INTRODUCTION

The purpose of this biological evaluation is to determine whether implementation of the Twomile Restoration Projects will result in a trend toward Federal listing of any Sensitive species.

A Sensitive Plant is defined as a plant species "identified by a Regional Forester for which population viability is a concern, as evidenced by: "a. Significant current or predicted downward trends in population numbers or density." and "b. Significant current or predicted downward trends in habitat capability that would reduce a species' existing distribution."

The primary purposes of these projects are listed on pages 3 – 6 as well as a summary of the actions. For a more complete description of the proposed activities, refer to the environmental documents for each project.

The area of these projects was surveyed using the most recent sensitive plant list in 2007- 2009. There had been previous surveys in portions of the project area for other projects in 1995, 1999, and 2001 all with previous plant lists and some follow-up surveys in 2011. One occurrence of australis, seven occurrences of Cypripedium montanum, six occurrences of ssp. hutchisonii, and eleven occurrences of stebbinsii have been found in the analysis area. There is unsurveyed suitable habitat for tribracteatum, Clarkia australis, ssp. australis, Cypripedium montanum, Lewisia kelloggii ssp. hutchinsonii, and Lomatium stebbinsii. For a complete list of Forest Sensitive , refer to page 12. There are six different projects covered by this analysis as summarized on pages 3 - 6

CONSULTATIO N TO DATE A list of all Federally listed Threatened, Endangered or Proposed plant species which might occur on the Stanislaus National Forest was requested from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service website. As indicated by the latest database update on April 29, 2010, there are no known Federally Threatened or Endangered plants on the Stanislaus National Forest. There is one Candidate species, Pinus albicaulis (whitebark pine. There is no Pinus albicaulis known in the project area. This species will not be analyzed further in this document. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) list no longer includes Species of Concern.

CURRENT MANAGEMENT DIRECTION Management of Sensitive Plants on the Stanislaus National Forest is based on Forest Service policy set out in the Forest Service Manual (FSM 2670) and the Forest Service Handbook (FSH 2609.26), the Stanislaus National Forest “Forest Plan Direction,” which presents the current Forest Plan management direction, based on the original Forest Plan as modified through the Forest Plan appeals and amendment processes (USDA 1988).and, where applicable, Species Management Guides.

Page 2 It is the Secretary of Agriculture's policy to "avoid actions 'which may cause a species to become threatened or endangered.'" (FSM 2670.12). Further, it is a Forest Service objective to "maintain viable populations of all native ... plant species in habitats distributed throughout their geographic range on National Forest System lands" (FSM 2670.22). Forest Service policy set out in FSM 2670.32 is to "avoid or minimize impacts to [Sensitive] species whose viability has been identified as a concern." Further, where it is determined that impacts cannot be avoided, "the line officer with project approval authority, [may make] the decision to allow or disallow impact, but the decision must not result in loss of species viability or create significant trends toward Federal listing.” Under the Sierra Forest Plan Amendment (SNFPA), “conduct field surveys for threatened, endangered, proposed, and sensitive (TEPS) plant species early enough in the project planning process so that the project can be designed to conserve or enhance TEPS plants and their habitat. … If additional field surveys are conducted as part of project implementation, document the survey results in the project file (USDA Forest Service 2010).”

General direction for management of Sensitive Plants under the LRMP is to "provide for protection and habitat needs of sensitive plants, so that Forest activities will not jeopardize their continued existence." LRMP standards and guidelines advise to "modify planned projects to avoid or minimize adverse impacts to sensitive plants."

This project also falls within the Clavey River Watershed Assessment (CREP 2008). The desired condition for sensitive plants is that “threatened, endangered, and sensitive plant species are managed to improve population viability” with a measure that “populations of TES species are present, protected, and contributing to the maintenance of species viability.”

DESCRIPTION OF PROPOSED PROJECT Project Summaries This section summarizes each of the six Twomile Ecological Restoration projects. The intent of this section is to provide the reader with a brief overview of the analysis type and project number, purpose and need, and proposed action. Detailed descriptions of each project can be found in the individual environmental analysis documents. The projects are presented in the following order: (A) Vegetation Management, (B) Noxious Weed Control (Dyers Woad Eradication), (C) Great Grey Owl Habitat Improvement, (D) Meadow Restoration, (E) Soil Windrow Improvement, and (F) Motorized Trails.

Project A: Vegetation Management Analysis Type and Project Number Environmental Assessment - 30525

Purpose and Need The purpose of this project is to improve fire and fuels conditions, forest health and resiliency, and hardwood and wildlife habitat in a manner that provides socio-economic benefits. Forest stands have increased in density and experienced shifts in species composition from shade intolerant pine and hardwood species to shade tolerant conifer species. These changes in forest structure have altered the role of fire on the landscape, creating unsafe and ineffective fire management conditions, diminished

Page 3 forest health and integrity, and degraded old forest wildlife species habitat. The desired conditions are as follows: 1. Surface, ladder and crown fuel conditions that allow fire to function as a natural process. 2. Strategically placed fuel conditions that facilitate safe and effective fire management activities. 3. Stand densities necessary for healthy and resilient forests during drought conditions. 4. Stands with a greater component of pine and hardwood species. 5. Increased forest heterogeneity with improved hardwood and wildlife habitat components. 6. Cost-effective treatments that produce forest products. 7. Retention/improvement of meadow habitat.

Proposed Action (Alternative 1) Treatments would include varying combinations of thinning, biomass removal, shredding, prescribed fire and herbicides throughout 7,700 acres of the overall Twomile project area (i.e. in the vicinity of Hull Creek, Twomile Creek, Reed Creek and the Clavey River). Road reconstruction (26.0 miles) or maintenance (60.7 miles) would occur on roads, as needed, in support of treatment activities. Additional road management treatments would consist of temporary roads (1.8 miles), reopening then closing (3.0 miles), and reopening then gating (0.3 miles). No Action (Alternative 2) Non-Commercial Alternative (Alternative 3) Treatment units proposed would remain the same as the Proposed Action; however, in Alternative 3 those units proposed for commercial thinning would have only material necessary to meet fuels objectives removed. In general, this would result in a 12 inch maximum diameter limit for removal; however, in order to facilitate equipment access to treat the units effectively, there could be circumstances where larger than 12 inch trees would be removed.

Project B: Noxious Weed Control (Dyers Woad Eradication)

Analysis Type and Project Number Environmental Assessment - 34045

Purpose and Need The purpose of this project is to eradicate the only known infestation of dyers woad (Isatis tinctoria) on the Stanislaus National Forest as well as an infestation of perennial sweetpea (Lathyrus latifolia). The infestations are located on 10.3 acres of steep rocky soil near Reed Creek where they could potentially spread downstream into the Clavey and Tuolumne Rivers, and have persisted for more than a decade despite annual hand pulling. The desired condition is to contain or reduce, where possible, the spread of noxious weed infestations on National Forest System lands.

Proposed Action Hand pull and dig infestations of dyers woad and perennial sweetpea on 10.3 acres near Reed Creek. On approximately five of those acres, glyphosate would be used in addition to hand pulling and digging.

Project C: Great Gray Owl Habitat Improvement Analysis Type and Project Number Categorical Exclusion - 34047

Page 4 Purpose and Need The purpose of this project is to improve great gray owl breeding habitat near Fahey and Wolfin Meadows. Forested stands adjacent to these meadows lack adequate nesting structures, which is an important limiting factor for this species. The desired condition is to provide suitable breeding habitat to improve the viability of this Region 5 Forest Service sensitive and State Endangered species across its range in the central .

Proposed Action Create two to three nesting structures in forested stands adjacent to Fahey and Wolfin Meadows.

