Attachment A - Biological Review, Report of Site Visit & Species Inventory
From August 31 – September 2, 2014, Charles Britt conducted a pedestrian survey for all diurnal faunal and floral species along the proposed fiber optic line route for WNMT. Approximately 18 miles of cable to be placed. The project begins at milepost 28.28 on NM Highway 1, crosses NM Highway 1 at milepost 25.37, and crosses I-25 at milepost 116.572. It continues on State Route 107 at milepost 0 and ends at milepost 15.37. All three days had clear skies. Surveyor recorded all faunal and floral species observed within the Project Area/Action Area, taking photographs, and noting any features that may present potential impediments for the project
The route traversed across six ecological sites. The Nolam gravelly sandy loam, 1 to 7 percent slopes (655) soil map unit is found in the R042XB035NM Gravelly Loam ecological site. This site usually occurs on nearly level to rolling piedmont slopes, hill slopes, fan remnants, or alluvial fans. Slopes range from 0 to 15 percent and occasionally reach 30 percent but average 4 to 9 percent. Elevations range from 4,300 to 5,000 feet. This site is not influenced by water from wetlands or streams. This ecological site is frequently associated with gravelly ecological sites. The historic plant community type is assumed to have exhibited dominance by black grama (Bouteloua eriopoda) and secondarily by bush muhly (Muhlenbergia porteri), Arizona cottontop (Digitaria californica) and/or cane bluestem (Bothriochloa barbinodis). Creosotebush (Larrea tridentata) and mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa) occur but are not co-dominants with grasses. This ecological site tends to occur at slightly higher elevations, receives more rainfall, has higher water holding capacity, and is more productive than the other two members of the gravelly site group. Consequently, the grassland state of this site is more resilient than the other gravelly-soil sites. Continuous heavy grazing tends to remove black grama and results in dominance by tobosa (Pleuraphis mutica) and/or threeawns (Aristida spp) and subshrubs within the grassland state. Loss of grasses results in dominance or co-dominance by creosotebush and tarbush (Flourensia cernua) within a tobosa/bush muhly-shrub state. Grazing-induced retrogression from this community is characterized by a reduction in the cover of black grama (Bush muhly/black grama community). Secondarily, bush muhly, cane bluestem, Arizona cottontop, sideoats grama and winterfat will decrease. This is accompanied by an increase in the proportional representation tobosa, threeawns, burrograss (Scleropogon brevifolius), fluffgrass (Dasyochloa pulchella), snakeweed (Gutierrezia sarothrae), and shrubs (tobosa/bush muhly community).
Along NM 1, the R042XB035NM Gravelly Loam ecological site was found to be in the Eroded Shrubland - Creosotebush Burrograss ecological state with additions of honey mesquite and fourwing saltbush. Further east, closer to the communication tower on Ft. Craig Road, the ecological site was observed to be in the Eroded Shrubland - Creosotebush/Mesquite ecological state. However, it was overwhelmingly dominated by creosotebush and bareground. Along SR107, the project route was found to be in the Shrub-dominated - Mesquite Threeawn ecological state between miles 2.3 and 4.8. Between miles 4.8 and 8.4, the route was observed to be in the Tobosa-bush muhly/shrub ecological state. This changed at the edge of the Mulligan Gulch valley. Between miles 10.2 to 12.5, the route was observed to be in the Grassland State. Shrub density was noted to be low. However, there was an observed increase in threeawn and fluffgrass as the route moved west. The portion of this ecological site that was parallel to I- 25 was observed to be in the Eroded shrubland – Creosote burrograss ecological state. In the various drainages, desert riparian vegetation was dominated by honey mesquite, littleleaf sumac, desert willow, apache plume and burrobush.
