Elk Late-Successional Reserve Enhancement Project

Final Biological Assessment and Evaluation

for Botanical Species Report

Prepared by: /s/ Rhonda Posey Shasta-side Planning Botanist

for: Shasta-McCloud Management Unit Shasta-Trinity National Forest

Date: April 5, 2016 Final Biological Assessment and Evaluation for Botanical Species Report - Elk Late Successional Reserve Enhancement Project – April 5, 2016

Non Discrimination Statement In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity (including gender expression), sexual orientation, disability, age, marital status, family/parental status, income derived from a public assistance program, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity, in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA (not all bases apply to all programs). Remedies and complaint filing deadlines vary by program or incident. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the responsible Agency or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English. To file a program discrimination complaint, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, AD-3027, found online at http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html and at any USDA office or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by: (1) mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; (2) fax: (202) 690-7442; or (3) email: [email protected].

Final Biological Assessment and Evaluation for Botanical Species Report - Elk Late Successional Reserve Enhancement Project – April 5, 2016

Table of Contents

Introduction ...... 1 Compliance with Forest Plan, and Other Relevant Laws, Regulations, Policies and Plans...... 1 Project Location ...... 1 Purpose and Need ...... 1 Alternatives ...... 1 Alternative 1: Modified Proposed Action – Preferred Alternative ...... 2 Alternative 2: No New Temporary Road Construction Other than Those Required for Landing Use/Access ...... 2 Alternative 3: No Treatments of Natural Stands within Designated Critical Habitat for the Northern Spotted Owl...... 2 Alternative 4: No Action ...... 2 Overview of Issues Addressed ...... 3 Botanical Biological Assessment for Listed/Proposed, Threatened and Endangered (including Candidate Species) ...... 3 Determination of Effects ...... 4 Botanical Biological Evaluation for Sensitive Species ...... 4 Affected Environment ...... 4 Existing Conditions Related to Sensitive Plants ...... 4 Desired Condition ...... 5 Forest Goals ...... 5 McCloud Flats – Management Area 2 ...... 5 Mt. Shasta – Management Area 3 ...... 5 Environmental Consequences ...... 6 Methodology ...... 6 Results of Surveys ...... 6 Spatial and Temporal Context for Effects Analysis ...... 6 Effects Analysis ...... 7 Methodology Used to Analyze and Determine the Extent of Effects to the Resource ...... 7 Regulatory Compliance ...... 7 Effects Relative to Significance Factors ...... 7 Monitoring Recommendations ...... 7 Other Agencies and Individuals Consulted ...... 7 Determination of Effects ...... 7 References (Literature Cited) ...... 8 Appendix 1: Official Species Lists USFWS ...... 1 Appendix 2 – Sensitive Plant List...... 13 Appendix 3 – Plant List ...... 17

List of Tables

Table 1: Conifers and Flowering Plants Listed by FWS For the Elk Project Area ...... 3 Table 2: Sensitive and endemic plants with potential to occur in the Elk project Area ...... 5 Table 3: Sensitive and Endemic Plant species known or potentially occurring on the Shasta National Forest including McCloud, Mt. Shasta and Shasta Lake Range Districts as of July 24, 2013 ...... 13 Table 4: List of plants known to occur in the Elk Late-Successional Reserve Enhancement Project Assessment Area (names according to Baldwin et al. 2013...... 17

Shasta-Trinity National Forest Final Biological Assessment and Evaluation for Botanical Species Report - Elk Late Successional Reserve Enhancement Project – April 5, 2016

Shasta-Trinity National Forest, Shasta-McCloud Management Unit Final Biological Assessment and Evaluation for Botanical Species Report - Elk Late Successional Reserve Enhancement Project – April 5, 2016

Introduction This document is a combined BA/BE. Plants found were identified to the degree necessary to determine if they were Threatened, Endangered, or Sensitive species. No plants species listed as Threatened, Endangered or Sensitive were found during surveys.