Project D: Meadow Restoration Analysis Type and Project Number Categorical Exclusion - 34043

Purpose and Need The purpose of this project is to improve the hydrologic function of the following meadows: Wolfin Meadow – Main, Wolfin Meadow – North, Upper Fahey Meadow – South, Lower Fahey Meadow, and the 2N55 Meadow. The existing conditions within these five meadows and their associated streams are eroded banks, headcuts, depressed water tables, encroaching conifers and brush, and poor non-native vegetative cover. The desired condition is improved hydrologic function in meadows to provide crucial wildlife habitat, flood attenuations, and improved water and watershed quality within the Clavey Watershed (a Forest Service designated critical Aquatic Refuge).

Proposed Action Treatments include stabilizing banks and headcuts, revegetation with native species, removal of encroaching brush and trees, and subsoiling compacted areas at the aforementioned meadows.

Project E: Soil Windrow Improvement Analysis Type and Project Number Categorical Exclusion - 34075

Purpose and Need The purpose of this project is to improve soil productivity in the old Wrights Creek Burn plantation. A substantial amount of topsoil is displaced into windrows on relatively thin volcanic soils, reducing soil nutrient availability. The desired condition is improved soil productivity in areas where vegetation is managed.

Proposed Action Push apart windrows to redistribute displaced topsoil on approximately 24 acres of volcanic soils at the old Wrights Creek Burn plantation west of Funks Meadow and adjacent to Forest Road 3N07.

Project F: Motorized Trails

Analysis Type and Project Number Categorical Exclusion - 33890

Purpose and Need The purpose of this project is to improve off-highway vehicle (OHV) recreational opportunities and traffic flow, while reducing potential impacts of OHV use to sensitive resources. The existing condition includes public use of NFTS routes located in sensitive areas and poorly located route intersections.

Page 5 The desired condition is a safe OHV trail system that avoids sensitive resources and minimizes conflicts with non-motorized recreation.

Proposed Action Close and restore unauthorized and rerouted trails; construct a combined use bypass trial along 3N01; reroute and bypass NFTS trail segments; install traffic control barriers; and, designate a rock barrier source. Work encompasses various areas in the vicinity of Hull Creek, Twomile Creek, and the Clavey River.

Sensitive Plant protection:

In order to reduce, minimize or alleviate possible adverse effects to Sensitive Plants, the following management requirements would be implemented with the activities of this project.

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Project A: Project A: Vegetation Vegetation Pr o j ect B: Project C: Project F: Great Gray Project D: Project E: Management Management Noxious Motorized Design Elements* Owl Meadow Soils Alternative 1 Alternative 3 Weed Trails Habitat Restoration Improvement - Proposed - Non- Control Management Improvement Action Commercial

1. Except as noted below, all known or newly discovered occurrences of Sensitive Plants will be protected from all X X X X X X project activities. Check with the botanist for locations before implementation.

2. Areas of suitable habitat that have not been surveyed will be treated as having sensitive plants unless surveys are done and no sensitive plants are found. Any surveys post decision will be documented in project record. (a map will be prov ided). X X 3. Ef fectively block or decommission all temporary roads, dozer lines, and hand lines that are created by this project between use (if near sensitive plants) and after project completion (e.g. recontour the first 200’ or until out of sight and cov er with slash). X X 4. Leav e islands of vegetation along the following sides of units where necessary to block access to lava caps: two areas between units T07 and T01F1. The leave islands will be f lagged with orange and white flagging. (See Map 1). X X 5. Equipment and vehicles are to stay on roads in lava cap areas and shall not leave the road to park unless the area has been approved in advance by the botanist. Do not “walk” tracked vehicles off the road on lava caps. X X 6. Do not drive on or park on sensitive plants or unsurveyed suitable habitat along routes 1N04, 2N06, 2N06B, 2N14, 2N31Y, 2N33Y, 2N55, 2N56, 3N01, 3N36, 3N48Y, 3N79, 3N83, 3N86, 17EV153, 17EV294, 17EV303, 21703C, 221703R, 21832C, and 31725H. Contact the botanist before working. X X X X X

7. Do not send concentrated water runoff to sensitive plants or unsurveyed suitable habitat along rout es 2N55, 3N36, 3N48Y, and 21703R, or space waterbars very closely X X

Project A: Project A: Vegetation Vegetation Pr o j ect B: Project C: Project F: Great Gray Project D: Project E: Management Management Noxious Motorized Design Elements* Owl Meadow Soils Alternative 1 Alternative 3 Weed Trails Habitat Restoration Improvement - Proposed - Non- Control Management Action Commercial Improvement 8. Keep equipment off of flagged sensitive plant occurrences in or near units D10, D13, D14, D15, D16, F11, F11-1, T01- F1, T04, T07, T11, T12, and T14-2, (known occurrences), D06, F14, T01-1, T14-1, T21-1 (unsurveyed suitable habitat- lav a caps, additional locations listed). If these areas are surv eyed at the appropriate time and no sensitive plants are f ound, the restrictions would be dropped for those areas. Known or newly discovered occurrences of Sensitive Plants are also to be avoided by foot traffic except where necessary to conduct work directly related to the Sensitive Plants. X X X 9. Do not pile slash on occurrences of sensitive plants, even temporarily. No more than 5% cover of shredding debris is allowed on lav a caps within first 20’ of lava cap edges. On lav a caps, beyond first 20’ from the edges, no more than 1% cov er of shredding debris is allowed. X X

10. When constructing hand lines through lava cap, avoid sensitive plants and unsurveyed suitable habitat and keep the line as close to the target vegetation as possible. Do not construct dozer lines through sensitive plants or unsurveyed suitable habitat (lines 9, 39, 40, 45, and 60; Bot any Map 2). X X 11. Check with botanist before approving any landings outside of sale units. X X

12. If any other transportation routes are used for this project outside of those in the shapefile provided for analysis or those that were listed as no action in that shapefile, and use is f or a vehicle that is wider than the existing use, check with the botanist before using. X X 13. Do not pile slash on wetlands or wet parts of meadows. X X X X

14. To av oid spreading weeds to lava caps that may not have them, do maintenance on 17EV303, 1, 17EV294, and 21703C before working in other areas, or clean equipment bef ore working in this area. X X

15. For f irelines 15-19, 56, and 59 in units T01-1, T04, and T07, minimize the amount of time they may be open and ef fectively close them soon after use. (Botany Map 2) X X

Page 8 Project A: Project A: Vegetation Vegetation Pr o j ect B: Project C: Project F: Great Gray Project D: Project E: Management Management Noxious Motorized Design Elements* Owl Meadow Soils Alternative 1 Alternative 3 Weed Trails Habitat Restoration Improvement - Proposed - Non- Control Management Action Commercial Improvement

16. Do not pile slash or make burn piles in the openings that hav e Clarkia australis in unit TH20-F. X X 17. Surv ey for Clarkia australis, C. biloba ssp. australis, and Cypripedium montanum bef ore working in the manual treatment area and protect any sensitive plants that are f ound. X

18. Av oid the areas of unsurveyed s uit able lava cap habit at on the south and west edges of the project unless they are surv eyed and no sensitive plants are found or are determined not to be suitable habitat by the district botanist. X 19. When closing and restoring 31831E, 31736A, and 17EV294, 21703U, 313736A, 31829H, only scatter debris on the trail. Do no other actions on the lava caps without consulting the botanist. X 20. Consult with botany on the location of the rock barrier along 3N01 and 3N48Y to minimize impacts to sensitive plants.