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Several soil map units and soil map unit components are located in the R042XB010NM Gravelly ecological site; the Nickel component of the Nickel-Caliza very gravelly sandy loams, 1 to 30 percent slopes (649); Sedillo component of the Millett-Sedillo complex, 1 to 15 percent slopes (445). This site usually occurs as a complex of soils on alluvial fans, fan piedmonts, fan remnants, and some low hills or ridge slopes. The soils formed in calcareous gravelly alluvium from limestone and sandstone. Slopes average less than 5 percent but range as high as 30 percent. Aspect is variable. Elevations range from 3,800 to 5,200 feet. This site is not influenced by water from wetland or stream. This ecological site may exist with inclusions of gravelly sand, gravelly loam, or sandy ecological sites. On bajadas, it often grades into gravelly loam and loamy ecological sites. The presence of a shallow petrocalcic layer in this site limits productivity and is an important aspect of its ecology. As currently defined, the gravelly site exhibits a high degree of topographic diversity. The historic plant community type is generally assumed to exhibit co-dominance between grasses, including black grama (Bouteloua eriopoda) and bush muhly (Muhlenbergia porteri), and shrubs and half-shrubs, chiefly creosotebush (Larrea tridentata) and mariola (Parthenium incanum). Due to aspect, slope, landscape position, and subsurface soil properties, there is likely to have been considerable variation in historic plant communities within and among gravelly soil series. In cases where natural erosional slopes occur along bajadas (e.g. the erosional fan remnant of the fan piedmont landform; Wondzell et al. 1996), creosotebush may have dominated plant communities since pre-colonization times (Stein and Ludwig 1979). In the upper fan collar near the base of desert mountains, on the other hand, run-on water to loamy-skeletal soils may currently support black-grama dominated communities with few shrubs. Transitions from mixed shrub grasslands to a mixed shrub- dominated state may be catalyzed by overgrazing (Whitford et al. 2001) which reduces grass competition to shrubs. Transitions to the shrubland state are associated with severe and persistent grass cover reduction, erosion, and soil truncation (Gile et al. 1998).
Along NM 1, the R042XB010NM Gravelly ecological site was observed to be in the highly degraded Shrubland – Creosotebush Fluffgrass to Creosotebush (Mesquite) ecological states. There is Johnsongrass present in some of the drainages. The portion of this ecological site that was parallel to I-25 was observed to be in the highly degraded Shrubland – Creosotebush Tarbush/Mesquite ecological state. In the various drainages, desert riparian vegetation was dominated by honey mesquite, littleleaf sumac, desert willow, apache plume and burrobush. Along SR107, the project route was found to be in the highly degraded Shrubland – Creosotebush Fluffgrass to Shrubland – Fluffgrass Creosotebush ecological states between miles 0 to 2.3, and Shrub-dominated Bush muhly Shrubs to Shrubland - Fluffgrass Creosotebush ecological states between miles 9.4 to 10.2.
The Arizo component of the Arizo-Riverwash complex, 0 to 5 percent slopes (621) and the Caliza component of the Nickel-Caliza very gravelly sandy loams, 1 to 30 percent slopes (649) are found in the R042XA053NM Gravelly Sand ecological site. This site usually occurs on arroyo terraces, alluvial fans, terraces or dissected piedmont slopes. Slopes range 1 to 15 percent, and average less than 15 percent. Elevations range from 3,700 feet to 5,000 feet. This site is not influenced by water from wetlands or streams. This ecological site is associated with the gravelly ecological site and may grade into sandy or deep sand ecological sites. This site often occupies arroyos and is flanked by gravelly sites (e.g. Caliza gravelly sandy loam). In some cases, Bluepoint loamy sand soils (classified as deep sand sites) on dissected piedmont slopes may contain sufficient gravel so as to behave similarly to gravelly sands (e.g. in the Bluepoint-Caliza-Yturbide complex). The historic plant community type is generally assumed to exhibit dominance by dropseed grasses (mesa dropseed, Sporobolus flexuosus and sand dropseed,
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Sporobolus cryptandrus), and, secondarily black grama (Bouteloua eriopoda) and bush muhly (Muhlenbergia porteri). Creosotebush (Larrea tridentata) is a secondary dominant and annuals may be important components. Loss of these grasses due to overgrazing and/or drought, or due to climate change, may lead to a transition to dominance by creosotebush and mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa). Persistent lack of grass permits wind erosion, leading to loss of soil fertility and eventual loss of the A horizon and exposure of the calcic horizon on some soils (transition to eroded shrubland state). No studies have been conducted on the ecology of the gravelly sand ecological site. Generally, this site is less susceptible to effects of erosion than the gravelly ecological site due to the absence of a shallow petrocalcic horizon. The coarse texture of the soils and lack of a restrictive layer, on the other hand, increase percolation from shallow soil layers and overall productivity is slightly lower. This site is dominated by drought-tolerant grasses and shrubs. Ground cover is sparse and litter accumulates slowly, relative even to other semi-arid sites.
