BIOLOGICAL BASELINE REPORT HYCROFT MINE PHASE II EXPANSION PROJECT
Prepared for:
Hycroft Mining Corporation 9790 Gateway Drive Reno, Nevada 89521
Prepared by:
Stantec Consulting Services Inc. 6995 Sierra Center Parkway Reno, Nevada 89511
Stantec Project Number 203703039
January 22, 2018 Table of Contents
1.0 INTRODUCTION ...... 1 1.1 SURVEY AREAS ...... 2
2.0 SOILS ...... 3
3.0 VEGETATION ...... 5 3.1 AGENCY CONSULTATION ...... 5 3.2 HABITAT EVALUATION ...... 5 3.3 FIELD SURVEY METHODOLOGY ...... 7 3.3.1 Vegetation Community Mapping and Floristic Inventory ...... 8 3.3.2 Noxious, Invasive, and Non-Native Species ...... 8 3.3.3 Special Status Plant Species Survey ...... 9 3.3.4 Host Plants of BLM Sensitive Butterfly Species ...... 9 3.4 FIELD SURVEY RESULTS ...... 10 3.4.1 Vegetation Community Mapping and Floristic Inventory ...... 10 3.4.2 Noxious, Invasive, and Non-Native Species ...... 14 3.4.3 Special Status Plant Species Survey ...... 14 3.4.4 Host Plants of BLM Sensitive Butterfly Species ...... 14
4.0 WILDLIFE ...... 16 4.1 AGENCY CONSULTATION ...... 16 4.2 HABITAT EVALUATION ...... 16 4.3 FIELD SURVEY METHODOLOGY ...... 19 4.3.1 General Wildlife and Game Species ...... 24 4.3.2 Migratory Birds ...... 24 4.3.3 Golden Eagle Nest Surveys ...... 25 4.3.4 Western Burrowing Owl ...... 26 4.3.5 Winter Raptor Surveys ...... 28 4.3.6 Greater Sage-Grouse ...... 28 4.3.7 Pygmy Rabbit Survey ...... 33 4.3.8 Bats ...... 34 4.3.9 Preble’s Shrew ...... 35 4.3.10 Pale and Dark Kangaroo Mouse ...... 36 4.3.11 Springsnails ...... 37 4.4 FIELD SURVEY RESULTS ...... 37 4.4.1 General Wildlife and Game Species ...... 37 4.4.2 Migratory Birds ...... 37 4.4.3 Raptors ...... 41 4.4.3.1 Golden Eagle and other Raptors ...... 41 4.4.3.2 Western Burrowing Owl ...... 43 4.4.4 Greater Sage-Grouse ...... 46 4.4.5 Pygmy Rabbit Survey Results ...... 49 4.4.6 Bats ...... 49 4.4.7 Small Mammal Trapping ...... 52 4.4.8 Springsnails ...... 53
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4.4.9 Additional Special Status Species Observed ...... 53
5.0 SUMMARY ...... 55 5.1 2012 ...... 55 5.2 2014 ...... 55 5.3 2015 ...... 56 5.4 2016 ...... 57
6.0 REFERENCES ...... 58
TABLES
Table 1 Legal Description of the Biological Survey Area ...... 2 Table 2 Vegetation Baseline Surveys Completed ...... 7 Table 3 Vegetation Communities in the Survey Area ...... 10 Table 4 Wildlife Species with the Potential to Occur ...... 18 Table 5 Wildlife Baseline Surveys Completed ...... 20 Table 6 Vegetation Communities and Third Order Cover Types Correlation ...... 30 Table 7 Ecological Sites and Third Order Cover Types Correlation ...... 31 Table 8 Pale and Dark Kangaroo Mouse Potential Habitat Soil Units ...... 36 Table 9 2012 Point Count Migratory Bird Transect 1 ...... 38 Table 10 2012 Point Count Migratory Bird Transect 2 ...... 39 Table 11 2016 Point Count South Riparian Transect ...... 40 Table 12 2016 Point Count Transect Stock Tank ...... 41 Table 13 Raptor Nests Recorded in 2012 ...... 41 Table 14 Western Burrowing Owl Burrows Identified in 2012...... 43 Table 15 Western Burrowing Owl Burrows Identified in 2014...... 43 Table 16 2016 Incidental Locations of Western Burrowing Owl ...... 45 Table 17 Averaged Vegetation Data for H-1 Form by Third Order Cover Type ...... 46 Table 18 2014 Seasonal Habitat Suitability Summary ...... 47 Table 19 Bat Detector Locations ...... 50 Table 20 Acoustic Survey Results ...... 51 Table 21 Number of Calls for Each Species Detected...... 52
FIGURES
Figure 1 Project Location Figure 2 Survey Areas Figure 3 Soils Figure 4A Vegetation Communities North Half Figure 4B Vegetation Communities South Half Figure 5 Sensitive Plant and Noxious Weed Occurrences Figure 6 Buckwheat Species Observed- Potential Butterfly Habitat Figure 7 Greater Sage-grouse Habitat Categorization Figure 8 Avian Point Count Surveys Figure 9A Combined Raptor Nesting Surveys Figure 9B Combined Golden Eagle Nesting Surveys
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Figure 10 Western Burrowing Owl Survey Figure 11 Greater Sage-grouse Winter Habitat Survey & HAF Figure 12 Pygmy Rabbit Survey Figure 13 NDOM Hazard Sites Figure 14a Bat Acoustic Detector Locations Figure 14b Bat Acoustic Detector Locations Figure 15 Pale and Dark Kangaroo Mouse & Preble’s Shrew Trapping Locations Figure 16 Spring Sites
APPENDICES
Appendix A 2012 & 2016 Agency Response Letters Appendix B HE Sensitive Species HE Migratory Birds Appendix C Observed Plant and Wildlife Species List Appendix D Special Status Plant Data Forms Appendix E Common Buckwheat Occurrences Appendix F Great Basin Bird Observatory Bird Survey Protocols and 2012 & 2016 Field Survey Forms Appendix G Western Burrowing Owl Field Survey Forms Appendix H Greater Sage-grouse Survey Protocols, Survey Form, and Ecological Site Description Sheets Appendix I HAF Field Survey Forms and Data Summary Appendix J HAF Habitat Suitability Matrix Forms Appendix K Greater Sage-grouse Field Survey Forms Appendix L Pygmy Rabbit Field Survey Forms Appendix M Small Mammal Trapping Protocols Appendix N Springsnail Field Notes Appendix O Metadata and Shapefiles Appendix P Combined Nest Survey Data
ABBREVIATIONS
AMSL Above Mean Sea Level BLM Bureau of Land Management ESA Endangered Species Act Expanded TMF Expanded Tailings Management Facility (survey area added in 2014) GBBO Great Basin Bird Observatory GIS Geographic Information System GPS Glo bal Positioning System LSNP Low Sagebrush/Native Perennial HAF Habitat Assessment Framework HDR HDR Inc. HE Habitat Evaluation Hycroft Hycroft Mining Corporation JBR JBR Environmental Consultants, Inc. N/A Not Applicable
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NDOW Nevada Department of Wildlife NEPA National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 NNHP Nevada Natural Heritage Program North TMF North Tailings Management Facility (2012 survey area) NRCS Natural Resources Conservation Service PGH Preliminary General Habitat PMU Population Management Unit PPH Preliminary Priority Habitat Project Hycroft Mine Phase II Expansion Project R Range Stantec Stantec Consulting Services Inc. T Township USFWS United States Fish and Wildlife Service UTM Universal Transverse Mercator WBSSEA Wyoming and Basin Big Sagebrush/Exotic Annual WBSSNP Wyoming and Basin Big Sagebrush/Native Perennial WRC Wildlife Resource Consultants
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1.0 INTRODUCTION
Hycroft Mining Corporation (Hycroft) is proposing the Hycroft Mine Phase II Expansion Project (Project) on private and public land managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Winnemucca District, Black Rock Field Office. The Hycroft Mine is located approximately 54 miles west of Winnemucca, situated at the eastern edge of the Black Rock Desert and at the northern end of the Kamma Mountains in Humboldt and Pershing counties, Nevada (Figure 1). The Hycroft Mine and the Project can be accessed from Winnemucca via Jungo Road (State Highway 49).
Stantec Consulting Services Inc. (Stantec), formerly JBR Environmental Consultants, Inc. (JBR), performed biological baseline surveys to support the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) analysis of the Project. The first round of surveys was conducted in 2012. Stantec conducted a second round of surveys in 2014 to include new areas and data gaps identified by the BLM. Winter raptor surveys were conducted in 2015 and 2016, and small mammal trapping was performed in 2016. Raptor and golden eagle nest surveys have been conducted annually since 2013, and stand-alone reports are submitted separately to the BLM. The BLM requested that the original 2012 baseline report (2012 Biological Baseline Survey Report Hycroft Mine, May 14, 2013) and later, the 2012 and 2014 Biological Baseline Survey Interim Report, August 24, 2015 be revised to include the results of all surveys conducted to date, except for golden eagle surveys. Annual golden eagle nest monitoring surveys would be reported separately.
In summary, the following modifications have been made to the 2012 baseline biological report:
• Included clarifications, edits, and missing information, if available, that was requested by BLM June 9, 2014 and March 19, 2015;
• Included 2014, 2015, and 2016 survey results;
• Deleted incorrect information; and
• Revised or clarified information based on updated project details.
To ensure that the biological baseline studies would be adequate for the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) that is currently being prepared for the Project, meetings and follow-up discussions were held between Hycroft, the EIS contractor (Stantec), BLM, and the Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW). The following outlines clarifications made by discussions as well as field surveys to be completed and defining the scope and methods for necessary biological field surveys.
• Greater sage-grouse: After coordination with the Sagebrush Ecosystem Technical Team, NDOW determined that no additional field surveys would be needed for winter habitat, based on site conditions and lack of suitable habitat.
• Preble’s shrew, dark kangaroo mouse, and pale kangaroo mouse: NDOW and BLM assisted in developing protocols, determining seasons of survey, and vetting trapping locations.
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• Migratory birds: Additional transects were added in riparian and meadow habitat since this habitat type was not surveyed previously.
1.1 SURVEY AREAS
In the spring and summer of 2012, Stantec surveyed the 13,241-acre North Tailings Management Facility (North TMF) area, east of the Hycroft Mine. After preliminary engineering resulted in a larger footprint of proposed disturbance, additional survey areas were added and were called the Expanded TMF (1,256 acres). The term North TMF is used throughout this document and refers to the area that was first surveyed in 2012. The term Expanded TMF refers to the additional areas surveyed in 2014. The North TMF and Expanded TMF areas comprise the Project Area in 2014. In 2015, Hycroft submitted a Plan of Operations Amendment, presenting the Phase II Expansion Project Area. Throughout this document, all survey boundaries are conjoined into a combined area and called the Biological Survey Area. Referring to figures may assist in the project boundary understanding. The legal description of the Project Area is shown in Table 1.
Table 1 Legal Description of the Biological Survey Area
Township and Range Sections* T34N, R30E 2-5, 8-11, 13-17, 20, 21-24 T35N, R30E 13-17, 21-28, 32-36 *All or portions of the sections listed.
The combined areas from 2012 and 2014 surveys cover all but 700 acres of the Phase II Expansion’s proposed Plan of Operations Amendment area (Figure 2). However, the combined areas from 2012 and 2014 surveys fully covers the proposed footprint of disturbance. In May of 2015, the BLM confirmed that the areas surveyed were acceptable for the NEPA analysis provided that any new areas that would be disturbed in the future would require baseline surveys.
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2.0 SOILS
The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) (1998 and 2003) mapped the following eight soil units within the 2012-2014 Biological Survey Area (Figure 3).
• Soil Unit 360/431 Grumblen-Pickup association; • Soil Unit 463/1400 Jerval-Dorper association;
• Soil Unit 715 Wholan silt loam, 0 to 2 percent slopes;
• Soil Unit 804 Singatse-Rock outcrop complex; • Soil Unit 825 Sojur extremely channery silt loam, 15 to 20 percent slopes;
• Soil Unit 935/1210 Wesfil-Sojur association;
• Soil Unit 130 Boomstick-Majuba-Sojur association; and • Soil Unit 1035 Pokergap-Jerval association.
Half of the mapped soil units are associations, which typically consist of one or more major soils and some minor or miscellaneous soils. During the NRCS mapping process, it was not considered practical or necessary to separate individual soil types, so associations are shown as one unit on the NRCS soil maps. Soil units are described in the Soil Survey of Humboldt County, Nevada, West Part (NRCS, 2003) and Soil Survey of Pershing County, Nevada, West Part (NRCS, 1998). A summary of soil unit series descriptions of the major soils are described below.
Boomstick Series The Boomstick Series consists of well drained soils, 14 to 20 inches to lithic bedrock, formed from residuum and colluvium derived from metamorphic rocks. Boomstick soils are found on convex surfaces, on backslope of mountains. Slopes are 30 to 50 percent.
Dorper Series The Dorper series consists of very deep, well drained soils that formed in alluvium from mixed rock sources with a component of loess and volcanic ash. Dorper soils are on fan piedmont remnants. Slopes are two to eight percent, but may approach 15 percent in Pershing County.
Grumblen Series The Grumblen series consists of shallow, well drained soils that formed in residuum and colluvium derived from rhyolite, rhyolitic tuff, andesite, and basalt. The Grumblen soils are on hills and lower mountain sideslopes. Slopes are 15 to 75 percent.
Jerval Series The Jerval series consists of very deep, well drained soils that formed in loess over loamy and gravelly alluvium from mixed rock sources. The Jerval soils are on fan piedmonts and mountain valley fans. Slopes are two to eight percent.
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Majuba Series The Majuba series consists of consists of well drained soils, 25 to 39 inches to lithic bedrock that formed in residuum derived from metavolcanic rock. Majuba soils are found on convex surfaces, on backslope of mountains. Slopes are 30 to 50 percent.
Pickup Series The Pickup series consists of moderately deep, well drained soils that formed in residuum and colluvium derived from basalt. In Pershing County, the soil may have also formed in residuum and colluviums derived from rhyolite and rhyolitic tuff. In Pershing County, Pickup soils are on mountain crests and side slopes, and slopes range from four to 75 percent. Pickup soils are on mountains in Humboldt County and slopes range from 30 to 75 percent.
Pokergap Series The Pokergap series consists of moderately deep, well drained soils that form in alluvium derived from mixed rocks, loess, and volcanic ash. Pokergap soils are on fan piedmonts and slopes approximately two to eight percent.
Singatse Series The Singatse series consists of very shallow, somewhat excessively drained soils that formed in residuum and colluvium derived from rhyolite, andesite, dacite, and granite. Singatse soils are on backslopes of mountains and hills. Slopes are 15 to 50 percent.
The Sojur Series The Sojur series consists of very shallow, well drained soils formed in residuum from phyllite, slate, and related metamorphic rocks. Sojur soils are on foothill backslopes. Slopes are 15 to 50 percent.
Wesfil Series The Wesfil series consists of very shallow, well drained soils that formed in residuum from phyllite, slate, and related metamorphic rocks. Wesfil soils are on foothills and mountains. Slopes are 15 to 50 percent.
Wholan Series The Wholan series consists of very deep, well drained soils that formed in a loess mantle over silty alluvium from mixed rock sources. Wholan soils are on inset fans and fan skirts. Slopes are zero to two percent.
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3.0 VEGETATION
3.1 AGENCY CONSULTATION
Prior to performing surveys in 2012, Stantec contacted the Nevada Natural Heritage Program (NNHP), United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), and NDOW to request information regarding special status species known to occur, or that have a potential to occur. The BLM obtained a species list from the USFWS in 2014 during the agency’s review of the 2014 version of this biological report. In 2016, Stantec contacted the USFWS, NNHP, and NDOW requesting updated species lists and any helpful resource information for the Project Area. Appendix A includes agency responses to these requests.
The NNHP reported in 2012 and 2016 that four at-risk or BLM sensitive plant species are known to occur within at least three miles of the survey area: winged milkvetch (Astragalus pterocarpus); Barneby stemflower (Caulanthus barnebyi); Reese River phacelia (Phacelia glaberrima); and Crosby buckwheat (Eriogonum crosbyae). Crosby buckwheat is a BLM-sensitive species and a former candidate species for listing under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). However, current information does not support listing due to it either being more abundant or widespread than originally thought or because of a lack of identifiable threats. The winged milkvetch, Barneby stemflower, and Reese River phacelia are not BLM sensitive species and have no federally- or state-listed status.
The most recent USFWS correspondence did not identify any plant species that may occur. There is no mention of the whitebark pine (Pinus albicaulis), which the USFWS identified in 2014 as a candidate species with the potential to occur. The 2012 correspondence from the USFWS indicated that no listed, proposed, or candidate plant species are known to occur in the survey area.
The USFWS 2016 form letter states that there are no known National Wetland Inventory-mapped features (Appendix A). In 2012, the USFWS commented that wetlands, springs, or streams are known to occur in the survey area, and issued a reminder that discharge of fill material into wetlands or waters of the United States would be regulated by the United States Army Corps of Engineers under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act.
NDOW does not provide comments regarding special status plants.
3.2 HABITAT EVALUATION
2012 Prior to the surveys, Stantec evaluated the potential for BLM sensitive species and other special status species to occur. A habitat evaluation (HE) table was developed that identified the range of the species, habitat characteristics, and the likelihood for the species to occur. The HE table was modeled after an example table that BLM provided to Stantec in March 2011. At the time, Stantec used 2010 color aerial photography, knowledge of the area, and information contained
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in Baseline Survey Report Hycroft Mine (JBR, 2010) to make a desktop determination of potential habitat for BLM sensitive species. The table is not included in this report because it is superseded by Table B-1 described below and provided in Appendix B.
A number of BLM sensitive plants are associated with badlands or clay soils derived from weathered rhyolite or volcanic ash. This type of unique substrate is found at the Hycroft Mine and supports a population of Crosby buckwheat. The NRCS soil survey indicated that this type of substrate could occur in the North TMF area. Thus, there was the potential for Crosby buckwheat, Tiehm milkvetch (Astragalus tiehmii), Schoolcraft catseye (Cryptantha schoolcraftii), Grimy mousetail (Ivesia rhypara var. rhypara), smooth stickleaf (Mentzelia mollis), and Succor Creek parsley (Lomatium packardiae) to occur.
The BLM sensitive species sand cholla (Grusonia pulchella), which is also called sagebrush cholla, had been documented at the Hycroft mine. It is fairly common, and has an affinity for a wide range of soil textures. The sand cholla is a protected cactus species, as are all cacti in Nevada, (i.e., a permit is required prior to commercial harvest). Suitable habitat for the BLM sensitive Cordelia beardtongue (Penstemon floribundus) was not expected (i.e., dry very rocky slopes or alluvium or dark-colored volcanic talus). However, it is known from the Jackson Mountains, the adjacent mountain range across the Black Rock Desert, and therefore, during the survey there was a heightened awareness to look for potential habitat.
2014 A revised HE was submitted in 2014 that reviewed all BLM sensitive species present within the BLM Winnemucca District. The revised HE used Geographic Information System (GIS) data to assess the Expanded TMF area and re-assess the previously surveyed North TMF areas. Datasets used in the analysis included the NRCS soil survey maps, vegetation community maps previously developed from the 2012 biological baseline survey, and the Southwest Regional Gap Analysis Project land cover types. The HE was accepted by the BLM as final on May 7, 2014. Appendix B contains the HE table (Table B-1), as revised.
The HE did not identify the potential for federally- or state-listed species to occur. However, the HE identified the potential for the following BLM sensitive plant species to occur:
• Sand cholla: This species grows on sandy to rocky flats, often in sandy areas from 3,800 to 5,000 feet above mean sea level (AMSL) throughout most of Nevada (NNHP, 2001). Surveys are most frequently conducted in May and June (NNHP, 2001).
• Crosby buckwheat: This species grows on shallow sandy to clay soils derived from rhyolite and white fluviolacustrine volcanic ash deposits from 4,600 to 7,000 feet AMSL (NNHP, 2001; FNA, 1993-2005). Surveys are most frequently conducted between June and October (NNHP, 2001).
• Grimy mousetail: This species grows on dry, relatively barren badland or welded tuff soils, sometimes hydrothermally altered and re-cemented from 4,200 to 5,300 feet AMSL (NNHP, 2001). Surveys are most frequently conducted in May and June (NNHP, 2001).
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• Smooth stickleaf: This species grows on dry, open, nearly barren eroding shrink-swell badlands from 4,360 to 5,250 feet AMSL; known from southwest Humboldt County on the west side of the Black Rock Range (NNHP, 2001; Holmgren et al., 2005). Surveys are most frequently conducted between May and June (NNHP, 2001).
• Tiehm milkvetch: This species grows on white fluviolacustrine volcanic ash deposits weathering to deep clay from 5,280 to 5,750 feet AMSL (Cronquist et al., 1989). Surveys are most frequently conducted between June and August (NNHP, 2001).