20a. Do not use materials from Clavey quarry or other material sources that have cheatgrass on rout es 2N06, 2N06B, 2N14, 2N31Y, 2N33Y, 2N55, 2N56, 3N36, 3N48Y, 3N79, 3N83, 3N86, 17EV153, 21703R, 21832C, and 31725H and especially 17EV303, 17EV294, and 21703C.. X X 21. Standard contract provisions for equipment cleaning will be applied to timber and construction activities. For all other activities, all equipment that leaves roads or works with soil must be free of soil, mud (wet or dried), seeds, vegetative matter or other debris that could contain seeds. Dust or very light dirt that would not contain weed seed is not a concern. This would prev ent new infestations of noxious weeds in the project area X X X X X X X

22. At the 2N55 meadow, either subsoil before the bull thistle sets seed or pull the bull thistle before it sets seed the year the subsoiling would occur. Also pull the bull thistle the f ollowing year. Either use the equipment last at this location, or clean it f ollowing use before moving to a different meadow. X

Page 9 Project A: Project A: Vegetation Vegetation Pr o j ect B: Project C: Project F: Great Gray Project D: Project E: Management Management Noxious Motorized Design Elements* Owl Meadow Soils Alternative 1 Alternative 3 Weed Trails Habitat Restoration Improvement - Proposed - Non- Control Management Action Commercial Improvement 23. If possible, hand pull the starthistle at the materials storage area when treating the other weeds. X 24. Do not develop the spring off of 1N04 unless a botanist determines that there is no dyer’s woad at that location. X X

X = indicates the design element applies to that project and/or alternative

Page 10 Monitoring. The objective of monitoring Sensitive Plant occurrences is to ensure that the project design, including the management requirements of the EA, is sufficient to protect these resources.

1. Monitoring should take place during project activities and directly after project activities culminate near Sensitive Plants to ensure that protective measures are sufficient.

2. Monitoring of impacted occurrences should take place yearly for five years to determine whether or not the occurrences are still extant (have not been extirpated) and to determine whether impacts will have lasting adverse effects.

EXISTING ENVIRONMENT

The project area extends from 3,500’ to 6,200’ in elevation and covers of wide range of habitats. The area that I will consider in this analysis is slightly larger than the project area because it encompasses the full extent of lava caps that are on the border of the project. Granitic soils are the most common. The northwestern portion of the project has three volcanic ridges that often have openings referred to as lava caps (or lahars) on the ridgelines and scattered on the slopes. These openings are suitable habitat for four sensitive plant species: , Lewisia kelloggii ssp. hutchisonii, Lomatium stebbinsii, and Mimulus pulchellus. The main ridges in the project run northeast to southwest. Along the southwestern edge of the project there are soils derived from metasedimentary rocks. .

Mixed conifer forest is the dominant vegetation type, primarily with Ponderosa pine, however there are areas with white fir at the northern end and some with Douglas-fir on the north facing slopes. There are other vegetation types including moist meadows. The meadows are suitable habitat for five species of sensitive plants: Botrychium ascendens, B. crenulatum, B. minganense, B. montanum, and Meesia triquetra. The Clavey River, Hull and Twomile Creeks are the primary drainages in the project area.

About 5,475 acres of the analysis area were affected by the Wrights fire in 1960. Much of that area was treated heavily with soil movement that created windrows, herbicides, and plantations.

Sensitive Plant Review

Of the forty one Sensitive Plant species on the Regional Forester's list for the Stanislaus National Forest (Table 1), known occurrences and/or unsurveyed suitable habitat for seven species are present in or adjacent to project units. These are Allium tribracteatum, Clarkia australis, Clarkia biloba ssp. australis, Cypripedium montanum, Lewisia kelloggii ssp. hutchinsonii, Lomatium stebbinsii, and Mimulus pulchellus in areas that would be affected by the projects. The analysis area is well outside the known range of Allium jepsonii, , Calochortus clavatus var. avius, ,

Table 1. Sensitive Plant species of the Stanislaus National Forest.

Allium jepsonii Jepson's Allium tribracteatum three bracted onion Allium yosemitense Yosemite onion Arctostaphylos nissenana Nissenan manzanita Balsamorhiza macrolepis var. macrolepis big-scale balsamroot Botrychium ascendens upswept moonwort Botrychium crenulatum scalloped moonwort Botrychium lunaria common moonwort Botrychium minganense Mingan moonwort Botrychium montanum western goblin Bruchia bolanderi Bolander’s bruchia Calochortus clavatus var. avius Pleasant Valley mariposa lily Clarkia australis Small's southern clarkia Clarkia biloba ssp. australis Mariposa clarkia Clarkia lingulata Merced clarkia Cypripedium montanum mountain ladyslipper Draba asterophora var. asterophora Tahoe draba Epilobium howellii subalpine fireweed Eriophyllum congdonii Congdon's woolly sunflower Eriophyllum nubigenum Yosemite woolly sunflower Erythronium taylori Taylor's fawn lily Erythronium tuolumnense Tuolumne fawn lily Fissidens aphelotaxipholius brook pocket moss Helodium blandowii Blandow’s bog moss Horkelia parryi Parry's horkelia Hulsea brevifolia short-leaved hulsea Hydrothyria venosa veiny aquatic lichen, waterfan Iris hartwegii ssp. columbiana Tuolumne iris Congdon's Yosemite lewisia Lewisia kelloggii ssp.hutchisonii Hutchinson’s lewisia Lewisia kelloggii ssp. kelloggii Kellogg’s lewisia Lomatium stebbinsii Stebbin’s lomatium Lupinus gracilentus slender lupine Meesia triquetra three-ranked hump-moss Meesia uliginosa broad-nerved hump-moss Mielichhoferia elongata elongate copper-moss Mimulus filicaulis Hetch-Hetchy monkeyflower Mimulus gracilipes slender-stalked monkeyflower Mimulus pulchellus pansy monkeyflower Pinus albicaulis whitebark pine

Page 12 Species Account and Habitat Status

The following paragraphs describe the Sensitive Plant species, which occur or might occur in this project and their State and Federal statuses. Additionally, the suitable habitat is described for these Sensitive Plants. Suitable habitat for any species can be defined as the surroundings, substrate and environmental factors which allow that species to successfully grow and reproduce. Table 2 summarizes the statuses and rankings of each species.

Species Calif. Fish & Game CNPS State Forest Service Rank (vulnerability)* Allium tribracteatum Special Plant 1B.2 S2.2 Sensitive CA (moderate) Special Plant 1B.2 S2.2 Sensitive Clark ia australis CA (low) Clarkia biloba ssp. Special Plant 1B.2 S2.2 Sensitive australis CA (low) Cypripedium Special Plant 4.2 S4.2 Sensitive montanum (high) Lewisia k elloggii ssp. 3.3 S2S3.3 Sensitive hutchisonii CA Special Plant 1B.1 S3.1 Sensitive(moderate) Lomatium stebbinsii CA Special Plant 1B.2 S2S3.2 Sensitive(moderate) Mimulus pulchellus CA NOTES: California Department of Fish and Game Special Plant = inventoried by F & G, but no status as a state- listed Rare, Threatened, of Endangered species (California Department of Fish and Game, 2001); CNPS = California Native Plant Society. CNPS list codes: LIST 1B: Rare, threatened, or endangered in California and elsewhere. LIST 2: Rare, threatened, or endangered in California, but more common elsewhere. List 3. Plants About Which We Need More Information LIST 4: Limited distribution (Watch List) For State and CNPS ratings: .1 =very threatened .2 = threatened .3 = no current threat is known CA California endemic State rating codes: S1 = Less than 6 Eos OR less than 1,000 individuals OR less than 2,000 acres S2 = 6-20 EOs OR 1,000-3,000 individuals OR 2,000-10,000 acres S3 = 21-80 EOs OR 3,000-10,000 individuals OR 10,000-50,000 acres S4= Apparently secure within California; this rank is clearly lower than S3 but factors exist to cause some concern; i.e. there is some threat, or somewhat narrow habitat. NO THREAT RANK.

