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.
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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.
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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
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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.
Based on the absence ofolder conifer habitat in the proposed project areas, it is concluded that the proposed action would not affect any Survey and Manage fungi species.
Manage Known Sites Requirement
Category A through E species require known sites to be managed in order to provide for a reasonable assurance ofspecies persistence on the site. There are no known Category A-E Survey and Manage species within the proposed project area.
The proposed action complies with the 2001 Survey and Manage ROD.
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Noxious Plant Species
The Northem Province Noxious and Invasive Weeds Program Strategy (2001) directs laws, policy and management direction for land managers at the Shasta Trinity National Forest. Invasive and noxious weeds have the potential to threaten ecosystem integrity and degrade wildlife habitat by displacing and competitively excluding native species from local plant communities.
Forest Service Manual 2080; Noxious Weed Management directs that we determine the factors that favor the establishment and spread ofnoxious weeds, and design management practices or prescriptions to reduce risk of infestation and spread. Where funds or other resources do not permit undertaking all desired measures, the Forest Service staff are directed to address and schedule weed management efforts in the following order:
1. First Priority: Prevent the introduction of new invaders. 2. Second Priority: Conduct early treatment ofnew infestations. 3. Third Priority: Contain and control established infestation.
Known site records ofnoxious weed species were checked on May 7,2012 and no noxious weed populations were found.
il1ay tr-, 7ci?-
Date: Westside Shasta Trinity Forest Botanist
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Literature Cited and Refenenced
Califomia Natural Diversity Database (CNDDB). 201 1 . RareFind 3, Version 3.1 .0 (Aug 3, 201 1, update). Sacramento, CA: Califomia Department of Fish and Game.
Hickman, James C. Ed. 1993. The Jepson Manual of Higher Plants of Califomia. UC Press, Berkeley, CA.
Lym, Rodney G., Richard K. Zollinger, Nouth Dakota State University Agriculture Department. Spotted Knapweed. Iune 1992.(LrtF://www.ae.ndsu.edu/pubs/nlantsci/weeds/w842w.htm.) Accessed June 2011.
Nakamur4 G. and J.K. Nelson. 2001. Selected Rare Plants of Northem Califomia. University of Califomia Publication 3395.
RarePlants, lnventory of Rare and Endangered Plant Species. http://www.rareplants.cnos.orq. Accessed July 201 1. Califomia Native Plant Society.
USDA Forest Service. 1995. Forest Service Manual 2080. Noxious Weed Management.
USDA Forest Service. 2001. Record of Decision and Standards and Guidelines for Amendments to the Survey and Manage, Protection Buffer, and other Mitigation Measures, Standards and Guidelines.
USDA Forest Service. 2004b. h-orest Service Manual Series 2000 National Forest Resource Management Supplement No. 2000-2004-1 , Chapter 2080. Noxious weed management. Washington, DC.
USDA Forest Service. 201 1. Shasta Trinity National Forest Sensitive Botanical Species Database. Weaverville, CA
USDA Forest Service. 201 1. Shasta Trinity National Forest Threatened, Endangered, and Sensitive Species Database. Redding, CA
USDA, Forest Service and USDI, Bureau of Land Management. 2001 . Record of Decision and Standards and Guidelines for Amendments to the Survey and Manage, Protection Buffer and other Mitigation Measures Standards and Guidelines. January. Portland, OR.
Appendix 1. Sensitive and gndemic Botanical Species Habitat Suitability Pre-Field Checklist. Westside Botanical Sensitive & endemic plant species known or suspccted to occur on the west side of the Shasta-Trinity National Forest, including Big Bar, Hayfork, Weaverville, & Yotla
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Bolla Ranger Districts, 10/01/2007. Species eliminated from further consideration in this project BE are indicated and exolained in table.