• Schoolcraft catseye: Light colored volcanic ash deposits from 5,000 to 6,000 feet AMSL (Tiehm, 1986). Surveys are most frequently conducted between June and August (NNHP, 2001).
3.3 FIELD SURVEY METHODOLOGY
Table 2 provides a summary of the methodology and timing of vegetation surveys completed. More detailed description of the surveys listed follow the table. No new vegetation surveys were conducted in 2016.
Table 2 Vegetation Baseline Surveys Completed 2012 2014 Survey Details North TMF North TMF Expanded TMF Vegetation May 14 to 25, July 10 to July See Appendix C for species lists N/A Community 2012. 17, 2014 by survey year. Occurrences recorded Occurrences incidental to recorded greater sage- incidental to Noxious Weeds N/A grouse N/A wildlife and vegetation vegetation survey and surveys. botanical surveys. Survey forms and survey tracks were not prepared in 2012; data Survey Intuitive forms and survey tracks were conducted controlled prepared in 2014. Additional concurrent survey; range sand cholla occurrences were Sand Cholla with wildlife N/A of dates were documented during vegetation and July 16 through and sage-grouse vegetation vegetation September 3, transect surveys July 16 through surveys. 2014. 25, 2014 and one incidental in 2016. Crosby Extremely small isolated barrens Buckwheat were surveyed in 2012 (Figures Intuitive 4A, 4B, and 5). Survey forms and Grimy Mousetail Potential controlled survey tracks within clay barrens Smooth habitat was survey; N/A vegetation community were not Stickleaf not found; July May 14 to 19, prepared in 2012. The 2012 survey 29-31, 2014. Tiehm Milkvetch 2012. was accepted by BLM. No Schoolcraft habitat (clay barrens or Catseye “badlands”) was found in 2014.
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2012 2014 Survey Details North TMF North TMF Expanded TMF Occurrences recorded incidental to Occurrences greater sage- recorded grouse Survey forms are available for the incidental to Butterfly Host Not required; vegetation first few days of survey; greater sage- Plants predates transect however, buckwheat encounters grouse (Buckwheat requirement surveys and became so numerous that vegetation and Oxytheca) tor surveys. sand cholla subsequent occurrences were transect survey; recorded without survey forms. survey July 16 July 16 to 31 to 31. and September 3 to 4, 2014.
3.3.1 Vegetation Community Mapping and Floristic Inventory
Vegetation communities within the North TMF area were mapped in May 14 through 25, 2012. The networks of existing roads in the survey area were used for access. Areas inaccessible by road were surveyed on foot. Vegetation cover was separated into communities sharing common characteristics such as species composition and distribution amongst dominant and co-dominant species. Where possible, vegetation community boundaries were recorded using a Trimble Geo XT hand-held global positioning system (GPS) receiver. Plants observed were identified and then added to a comprehensive species list that notes the typical vegetation community in which it was found. To develop a vegetation map for the entire survey area, community boundaries were extrapolated based on field notes and characteristic tonal patterns visible on 1 inch = 400 feet- scale color and infrared aerial photography.
Field work to map vegetation communities within the Expanded TMF area was completed between July 10 and 17, 2014. Prior to the field work, vegetation communities were delineated in the office by interpretation of characteristic tonal patterns visible on 1 inch = 800 feet and 1 inch = 1,000 feet color and infrared aerial imagery. The preliminary boundaries were refined in the field based on field observations. Using the same method used during the 2012 surveys, vegetation cover was grouped into communities sharing common dominant and co-dominant species. Southwest Regional Gap Analysis Project landcover mapping and NRCS soils and ecological site descriptions were also used to delineate and validate vegetation types. Plant species found in the Expanded TMF area were recorded.
3.3.2 Noxious, Invasive, and Non-Native Species
During vegetation community mapping and special status plant surveys, occurrences of noxious, invasive, and non-native species were noted. The Project species list indicates the typical community in which the species was found (Appendix C). Occurrences of noxious weeds were recorded with a Trimble Geo XT GPS receiver.
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3.3.3 Special Status Plant Species Survey
2012 JBR performed a special status plant species survey May 14 through 19, 2012, within the North TMF area. JBR visited areas where potential habitat was believed to occur based on the pre-field review of maps and aerial photography. When potential habitat was observed or discovered, the habitat was visually inspected for corresponding special status species. No survey tracks were recorded.
2014 Targeted surveys for sand cholla were conducted in 2014 by HDR, Inc. Methods employed included intuitive controlled survey methods within the North HLF East Expansion Area, Tailing Leach Expansion Area, North Expansion Area and South Waste Rock Expansion Area totaling approximately 1,429 acres of survey area. These surveys were conducted June 3 through 12, 2014. The survey areas are not within the context of this report. However, some sand chollas were documented within the Authorized Plan Area adjacent to the Biological Survey Area (Figure 5).
Additional surveys were conducted by Stantec botanists within the Expanded TMF area, in habitat for plant species identified in the HE. Surveys were conducted July 29 through 31, 2014 and September 3 through 4, 2014. Additional sand cholla and buckwheat species occurrences were documented during vegetation surveys between July 16 through 25, 2014.
Stantec botanists used the intuitive controlled survey method described in the protocol document titled Survey Protocols Required for NEPA/ESA Compliance for BLM Special Status Plant Species (BLM, 2013) which is suitable for large areas and highly skilled surveyors. The botanists traversed the survey area, covering representative habitats and topographic features. Survey tracks were recorded. If a target plant was found, a special status plant data form was completed and Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) coordinates, population size, and species associates within 66 feet (22 meters) were recorded.
3.3.4 Host Plants of BLM Sensitive Butterfly Species
Currently, there are insects on the BLM Winnemucca District’s special status species list that are known to utilize certain plants in the buckwheat (polygonaceae) family, including Eriogonum and Oxytheca genera. Therefore, BLM's plant survey protocol (BLM, 2013) requires that an occurrence of a BLM sensitive butterfly host plant be documented following the same method as documenting an occurrence of a special status plant (i.e., using a special status plant data form).
Mattoni's blue (Euphilotes pallescens mattoni) is a BLM sensitive butterfly that feeds on slender buckwheat (Eriogonum microthecum) during its larval (caterpillar) phase. Slender buckwheat occurs widely across the west (Holmgren, et al., 2012). This buckwheat was found on the North TMF in 2012, although specific locations were not recorded. The larval food plant of the Great Basin small blue (Philotiella speciosa septentrionalis), which is also a BLM sensitive species, is unknown. However, the small blue (Philotiella speciosa) are known to feed on perfoliate oxytheca (Oxytheca perfoliata), three-lobed oxytheca (Oxytheca trilobata), and kidneyleaf buckwheat (Eriogonum reniforme) (Opler & Wright, 1999).
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Incidental to special status plant and greater sage-grouse vegetation transect surveys conducted July 16 through 31, 2014 and September 3 and 4, 2014, Stantec botanists recorded occurrences of buckwheat species as they were encountered. Due to the overwhelming number of buckwheat plants encountered (over 700 occurrences), botanists did not complete a data form after the first few days of survey. Instead, botanists documented occurrences with a Spectra Mobile-Mapper 120 GPS receiver with sub-meter accuracy. Plants were identified to the species level, or if applicable, to the variety level. Oxytheca species were not encountered.
3.4 FIELD SURVEY RESULTS
3.4.1 Vegetation Community Mapping and Floristic Inventory
Twenty-eight vegetation communities were mapped in the 2012-2014 Biological Survey Area (Figures 4A and 4B). The dominant vegetation communities were Desert Scrub-Wyoming Sagebrush (28 percent), Shadscale-Annual Grassland (23 percent), and Desert Scrub (10 percent) (Table 3). Plant species observed during surveys were recorded (Appendix C).
Table 3 Vegetation Communities in the Survey Area Expanded North Total Percent of Vegetation Communities North TMF TMF Area Total Area (acres) (acres) (acres) Annual Grassland 8 370 378 3 Anthropogenic Disturbance 1 23 24 <1 Bailey's Greasewood 0 201 201 1 Bailey's Greasewood-Annual Grassland 0 78 78 1 Barren Clay 0 7 7 <1 Basin Big Sagebrush 41 19 60 <1 Basin Big Sagebrush-Wyoming Sagebrush <1 7 7 <1 Black Greasewood 0 15 15 <1 Black Greasewood-Annual Grassland 0 205 205 1 Desert Scrub 291 1094 1385 10 Desert Scrub-Annual Grassland 15 583 598 4 Desert Scrub-Bailey's Greasewood <1 32 32 <1 Desert Scrub-Low Sagebrush 2 28 30 <1 Desert Scrub-Shadscale 0 640 640 4 Desert Scrub-Shadscale-Annual Grassland 0 151 151 1 Desert Scrub-Wyoming Sagebrush 395 3,595 3,990 28 Desert Scrub-Wyoming Sagebrush-Annual <1 Grassland 11 22 33 Inter-Mountain Basins Big Sagebrush Shrubland 20 3 23 <1 Inter-Mountain Basins Big Sagebrush Steppe 1 <1 1 <1 Inter-Mountain Basins Mixed Salt Desert Scrub 2 <1 2 <1 Inter-Mountain Basins Sparsely Vegetated Systems 1 0 1 <1 Introduced Upland Vegetation-Annual Grassland 3 0 3 <1
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Expanded North Total Percent of Vegetation Communities North TMF TMF Area Total Area (acres) (acres) (acres) Meadow (Riparian) 0 1 1 <1 Mojave Mid-Elevation Mixed Desert Scrub 1 0 1 <1 Rock Outcrop 0 2 2 <1 Shadscale 1 1,042 1,043 7 Shadscale-Annual Grassland 11 3,318 3,329 23 Shadscale-Bailey's Greasewood-Annual Grassland 0 51 51 <1 Riparian 4 0 4 <1 Wyoming Sagebrsuh-Annual Grassland 0 1 1 <1 Wyoming Sagebrush 252 556 808 6 Wyoming Sagebrush-Annual Grassland 36 847 883 6 Wyoming Sagebrush-Shadscale 66 30 96 1 Wyoming Sagebrush-Shadscale-Annual Grassland 85 320 405 3 Wyoming Sagebrush-Yellow Rabbitbrush- <1 Shadscale 9 0 9
The survey area is characterized by a series of steep to gentle hillslopes draining to narrow, interior valleys, and individual mountains superimposed on valley flats. The range in elevation, aspect, and topography host a variety of vegetation types ranging from desert scrub to salt desert to sagebrush shrub vegetation types (Figures 4A and 4B). The survey area is dominated by Desert Scrub-Wyoming Sagebrush and Shadscale-Annual Grassland communities. Fire scars are prevalent throughout, influencing the herbaceous understory in adjacent communities, with large areas dominated by annual species, especially on the east flank of the Kamma Mountains. Hillslopes in the interior of the area is dominated by desert scrub species at higher elevations, sometimes mixed with low sagebrush (Artemisia arbuscula) on mountain crests. Descending these slopes, one encounters Wyoming big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata var. wyomingensis), Bailey’s greasewood (Sarcobatus baileyi), and shadscale (Atriplex confertifolia) on alluvial fans and valley flats. Ephemeral drainages bisect this landscape and support stringers of Wyoming big sagebrush on alluvial fans to valley floors, as well as stands of Wyoming big sagebrush and basin big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata var. tridentata) and/or black greasewood (Sarcobatus vermiculatus) at the valley floor. Following are more detailed descriptions of these vegetation communities and where they occur.
Desert Scrub This plant association is prevalent throughout the area on all aspects, primarily occupying open clay slopes and volcanic rock covered slopes on all aspects. Typical species on these sparsely vegetated, gentle to steep slopes include littleleaf horsebrush (Tetradymia glabrata), yellow rabbitbrush, Bailey’s greasewood, spiny hopsage (Grayia spinosa), shadscale, and Nevada ephedra (Ephedra nevadensis). Desert prince’s plume (Stanleya pinnata), squirreltail (Elymus elymoides), and desert needlegrass (Achnatherum speciosum) provide perennial herbaceous components for this type, with annual grassland species as described above also sporadically present. Variations to this type include the Desert Scrub-Annual Grassland. Desert scrub shrub species contribute less vegetative cover where this type has burned, but are still prevalent, with
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the understory consisting of annual grassland species as described above. Other prevalent variations include Desert Scrub-Wyoming Sagebrush, Desert Scrub-Bailey’s Greasewood, and Desert Scrub-Shadscale communities where inclusions of the shrub type are too small to map separately. The Desert Scrub-Low Sagebrush community is encountered at the crests of a few slopes in the south portion of the North TMF area, where shallow, stony soils prevail as small inclusions within the Desert Scrub vegetation type. Common associates include cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum), Sandberg bluegrass (Poa secunda), desert phlox (Phlox austromontana), and woollypod milkvetch (Astragalus purshii).
Wyoming Sagebrush The Wyoming Sagebrush community occurs on hillslopes and valley bottoms in stands, and as stringers occupying ephemeral drainages on the alluvial fans throughout the area. Occasional shrub associates include littleleaf horsebrush and shadscale, with gooseberryleaf globemallow (Sphaeralcea grossulariifolia), Sandberg bluegrass, squirreltail, and cheatgrass also present in the herbaceous understory. Variations to this type include the Wyoming Sagebrush–Annual Grassland. Wyoming Sagebrush contributes less vegetative cover where this type has burned, but is still the prevalent shrub with the understory consisting of annual grassland species as described above. Another prevalent variation is the Wyoming Sagebrush-Shadscale type where inclusions of shadscale are too small to map separately.
Annual Grassland Large swathes of burned areas occur on the east flank of the Kamma Mountains, in interior valleys and valley flats, and as small patches throughout the rest of the area, often providing the basis for the herbaceous understory within adjacent vegetation communities. Where this occurs, the shrub-dominated vegetation types are labeled with Annual Grassland as part of the title. This vegetation type is characterized by annual species including cheatgrass as the dominant grass cover, and herbaceous annuals including tumblemustard (Sisymbrium altissimum), clasping pepperweed (Lepidium perfoliatum), and tansymustard (Descurainia sophia). Rubber rabbitbrush (Ericameria nauseosa) appears to be colonizing topographic lows within this vegetation type.
Shadscale Shadscale provides the basis for several communities within this area, occurring on lower portions of alluvial fans on hillslopes in the south, west, and east portions of the area, and on valley flats adjacent to Jungo Road. Shadscale provides dominant shrub cover with typical associates including bud sagebrush (Picrothamnus desertorum), yellow rabbitbrush (Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus var. puberulus), and green molly (Kochia americana). The herbaceous understory may include cushion buckwheat (Eriogonum ovalifolium var. purpureum), thickstem wild cabbage (Caulanthus crassicaulis), cheatgrass, and squirreltail. Variations to this type include Shadscale- Annual Grassland. Shadscale contributes less vegetative cover where this type has burned, but is still the prevalent shrub with the understory consisting of annual grassland species as described above. Other variations include the Shadscale-Black Greasewood and Shadscale-Bailey’s Greasewood communities where inclusions of shrub types are too small to map separately.
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Bailey’s Greasewood The Bailey’s greasewood-dominated community occurs in the north half of the surveyed area and occupies the tops, north, south, and east aspects of slopes, sometimes with desert pavement present. Additional shrub associates may include shadscale, littleleaf horsebrush, bud sagebrush, and yellow rabbitbrush. The herbaceous understory consists of annual cheatgrass, and occasional Indian ricegrass (Achnatherum hymenoides), and squirreltail. Variations to this type include the Bailey’s greasewood–annual grassland. Bailey’s greasewood contributes less vegetative cover where this type has burned, but is still the prevalent shrub with the understory consisting of annual grassland species as described above.
Black Greasewood The Black Greasewood community occurs on the floodplain of ephemeral drainages as almost pure stands of black greasewood. The understory is mostly absent with cheatgrass and clasping pepperweed occasionally present. Variations to this type include the Black Greasewood–Annual Grassland. Black greasewood contributes less vegetative cover where this type has burned, but is still the prevalent shrub with the understory consisting of Annual Grassland species as described above.
Basin Big Sagebrush The Basin Big Sagebrush community occurs almost exclusively along the southern quarter of the expansion area surveyed areas. It occupies some ephemeral drainages on the valley floor with shallow gradients as well as the heads of some drainages at the south end of the surveyed area. Variations to this type include the Basin Big Sagebrush-Wyoming Sagebrush vegetation type where this species is co-dominant with Wyoming big sagebrush.
Meadow The Meadow community is associated with a livestock tank (SPR 11-06) in the northwest portion of the surveyed area. (The identification number was established in 2011 for the purposes of the spring and seep inventory report and is used in this report for consistency.) Graminoid species prevail, with annual rabbitsfoot grass (Polypogon monspeliensis), foxtail barley (Hordeum jubatum), Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis), saltgrass (Distichlis spicata), Baltic rush (Juncus balticus), and weeping alkaligrass (Puccinellia distans) variably present. Saltcedar also known as tamarisk (Tamarix sp.), a state of Nevada noxious weed, is also present at the spring location.
Anthropogenic Disturbance Areas of bare or weedy soils are present where past mining activities have occurred. Native shrubs including rubber rabbitbrush, sagebrush species, and desert scrub species are colonizing these areas, with annual grassland species also present in the herbaceous layer.
Wyoming Sagebrush-Yellow Rabbitbrush-Shadscale The Wyoming Sagebrush-Yellow Rabbitbrush-Shadscale community occurs in the southeast corner of the Expanded TMF, and is not found within the North TMF. This community variation has an increased amount of yellow rabbitbrush compared to the Wyoming Sagebrush communities mapped in 2012.
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Riparian The Riparian community was identified in association with a spring and spring box (SPR 11-11), in Long Canyon in the southeast corner of the Expanded TMF, and is not found within the North TMF. (The identification number was established in 2011 for the purposes of the spring and seep inventory report and is used in this report for consistency.) Dominant vegetation included willow (Salix ssp.), Woods rose (Rosa woodsii), buffaloberry (Shepherdia argentea), tamarisk, and yellow rabbitbrush.
3.4.2 Noxious, Invasive, and Non-Native Species
One noxious weed species was identified within the survey area: five-stamen tamarisk. Locations of the noxious weed found in 2012 and 2014 are shown on Figure 5. The Nevada Department of Agriculture classifies tamarisk as Category “C” weed species (Nevada Department of Agriculture, 2014) which is the category for weeds that are currently established and generally widespread in many counties of Nevada and are actively eradicated from nursery stock on dealer premises.
Invasive, non-native species were observed within the survey area include cheatgrass, clasping pepperweed, tansymustard, tumblemustard, and halogeton (Halogeton glomeratus). Cheatgrass and halogeton were the most extensively established invasive species within the survey area, and occurred on all aspects of slopes ranging from gentle to steep. Both species tended to occur most regularly in disturbed open areas, along roadsides and other clearings, and other similar areas where native vegetation was sparse or removed.
3.4.3 Special Status Plant Species Survey
Sand cholla is the only BLM sensitive plant species found within the Biological Survey Area. Sand cholla can be found across most of the vegetation types found in the Biological Survey Area, except for riparian, badland, and disturbed areas. Approximately 14,244 acres of potential habitat (98 percent of the 2012-2014 Biological Survey Area) is available. A total of 11 occurrences were documented within the Biological Survey Area. Fourteen were documented adjacent to the Biological Survey Area (HDR, 2014) but within the Authorized Plan Area (Figure 5), eight occurrences were found during the 2014 Stantec surveys, one incidental (found during small mammal surveys) occurrence was noted in 2016, and two occurrences were found in 2012. A total of 65 sand chollas were documented within the total areas surveyed for Hycroft. Special Status Plant Species data forms are included in Appendix D.
Seven acres of barren clay was mapped in 2012 (Figure 5) but no occurrences of badland endemics (i.e., Crosby’s buckwheat, grimy mousetail, smooth stickleaf, Succor Creek parsley, and Tiehm’s milkvetch) were found. In 2014, field surveys confirmed that no potential habitat for badland endemics occurs in the Expanded TMF area.
3.4.4 Host Plants of BLM Sensitive Butterfly Species
Botanists recorded over 700 occurrences of buckwheat incidental to special status plant, vegetation community mapping, and greater sage-grouse vegetation transect surveys (Figure 6).
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These occurrences appear concentrated within the Expanded TMF area and are due to the fact that most of the botanical and vegetation survey efforts conducted in 2014 were located in this area. Five buckwheat species were identified: Eriogonum microthecum var. ambiguum, Eriogonum microthecum var. varlaxiflorum, Eriogonum heermannii var. humilius, Eriogonum ovalifolium, and Eriogonum palmerianum. Location coordinates are provided in Appendix E.
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4.0 WILDLIFE
4.1 AGENCY CONSULTATION
Prior to visiting the survey area in 2012, Stantec contacted NDOW, NNHP, and USFWS requesting information on general and special status wildlife species use of the survey area. Informal consultation occurred again in 2016. Appendix A contains agency responses to these requests and a summary is provided below.
NDOW’s letter made the following comments:
• Occupied mule deer distributions exist in the Kamma Mountains, which overlaps a small portion of the survey area.