Page 13 Table 3. Stanislaus National Forest Sensitive Plants: Elevation, Habitat and Geographic Range

Species Elevation Known or Suspected Ranger Districts, Habitat Type Geographic Range Allium tribracteatum 4,000-6,500' Mi-Wok, Summit, Calaveras. Volcanic ridges between Stanislaus & Mokelumne Rivers Clarkia australis 3,000-6,000' Groveland, Mi-Wok. Ponderosa pine/bear clover, oak/manzanita, east of Clavey River, and between Tuolumne & Merced Rivers Clarkia biloba ssp. 1,500-5,000' Groveland, Mi-Wok. Mostly open sites australis in , ponderosa pine, oak habitats from Table Mtn. south to city of Mariposa, esp. Merced River Canyon. Cypripedium montanum 3,500-6,500' Calaveras, Groveland, Mi-Wok, Summit. Deep, loamy soils with heavy duff layer, under dense canopy, douglas fir, fir/pine. Little or no recent disturbance. Lomatium stebbinsii 3,500-7,000' Calaveras, Mi-Wok, Summit,. Volcanic ridges between Mokelumne & Tuolumne Rivers Mimulus pulchellus 3,000-5,500' Groveland, Mi-Wok, Calaveras, Summit. Meadows, seeps, vernally wet sites. Volcanic and Granitic substrates. Yellow pine forest.

Eriophyllum congdonii, E. nubigenum, Erythronium taylori, Horkelia parryi, Iris hartwegii ssp. columbiana, Lewisia congdonii, L. disepala, and M. gracilipes. It is out of the elevation range for Arctostaphylos nissenana, Draba asterophora var. asterophora, Helodium blandowii, Lupinus gracilentus, Meesia uliginosa and Mielichhoferia elongata. There is no suitable habitat for Hulsea brevifolia and Lewisia kelloggii ssp. kelloggii. There is no suitable habitat within the elevation range for Arctostaphylos nissenana, Botrychium ascendens, B. crenulatum, B. lunaria, B. minganense, B. montanum, Epilobium howellii, and Horkelia parryi. All suitable habitat for Balsamorhiza macrolepis var. macrolepis, Bruchia bolanderi, Erythronium tuolumnense, Fissidens aphelotaxifolius, Hydrothyria venosa, and Meesia triquetra in units has been surveyed and no occurrences were found.

Past Surveys. Portions of the area have been surveyed for the Wolfin Multi-product sale in 1995, the SOS, New Hunt, and Great Hunt reforestation projects (1999), some units of a pre- commercial thinning project in 2001, and for Phase 2 in 2007 on the ridge shared by the two projects. There were surveys for weeds as part of the Clavey River Ecosystem Project in 2005.

Page 14 All of these surveys except Phase 2 were prior to the most recent sensitive plant list change and some were done prior to the list change in 1999.

Surveys for this project were done in 2007, 2008, and 2009 for Balsamorhiza macrolepis var. macrolepis, Bruchia bolanderi, Clarkia australis, Clarkia biloba ssp. australis, Cypripedium montanum, Epilobium howellii, Erythronium tuolumnense, Fissidens aphelotaxifolius, Hydrothyria venosa, Lewisia kelloggii ssp. hutchisonii, Lomatium stebbinsii, and Mimulus pulchellus. Due to the large distance from major plowed roads, it has not been possible to reach many of the areas of suitable habitat for Lomatium stebbinsii and Allium tribracteatum in time to survey. Six new occurrences of Cypripedium montanum, six occurrences of Lewisia kelloggii ssp. hutchisonii, and eight occurrences of Lomatium stebbinsii were found during the surveys. No other sensitive plants were found. Additional occurrences of Cypripedium montanum and Lomatium stebbinsii were known before the project surveys began. Follow-up surveys were done in 2011 for areas that were missed in previous surveys. There is unsurveyed suitable habitat for Allium tribracteatum, Clarkia australis, Clarkia biloba ssp. australis, Cypripedium montanum, Lewisia kelloggii ssp. hutchisonii, Lomatium stebbinsii, and Mimulus pulchellus. These will be covered in this analysis.

Species accounts

Allium tribracteatum

Allium tribracteatum (the three-bracted onion) is a perennial herb in the Lily family, Liliaceae. Torrey first described Allium tribracteatum in 1857. It is part of a complex of endemic to California with their distribution centering in the Sierra Nevada. The and key characteristics of the Allium tribracteatum complex were examined and revised by Mortola and McNeal in 1985. Until then two-leaved plants of Allium obtusum were often confused with A tribracteatum. This new taxonomic understanding may not have been widely disseminated until the publication of the Jepson Manual in 1993 (Hickman, 1993). Allium tribracteatum is distributed in Tuolumne County, California scattered on volcanic slopes and ridges (Mortola and McNeal, 1985). There is also at least one occurrence in Calaveras County.

Allium tribracteatum grows on gravely lahar (volcanic mud flow) soils, often referred to as "lava caps." The sites are usually open with no overstory. In some instances, brush species such as manzanita (Arctostaphylos sp.) may be present. While there are not usually commercial conifer species growing on these sites, there are sometimes stands of trees nearby. Allium tribracteatum usually grows on the thin volcanic soils near the tops of ridges where there is little competition. Due to the low moisture availability, A. tribracteatum usually reproduces from seed rather than from offsets. The elevation range for this species is 4,000' to 6,500'. It blooms March to May.

There are approximately 33 known occurrences of Allium tribracteatum on the Stanislaus National Forest. Most are on the Mi-Wok Ranger District. The known populations of Allium tribracteatum range in size from 5 individuals to more than 10,000. An occurrence has been confirmed from Yosemite. There are no known occurrences in the project area. There is unsurveyed suitable habitat.

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Clarkia australis Clarkia australis (Small's southern clarkia) is an annual herb in the Evening Primrose family, . It reproduces by seed. Seedlings of C. australis can be found in the fall, after about two or more inches of rain. The appropriate identification period for C. australis is about late June through mid-August, depending on elevation and weather conditions. Seed is usually ready for dispersal within one and one-half months from onset of blooming. By the time seed is ready for dispersal, the plant has dropped its leaves and, for the most part, has died.

Clarkia australis is usually found on slopes with a south, southwest or southeast aspect. It grows in openings in ponderosa pine and mixed-conifer stands often in association with bear clover. Bear clover does not out-compete C. australis, probably because of the deep root system of bear clover compared to the very shallow roots of clarkia. Clarkia australis does not grow well with weedy annuals like grass, which out-compete it for moisture. It has not been found growing under dense stands of manzanita (Arctostaphylos sp.). It will grow on a site where manzanita is present in small numbers and in open areas within manzanita stands. Clarkia australis prefers to grow in open sun or lightly filtered light conditions. Soil types and depths do not appear to be limiting. When not associated with bear clover, the species is usually observed growing in bare mineral soil or with a very light layer of leaf litter. Clarkia australis occurs between 2,500 and 6,000 feet in elevation.

Based on populations that have been tested and the foraging range of pollinators, there are about 250 occurrences of Clarkia australis within four fairly distinct, extended populations on the Groveland Ranger District. Testing has not been done on the Mi-Wok Ranger District, so C. australis can only be considered a tentative identification and is based on a geographical range. Occurrences of Clarkia australis range in size from one individual to thousands of individuals. As an annual, number of individuals in an occurrence can vary widely from year to year due to weather and site conditions. There is one occurrences that will be treated as Clarkia australis for this analysis based on the best understanding of its range.

Clarkia biloba ssp. australis Clarkia biloba ssp. australis (Mariposa clarkia) is an annual herb in the evening primrose family, Onagraceae. It reproduces by seed. Like C. australis, C. biloba ssp. australis germinates in the fall after two or more inches of rain and it dies after setting seed. The appropriate identification period for this species is mid-spring, approximately the month of June. The more common look-alike, Clarkia biloba ssp. biloba can intergrade with C. b. ssp. australis.