List of acronyms used for this report:

BA Biological Assessment BE Biological Evaluation CH Critical Habitat CNDDB California Department of Fish & Wildlife, Natural Diversity Data Base CNPS California Native Plant Society ESA Endangered Species Act FEIS Final Environmental Impact Statement FSM Forest Service Manual FWS U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service LMP Shasta-Trinity National Forest Land Resource Management Plan MA Management Area NFS NRIS National Resource Information System S&M Survey & Manage TES Threatened, Endangered, and Sensitive Species

Compliance with Forest Plan, and Other Relevant Laws, Regulations, Policies and Plans The Elk Late-Successional Reserve Enhancement Project is in compliance with the Forest Plan, and other relevant laws, regulations, policies and plans including the Endangered Species Act of 1973.

Project Location The Elk Late-Successional Reserve Enhancement Project (Elk project) is located in Siskiyou County, California. The Project area is approximately nine miles northeast of the community of McCloud and 70 miles northeast of Redding. The project area under analysis is approximately 3,420 acres in size. The legal location is: T41N, R1W, Sections 28-33, Mt. Diablo Meridian. The project area is within the McCloud Flats (MA2) and Mt. Shasta (MA3) management areas as designated in the Shasta-Trinity Land and Resource Management Plant (Forest Plan: 1995).

Purpose and Need The need for action was determined by comparing project area conditions with the Forest Plan goals and desired conditions of the McCloud Flats (MA 2) and Mt. Shasta (MA 3) management areas. The Forest Plan identifies a desired condition for each of these management areas. A complete discussion regarding purpose and need can be found in the Elk project FEIS.

Alternatives All alternatives are described in detail in chapter 2 of the Elk project F

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EIS. Four alternatives were developed, including the no action and modified proposed action alternatives.

Alternative 1: Modified Proposed Action – Preferred Alternative Alternative 1 is the Agency Preferred Alternative. The proposed treatments would be implemented through a combination of commercial and non-commercial thinning using mechanical and hand methods. In addition to thinning activities, existing natural and activity generated fuels within the entire project area would be treated with a combination of machine piling and burning given the size and amount of existing and expected future down fuel, hand piling in sensitive areas as needed, lop and scatter, mastication and/or underburning (or any combination thereof) to meet the desired condition for fuel load objectives and begin the process for returning natural fire to the landscape.

Alternative 2: No New Temporary Road Construction Other than Those Required for Landing Use/Access Alternative 2 is responsive to the issue regarding road construction impacts on forest health and connectivity within the LSR. It is similar to Alternative 1 with the exception that no temporary roads would be constructed to complete project activities other than to access landings. Project activities would be completed utilizing the existing NFS roads and existing routes in the project area. The proposed action identified the need for approximately 2 miles of temporary road to complete thinning activities and no new permanent road construction was proposed. This alternative reduces the ability to mechanically treat approximately 98 acres. All other project design criteria, thinning and fuels treatments and road actions are the same as Alternative 1.

Alternative 3: No Treatments of Natural Stands within Designated Critical Habitat for the Northern Spotted Owl

Alternative 3 is responsive to the issue regarding treatments within designated critical habitat for the northern spotted owl violating the 2011 Revised Recovery Plan and the 2012 Final Critical Habitat Rule. This alternative is similar to Alternative 1, with the exception that no silvicultural or fuels treatments would be implemented in designated critical habitat within natural stands that are providing suitable and dispersal habitat for the northern spotted owl. Plantations that do not currently provide suitable or dispersal habitat, but that may be considered capable habitat, would still be treated as proposed under Alternative 1 with the exception that no underburning activities would occur in critical habitat. Alternative 3 treats 304 fewer acres with silvicultural harvest. All other project design criteria, and thinning and fuels treatments and road actions outside of critical habitat, are the same as Alternative 1.

Alternative 4: No Action

Alternative 4 is the no action alternative. This is the continuation of the existing condition, current management and ongoing activities in the project area. Current management and ongoing activities, as permitted under NEPA may include road maintenance, hazard tree felling, wood-cutting, over-snow vehicle use associated with the Pilgrim Creek Snowmobile Park, dispersed recreation (e.g., sightseeing, hunting), forest products collection and other permitted special uses. The analysis includes modeling of stand growth and fire behavior that is predicted if no action is taken in the project area. No treatments or road actions would be implemented to accomplish the purpose and need and project resource objectives.

