PG&E Communication Tower Replacement on Plummer Peak Project - May 7, 2012 Biclogical *valuation filr Sensitive Botanical Species and Botany Report for the FG{ Cqmmunication Tower Replacement on Plummer Peak Proiect Lusetta Nelson Shasta-Trinity National Forest South Fork Management Unit May 7,2012 Purpose and Need The purpose ofthis biological evaluation (BE) is to review the proposed PGE Communication Tower Replacanent on Plummer Peak Project in sufficient detail to determine whether the proposed action would result in a trend toward Federal listing ofany Sensitive plant, lichens, or fungi species, as designated by the October 1, 2007 Region 5 Sensitive Species List or impacts to Survey and Manage species identified in the 2001 Survey and Manage Record of Decision. Proposed Action PGE has submitted a proposal to replace a 40 foot wooden pole used to attach their radio antennas with a 40 foot three sided metal tower with a foundation- This would be accomplished by amending their existing Communications Use Lease to reflect the new torver and 3 foot ' diameter microwave dish. They need to replace this wooden pole witl a metal tower because they are switching their radio system from wide band analog to narrow band frequencies and the wooden pole will not support the microwave dish. : Affected Environment The project area is close to the eastem soil boundary of the Rattlesnake Creek Terrane Subsection (M261Au) of the Klamath Mountain Ecological Section of Califomia (USDA, 1997). The project area is also within the Klamath Ranges as described by the Jepson Manual of Higher Plants of Califomia (Hickman, 1993). Habitat in the project area is mostly gravelly mountain top at 4412 feet elevation. Plummer Peak has been used as a developed lookout and utility site for many years and is moderately to heavily disturbed. Known site records were checked for Forest Sensitive botanical species on May 7, 2012 and there are three populations of Minuartia rosei within two air miles of the project area. There are also three populations of Califomia Lady's Slipper or Cypripedium.fasciculatum Iwo air miles south ofthe project area. C. fasciculatum would not occur in the project site because of the disturbed dry open conditions present on site. 1 PG&E Communication Tower Replacement on Plummer Peak Project - May 7, 2012 Based on presence of suitable habitat the following Sensitive botanical species that could potentially occur in the event area are: Peanut sandwort (Minuartia rosei) is a perennial herb that is native to and endemic to Califomia. It is listed as 4.2 G3, S3.2. There are 34 known populations on Shasta-Trinity National Forest, many of which having less than 100 plants. All populations with the exception ofone are limited to Rattlesnake Creek Terrain, an ecological subsection of Trinity and Tehama counties. This species is limited to yellow pine forest on serpentine, which does not recover well from disturbance. Three known populations ofPeanut sandwort (Minuartia rosei) occur.75 and 2 air miles from Plummer Peak lookout. Dubakefla Mountain buckwheat (Eriogonum libertini) is a perennial herb native to and endemic to Califomia alone. It is listed as 4.2 and G3, 53.2. It is found in openings in Jeffrey pine-incense cedar woodland or chaparral, always on ultramafic soils and at elevations between 2500 and 5500 feet. Known populations occur on the Rattlesnake Creek Terrane eco- province and the Chanchelulla Peaks of the southem Klamath Ranges. There are no known theats to this species. Shasta chaenactis (Chaenactis sufftutescens) is a pererurial herb endemic to Califomia alone. It is ranked 1B.3 and G3, S3.2 and is known only in the Klamath Ranges. It can grow on both serpentine and non-serpentine soils and is usually found in yellow pine woodlands. There are at least 16 documented populations, all found along gravelly terraces in riparian zones. Many of these populations have been affected by emergency flooding of the Trinity River and possibly from the filling of Trinity Lake. Known threats include gravel mining, bridge maintenance, dumping of waste, and active erosion on rocky slopes. Niles harmonia (Harmonia doris-nilesiae) is an annual herb native to Califomia. It is listed as 1B.1 and G2, S2.1.Tttere are 24 known populations in Califomia, most of which reside in Trinity County. It usually grows on serpentine soils in openings of chaparral or lower montane coniferous forests. Known threats include fuel breaks, logging, non-native plants, and road maintenance. There are no known sites in the project area. Stebbins' madiz (Harmonia stebbinsii) is an annual that is endemic and entirely restricted to the Rattlesnake Creek Tenane. It is found on shallow, rocky, ultramafic soils in sparsely vcgetated chaparral-woodland with less than 5% shrub and tree cover. It is ranked G2 S1.1 meani;rg there are 20 or fewer populations worldwide and less than 1000 individuals in the State of Califomia. There are 16 known populations on the Shasta-Trinity National Forest. There are no known populations in the project area. Canyon Creek stonecrop (Sedum paradisum) is a perennial, succulent herb native to and endemic to Califomia. It is ranked as 1B.3 and G1, S1.3. All known occurrences are on Shasta- Trinity National forest, with the largest population lying in the Trinity Alps Wildemess. Habitat is granite rock outcrops in chaparral, mixed evergreen, and sub-alpine forests. This sper;ies is provided some protection because of its occurrence on rock outcrops. Possible threats include rock quarry development. There are no known sites along or near the event areas. 