Species Habitat & Rationale for Eliminatins From Potential for Consideration Presence in Proiect Area :P}irit5 i 'r - ', i:,r:: Anisocarpus scabrida Rocky, open subalpine slopes. 5500-7500 No (:Raillar d i ops is s c abrida) feet elev. North Coast Ranges & southem rough raillardella Cascades. Event area too low in elevation. G2G3 S2S3 Botrychium s\bg, B otryc h i unt Riparian edges in mid to high elevation No and subg Sceptridium (except forest. Fields, shrubby slopes, shady forests; B. multiJidum) riparian areas. 1000-6000 feet elev. Project moonwort, grapefem area too open and dry G3/G4IG5 S1/S2 Campanula wilkinsiana Stream banks &springs in red fir and No Wilkins' harebell subalpine forests; 5500-8600 feet elev. G252,2 Project area too low in elevation. C hae nactis s uffr u te sc e ns Rocky open slopes, cobbly riVer terraces; on Yes Shasta chaenactis ultramafic soils or glacial till w/ ultramafics G3 S3.2 included. 2600-6900 feet elev. E.astem Klamath Ran{:es of CA. Clarkia borealis ssp. borealis Foothill woodlands and forest margins. No northem clarkia 1300-2600 feet. Eastern Trinity,and W. G3T2 S2.3 Shasta Co. Out of geographic ranq6 Cyp r ip e cl i u m fas c i c u lut u m Mixed conifer or oak forests,on a,vadety of 1\O Brownie lady's slipper soil types, often but not a'lways associated G4 S3.2 with streams; 1300-6000 feet elev. Widespread but sporadic. Project area too disturbed and open Cypripedium montanum Mixed conifer or oak forests on a variety of No mountain lady's slipper soil types, often but not always associated G4 54 with streams; 1300-6000 feet elev. Widespread but sporadic. Event area too disturbed and open Draba carnosula High elevation ridges and summits on rocky No Mt. Eddy draba ultramafic soils. 6000 to 9000 feet. Projcct G2 52,2 area too low in elevation Epilobium oreganum Wet, gently sloping stream banks, meadows, No Oregon willow herb & bogs, generally on ultramafic soil. 500- G2 52.2 7800 feet elev. Klamath Ranges of CA & OR. No riparian habitat disturbed Eriastrum tracyi Dry gravelly to loamy soils on flats and No
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Tracy's rvoolly-stars benches; openings in closed cone pine forests G3 S3.2 or chaparal. 1000 to 4300 feet elev. North Coast Ranges. No closed cone pine forests or chaparral in proiect area. Eriogonum ursinum var. Rocky openings on open ridgelines in the No erabescens Klamath Range. 5300-6200 feet. Project blushing wild buckwheat area too low in elevation G3G4T2 S2.3 ErJthroniam citrinum Mixed conifer forest on ultramafic or granitic No var. ruderickii soils. 2900-4000 feet elev. Trinity & Scott Scott Mountain fawn lily Mountains. Out of geographic range G4T1 Sr.3 Frasera umpquaensis Cool, moist Douglas-fir/white fir forest No (:Swetia fastigiata) margins or openings. 5000-6000 feet elev. Umpqua green gentian South Fork Mountain, Trinity Co., & SW OR. Out of geographic range Harm onia d o r i s -n i le s i ae Rocky ultramafic ridge tops & slopes with Yes Niles'madia Jeffrey pine, gray pine, & shrubs. 2100-5500 G2 51.1 feet elev. Rattlesnake Creek Tenane (M261Au) of southem Klamath Ranges. Harmonia stebbinsii Rocky ultramafic semi-barrens with Jeffrey Yes Stebbins'madia pine, gray pine, & shrubs. 21 00-6000 feet G2 52,2 elev. Southem Klamath Ranges & Inner N Coast Ranses. Iliamna bakeri Chaparral, pine or mixed conifer/oak forest, No Baker's globe mallow juniper woodland; on rocky soil.3800-6800 G4 S3.2 li. elev. Scott Mtn., Cascades & Modoc Plateau. Out of geographic range Iliamna latibructeata Conifer forest and streamsides in the No California globe mallow Klamath Range. 1600 - 6600 feet. South G3 52,2 Fork Mountain. Out of geographic range Ivesia pickeringii Ephemeral drainages & seasonally wet grassy No Pickering's ivesia slopes in mixed conifer forest, on ultramafic G2 52.2 soils.2500-4500 feet elev. Scott Mountain & Trinity Mtns. Out of geographic range Leptosiphon nuttallii ssp" Jeffiey pine/incensc cedar forest, usually on No howellii (:l,i6nthus n. ssp, h.) ultramafic soil. 4000-5000 feet elev. Tedoc Mountain linanthus Localized around the base ofTedoc GsTl S1.2 Mountain, Tehama Co. Out of geographic range Minuurtia rosei Gravelly serpentine barrens & openings in Yes Peanut sandwort Jeffrey pine/mixcd conifer forest. 2500-5800 G3 S3.2 fect elev. Rattlesnake Creek Terrane (M261Au) of southem Klamath Ranges. Minuartia stolonifera Rocky slopes on ultramafic soils; montane No Soott Mountain sandwort mixed conifer fbrest. 4100-5300 feet elev.