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Overview of Issues Addressed There are no issues related to federally listed Endangered, Threatened, Proposed or Candidate plant species, nor Sensitive plant species as listed by the Region 5 Regional Forester in the Elk project area. None were known to occur in the project area prior to project surveys and none were found during botanical surveys for the Elk project.

Botanical Biological Assessment for Listed/Proposed, Threatened and Endangered (including Candidate Species) The purpose of this BA is to review the proposed project in sufficient detail to determine whether any of the alternatives analyzed may have an adverse effect on federally listed plants or their critical habitats. The Shasta-Trinity Forest requested an official list of Threatened, Endangered and Candidate species from the US Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) website1 on January 5, 2016for the Elk project area plus a 3.0- mile buffer. This document is included as Appendix 1 of the Botanical BA (Posey, 2015).2 In accordance with the ESA and regulatory guidance, only those organisms and critical habitat listed on the official species list are considered, and only those species under the regulatory jurisdiction of the FWS. Listed conifer species and flowering plant species include:

Table 1: Conifers and Flowering Plants Listed by FWS For the Elk Project Area Conifers and Cycads Listing Critical Habitat Designation Whitebark pine (Pinus albicaulis) Candidate

Flowering Plants Gentner's Fritillary (Fritillaria Endangered gentneri) Hoover's spurge (Chamaesyce Threatened Final Designated hooveri) Slender Orcutt grass (Orcuttia Threatened Final designated tenuis)

The Elk project area (highest elevation 4680 ft.) is below the elevational range (6500-12,140 ft.) for whitebark pine. In the Mt. Shasta area, whitebark pine is generally found above7500 feet. Gentner’s fritillary: this species occurs at two sites in northern Siskiyou County near the Oregon border and in southwestern Oregon. It occurs in chaparral and white oak woodlands in areas with heavy clay soils. This habitat does not occur within the Elk project area

Vernal pool habitat for Hoover’s spurge and slender Orcutt grass do not occur within the Elk Project area. The nearest critical habitat (CH) for Hoover’s spurge occurs in Tehama County. The nearest CH for slender Orcutt grass occurs in Siskiyou County on Shasta-Trinity National Forest lands administered by the Lassen National Forest near Dana, California and is distant from the project area (2006). Both are vernal pool species. There is no vernal pool habitat within 10 air miles of the project area.

1 https://ecos.fws.gov/ipac/project/IYL3DX7YG5D7LGGY54W4VBV5PU/regulatoryDocuments 2 Consultation Code: 08EYRE00-2016-SLI-0056 January 05, 2016

Event Code: 08EYRE00-2016-E-00026

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In accordance with the ESA and regulatory guidance, only those organisms and critical habitat listed on the official species list in (Appendix 1) are considered, and only those species under the regulatory jurisdiction of the FWS.

TES species habitat was evaluated through review of the GIS layers for known sites of TES plants for the Shasta-McCloud Management Unit of the Shasta-Trinity National Forest, district files; the National Resource Information Systems (NRIS) database, Soil Survey of Shasta-Trinity National Forest Area California; CalFlora; the Consortium of California Herbaria and California Natural Diversity Data Base.3

Determination of Effects Adequate biological assessment has been completed to determine the effects of this project on the plant species listed as Proposed, Threatened or Endangered (including Candidate species) by the FWS as of January 5, 2015. The Elk project will have no effect on any plant species listed as Proposed, Threatened or Endangered (including Candidate) by FWS.

Botanical Biological Evaluation for Sensitive Species A Biological Evaluation (BE) is the means by which a determination is made whether a proposed federal action may result in a trend toward federal listing for any species not currently listed under ESA. National Forest Management Act (PL 94-588 of 1976) directs the Forest Service to review programs and activities to ensure that species do not become threatened or endangered as a result of Forest Service actions. Forest Service direction (FSM 2672.1-2672.43) requires that programs or activities be reviewed for potential effects on rare species and outlines policy, objectives and procedures. The Shasta-Trinity National Forest is directed by the Forest Plan to manage populations so as not to contribute to the need for listing under the Endangered Species Act (USDA Forest Service 1994). A table of “Sensitive Plant, Lichen, Bryophyte and Fungi Species with Potential to Occur” on the Shasta-Trinity National Forest as of July 3, 2013 is included with this report. See Appendix 2.

