 of Plan) Place Specific Standards
SBNF S7- Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail - Protect scenic values in accordance with adopted scenic integrity objectives. Protect foreground views from the footpath, as well as designated viewpoints. Where practicable avoid establishing unconforming land uses within the viewshed of the trail (Arrowhead, Big Bear, Big Bear Back Country, Cajon, Garner Valley, Idyllwild, Lytle Creek, Mojave Front Country, San Gorgonio, Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument, and Silverwood Places).
4.1.3 LMP Strategies
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The project complies with LMP direction through the use of the following strategies that SBNF managers intend to emphasize in the next 3-5 years (2006-2011):
WL 1 - Threatened, Endangered, Proposed, Candidate, and Sensitive Species Management Manage habitat to move listed species toward recovery and de-listing. Prevent listing of proposed and Sensitive species. Implement priority conservation strategies (San Bernardino NF Conservation Strategy, table 531). Use vegetation management practices to reduce the intensity of fires to reduce habitat loss due to catastrophic fires. Work with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) to develop recovery plans for federally listed species. Implement Forest Service actions as recommended in recovery plans for federally listed species. Establish and maintain a working relationship with county and city governments to ensure coordination on development projects adjacent to the national forest as well as implementation of multi-species habitat conservation plans. Coordinate with California Department of Fish and Game (CDF&G) regarding fish stocking and nonnative fisheries management to implement measures to resolve conflicts with threatened, endangered, proposed, candidate, and Sensitive species and habitats. Restore degraded habitats with cooperators. Recommend mineral withdrawal when needed to provide species protection over the long-term. Emphasize the following practices within carbonate, montane meadow and pebble plain habitat: o Develop and implement a transportation plan that results in the reduction in road density and no new roads or motorized trails within carbonate, montane and pebble plain habitat. o Develop and implement a facilities plan for carbonate, montane meadow, and pebble plain habitat that avoids construction of new recreation and administrative facilities within these habitats. o Amend/modify existing special-use authorizations to include provisions for minimizing impacts to carbonate, montane meadow and pebble plain habitat. Avoid new authorizations for special-uses in these habitats where the requested use would adversely affect habitat. In carbonate habitat, mining special-uses will be permitted consistent with the terms of the Carbonate Habitat Management Strategy. o Implement a program of land acquisition and land exchange that will contribute to the carbonate habitat reserve as described in the Carbonate Habitat Management Strategy. o Develop contingency plans that will minimize impacts to carbonate, montane meadow and pebble plain habitat from actions and activities that occur during emergencies.
WL 2 - Management of Species of Concern Maintain and improve habitat for fish, wildlife, and plants, including those with the following designations: game species, harvest species, management indicator species, and watch list species.
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FH 1 - Vegetation Restoration Restore vegetation through reforestation and revegetation or other appropriate methods after stand replacing fires, drought, or other events or activities that degrade or cause a loss of plant communities. Post reforestation activities may require treatment of competing vegetation to ensure the ability of the planted trees to out-compete vegetation for moisture, nutrients and sunlight. Treatment may require use of pesticides including herbicides. Where needed, implement reforestation using native species grown from local seed sources. In such plantings consider long-term sustainability of the forest vegetation by taking into account factors, such as fire regime and regional climate. Consider small nursery operations to facilitate reforestation and revegetation and to improve restoration success where direct seeding is ineffective. Use noxious-weed-free seed in all plantings. Consider limited use of giant sequoia because of their resistance to air pollution and insects.
