Biological Assessment Threatened & Endangered Plant Species Ash Valley Grazing

Modoc National Forest Supervisor’s Office

April 1, 2016 Biological Assessment for Threatened & Endangered Plant Species — ❦ — Ash Valley Grazing

(Signed) Forest J. Gauna, Forest Botanist. (530) 233-8737 [email protected]

Table 1: Summary of Effect Determinations Species Status Determination Tuctoria greenei Endangered No effect. Orcuttia tenuis Threatened No effect.

I. INTRODUCTION

A. ABOUT THIS DOCUMENT This Biological Assessment (BA) has been conducted to analyze the potential effects of the proposed Ash Valley Grazing E.A. in sufficient detail to determine and document its anticipated effects on proposed, threatened, or endangered plant species. It conforms to legal requirements set forth under Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) of 1973 as amended,¹ and follows standards established in Forest Service Manual and Handbook direction² for Threatened, Endangered, and Sensitive species.

B. CONSULTATION TO DATE A species list provided by the Fish and Wildlife Service, Klamath Falls Office, dated December 8, 2015 (USFWS 2015) and accessed March 28, 2016, states that there are two federally listed plant species whose ranges include the Modoc National Forest (MDF): the endangered species Tuctoria greenei (Greene’s tuctoria), and the threatened species Orcuttia tenuis (slender Orcutt grass). Pinus albicaulis (whitebark pine), a candidate for listing, is also a Forest Service Region 5 Sensitive plant species and is analysed under the Biological Evaluation for this project. Because this Biological Assessment has resulted in a “no effect” determination for either listed plant, no additional consultation with the Fish and Wildlife Service is required.

C. CURRENT MANAGEMENT DIRECTION The Recovery Plan for Vernal Pool Ecosystems of California and Southern Oregon (USFWS 2005) addresses Orcuttia tenuis and Tuctoria greenei among other vernal pool- dwelling species. Modoc National Forest vernal pool habitats are in the Modoc vernal pool region 7. The recovery plan outlines steps for the eventual delisting of Orcuttia tenuis and Tuctoria greenei, which are: to protect known populations, maintain natural hydrology, monitor selected populations, and conduct standardized vernal pool habitat site assessments. Critical habitat for both species was designated in 2005; however, no designated

¹19 U.S.C. 1536 (c); 50 C.F.R. 402 ²FSM 2671.2 & 2672.42; R5 FSH 2609.25

1 2 botany biological assessment april 1, critical habitat occurs on the Modoc National Forest. II. PROPOSED PROJECT In brief, four different alternatives are proposed for the grazing management ofAsh Valley Allotment: 1) no action, 2) cattle grazing, 3) sheep grazing, and 4) forage re- serve. For more specific details about the alternatives being analyzed, please consult the Environmental Assessment.

A. EXISTING ENVIRONMENT Ash Valley Allotment is presently a cattle-grazing allotment located within the pro- claimed boundary of the Modoc National Forest, on the Big Valley Ranger District. It is between the towns of Adin and Likely, within Modoc and Lassen Counties. In- cluding privately owned inholdings, the allotment covers about 17,198 acres; of these, about 14,507 acres are Federally owned. Vegetation is dominated by white fir (Abies concolor), yellow pine (Pinus ponderosa and P. jeffreyi), greenleaf manzanita (Arctostaphylos patula), western juniper (Juniperus occidentalis), and a diversity of graminoids and forbs. The topography is hilly with valleys and riparian areas. Elevations range from 5,040 feet near Indian Spring and Cottonwood Canyon to 7,092 feet at the crest of Knox Mtn. Floristic, intuitively controlled botany surveys were conducted according to Califor- nia Native Plant Society protocols (CNPS 2001) by Modoc NF botany survey staff trained to identify local listed plants and their habitats. Botanical surveys for this grazing analysis took place in the early summers of 2010 and 2014. Data from surveys for other projects located in the same areas have also been reviewed, as well as CNDDB records. Survey records are documented in botany program files and GIS databases at the Modoc National Forest Supervisor’s Office, Alturas, CA. Reviews of aerial photos as well as botany surveys have revealed neither habitats for nor occurrences of either Tuctoria greenei or Orcuttia tenuis within the proposed project area. Because of this, neither listed plant is believed to occur within the Ash Valley Allotment.

B. EFFECTS ANALYSIS Since the effects of livestock grazing on listed species are not foreseen to extendto any potential vernal pool habitats beyond the boundaries of the allotment, the analysis

3 4 botany biological assessment april 1, area is defined as the area of the allotment for the purposes of effects analysis.

1–4. all alternatives a. direct & indirect effects Since there is no potential habitat for either listed plant species within the analysis area, implementation of any alternative (including the no-action alternative) will neither directly nor indirectly affect these species nor their habitats.

b. cumulative effects Given that selecting any alternative would cause neither direct nor indirect effects to either Orcuttia tenuis or Tuctoria greenei, it would also not contribute to any cumulative effect upon either listed species as a whole.

C. DETERMINATION OF EFFECTS It is my determination that no alternative proposed for the Ash Valley Grazing E.A. would have any effect upon occurrences or habitat of the Federally listed Endangered species Tuctoria greenei, nor the Federally listed Threatened species Orcuttia tenuis, nor their designated Critical Habitat. III. LITERATURE CITED California Native Plant Society. 2001. CNPS Botanical Survey Guidelines. http://cnps.org/cnps/rareplants/pdf/cnps_survey_guidelines.pdf. Accessed Sep. 25, 2015. U.S.D.I. Fish and Wildlife Service. 2005. Recovery Plan for Vernal Pool Ecosystems of California and Southern Oregon. Portland, OR. http://www.fws.gov/sacramento/es/ Recovery-Planning/Vernal-Pool/es_recovery_vernal-pool-recovery.htm. Accessed Oct. 17, 2015. U.S.D.I. Fish and Wildlife Service, Klamath Falls Field Office. 2015. Listed, Proposed, and Candidate Species that May Occur in Modoc County, California. http://www.fws.gov/klamathfallsfwo/es/es.html. Accessed Mar. 28, 2016.