• Pronghorn antelope distribution exists throughout the survey area.
• No known bighorn sheep or elk distributions overlap the survey area.
• Greater sage-grouse habitat in the survey area has not been categorized.
• There are no known leks in the vicinity of the survey area.
• Various species of raptors are known to reside in the vicinity. NDOW provided section, township, and range for known prairie falcon and golden eagles.
• Known common and sensitive wildlife species include desert horned lizard, gopher snake, Great Basin whiptail, greater short-horned lizard, northern desert horned lizard, Townsend's big eared bat, and western small footed myotis.
USFWS made the following comments:
• No listed or proposed species are known to occur in the survey area. However, the threatened Lahontan cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarkii henshawi) was listed as a species that may be affected because of the potential for off-site/downstream issues.
• Greater sage-grouse, candidate of federal listing, may occur in the survey area (2012).
• If bald eagles and/or golden eagles occur within the survey area or within 10 miles of the project boundary, potential effects to individuals, their habitats, and regional populations should be considered.
The NNHP did not provide comments regarding wildlife.
4.2 HABITAT EVALUATION
2012 Prior to the surveys, Stantec evaluated the potential for BLM sensitive species and other special status species to occur within the North TMF area. A HE table was developed that identified the
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range of the species, habitat characteristics, and the likelihood for the species to occur. The HE table was modeled after an example table that BLM provided to Stantec in March 2011. At the time, Stantec used 2010 color aerial photography, knowledge of the area, and information contained in Baseline Survey Report Hycroft Mine (JBR, 2010) to make a desktop determination of potential habitat for special status wildlife species. The table is not included in this report because it is superseded by Table B-1 (Appendix B) described below.
Anabat detectors were not used to assess bat use within the North TMF area because biologists did not find shafts or adits present in the survey area. The survey area was also thought to offer limited water sources or rock outcrops that would be considered high value foraging and roosting sites. Anabat detectors were used to identify bat species at the nearby Rosebud Mine area, located south of the Hycroft Mine. The Rosebud Mine area has a number of abandoned adits and shafts, and was used as a surrogate site to indicate bat species that may utilize the Biological Survey Area. Bat surveys of the Rosebud Mine area was of interest at the time because Hycroft was evaluating suitable off-site bat mitigation areas for the Phase I Expansion Project.
2014 As previously described in the vegetation section, the 2012 survey area did not cover all of the proposed Phase II Expansion area, and therefore, a new HE was submitted in 2014 that covered new areas (e.g., Expanded TMF) as well as previously surveyed area (e.g., North TMF). The new HE differed from the original HE in that all BLM sensitive species present within the BLM Winnemucca District were reviewed and the analysis was GIS-based. GIS datasets used in the analysis included NRCS soil survey maps, vegetation community maps previously developed from the 2012 Biological Baseline Survey, and Southwest Regional Gap Analysis Project land cover types. The HE was accepted by the BLM as final on May 7, 2014. Appendix B contains the HE table (Table B-1), as revised.
The HE indicated that 24 BLM sensitive species have the potential to occur.
As a companion to the HE Table, a migratory bird HE table was developed listing migratory birds with the potential to occur (Appendix B, Table B-2). Migratory birds that are also BLM sensitive are presented in the table evaluating sensitive species.
It should be noted that Mattoni's blue butterfly does not have a known distribution in the Biological Survey Area. Known range is eastern Nevada and Utah (Long-Ruby Valleys, Pilot-Thousand Springs and Bruneau watersheds of Elko County, Nevada and northern Great Salt Lake of Utah [NatureServe, 2013]). However, under BLM direction, it is considered a species with the potential to occur because its larval food source, slender buckwheat occurs within the Biological Survey Area.
The Great Basin small blue butterfly (Philotiella speciosa septentrionalis) is unlikely to occur within the Biological Survey Area because the larval food plant associated with the type locality holotype is round-leaf puncturebract (Oxytheca perfoliata), a Mojave Desert species. However, the BLM determined that the subspecies has the potential to occur because several types of buckwheat species were documented in the Biological Survey Area. According to Opler and Wright (1999), the larval food preference of the small blue is Oxythecas and kidney-leaf
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buckwheat (Eriogonum reniforme). The discussion in Opler and Wright (1999) was not specific to the subspecies Great Basin small blue.
2016 A majority of the species in Table 4 presents wildlife species that the HE identified as having the potential to occur. However, Preble’s shrew (Sorex preblei) was added as a species to survey for during small mammal trapping in 2016.
Table 4 Wildlife Species with the Potential to Occur Common Name Scientific Name Status Mammals Pallid bat Antrozous pallidus SP, NS Townsend's big-eared bat Corynorhinus townsendii SS, NS Big brown bat Eptesicus fuscus NS Silver-haired bat Lasionycteris noctivagans NS Hoary bat Lasiurus cinereus NS California myotis Myotis californicus NS Western small-footed myotis Myotis ciliolabrum NS Little brown myotis Myotis lucifugus NS Long-legged myotis Myotis volans NS Yuma myotis Myotis yumanensis NS Western pipistrelle Pipistrellus hesperus NS Dark kangaroo mouse Microdipodops megacephalus SP, NS Pale kangaroo mouse Microdipodops pallidus SP, NS Preble Shrew Sorex preblei NS Pygmy rabbit Brachylagus idahoensis NS Birds Golden eagle Aquila chrysaetos SP, NS Western burrowing owl Athene cunicularia hypugaea SP, NS Ferruginous hawk Buteo regalis SP, NS Greater sage-grouse Centrocercus urophasianus FC, GS, NS Loggerhead shrike Lanius ludovicianus SS, NS Sage Thrasher Oreoscoptes montanus SS, NS Brewer's sparrow Spizella breweri SS, NS Invertebrates Mattoni's blue Euphilotes pallescens mattonii NS Great Basin small blue Philotiella speciosa septentrionalis NS Status Codes: FP = Federal Candidate SP = State protected SS = State sensitive GS = Game species NS = Nevada BLM Sensitive
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4.3 FIELD SURVEY METHODOLOGY
Table 5 lists species that may occur in the Project Area and summarizes the type of surveys completed, if conducted. The table is followed by more detailed description of the field surveys performed.
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Table 5 Wildlife Baseline Surveys Completed 2012 2014 Type of Survey 2015 2016 North TMF North TMF Expanded TMF Incidental to Incidental to Incidental to other other surveys; other survey; July General Wildlife surveys; May 14 to June July 14 to N/A N/A 14 to September 29, 2012. September 12, 12, 2014. 2014. Point Count Survey; May 15-16, 2012 Point Count Survey; May Point count survey No new habitats Transect #1 in 23, 2016; (2 transects in Migratory Birds was not available for N/A Shadscale/ Annual Riparian/ meadow) repeated. transecting. grassland and Transect (Appendix F) #2 in Basin Big Sagebrush (Appendix F).
Loggerhead shrike Focused survey not Focused survey N/A conducted, presence not conducted; Presence noted was noted while presence was Sage thrasher during 2012 N/A N/A conducting on-site noted while surveys. surveys; May 14 to June conducting on- Presence noted during Brewer's sparrow 21, 2012. site surveys. Point Count Surveys 2012 ground survey within 5-mile radius of the North TMF April19-20 and See Wildlife Resources See Wildlife Resources May 21-25, 2015; 2013 See Wildlife Resources Consultants Consultants report Consultants report (not Golden eagle ground and aerial report (not included in this document). (not included in this included in this survey; 2 flights within a document). document). 10-mile radius of the Expanded TMF on June 3-4 and July 9. Presence and nest sites 2015/2016 Winter Raptor Ferruginous hawk were noted while See Wildlife Resources Consultants Surveys were performed N/A and other raptors conducting golden report (not included in this document). one day each month of eagle surveys. January and February
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2012 2014 Type of Survey 2015 2016 North TMF North TMF Expanded TMF Transect surveys on 6 to 18 percent slopes not previously surveyed; July 15 to August 29, 2014. Transect surveys on 2012 and 2014 transect spacing varied Western burrowing slopes less than 6 depending on habitat potential (e.g., N/A N/A owl percent; 500 feet; 300 feet; or 100 feet). Survey May 14 to June 21, 2012. tracks are available for 2012 and 2014 surveys. Survey forms were not prepared in 2012; survey forms were prepared in 2014 (Appendix G). Vegetation transect surveys in sagebrush communities on July 21-25, 29, and 30, 2014; Transect surveys Survey conducted within suitable habitat on September 4, concurrent with western 5, 9-12, 2014. burrowing owl survey; Sage-grouse transect surveys were Greater sage- May 14 to June 21, 2012. performed in potentially suitable N/A N/A grouse Initial field work identified summer and winter habitats. Transect "unsuitable", "marginal", spacing was 984 feet (300 meters) is and "suitable" summer consistent with BLM Nevada Statewide and winter habitats. Wildlife Survey Protocols. Survey forms were not prepared in 2012; survey forms and survey tracks were prepared in 2014 (Appendices H, I, J, K).
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2012 2014 Type of Survey 2015 2016 North TMF North TMF Expanded TMF Pallid bat Townsend's big- eared bat Big brown bat Silver-haired bat Spring/ Summer Season Survey Fall Season Survey: Mapping day-roost Hoary bat conducted by WRC: habitat; acoustic survey and night California myotis Surveys not conducted. acoustic survey and N/A vision survey; night vision survey; Western small- September 16-18, 2014. footed myotis June 18-20 and July Little brown myotis 11, 13, and 14, 2015. Long-legged myotis Yuma myotis Western pipistrelle
Surveys conducted within potentially suitable Dark kangaroo habitat. Seven trap lines mouse consisting of 148 traps were employed. Trapping occurred May Surveys not conducted. Surveys not conducted. N/A 3-6, 10-13, 17-20, 24-27; July 12-15, 19-22, 26-29; August 2-5, 9-13, 16-19 Pale kangaroo 23-26, 13-16. 27-30; mouse September 13-16, 20-23, 27-30, and October 4-7, 11-14, 18-24, 25-28.
One riparian area and one meadow targeted; Surveys not conducted because BLM- with a total three trap Preble’s shrew Surveys not conducted. approved HE did not identify potential N/A lines with 25 traps each. habitat. Tapping occurred April 25-29, July 25-29, and October 17-21.
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2012 2014 Type of Survey 2015 2016 North TMF North TMF Expanded TMF Transect surveys in potentially suitable habitat; August 5- September 4, 2014. Transect spacing 100 feet apart Survey conducted consistent with concurrent with western Interagency Pygmy rabbit N/A N/A N/A burrowing owl survey; Pygmy Rabbit May 14 to June 21, 2012. Working Group protocols (2008). Survey forms were not prepared in 2012; survey forms and survey tracks were prepared in 2014 (Appendix L). Two springs were inspected and dip netting in suitable habitat to determine springsnail presence; September 4, Springsnails Surveys not conducted. N/A N/A 2014. Suitable habitat consists of springs with perennial sources. Spring locations were mapped (Appendix M). Mattoni's blue Surveys not conducted. Buckwheat N/A butterfly species were mapped as they were Surveys not conducted. Great Basin small encountered during vegetation N/A blue butterfly surveys (Figure 6).
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4.3.1 General Wildlife and Game Species
The survey area is located within the Intermountain Cold Desert Shrub habitat, which is the most extensive (common) habitat type in Nevada (NDOW, 2012). Soils in this habitat type tend to be loose and easy to burrow in making it important habitat for many burrowing species, including the dark kangaroo mouse and western burrowing owl. Cold desert shrub habitat is also important breeding habitat for sage thrasher, Brewer’s sparrow, and sagebrush sparrow (Artemisiospiza nevadensis). These species breed and nest in areas of sagebrush, usually found near the tops of alluvial fans. This habitat supports a good prey base of rabbits and ground squirrels for raptors and eagles. Historically, Indian ricegrass was more prevalent but has been replaced with non-native species of cheatgrass, halogeton, and prickly Russian thistle (Salsola tragus). The thick stands of cheatgrass have contributed to more frequent fires in this habitat putting more acres of the Cold Desert Shrub habitat at risk (NDOW, 2012).
Stantec identified general wildlife habitats based on the vegetation survey conducted within the survey area May 14 to June 29, 2012 and July 14 to September 12, 2014. Topographic features that would be of particular importance to wildlife such as rock outcrops, cliffs, drainages, water sources, and man-made features including springs were searched for wildlife and their sign. Wildlife and sign (e.g., scat, tracks, feathers, nests, burrows, prey remains, carcasses, etc.) detected in the survey area were recorded while conducting focused surveys for other species.
4.3.2 Migratory Birds
In 2012, Stantec conducted point count bird surveys on May 15 and 16, 2012, establishing two transects inside the North TMF area. In 2016, two additional transects were added in one riparian and meadow habitats. Surveys were performed on May 23, 2016. Surveys followed the protocol provided by the Great Basin Bird Observatory (GBBO, 2003) (Appendix F). This methodology involves establishing transects approximately two miles long and within a single habitat type. Protocols allow for transects to be shortened or angled to remain in the same habitat type if sufficient continuous habitat is not present. Point count stations were established every 300 meters along the transect centerline, and were conducted between sunrise and 10:00 AM. A GPS unit was used to record each point count station. Surveys were conducted every 10 minutes, during which birds were recorded separately for the zero to three-minute, three- to five-minute, and five- to 10-minute intervals. Birds observed at each station were recorded, and the distance each bird was from the point count station was determined with an optical range finder. The bird’s activity and any evidence of breeding activity (nests, song, presence of young birds, etc.) were noted. Transects were surveyed once (not repeated).
In 2016, the Long Canyon riparian area (Spring SPR 11-11) represented an additional habitat type not surveyed. This area and the stock tank site, SPR 11-06, on the northwest corner of the North TMF area were surveyed following the protocol (GBBO, 2003). Due to the limited reach of the riparian habitat in Long Canyon, the transect consisted of three survey points. The meadow habitat at the stock tank site is less than one acre, and therefore, was surveyed using a single- point.
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4.3.3 Golden Eagle Nest Surveys
2012 In 2012, Stantec coordinated with USFWS and received concurrence that monitoring of existing eagle nest sites within five miles was adequate, in lieu of aerial flights. Stantec used available 2010 and 2011 survey data to determine eagle nest locations within a five-mile buffer of the North TMF area. Available data included Stantec’s golden eagle and raptor nests ground surveys conducted in 2010 and 2011 and an aerial survey conducted by NDOW in 2011 covering a 10- mile buffer of the Hycroft Mine (NDOW, 2011).
Survey observations were made on April 19 and 20 and May 21 through 25. In accordance with Interim Golden Eagle Technical Guidance: Inventory and Monitoring Protocols; and Other Recommendations in Support of Golden Eagle Management and Permit Issuance, February 2010 (USFWS, 2010), observations were made so that at least two site visits to the same golden eagle nest were spaced no closer than 30 days apart. Data recorded at each nest site included the date the nest was observed, nest condition, nest status, and if observable, number of young. UTM coordinates of nest locations were recorded. Nests were approached cautiously to avoid flushing incubating birds. Nest status was determined from a distance using binoculars or spotting scope. When approaching active nest sites along roadways, observers remained inside their vehicles. Potential nesting habitat within the survey area was searched with binoculars for previously unknown nest sites. Search areas included rock outcrops, cliffs, ridges, and knolls, and power line structures. Stantec looked for signs suggestive of nesting activity such as whitewash, stick nests, and prey remains. While surveying golden eagle nests, Stantec also recorded raptor nests.
When an eagle was observed off a nest, biologists looked for evidence of nesting behavior such as mated pairs, territorial defense, carrying nest material, and/or transporting food. If the avian species exhibited nesting behavior, the bird was observed for an extended period to determine the potential nest location. Stantec recorded eagle and raptor sightings with a Garmin 60CSx GPS receiver.
2013 In 2013, supplemental surveys for golden eagle were conducted. Again, observations of other raptor nests and activity were made incidental to golden eagle surveys. Golden eagle surveys consisted of eight episodes of ground monitoring of the eight nest sites closest to the Hycroft Mine to observe early- to mid-season nesting behavior. Observations were made on February 15; February 26 and 27; March 11 through 13; March 25 through 27; April 9 through 11; April 22 through 24; May 8 through 10; and May 28 through 30, 2013. Two aerial surveys were also performed in 2013 in accordance with protocols by Pagel et al. (2010) within an approximately 10-mile buffer around the Project Area to search for previously unknown nest sites and assess success from nests used in reproduction. Aerial flights were spaced no closer than 30 days a part, June 3 and 4 and July 9, 2013. See Hycroft Mine 2013 Golden Eagle Nest Monitoring (JBR, 2013) for details of monitoring objectives and methods.
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2014-2016 Ground and aerial surveys for nesting raptors and golden eagles conducted in 2014, 2015, and 2016 were performed by Wildlife Resources Consultants, Inc. (WRC) and are not included in this document. Methods generally included following protocols outlined in the 2010 guidance document (USFWS, 2010). These surveys were conducted within a 10-mile buffer from the Project Area. Initially reconnaissance surveys were conducted February 13, 14, and 21, 2014. These were followed by intensive surveys beginning February 25 but were terminated early March to avoid disturbance during early incubation. A second period of monitoring began March 12. The objectives of the intensive monitoring were to clarify the relationship of nests of the Silver Camel site to other surrounding nests. The 2014 survey also included two aerial flights within the 10-mile buffer: one on May 14 followed by a second flight June 10 (WRC, 2014).
The 2015 survey included two aerial surveys one on May 28 and 29, 2015, and the second on June 25, 2015. The first aerial survey was conducted during mid- to late-rearing, the second during fledging. The first flight included an expanded buffer (based on a changed project footprint) and re-examining potential habitat to determine if previous surveys missed nests, or if new nests had been constructed. The 2015 survey added seven new locations to the existing database of nests. During the first flight, all nests were closely inspected for evidence of occupation this year, including repair and decoration, or extensive mutes (droppings). Because the surveys occurred later in the breeding season, there was little likelihood of occupancy at new nests following the first flight. Therefore, only nests active during the first flight were visited on the second flight; the primary purpose of the second flight was to evaluate fledging success (WRC, 2015a).
The 2016 survey continued with the same methodology with the exception of intensive new nest searches. Aerial surveys were conducted April 7 and June 1, 2016 (WRC, 2016a). Methods would be described in the survey and monitoring reports prepared by WRC (WRC, 2016a).
4.3.4 Western Burrowing Owl
2012 Within the North TMF area, Stantec conducted focused surveys for western burrowing owl from May 14 through June 21, 2012, in accordance with the Burrowing Owl Project Clearance Protocol (Arizona Game and Fish Department, 2009) and Guidelines and Recommendations for Burrowing Owl Surveys and Mitigation (New Mexico Department of Game and Fish, 2007). Areas were surveyed once. Concurrent with the western burrowing owl surveys, biologists were also searching for signs of greater sage-grouse and pygmy rabbit where the habitats overlapped. Areas with slopes greater than six percent were considered unsuitable habitat. According to Birds of North America (BNA, 2012), “Suitable habitat throughout the breeding range typically includes open, treeless areas within grassland, steppe, and desert biomes. Generally inhabit gently-sloping areas, characterized by low, sparse vegetation.” According to Dechant et. al (2003) western burrowing owl prefer “well-drained, level to gently sloping” areas. To find inclusions of suitable habitat within the survey area, biologists walked transects spaced 600 feet apart. In areas where suitable habitat was identified, transects spacing was reduced to 100 feet apart to achieve 100 percent visual coverage of ground surfaces in order to locate potential burrows. When burrows were detected,
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surveyors looked for presence of western burrowing owl activity such as whitewash, feathers, pellets, prey remains, and insect parts.
Burrows that showed signs of western burrowing owl activity were revisited during dawn and dusk hours to determine if the burrows were currently occupied. If the burrows were determined to be occupied by western burrowing owl, the location was monitored to determine how many western burrowing owls were present and if they were nesting. The locations of occupied and unoccupied western burrowing owl burrows were recorded using a GPS receiver.
2014 Within the Expanded TMF area, surveys for western burrowing owl were conducted on zero to 18 percent slopes. A supplemental survey was conducted within the North TMF area on slopes between six to 18 percent because slopes steeper than six percent had not been surveyed in 2012. Surveys on steeper slopes were conducted to address two concerns raised by the BLM. The 2012 surveys relied upon references that were not adequate to justify a limited survey area and surveys were performed concurrently with other focused surveys. According to an earlier publication that pre-dated references used in the 2012 survey, Idaho BLM Technical Bulletin 85-3 Habitat and Nest Site Selection by Burrowing Owls in the Sagebrush Steppe of Idaho (Rich, 1985) found that the majority of burrowing owl burrows were found on slopes up to 10 degrees (approximately 18 percent slope).
Surveys for western burrowing owl were conducted July 15 through August 29, 2014. Surveys were conducted separately from other focused surveys. Transect spacing was selected based on the following criteria:
Marginal habitat: 500 feet apart where soils were thin or rocky and few rodent or wildlife burrows were present.