IS 1 – Invasive species Prevention and Control Prevent the introduction of new invaders, conduct early treatment of new infestations, and contain and control established infestations: • Implement the Noxious Weed Management Strategy for the four southern California national forests (see Part 3, Appendix M.). • Limit ground disturbance to the minimum area necessary during project activities. Promote conditions to enhance the recovery of vegetation recovery in project planning, design, and implementation. Use native plant materials as needed to restore disturbed sites to prevent the introduction or reintroduction of invasive nonnative species. Conduct follow-up inspections of ground disturbing activities to monitor the effectiveness of restoration efforts in reducing or preventing the introduction or re-introduction of invasive non-native plants. • When setting priorities for treating invasive species, consider the rate of spread, the likeliness of environmental harm resulting from the establishment and spread of the invasive non-native species; the geographical location within the watershed, and the sensitivity of the location, especially invasions occurring within occupied or potential habitat for threatened, endangered or proposed species or within special management areas, such as research natural areas, special interest areas, and wildernesses; and the probability that the treatment(s) will be successful. • Prevent the introduction of invasive species and coordinate the treatment of invasive species across jurisdictional boundaries. Coordinate internally as well as with local, state and federal agencies and permittees to prevent future introductions of invasive species through stocking, recreation use, special-use authorizations and all other national forest management and emergency activities or decisions that could promote additional invasions. Emphasize using weed management areas to consolidate and coordinate weed prevention and treatment efforts across jurisdictional boundaries. • Routinely monitor noxious weed control projects to determine success and to evaluate the need for follow-up treatments or different control measures. Monitor known infestations as appropriate in order to determine changes in density and rate of spread.
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• Treatments may include herbicide application if approved through environmental analysis. • Facilitate research opportunities for invasive nonnative species management on National Forest System lands.
Forest Service Manual direction for Invasive Species Management is also contained in a new manual section, FSM 2900, effective December 5, 2011. This direction sets forth National Forest System policy, responsibilities, and direction for the prevention, detection, control, and restoration of effects from aquatic and terrestrial invasive species (including vertebrates, invertebrates, plants, and pathogens). This new chapter replaces FSM 2080 (Noxious Weed Management). Some of the policy direction found in FSM 2900 is excerpted below:
1. Initiate, coordinate, and sustain actions to prevent, control, and eliminate priority infestations of invasive species in aquatic and terrestrial areas of the National Forest System using an integrated pest management approach, and collaborate with stakeholders to implement cooperative invasive species management activities in accordance with law and policy. 2. When applicable, invasive species management actions and standards should be incorporated into resource management plans at the forest level, and in programmatic environmental planning and assessment documents at the regional or national levels. 3. Determine the vectors, environmental factors, and pathways that favor the establishment and spread of invasive species in aquatic and terrestrial areas the National Forest System, and design management practices to reduce or mitigate the risk for introduction or spread of invasive species in those areas. 4. Determine the risk of introducing, establishing, or spreading invasive species associated with any proposed action, as an integral component of project planning and analysis, and where necessary provide for alternatives or mitigation measures to reduce or eliminate that risk prior to project approval. 5. Ensure that all Forest Service management activities are designed to minimize or eliminate the possibility of establishment or spread of invasive species on the National Forest System, or to adjacent areas. Integrate visitor use strategies with invasive species management activities on aquatic and terrestrial areas of the National Forest System. At no time are invasive species to be promoted or used in site restoration or re-vegetation work, watershed rehabilitation projects, planted for bio-fuels production, or other management activities on national forests and grasslands. 6. Use contract and permit clauses to require that the activities of contractors and permittees are conducted to prevent and control the introduction, establishment, and spread of aquatic and terrestrial invasive species. For example, where determined to be appropriate, use agreement clauses to require contractors or permittees to meet Forest Service-approved vehicle and equipment cleaning requirements/standards prior to using the vehicle or equipment in the National Forest System. 7. Make every effort to prevent the accidental spread of invasive species carried by contaminated vehicles, equipment, personnel, or materials (including plants, wood, plant/wood products, water, soil, rock, sand, gravel, mulch, seeds, grain, hay, straw, or other materials). a. Establish and implement standards and requirements for vehicle and equipment