Along NM1, the R042XA053NM Gravelly Sand ecological site was observed to be in the highly degraded Eroded Shrubland - Creosotebush Fluffgrass/snakeweed ecological state. Where the route crosses Mulligan Gulch it was observed to be in the Shrub-dominated - Creosotebush Threeawn ecological state. The slopes were dominated by honey mesquite and the desert riparian bottom was dominated by burrobush. The portion of this ecological site that was parallel to I-25 was observed to be in the Eroded shrubland - Creosote Fluffgrass/snakeweed ecological state. In the various drainages, desert riparian vegetation was dominated by honey mesquite, littleleaf sumac, desert willow, apache plume and burrobush. The portion of the route adjacent to Sheep Canyon Rd was observed to be in the Eroded shrubland - Creosote Fluffgrass/snakeweed ecological state. Where the route crosses Sheep Canyon, the desert riparian vegetation is dominated by burrobush with desert willow present as well. Between miles 0 to 2.3m of SR107, this ecological site was observed to be in a transition between the Eroded shrubland - Creosote Fluffgrass/snakeweed and Mixed shrub-grassland state - Dropseed Creosote ecological states. From miles 8.4 to 9.4, the route was observed to be in the Eroded Shrubland - Creosotebush Fluffgrass/snakeweed transitioning to Mixed Shrub-grassland dominated by annual grasses and fluffgrass further to the west.
The Millett component of the Millett-Sedillo complex, 1 to 15 percent slopes (445) is found in the 038XB104NM Loamy ecological site. This site occurs on uplands landforms, mainly on hill slopes, ridges, plains, terraces and some fan remnants. Slopes range from 1 to 5 percent and average about 3 percent. Average annual precipitation is about 8 to 14 inches. Elevations range from 2,842 to 5,000 feet. This site is not influenced by wetland or streams. The Loamy site is associated with the Gyp Upland ecological site with which it intergrades. There is a pronounced increase in alkali sacaton along this interface. The loamy site is also associated with the Gravelly and Shallow ecological sites from which it receives run-on water. The Draw site often dissects Loamy sites and is distinguished from the Loamy site by increased production or greater densities of woody species. The historic plant community has a grassland aspect, dominated by grasses with shrubs and halfshrubs sparse and evenly distributed. Tobosa, black grama and blue grama are the dominant species. Retrogression within this state is characterized by a decrease in black and blue grama and an increase in burrograss. Continuous overgrazing and drought can initiate a transition to a Burrograss- Grassland state. Continued reduction in grass cover and resulting infiltration problems may eventually effect a change to a Bare State, with very little or no remaining grass cover. Alternatively, creosotebush, tarbush or mesquite may expand or invade. This ecological site is located towards the northwestern end of the SR107 portion of the project route. From mile 12.5 to 13,
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13.5 to 14.1, and 14.6 to the end of the route, it was observed to be in the Annual-dominated ecological state with some blue grama.