2 PG&E Communication Tower Replacement on Plummer Peak Project - May 7, 2012 Serpentine goldenbush (Ericameria ophitidis) ls a perennial subshrub native to serpentine semi-barrens or openings in Jeffrey pine-incense cedar woodland. Its elevation range is 2600- 5600 feet. It is found in the Rattlesnake Creek Terrane (M261Au) & Chanchelulla Peaks of the southem Klamath Ranges. Its ranking is G3 S3.3. ImpactAnalysis Known site records were checked on May 7,2012by Forest Service botanist, Lusetta Nelson and there are no known sensitive botanical species in the project area. Field surveys were conducted on May 22,2003 and no sensitive botanical species were found. While there are three known populations of Califomia Lady's Slipper ( Cypripedium fasciculatum) populations that occur within two miles of the project area, Plummer Peak lookout is too open and dry to have suitable habitat. Peanut sandwort (Minuartia rosei) has two known populations .75 miles west of Plummer Peak and one other population just over two miles south of Plummer Peak. There is suitable habitat for this species along roadsides but there would be no impacts to this species since from the proposed actions to replace the pole. Determination Due to the lack of any Sensitive botanical species, it is my determination the PGE Communication Tower Replacernent Plummer Peak project would not affect any Sensitive botanical species. Extraordina!'y Circum$tances The project-level eflects analysis for the PGE Communication Tower Replacement Plummer Peak project evaluated the potential for extraordinary circumstances, as defined in NEPA (see FSH l909.15, Chapter 30). This analysis found that the potential effects ofthe proposed action on Sensitive plants, bryophytes, and fungi are minor or non-existent and the project would not result in any extraordinary circumstances relating to these species. Survey and Manage Forest wide standards and guidelines for Survey and Manage o1d grown associated species were revised in January 2001. The following species must be considered for all ground-disturbing activities within the range ofthe northem spotted owl as defined by the Northwest Forest Plan. Survey and Manage Species Category A&C Species 3 PG&E Communication Tower Replacement on Plummer Peak Project - May 7, 2012 Pti I idi um ca I i fo r ni c u m Pacific fuzzwort non-vascular/liverwort Tetraphis Reniculata non-vascular/moss Schistostegia pennata goblin's sold non-vascular/moss Cvpripedium montanum mountain lady's-slipper vascular plant Cy p rip e dium fas c i cu I a tum fascicled lady's-slipper vascular plant Bohychium minganense Mingan moonwort vascular plant Botrltchium montanum mountain moonwort vascular plant Buxbaumia viridis bug-on-a-stick non-vascular/moss Eucephalus vialis wayside aster vascular plant Field surveys to determine presence/absence must be done prior to project implementation for any ofthese species in which suitable habitat is present and there will be a signiJicant negative effect to habitat or persistence of any ofthese species at the proposed site. All species except Eucephalus vialis, Tetraphis geniculata urd Shistostegia pennata are currently also on the Regional Forester's Sensitive Species list and receive protections as Sensitive species. Although the 2001 ROD identifies potential habitat for Tetraphis geniculata, Shistostegia pennata, and, Eucephalus vialrs within the Califomia Klamath Province, both species are found in moister, coastal habitats than those found on the Shasta-Trinity National Forest. There is no suitable habitat for those species on the Shasta-Trin'ity National Forest. To date, there is no suitable habitat has been found for these species in the Shasta-Trinity National Forest. Both mosses, Tctraphis geniculata and Shistostegia pennata, occupy large, decomposed logs or large, moist root wads. Botrychium subg., Botrychium subg. sceptridium (moonworts), Cypripedium montanum (Mountain lady slipper), CypripediumJitsciculatum, Brownie lady's slipper, Ptilidium caliJbrnicum (Pacific fuzzwort) and Buxbaumia virudis (bug-on-a-stick) do not have suitable habitats within the proposed project areas. 201 I Category B Fungi Sur"vcy Rcquircmcnr Project level field surveys must be completed October 1 , 2010 and after for proposed actions that expect to result in ground disturbance within suitable old-growth habitat for 58 Category B Survey and Managc fungi species in 2001. Surveys must be completed to specified protocols.