Potential habitat: 300 feet apart where rodent or wildlife burrows that were greater than four inches in diameter were present.
Occupied habitat: 100 feet apart, where active or inactive western burrowing owl burrows were present. This spacing is consistent with Guidelines and Recommendations for Burrowing Owl Surveys and Mitigation (NMDGF, 2007).
Transects were walked once (i.e., not repeated). When burrows were detected, biologists examined them closely for sign of western burrowing owl activity (e.g., whitewash, scat, pellets, prey remains). When burrows exhibited signs of use by western burrowing owl, biologists watched the burrows in the early morning just after sunrise and/or in the evening around sunset to determine if the burrows were currently occupied by western burrowing owls. Burrows were determined to be active if a western burrowing owl and fresh sign were observed at the location. Burrows were determined to be inactive when sign was present but no western burrowing owls were observed at the location. The UTM coordinates of inactive and active western burrowing owl burrows were recorded and mapped with a GPS receiver in accordance with BLM data collection standards. For each burrow that was recorded, a unique identifying number was generated. The number was established using the following criteria: unique number-month and day-biologist’s initials (e.g.,
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1-0702-AB). Survey tracks were recorded and field survey forms developed by Stantec were completed by the biologists conducting the surveys.
2016 Western burrowing owl burrows were incidentally noted during the 2016 small mammal summer trapping sessions. Burrows were noted and recorded with hand-held GPS device, but no survey forms were completed.
4.3.5 Winter Raptor Surveys
The Phase II Expansion initially included a proposed 345-kilovolt transmission line (no longer part of the Project), which passed adjacent to the Rye Patch Reservoir. Bald eagles have been known to winter near the reservoir and at the request of the BLM and NDOW, winter raptor surveys were conducted along existing roads. Protocols followed were based on NDOW Winter Raptor Survey Protocols (NDOW 2015). These protocols are centered on set driving routes across the state so that these routes may be repeated annually. For this Project, road transects totaled approximately 87 to 95 miles in length. The 2015 route included areas of the proposed and alternative transmission line, while the 2016 route expanded to include an additional eight miles along the Rosebud Road, near existing golden eagle territories in the Phase II Expansion Plan Area. Winter surveys generally are conducted once in January and again in February.
4.3.6 Greater Sage-Grouse
Within the last five years a number of changes to agency habitat classifications have been made for greater sage-grouse. The following discussion presents agency habitat management classifications and agency-required habitat suitability and surveys for greater sage-grouse. However, in 2015 a number of habitat classifications were made as well as agency requirements for field data. Based on the reclassification, the entire Authorized Plan Area and Phase II Expansion Plan Area do no longer have any suitable habitat for greater sage-grouse (Figure 7). Some areas within one mile of the Biological Survey Area are mapped as Other Habitat Management Area (Figure 7). This habitat is considered potentially seasonal or as connectivity habitat based on habitat characteristics (BLM, 2015).
2012 NDOW’s letter stated that no known greater sage-grouse leks were known within the vicinity of the survey area. The USFWS stated in their coordination letter that greater sage-grouse are known to occur within or adjacent to the North TMF area. Portions of the North TMF area are located within the Majuba 1 Sage-Grouse Population Management Unit (PMU), which is located in the Kamma Mountains (Figure 7). The remaining portions of the North TMF area are not located in a greater sage-grouse PMU.
The BLM in collaboration with the NDOW has mapped Preliminary Priority Habitat (PPH) and Preliminary General Habitat (PGH) greater sage-grouse habitat. The closest PPH and PGH habitat are approximately 14 miles to the east and west of the survey area and over 13 miles to the south in the Seven Trough Range (Figure 7).
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PPH consists of NDOW habitat categorization 1 (Essential and Irreplaceable Habitat) and categorization 2 (Important Habitat). These habitat categorizations consist of breeding habitat, lek sites, nesting habitat, brood-rearing habitat, winter range, and movement corridors. Vegetation primarily consists of sagebrush; however, it can include riparian areas, perennial grasslands, agricultural land, and restored lands.
PGH consists of NDOW habitat categorization 3 (Moderate Importance). This habitat type is similar to PPH, but typically lacks one or more key component which prevents it from being categorized as priority habitat. For example, sagebrush height and understory may be present but insufficient. This habitat type also includes sagebrush communities with pinyon-juniper encroachment, unrecovered burn areas, and areas that lack bird survey and inventory data to support a higher ranking.
NDOW habitat categorization 4 (Low Value Habitat and Transitional Range) are areas that naturally contribute very little value to greater sage-grouse other than transitional range from one seasonal habitat to another. Examples of this habitat type include Salt Desert Scrub communities, pinyon/juniper woodlands, aspen stands, and mountain mahogany stands.
NDOW habitat categorization 5 (Unsuitable Habitat) are areas that are currently in such poor condition that restoration efforts would not be feasible. The last NDOW habitat categorization is N/A (non-habitat) which includes areas of no consequence to greater sage-grouse, such as dense conifer stands, alpine cliffs and rock outcrops, playas, and human disturbances such as highways, gravel pits, mines, and populated places.
To determine use of the survey area by greater sage-grouse, biologists searched for greater sage- grouse or sign (e.g., pellets, feathers, tar, tracks, nests, eggshells, etc.) while walking transects 600 feet apart that were established for western burrowing owl surveys. The survey was conducted once. When greater sage-grouse or their sign was observed, transect spacing was reduced to 100 feet. Locations were recorded using a Garmin 60CSx GPS receiver. More detailed written protocols for conducting focused greater sage-grouse surveys were not utilized.
2014 Surveys in the North TMF and Expanded TMF areas for greater sage-grouse used a two-part method. In order to determine where surveys would be conducted, habitat suitability was assessed utilizing the Habitat Assessment Framework (HAF) (Stiver et al., 2010). Next, areas determined to be suitable habitat were surveyed for presence or absence of greater sage-grouse. Protocols submitted to BLM prior to the survey are provided in Appendix H. Detailed methods are described in detail below because these methods were developed with greater detail after the 2014 submitted document.
Part Habitat 1: Suitability Assessment Habitat suitability was determined using methods outlined in the HAF (Stiver et al., 2010). The HAF has four orders of habitat suitability. First and Second Order habitat descriptions occur at the broad- and mid-scale, which are the range-wide and Sage-grouse Management Zone levels. First and Second Order habitat descriptions have been tasked to agencies and non-government organizations such as the BLM, United States Forest Service, United States Geological Survey, and
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The Nature Conservancy. Third Order habitat descriptions are fine-scale and generally relate to sage-grouse movements between seasonal habitats within a home range. Third Order mapping uses mid-scale data and refines it to show seasonal habitat patterns while considering seasonal habitat availability, connectivity, and anthropogenic disturbances. Fourth Order habitat suitability describes seasonal habitat characteristics (e.g., vegetation composition, canopy cover, sagebrush height, etc.) at the site-scale. Third and fourth order habitat descriptions were used in this assessment.
The potential for occurrence of seasonal habitat types (e.g., spring, summer, and fall/winter habitat) was based on descriptions and criteria provided in the HAF Third Order Description Steps (Stiver et al., 2010, Page II-19 and II-20). According to these descriptions, the Biological Survey Area had the potential to be summer and fall/winter habitat but not breeding habitat. With the potential seasonal habitat use determined, Stantec began the HAF Fourth Order level of assessment described below.
1. "Identify seasonal use areas and associated third order cover types of interest for third order descriptions. Determine the extent of the land cover types within the seasonal use area."
Greater sage-grouse habitat GIS layers available from BLM and NDOW indicated that some portions of the Biological Survey Area were "pending analysis" and other portions had not been given any designation. Therefore, vegetation community mapping completed in 2012 and 2014 by Stantec was correlated with third order cover types (potential habitat) used by the HAF. Of the 28 vegetation communities occurring within the Biological Survey Area, twelve communities were correlated to HAF third order cover types (Table 6). Sixteen vegetation communities were eliminated because sagebrush was not a dominant species within the community. Additionally, two communities, meadow and riparian, were retained during this initial step due to their potential as riparian summer habitat.
Table 6 Vegetation Communities and Third Order Cover Types Correlation Mapped Vegetation Community Correlated HAF Third Order Cover Type Wyoming and Basin Big Sagebrush/Native Basin Big Sagebrush Perennial Wyoming and Basin Big Sagebrush/Native Basin Big Sagebrush -Wyoming Big Sagebrush Perennial Desert Scrub-Low Sagebrush Low Sagebrush/Native Perennial Wyoming and Basin Big Sagebrush/Native Desert Scrub-Wyoming Sagebrush Perennial Desert Scrub-Wyoming Sagebrush-Annual Wyoming and Basin Big Sagebrush/Exotic Annual Grassland Wyoming and Basin Big Sagebrush/Native Wyoming Sagebrush Perennial Wyoming Sagebrush-Annual Grassland Wyoming and Basin Big Sagebrush/Exotic Annual Wyoming Sagebrush-Shadscale Wyoming and Basin Big Sagebrush/Exotic Annual Wyoming Sagebrush-Shadscale-Annual Wyoming and Basin Big Sagebrush/Exotic Annual Grassland
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Mapped Vegetation Community Correlated HAF Third Order Cover Type Wyoming Sagebrush-Yellow Rabbitbrush- Wyoming and Basin Big Sagebrush/Native Shadscale Perennial
2. "Overlay soil or ecological site maps on land cover type maps to determine ecological site potential."
Mapped NRCS ecological sites were correlated with third order cover types, corresponding with site potential. (The previous step relates to current conditions; this step relates to future potential conditions.) Areas previously eliminated due to the lack of sagebrush in the community, such as annual grassland, were retained for analysis if NRCS determined they had potential, based on ecological site, to have sagebrush present in the community.
Of the eight ecological site units mapped by NRCS occurring within the Biological Survey Area, four ecological site units were correlated to HAF third order cover types (Table 7). Several communities that were eliminated in the previous step, such as annual grassland, were reinstated because of their theoretical future potential to support sagebrush.
Table 7 Ecological Sites and Third Order Cover Types Correlation Ecological Site Ecological Site Identification Correlated Third Order Cover Type Number Droughty Loam 8-10" P.Z. 024XY020NV Wyoming and Basin Big Sagebrush/Native Perennial Droughty Loam 8-10" P.Z. 027XY008NV Wyoming and Basin Big Sagebrush/Native Perennial Droughty Claypan 8-10" P.Z. 027XY070NV Low Sagebrush/Native Perennial Gravelly Claypan 8-10" P.Z. 027XY079NV Low Sagebrush/Native Perennial
3. "If available, obtain Ecological Reference sheets for the ecological sites contained within the seasonal habitat area of interest."
NRCS does not currently have detailed ecological site descriptions completed for most ecological sites in Nevada. Therefore, the two-page Rangeland Ecological Site Description sheets (pre-cursor to full ecological site descriptions) were substituted for reference sheets and were obtained for all mapped ecological sites. Rangeland Ecological Site Description sheets for the ecological sites listed in Table 7 are contained in Appendix H.
4. "Design sampling approach."
Stratified random sampling was used to locate sampling points within the three third order cover types (e.g., Wyoming and Basin Big Sagebrush/Native Perennial; Wyoming and Basin Big Sagebrush/Exotic Annual; and Low Sagebrush/Native Perennial). A total of 20 potential sampling locations were randomly placed within each cover type. This allowed for elimination of a sampling point if the transect would not fit within the selected community or if the vegetation community did not match the previously mapped community. The HAF
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states "the number of samples required for each cover type depends on the vegetation heterogeneity of the land cover type, degree of precision desired, and size of the seasonal use area (Page II-28)." The HAF also states "data should be collected along at least four transects per cover type (Page II-28)." Based on these factors, data was collected at eight sampling points in the Wyoming and Basin Big Sagebrush/Native Perennial (5,090 acres) and Wyoming and Basin Big Sagebrush/Exotic Annual Grassland (1,416 acres) cover types. Due to the smaller acreage of the Low Sagebrush/Native Perennial cover type (105 acres), data was collected at five sampling points for this cover type. One riparian area and one meadow were also sampled within the Biological Survey Area. Due to their small size (less than 5 acres) a single sampling location was placed within each area for "best-fit" of the 50 meter transect. Transect location map is contained in Appendix I.
5. "Collect field data."
6. Attributes related to vegetation composition and structure were collected on July 21-25, 29, and 30, 2014. Data was collected on 50-meter length transects and utilized the methods and field survey forms available in the HAF. Vegetation sampling included photo points, line-intercept for live shrub cover, line-point intercept for composition, sagebrush height, preferred forb availability, and distance to big sagebrush community. Meadow and riparian sampling included preferred forb availability, distance to big sagebrush community, and Proper Functioning Condition assessment for lentic areas (Prichard et al., 2003). "Transfer field data for land cover types of interest into suitability matrix categories associated with the seasonal habitat. Determine fourth order suitability."
Once field data were summarized by third order cover type (Form H-1), the summarized values were then used in the seasonal habitat suitability worksheet matrices (Forms H-4, H- 5, and H-6) to determine seasonal suitability. One worksheet was completed for each third order cover type for upland summer and winter seasonal habitat (six total worksheets). Data collected at the two riparian/meadow locations were summarized and used for the riparian summer habitat suitability matrix and worksheet.
Upland summer habitat suitability worksheets (H-4) utilize the following habitat indicators: sagebrush canopy cover, sagebrush height, perennial grass and forb canopy cover, and preferred forb availability. Riparian summer habitat suitability worksheets (H-5) utilize the following habitat indicators: PFC rating, preferred forb availability, and proximity to sagebrush cover. Winter habitat suitability worksheets (H-6) utilize sagebrush canopy cover and sagebrush height above snow as habitat indicators. All vegetation data was collected during "severe drought" (NCDC, 2014). Zero inches of snow accumulation was assumed because the 78-year average at a nearby weather station, the Rye Patch Dam, was zero inches for any month (WRCC, 2014).
7. "Describe fourth order habitat suitability for the seasonal habitats of interest."
Seasonal habitat site suitability was summarized into the H-7 form for each seasonal habitat and third order land cover type to determine overall habitat suitability. These suitability
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determinations resulted in the three upland cover types being surveyed as greater sage- grouse winter habitat.
8. "Review the seasonal habitat suitability matrices and determine whether regional adjustments to Connelly et al. (2000) Management Guidelines are warranted."
Seasonal habitat suitability matrices were reviewed to determine if any adjustments were warranted. A review of the seasonal habitat suitability matrices and management guidelines did not indicate a need to make adjustments.
Part 2: Presence/Absence Surveys Following the HAF assessment conducted in July of 2014, areas determined to be potentially suitable habitat using the HAF methods were surveyed for presence or absence of greater sage- grouse on September 4, 5, and 9-12, 2014. Protocols submitted to BLM are provided in Appendix H.
Survey transects with 300-meter spacing were placed in potential habitat using ArcGIS, and generally followed a northeast-southwest direction. Areas were surveyed once, and surveys were conducted independent of surveys for other wildlife. Suitable habitat areas that did not allow 300- meter spacing or the northeast-southwest direction had transects generally centered within the area to be sampled with 300 meters or less between transects. Three-hundred-meter spacing follows the BLM Nevada Statewide Wildlife Survey Protocols for sage-grouse surveys in winter habitat (BLM, 2014). Transects were walked one-time by Stantec biologists and observations of birds, sign of presence (scat, feathers, tracks, etc.), or lack thereof, were recorded using the Sage- grouse Field Form developed by Stantec. Transects were walked once (i.e., not repeated). If found, the season of use by sage-grouse would be determined by the characteristics and amount of scat, following the identification guide developed by NRCS (NRCS, 2010).
4.3.7 Pygmy Rabbit Survey
2012 Potential pygmy rabbit habitat within the survey area was surveyed in accordance with the methods outlined in Surveying for Pygmy Rabbits (Brachylagus idahoensis), (Interagency Pygmy Rabbit Working Group, 2008). Surveys were conducted concurrent with burrowing owl surveys on May 14 through June 21, 2012. Surveys were conducted once. The footprint of the focused survey area was defined by a pre-survey analysis of soils and vegetation. Potential pygmy rabbit habitat was identified as having appropriate soils (loamy soils deeper than 20 inches with 13 to 30 percent clay content), and slope aspect (flat to moderate slopes), within the elevation range of 4,500 to 8,000 feet AMSL. The pre-field assessment of potential pygmy rabbit habitat was refined in the field based on field observation (ground truthing). The pygmy rabbit survey was concentrated in areas with dense sagebrush islands or other potentially suitable habitat within the survey area. Such habitats were searched for pygmy rabbits and their sign (e.g., burrows, pellets, tracks, runways, digging, etc.). Separate survey tracks within pygmy rabbit habitat were not made.
2014 Potential pygmy rabbit habitat was surveyed from August 5 to September 4, 2014, in accordance with Surveying for Pygmy Rabbits (Brachylagus idahoensis) (Interagency Pygmy Rabbit Working
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Group, 2008). The North TMF area was resurveyed because 2012 surveys were conducted concurrently with burrowing owl surveys, which is no longer an accepted practice by the BLM. The footprint of the focused survey was first defined by a GIS analysis of soils and vegetation. Search areas consisted of areas dominated by tall, big sagebrush cover that overlapped Jerval-Dorper Association, Pokergap-Jerval Association and the Wholan silt loam zero to two percent slopes soil units. These soil units have potential to contain deeper soils (typically loamy, friable soils more than 20 inches deep). In the field, sagebrush-dominated communities that occur as inclusions within desert scrub, shadscale, black greasewood, and annual grassland communities, which were found along ephemeral drainages, were included as potential habitat.
Ground-truthed potential habitat was searched for pygmy rabbits and their sign (e.g., burrows, pellets, tracks, runways, digging, etc.). Pedestrian surveys were conducted using transects spaced 100 feet apart. Transects were walked once (i.e., not repeated). Survey tracks were recorded and field survey forms developed by Stantec were completed by the biologists conducting the surveys.
4.3.8 Bats
In 2014, the BLM requested that surveys be conducted over two seasons, during the maternity season (April-August) and prior to hibernation (September-October). To develop monitoring protocols and identify survey periods, WRC consulted with Ms. Jenni Jeffers, NDOW’s non-game biologist. The BLM approved a three-night survey period for the fall survey and two, three-night survey periods (separated by a 10- to 15-day interval) for the spring/summer survey (WRC, 2015b and 2016b).
Bat use of the Biological Survey Area was assessed by several methods: visual inspection of potential day-roost sites; acoustic surveys; and night vision surveys. The fall season survey was performed September 16 through 18, 2014; and the spring/summer season surveys were performed June 18 through 20 and July 11, 13, and 14, 2015. Sites targeted for visual inspection included potential habitat identified in the BLM-approved HE, which consisted of rock outcrops and two abandoned mine lands claims; 10 areas mapped in 2014 by the BLM (1,919 acres); and additional rock outcrops identified by WRC. Sites were considered suitable day-roosting habitat if it met the following criteria:
• Rock outcrop with cracks and crevices; or
• Had evidence of bat use (e.g., observation of roosting bats, scat, prey remains, urine staining).
Suitable day-roosting sites that were field-verified as potential habitat were recorded with GPS points. Many of the day roosting sites were selected for acoustic and night vision surveys.
Acoustic surveys used Pettersson ultrasonic bat detectors (Model D240X Pettersson Elektronik, Uppsala, Sweden). Monitoring sites included six rock outcrops, a water trough, and a pool of water associated with a spring. The trough and spring were considered likely foraging sites. Detectors were placed in the same location and in the same orientation for all survey nights with the
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exception of the pond and trough sites, which were sampled on one and two nights, respectively. With the exception of one rock outcrop, the same sites were selected for the spring/summer season surveys. Detectors were turned on between 7:00 PM and 9:30 PM, and operated throughout the night.
For night surveys, biologists used iGen NV 20/20 night vision equipment in conjunction with an infrared light mounted on a tripod. Additionally, a Sony Nightshot SR12 camcorder with auxiliary dual infrared lights was used to passively monitor rock outcrops. For the fall season survey, two rock outcrops were selected that appeared to have the highest probability of a visual encounter based on the outcrop’s complexity, size, and evidence of use. Outcrops were monitored September 16 and 18, 2014, beginning at 7:00 PM and continuing until 9:30 PM. Three new (i.e., different) rock outcrops that could potentially be used as maternal roost sites were selected for the spring/summer season survey. The survey was conducted July 11 through 14 and July 19 and 20, 2015, beginning at 7:45 PM and continuing until 9:30 PM (WRC, 2015b and 2016b).
4.3.9 Preble’s Shrew
In 2015, the BLM commented that, although the BLM-approved HE did not identify the occurrence potential habitat Preble’s shrew, additional information was provided by NDOW warranting surveys around the spring sites in the Biological Survey Area. Preble’s shrew occupies a variety of habitat types, including xeric and mesic sagebrush communities, sagebrush-bunchgrass communities, sagebrush-bitterbrush communities, aspen communities, salt grass-greasewood communities, riparian and wet meadow areas, and forested communities (Cornely et al., 1992; Rickart et al., 2011; Shofi et al., 2006; NDOW, 2012). However, trap success has been known to be greater in riparian areas or in upland vegetation within 328 feet (100 meters) of water (Van Gunst et al., 2015). Therefore, trapping locations were selected based on the presence of riparian and meadow habitats.