Clarkia biloba ssp. australis is most often found on north, northeast or northwest-facing slopes, usually under light shade. It is occasionally found on southwest or southeast-facing slopes. It is also sometimes found in direct sunlight. C. biloba ssp. australis tends to prefer "disturbed" sites - sites with little or no competition from more aggressive weedy species. In the natural setting, fire in the frequent-fire regime would be the disturbance agent.

Page 16

Clarkia biloba ssp. australis was described in 1955 by Harlan and Margaret Lewis from specimens found in the Merced River Canyon. According to Lewis, Clarkia biloba ssp. australis originated within the Merced River Canyon. He asserts that any specimens found outside the Merced River Canyon are intergrades between the more common Clarkia biloba ssp. biloba and C. biloba ssp. australis (pers. comm. with J. Haas, June 15, 1996). However, since these occurrences fit the description of the species and represent specimens which contribute to an evolving genome, they are to be managed as Clarkia biloba ssp. australis (Jim Shevock, Regional Botanist, pers. comm. with J. Haas, July 2, 1996).

Clarkia biloba ssp. australis has limited occurrences in Mariposa and Tuolumne Counties. There are about 49 known occurrences of Clarkia biloba ssp. australis in existence. Of these, sixteen are known from the Merced River Canyon and its tributary canyons. Thirteen of these occur on lands managed by the Sierra National Forest and/or the Bureau of Land Management. Three are on land of unknown management or ownership.

Outside the Merced River Canyon and its tributaries, there are twelve known occurrences which match the description of Clarkia biloba ssp. australis. According to Lewis, these are "intergrades" between C. biloba ssp. australis and C. biloba ssp. biloba. Twenty-seven of these occurrences are on the Stanislaus National Forest, on the Groveland and Mi-Wok Ranger Districts. Two occurrences have been identified along Highway 120 right-of-way within the Groveland Ranger District. One occurrence is on private land in the Long Gulch area. One is on private land in the Greeley Hill area. The northernmost occurrence was identified along in the Deer Creek drainage. There are two occurrences south of the Merced River: one on private land and one on land of unknown management or ownership.

The more common look-alike, Clarkia biloba ssp. biloba, is difficult to distinguish from C. biloba ssp. australis. Measurements on the petals area used to make the distinction. Although there may be a color difference as well, it has not been standardized to make it easy to use. Thse petal charateristics have been variable. During the past three years some populations that were classified as C. biloba ssp. biloba in previous years, had petals that keyed to C. biloba ssp. australis (J. Haas, personal communication). This change in petal characteristics raises the question of taxonomic identity of those plants that are identified as Clarkia biloba ssp. australis this year and whether petal characteristics are affected by weather or some other environmental factor. Since we are unable to differentiate the two subspecies completely this year, populations that fit the description of Clarkia biloba ssp. australis will be treated as the sensitive species as a means to protect all that may be the sensitive subspecies. There are no known occurrences in the project area. There is unsurveyed suitable habitat..

Page 17 Cypripedium montanum

Cypripedium montanum (mountain ladyslipper orchid) is a perennial herb in the orchid family, Orchidaceae. It arises in early spring from shallow rhizomes and dies back by late summer. The appropriate identification period for this species is mid-spring, approximately mid-May to early June.

Cypripedium montanum inhabits sites, which are relatively undisturbed with a dense overstory, usually of Douglas fir or white fir. These sites are typically west or north-facing with fairly damp, deep loamy soils and a well developed duff layer. Cypripedium montanum requires a mycorrhizal fungi relationship for at least five years from germination. Mechanical disturbance to the rhizomes is usually fatal. Cypripedium montanum will sometimes survive a low-intensity fire in which most of the duff layer is left intact. However, it usually does not survive a fire of an intensity in which the duff layer is consumed (pers. comm. D. Knecht, with J. Haas, February 13, 1997). It has survived two local fires that were low-intensity in the area where it was growing.

Cypripedium montanum has a wide range but is rare within its range. It ranges from the central Sierra Nevada and central Coast Ranges in California, north into . It also occurs in and . In California, there are less than 110 occurrences on the National Forests. In the Central Sierra Nevada, there are about 33 occurrences between the Plumas, Stanislaus and Sierra National Forests and . There are seven occurrences in the project on both ranger districts. This is the largest area of occurrence on the Mi-Wok Ranger District.

Lewisia kelloggii ssp. hutchisonii L. k. spp. hutchisonii is known from 17 occurrences on four National Forests in California. One occurrence is known from the Lassen NF, four on the Plumas NF, six on the Tahoe and eight on the Eldorado. One occurrence on the Eldorado has been reported to be larger than 2,000 plants, but most other occurrences range in number from 50 to 250 plants. One occurrence on the Plumas has four or less individuals. This plant is endemic to Butte, Sierra, Plumas, Nevada, El Dorado, Amador, Calaveras, and Tuolumne Counties in California. Site elevations range between 5,100-7,000 feet although not all reports included this information. The largest occurrence on the Eldorado (2,000 plus) is one of the most southern sites.

It is restricted to a specialized habitat usually on ridgetops or relatively flat open areas with widely spaced trees in partial to full sun. Most soils are reported to be sandy granitic to erosive volcanic with granitic boulders. Plants are often visible during June and July and then seem to dry up and disappear later in the summer. There are six occurrences in the project area. There are many areas of unsurveyed suitable habitat.

Lomatium stebbinsii Lomatium stebbinsii (Stebbin's lomatium) is a perennial herb in the carrot family, . It emerges from the underground tuber and blooms soon after snowmelt. This can initiate as

Page 18 early as January and may continue into late May depending on the spring snowfall. Soon after seed dispersal the aboveground portions of the plant have dried and blown away.

G. Ledyard Stebbins discovered Lomatium stebbinsii in 1971. In June of 1971 he examined specimens and described the type locality as, "specimens scattered over the thin-soiled, almost bare ground in volcanics (mud-flow breccia) northwest of Bald Mountain near Highway 108 at 5,600ft. (Schlessman and Constance. 1979).

Lomatium stebbinsii grows on ridgetops and slopes in lahar soils (volcanic mud flow formations). These soils are high in clay content and are generally rocky. Soils are usually fairly shallow. It is often found growing with Allium tribracteatum. The elevation range for this species is 3,500' to 7,000'. It blooms March to April.

There are approximately 90 known occurrences of Lomatium stebbinsii on the Stanislaus National Forest. All except six of the known occurrences exist on the Mi-Wok Ranger District, the other occurrences are known from the Calaveras and Summit Ranger Districts. The known populations of Lomatium stebbinsii range in size from 75 individuals to approximately 10,000. There are 11 occurrences of L. stebbinsii in the project area. Some are very extensive. There are many areas of unsurveyed suitable habitat.

Mimulus pulchellus

Mimulus pulchellus (the pansy monkeyflower) is an annual herb in the Figwort family, Scrophulariaceae. The times for germination and identification are also the same as for Mimulus filicaulis. Mimulus pulchellus grows in vernally wet to moist sites which are usually flat or with a slight slope. The elevational range for this species is 3,000 to 5,000 feet.

Mimulus pulchellus occurs in Calaveras, Mariposa and Tuolumne Counties in the Stanislaus National Forest, Yosemite National Park and near the town of Mariposa, not far from the Sierra National Forest. It occurs in the Chowchilla River watershed (near Mariposa), and the Merced, Stanislaus and Tuolumne River watersheds. In the Stanislaus National Forest, there are five known occurrences on the Calaveras Ranger District, fifteen known occurrences on the Groveland Ranger District, and sixteen known occurrences on the Mi-Wok Ranger District. There are no known occurrences in the project area. This species has been missed in the past in surveys and is included here because it cannot be completely ruled out.