Affected Environment Existing Conditions Related to Sensitive Plants Vegetation within the project area is generally made up of ponderosa pine plantations and mixed conifer. Over the last 100 years, the area has seen a wide variety of disturbances both natural and man-made: logging, site prep, and livestock grazing. Fire suppression has created dense stands of mixed conifer with ponderosa pine, Douglas fir, white fir, incense cedar and lodgepole pine. Root disease and bark beetles have already killed approximately 15% of conifers, mostly ponderosa pine but also a small amount of white fir, and more are becoming infected. The following species were determined to have potential to occur in the project area. See Appendix 2 for analysis of occurrence potential.

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Table 2: Sensitive and endemic plants with potential to occur in the Elk project Area Known Sites in Name Habitat Project Area Cypripedium montanum Moist areas, dry slopes, mixed –evergreen or coniferous No known sites within Mountain lady’s slipper forest. Elevation 760-7200 feet. assessment area. CYMO

Desired Condition

Forest Goals4 Manage habitat for sensitive plants and animals in a manner that will prevent any species from becoming a candidate for threatened or endangered status.

Forestwide Standard’s & Guidelines for Sensitive & Endemic Plants5 Standards and guidelines applicable at the project level are: • 4a. Map, record and protect essential habitat for known and newly discovered sensitive and endemic plant species until conservation strategies are developed. • 4b. Analyze the potential effects of all ground-disturbing projects on sensitive and endemic plants and their habitats. • 4c. Monitor the effects of management activities on sensitive and endemic plants. If monitoring results show a decline in species viability, alter management strategy.

McCloud Flats – Management Area 26 Sensitive plant direction for this management area addresses three sensitive plant species: Calochortus longebarbatus var. longebarbatus (long-haired star-tulip); Trillium ovatum ssp. oettingeri (Salmon Mountains wake robin) and Rorippa columbiae (Columbia cress). Long- haired star-tulip is found approximately 13 air miles southeast of the project area. It requires heavy clay soils that are not found in the project area. Salmon Mountains wake robin was delisted in 1998 and is now a Shasta-Trinity watch list species and does not occur in the project area. Columbia cress was listed as sensitive in 1998. The nearest population is at Dry Lake approximately 10 air miles east of the project area. Columbia yellow cress habitat does not occur within the project boundary as it requires streambanks, lake or pond edges, meadows or wet fields. Ash Creek is the only perennial stream, although occasionally intermittent, in the project area. It is snow-fed, floods frequently and deposits abundant amounts of sediment making it difficult for small plants like Columbia yellow cress to maintain a foothold. The large vernal pools such as Dry Lake and White Deer Lake where populations occur have ground water interactions due to the high water table associated with these vernal pools.

Mt. Shasta – Management Area 37 Sensitive plant direction for this management area addresses two sensitive plant species: Phacelia cookei (Cooke’s phacelia) and Cordylanthus tenuis ssp. pallescens (pallid bird’s beak). They have very restricted ranges. Cooke’s phacelia only occurs on the north and northeast flanks

4 Forest Plan goals for sensitive plants are listed on page 4-5 5 Forest Plan direction for sensitive and endemic plant species is found on pages 3-7 and 4-14 6 Forest Plan page 4-79 7 Forest Plan pages 4-83 and 4-85

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of Mt. Shasta. Pallid bird’s beak only occurs in the vicinity of Black Butte. Supplemental direction calls for surveys for Lomatium peckianum (Peck’s lomatium) and Ophioglossum pusillum (northern adder’s tongue). Neither species is known to occur on the McCloud Ranger District. Known locations of Peck’s lomatium are north of Mt. Shasta (Shasta Valley) and east (Modoc County) of the Shasta-Trinity up into southern Oregon. There is one historical herbarium record (1894) for northern adder’s tongue in Sisson which is the historical name for Mt Shasta City. This population is presumed extirpated. Wet habitats required by this species do not occur in the project area. Campanula wilkinsiana (Wilkin’s harebell) is known to occur above 5,000 feet elevation along Pilgrim Creek and Cold Creek on the east side of Mt. Shasta. It has not been found growing along Ash Creek. Elevation of the project area is below 4,400 feet.