Two riparian and meadow areas were identified for trapping: Northern Spring and Southern Spring/Riparian (Figure 15). These areas are associated with stock tank SPR 11-06 and site pond SPR 11-11. Surveys were conducted in accordance with Sorex Capture and Handling Protocol (Van Gunst et al., 2015) provided by the BLM and NDOW (Appendix M). Trapping sessions occurred for four nights each season. Three season surveys were performed: April 25 through 29, 2016 (spring season); July 25 through 29, 2016 (summer season); and October 17 through 21, 2016 (fall season).
Two types of live traps were utilized: small folding Sherman traps (H. B. Sherman Traps, Inc., Tallahassee, Florida) (3 X 3.5 X 9 inches) and British-made Longworth traps. Traps were spaced at approximately 3.3-foot (10-meter) intervals, and alternated between Sherman and Longworth traps. The number of traps placed on individual trap lines varied with the extent of riparian and meadow habitat present. To provide insulation during cooler temperatures traps were supplied with a poly-fill batting material and covered with corrugated plastic tents. Traps were baited with 10-grams of wet cat food. Bait levels were checked after each trapping night, and were replaced when traps were opened.
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The number of traps employed at each location varied by the amount of potentially suitable habitat available. Non-target species that were captured were identified and added to the comprehensive list of wildlife species observed during surveys (Appendix C).
4.3.10 Pale and Dark Kangaroo Mouse
To detect the presence of pale and dark kangaroo mouse, Stantec conducted three seasons of trapping using survey protocol that was developed in cooperation with the BLM and NDOW (Appendix M). The spring season survey was conducted between May 3 and 27, 2016; the summer season survey was conducted between July 12 and August 23, 2016; and the fall season survey was conducted between September 13 and October 28, 2016.
Prior to selecting trap line locations, potential habitat identified in the BLM-approved HE was further refined. Potential habitat for both species was assumed to overlap and consisted of soil map units that had a sandy and/or gravelly component in the top 12 inches (Table 8). Trap lines were placed in the top three soil units, which represent 99 percent of the potential habitat area. Within these soil units, the ArcGIS Random Points tool was used to generate random locations to place the trap lines.
Table 8 Pale and Dark Kangaroo Mouse Potential Habitat Soil Units NRCS Soil Unit Number Soil Unit Name1 Acreage Number of Trap Lines 935/1210 Wesfil-Sojur association 5,117 3 463/1400 Jerval-Dorper association 2,128 2 360/431 Grumblen-Pickup association 814 2 130 Boomstick-Majuba-Sojur association 187 - 804 Singatse-Rock outcrop complex 166 - 1Soil units were further refined by selecting areas that represented greater than 1 percent of the area
Seven trap lines were established. Each line used 74 Sherman folding aluminum live traps (3 X 3.5 X 9 inches) and 74 Sherman non-folding aluminum live traps (3 X 3.5 X 13 inches), for total of 148 traps per line. Each line was approximately 2,100 feet long.
Traps were baited with a rolled oat and peanut butter mixture. To provide insulation during cooler temperatures, traps were filled with a poly-fill batting material, and covered with corrugated plastic tents. Pale and dark kangaroo mouse activity reportedly peaks just after sunset and continues through the night (Manley, et al., 2006). Accordingly, traps were opened approximately one hour before sunset and checked within approximately one hour after sunrise. Coordinates, weather, survey start/stop time, trap/transect number, and the number of false trips (closed but empty trap) were recorded. Non-target species that were captured were identified and added to the comprehensive list of wildlife species observed during surveys (Appendix C).
To minimize the capture of non-target species, traps were closed during the day. Trap lines were left in place for four consecutive nights at each trapping location. During each season of survey, trap lines were placed at the same location and in the same array.
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4.3.11 Springsnails
Surveys for springsnails were not conducted in 2012. To address BLM comments, a springsnail survey was conducted on September 4, 2014. Springs that had perennial, slow moving flow were investigated for potential presence of springsnails using dip nets to observe the presence or absence of springsnails. A Guide to Springsnail Identification and Monitoring Carlin Trend, Lander and Pershing Counties, Nevada (Sada, 2004) states that springsnails are unable to live outside of an aquatic environment for long periods and most are restricted to springs with good water quality. Springsnails never inhabit springs that are periodically dry and generally occur in cool waters on gravel or cobble substrates, or on watercress (Nasturtium officinale). They also prefer habitat where water movement is active; however, they generally do not occur in areas of higher water velocity as they can be easily flushed from the system. Two spring sites, SPR 11-06 (livestock tank) and SPR 11-11 (Mitchum Spring), were examined for the potential presence of springsnails. The spring identification number was established in 2011 for the purposes of the spring and seep inventory report and is used in this report for consistency.
4.4 FIELD SURVEY RESULTS
4.4.1 General Wildlife and Game Species
NDOW identified occupied pronghorn antelope habitat across the Biological Survey Area and the base of the Kamma Mountains, which overlaps a sliver of the Biological Survey Area along its southwestern boundary as occupied mule deer habitat (Appendix A). Consistent with the agency responses, pronghorn antelope were observed throughout the survey area, as well as their tracks and sign. Mule deer tracks were observed in the Kamma Mountains.
Coyote were common throughout. The game bird species chukar (Alectoris chukar) were heard calling north of Jungo Road. Other general wildlife species observed in the survey area include black-tailed jackrabbit (Lepus californicus), mountain cottontail (Sylvilagus nuttallii), Antelope ground squirrel (Ammospermophilus leucurus), wild horse (Equus ferus), and American badger (Taxidea taxus). Reptile species observed in the area included western fence lizard (Sceloporus occidentalis), collared lizard (Crotaphytus collaris), leopard lizard (Crotaphytus wislizenii), and desert horned toad (Phrynosoma platyrhinos pathyrhinos). A western rattlesnake (Crotalus oreganus) was observed in the southern portion of the Biological Survey Area. A comprehensive list of wildlife species observed during surveys is included in Appendix C.
4.4.2 Migratory Birds
Migratory bird species were observed throughout the survey area. Migratory bird species observed during the 2012 spring field visits include horned lark (Eremophila alpestris), western meadowlark (Sturnella neglecta), black-throated sparrow (Amphispiza bilineata), cliff swallow (Petrochelidon pyrrhonota), common poorwill (Phalaenoptilus nuttallii), house finch (Haemorhous mexicanus), killdeer (Charadrius vociferus), lark sparrow (Chondestes grammacus), loggerhead shrike, rock wren (Salpinctes obsoletus), Say’s phoebe (Sayornis saya), snowy egret (Egretta thula), Townsend's warbler (Setophaga townsendi), yellow warbler (Setophaga petechia), western
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tanager (Piranga ludoviciana), barn swallow (Hirundo rustica), common raven (Corvus corax), black-billed magpie (Pica hudsonia), Brewer's blackbird (Euphagus cyanocephalus), northern mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos), killdeer, Brewer’s sparrow and sagebrush sparrow (Artemisiospiza nevadensis).
The Brewer’s sparrow and loggerhead shrike are a BLM sensitive species and Bird Species of Conservation Concern as identified by USFWS (USFWS, 2008). Brewer’s sparrows were commonly recorded in the survey area as were loggerhead shrike. Year-round resident bird species commonly observed included the horned lark, black-billed magpie, Brewer's blackbird, common raven, and northern mockingbird.
Little open water habitat is present in the survey area; however, a killdeer and snowy egret were observed near a spring in the North TMF area.
2012 Point Count Transects Two-point count bird transects were established in the North TMF area to assess breeding bird diversity in the survey area (Figure 8). Survey forms are provided in Appendix F.
Transect 1 Transect 1 was located in the northern portion of the North TMF area and was established in Shadscale and Annual grassland vegetation communities near Jungo Road (Figure 8). Data along the transect was collected from the southeast to northwest on the morning of May 15, 2012. Table 9 summarizes the results of species identified during the point count survey. Avian species recorded included horned larks, with smaller numbers of sage sparrows and Brewer’s sparrows found in sagebrush stringers associated with drainages that cross the transect. An occupied common raven nest was located on a power line structure near the northwestern end of the transect. A Say’s phoebe was observed near the southeastern end of this transect and a red- tailed hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) was perched on an outcrop west of the transect.
Table 9 2012 Point Count Migratory Bird Transect 1
UTM Coordinate Number Station Birds Observed Notes Easting Northing Observed Horned Lark 3 1 Singing T-1 Sagebrush Sparrow 1 - Horned Lark 1 - T-2 Sage Sparrow 1 Singing Say’s Phoebe 1 - T-3 Horned lark 1 - Brewer’s Sparrow 2 1 Singing T-4 Horned lark 4 - T-5 Horned Lark 4 2 in chase T-6 Horned Lark 4 2 in chase Red-tailed Hawk 1 Approx. ¾ mile west T-7 Horned Lark 3 2 Singing T-8 Horned Lark 4 -
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UTM Coordinate Number Station Birds Observed Notes Easting Northing Observed Common Raven 1 Nest at 185 meters T-9 Horned Lark 3 1 Flyover Common Raven 1 - T-10 Horned Lark 1 -
Transect 2 Transect 2 was established within the Basin Big Sagebrush vegetation community in the southern portion of the North TMF area. Results of Transect 2 are shown in Table 10. This transect was angled at a fence line to remain in the same habitat type (Figure 8). Avian species recorded included horned larks, sagebrush sparrows, and western meadowlarks. Common ravens were also recorded in the area, and three barn swallows flew over the southern portion of the transect.
Table 10 2012 Point Count Migratory Bird Transect 2
UTM Coordinate Number Station Birds Observed Notes Easting Northing Observed Common Raven 1 Flyover Horned Lark 2 1 Singing T-1 Barn Swallow 3 Flyovers Sagebrush Sparrow 1 Singing Horned Lark 2 Both singing T-2 Sagebrush Sparrow 1 Singing Western Meadowlark 1 Singing Common Raven 1 Calling to northwest T-3 Horned Lark 2 1 female staying close Common Raven 1 Alarm call ½ mi. northeast T-4 Sagebrush Sparrow 2 Both Singing Western Meadowlark 2 1 Singing Horned Lark 1 Singing T-5 Western Meadowlark 2 Both singing Horned Lark 2 Both Singing T-6 Sagebrush Sparrow 1 Singing Western Meadowlark 2 Both Singing Horned Lark 2 1 Singing T-7 Western Meadowlark 2 1 Singing T-8 Western Meadowlark 3 All three singing Horned Lark 3 2 Singing T-9 Western Meadowlark 2 1 Singing Horned Lark 1 - T-10 Sagebrush Sparrow 1 Singing Western Meadowlark 3 2 Singing
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2016 Point Count Transects To assess breeding bird populations using riparian and meadow habitats, one-point count survey transect was established in the Expanded TMF area, and the other in the North TMF (Figure 8). Survey forms are provided in Appendix F.
Transect 1 was established in Long Canyon riparian area. Several springs in the canyon support riparian vegetation that includes buffaloberry, sandbar willow (Salix exigua), Woods rose, tamarisk, rubber rabbitbrush, and big sagebrush. A stock pond has been created below springs near Point 3 at the upper (eastern) end of this transect. The canyon is bordered by rock outcrops and cliffs below Point 1. A summary of the results of this transect are found in Table 11.
An active prairie falcon nest was found on the south wall of the canyon below Point 1, and a sitting prairie falcon was present on this nest. Other avian species recorded in riparian and surrounding vegetation found on this transect in May included rock wren, Wilson’s warbler (Cardellina pusilla), a brown-headed cowbird (Molothrus ater), killdeer, horned lark, and Brewer’s and sagebrush sparrows.
Table 11 2016 Point Count South Riparian Transect UTM Coordinate Number Station Birds Observed Notes Easting Northing Observed
Rock Wren 2 Singing
T-1 Prairie Falcon 1 On nest below transect
Wilson’s Warbler 2 In Buffaloberry
No birds recorded during 10- T-2 0 minute count interval
Brown-headed Cowbird 1 Calling Killdeer 1 By pond Two in chase, one T-3 Horned Lark 3 singing Brewer’s Sparrow 1 Singing Sagebrush Sparrow 1 Singing
A western kingbird (Tyrannus verticalis) was observed between Points 1 and 2 and a common raven flew over the area. A rose-breasted grosbeak (Pheucticus ludovicianus), apparently a vagrant migrant bird, was observed in a large sandbar willow east of (above) Point 2. A mallard flushed from the stock pond that has been constructed below the springs at Point 3 before the count was started. Chukar (Alectoris chukar) were heard in the area, and a yellow warbler was observed in buffaloberry and willow near Point 1 on return through the area.
Transect 2 was established at the SPR 11-06 stock tank. While the site lacked riparian shrubs, overflow from the tank, when it occurs, supports yellow water buttercup (Ranunculus flabellaris), also known as seep and spring buttercup) as well as a dense stand of pinnate tansymustard and
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cheatgrass. The stock tank was not wetted at the time of the survey. During surveys for small mammals, it noted that the tank remained dry throughout the season. Species observed in the area of the single point included a western meadowlark, a horned lark, two Brewer’s sparrows and two black-throated sparrows (Table 12).
Table 12 2016 Point Count Transect Stock Tank UTM Coordinates Station Birds Observed Number Observed Notes Easting Northing Western Meadowlark 1 Singing
Black-throated Sparrow 2 Singing P-1 Brewer’s Sparrow 2 Singing
Horned Lark 1 Singing
4.4.3 Raptors
4.4.3.1 Golden Eagle and other Raptors 2012 Stantec located five unoccupied and two occupied golden eagle nests within a five-mile buffer of the North TMF area. Three of the golden nests were new nests that had not been previously identified. A red-tailed hawk nest was observed in a nest identified as an occupied golden eagle nest in 2011. Two occupied ferruginous hawk nests, three occupied prairie falcon nests, one occupied burrowing owl burrow, and one unoccupied burrowing owl burrow were observed near or within the survey area. (The two occupied ferruginous hawk nests were observed north of Jungo Road, north of the North TMF area.) Ten occupied common raven nests were identified and six additional unoccupied nests of unknown species were observed. Table 13 presents the species, locations and status (occupied/unoccupied) of nests identified by Stantec in 2012.
Table 13 Raptor Nests Recorded in 2012
UTM Coordinate 2012 JBR JBR ID Comments Easting Northing Nest Status Golden Eagle 2 Unoccupied Occupied in 2010 and 2011. 3 Unoccupied Occupied in 2010 and 2011. 4 Unoccupied Occupied in 2010 and 2011. Nest on south side of Sawtooth Knob feature. In 2012, the original nest was occupied with a red-tailed hawk 46 Occupied and a new nest on the same feature was now occupied with a golden eagle. 308 Unoccupied Unoccupied golden eagle nest. New nest for 2012. 309 Unoccupied Unoccupied golden eagle nest. New nest for 2012. 310 Occupied Occupied golden eagle nest. New nest for 2012. Prairie Falcon
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UTM Coordinate 2012 JBR JBR ID Comments Easting Northing Nest Status 303 Occupied New nest for 2012. Two unoccupied prairie falcon nests upgradient of 304 Unoccupied occupied nest. New nest for 2012. Nest on rocky outcrop near surface water. JBR 305 Occupied identified one young in the nest. New nest for 2012. 306 Occupied Occupied prairie falcon nest. New nest for 2012. Ferruginous Hawk JBR identified one young in the nest. Adult female is a 307 Occupied dark morph, adult male is pale. New nest for 2012. Occupied nest north of Jungo Road south of 324 Occupied Mandalay Spring. Nest-Species Undetermined 176 Unoccupied Large stick nest on power pole near railroad tracks. 300 Unoccupied Stick nest on ground. 301 Unoccupied Stick nest. 302 Unoccupied Stick nest. 312 Unoccupied Stick nest on ground. 323 Unoccupied Large stick nest on power pole near railroad tracks.
In addition to the raptors nests found during golden eagle surveys, prairie falcon, ferruginous hawk, golden eagle, great horned owl, red-tailed hawk, western burrowing owl, and prairie falcon were observed within and near the survey area.
2013-2016 The comprehensive nest inventory conducted in 2013 found approximately 25 golden eagle nest sites within 10 miles of the survey area. In 2014, the BLM provided a base map on a compact disc that delineated some additional potential raptor and bat habitat, totaling 1,919 acres within the Biological Survey Area. Surveys conducted within a 10-mile radius in 2015 have been provided in a report by WRC. The 2015 survey documented 33 golden eagle nest sites within the expanded survey area, with 10 active nests documented, and all 10 apparently successful (WRC, 2015a). The 2016 results will be made available by WRC. However, the results revealed 15 active golden eagle nests with 13 successful at fledging young (WRC, 2016a).
Other raptor nests within a one-mile radius from all survey years (2010 to 2016) were documented and compiled by WRC (2015a). For the 2016 survey season, 11 nests were classified as Buteo, meaning the nests were likely used by hawks of this genus or by common raven, six were prairie falcon, and five were attributed to ferruginous hawk (a species of Buteo). Figure 9A shows nesting raptor surveys performed by WRC from 2014 through 2017 and Stantec/JBR from 2012 to 2013. Figure 9B shows golden eagle nest locations identified during surveys from 2012 through 2017. Appendix P includes nesting survey data from 2012 to 2017. See annual reports by WRC for a detailed discussion of methods and results.
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Figure 9a depicts the survey routes of the winter raptor surveys within 10 miles of the Project. The 2015 winter raptor surveys included documenting, in order of abundance: golden eagle, prairie falcon, and ferruginous hawk with a total of five raptors documented. The 2016 surveys documented in order of abundance: golden eagle, red-tailed hawk, and northern harrier within the 10-mile buffer. The 2016 surveys saw an increase in number of raptors seen totaling 12 individuals for both surveys. Bald eagles were not encountered during the surveys.
4.4.3.2 Western Burrowing Owl 2012 One occupied and one unoccupied western burrowing owl burrows were found in open habitats in the North TMF area) (Table 14; Figure 10). A western burrowing owl was flushed from the active Burrow 311 where sign and pellets were also observed. This burrow was monitored for several mornings and the owl was not observed at the burrow again. The inactive Burrow 313 had one pellet and sign; however, no individuals were observed using the burrow so it was classified as unoccupied. One western burrowing owl was flushed while conducting transects in the North TMF area. The area was surveyed with 100-foot transects, and a burrow with sign or pellets was not observed. A burrowing owl pellet was observed at the base of a fence post; however, western burrowing owls or their burrows were not observed in the area.
Table 14 Western Burrowing Owl Burrows Identified in 2012
UTM Coordinate Status at The Time of the Burrow ID Date Identified Easting Northing Survey 313 June 30, 2012 Inactive 311 June 1, 2012 Active
2014 Approximately 11,800 acres of potential habitat is available within the 2012-2014 Biological Survey Area (81 percent), of which, 3,454 acres was surveyed in 2014. Ten western burrowing owl burrows were identified in 2014 (Table 15; Figure 10). Figure 10 also shows two burrows found in 2012. Field survey forms are included in Appendix G. Each documented western burrowing owl burrow is discussed below using their unique identifying number.
Table 15 Western Burrowing Owl Burrows Identified in 2014 UTM Coordinate Burrow ID Date Identified Status at The Time of the Survey Easting Northing 1-0716-GS July 16, 2014 Inactive 2-0716-GS July 16, 2014 Inactive 1-0728-GS July 28, 2014 Active 2-0728-GS July 28, 2014 Active 3-0728-GS July 28, 2014 Inactive 1-0731-GS July 28, 2014 Active 1-0806-JV August 6, 2014 Inactive 1-0829-TC August 29, 2014 Active
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UTM Coordinate Burrow ID Date Identified Status at The Time of the Survey Easting Northing 2-0829-TC August 29, 2014 Inactive 1-0903-JV September 3, 2014 Inactive
1-0716-GS: This burrow was identified on July 16, 2014 and was inactive at the time of the survey. The burrow was located in an open grassland area on top of a hill in the North TMF area. The burrow was approximately six to eight inches in diameter and had 20 to 30 fresh and old pellets around the opening. No whitewash was present around the burrow. No owls were seen or heard in the immediate area. With the sign observed at the time of the survey, it is likely this was an active burrow during the 2014 breeding season.
2-0716-GS: This burrow was identified on July 16, 2014 and was inactive at the time of the survey. The burrow was located approximately 40 yards from burrow 1-0716-GS next to sagebrush in the North TMF area. The burrow was approximately six to eight inches in diameter and had fresh pellets and fresh whitewash around the opening. No owls were seen or heard in the immediate area. With the sign observed at the time of the survey, it is likely this was an active burrow during the 2014 breeding season.
1-0728-GS: This burrow was identified on July 28, 2014 and was active at the time of the survey. The burrow was located in an open grassland area in the North TMF area. The burrow was approximately six inches in diameter and had fresh pellets and fresh whitewash around the opening. A single western burrowing owl was observed at the burrow.