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cleaning to prevent the accidental spread of aquatic and terrestrial invasive species on the National Forest System or to adjacent areas. b. Make every effort to ensure that all materials used on the National Forest System are free of invasive species and/or noxious weeds (including free of reproductive/propagative material such as seeds, roots, stems, flowers, leaves, larva, eggs, veligers, and so forth). 8. Where States have legislative authority to certify materials as weed-free (or invasive-free) and have an active State program to make those State-certified materials available to the public, forest officers shall develop rules restricting the possession, use, and transport of those materials unless proof exists that they have been State-certified as weed-free (or invasive-free), as provided in 36 CFR 261 and Departmental Regulation 1512-1. 9. Monitor all management activities for potential spread or establishment of invasive species in aquatic and terrestrial areas of the National Forest System. 10. Manage invasive species in aquatic and terrestrial areas of the National Forest System using an integrated pest management approach to achieve the goals and objectives identified in Forest Land and Resource Management plans, and other Forest Service planning documents, and other plans developed in cooperation with external partners for the management of natural or cultural resources. 11. Integrate invasive species management funding broadly across a variety of National Forest System programs, while associating the funding with the specific aquatic or terrestrial invasive species that is being prioritized for management, as well as the purpose and need of the project or program objective. 12. Develop and utilize site-based and species-based risk assessments to prioritize the management of invasive species infestations in aquatic and terrestrial areas of the National Forest System. Where appropriate, use a structured decisionmaking process and adaptive management or similar strategies to help identify and prioritize invasive species management approaches and actions. 13. Comply with the Forest Service performance accountability system requirements for invasive species management to ensure efficient use of limited resources at all levels of the Agency and to provide information for adapting management actions to meet changing program needs and priorities. When appropriate, utilize a structured decision making process to address invasive species management problems in changing conditions, uncertainty, or when information is limited. 14. Establish and maintain a national record keeping database system for the collection and reporting of information related to invasive species infestations and management activities, including invasive species management performance, associated with the National Forest System. Require all information associated with the National Forest System invasive species management (including inventories, surveys, and treatments) to be collected, recorded, and reported consistent with national program protocols, rules, and standards. 15. Where appropriate, integrate invasive species management activities, such as inventory, survey, treatment, prevention, monitoring, and so forth, into the National Forest System management programs. Use inventory and treatment information to help set priorities and select integrated management actions to address new or expanding invasive species infestations in aquatic and terrestrial areas of the National Forest System. 16. Assist and promote cooperative efforts with internal and external partners, including private, State, tribal, and local entities, research organizations, and international groups to
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collaboratively address priority invasive species issues affecting the National Forest System. 17. Coordinate as needed with Forest Service Research and Development and State and Private Forestry programs, other agencies included under the National Invasive Species Council, and external partners to identify priority/high-risk invasive species that threaten aquatic and terrestrial areas of the National Forest System. Encourage applied research to develop techniques and technology to reduce invasive species impacts to the National Forest System. 18. As appropriate, collaborate and coordinate with adjacent landowners and other stakeholders to improve invasive species management effectiveness across the landscape. Encourage cooperative partnerships to address invasive species threats within a broad geographical area.
Appendix M (Part 3) of the Forest Plan includes detailed management direction to prevent the spread and introduction of noxious weeds. The Spanish broom removal project is listed in Appendix M. Use of herbicides to control weeds is discussed in the LMP FEIS, Appendix O. As required in Appendix O, a site specific analysis for the use of herbicides is to control Spanish Broom has been completed.
Southern California Noxious Weed Strategy Executive Order 13112 of February 3, 1999 directs federal agencies to prevent the introduction of invasive species, detect and respond rapidly to and control such species, not authorize, fund, or carry out actions that it believes are likely to cause or promote the introduction or spread of invasive species unless the agency has determined and made public its determination that the benefits of such actions clearly outweigh the potential harm caused by invasive species; and that all feasible and prudent measures to minimize risk of harm will be taken in conjunction with the actions.
4.1.4 Place-Based Program Emphasis There is also management direction in the Place descriptions. These are located in Part 2 of the SBNF Plan beginning on page 41. There are 15 “places” on the SBNF. The proposed project is located in the San Bernardino and San Gorgonio places.
4.3 Southern California Conservation Strategy As per a lawsuit settlement agreement, the SBNF has completed several Section 7 formal consultations with the USFWS for a number of listed species and the habitats in which they occur. These consultations include one for impacts to pebble plain habitats, one for riparian- dependent species, and one for impacts to carbonate plant habitats from ongoing activities on the SBNF. The Biological Assessments (USDA Forest Service 1999a, USDA Forest Service 1999b, USDA Forest Service 1999c, USDA Forest Service 2000, USDA Forest Service 2000a, and USDA Forest Service 2000b) contain Proposed Actions including avoidance and minimization measures.