Page 19 EFFECTS OF THE PROPOSED PROJECT

General Discussion Table 4. Growing seasons and appropriate identification periods for the Sensitive Plants, which occur or might occur within the analysis area. The dormant or non-growing seasons are the opposite of the growing seasons. All dates are approximate, varying with elevation, weather and site conditions.

Species Growing Season I.D. Period Allium tribracteatum Feb 15 – May 15 March 15 – May 15 Clark ia australis Nov. 15 - Aug. 15 June 15 - Aug. 15 Clarkia biloba ssp. australis Nov. 15 - July 31 May 15 - July 15 Cypripedium montanum April 15 - June 30 May 1 - June 30 Lewisia k elloggii ssp. hutchisonii March-July May-June Lomatium stebbinsii Jan. 15 – May 30 March 1 – May 15 Mimulus pulchellus March 1 - June 15 April 1 - June 1 Sources: Munz and Keck (1968), CNPS, and observations by Jennie Haas, Margaret Willits, Phyllis Ashmead, Mike Taylor and other Forest Service and BLM botanists who work where these plants grow.

The analysis area for this analysis is the project area expanded slightly to include the lava caps that are partially in the project area. There is one ridge where this project borders on the Phase II project area. Unsurveyed suitable habitat has only been determined within and adjacent to the project units and does not represent all of the unsurveyed suitable habitat in the project area.

Some of the weeds present in the project area may affect sensitive plants. Those weeds that are state-listed will be treated in the weed risk assessment. Those that are not state-listed and may affect sensitive plants will be addressed in this document.

General Effects Clarkia australis and Erythronium tuolumnense appear to respond positively to fire. Fire increases moisture, nutrients, and sunlight and can cause short-term expansions in the populations. It also creates a more continuous habitat for these species and their pollinators that could allow for more genetic exchange than is possible at other times. To the extent that this project may create similar conditions, it may also provide this beneficial effect. This same opening can create conditions for weeds to spread, particularly in the areas where the grow.

Cumulative Effects Of the projects in the past ten years that have occurred in the analysis area, only the Wrights timber sale and burn and the 3N01 hazard Tree and Salvage Timber sale took place near sensitive plants. They occurred near lava caps and will be addressed when those species are addressed. Although Travel Management is in the implementation stage, the maps were just issued this year and so the effects of the changes to off-highway vehicle traffic are not fully known. These effects will be considered as future effects for this analysis. None of the past timber harvests on private ground had notable area within the analysis area used here.

Page 20 Present and foreseeable future projects that could affect sensitive plants and the species or habitat impacted include the Phase II roads (lava caps), the Hulls Meadow project (meadow species and lava cap), the Mountain ladyslipper (Cypripedium montanum) Restoration Project (Cypripedium montanum) , a meadow restoration project (Meesia triquetra), and the THP 87 which includes lava cap. The Travel Management Project also affects lava cap and meadows within this analysis area.

PROJECT A: Vegetation Management There is no unsurveyed suitable habitat or known occurrences of Clarkia biloba ssp. australis in this project, so it will not be addressed in this analysis.

ALTERNATIVES 1 Proposed Action and Alternative 3 Non-commercial The differences between the action alternatives (Alternatives 1 and 3) are unlikely to make much difference in effects to sensitive plants. For that reason these two action alternatives will be considered together in the analysis. The analysis will also group species together that usually occur together or grow in similar habitat.

There are no known sensitive plants or unsurveyed suitable habitat in any of the areas where herbicide would be applied in this project.

Allium tribracteatum, Lewisia kelloggii ssp. hutchisonii, and Lomatium stebbinsii Direct and Indirect Effects All three of these species grow on open volcanic ashflows or lahars that are commonly referred to as lavacaps. Due to the open nature of this habitat, it has been impacted by vehicles leaving the road, camping, garbage dumping, and use for timber landings and helispots. The thin volcanic soils are also very vulnerable to erosion if a concentrated flow of water passes over them. It was not possible to survey all of the suitable habitat for these species because they bloom so early and the locations are far from plowed roads. The habitat is easy to define and can be avoided. Any unsurveyed suitable habitat will be assumed to have these species present and will be accorded the same protections.

There are 11 occurrences of Lomatium stebbinsii, six occurrences of Lewisia kelloggii ssp. kelloggii, and no occurrences of Allium tribracteatum known in the project area. Occurrences are composed of all populations within ¼ mile of each other. There are an additional 71 areas of unsurveyed suitable habitat for Allium tribracteatum and Lomatium stebbinsii in or near units. A smaller subset of these are also suitable habitat for Lewisia kelloggii ssp. hutchisonii, which grows only on fairly level ground.

The direct and indirect effects to these species have been minimized by incorporating measures to keep vehicles and slash off of them both in logging and in shredding. There is also a measure to prevent erosion by care in the placement of waterbars where road work is planned up slope from the occurrences. In addition, since fire can increase the amount of cheatgrass on this habitat, fire lines would be cut on the edge of it, to minimize burning through most of it.

Page 21 There are seven segments of nonsystem road and trail that would be converted to system roads in the action alternatives. One of these, 17EV294 goes by access to unsurveyed suitable lava cap and then would dead end. It is less than ½ mile. It was a motorized trail before this action and it went to an intermittent stream. With this change, it is possible that it would not receive much use. Another possibility is that routes might be pioneered through the open habitat to reach another trail that would be maintained under this project on the far side of the opening. Another possibility would be the creation of a dispersed campsite on the lava cap. Impacts to Lomatium stebbinsii, and possibly Allium tribracteatum, could occur from converting this trail to a system road. These indirect effects could affect up to 1/3 of the best habitat in this opening.

An additional concern is the movement of motor vehicles after the project when the vegetation has been opened up. Unlike the areas closer to main highways, this project area has four ridge areas with lava caps that do not have existing roads and trail on them. These are of concern because activities in the project could lead to increased vehicle use as the land is opened. Two of these areas are outside of all proposed activities. For one of the areas in the units, buffers have been flagged for protection that would help to block vehicle access and view of the opening. For the other area, which has three small ridges running through it, two of these would be blocked from the bottom in a different project in this restoration effort. That action cannot be assumed to go forward as part of this analysis, but will be considered in the cumulative effects. In terms of impacts, this is one area where Alternative 3 would have a lower risk of impacts than alternative 1 because more trees would be left, blocking access.

A final concern is the spread of cheatgrass in areas of habitat. Cheatgrass can grow at some of the soil depth range of Lomatium stebbinsii and Lewisia kelloggii ssp. hutchisonii. It may compete for water. It may also allow fire to carry over habitat that previously did not have continuous fine fuels. For these reasons, measures have been incorporated to minimize the spread of cheatgrass in these habitats.

Although the impacts that are most likely to occur have been minimized by measures incorporated into this project, there may be some impacts due to flagging not being seen or other problems. For this reason, some effects would take place to these sensitive plant species.

Cumulative effects Of the projects that have occurred within the analysis area, only two were near sensitive plants. The Wrights burn had one occurrence of Lewisia kelloggii ssp. hutchisonii in an area of jackpot burning. This was before it was on the sensitive plant list. One occurrence of Lomatium stebbinsii was also in the area of burning. Both are still extant. The 3N01 Hazard Tree and Salvage Timber sale had one occurrence each of Lomatium stebbinsii and Lewisia kelloggii ssp. kelloggii in the project area that are still extant. A private landowner has been operating equipment and moving soil in an occurrence of Lomatium stebbinsii within the analysis boundary. This activity has affected about one quarter to that area and about one tenth of the area of the total occurrence. Some of the impacts are more minor so not all of that may have been completely eliminated.