Environmental Consequences Methodology The assessment boundary was used to define the area to be analyzed. Sensitive species habitat was evaluated through review of the GIS layers for known sites of sensitive plants for the Shasta- McCloud Management Unit of the Shasta-Trinity National Forest, district files, National Resource Information Systems (NRIS) data base, “Soil Survey of Shasta-Trinity National Forest Area, California” and California Natural Diversity Data Base. Surveys were floristic, meaning each plant found was identified to the degree necessary to determine if it was a species of concern (TES, S&M, or watch list). Late-successional habitat bordering Ash Creek was surveyed for mountain lady’s slipper. All habitat was surveyed whether-or-not it was in a unit. The species identified in the assessment process were targeted during surveys but the surveys were floristic in nature (see Appendix 3 for species list.) Sensitive plant surveys were done July 7, 8, 14 and 15, 2008 by a botany crew from the Shasta-McCloud Management Unit. Visits were also made to the project area in July and October of 2009, June 2012, July 16, 2012, November 5, 2012, April 29, 2013, June 13, 2013 and May 5, June 4, August 26 and September 24, 2014.

Results of Surveys No sensitive plants were known to occur in the project area prior to surveys and no new populations were found during surveys. If new sensitive plant populations are discovered during project implementation, an agency botanist will be notified so that measures can be taken to maintain population viability. Measures to protect population viability and habitat for all known and newly discovered occurrences may include any of the following: altering or dropping proposed units from activity; modifying the proposed activity; flag and avoid plant occurrences or putting a limited operating period on a specific area. A limited operating period would depend on the species and phenology at the time of discovery. Soil disturbance would be stopped for a period of time; usually long enough for seed to set. Depending on the species, a limited operating period could last four to six months. Flag and avoid is generally used for sensitive species.

Spatial and Temporal Context for Effects Analysis In accordance with § 220.4 (f), spatial and temporal boundaries set the limits for selecting those actions that are most likely to contribute to a cumulative effect. The effects of those actions must overlap in space and time for there to be potential cumulative effects. This is determined by how

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long, and how far reaching, direct and indirect effects of a project are felt on a given resource area. No sensitive plant species are known to occur within the project boundary for the Elk project thus no direct or indirect effects are expected (therefore no cumulative effects are expected). As such, a spatial and temporal bounding for cumulative effects is not applicable.

Effects Analysis

Methodology Used to Analyze and Determine the Extent of Effects to the Resource There are no vascular plants, bryophytes, lichens, or fungi species listed by Region 5 as of July 3, 2013 as Sensitive known to occur within the project area; therefore there will be no negative or positive direct, indirect or cumulative effects to any Sensitive or endemic species.

Regulatory Compliance The Elk LSR Enhancement Project is in compliance with the forest plan, and other relevant laws, regulations, policies and plans including the Endangered Species Act of 1973 as amended, USDA Dept. Regulation 9500-4, Forest Service Manual 2670.12, 2670.22, 2670.32, 2671.1 and 2672.42.-2672.43.

Effects Relative to Significance Factors None – there are no TES plant species or endemic species known to occur within the project area. There are no significant factors related to sensitive species from the Elk LSR Enhancement Project.

Monitoring Recommendations The Forest will continue to survey for TES species for future projects occurring within the project area.

Other Agencies and Individuals Consulted None

Determination of Effects Adequate biological assessment has been completed to determine the effects of this project on the plant species listed as Sensitive by the USDA Forest Service Region 5 as of July 24, 2013. Based on the information summarized above and my professional opinion, it is my determination that implementation of the Elk Late-Successional Reserve Enhancement Project will have no effect on any Region 5 Sensitive plant species.