The Biological Opinions (USFWS 1999, USFWS 2001, USFWS 2001a) contain conservation recommendations and other guidance. In addition, the SBNF completed Section 7 programmatic formal consultation on interim management guidelines for the San Bernardino National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan (USDA Forest Service 2000a). The consultation for impacts to meadow plant species was included in the Programmatic Consultation. The
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Programmatic Biological Assessment (USDA Forest Service 2000a) and Biological Opinion (USFWS 2001b) for ongoing activities on the SBNF has applicable management direction that is relevant to this project:
The Forest is required to complete a habitat assessment to determine whether modeled habitat is currently suitable for or occupied by the species. Current modeled habitat is based on physiographic and vegetative features (GIS databases).
For new activities to be authorized or carried out by the Forest Service, modeled habitat will be treated as occupied habitat until surveyed for suitability (based on mutually agreed upon suitability criteria) and, if necessary, for occupancy. All applicable management direction and resource evaluation for the species and activity will be required.
Results of the modeled habitat surveys shall be documented in the Affected Environment and Effects of the Proposed Action section of the BE/BA.
Fuelwood and miscellaneous products: Forest Service will exclude areas of known pebble plain habitat from fuelwood and other miscellaneous forest product collection. Effective April 1, 1999 (US Fish and Wildlife Service 2000, USDA Forest Service 1999).
Forest Products Harvesting: As of April 1999, the public fuelwood cutting and gathering policy has been revised to prohibit public fuelwood cutting and gathering in carbonate plant habitat. If salvage or forest stand treatments are needed for safety or forest health, the treatments would be designed to avoid and minimize impacts to carbonate plants and their habitat and NEPA analysis and future consultation with USFWS if Proposed Action would affect listed species (USDA Fish and Wildlife Service 2000a).
Timber Management: Any future new or modified timber sales, salvage permits, or associated activities that may affect listed species will be addressed through future individual programmatic consultation (USDI, Fish and Wildlife Service 2000a).
Timber Management: Any proposed, new, renewed or modified plantations, timber sales, or salvage harvest that may affect listed species would be subject to future consultation. (USDI Fish and Wildlife Service. 2000).
Conservation Recommendation #3 and 4 Draft BOs: Control or remove invasive, exotic plants and animals from the SBNF to the maximum extent possible. In particular, it is strongly recommended that invasive, alien grasses be suppressed and eradicated to the maximum extent possible from areas occupied by listed plants. (USDI Fish and Wildlife Service 2000, USDI Fish and Wildlife Service 2000a).
Conservation Recommendation #4 and 5 Draft BOs: Restrict to the maximum extent possible unauthorized human and vehicular presence and activities in areas that contain
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pebble plain and carbonate plants via patrols or other means. (USDI Fish and Wildlife Service 2000, USDI Fish and Wildlife Service 2000a).
Conservation Recommendation Draft BOs: Notify USFWS of implementation of any conservation recommendations. (USDI Fish and Wildlife Service 2000, USDI Fish and Wildlife Service 2000a).
Item #349—Design salvage or forest stand treatments to minimize long-term impacts to key and occupied TEP habitats. Consider in TEP species modeled habitats.
Item # 235—Avoid or minimize negative impacts to key and occupied TEP habitats. Use one or more of the following methods: 1) a biologist/botanist monitor on site; 2) a biologist/botanist flags for avoidance; or, 3) conduct pre-project field coordination between the biologist/botanist and project leader which includes species and habitat identification, protective measures, the necessity of adhering to the provisions of the consultation, the penalties of violating the ESA, identifying boundaries of the project, and review procedures where a TEP species is encountered during the work activity. Consider in modeled habitats for all TEP species.