Page 22 In terms of potential future effects, in Phase II one motorized trail through an unsurveyed lava cap has been added to the system. The THP 87 includes a lava cap with no exclusion and there is Lomatium stebbinsii on another lava cap nearby on Forest Service land. Motorized Travel Management is being implemented and has designated trail one trail in the project area that goes very near to a small occurrence of Lewisia kelloggii ssp. hutchisonii. It has not designated four other trails or non-system roads that go through seven areas of unsurveyed suitable habitat for Lomatium stebbinsii and Allium tribracteatum. In relation to the number of known occurrences of these species, these numbers are small and include some beneficial effects.

Clarkia australis Direct and Indirect Effects There is one known occurrence of Clarkia australis in the project area. It is in most of the open areas on a fuelbreak. The fuelbreak would be created by hand cutting, piling and burning. Observations of similar actions in the past have shown that the openings, which are the best habitat for these species, are the most likely area to be used for piling. A measure has been included to prevent this impact. Clarkias are annuals and often the areas of concentration change from year to year depending on precipitation and other factors. However, the areas of habitat are quite distinct from the rest of the unit, so it is unlikely that it would be present in other areas unless it expanded temporarily after the fuelbreak was initially created. Any impacts to these additional areas would not decrease the occurrence to a smaller size than it was initially.

This species grows in area that formerly had frequent low-intensity ground fires. It is a mixture of shrubs, oaks, and ponderosa pine vegetation. In general this project would reduce canopy toward levels that existed when low intensity fire was more frequent. In general, fire is a positive effect for this species.

One other possible effect to this species would be due to the yellow starthistle (Centaurea solstitialis) that also occurs along the Cottonwood Road (1N04) in this area. It is less than ½ mile away along the road and ¼ mile in linear distance. Although C australis does grow in areas with starthistle, starthistle predominates over much of the area and would be likely to reduce the cover of the clarkia. Both are late blooming species that may tap into the same soil moisture. The same open habitat that would enable clarkia to expand, could increase the spread of yellow starthistle. For this reason a measure was included in the design of the project to prevent the spread of weeds by project activities. With these measures in place, there would be some impacts to these two species since areas of low density would not be fully protected. However, these are not expected to affect the viability of the occurrences.

Cumulative Effects None of the other projects from the past or known in the future are known to affect this area of the project or areas of habitat for these species. Over all, the effects with the project could affect individuals but is not likely to affect the whole occurrence if one is found.

Page 23 Cypripedium montanum

Direct and Indirect Effects There are no occurrences of Cypripedium montanum in units or along roads that would be used in this project. Therefore there would be no direct effects in this project. The indirect effects would relate to any changes in fire intensity or frequency. There are fuels treatments on the upper slopes on both sides of these occurrences. They could enable a fire to be stopped somewhat more likely following the full fuels treatment. This would be a very slight beneficial effect.

In addition, the fuels treatments could enable fires to be allowed to burn without control in this area due to the reduced risk for high intensity fire, this could slightly increase the risk of effect of fire.

Cumulative Effects There are two other projects with effects to Cypripedium montanum. One is a project that is specifically designed to reduce the surface fuels in the immediate vicinity of these occurrences. This project would be beneficial. Cypripedium montanum can be killed if fire burns the duff where it is growing. This project would reduce the likelihood of the duff burning for a number of years following implementation. The other is the recreational trails project that is also analyzed in this document. Its effect to Cypripedium montanum is also beneficial. Overall, with these projects, the net effect is likely to be beneficial.

Mimulus pulchellus Direct and Indirect Effects There are no occurrences of Mimulus pulchellus in the project area. There may be occurrences that were not found during surveys. It usually grows in vernally moist areas. These usually are not impacted by logging. The one time it was found at a timber landing, it appeared to have moved there from adjacent sites.

In addition, the removal of trees could temporarily increase the amount of water that reaches any sites that may exist. This would benefit Mimulus pulchellus, which generally grows more abundantly with more moisture.

Cumulative Effects As with Meesia triquetra, no Mimulus pulchellus was found in the Twomile Restoration Meadow Restoration. Hulls Meadow restoration has also been surveyed for Mimulus pulchellus. Therefore no negative cumulative effects are anticipated. The only known effect would be a possible small beneficial effect in these two alternatives.

Page 24 ALTERNATIVE 2 No Action There would be no direct effects in this alternative because there would be no proposed action. If a fire occurred it could spread farther before being contained and could have groups of torching trees.

Allium tribracteatum, Lomatium stebbinsii, Lewisia kelloggii ssp. hutchisonii, and L. k. ssp. kelloggii

Indirect Effects There would be no indirect effects in this alternative. Canopy generally does not increase much in the habitat where these species grow. Fire does not carry well through most of this habitat.

Cumulative Effects Since there are no effects from this alternative, there would be no cumulative effects.

Clarkia australis Indirect Effects The areas of habitat are not likely to change much. They are areas of thin soil. If fire came through this would open the habitat up again. There is a slightly larger chance of this occuring in this alternative.

Cumulative Effects There are no known cumulative effects for these species. The net effect would affect individuals but probably not the occurrence.

Cypripedium montanum Indirect Effects The indirect effect would be that there would be no fuels reduction on the ridges on both sides of these occurrences. This could increase the likelihood that fire could reach this area and increase the intensity.

Cumulative Effects As noted above, the only project in known in the past or foreseeable future that would affect this species is a project that is specifically designed to reduce the surface fuels in the immediate vicinity of these occurrences. This project would be beneficial. Cypripedium montanum can be killed if fire burns the duff where it is growing. This project would reduce the likelihood of the duff burning for a number of years following implementation. The fuels in the immediate vicinity affect fire behavior the most. This project should mitigate most of the effects of fuels increasing for a number of years. Overall the effect would be very minor.

Page 25

Mimulus pulchellus Indirect Effects The primary indirect effect would be that increasing vegetation could mean less water flow to this habitat. This would be a slight negative effect. If there was a fire, the moisture available would increase.

Cumulative Effects Overall a slight negative or positive effect is possible. The magnitude of a fire could be large if the fire area was large, but the likelihood of that is fairly small in the timeframe of this analysis.

PROJECT B: Noxious Weed Control (Dyers Woad Eradication)

Species review There is suitable habitat for Clarkia australis, C. biloba ssp. australis, and, possibly, Cypripedium montanum, in the project area. The site has been visited by the botany crew for ten years while they were hand treating the weeds. No sensitive plants were observed. The suitable habitat for the clarkias is mostly along the roads where it would have been seen and in a large open rocky area in the handpulling unit. The only area that could be possible for Cypripedium montanum is also in the hand pulling unit.

Direct and Indirect Effects A measure has been included to survey for these species prior to working in that unit. This measure should protect these species.

Cumulative Effects If there would be no direct and indirect effects from this project, then there are no cumulative effects.

PROJECT C Great Gray Owl Habitat Improvement

This project consists of two sites. The areas of suitable habitat have been surveyed and no sensitive plants were found. There are no concerns for sensitive plants with this project and would be no effects to sensitive plants.

PROJECT D Meadow Restoration All of the meadows were surveyed at the sites where work was originally proposed. No sensitive plants were found. The additional work of conifer removal also would not affect any sensitive plants. The project would benefit sensitive plant habitat in the long-term by increasing the water level at several sites. There are no concerns for sensitive plants with this project and would be no effects to sensitive plants.

Page 26 PROJECT E Soil Windrow Improvement Most of this project is has been heavily disturbed and is not habitat for sensitive plants. There is marginally suitable habitat for Lomatium stebbinsii on the southern edge of the project and good habitat to the west of the project.

