Biological Evaluation
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Biological Assessment/Evaluation For Threatened, Endangered, and Sensitive Plant Species Klamath National Forest PROJECT NAME: Motorized Travel Management Prepared by: /s/ Kat Carsey Date: October 5, 2009 Kat Carsey Botanist Teams Enterprise Group Reviewed by: /s/ Marla Knight Date: November 2, 2009 Marla Knight Botanist Klamath National Forest Approved by: /s/ Patricia Grantham Date: November 13, 2009 Patricia Grantham Forest Supervisor Klamath National Forest I. Introduction The purpose of this document is to evaluate the Motorized Travel Management Project in sufficient detail to determine its effects on Endangered, Threatened, Proposed, Candidate, or Sensitive plant species. This Biological Assessment/Evaluation (BA/BE) is prepared in accordance with the legal requirements set forth under Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act [19 U.S.C. 1536 (c)], and follows the standards established in the Forest Service Manual direction (USDA Forest Service 1997). Location Information The project area includes the entire Klamath National Forest (KNF) located mostly in northern California with a small portion in Jackson County, Oregon. Species of Concern Threatened, Endangered, Candidate The USFWS was contacted on October 16, 2008 for a list of federally listed, proposed, and candidate species. The following species are listed or candidates for listing and occur in the vicinity of the KNF . This BA addresses these species: Federal Endangered Arabis macdonaldiana McDonald’s rock-cress Federal Endangered Astragalus applegatei Applegate’s milk-vetch Federal Candidate Calochortus persistens Siskiyou Mariposa lily Federal Endangered Fritillaria gentneri Gentner mission-bells Federal Endangered Phlox hirsuta Yreka phlox Arabis macdonaldiana occurs in the outer North Coastal Ranges where no routes are proposed by this project. Astragalus applegatei and Fritillaria gentneri have not been found on the KNF. Phlox hirsuta is covered by the Route Designation Design Criteria letter of concurrence from the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS 2007a). By following the recommended design criteria, route designation will meet the ―No Effect‖ or ―Not likely to adversely affect‖ determinations. Forests may tier to this consultation with no further consultation. Criteria for Phlox hirsuta are: No routes occur within 500 feet of occupied habitat. Designated routes or areas within ½ mile of occupied habitat will be monitored annually to determine whether noxious weed species have become established. Page 2 of 37 Motorized Travel Management Biological Assessment/Evaluation for Plants Treat designated routes or areas, where weeds have been introduced, to remove these weeds so their establishment in occupied habitat is prevented. There are no proposed routes within 500 feet of occupied habitat for federally listed species in any of the alternatives. Known sites are regularly monitored and weeds treated. No federally listed threatened, endangered, or proposed plant species will be affected by this project and are not considered further in this analysis. Federal candidate species There is currently one candidate for federal listing considered in the analysis on the KNF: Calochortus persistens. Calochortus persistens is not covered by the Route Designation Design Criteria letter of concurrence from the USFWS (2007a). There is one route within 30 feet of a C. persistens occurrence in Alternatives 1 and 2. Informal consultation was conducted by telephone and email with the USFWS on April 10, 2009 and April 16, 2009. The decision was made to drop this route from other action alternatives, so no additional consultation was conducted. The C. persistens special management area where this site occurs is closed to off-road travel by a Forest Order. The Order will remain in effect even if Alternative 1 is selected, so there will be no impacts to this species from motorized travel under any alternative. Effects to C. persistens were analyzed for Alternatives 1 and 2; there are no impacts from any other action alternative. Sensitive species The Region 5 Regional Forester has listed plants for which there is a concern for species viability as Sensitive. plants; they are those species which may occur in few to large numbers in a small localized area, or which may occur in a wide geographical area but in few numbers in restricted specialized habitats. Fifty-five Sensitive plant species are known, or thought possibly to occur on Klamath National Forest (KNF 2008). This BE addresses those species. Only those species of concern that have potentially suitable habitat or documented occurrences in areas that may be affected by the proposed project are discussed in this document. These areas include all activities discussed in the