2-0728-GS: This burrow was identified on July 28, 2014 and was active at the time of the survey. The burrow was in sagebrush on the edge of an open grassland area in the North TMF area. The burrow was approximately six inches in diameter and had fresh pellets and fresh whitewash around the opening. A single western burrowing owl was observed flying to the burrow.
3-0728-GS: This burrow was identified on July 28, 2014 and was active at the time of the survey. The burrow was located near burrows 1-0728-GS and 2-0728-GS in the North TMF area. The burrow was approximately six inches in diameter and had some fresh pellets around the opening. A single western burrowing owl was observed flying to the burrow.
1-0731-GS: This burrow was identified on July 31, 2014 and was active at the time of the survey. The burrow was located in a cut bank of a dry wash in the North TMF area. The burrow was approximately six inches in diameter and had some fresh pellets around the opening. A single western burrowing owl was observed flushing from the burrow.
1-0806-JV: This burrow was identified on August 1, 2014 and was inactive at the time of the survey. The burrow was located on a sagebrush-dominated hillside above a wash in the Expanded TMF area. The burrow was approximately 10 inches in diameter and had old whitewash and old pellets around the opening. No owls were seen or heard in the immediate area. With the sign observed at the time of the survey, it is unknown if this was an active burrow during the 2014 breeding season.
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1-0829-TC: This burrow was identified on August 29, 2014 and was active at the time of the survey. The burrow was in an open grassland area surrounded by sagebrush in the Expanded TMF area. The burrow was approximately six inches in diameter and had feathers, fresh whitewash, and fresh pellets around the opening. A total of four western burrowing owls were observed flushing from the burrow.
2-0829-TC: This burrow was identified on August 29, 2014 and was inactive at the time of the survey. The burrow was located in an open grassland area surrounded by sagebrush in the Expanded TMF area. The burrow was approximately six inches in diameter and had feathers, fresh pellets, and fresh whitewash around the opening. No owls were seen or heard in the immediate area. With the sign observed at the time of the survey, it is likely this was an active burrow during the 2014 breeding season.
1-0903-JV: This burrow was identified on September 3, 2014 as an incidental sighting (not a part of burrowing owl transects surveys). It was inactive at the time of the survey. The burrow was located alongside an existing dirt road in an open grassland area in the Expanded TMF area. The burrow was approximately six to seven inches in diameter and had fresh pellets, fresh whitewash, and feathers around the opening. No owls were seen or heard in the immediate area. With the sign observed at the time of the survey, it is likely this was an active burrow during the 2014 breeding season.
In addition to four burrows that were identified as active during the time of the 2014 survey, five of the six inactive burrows were most likely active during the 2014 breeding season based on the sign observed at the time of the survey.
2016 During the small mammal trapping effort, incidental sightings of burrowing owls and their burrows were noted. These locations were only recorded using a hand-held GPS unit and survey forms were not completed. Approximately six additional burrows were noted and western burrowing owls were seen at the new southeastern burrows (Table 16). Western burrowing owls were additionally seen along the side of the road to the southeast, where burrows were also located (Figure 10).
Table 16 2016 Incidental Locations of Western Burrowing Owl UTM Coordinate Burrow ID Date Identified Status at The Time of the Survey Easting Northing 1619 July 26, 2016 Active 1620 July 26, 2016 Second burrow entrance 1621 August 23, 2016 Active 1622 August 23, 2016 Active 1623 August 23, 2016 Inactive
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4.4.4 Greater Sage-Grouse 2012 Greater sage-grouse or sign were not detected during the pedestrian surveys.
2014 Habitat Assessment Approximately 6,611 acres (46 percent) were analyzed in the 2012-2014 Biological Survey Area and represent potential greater sage-grouse habitat, which was correlated to the following HAF third order cover types: Wyoming and Basin Big Sagebrush/Native Perennial; Wyoming and Basin Big Sagebrush/Exotic Annual; and Low Sagebrush/Native Perennial (Figure 11). According to criteria/descriptions provided in the HAF Third Order Description Steps (Stiver et al., 2010), these areas have the potential to be summer and fall/winter habitat. However, the Biological Survey Area does not have the potential to be nesting habitat because the nearest lek is farther than 11 miles from the Project. The closest active leks are over 13.3 miles southwest and 19.5 east of thePlan boundaries.
Vegetation characteristics used to determine suitability for upland summer and winter habitat are presented in Table 17. Completed field survey forms, data summary table, photographs (on CD) and map showing transect locations and photo points are available in Appendix I. Completed H- 4, H-5, and H-6 forms are available in Appendix J.
Table 17 Averaged Vegetation Data for H-1 Form by Third Order Cover Type
Wyoming and Basin Big Wyoming and Basin Big Low Sagebrush/Native Attribute Sagebrush/Native Sagebrush/Exotic Perennial Perennial Annual Droughty Loam Droughty Loam Droughty Claypan Ecological Site 8-10" P.Z. 8-10" P.Z. 8-10" P.Z. Area 5,090 acres 1,416 acres 105 acres Transects (#) 8 8 5 Sagebrush Canopy 9 % 10.8 % 10.1 % Cover Sagebrush Height 40 cm 35 cm 25 cm Perennial Grass & 12.5 cm 8 cm 8 cm Perennial Forb Height Perennial Grass 3 % 6.5 % 7.2 % Canopy Cover Perennial Forb Canopy 0 0.5 % 1.2 % Cover Preferred Forb Species <1 1 3 Note: The numbers presented are means for all sampled transects within each cover type.
The assessment of suitability of available seasonal habitat, which takes into account both current and future potential, is presented in Table 18. The three cover types were determined to be unsuitable or marginal upland summer habitat. The two riparian and meadow areas within the Biological Survey Area were determined to be marginal riparian summer habitat. All three cover types were identified as suitable winter habitat.
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Table 18 2014 Seasonal Habitat Suitability Summary Suitability Land Current Future Seasonal Area Number Cover Ecological Site Rationale for Rating Use (acres) of Sites Site Habitat Type S, M, U potential components limiting? present? Current conditions indicate that this cover type should be rated unsuitable because Droughty Upland two key summer habitat indicators are in the WBBSEA Loam 8-10" 1,416 - U No No Summer unsuitable category: perennial grass and P.Z. forb canopy cover is <5% and preferred forbs are rare. Current conditions indicate that this cover type should be rated unsuitable because Droughty Upland two key summer habitat indicators are in the WBBSNP Loam 8-10" 5,090 - U No No Summer unsuitable category: perennial grass and P.Z. forb canopy cover is <5% and preferred forbs are rare. Current conditions indicate that this cover type should be rated marginal. Although Droughty Upland preferred forbs are common relative to site LSNP Claypan 8-10" 105 - M No Yes Summer potential, sagebrush canopy cover is 10%, P.Z. sagebrush height is 25cm, and perennial grass and forb canopy cover is <5%. Current conditions indicate that this cover Riparian Riparian type should be rated marginal because N/A - 2 M No No Summer areas preferred forbs are rare and the areas were rated as functional at risk for PFC assessment. Current conditions indicate that this cover Droughty type should be rated suitable because Winter WBBSEA Loam 8-10" 1,416 - S No Yes sagebrush canopy cover of 9% is almost in P.Z. the suitable category and sagebrush height would typically be well above snow line. Current conditions indicate that this cover Droughty type should be rated suitable because Winter WBBSNP Loam 8-10" 5,090 - S No Yes sagebrush canopy cover is > 10% and P.Z. sagebrush height would typically be well above snow line.
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Suitability Land Current Future Seasonal Area Number Cover Ecological Site Rationale for Rating Use (acres) of Sites Site Habitat Type S, M, U potential components limiting? present? Current conditions indicate that this cover type should be rated suitable because Droughty sagebrush canopy cover is > 10% and Winter LSNP Claypan 8-10" 105 - S No Yes although sagebrush height is barely suitable, P.Z. low sagebrush typically occurs on windswept sites (i.e., lack of snow). S: Suitable M: Marginal U: Unsuitable LSNP: Low Sagebrush/Native Perennial WBSSEA: Wyoming and Basin Big Sagebrush/Exotic Annual WBSSNP: Wyoming and Basin Big Sagebrush/Native Perennial
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Presence/Absence Survey Targeted greater sage-grouse presence/absence surveys were conducted across 6,611 acres within the 2012-2014 Biological Survey Area (46 percent) classified as suitable winter habitat (Figure 11). No evidence of greater sage-grouse was found. Incidental observations of greater sage- grouse or greater sage-grouse sign (scat, tracks, feathers, etc.) were not found during the biological baseline surveys conducted in 2014. These findings are consistent with the surveys conducted for greater sage-grouse in 2012. Completed greater sage-grouse field survey forms are available in Appendix K.
4.4.5 Pygmy Rabbit Survey Results
2012 Pygmy rabbit were not seen nor were sign detected during the pedestrian surveys.
2014 Potential habitat was along ephemeral drainages. Habitat availability is limited due to past wildfires, which removed dense, big sagebrush within the survey area. Such habitats occur in some portions of the North TMF and Expanded TMF and along ephemeral drainages. Approximately 2,691 acres of the 2012-2014 Biological Survey Area (18.6 percent) was surveyed for pygmy rabbit (Figure 12). No evidence of pygmy rabbits was found during surveys in 2014. These findings are consistent with the findings of surveys conducted in 2012. Field survey forms are located in Appendix L.
4.4.6 Bats
Potential roosting habitat for target bat species include abandoned mine workings (e.g. adits, shafts), rock outcrops, caves, old buildings/structures, trees, and tree cavities, and boulder fields. Nevada Division of Minerals (NDOM) identified abandoned mine lands (AML) that occur south of the Biological Survey Area are shown on Figure 13. These AML or NDOM identified hazards are likely utilized as bat roosting/hibernacula habitat, and many have been documented by NDOM as being potential bat roosting/hibernacula habitat (Figure 13). AMLs act as surrogates for caves, rock outcrops, roost sites, and hibernacula habitat. Utah juniper (Juniperus osteosperma) trees located near the Biological Survey Area may also represent potential bat roosting habitat. Rock outcrops were the only type of roosting habitat found within a quarter-mile of the Biological Survey Area. Bat sign was observed on several rock outcrops during field inspection of these features, suggesting these outcrops are likely being used as roosts. A delineation of roosting habitat is shown on Figures 14a and 14b. The field inspection found that two abandoned mine land sites identified in the HE did not possess suitable roosting habitat. In addition, the NDOW and Stantec performed a desktop analysis using aerial photography in November 2017 to assess other potential areas of bat roosting habitat within the Biological Survey Area. These areas are shown on Figures 14a and 14b and are considered potential roosting habitat, although the suitability of these areas as roosting habitat have not been field verified. Approximately 27 acres of field verified roosting habitat occurs within the Biological Survey Area and nine locations were surveyed using bat acoustic detection devices. However, based on the desktop analysis completed by the NDOW and Stantec in 2017, there is the possibility for an additional 10 acres of potential roosting habitat
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within the Biological Survey Area. Because of the field verified and potential bat roosting habitat within the Biological Survey Area, and the occurrence of numerous AML sites immediately south of the Biological Survey Area, it is reasonable to conclude the Biological Survey Area has the potential to provide bat foraging habitat, particularly around wet areas, or livestock water sites where insects are typically more abundant.
Table 19 presents locations of rock outcrops and two likely foraging sites that were selected for further monitoring using bat detectors. Locations are shown on Figure 14a and 14b.
Table 19 Bat Detector Locations UTM Coordinate Site Description Easting Northing Large cliff structure approximately 300 feet high and JBR 3 >500 feet long, cracks and crevices present Jumbled rock outcrop approximately 50 feet high JBR 4 and >100 feet long, cracks and crevices present Jumbled rock outcrop approximately 50 feet high and WRC 7 >100 feet long, cracks and crevices present Potential concentrated prey location near spring (no 9 water nearby) with rabbitbrush, willows, and buffaloberry Rock outcrop approximately 30 feet high and >100 WRC 11 feet long, cracks and crevices present WRC 5 Large cliff structure approximately 100 feet high and
(2014 Fall Season only) >500 feet long, cracks and crevices present WRC 9 Linear rock outcrop approximately 400 feet long, less (2015 Spring/Summer than 50 feet high, overhanging rock with numerous Season only) horizontal crevices Impoundment, open pool of water approximately 50 Site Pond (SPR 11-11) by 60 feet, rabbitbrush adjacent to water Site Stock Tank Circular metal trough approximately 500 gallons,
SPR 11-06 water with aquatic vegetation present
Surveys were conducted over two seasons, primarily using acoustic detection equipment. However, in the fall (2014) season survey, outcrops WRC 5 and JBR 3 were monitored with night vision equipment. Based on size, observers believe the outcrops are used by pallid bats and Myotis-type bats (WRC, 2016b). During the spring/summer surveys (2015), outcrops WRC 7, 9, and 12 were monitored. Myotis-type bats were observed.
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Table 20 Acoustic Survey Results
bat
bat
myotis
bat
at bat eared b Detected Ba t -
tailed fuscus
bat townsendii pallidus hesperus -
footed noctivagans
Survey cinereus maculatum - brasiliensis
Site big
haired ciliolabrum
Season free
brown
Pallid bat Hoary Spotted Canyon Species Big
Eptesicus - Silver Lasiurus Myotis Antrozous Tadarida Parastrellus Euederma Brazilian Total Corynorhinus Lasionycteris Townsend's Western s mall
Fall 2014 x x x 3 JBR 3 Summer 2015 x x x 3 Fall 2014 x x x x x x x 7 JBR 4 Summer 2015 x x x 3 Fall 2014 x x x x 4 WRC 7 Summer 2015 x x x 3 Fall 2014 x x x x 4 9 Summer 2015 x x x x x 5 Fall 2014 x x x x 4 WRC 11 Summer 2015 x x x 3 WRC 5 Fall 2014 x x x x 4 WRC 9 Summer 2015 x x x x x 5 Pond (SPR Fall 2014 x x 2 11-11) Summer 2015 x x x x x 5 Stock Tank Fall 2014 x x x x x x 6 SPR 11-06 Summer 2015 x x 2
A total of nine species of bats were recorded during the fall surveys and seven species were recorded during the summer survey (Table 20). All bat species observed during the surveys are BLM sensitive species. Furthermore, spotted bat is a State of Nevada threatened species, pallid bat and Brazilian free-tailed bat are State of Nevada protected species, and Townsend’s big- eared bat is a State of Nevada sensitive species. Western small footed myotis and canyon bat were the most common detections, making up approximately 91 percent of the detections in both seasons combined. The seven bat species recorded during the summer survey (which were also recorded during the fall survey) are likely residents in or near the Biological Survey Area (Table 20). One of the seven species is the spotted bat, which has been infrequently reported in Nevada. The big brown bat and Brazilian free-tailed bat were only recorded during the fall survey, and may be migrants through the survey area.
The number of calls recorded for each bat species is indicative of the relative abundance of a given species. Table 21 provides the number and percentage of calls for each season.
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Table 21 Number of Calls for Each Species Detected Fall 2014 Summer 2015 Species Total Calls Percent of All Files Total Calls Percent of All Files Small Footed Myotis 495 56.3% 865 67.5% Canyon Bat 277 31.5% 304 23.7% Pallid Bat 63 7.2% 80 6.2% Big Brown Bat 6 0.7% 0 0.0% Hoary Bat 9 1.0% 6 0.5% Brazilian Free-tailed Bat 1 0.1% 0 0.0% Silver-haired Bat 25 2.8% 1 0.1% Townsend’s Big Eared Bat 2 0.2% 1 0.1% Spotted Bat 1 0.1% 25 2.0% Total 879 1,282
4.4.7 Small Mammal Trapping
During the field season of 2016, small mammal trapping was implemented. The following describes the general survey tasks. Stantec conducted the following surveys during 2016: Preble’s shrew, and pale and dark kangaroo mouse. Results from the Preble’s shrew and kangaroo mouse surveys indicate that no target species were detected. The most abundant small mammal captured were the white-footed deer mouse (Peromyscus maniculatus), followed by chisel-tooth kangaroo rat (Dipodomys microps), and the Great Basin pocket mouse (Perognathus parvus). Species encountered during the small mammal trapping are listed within Appendix C, Observed Plant and Wildlife Species List.
Preble’s Shrew Survey Trap lines were placed near a stock tank (Northern Trapping Area) and at the riparian community in Long Canyon (Southern Trapping Area) (Figure 15). Approximately 27 acres of riparian and meadow communities were considered potential habitat for Preble’s shrew. The stock tank site lacked riparian shrubs. Overflow from the tank, when it occurs, supports yellow water buttercup (Ranunculus flabellaris), as well as a dense stand of pinnate tansymustard. The Northern Trapping Area was surveyed using a 6-trap main line and two 2-trap lateral lines. The Southern Trapping Area, SPR 11-11, was surveyed using two trapping lines, which had a 15-trap main line, and two 5- trap lateral lines, for a total of 25 traps each. Trapping was conducted in spring, summer, and fall seasons. No detections of Preble’s shrew were made.
Pale and Dark Kangaroo Mouse Surveys Soil map units that had a sandy and/or gravelly component was considered potential habitat for both the pale and dark kangaroo mouse. The Biological Survey Area contains approximately 8,412 acres of potential habitat (Figure 15). Trapping locations encompassing seven trap lines with approximately 148 traps per line are shown on Figure 15. Surveys were performed during three seasons. No detections of pale or dark kangaroo mouse were made.
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4.4.8 Springsnails
Two spring sites, SPR 11-06 (unnamed) and SPR 11-11 (Mitchum Spring), were examined for the potential presence of springsnails (Figure 16). SPR 11-06 and SPR 11-11 coincide with meadow and riparian areas where migratory bird point counts, and Preble’s shrew, pale and dark kangaroo mouse, and bat surveys were performed. Springsnails were not found at either spring. Springsnails most often occupy habitats with relatively constant temperature, discharge, and water chemistry; particularly areas with stands of watercress.
SPR 11-06 did not exhibit characteristics of springsnail habitat because this site exhibits low water quality with high levels of organic waste and use by cattle, horses, and other large mammals. This site has been developed and heavily altered by humans for use by livestock, including the installation of a pipe leading to a functional water trough. Evidence of a natural spring source or natural channel no longer exists. The substrate at this site is metal within the trough and fine sediment where the trough overflows to the surrounding soil. The area surrounding the trough was highly disturbed from livestock congregating at the water source. Dominant vegetation surrounding the spring at this site included yellow rabbitbrush, and within the wetted area alkali buttercup (Ranunculus cymbalaria), and annual rabbitsfoot grass occurred. No discernible flow was captured at this site and no springsnails were noted.
Mitchum Spring (SPR 11-11) (Figure 16) was found to have low flow at the spring source, as well as watercress within the channel. This spring is located in a steep ravine with high potential for elevated flow that can flush springsnails from the system. This site exhibited two spring sources, one of which was nearly dry and heavily impacted by both humans and large mammals. The second was less impacted by large mammals and other wildlife, and exhibited flow during the time of surveys. The first spring source was located uphill at an earthen impoundment with no flowing water. The second spring source was located approximately 100 yards downstream from source one, and exhibited flows measuring approximately 3.9 milliliters per second (0.001 gallon per minute). Watercress was identified at the water source and in the channel. This spring source was investigated for the presence of springsnails by carefully examining the substrate and aquatic vegetation for springsnails. Springsnails were not located within this spring system. Field notes from the springsnail survey are provided in Appendix N.
4.4.9 Additional Special Status Species Observed
Several loggerhead shrikes, a BLM sensitive species and a Bird Species of Conservation Concern, were observed in the northwest corner of the North TMF area. A family group of two adults and three young loggerhead shrikes was found in tall sagebrush habitat near the end of the Transect 1 avian bird point. Loggerhead shrikes typically nest in large shrubs or small trees. Big sagebrush borders some drainages in the area. A number of sage thrashers, a BLM sensitive species, were observed in sagebrush habitat in the Biological Survey Area. Sage thrashers typically nest in intact, fairly dense stands of sagebrush, with big sagebrush favored (Holmes and Barton, 2003). Floyd et al. (2007) notes that sage thrashers may also nest in shrublands dominated by greasewood and bitterbrush.
Biological Baseline Report– Hycroft Mine Phase II Expansion Project January 2018 Hycroft Mining Corporation 53
Brewer’s sparrows, another BLM sensitive species, were recorded with some frequency in sagebrush habitat in the Biological Survey Area. Floyd et al. (2007) notes that Brewer’s sparrows occur wherever sagebrush habitat is present, “from basin bottoms to mountain meadows”.
Surveys were not conducted for sensitive butterflies, such as the Great Basin small blue (Philotiella speciosa septentrionalis) or Rice’s blue (Euphilotes pallescens ricei). However, these butterflies are unlikely to occur because the host plants (Oxytheca spp. and kidney-leaf buckwheat) for the Great Basin small blue were not detected and the host plant for Rice’s blue is Kearney’s buckwheat (Eriogonum kearneyi) was also not found within the Biological Survey Area. Mapped occurrences of buckwheat are depicted in Figure 6.