5.0 CALIFORNIA STATE LAWS
Pursuant to Section 1600 et seq. of the Fish and Game Code, the CDFG may require a Lake or Streambed Alteration Agreement prior to any activity that will substantially divert or obstruct the natural flow or substantially change the bed, channel, or bank of a river, stream or lake, or use material from a streambed. CDFG defines a "stream" (including creeks and rivers) as "a body of water that flows at least periodically or intermittently through a bed or channel having banks and supports fish or other aquatic life. This includes watercourses having surface or subsurface flow that supports or has supported riparian vegetation." CDFG's definition of "lake" includes "natural lakes or man-made reservoirs."
In addition to the bed and banks of a stream, CDFG jurisdiction includes riparian or wetland vegetation associated with a stream. CDFG’s issuance of a Lake or Streambed Alteration Agreement for a project that is subject to CEQA will require California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) compliance actions by CDFG as a responsible agency. CDFG as a responsible agency under CEQA may consider the lead agency’s Negative Declaration or Environmental Impact Report for the project. Federal projects on federal land (such as a Forest Service Project on Forest Service land) do not require the Lake or Streambed Alteration Agreement. However, a Lake or Streambed Alteration Agreement may be required of a non-federal participant for projects on federal land carried out or funded by the non-federal participant.
Pursuant to Section 2080 et seq. of the Fish and Game Code, a California Endangered Species Act (CESA) permit must be obtained to authorize incidental “take” of plants or animals listed under CESA. Revisions to the Fish and Game Code, effective January 1998, may require that the Department issue a separate CEQA document for the issuance of a 2081 permit unless the project CEQA document addresses all project impacts to listed species and specifies a mitigation monitoring and reporting program that will meet the requirements of a 2081 permit. Please note
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that federal projects on federal land (such as a Forest Service Project on Forest Service land) do not require the 2081 incidental take permit. However, an incidental take permit may be required of a non-federal participant for projects on federal land carried out or funded by the non-federal participant.
6.0 COMPLIANCE WITH LMP AND OTHER DIRECTION Standards from the LMP (2006) are displayed in Table 8. Also included is a summary of how the management direction was included in the project.
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Table 8. LMP Consistency Review for the Baldy Mesa OHV Trails Project Plant, Fish, and Wildlife Standard LMP Consistency Review Standards When Implementing All Activities S11: When occupied or suitable habitat for a threatened, endangered, No occupied or suitable habitat for a threatened, endangered, proposed, proposed, candidate or Sensitive (TEPCS) species is present on an ongoing candidate species exist in the project area. or proposed project site, consider species guidance documents (see The Design Criteria include conservation measures for FS Sensitive Appendix H) to develop project-specific or activity-specific Design species. Criteria. This guidance is intended to provide a range of possible conservation measures that may be selectively applied during site-specific planning to avoid, minimize or mitigate negative long-term effects on threatened, endangered, proposed, candidate or Sensitive species and habitat. Involve appropriate resource specialists in the identification of relevant Design Criteria. Include review of species guidance documents in fire suppression or other emergency actions when and to the extent practicable. S12: When implementing new projects in areas that provide for threatened, No threatened, endangered, proposed, and candidate species are known endangered, proposed, and candidate species, use Design Criteria and to occur in the project area. conservation practices (see Appendix H) so that discretionary uses and facilities promote the conservation and recovery of these species and their habitats. Accept short-term impacts where long-term effects would provide a net benefit for the species and its habitat where needed to achieve multiple-use objectives. S13: Manage Critical Biological land use zones so that activities and Not applicable – no Critical Biological Zones exist in the project area. discretionary uses are either neutral or beneficial for the species and habitats for which the area was established. Accept short-term adverse impacts to threatened, endangered, and proposed species if such impacts will be compensated by the accrual of long-term benefits to habitat for threatened, endangered, and candidate species. S24: Mitigate impacts of ongoing uses and management activities on Not applicable – no known TEPC plant species exist within the project threatened, endangered, proposed, and candidate species area. S29: Avoid collection of special forest products where it may negatively Not applicable – no forest products to be collected affect recovery or occupied habitat of threatened, endangered and proposed species, except where it is appropriate in response to requests from Native Americans. S30: Avoid activities that result in removal, crushing, burying, burning, or Not applicable for this project host plants for T&E animal species mowing of host plants within critical and occupied habitat for threatened, within the project area. endangered, and proposed butterfly species; unless guided differently by a species-specific consultation. S31: Design new facilities or expansion of existing facilities to direct public Not applicable for this project