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References (Literature Cited) California Department of Fish and Wildlife. 2013. California Department of Fish and Wildlife BIOS (CNDDB) accessed on 12/10/2013

USDA Forest Service. 1995. Shasta-Trinity National Land and Resource Management Plan

USDA Forest Service. 2013. Regional Forester’s Sensitive Plant List for Region 5

USDI USFWS, 2006. Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants: Designation of Critical Habitat for Four Vernal Pool Crustaceans and Eleven Vernal Pool Plants; Final Rule. Federal Register Vol.171, No. 28. February 10, 2006.

USDI, USFWS. 2015. Listed/Proposed Threatened and Endangered Species Official List. January 5, 2015

University of California Press. 2012. The Jepson Manual Vascular Plants of California Second Edition

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Appendix 1: Official Species Lists USFWS United States Department of the Interior FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE Yreka Fish and Wildlife Office 1829 SOUTH OREGON STREET YREKA, CA 96097 PHONE: (530)842-5763 FAX: (530)842-4517 Consultation Code: 08EYRE00-2016-SLI-0056 January 05, 2016 Event Code: 08EYRE00-2016-E-00026 Project Name: Elk Late Successional Restoration Project Subject: List of threatened and endangered species that may occur in your proposed project location, and/or may be affected by your proposed project To Whom It May Concern: The enclosed species list identifies federally threatened, endangered, and proposed species, designated critical habitat, and candidate species that may occur within the boundary of your proposed project and/or may be affected by your proposed project. The species list fulfills the requirements of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) under section 7(c) of the Endangered Species Act (Act) of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.). Please note that this list does not reflect State listed species or fulfill requirements related to any California Department of Fish and Wildlife consultation. Additionally, this list does not include species covered by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS). For NMFS species please see the related website at the following link: http://www.nwr.noaa.gov/protected_species/species_list/species_lists.html If your project does not involve Federal funding or permits and does not occur on Federal land, we recommend you review this list and determine if any of these species or critical habitat may be affected. If you determine that there will be no effects to federally listed or proposed species or critical habitat, there is no need to coordinate with the Service. If you think or know that there will be effects, please contact our office for further guidance. We can assist you in incorporating measures to avoid or minimize impacts, and discuss whether permits are needed. New information based on updated surveys, changes in the abundance and distribution of species, changed habitat conditions, or other factors could change this list. Please feel free to contact us if you need more current information or assistance regarding the potential effects to federally proposed, listed, and candidate species and federally designated and proposed critical habitat. Please note that under 50 CFR 402.12(e) of the regulations implementing section 7 of the Act, the accuracy of this species list should be verified after 90 days. This verification can be completed formally or informally as desired. The Service recommends that verification be completed by visiting the ECOS-IPaC website at regular intervals during project planning and implementation for updates to species lists and information. An updated list may be requested through the ECOS-IPaC system by completing the same process used to receive the enclosed list. The purpose of the Act is to provide a means whereby threatened and endangered species and the ecosystems upon which they depend may be conserved. Under sections 7(a)(1) and 7(a)(2) of the Act and its implementing regulations (50 CFR 402 et seq.), Federal agencies are required to utilize their authorities to carry out programs for the conservation of threatened and endangered species and to determine whether projects may affect threatened and endangered species and/or designated critical habitat.