proposed action. A preliminary botanical review was done to determine the species of concern. Preliminary Botanical Review An office prefield review and a preliminary field review were conducted to determine if this project is within the range of any Klamath listed Threatened, Endangered, Proposed, or Sensitive species, and if suitable habitat is present within the proposed project area. All Threatened, Endangered, Proposed, and Sensitive species listed for the Klamath National Forest were considered during this review. Species for which suitable habitat is not present and for which the project area is outside of the currently known range of the species will not be considered beyond the preliminary review.. Page 3 of 37 Motorized Travel Management Biological Assessment/Evaluation for Plants The proposed project area was determined to contain documented occurrences or suitable habitat for the species listed in Tables 1 and 2. Table 1. Documented occurrences within 500 feet of unauthorized or proposed routes Species Code Status Alternatives Calochortus greenei CAGR R-5 Sensitive 1-2-5-6 Calochortus persistens CAPE R-5 Sensitive / C* 5-6 Cypripedium montanum CYMO2 R-5 Sensitive 1 Eriogonum hirtellum ERHI7 R-5 Sensitive 1-2-5-6 Helodium blandowii HEBL2 R-5 Sensitive 1-2 Horkelia hendersonii HOHE2 R-5 Sensitive 1 Meesia triquetra METR70 R-5 Sensitive 1-2 Meesia uliginosa MEUL70 R-5 Sensitive 1-2-5-6 Mimulus evanescens MIEV R-5 Sensitive 1-2-5-6 Phacelia cookei PHCO20 R-5 Sensitive 1-2-5-6 Ptilidium californicum PTCA5 R-5 Sensitive 1 Rorippa columbiae ROCO3 R-5 Sensitive 1-2-5-6 Thermopsis robusta THRO4 R-5 Sensitive 1-5-6 *Candidate for Federal listing Table 2. Species with suitable habitat in the project area Species Code Status Chaenactis suffrutescens CHSU R-5 Sensitive Cypripedium fasciculatum CYFA R-5 Sensitive Draba carnosula DRCA6 R-5 Sensitive Eriogonum alpinum ERAL6 R-5 Sensitive Ivesia pickeringii IVPI R-5 Sensitive Lupinus lepidus var. ashlandensis LULEA5 R-5 Sensitive Minuartia stolonifera MIST9 R-5 Sensitive Pedicularis howellii PEHO R-5 Sensitive Phacelia greenei PHGR2 R-5 Sensitive Phaeocollybia olivacea PHOL R-5 Sensitive Raillardella pringlei RAPR R-5 Sensitive Smilax jamesii SMJA R-5 Sensitive Tauschia howellii TAHO2 R-5 Sensitive Page 4 of 37 Motorized Travel Management Biological Assessment/Evaluation for Plants II. Current Management Direction (USDA Forest Service 1997, 2672.41): Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended, and Forest Service Policy (USDA Forest Service 1997, 2670) direct Federal agencies to ensure that any action authorized, funded, or permitted by such agencies is not likely to jeopardize the continued existence of 1) species listed, or proposed to be listed, as Endangered or Threatened (T&E) by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and 2) species listed as Sensitive by the Region 5 Regional Forester, or to cause a trend to federal listing for species listed as Sensitive. (USDA. 1990) The Klamath National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan (LRMP) lists forest-wide standards and guidelines that direct the management of Sensitive plant species to ensure the maintenance of reproducing, self-sustaining populations, and to prevent the need for the species to become listed as T&E species (USDA Forest Service 1995). Consultation to Date: Informal consultation was conducted by telephone and email with the USFWS on April 10, 2009 and April 16, 2009 for one route near a species that is a candidate for listing. The decision was made to drop the route from action alternatives (except Alternative 2). No additional consultation was needed. III. Description of Proposed Action This proposal suggests changes (vehicle class restrictions, additional motorized routes, opening closed routes, etc) to the Klamath National Forest Transportation Sysytem (NFTS) roads, NFTS trails, and /or areas on National Forest Sysytem (NFS) lands in accordance with the 2005 Travel Management Rule at 36 CFR Part 212, Subpart B. In accordance with Subpart B of the Travel management Rule (36 CFR Part 212.56), following a decision on this proposal, the KNF will publish a motor vehicle use map (MVUM) identifying all KNF NFTS roads, trails, and areas that are designated for motor vehicle use. The proposal includes six alternatives, described below. The proposed action is designed to maintain or improve trends in vegetation, watershed conditions, and in ecological sustainability relative to motorized vehicle use within the project area. Chapter 2 of the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) presents a more detailed description of the proposed action and the need for action. The proposed action and alternatives are described below. Page 5 of 37 Motorized Travel Management Biological Assessment/Evaluation for Plants IV. Existing Environment