Environmental Assessment Pueblo Mountain Grazing Allotment Permit

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Environmental Assessment Pueblo Mountain Grazing Allotment Permit BLM Environmental Assessment Humboldt River Field Office/Nevada DOI-BLM-NV-W010-2012-0032-EA Winnemucca District Office / Nevada / Office Winnemucca District Pueblo Mountain Grazing Allotment Permit Renewal Humboldt River Field Office February 2015 /Nevada Prepared by: U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management Humboldt River Field Office 5100 E. Winnemucca Blvd. Winnemucca, Nevada 89445-2921 Phone: 775-623-1500 Fax: 775-623-1503 It is the mission of the Bureau of Land Management to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of the public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations. BLM/NV/WN/EA/14-5+1792 DOI-BLM-NV-W010-2012-0032-EA i | P a g e Contents 1.0 INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Identifying Information .................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Project Overview .............................................................................................................. 1 1.3 Purpose and Need for Action ........................................................................................... 2 1.4 Decision to be Made ......................................................................................................... 2 1.5 Conformance .................................................................................................................... 2 1.6 Relationship to Laws, Regulations, and Other Plans ....................................................... 3 1.7 Scoping, Public Involvement and Issues .......................................................................... 5 2.0 PROPOSED ACTION AND ALTERNATIVES ................................................................ 7 2.1 No Action Alternative ...................................................................................................... 7 2.2 Proposed Action ............................................................................................................. 10 2.3 Denio Creek Exclosure Alternative................................................................................ 15 2.4 Reduced Grazing Alternative (Maximum Reduction) ................................................... 17 2.5 Alternatives Considered but not Analyzed in Detail ........................................................ 17 3.0 THE AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT ................................................................................ 17 3.1 Background .................................................................................................................... 20 3.2 Cultural Resources ............................................................................................................ 21 3.3 Invasive, Nonnative Species .......................................................................................... 21 3.4 Migratory Birds .............................................................................................................. 22 3.5 Native American Religious Concerns ............................................................................ 23 3.6 Threatened and Endangered Species .............................................................................. 24 3.7 Water Quality (Surface) ................................................................................................. 27 3.8 Wetlands and Riparian Zones ........................................................................................ 28 3.9 Fisheries ......................................................................................................................... 30 3.10 Lands with Wilderness Characteristics....................................................................... 30 3.11 Paleontology ............................................................................................................... 31 3.12 Social and Economic Values ...................................................................................... 31 3.13 Soils ............................................................................................................................ 33 3.14 Special Status Species ................................................................................................ 36 3.15 Vegetation ................................................................................................................... 42 3.16 Wilderness Study Areas.............................................................................................. 44 3.17 Wildlife ....................................................................................................................... 46 4.0 ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES ........................................................................ 47 4.1 Direct and Indirect Impacts ............................................................................................ 47 4.1.1 Cultural Resources ....................................................................................................... 47 4.1.2 Invasive, Non-Native Species ...................................................................................... 48 4.1.3 Migratory Birds ............................................................................................................ 49 4.1.4 Threatened and Endangered Species ........................................................................... 51 4.1.5 Water Quality (Surface) ............................................................................................... 53 4.1.6 Wetlands and Riparian Zones ...................................................................................... 54 4.1.7 Social Values and Economics ...................................................................................... 55 4.1.8 Soils.............................................................................................................................. 56 4.1.9 Special Status Species .................................................................................................. 57 4.1.10 Vegetation .................................................................................................................. 62 4.1.11 Wilderness Study Area .............................................................................................. 62 ii | P a g e 4.1.12 Wildlife ...................................................................................................................... 64 4.2 Cumulative Impacts........................................................................................................ 65 4.2.1 Cultural Resources ....................................................................................................... 67 4.2.2 Invasive, Non-Native Species ...................................................................................... 68 4.2.3 Migratory Birds, Threatened and Endangered, Special Status Species, and Wildlife . 69 4.2.4 Social and Economic Values ....................................................................................... 72 4.2.5 Soils, Vegetation, Wetlands and Riparian Zones......................................................... 73 4.2.6 Water Quality - Surface ............................................................................................... 74 4.2.7 Wilderness Study Area ................................................................................................ 75 5.0 RECOMMENDED MITIGATION and MONITORING .................................................. 76 6.0 TRIBES, INDIVIDUALS, ORGANIZATIONS, OR AGENCIES CONSULTED .......... 76 6.2 Coordination and/or Consultation (Agencies)................................................................ 77 6.3 Individuals and/or Organizations Consulted .................................................................. 77 6.4 Public Outreach/Involvement ......................................................................................... 77 7.0 LIST OF PREPARERS...................................................................................................... 80 8.0 REFERENCES .................................................................................................................. 80 9.0 MAPS ................................................................................................................................. 82 iii | P a g e 1.0 INTRODUCTION 1.1 Identifying Information Title: Pueblo Mountain Allotment Grazing Permit Renewal EA #: DOI-BLM-NV-W010-2012-0032-EA Type of project: Grazing Permit Renewal Location of Proposed Action: Pueblo Mountain Allotment Name and Location of Preparing Office: Winnemucca District BLM Humboldt River Field Office 5100 E. Winnemucca Blvd. Winnemucca, NV 89445 Permittee #: 2703981 Applicant Name: Moser Ranch, LLC 1.2 Project Overview The Winnemucca District Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is evaluating an application for renewal of a ten-year grazing permit on the Pueblo Mountain Allotment. This environmental assessment (EA) for the grazing permit renewal was developed by the BLM through consultation, cooperation and coordination amongst BLM, Moser Ranch, LLC, and United States Fish and Wildlife Service (Service). In addition to the consultation, cooperation and coordination, a monitoring report was completed that summarized the data collected from 2000 to 2012. Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) received a copy of the preliminary environmental assessment (PEA). A land health assessment (LHA)
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