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A Biological Assessment is required for construction projects (or other undertakings having similar physical impacts) that are major Federal actions significantly affecting the quality of the human environment as defined in the National Environmental Policy Act (42 U.S.C. 4332(2) (c)). For projects other than major construction activities, the Service suggests that a biological evaluation similar to a Biological Assessment be prepared to determine whether the project may affect listed or proposed species and/or designated or proposed critical habitat. Recommended contents of a Biological Assessment are described at 50 CFR 402.12. If a Federal agency determines, based on the Biological Assessment or biological evaluation, that listed species and/or designated critical habitat may be affected by the proposed project, the agency is required to consult with the Service pursuant to 50 CFR 402. In addition, the Service recommends that candidate species, proposed species and proposed critical habitat be addressed within the consultation. More information on the regulations and procedures for section 7 consultation, including the role of permit or license applicants, can be found in the "Endangered Species Consultation Handbook" at: http://www.fws.gov/endangered/esa-library/pdf/TOC-GLOS.PDF If wetlands, springs, or streams are known to occur in the project area or are present in the vicinity of the project area, we ask that you be aware of potential impacts project activities may have on these habitats. Discharge of fill material into wetlands or waters of the United States is regulated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (ACOE) pursuant to section 404 of the Clean Water Act of 1972, as amended. We recommend you contact the ACOE's Regulatory Section regarding the possible need for a permit. Please be aware that bald and golden eagles are protected under the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act (16 U.S.C. 668 et seq.), and projects affecting these species may require development of an eagle conservation plan (http://www.fws.gov/windenergy/eagle_guidance.html). Additionally, wind energy projects should follow the wind energy guidelines (http://www.fws.gov/windenergy/) for minimizing impacts to migratory birds and bats. Guidance for minimizing impacts to migratory birds for projects including communications towers (e.g., cellular, digital television, radio, and emergency broadcast) can be found at: http://www.fws.gov/migratorybirds/CurrentBirdIssues/Hazards/towers/towers.htm; 2 http://www.towerkill.com; and http://www.fws.gov/migratorybirds/CurrentBirdIssues/Hazards/towers/comtow.html. The table below outlines lead Service field offices by county and land ownership/project type. Please refer to this table when you are ready to coordinate (including requests for section 7 consultation) with the field office corresponding to your project. Please send any documentation regarding your project to that office. Please note that the lead Service field office for your consultation may not be the office listed above in the letterhead. Please visit the following link to view a map of Service field office jurisdictional boundaries: http://www.fws.gov/yreka/specieslist/JurisdictionalBoundaryES_R8_20150313.pdf We appreciate your concern for threatened and endangered species. Please include the Consultation Tracking Number in the header of the letter you submit to our office along with any request for consultation or correspondence about your project. Lead FWS offices by County and Ownership/Program County Ownership/Program Species Office Lead* Alameda Tidal wetlands/marsh adjacent to

Bays Salt marsh species, delta smelt BDFWO Alameda All ownerships but tidal/estuarine All SFWO Alpine Humboldt Toiyabe National Forest All RFWO Alpine Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit All RFWO Alpine Stanislaus National Forest All SFWO Alpine El Dorado National Forest All SFWO Colusa Mendocino National Forest All AFWO By jurisdiction (see 3 Colusa Other All map) Contra Costa Legal Delta (Excluding ECCHCP) All BDFWO Contra Costa Antioch Dunes NWR All BDFWO Contra Costa Tidal wetlands/marsh adjacent to Bays Salt marsh species, delta smelt BDFWO Contra Costa All ownerships but tidal/estuarine All SFWO Del Norte All All AFWO El Dorado El Dorado National Forest All SFWO El Dorado LakeTahoe Basin Management Unit RFWO Glenn Mendocino National Forest All AFWO Glenn Other All By jurisdiction (see map) Humboldt All except Shasta Trinity National Forest All AFWO Humboldt Shasta Trinity National Forest All YFWO Lake Mendocino National Forest All AFWO Lake Other All By jurisdiction (see map) 4 Lassen Modoc National Forest All KFWO Lassen Lassen National Forest All SFWO Lassen Toiyabe National Forest All RFWO Lassen BLM Surprise and Eagle Lake Resource Areas All RFWO Lassen BLM Alturas Resource Area All KFWO