The Ladron component of the Ladron very gravelly sandy loam, 1 to 15 percent slopes (549) is in the R038XB102NM Gravelly ecological site. This site occurs on level to occasionally strongly sloping piedmont slopes or plains. Slopes range from 0 to 15 percent but average less than 10 percent. Elevations vary from just under 5,000 to about 6,800 feet above sea level. The loamy site often lies between areas of breaks or hills sites. The historic plant community type is dominated by sideoats grama (Bouteloua curtipendula) and blue grama (Bouteloua gracilis). Cool-season grasses fluctuate with spring/early summer rainfall. Heavy grazing may result in the loss of sideoats grama, perhaps accompanied by soil degradation and reduced infiltration. Blue grama and ring muhly (Muhlenbergia torreyi) dominate these communities. Under these conditions, runoff may increase and gullies may form that divert water from surrounding plant communities. In these circumstances, continued grazing pressure may lead to perennial grass extinction and dominance by annuals. Annual cover may be so dense that it inhibits the subsequent colonization of the site by grasses. This ecological site is found in smaller disjunct patches along SR107 between miles 13 to 13.5 and 14.1 to 14.6. It was observed to be transitioning between Grass dominated - Threeawn and Barren - Fluffgrass ecological states.
Below are site photos and a list of the fauna and flora encountered during the pedestrian survey.
Photo 1. Intersection of NM1/SR107. Gravel extraction site.
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Photo 2. Intersection of NM1/SR107. Service Station.
Photo 3. Typical small drainage crossing under NM1.
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Photo 4. Creosotebush shrubland along NM1.
Photo 5. Deeper drainage along NM1.
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Photo 6. Natural drainage in a highly degraded shrubland along NM1.
Photo 7. Mulligan Gulch crossing (NM1).
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Photo 8. Route terminus at Ft. Craig Rd in a creosotebush shrubland.
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SR107: I-25 to Mulligan Gulch
Photo 9. Route near SR107/I-25 intersection. Eroded shrubland state - Creosote Fluffgrass/snakeweed. Note the residential property in the background.
Photo 10. Route along SR107. Mixed shrub-grassland state - Dropseed Creosote.
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Photo 11. Route along SR107. Shrub-dominated - Mesquite Threeawn state. Note the buried utility ROW on the left.
Photo 12. Route along SR107. Shrub-dominated - Mesquite Threeawn state.
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Photo 13. Route was observed to be in a Tobosa-bush muhly/shrub ecological state south of Mulligan Gulch.
Photo 14. Route overlooking the Mulligan Gulch valley.
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Photo 15. North Canyon crossing.
Photo 16. View towards Mulligan Gulch from within the valley.
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SR107: Mulligan Gulch to End
Photo 17. Eroded Shrubland state - Creosotebush Fluffgrass/snakeweed close along SR107, west of Mulligan Gulch valley.
Photo 18. Transition to mixed shrub-grassland dominated by annual grasses and fluffgrass along SR107, west of Mulligan Gulch.
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Photo 19. Grassland ecological state. Shrub density is low. However, there is an increase in threeawn and fluffgrass as one moves west.
Photo 20. Towards the western end of SR107, grasslands are degraded, transitioning between Grass dominated - Threeawn and Barren/Fluffgrass states and Annual-dominated state with some blue grama, depending on the ecological site.
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I-25/Sheep Canyon
Photo 21. Parallel to I-25, upland areas were highly degraded, characterized as Eroded shrubland - Creosote/burrograss or Eroded shrubland - Creosote Fluffgrass/snakeweed depending on the ecological site.
Photo 22. Erosion headcuts were frequently observed.
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Photo 23. Several moderate desert riparian drainages were observed. Typical vegetation included littleleaf sumac, desert willow, honey mesquite, apache plume, and burrobush.
Photo 24. Retention pond located northeast of the I-25 Rest Area. It was active with two crustacean species (Order Anostraca).
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Photo 25. Retention pond located north of the I-25 Rest Area.
Photo 26. Highly degraded area along Sheep Canyon Rd characterized as Eroded shrubland state - Creosote Fluffgrass/snakeweed.
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Photo 27. Sheep Canyon crossing.
Photo 28. Route terminus at the communication tower along Sheep Canyon Road. This area is also characterized as Eroded shrubland state - Creosote Fluffgrass/snakeweed and exhibits a large amount of erosion.