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Plant, Fish, and Wildlife Standard LMP Consistency Review Standards When Implementing All Activities use away from occupied habitat for threatened, endangered, proposed and candidate species. S32: When surveys for species presence/absence are done for threatened, This standard has been followed during surveys in the project area. endangered, and proposed species, use established survey protocols, where such protocols exist. S33: Manage Special Interest Areas so that activities and discretionary uses Not applicable for this project are either neutral or beneficial for the resource values for which the area was established. Accept short-term adverse impacts to these resource values if such impacts will be compensated by the accrual of long-term benefit. S6: Seed to be used on National Forest System lands will be certified to be Seed, if used will be locally collected and as weed free as possible. free of noxious weeds. Where available, only locally collected native seed will be used, or seeds will be used from species that are noninvasive and nonpersistent. When available, wattles, mulch and livestock feed to be used on National Forest System lands will be certified to be free of noxious weeds. SBNF S6 - Provide compatible management on those portions of National No MSHCPs are in place for the Project Area. Forest System land designated as being part of Multiple Species Habitat Conservation Plans (MSHCP) under the National Memorandum of Understanding with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Coachella Valley Plan: San Bernardino Front Country, San Gorgonio, and Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument Places; Mojave Plan: Big Bear, Cajon, Desert Rim, Mojave Front Country, and Silverwood Places; and Western Riverside County Plan: Anza, Idyllwild, and San Bernardino Front Country Places). Table A- 1. Compliance with Laws and Regulations and Other Guidelines Endangered Species Act No known T/E plant species or Critical Habitat are known to be present in the project area . USFWS Biological Opinions Terms and Conditions from several BOs are being followed in this project: Programmatic Hazardous Fuels BO 2005 Meadow Plants BO 2001 Riparian Obligate BO 2000 LMP BO 2001 and 2005 LMP BO 2001 and 2005
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Best Management Practices The following relevant best management practices (BMPs; USDA Forest Service 2000) are recommended for project implementation. Many of these are already incorporated in the Design Features. BMPs are certified by the California State Water Resource Control Board and approved by the Environmental Protection Agency, in compliance with section 208 of the Clean Water Act (PL-500). By implementing the water quality standards described below, it is unlikely that the proposed activities would result in adverse direct or indirect effects to water quality and downstream beneficial uses. The following BMPs are specific to this project. Practice 1.8. A Riparian Conservation Area (RCA) is designated along riparian areas to minimize adverse effects. Practice 1.14. Special Erosion Prevention Measures. Ground disturbed within 100-foot RCAs, should be treated with slash, mulch or chips. Practice 1.19. Stream course and Aquatic Protection. Practice 2.12. Servicing and Refueling of Equipment. Select service and refueling areas well away from wet areas and surface flow. Practice 2.14. Controlling In-Channel Excavation. Excavation during installation of instream structures must follow water quality protection requirements. Practice 2.16. Stream Crossings on Temporary Roads. The number of crossings will be kept to a minimum for access. Crossings will be as a perpendicular to the stream course as possible. Practice 5.2. Slope Limitations for Mechanical Equipment Operations. This measure facilitates water drainage by limiting operation to gradients where features such as water bars can be effectively installed. Tractor operation limitations for the San Bernardino NF are on slopes less than 35% gradient (LMP, p.27). Given the erosive nature of soil map units in the project area, any length pitch above this limit should be avoided if possible. Practice 5.3. Tractor Operation Limitations in Wetlands and Meadows. These areas are excluded from equipment use. Practice 5.4. Revegetation of Surface Disturbed Areas. This practice is intended to protect water quality by minimizing erosion through stabilizing influence of vegetation foliage and root network. Practice 5.5. Disposal of Organic Debris. This practice is intended to prevent gully and surface erosion with associated reduction id sediment production and turbidity during and after treatment. Practice 5.6. Soil Moisture Limitations for Mechanical Equipment Operations. This practice is intended to reduce soil erosion by limiting equipment operation during wet soil conditions. Practice 6.2. Factors that influence fire intensity, and therefore directly affect resultant ground cover, and formation of water-repellant layers must be considered when designing fire prescriptions Practice 6.3. Soil productivity and water quality is maintained by minimizing erosion on hill slopes, and delivery of ash, sediment, nutrients and debris to stream channels.