Lomatium stebbinsii Direct and Indirect Effects The areas of unsurveyed suitable habitat would be treated as though the sensitive plant is present and would be avoided unless a site visit shows that the habitat is not suitable. The access would be by the same skid trails that are used when the unit (F14) is thinned. All the protections that would apply for the timber sale would apply here. This would prevent impacts to Lomatium stebbinsii.

Cumulative Effects Since there would be no direct or indirect effects to Lomatium stebbinsii, there would be no cumulative effects.

PROJECT F Motorized Trails Affected Species Although there is suitable habitat for other species near the elements of this project, only Allium tribracteatum, Cypripedium montanum, Lewisia kelloggii ssp. hutchisonii, and Lomatium stebbinsii would be affected by this project. All of the other species have been ruled out through surveys and habitat.

Allium tribracteatum, Lewisia kelloggii ssp. hutchisonii, and Lomatium stebbinsii Direct and Indirect Effects There are occurrences of Lomatium stebbinsii and unsurveyed habitat for Allium tribracteatum, Lewisia kelloggii ssp. hutchisonii, and Lomatium stebbinsii along the some of the routes that would be closed by this project. They would be protected from impacts and would benefit in the long-term from the closures. In three places rock barriers would prevent route pioneering/use through lava caps with sensitive plants that are not currently roaded or with trails. Four occurrences of Lomatium stebbinsii, twelve areas of unsurveyed suitable habitat for Allium tribracteatum and Lomatium stebbinsii, and seven areas of unsurveyed suitable habitat for Lewisia kelloggii ssp. hutchisonii would receive protection from route closures and rock barriers.

There is one indirect effect that is less beneficial. The quarry that would be used as a rock source has cheatgrass at it. There are two areas where the rocks to protect the lava caps would go directly on the lava caps. One of these areas has some cheat grass already. The other does not. This project would slightly increase the incidence of cheatgrass and a small portion of the occurrences. It would affect individual plants, but not the entire occurrence.

Page 27 Cumulative Effects All of the routes that are being physically closed in this project were determined to be unauthorized trails in travel management. This project provides the action on the ground to implement that decision.

Cypripedium montanum Direct and Indirect Effects One small occurrence of Cypripedium montanum would be protected by effective closure of a route near it.

Cumulative Effects The Cypripedium montanum Habitat Improvement Project would also benefit this species. All of the effects would be beneficial over all.

Compliance with management direction

The Forest Service Manual, Section 2670.32 states that "the line officer, with project approval authority, makes the decision to allow or disallow impact, but the decision must not result in loss of species viability or create significant trends toward Federal listing." It has been determined that conditions warrant the desire to impact suitable habitat for Sensitive Plants which exists in areas of fuels reduction activities. Mos t known occurrences of Sensitive Plants would be protected from management activities.

Because the Sensitive Plants considered in this project have not been studied in depth (see Current Management Direction, page 3), it is not possible to determine at what point impacts to these Sensitive Plants could cause "loss of species viability."

This project is being modified by incorporating protective measures for known or newly discovered Sensitive Plant occurrences (pages 5 - 6). These modifications are designed to reduce, minimize or alleviate adverse effects to Sensitive Plants. Therefore, this proposed project would comply with current management direction and Forest Service policy.

DETERMINATION OF EFFECTS The Determination of Effects is made with the assumption that the project would be implemented as described in Description of Proposed Project (pages 3 - 7). Any deviation from that description could change the determination.

Summar y There are known occurrences of the sensitive plants Cypripedium montanum, Lewisia kelloggii ssp. hutchisonii, and Lomatium stebbinsii within and adjacent to proposed project units. These have been protected from many direct and indirect effects. Indirect effects have been minimized. The core areas of these occurrences would be protected. There is unsurveyed suitable habitat for Allium tribracteatum, Clarkia australis, C. biloba ssp. australis, Cypripedium

Page 28 montanum, Erythronium tuolumnense, Fissidens aphelotaxifolius, Lomatium stebbinsii, Meesia triquetra, Mimulus pulchellus and Peltigera gowardii in the analysis area as well. These would be protected as if sensitive unless surveys show that the plants are not present or the habitat is not suitable.

Page 29 Determination

Summary of Determination of Effects It is my determination that the Tw omile Restoration projects w ill have the follow ing effects if the measures on pages 3-6 are incorporated into the design:

Project A: Project A: Project A: Project C: Vegetation Vegetation Vegetation Project B: Great Gray Project D: Project E: Project F: Management Management Noxious Motorized Determinations Management Owl Meadow Soils Alternative 1 - Alternative 3 - Weed Trails Alternative 2 - Habitat Restoration Improvement Proposed Non- Control Management No Action Improvement Action Commercial Allium tribracteatum MAINL NA MAINL NA MAINL+ Clarkia australis MAINL NA MAINL N A NA Clarkia biloba ssp. australis NA Cypripedium montanum MAINL+ N A MAINL+ NA MAINL+ Lomatium stebbinsii MAINL NA MAINL N A MAINL+ Lewisia kelloggii ssp. hutchisonii MAINL NA MAINL MAINL+ Mimulus pulchellus NA NA NA N A N A = No Af f ect MAINL = May Af f ect Indiv iduals, but Not Likely to Lead to a Trend Toward Listing or Loss of Viability MAIL* = May Af f ect Indiv iduals and Likely to Lead to a Trend Toward Listing or Loss of Viability + net effect is beneficial *Trigger for a Significant Action As Defined In NEPA

REFERENCES

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CNDDB 2006 & 2011. California Natural Diversity Database, June 2008. Monthly GIS layer available by subscription from http://www.dfg.ca.gov/biogeodata/cnddb/ California Department of Fish and Game, Sacramento, California.

CREP (Clavey River Ecosystem Project) 2008. Clavey River watershed assessment. Sonora, California.

Hickman, J. C. 1993 The Jepson manual; higher plants of California. University of California Press, Berkeley, California.

Mortola, W.R. and D.W. McNeal, 1985. Taxonomy of the Allium tribracteatum (Alliaceae) complex. Aliso 11(1):27-35.

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Schlessman, M.A., and L. Constance. 1979. Two new species of tuberous Lomatiums (Umbelliferae). Madroño, Vol. 26, No.1.

USDA Forest Service. 1990a. Forest Service Manual (FSM). Chapter 2670, threatened, endangered, and sensitive plants and animals. USDA, Forest Service. Various pages.

USDA Forest Service. 2001. Sierra Nevada Forest Plan Amendment (SNFPA), Final Environmental Impact Statement. USDA, Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Region, Vallejo, CA.

USDA Forest Service. 2007. R-5 Forest Service Handbook (FSH). Chapter 2609.26, threatened, endangered sensitive plants program handbook. USDA, Forest Service. Various pages.

USDA 2010. Stanislaus National Forest, Forest Plan Direction. Stanislaus National Forest, Sonora, CA.

USDA Forest Service, Stanislaus National Forest 2008. Schedule of Proposed Actions (SOPA) 01/01/2008 to 03/31/2008 available at http://www.fs.fed.us/sopa/components/reports/sopa- 110516-2008-01.html

USFWS, 2008. Federal Endangered and Threatened species that may be affected by Projects in the Stanislaus National Forest. Last Updated April 29, 2010. Queried April 25, 2011. http://sacramento.fws.gove/es/spp_lists/NFActionPage.cfm

Wilson, B.L., V.D. Hipkins, E. Rey-Vizgirdas, and T.N. Kaye. 2005. Variation in Lewisia kelloggii (Portulacaceae) with description of a new species endemic to . Western North American Naturalist 65(3) 345-358.

Personal Communications Knecht, Dottie. Ecologist US Forest Service R. 6. to Greg Karow April 19, 2002.

Lewis, Harlan, Emeritus Professor, UCLA. to J. Haas, June 15, 1996

Shevock, Jim. Former Regional Botanist, pers. comm. To J. Haas, July 2, 1996

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