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Wildlife and Plants Inventoried
FLORA
Scientific Name Common Name Acanthaceae Stenandrium barbatum bearded stenandrium
Agavaceae Yucca elata soaptree yucca
Amaranthaceae Amaranthus palmeri carelessweed Guilleminea densa small maweed
Anacardiaceae Rhus microphylla littleleaf sumac
Asteraceae Acourtia nana dwarf desertpeony Arida parviflora small-flowered tansyaster Baccharis pteronioides yerba-de-pasmo Baileya multiradiata desert marigold Berlandiera lyrata chocolate flower Brickellia sp. brickellbush Cirsium vulgare bull thistle Flourensia cernua American tarwort Gutierrezia sarothrae broom snakeweed Hymenoclea monogyra burro bush Machaeranthera tanacetifolia tansy aster Melampodium leucanthum blackfoot Parthenium incanum mariola Senecio longilobus threadleaf groundsel Senecio flaccidus threadleaf groundsel Senecio spartioides many-headed groundsel Xanthisma spinulosum slender goldenweed Zinnia grandiflora wild zinnia
Boraginaceae Cryptantha crassisepala thicksepal hiddenflower
Cactaceae Cylindropuntia imbricata tree cholla Cylindropuntia leptocaulis Christmas cactus
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Scientific Name Common Name Echinocereus triglochidiatus Mexican claret-cup hedgehog Mammillaria lasiacantha lacespine nipple cactus Opuntia engelmannii cactus apple Opuntia macrocentra purple pricklypear Opuntia phaeacantha tulip pricklypear
Caesalpiniaceae Hoffmannseggia glauca hog potato
Chenopodiaceae Atriplex canescens fourwing saltbush Krascheninnikovia lanata winterfat Salsola tragus prickly Russian thistle
Convolvulaceae Convolvulus arvensis bindweed Evolvulus nuttallianus hairy evolvulus
Cucurbitaceae Cucurbita foetidissima buffalo gourd
Ephedraceae Ephedra torreyana Torrey's jointfir Ephedra trifurca longleaf jointfir
Euphorbiaceae Chamaesyce albomarginata whitemargin sandmat Croton pottsii leatherweed
Fabaceae Astragalus amphioxys crescent milkvetch Dalea formosa featherplume Prosopis glandulosa honey mesquite Psorothamnus scoparius broom dalea
Hydrophyllaceae Phacelia spp. scorpionweed
Loasaceae Mentzelia multiflora many-flowered blazingstar
Malvaceae Sphaeralcea coccinea scarlet globemallow
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Scientific Name Common Name Sphaeralcea hastulata wrinkled globemallow Sphaeralcea angustifolia copper globemallow
Nyctaginaceae Boerhavia erecta erect spiderling Mirabilis oxybaphoides spreading four o'clock
Onagraceae Calylophus berlandieri Berlandier's sundrops
Pedaliaceae Proboscidea parviflora devil's claw
Poaceae Andropogon gerardii big bluestem Aristida divaricata poverty threeawn Aristida purpurea purple threeawn Aristida adscensionis sixweeks threeawn Bothriochloa barbinodis cane bluestem Bouteloua barbata sixweeks grama Bouteloua curtipendula sideoats grama Bouteloua eriopoda black grama Bouteloua gracilis blue grama Cenchrus sandbur common sandbur Chloris verticillata tumble windmillgrass Chloris virgata showy windmillgrass Cynodon dactylon bermudagrass Dasyochloa pulchella low woollygrass Digitaria californica Arizona cottontop Eragrostis lehmanniana Lehmann's lovegrass Eragrostis barrelieri Mediterranean lovegrass Muhlenbergia arenicola sand muhly Muhlenbergia torreyi ring Muhly Muhlenbergia porteri bush muhly Muhlenbergia rigida purple muhly Muhlenbergia setifolia curlyleaf muhly Panicum obtusum vine mesquite Pleuraphis jamesii James' galleta Schizachyrium brevifolium serillo dulce Schizachyrium scoparium little bluestem Setaria leucopila plains bristlegrass Setaria pumila yellow bristlegrass
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Scientific Name Common Name Sorghum halepense Johnsongrass Sporobolus airoides alkali sacaton Sporobolus contractus spike dropseed Sporobolus flexuosus mesa dropseed