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APPENDIX B. FLORAL COMPENDIA
Floral taxonomy used in this report follows the Jepson Manual (Hickman 1993). Vertebrates identified in the field by sight, calls, tracks, scat, or other signs are cited according to the nomenclature followed in the 2005 Forest Plan revision.
The following species were observed during surveys of the project area. Baldy Mesa Plant List Spring/Summer 2006
TREES Pinus monophylla Platanus racemosa Populus fremontii Tamarix ramosissima
SHRUBS Adenostoma fasciculatum Arctostaphylos glauca Arenaria macradenia Artemisia dracunculus Artemisia tridentata Baccharis salicifolia Ceanothus crassifolius Ceanothus sp. (either gregii or cuneatus) Cercocarpus betuloides Chrysothamnus nauseousus Ephedra nevadensis Ericameria cooperi Ericameria linearifolia Eriodictyon trichocalyx Eriogonum fasciculatum var. foliolosum Eriogonum fasciculatum var. polifolium Juniperus californicus Keckiella cordifolia Keckiella ternata Lonicera interrupta Lycium cooperi Malacothamnus fremontii Nolina parryi Prunus fasciculata var. fasciculata Prunus ilicifolia Quercus wislizenii var. frutescens Rhamnus ilicifolia Rhus trilobata Salix sp. Salvia apiana Sambucus mexicana Sphaeralcea ambigua
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Tetradymia stenolepis Turricula parryi Yucca brevifolia Yucca whipplei
FORBS/HERBS Achnatherum coronatum Achnatherum hymenoides Achnatherum speciosum Acourtia microcephala Agrostis sp. Amaranthus sp. Ambrosia acanthicarpa Amsinckia tessellata Anaphalis margaritacea Arabis sparsiflora Argemone munita Avena sp. Brassica nigra Bromus diandrus Bromus madritensis Bromus tectorum Calochortus kennedyi Calochortus plummerae Camissonia sp. Castilleja foliolosa Centrostegia thurberi Chamaesyce albomarginata Cirsium occidentale Cirsium vulgare Collinsia childii Conyza canadensis Cryptantha sp. Cuscuta sp. Datura wrightii Delphinium parishii Dichelostemma capitatum Dudleya lanceolata Elymus elemoides Elytrigia intermedia ssp. intermedia Emmenanthe penduliflora Encelia farinosa Epilobium sp. Eriastrum densifolium Eriastrum sapphirinum Erigeron foliosus Eriogonum davidsonii Eriophyllum confertiflorum Eriophyllum wallacei Erodium cicutarium Erysimum capitatum
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Gallium sp. Gnaphalium californicum Gnaphalium canescens Gutierrezia microcephala Heterotheca heterochroma Hulsea heterochroma Lactuca serriola Lessingia glandulifera Loeseliastrum mathewsii Lomatium mohavensis Lotus argophyllus Lotus grandiflorus Lotus scoparius Lotus strigosus Lupinus andersonii Lupinus concinnus Marra macrocarpa Marrubium vulgare Melica sp. Mentzelia sp. Mentzelia sp. (probably veatchiana) Mimulus parishii Mimulus pilosus Mirabilis bigelovii Muhlenbergia rigens Nicotiana attenuata Oenothera californica Opuntia basilaris var. brachyclada Orobanche sp. Pectocarya sp. Penstemon centranthifolius Phacelia sp. Phoradendron sp. Plagiobothrys sp. Poa secunda Polypogon monospeliensis Rafinesquia californica Salsola sp. Salvia columbariae Schismus barbatus Senecio flacidus Sisymbrium sp. Solanum xanti Stephanomaria sp. Typha latifolia Uropappus lindleyi Vulpia myuros
*Non-native species are in blue. * FS Region 5 Sensitive species are in yellow
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