Biological Baseline Report– Hycroft Mine Phase II Expansion Project January 2018 Hycroft Mining Corporation 54
5.0 SUMMARY
5.1 2012
Biological baseline surveys were performed in the approximately 13,241-acre survey area (North TMF) during numerous site visits in May and June 2012. The surveys included vegetation community mapping, floristic inventory, documenting occurrences of noxious weeds, special status plant species survey, general wild special status wildlife species survey, migratory bird point count survey, western burrowing owl survey, golden eagle nesting survey, greater sage-grouse survey, and a focused pygmy rabbit survey. Findings include:
• One occupied and one unoccupied western burrowing owl burrows were found in the southern portion of the North TMF survey area. Another individual western burrowing owl was observed in the North TMF area;
• Brewer's sparrows, a BLM-sensitive species, were commonly observed in the sagebrush areas of the survey area;
• Several sage thrashers, a BLM-sensitive species, were observed in the sagebrush areas of the survey area;
• Several loggerhead shrikes, a BLM-sensitive species, were observed in the northwest corner of the North TMF area;
• Two occupied and five unoccupied golden eagle nests were located within a five-mile radius of the survey area;
• Other raptor nest observations made within a five-mile radius of the North TMF include:
o Three occupied and one unoccupied prairie falcon nests;
o Two occupied ferruginous hawk nests; and
o Six unknown/unoccupied nests.
• Three sand cholla cacti (at two locations) were found in the North TMF; and
• Tamarisk was the only noxious weeds observed within the survey area. Non-native species halogeton and cheatgrass were common in the survey area.
5.2 2014
Biological baseline surveys were conducted from July to September 2014 within the 14,497-acre surveyed area. The 2014 surveys consisted of new surveys across the Expanded TMF area (1,256 acres) and supplemental surveys across the North TMF area (13,241 acres). Supplemental surveys in the North TMF area were needed to address data gaps associated with 2012 surveys identified by the BLM. Focused surveys were conducted for western burrowing owl,
Biological Baseline Report– Hycroft Mine Phase II Expansion Project January 2018 Hycroft Mining Corporation 55
greater sage-grouse, pygmy rabbit, and BLM sensitive plants. No habitat was found for BLM sensitive plants endemic to “badlands” or springsnails. Locations of noxious weeds and common buckwheat plants were recorded as they were encountered, and vegetation communities were mapped. Findings include:
• The 2012-2014 Biological Survey Area contains 28 vegetation communities. Two new community types were recorded in the Expanded TMF: Riparian and Wyoming Sagebrush- Yellow Rabbitbrush-Shadscale;
• Nine occurrences of sand cholla were found in 2014;
• Occurrences of the rare plants Crosby’s buckwheat, grimy mousetail, smooth stickleaf, Succor Creek parsley, or Tiehm’s milkvetch were not found;
• Tamarisk was found in the Riparian Community near stock pond SPR 11-11.
• Pygmy rabbit, greater sage-grouse, springsnail individuals or their sign were not found.
• Ten western burrowing owl burrows were found during the 2014 surveys. Four burrows were active at the time of the surveys. Five of the six burrows that were found inactive during the survey were most likely active during the 2014 breeding season based on the sign observed.
• BLM sensitive wildlife species observed include golden eagle, loggerhead shrike, sage thrasher, and western burrowing owl.
• Fall bat surveys revealed nine species of bats.
• Raptor surveys indicated that eight golden eagle nest sites were active, with six successfully fledging young. At least one prairie falcon and one ferruginous hawk active nests were also documented.
Survey tracks in shapefile format with associated metadata are included in Appendix O.
5.3 2015
WRC conducted nesting raptor surveys as well as bat surveys. Stantec conducted winter raptor surveys.
• Nesting raptor surveys documented 10 active nest sites with all successfully fledging young within a 10-mile buffer of the Phase II Expansion Plan Area.
• Approximately 17 active nests of other raptor or corvid were located within the 10-mile buffer of the Phase II Expansion Plan Area.
• Three species of raptors were documented during the winter surveys within the10-mile buffer of the Phase II Expansion Plan Area.
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• Seven species of bats were detected via the acoustic surveys; Brazilian free-tailed bat and big brown bat were not detected during the summer surveys.
5.4 2016
Raptor surveys for winter occurrence and spring nesting were conducted. Targeted surveys for small mammals were conducted. None of the target species were detected.
• Three species of raptors were noted during the winter raptor survey within the 10-mile buffer of the Phase II Expansion Plan Area.
• Fifteen golden eagle nest sites were active, with 13 successful in the 10-mile buffer of the Phase II Expansion Plan Area.
• Three active ferruginous hawk and three prairie falcon nests were located within one mile of the Phase II Expansion Plan Area.
• Thirteen different species of small mammals were encountered during small mammal trapping. None of the target species was found.
• Two additional migratory bird survey point count transects were added within riparian and meadow habitats.
• Incidental sightings of western burrowing owls and burrows added six additional burrow locations. One incidental location of sand cholla was also found during the small mammal trapping sessions.
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6.0 REFERENCES
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Birds of North America On Line (BNA). 2012. Burrowing Owl. Accessed online on August 2012 at: http://bna.birds.cornell.edu/bna/species/061/articles/habitat.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM). 2014. Statewide Wildlife Survey Protocols, BLM Nevada, 2014. 30 p.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM). 2013. Survey Protocols Required for NEPA/ESA Compliance for BLM Special Status Plant Species, Winnemucca FO BLM Nevada, 2013. 11 p
Bureau of Land Management (BLM). 2015. Record of Decision and Approved Resource Management Plan Amendments for the Great Basin Region, Including the Greater Sage- grouse Sub-regions of Idaho and Southwestern Montana, Nevada and Northeastern California, Oregon, and Utah. September 2015.
Cronquist, A., A. H Holmgren, N. H. Holmgren, J.L. Reveal, and P. K. Holmgren. 1989. Intermountain Flora: Vascular Plants of the Intermountain West, U.S.A. Vol. 3, Part B Fabales. The New York Botanical Garden Press, Bronx, NY.
Connelly, J.W., M.A. Schroeder, A.R. Sands, and C.E. Braun. 2000. Guidelines to manage sage grouse populations and their habitats. Wildlife Society Bulletin 28:967-985.
Cornely, J. E., L.N. Carrawy, and B.J. Verts. 1992. Mammalian Species 416: 1-3.
Dechant, J. A., M. L. Sondreal, D. H. Johnson, L. D. Igl, C. M. Goldade, P. A. Rabie, and B. R. Euliss (Dechant, J. et. al). 2003. Effects of management practices on grassland birds: Burrowing Owl. Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center, Jamestown, ND. Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center Online. Accessed online July 22, 2014 at: http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/literatr/grasbird/buow/buow.htm.
Flora of North America (FNA) Editorial Committee, eds. 1993-2005. Flora of North America North of Mexico. 16+ vols. New York and Oxford. Vol. 2, 1993; vol. 4, 2003; and vol. 5, 2005.
Floyd, T., C. S. Elphick, G. Chisholm, K. Mack, R. G. Elston, E. M. Ammon, and J. D. Boone. 2007. Atlas of the breeding birds of Nevada. University of Nevada Press. 579pp.
Great Basin Bird Observatory (GBBO). 2003. Nevada Bird Count. A Habitat-based Monitoring Program for Breeding Birds of Nevada. Instruction Package and Protocol for Point Count Surveys. April 2003.Hafner, J.C., N.S. Upham, E. Reddington and C.W. Torres. 2008. Phylogeography of the pallid kangaroo mouse, Microdipodops pallidus: a sand-obligate endemic of the Great Basin, western North America. Journal of Biogeography. 35:2102- 2118.
HDR. 2014. Focused Sand Cholla Survey Results. Hycroft Mine: North HLF, Tailings Leach, North Area, and South Waste Rock Expansion Ares. Humboldt and Pershing Counties, NV. August 13, 2014. 60pp.
Biological Baseline Report– Hycroft Mine Phase II Expansion Project January 2018 Hycroft Mining Corporation 58
Holmes, A. L., and D. C. Barton. 2003. Determinants of Songbird Abundance and Distribution in Sagebrush Habitats of Eastern Oregon and Washington. Point Reyes Bird Observatory Contribution No. 1094. Stinson Beach, California.
Holmgren, N. H., P. K. Holmgren, and A. Cronquist. 2005. Intermountain Flora: Vascular Plants of the Intermountain West, U.S.A. Volume Two, Part B: Subclass Dilleniidae. The New York Botanical Garden Press, Bronx, NY.
Holmgren, N. H., P. K. Holmgren, and J. Reveal. 2012. Intermountain Flora: Vascular Plants of the Intermountain West, U.S.A. Volume Two, Part A: Subclasses Magnoliidae-Caryophyllidae. The New York Botanical Garden Press, Bronx, NY.
Interagency Pygmy Rabbit Working Group. 2008. Surveying for Pygmy Rabbits (Brachylagus idahoensis). Unpublished Report. U.S. Bureau of Land Management. Unpublished Report.
JBR Environmental Consultants, Inc. (JBR). 2010. Baseline Survey Report Hycroft Mine Expansion Project. Humboldt and Pershing Counties, Nevada. Prepared for Allied Nevada Gold Corporation. JBR Reno, Nevada Office. September 2010. Revised April, 2011.
JBR Environmental Consultants, Inc. (JBR). 2013. Hycroft Mine 2013 Golden Eagle Nest Monitoring Prepared for Allied Nevada Gold Corporation. JBR Reno, Nevada Office. September 2013.
Manley, P. N., B. Van Horne, J. K. Roth, W. J. Zielinski, M. M. McKenzie, T. J. Weller, F. W. Weckerly, and C. Vojta. 2006. Multiple Species Inventory and Monitoring Technical Guide. Gen. Tech. Rep. WO-73. Washington DC, United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Washington office. 204 p.
National Climatic Data Center (NCDC). 2014. Pershing County Climatological Data. https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/cdo-web/datasets/LCD/stations/WBAN:24172/detail
Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). 1998. Soil Survey of Pershing County, Nevada West Part. Prepared by the United States Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service in cooperation with the United States Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management and the University of Nevada Agricultural Experiment Station. Washington D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office.
Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). 2003. Soil Survey of Humboldt County, Nevada West Part. Prepared by the United States Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service in cooperation with the United States Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management and the University of Nevada Agricultural Experiment Station. Washington D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office.
Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS). 2010. Greater Sage-grouse Field Indicator Guide. United States Department of Agriculture. Bozeman, Montana. May, 2010.
NatureServe Explorer (NatureServe). 2013. NatureServe Explorer Species Index. Available online at: http://www.natureserve.org. Accessed April 19, 2013.
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Nevada Department of Agriculture. 2014. Noxious Weed List. Accessed August 26, 2014 online at: http://agri.nv.gov/uploadedFiles/agrinvgov/Content/Plant/Noxious_Weeds/Documents/ NVNoxiousWeedList_by%20category_2012.pdf.
Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW). 2011. Cliff Nesting Raptor Survey of the Hycroft Mine Area. May 23 and 24, 2011.
Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW). 2012. Nevada Wildlife Action Plan, Draft. Developed by the Wildlife Action Plan Team. Nevada Department of Wildlife Reno, Nevada. January 25, 2012.
Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW). 2012. Nevada Wildlife Action Plan. Submitted September 6, 2012; Approved March 1, 2013. Stable hyperlink: http://www.ndow.org/Nevada_Wildlife/Conservation/Nevada_Wildlife_Action_Plan/
Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW). 2015. 2015 NDOW Winter Raptor Survey--Survey and Data Collection Instructions.
Nevada Natural Heritage Program (NNHP). 2001. Rare Plant Atlas. Index to Maps and Fact Sheets. August 8, 2001. http://heritage.nv.gov/atlas/atlasndx.html
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Opler, P.A. and Wright, A.B. 1999. A Field Guide to Western Butterflies; Peterson Field Guide Series (2nd ed.). New York, NY: Houghton Mifflin Company.
Pagel, J.E., D.M. Whittington, and G.T. Allen. 2010. Interim Golden Eagle Technical Guidance: Inventory and Monitoring Protocols; and Other Recommendations in Support of Golden Eagle Management and Permit Issuance. Division of Migratory Bird Management. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 26 pp.
Prichard, D., F. Berg, W. Hagenbuck, R. Krapf, R. Leinard, S. Leonard, M. Manning, C. Noble, and J. Statts. 2003. Riparian Area Management: A User Guide to Assessing Proper Functioning Condition and the Supporting Science for Lentic Areas. Technical Reference 1737-16, US Bureau of Land Management, National Applied Resource Sciences Center, Denver, CO. 109 pp.
Rich, T. 1985. Habitat and Nest Site Selection by Burrowing Owls in the Sagebrush Steppe of Idaho. Tech Bulletin 85-3. Bureau of Land Management, Idaho State Office. Boise, ID.
Rickart, E.A., R.J. Rowe, S.L. Robson, L.F. Alexander, and D.S. Rogers. 2011. Shrews of the Ruby Mountains, Northeastern Nevada. The Southwestern Naturalist 56(1): 95-102.
Sada, D.W. 2004. A guide to Springsnail Identification and Monitoring Carlin Trend, Lander and Pershing Counties, Nevada. Unpublished Report. Reno, Nevada.
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Shohfi, H.E., C.J. Conroy, A.R. Wilhelm, and J.L. Patton. 2006. New records of Sorex preblei and S. tenellus in California. The Southwestern Naturalist 51(1): 108-111
Stiver, S.J., E.T. Rinkes, and D.E. Naugle. 2010. Sage-grouse Habitat Assessment Framework, Multi- scale Habitat Assessment Tool. Boise, Idaho: U.S. Department of the Interior. Bureau of Land Management, Idaho State Office.
Tiehm, A. 1986. Cryptantha schoolcraftii (Boraginaceae), a new species of section Oreocarya from Nevada. Brittonia 38: 104-106. 1986.
United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). 2008. Birds of Conservation Concern. Division of Migratory Bird Management, Arlington, Virginia. 87pp.
United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). 2010. Interim Golden Eagle Technical Guidance: Inventory and Monitoring Protocols; and Other Recommendations in Support of Golden Eagle Management and Permit Issuance. February 2010.
Van Gunst, J., M. Jeffress, K. Cadigan, and N. Burton. 2015. Sorex Capture and Handling Protocol. Nevada Department of Wildlife and Bureau of Land Management. 16pp.
Western Regional Climate Center (WRCC). 2014. Rye Patch Dam, Nevada, Period of Record Monthly Climate Summery. Accessed September 26, 2014 at: http://www.wrcc.dri.edu/cgi-bin/cliMAIN.pl?nv7192.
Wildlife Resource Consultants (WRC). 2014. Hycroft Mine 2014 Raptor Nesting Surveys and Golden Eagle Monitoring Report.
Wildlife Resource Consultants (WRC). 2015a. Hycroft Mine 2015 Raptor Nesting Surveys and Golden Eagle Monitoring Report. September 28, 2015.
Wildlife Resource Consultants (WRC). 2015b. Hycroft Mine 2014 Fall Bat Surveys Technical Memorandum. September November 24, 2014, Revised April 21, 2015.
Wildlife Resource Consultants (WRC). 2016a. Hycroft Mine 2016 Raptor Nesting Surveys and Golden Eagle Monitoring Report. Draft October 2015.