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Gl St.3 Scott Mountain. Out of geographic range Montia howellii Vemally, wet sites, often on compacted soil. No Howell's montia Below 1500 feet. Coastal and Klamath G3G4 S1.2 Mountains. Event area too high in elevation Parnassia cirrata var. Wet areas, lake edges in ultramifc soils. No intermedia Below 9600 feet Klamath Rances. fringed grass-of-pamassus Riparian areas excluded
Penstemon Jiliformis Rocky openings in lower montane conifer No threadJeaf beardtongue forest on ultramafic soils. 2000-6000 feet G3 S3.3 elev- Trinity Mountains. Out of geographic range Phacelia greenei Gravelly serpentinized slopes & forest No Scott Valley phacelia openings. 5000-7000 feet elev. Scott G2 52.2 Mountain. Out of geographic range Raillardella pringlei Wet ultramafic meadows, seeps and No showy raillardella streambanks. Elev. 4000-7500 feet. Klamath G2 52.2 Ranqes Event area too low in elevation Sedum paradisum Rock outcrops in forest or woodland Yes Canyon Creek stonecrop openings. 960-6500 feet elev. Southern G4G5T1 Sl.2 Klamath Ranges of CA Smilax jamesii Shaded riparian habitat abov€ 2900'feet. No English Peak greenbriar Klamath & Cascade Ranges. Riparian G2G3 S2.3 areas excluded
Ericameria ophitidis Serpentine semi-barrens or openings in Jeffrey (: Haplopappus ophititl is) pine-incense cedar.woodland. 26Q0-5600 feet serpentine goldenbush elev. Rattlesnake Creek Terrane, (Iva261Au) & Chanchelulla Peaks of the southem Klamath G3 S3.3 Rances Eriogonum libertini Openings in Jeffrey pine-incense cedar Yes Dubakella Mountain buckwheat woodland or chaparral, always on ultramafic G3 S3.2 soils. 2500-5500 feet elev. Rattlesnake Creek Terrane (M261Au) & Chanchelulla Peaks of the southem Klamath Ranges Arnica venosa Mixed conifer or conifer/oak forest, No veiny amica especially on ridgetops & old road cuts. G3 S3.2 2000-5200 feet elev- Trinity & Shasta Cos. Out of geographic range
Buxbaumia viridis Large diamcter, advanced decay logs in No bug-on-a-stick (moss) riparian habitat in conifer forest. Low G3G4 ---- elevation to alpine. No coniferous forest with large downed decaying logs in riparian habitat prcsent
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Mielic h hofe ria e lo ngata Exposed soil or rock containing copper No copper moss minerals (in this area). Roadcuts. All G4?T4? elevations. No roadcuts in proiect area. Pti li diu m c al ifo r nic u m Large-diameter Douglas-fir or white fir, 3000 1\O Pacillc fuzz,i;vort to 5000 feet elev. No large-diameter G3G4 Douglas-fir or White Fir in project areas
Peltigera hydrothyria Rocks in cool water, perennial, mountain No aquatic lichen streams. No habitat present in event area G3G5 Sulcaria budia Coastally influenced, open white oak grassland No bay horsehair lichen or mature Douglas-oak forest with a black oak G3 S2S3.2 component, growing in tree canopy. Below 1800 feet in westem Trinity County. Habitat not coastallv influenced
Boletus pulcherrimus Mature or late-seral Douglas-fir forest with No red-pored bolete hardwoods No mature late-seral or old G2G3 52 growth forest present Cudonia monticols On spruce needle mats and coniferous debris in No perennially moist, shady late-seral forest. All G3 51 elevations No spruce presenl D en dro c o I ly bia r ac e n o s a Nutrient rich leaf mulch or decaying fungi in No branched collybia conifer forest; all elevations No late-seral G2G3 STS2 habitat prescnt P h ae o co I ly b ia o liv a c e a Mixed conifer forest containing oak or pine. No olive phaeocollybia All elevations. No late-seral habitat present G2 52 Sowerbyella rhenana Duff of moist. undisturbed. older conifer No orange-pcel fungus forest. All elevations. Roadsides too open G3G4 52 and sunny to support fungi
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