Biological Resources Baseline Report March 2019
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US Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management Winnemucca District, Nevada Burning Man Event Special Recreation Permit Environmental Impact Statement BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES BASELINE REPORT MARCH 2019 TABLE OF CONTENTS Chapter Page CHAPTER 1. INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................... 1-1 1.1 Proposed Special Recreation Permit/Project Information .................................................. 1-1 1.2 Relation to the Draft EIS ............................................................................................................. 1-1 1.3 Wildlife Agencies Consulted ...................................................................................................... 1-1 1.4 Internal Scoping and Public Outreach Summary ................................................................... 1-1 CHAPTER 2. AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT SUMMARY .................................................................. 2-1 2.1 Assessment Areas ......................................................................................................................... 2-1 2.2 Project Area Description ............................................................................................................ 2-1 2.2.1 General Setting ............................................................................................................... 2-1 2.2.2 Climate ............................................................................................................................. 2-1 2.2.3 Soils ................................................................................................................................... 2-2 2.3 Migratory Birds .............................................................................................................................. 2-2 2.4 Special Status Species ................................................................................................................... 2-7 2.5 Threatened and Endangered Species ..................................................................................... 2-11 2.6 Vegetation (Including Invasive, Nonnative Species) ............................................................ 2-15 2.7 Wetlands and Riparian Areas .................................................................................................. 2-18 2.8 Wildlife .......................................................................................................................................... 2-20 CHAPTER 3. WILDLIFE EFFECTS SYNTHESIS ............................................................................ 3-1 3.1 Lighting ............................................................................................................................................ 3-1 3.1.1 Impacts from Lighting on Avian Species ................................................................... 3-1 3.1.2 Impacts from Lighting on Mammals ........................................................................... 3-1 3.2 Noise ............................................................................................................................................... 3-2 3.2.1 Impacts from Noise on Avian Species ...................................................................... 3-2 3.2.2 Impacts from Noise on Mammals .............................................................................. 3-3 3.3 Air Quality ...................................................................................................................................... 3-4 3.3.1 Impacts from Air Quality on Avian Species ............................................................ 3-4 3.3.2 Impacts from Air Quality on Mammals .................................................................... 3-5 3.3.3 Impacts from Air Quality on Invertebrates ............................................................. 3-5 3.3.4 Impacts from Air Quality on Wildlife Habitat ........................................................ 3-5 3.4 Traffic ............................................................................................................................................... 3-6 3.4.1 Impacts from Traffic on Mammals ............................................................................. 3-6 3.4.2 Impacts from Traffic on Aquatic Invertebrates ...................................................... 3-7 3.4.3 Impacts from Traffic on Avian Species ..................................................................... 3-7 3.4.4 Impacts from Traffic on Aquatic Species.................................................................. 3-8 3.5 Trash and Pollution ...................................................................................................................... 3-8 3.5.1 Impacts from Trash on Avian Species ....................................................................... 3-8 3.5.2 Impacts from Trash on Herpetofauna ...................................................................... 3-9 3.5.3 Impacts from Pollution on Wildlife ........................................................................... 3-9 3.5.4 Impacts from Pollution on Aquatic (Fish) Species ................................................. 3-9 3.6 Human Presence ......................................................................................................................... 3-10 3.6.1 Impacts from Human Presence on Mammals ........................................................ 3-10 3.6.2 Impacts from Human Presence on Avian Species ................................................ 3-10 3.6.3 Impacts from Human Presence on Aquatic Species ............................................ 3-10 CHAPTER 4. EFFECTS SUMMARY ............................................................................................... 4-1 CHAPTER 5. REFERENCES ......................................................................................................... 5-1 March 2019 Burning Man Event Special Recreation Permit Draft Environmental Statement i Biological Resources Baseline Report Table of Contents TABLES Page 2-1 Special Status Species Occurring in the Burning Man Assessment Area ........................................ 2-7 2-2 Threatened and Endangered Species with Potential to Occur in the Assessment Area ......... 2-11 2-3 Vegetation .................................................................................................................................................... 2-15 2-4 National Wetlands Inventory Features ................................................................................................ 2-19 2-5 Mule Deer and Pronghorn Antelope Habitat in the Assessment Area ........................................ 2-21 4-1 Effects Summary ........................................................................................................................................... 4-1 FIGURES Page 1 Biological Resources Affected Environment and Effects Assessment Area ................................... 2-3 2 Greater Sage-Grouse Habitat - BLM 2015 Approved Resource Management Plan Amendment ................................................................................................................................................... 2-9 3 Greater Sage-Grouse Habitat - USGS 2016 Habitat modelling for Nevada and Northeastern California ........................................................................................................................... 2-10 DIAGRAM Page 1 Migratory Bird Flyways ............................................................................................................................... 2-5 ATTACHMENT 1 Agency Coordination ii Burning Man Event Special Recreation Permit Draft Environmental Statement March 2019 Biological Resources Baseline Report ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS Full Phrase ACOE US Army Corps of Engineers BLM United States Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management CFR Code of Federal Regulations EIS environmental impact statement °F degrees Fahrenheit IPaC Information for Planning and Consultation LCT Lahontan cutthroat trout LED light-emitting diode MBTA Migratory Bird Treaty Act mph miles per hour NCA National Conservation Area NDOW Nevada Department of Wildlife NNHP Nevada Natural Heritage Program NWI United States Fish and Wildlife Service National Wetland Inventory OHV off-highway vehicle SRP Special Recreation Permit USC United States Code USFWS United States Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service March 2019 Burning Man Event Special Recreation Permit Draft Environmental Statement iii Biological Resources Baseline Report Table of Contents This page intentionally left blank. iv Burning Man Event Special Recreation Permit Draft Environmental Statement March 2019 Biological Resources Baseline Report Chapter 1. Introduction This section presents important introductory information and lays out the basis for this wildlife resources effects synthesis. It presents a list of wildlife agencies consulted in preparation of the Burning Man Event Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and summarizes the results of internal and public scoping with respect to wildlife resources issues. 1.1 PROPOSED SPECIAL RECREATION PERMIT/PROJECT INFORMATION The Burning Man event is a combination art festival, social event, and experiment in community living. Burning Man was first held on the Black Rock Desert in 1990 and has continued on an annual basis. The Burning Man organization, Black