Wildlife Resource Consultants (WRC). 2016b. Hycroft Mine 2015 Summer Bat Surveys Technical Memo. April 11, 2016
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FIGURES
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Existing Plan Boundary HYCROFT MINING CORPORATION HYCROFT MINE PHASE II EXPANSION PROJECT Phase II Expansion Boundary BIOLOGICAL BASELINE REPORT
Well Field Boundary FIGURE 1 PROJECT LOCATION
2012-2014 Biological Survey Area Project DRAWN DATE BY JT DRAWN 12/13/2017 Location SCALE 1 in = 15 miles PROJECT
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Disclaimer: Stantec assumes no responsibility for data supplied in electronic format. The recipient accepts full responsibility for verifying the accuracy and completeness of the data. The recipient releases Stantec, its officers, employees, consultants and agents, from any and all claims arising in any way from the content or provision of the data. 23 24 19 WW o..- MM zz MM"'"' '"
HYCROFT MINING CORPORATION Exis1ing Plan Boundary D HYCROFT MINE PHASE II EXPANSION PROJECT BIOLOGICAL BASELINE REPORT c:J Phase II Expansion Boundary FIGURE2 -- -. 2012-2014 Biological Survey Area SURVEY AREAS
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D isclaimer: Stantec assumes no respoo.sibility for data supplied in electronic forM at. The recipient accepts full respon.sil:Nlity for verifying the accuracy and completeness of the data. The recipient releases Staniec , its offte ers , employees , conwltantsand agents , froM any and aJ/claimsarising in any w;:;oy from t/?e content or pro11ision ~the data Feet 3,000 1,500 0 3,000 $ Basemap: 2015 National Agriculture Imagery Program (NAIP)
Existing Plan Boundary 715: Wholan silt loam, 0 to 2 percent slopes HYCROFT MINING CORPORATION HYCROFT MINE PHASE II EXPANSION PROJECT Phase II Expansion Boundary 804: Singatse-Rock outcrop complex BIOLOGICAL BASELINE REPORT
2012-2014 Biological Survey Area 825: Sojur extremely channery silt loam, 15 to 50 percent slopes FIGURE 3 MUSYM: MUNAME 935/1210: Wesfil-Sojur association SOILS
360/431: Grumblen-Pickup association DRAWN DATE 130: Boomstick-Majuba-Sojur association BY JT DRAWN 12/13/2017 SCALE 463/1400: Jerval-Dorper association 1 in = 3,000 feet 1035: Pokergap-Jerval association PROJECT
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Disclaimer: Stantec assumes no responsibility for data supplied in electronic format. The recipient accepts full responsibility for verifying the accuracy and completeness of the data. The recipient releases Stantec, its officers, employees, consultants and agents, from any and all claims arising in any way from the content or provision of the data. 2012 & 2014 Mapped Vegetation
1) Annual Grassland 11) Desert Scrub-Annual Grassland 20) Shadscale 2) Anthropogenic Disturbance 12) Desert Scrub-Bailey's Greasewood 21) Shadscale-Annual Grassland 3) Bailey's Greasewood 14) Desert Scrub-Shadscale 22) Shadscale-Bailey's Greasewood-Annual Grassland 4) Bailey's Greasewood-Annual Grassland 15) Desert Scrub-Shadscale-Annual Grassland 24) Wyoming Sagebrush 5) Barren Clay 16) Desert Scrub-Wyoming Sagebrush 25) Wyoming Sagebrush-Annual Grassland 8) Black Greasewood 17) Desert Scrub-Wyoming Sagebrush-Annual Grassland 27) Wyoming Sagebrush-Shadscale-Annual Grassland 9) Black Greasewood-Annual Grassland 18) Meadow 10) Desert Scrub 19) Rock Outcrop
9 10 1 21 1 1 22 9 4 25 1 21 10 25 25 21 3 10 21 3 25 21 20 3 21 20 1 20
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25 10 24 1 1 25 27 24 9 10 16 24 24 24 1 1 25 1 10 2 1 1 10 24 10 10 3 10 10 21 1 10 5 1 1 14 24 1 16 21 10 10 21 24 25 10 20 10 10 24 24 1 2 1 14 10 17 21 1 20 19 16 16 25 21 10 24 24 25 25 21 10 Feet 21 1 16 1 9 2,200 1,100 0 2,200 21 10 1 $ Basemap: 2015 National Agriculture Imagery Program (NAIP) 16 16 11 10 21 21 21 16 16 16 25 25 16 16 16 16 11 10
Existing Plan Boundary HYCROFT MINING CORPORATION HYCROFT MINE PHASE II EXPANSION PROJECT Phase II Expansion Boundary BIOLOGICAL BASELINE REPORT
2012-2014 Biological Survey Area FIGURE 4A VEGETATION COMMUNITIES NORTH HALF DRAWN DATE BY JT DRAWN 12/13/2017
SCALE 1 in = 2,200 feet
PROJECT
Path: U:\Pre_MEDAD\NV\Clients\Allied\Hycroft_Mine_Phase_II_Expansion_203703039\MXDs\WorkingMXDs\Biological_Baseline\Fig_4A_Vegetation_Community_North_11x17.mxd Path: 203703039
Disclaimer: Stantec assumes no responsibility for data supplied in electronic format. The recipient accepts full responsibility for verifying the accuracy and completeness of the data. The recipient releases Stantec, its officers, employees, consultants and agents, from any and all claims arising in any way from the content or provision of the data. 20 16 24 24 24 999 20 20 21 24 25 25111111 25 12 33 11 24 25 20 2020 21 12 11 24 25 9 24 2511 11 11 10 24 21 15 25 21 25 24 10 24 25 11 1 11 15 14 11 10 2012 & 2014 21Mapped Vegetation24 11 24 14 11 10 24 10 21 21 1 21 25 2525 2 4 10 1) Annual Grassland 10 10) Desert Scrub 25 25 20) Shadscale 10 2525 2 16 25 25 1 1 24 11 10 2) Anthropogenic Disturbance 11) Desert Scrub-Annual Grassland 2525 21) Shadscale-Annual16 1 Grassland 24 24 9 25 1 24 20 20 25 20 10 25 25 5 4 3) Bailey's Greasewood20 12)10 Desert Scrub-Bailey's Greasewood10 14 16 23) Riparian 11 24 16 5 20 10 20 14 11 4)20 Bailey's Greasewood-Annual Grassland8 13) Desert Scrub-Low16 16 Sagebrush10 24) Wyoming Sagebrush 25 11 1 22 5 5 14 5) Barren Clay 8 14) Desert Scrub-Shadscale20 25 10 25) Wyoming Sagebrush-Annual14 Grassland 1 10 1 20 10 2 2 2 24 10 1 2 12 16 6) Basin Big Sagebrush 15) Desert Scrub-Shadscale-Annual20 Grassland 10 26) Wyoming2 Sagebrush-Shadscale 16 24 10 10 2 10 10 16 25 12 7) Basin Big Sagebrush-Wyoming Sagebrush 8 16) Desert Scrub-Wyoming Sagebrush10 16 27) Wyoming Sagebrush-Shadscale-Annual Grassland 8 10 1 1 25 2424 16 25 8) Black Greasewood 17) Desert Scrub-Wyoming Sagebrush-Annual16 Grassland 28)10 Wyoming Sagebrush-Yellow Rabbitbrush-Shadscale 20 27 2 2 1 1 20 25 11 9) Black Greasewood-Annual27 Grassland 19) Rock Outcrop 1 16 10 1 20 25 11 1 20 25 10 11 9 16 10 10 24 10 16 24 10 10 20 10 24 24 20 10 1616 10 10 27 9 24 10 24 24 20 27 24 16 24 24 1 25 25 24 10 1 10 27 9 25 10 27 24 25 24 25 1 24 1 9 10 16 24 24 24 24 16 24 16 1 24 1 10 11 25 1 2 1 10 10 24 1 10 1 25 3 2 24 10 10 10 10 1 1 10 10 3 1010 10 10 55 1 1 11 1 16 14 24 24 24 1 1 21 21 21 16 10 10 10 10 21 24 24 10 20 24 10 10 20 24 1 10 24 1 10 10 2 1 1 10 14 2 17 21 1 17 20 19 21 25 25 16 16 21 10 24 19 25 21 1 14 24 10 24 2525 21 21 16 25 25 14 20 24 21 1 21 1 1 16 1 9 10 1 21 21 9 10 1 11 10 25 10 11 10 10 21 21 25 10 24 10 10 11 10 21 24 11 24 16 21 16 10 21 16 1 10 14 10 24 10 10 10 10 2121 14 10 25 1 21 21 1 25 21 16 25 10 21 1 1 25 21 16 16 21 25 16 25 16 25 25 25 10 25 25 16 21 11 1 21 1 16 1 1 16 1 16 25 6 1 16 1 25 16 10 25 2121 16 1 25 6 25 1 16 25 24 25 25 25 25 25 10 1 1 11 24 2125 25 25 25 1 21 25 16 25 1 21 7 6 27 24 1 21 25 24 10 27 9 9 1 1 2525 24 25 6 1 21 21 21 24 7 24 10 21 21 21 21 10 21 25 1 1111 1 1 1 24 24 1 6 1 24 10 1 1 1 24 10 26 2525 1 1 24 21 1 16 26 10 21 24 25 24 13 24 25 27 13 17 6 16 13 5 24 17 6 5 27 6 24 13 13 24 13 24 13 24 24 13 1 6 1 10 10 16 16 25 25 25 1 10 10 2121 25 24 21 55 21 1 7 21 24 21 16 1 25 27 11 10 7 25 25 7 25 1 24 10 26 27 6 10 1010 7 24 16 16 10 26 24 24 24 21 24 6 24 16 16 21 24 24 24 6 23 25 24 23 21 21 2424 13 1212 25 24 11 24 24 13 16 16 24 11 16 16 16 16 24 27 16 1 10 10 28 16 1 10 17 6 28 6 10 11 17 26 26 1 1 6 27 17 17 6 24 25 24 27 25 27
24 24
22
Feet 2,200 1,100 0 2,200 $ Basemap: 2015 National Agriculture Imagery Program (NAIP)
Existing Plan Boundary HYCROFT MINING CORPORATION HYCROFT MINE PHASE II EXPANSION PROJECT Phase II Expansion Boundary BIOLOGICAL BASELINE REPORT
2012-2014 Biological Survey Area FIGURE 4B VEGETATION COMMUNITIES SOUTH HALF DRAWN DATE BY JT DRAWN 12/13/2017
SCALE 1 in = 2,200 feet
PROJECT
Path: U:\Pre_MEDAD\NV\Clients\Allied\Hycroft_Mine_Phase_II_Expansion_203703039\MXDs\WorkingMXDs\Biological_Baseline\Fig_4B_Vegetation_Community_South_11x17.mxd Path: 203703039
Disclaimer: Stantec assumes no responsibility for data supplied in electronic format. The recipient accepts full responsibility for verifying the accuracy and completeness of the data. The recipient releases Stantec, its officers, employees, consultants and agents, from any and all claims arising in any way from the content or provision of the data. FIGURE 5
Sensitive Plan and Noxious Weed Occurrence Map
Figure shows sensitive information and cannot be displayed without the consent of the United States Bureau of Land Management and the Nevada Department of Wildlife
FIGURE 6
Buckwheat Species Observed – Potential Butterfly Habitat
Figure shows sensitive information and cannot be displayed without the consent of the United States Bureau of Land Management and the Nevada Department of Wildlife
Miles 1.5 0.75 0 1.5 $ Copyright:© 2013 National Geographic Society, i-cubed
Existing Plan Boundary Greater Sage-Grouse Habitat Categories HYCROFT MINING CORPORATION (NV Sagebrush Ecosystem Program, December 2015) HYCROFT MINE PHASE II EXPANSION PROJECT Phase II Expansion Boundary BIOLOGICAL BASELINE REPORT Other Habitat Management Area 2012-2014 Biological Survey Area FIGURE 7 GREATER SAGE-GROUSE HABITAT CATEGORIZATION DRAWN DATE BY JT DRAWN 12/13/2017
SCALE 1 in = 1.5 miles
PROJECT
Path: U:\Pre_MEDAD\NV\Clients\Allied\Hycroft_Mine_Phase_II_Expansion_203703039\MXDs\WorkingMXDs\Biological_Baseline\Fig_7_Sage_Grouse_Habitat_11x17P.mxd Path: 203703039
Disclaimer: Stantec assumes no responsibility for data supplied in electronic format. The recipient accepts full responsibility for verifying the accuracy and completeness of the data. The recipient releases Stantec, its officers, employees, consultants and agents, from any and all claims arising in any way from the content or provision of the data. !( 2016 Stock Tank 2012 T-1
2012 T-2
2016 South Riparian
Feet 3,000 1,500 0 3,000 $ Basemap: 2015 National Agriculture Imagery Program (NAIP)
Existing Plan Boundary 2012 Transects HYCROFT MINING CORPORATION HYCROFT MINE PHASE II EXPANSION PROJECT Phase II Expansion Boundary !( 2016 Point Stock Tank BIOLOGICAL BASELINE REPORT
2012-2014 Biological Survey Area 2016 Transect South Riparian FIGURE 8 AVIAN POINT COUNT SURVEYS
DRAWN DATE BY JT DRAWN 12/13/2017
SCALE 1 in = 3,000 feet
PROJECT
Path: U:\Pre_MEDAD\NV\Clients\Allied\Hycroft_Mine_Phase_II_Expansion_203703039\MXDs\WorkingMXDs\Biological_Baseline\Fig_8_Avian_Point_Count_11x17P.mxd Path: 203703039
Disclaimer: Stantec assumes no responsibility for data supplied in electronic format. The recipient accepts full responsibility for verifying the accuracy and completeness of the data. The recipient releases Stantec, its officers, employees, consultants and agents, from any and all claims arising in any way from the content or provision of the data. FIGURE 9A
Combined Raptor Nesting Surveys
Figure shows sensitive information and cannot be displayed without the consent of the United States Bureau of Land Management and the Nevada Department of Wildlife
FIGURE 9B
Combined Golden Eagle Nesting Surveys
Figure shows sensitive information and cannot be displayed without the consent of the United States Bureau of Land Management and the Nevada Department of Wildlife FIGURE 10
Burrowing Owl Habitat
Figure shows sensitive information and cannot be displayed without the consent of the United States Bureau of Land Management and the Nevada Department of Wildlife Feet 3,000 1,500 0 3,000 $ Basemap: 2015 National Agriculture Imagery Program (NAIP)
Existing Plan Boundary HAF Third Order Cover Types HYCROFT MINING CORPORATION HYCROFT MINE PHASE II EXPANSION PROJECT Low Sagebrush/Native Perennial (105 acres) Phase II Expansion Boundary BIOLOGICAL BASELINE REPORT Wyoming & Basin Big Sagebrush/Exotic Annual (1,416 acres) 2012-2014 Biological Survey Area FIGURE 11
Wyoming & Basin Big Sagebrush/Native Perennial (5,090 acres) GREATER SAGE-GROUSE WINTER HABITAT SURVEY & HAF DRAWN DATE 2014 Greater Sage-grouse Tracks (105 miles) BY JT DRAWN 12/13/2017
SCALE 1 in = 3,000 feet
PROJECT
Path: U:\Pre_MEDAD\NV\Clients\Allied\Hycroft_Mine_Phase_II_Expansion_203703039\MXDs\WorkingMXDs\Biological_Baseline\Fig_11_Sage_Grouse_HAF_Habitat_11x17P.mxd Path: 203703039
Disclaimer: Stantec assumes no responsibility for data supplied in electronic format. The recipient accepts full responsibility for verifying the accuracy and completeness of the data. The recipient releases Stantec, its officers, employees, consultants and agents, from any and all claims arising in any way from the content or provision of the data. Feet 3,000 1,500 0 3,000 $ Basemap: 2015 National Agriculture Imagery Program (NAIP)
Existing Plan Boundary 2014 Pygmy Rabbit Tracks (305 miles) HYCROFT MINING CORPORATION HYCROFT MINE PHASE II EXPANSION PROJECT Phase II Expansion Boundary Potentially Suitable Pygmy Rabbit Habitat (2,691 BIOLOGICAL BASELINE REPORT acres) 2012-2014 Biological Survey Area FIGURE 12 PYGMY RABBIT SURVEY
DRAWN DATE BY JT DRAWN 12/13/2017
SCALE 1 in = 3,000 feet
PROJECT
Path: U:\Pre_MEDAD\NV\Clients\Allied\Hycroft_Mine_Phase_II_Expansion_203703039\MXDs\WorkingMXDs\Biological_Baseline\Fig_12_Pygmy_Rabbit_Survey_11x17P.mxd Path: 203703039
Disclaimer: Stantec assumes no responsibility for data supplied in electronic format. The recipient accepts full responsibility for verifying the accuracy and completeness of the data. The recipient releases Stantec, its officers, employees, consultants and agents, from any and all claims arising in any way from the content or provision of the data. +$
+$
HUMBOLDT CO. PERSHING CO.
ad Ro o ng Ju MAP INSET 2
#*#*#*#* MAP INSET 1 #*") $+ See Inset 1 ") ") ")")!( ")")")")")!(")") #* $+ ") ") #*")")!(")!(")") #* ")") ")") #*#*")")")!(")!(")!(")")") ") ") ") ")") #* ")")") ") ")") $+ !(!( ") ") ")")!(!( ")") ") #*#* ") !(")")!( $+ ") !(")!( ") $+ $+ ")") ") $+ $+ #* ") ") ") ") !( ") #*#* ")!( !(") !( !( #* ") !(!( ") ") ")") +$ #*#* ")")") ")")
Feet See Inset 2 0 1,000 2,000 $+ +$ Feet $+ 0 1,000 2,000 +$ +$$++$+$
Basemap: 2015 National Agriculture Imagery ProgramDRAFT (NAIP)
Existing Plan Boundary Existing Bat Compatible Closures Future Bat Compatible Closures Future Backfill No Wildlife Survey HYCROFT MINING CORPORATION $$ ¯ HYCROFT MINE PHASE II #* ADIT !( ADIT ") ADIT $+ ADIT Phase II Expansion Boundary ( EXPANSION PROJECT Miles #* OTHER !( DECLINE ") SHAFT $+ INCLINE 0 1 2 1 inch = 2 miles BIOLOGICAL BASELINE REPORT 2012-2014 Biological Survey Area Humboldt & Pershing Counties, NV #* !( $+ NAD 1983 UTM Zone 11N SHAFT SHAFT SHAFT FIGURE 13 DRAWN BY: CJ 1ST REVIEW: JT 2ND REVIEW: SM NDOM HAZARD SITES
DATE: 12/13/2017 Project No: 203703039 U:\Pre_MEDAD\NV\Clients\Allied\Hycroft_Mine_Phase_II_Expansion_203703039\MXDs\WorkingMXDs\Combined_Biological\Fig_13_NDOM_Hazards_Sites_11x17L.mxd Revised: 2017-12-13 By:chrjohnson ServiceLayer Credits:2015 National AgricultureImagery Program(NAIP) Disclaimer: Stantec assumes no responsibility for data supplied in electronic format. The recipient accepts full responsibility for verifying the accuracy and completeness of the data. The recipient releases Stantec, its officers, employees, consultants and agents, from any and all claims arising in any way from the content or provision of the data. Outcrop WRC 5 A! Site WRC 5
Outcrop WRC 12
Outcrop WRC 7 ! Site WRC 7A Site Stock Tank ! (SPR 11-06)A ! Outcrop JBR 4 A Site JBR 4
Outcrop WRC 8
Outcrop JBR 3
Site JBR 3 A!
Jungo Road
HUMBOLDT CO. PERSHING CO.
Outcrop WRC 3
Bat Detector Sites A! JBR 2014 A! WRC 2014 A! WRC 2015 JBR Verified Outcrop - 2014 WRC Verified Outcrop - Potential Bat Habitat (digitized by the NDOW and Stantec in December 2017) Basemap: 2015 National Agriculture Imagery Program (NAIP)
Existing Plan Boundary $$ HYCROFT MINING CORPORATION (¯ HYCROFT MINE PHASE II Phase II Expansion Boundary EXPANSION PROJECT Feet 0 2,000 4,000 1 in = 4,000 feet BIOLOGICAL BASELINE REPORT
2012-2014 Biological Survey Area Humboldt & Pershing Counties, NV NAD 1983 UTM Zone 11N FIGURE 14A DRAWN BY: JT 1ST REVIEW: CJ 2ND REVIEW: SM BAT ACOUSTIC DETECTOR LOCATIONS DATE: 12/13/2017 Project No: 203703039 U:\Pre_MEDAD\NV\Clients\Allied\Hycroft_Mine_Phase_II_Expansion_203703039\MXDs\WorkingMXDs\Biological_Baseline\Fig_14a_Bat_Acoustic_Detector_Locations_Authorized_11x17P.mxd Revised:2017-12-13 By: chrjohnson ServiceLayer Credits:2015 National AgricultureImagery Program(NAIP) Disclaimer: Stantec assumes no responsibility for data supplied in electronic format. The recipient accepts full responsibility for verifying the accuracy and completeness of the data. The recipient releases Stantec, its officers, employees, consultants and agents, from any and all claims arising in any way from the content or provision of the data. Outcrop WRC 12
Outcrop WRC 7 A! Site WRC 7 Site Stock Tank A! (SPR 11-06) ! Outcrop JBR 4 A Site JBR 4
Outcrop WRC 8
Outcrop JBR 3
Site JBR 3 A!
HUMBOLDT CO. PERSHING CO.
Outcrop WRC 3
Outcrop WRC 9 Site WRC 9 A! Outcrop WRC 10
Outcrop BLM 4
Outcrop WRC 1 Outcrop WRC 2 Site Pond (SPR 11-11) Outcrop WRC 11 A! A! ^_ Site WRC 11 Site 9
Bat Detector Sites A! JBR 2014 A! WRC 2014 A! WRC 2015 ^_ Site 9 (date and origin unknown) BLM Verified Outcrop - date unknown JBR Verified Outcrop - 2014 WRC Verified Outcrop - 2014 Potential Bat Habitat (digitized by the NDOW and Stantec in December 2017)
Basemap: 2015 National Agriculture Imagery Program (NAIP)
Existing Plan Boundary $$ HYCROFT MINING CORPORATION (¯ HYCROFT MINE PHASE II Phase II Expansion Boundary EXPANSION PROJECT Feet 0 1,500 3,000 1 in = 3,000 feet BIOLOGICAL BASELINE REPORT
2012-2014 Biological Survey Area Humboldt & Pershing Counties, NV NAD 1983 UTM Zone 11N FIGURE 14B DRAWN BY: JT 1ST REVIEW: CJ 2ND REVIEW: SM BAT ACOUSTIC DETECTOR LOCATIONS DATE: 3/27/2018 Project No: 203703039 U:\Pre_MEDAD\NV\Clients\Allied\Hycroft_Mine_Phase_II_Expansion_203703039\MXDs\WorkingMXDs\Biological_Baseline\Fig_14b_Bat_Acoustic_Detector_Locations_Proposed_11x17P.mxd Revised: 2018-03-27 By: chrjohnson ServiceLayer Credits:2015 NationalAgricultureImagery Program (NAIP) Disclaimer: Stantec assumes no responsibility for data supplied in electronic format. The recipient accepts full responsibility for verifying the accuracy and completeness of the data. The recipient releases Stantec, its officers, employees, consultants and agents, from any and all claims arising in any way from the content or provision of the data. 10 Traps
!( !(!(!(
T5
T6 T4
T3
T2
T7 T1
50 Traps
!(!(!( !(!(!(!(!(!( !(!(!(!(!(!(!( !(!(!(!(!(!(!( !(!(!(!(
Feet 3,000 1,500 0 3,000 $ Basemap: 2015 National Agriculture Imagery Program (NAIP)
Existing Plan Boundary Kangaroo Mouse Potential Habitat Soil Unit HYCROFT MINING CORPORATION HYCROFT MINE PHASE II EXPANSION PROJECT 935/1210, Wesfil-Sojur association (5,117 acres) Phase II Expansion Boundary BIOLOGICAL BASELINE REPORT 463/1400, Jerval-Dorper association (2,128 acres) 2012-2014 Biological Survey Area FIGURE 15 PALE AND DARK KANGAROO MOUSE 360/431, Grumblen-Pickup association (814 acres) & PREBLE'S SHREW (! Preble's Shrew Trapping Locations TRAPPING LOCATIONS 130, Boomstick-Majuba-Sojur association (187 acres) DRAWN DATE Kangaroo Mouse Trap Lines BY JT DRAWN 12/13/2017 SCALE 804, Singatse-Rock outcrop complex (166 acres) 1 in = 3,000 feet Preble's Shrew Potential Habitat (27 acres) PROJECT
Path: U:\Pre_MEDAD\NV\Clients\Allied\Hycroft_Mine_Phase_II_Expansion_203703039\MXDs\WorkingMXDs\Biological_Baseline\Fig_15_PKM_DKM_Prebles_Shrew_11x17P.mxd Path: 203703039
Disclaimer: Stantec assumes no responsibility for data supplied in electronic format. The recipient accepts full responsibility for verifying the accuracy and completeness of the data. The recipient releases Stantec, its officers, employees, consultants and agents, from any and all claims arising in any way from the content or provision of the data. !.
SPR 11-06
SPR 11-11
!.
Feet 3,000 1,500 0 3,000 $ Copyright:© 2013 National Geographic Society, i-cubed
!. Springs HYCROFT MINING CORPORATION HYCROFT MINE PHASE II EXPANSION PROJECT Existing Plan Boundary BIOLOGICAL BASELINE REPORT
Phase II Expansion Boundary FIGURE 16 2012-2014 Biological Survey Area SPRING SITES
DRAWN DATE BY JT DRAWN 12/13/2017
SCALE 1 in = 3,000 feet
PROJECT
Path: U:\Pre_MEDAD\NV\Clients\Allied\Hycroft_Mine_Phase_II_Expansion_203703039\MXDs\WorkingMXDs\Biological_Baseline\Fig_16_Spring_Sites_11x17P.mxd Path: 203703039
Disclaimer: Stantec assumes no responsibility for data supplied in electronic format. The recipient accepts full responsibility for verifying the accuracy and completeness of the data. The recipient releases Stantec, its officers, employees, consultants and agents, from any and all claims arising in any way from the content or provision of the data. APPENDICES A - O and PHOTOS
Appendices and Photos show sensitive information and cannot be displayed without the consent of the United States Bureau of Land Management and the Nevada Department of Wildlife