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Updated Biological Assessment for Long-Term River Management of the Title: Rio Grande Canalization Project

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Updated Biological Assessment for Long-Term River Management of the Title: Rio Grande Canalization Project Updated Biological Assessment for Long-Term River Management of the Title: Rio Grande Canalization Project Version: FINAL Date: March 2017 Prepared for: United States Section International Boundary and Water Commission 4171 N Mesa St., Suite C310 El Paso, TX 79902 Prepared by: 848 W. Hadley Ave. Las Cruces, NM 88005 Contract Number: IBM15D0006 Task Order Number: IBM16T0016 Updated Biological Assessment for Long-Term River Management of the Rio Grande Canalization Project Final TABLE OF CONTENTS Section Page 1.0 INTRODUCTION.......................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 RGCP Background ............................................................................................................. 1 1.1.1 RGCP Historical Background ................................................................................ 1 1.1.2 ROD Background .................................................................................................. 2 1.2 Purpose and Need of this BA .............................................................................................. 2 1.2.1 New Listings and Critical Habitat Updates ........................................................... 3 1.2.2 Channel Maintenance Activities ............................................................................ 3 1.2.3 Update of ROD Implementation, including Restoration Sites ............................... 4 1.3 Regulatory Compliance ...................................................................................................... 4 2.0 DESCRIPTION OF THE PROPOSED ACTION ...................................................................... 6 2.1 Channel Maintenance Activities ......................................................................................... 6 2.2 Floodway/Vegetation Management .................................................................................. 16 2.3 Adaptive Management ...................................................................................................... 17 2.4 Timeline for the Implementation of the Proposed Action ................................................ 17 3.0 CONSULTATION HISTORY .................................................................................................... 19 4.0 DESCRIPTION OF THE AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT...................................................... 24 4.1 Overview of the RGCP, Past and Current Conditions and Updated ROD Activities ........................................................................................................................... 24 4.2 Vegetation Management at the No-Mow Zones ............................................................... 24 4.3 Restoration Sites ............................................................................................................... 47 4.4 Environmental Water Transaction Program Implementation ........................................... 48 4.5 Flycatcher Management Plan ............................................................................................ 49 4.6 YBCU Restoration Sites and Protection Measures ........................................................... 50 4.7 Sediment Excavation Activities ........................................................................................ 50 4.8 Critical Habitat Designation ............................................................................................. 50 4.9 Summary of Current USIBWC Conservation Measures .................................................. 53 5.0 METHODOLOGY AND SPECIES COVERED ...................................................................... 54 6.0 ANALYSIS OF POTENTIAL EFFECTS ................................................................................. 60 6.1 Aplomado Falcon (Falco femoralis) ................................................................................. 60 6.1.1 Habitat Requirements and Current Status ............................................................ 60 6.1.2 Habitat Evaluation and Suitability ....................................................................... 61 6.1.3 Determination of Effects ...................................................................................... 61 6.2 Least Tern (Sterna antillarum) ......................................................................................... 61 6.2.1 Habitat Requirements and Current Status ............................................................ 61 6.2.2 Habitat Evaluation and Suitability ....................................................................... 62 6.2.3 Determination of Effects ...................................................................................... 62 6.3 Southwestern Willow Flycatcher (Empidonax traillii extimus) ........................................ 63 6.3.1 Habitat Requirements and Current Status ............................................................ 63 6.3.2 Habitat Evaluation and Suitability ....................................................................... 63 6.3.3 Determination of Effects ...................................................................................... 68 6.4 Yellow-billed Cuckoo (Coccyzus americanus occidentalis) ............................................ 71 6.4.1 Habitat Requirements and Current Status ............................................................ 71 6.4.2 Habitat Evaluation and Suitability ....................................................................... 72 6.4.3 Determination of Effects ...................................................................................... 74 i Updated Biological Assessment for Long-Term River Management of the Rio Grande Canalization Project Final 7.0 CUMULATIVE EFFECTS ......................................................................................................... 76 8.0 MITIGATION AND MONITORING ........................................................................................ 77 8.1 Typical Mitigation Measures for Construction Activities ................................................ 77 8.2 Typical Mitigation Measures for Vegetation Treatments ................................................. 79 8.3 Typical Mitigation Measures for Channel Maintenance Activities .................................. 80 9.0 SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION ............................................................................................ 82 10.0 REFERENCES ............................................................................................................................. 83 LIST OF TABLES Table Page Table 1. Comparison of IBWC Proposed Actions ........................................................................................ 8 Table 2. Five-Year Plan of Proposed Channel Maintenance Activities (2014-2019) ................................. 11 Table 3. Channel Maintenance Alternative Actions Considered in the RMP from the 2015 Study ........... 14 Table 4. Island Acreage and Habitat Proposed for Removal ...................................................................... 16 Table 5. Comparison of USIBWC Proposed Actions and Determination .................................................. 21 Table 6. Updated USIBWC Restoration Sites in the RGCP ....................................................................... 27 Table 7. Restoration Sites with Target Flycatcher Breeding Habitat .......................................................... 51 Table 8. Restoration Sites with YBCU Potential Habitat ........................................................................... 52 Table 9. Habitat Improvements Developed by USIBWC for Flycatchers .................................................. 53 Table 10. Species Federally Listed as Threatened and Endangered Recorded and Potentially Occurring in the RGCP Area ...................................................................................................................... 55 Table 11. Acreage of Improved SWFL Habitat within the USIBWC Right-of-Way ................................. 66 Table 12. Summary of SWFL Habitat Impacted and Created by Proposed Action .................................... 82 LIST OF FIGURES Figure Page Figure 1. Rio Grande Canalization Project Area and Restoration Sites........................................................ 5 Figure 2. Proposed Channel Maintenance Activities at Selected Locations ............................................... 10 Figure 3. No-Mow Zones and Restoration Sites from Garfield Exit of I-25 to the 187 Bridge ................. 31 Figure 4. No-Mow Zones and Restoration Sites from 187 Bridge to 140 Bridge ...................................... 32 Figure 5. No-Mow Zones and Restoration Sites from 140 Bridge to Pasture 18 Restoration Site ............. 34 Figure 6. No-Mow Zones and Restoration Sites from Country Club Road in El Paso, TX to Sunland Park Drive Bridge in El Paso, TX ................................................................................................. 35 Figure 7. SWFL and YBCU Suitable Habitat from Percha to Garfield ...................................................... 36 Figure 8. SWFL and YBCU Suitable Habitat within No-Mow Zones from Garfield Exit of I-25 to the 187 Bridge ............................................................................................................................................. 37 Figure 9. SWFL and YBCU Suitable Habitat within No-Mow Zones from 187 Bridge to 140 Bridge ..................................................................................................................................................
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