Polemoniaceae Eriastrum diffusum wool star Ipomopsis longiflora long-flowered trumpet gilia
Polygonaceae Eriogonum wrightii Wright's buckwheat
Portulacaceae Portulaca oleracea little hogweed Talinum polygaloides Narrow-leaved fameflower
Rhamnaceae Ceanothus greggii desert ceanothus
Rosaceae Fallugia paradoxa Apache plume
Solanaceae Chamaesaracha conioides gray five-eyes Lycium pallidum pale wolfberry Lycium berlandieri Berlandier's wolfberry Solanum elaeagnifolium silverleaf nightshade
Ulmaceae Ulmus pumila Siberian elm
Verbenaceae Glandularia bipinnatifida Dakota mock vervain
Zygophyllaceae Larrea tridentata creosote bush Tribulus terrestris puncturevine
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FAUNA
Scientific Name Common Name BIRDS Callipepla gambelii Gambel's Quail Cathartes aura Turkey Vulture Buteo swainsonii Swainson's Hawk Buteo jamaicensis Red-tailed Hawk Charadrius vociferus Killdeer Zenaida macroura Mourning Dove Geococcyx californianus Greater Roadrunner Bubo virginianus Great Horned Owl Selasphorus platycercus Broad-tailed Hummingbird Picoides scalaris Ladder-backed Woodpecker Falco sparverius American Kestrel Falco peregrinus Peregrine Falcon Tyrannus verticalis Western Kingbird Lanius ludovicianus Loggerhead Shrike Corvus cryptoleucus Chihuahuan Raven Eremophila alpestris Horned Lark Tachycineta thalassina Violet-green Swallow Petrochelidon pyrrhonota Cliff Swallow Auriparus flaviceps Verdin Salpinctes obsoletus Rock Wren Phylloscopus trochilus Wilson's Warbler Peucaea cassinii Cassin's Sparrow Spizella passerina Chipping Sparrow Chondestes grammacus Lark Sparrow Calamospiza melanocorys Lark Bunting Amphispiza bilineata Black-throated Sparrow Passerina caerulea Blue Grosbeak Sturnella neglecta Western Meadowlark Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus Yellow-headed Blackbird Molothrus ater Brown-headed Cowbird Haemorhous mexicanus House Finch Passer domesticus House Sparrow
REPTILES Aspidoscelis inornatus Common Striped Whiptail Aspidoscelis inornata Little striped whiptail Aspidoscelis neomexicana New Mexico Whiptail Aspidoscelis tigris Tiger whiptail Holbrookia maculata Lesser earless lizard
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Scientific Name Common Name Sceloporus magiser Desert Spiny Lizard Sceloporus occidentalis Western fence lizard
MAMMALS Sylvilagus audubonii Desert Cottontail Lepus californicus Black-tailed Jackrabbit Vulpes macrotis Kit Fox Canis latrans Coyote Antilocarpa americana Pronghorn Odocoileus hemionus Mule deer Neotoma Woodrat Dipodomys spectabilis Bannertail Kangaroo Rat Peromyscus sp. Deermouse Geomys sp. Pocket Gopher
CRUSTACEANS Order Anostraca (2 species) Brine and fairy shrimp
INSECTS Colias eurytheme Orange Sulphur Eurema nicippe Sleepy Orange Danaus plexippus Monarch Danaus gilippus Queen Vanessa cardui Painted lady Thorybes pylades Northern Cloudywing Eleodes sp. Darkling Beetle Hydrophilidae Water Scavenging Beetles Gyrinidae Whirligig Beetles Gerridae Water Striders Pogonomyrmex sp. Harvester ant
CERTIFICATION OF SITE VISIT I, Charles Britt, hereby certify that from 31-August to 2-September-2014 I conducted a site visit along the proposed fiber optic line in Socorro County, NM, along SR107, NM1, I-25, and Sheep Canyon Road in order to inventory fauna and flora present at the location and assess habitat for potential occurrence of species of special status, based on habitat, for the Biological Assessment for Threatened and Endangered species and Flora and Fauna.
______2-November-2014__
Signature of Biological Assessor Date
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