Lassen Lassen Volcanic National Park All (includes Eagle Lake trout on all ownerships) SFWO Lassen All other ownerships All By jurisdiction (see map) Marin Tidal wetlands/marsh adjacent to Bays Salt marsh species, delta smelt BDFWO Marin All ownerships but tidal/estuarine All SFWO Mendocino Russian River watershed All SFWO Mendocino All except Russian River watershed All AFWO Modoc Modoc National Forest All KFWO Modoc BLM Alturas Resource Area All KFWO Klamath Basin National Wildlife 5 Modoc Refuge Complex All KFWO Modoc BLM Surprise and Eagle Lake Resource Areas All RFWO Modoc All other ownerships All By jurisdiction (See map) Mono Inyo National Forest All RFWO Mono Humboldt Toiyabe National Forest All RFWO Napa All ownerships but tidal/estuarine All SFWO Napa Tidal wetlands/marsh adjacent to San Pablo Bay Salt marsh species, delta smelt BDFWO Nevada Humboldt Toiyabe National Forest All RFWO Nevada All other ownerships All By jurisdiction (See map) Placer Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit All RFWO Placer All other ownerships All SFWO Sacramento Legal Delta Delta Smelt BDFWO Sacramento Other All By jurisdiction (see map)

Salt marsh 6 San Francisco Tidal wetlands/marsh adjacent to San Francisco Bay species, delta smelt BDFWO San Francisco All ownerships but tidal/estuarine All SFWO San Mateo Tidal wetlands/marsh adjacent to San Francisco Bay Salt marsh species, delta smelt BDFWO San Mateo All ownerships but tidal/estuarine All SFWO San Joaquin Legal Delta excluding San Joaquin HCP All BDFWO San Joaquin Other All SFWO Santa Clara Tidal wetlands/marsh adjacent to San Francisco Bay Salt marsh species, delta smelt BDFWO Santa Clara All ownerships but tidal/estuarine All SFWO Shasta Shasta Trinity National Forest except Hat Creek Ranger District (administered by Lassen National Forest) All YFWO Shasta Hat Creek Ranger District All SFWO Shasta Bureau of Reclamation (Central Valley Project) All BDFWO Shasta Whiskeytown National Recreation Area All YFWO 7 Shasta BLM Alturas Resource Area All KFWO Shasta Caltrans By jurisdiction SFWO/AFWO Shasta Ahjumawi Lava Springs State Park Shasta crayfish SFWO Shasta All other ownerships All By jurisdiction (see map) Shasta Natural Resource Damage

Assessment, all lands All SFWO/BDFWO Sierra Humboldt Toiyabe National Forest All RFWO Sierra All other ownerships All SFWO Siskiyou Klamath National Forest (except Ukonom District) All YFWO Siskiyou Six Rivers National Forest and Ukonom District All AFWO Siskiyou Shasta Trinity National Forest All YFWO Siskiyou Lassen National Forest All SFWO Siskiyou Modoc National Forest All KFWO Siskiyou Lava Beds National Volcanic Monument All KFWO Siskiyou BLM Alturas Resource Area All KFWO 8 Siskiyou Klamath Basin National Wildlife Refuge Complex All KFWO Siskiyou All other ownerships All By jurisdiction (see map) Solano Suisun Marsh All BDFWO Solano Tidal wetlands/marsh adjacent to San Pablo Bay Salt marsh species, delta smelt BDFWO Solano All ownerships but tidal/estuarine All SFWO Solano Other All By jurisdiction (see map) Sonoma Tidal wetlands/marsh adjacent to San Pablo Bay Salt marsh species, delta smelt BDFWO Sonoma All ownerships but tidal/estuarine All SFWO Tehama Mendocino National Forest All AFWO Tehama Shasta Trinity National Forest except Hat Creek Ranger District (administered by Lassen National Forest)

All YFWO Tehama All other ownerships All By jurisdiction (see map) Trinity BLM All AFWO 9 Trinity Six Rivers National Forest All AFWO Trinity Shasta Trinity National Forest All YFWO Trinity Mendocino National Forest All AFWO Trinity BIA (Tribal Trust Lands) All AFWO Trinity County Government All AFWO Trinity All other ownerships All By jurisdiction (See map) Yolo Yolo Bypass All BDFWO Yolo Other All By jurisdiction (see map) All FERC-ESA All By jurisdiction (see map) All FERC-ESA Shasta crayfish SFWO All FERC-Relicensing (non-ESA) All BDFWO *Office Leads: AFWO=Arcata Fish and Wildlife Office BDFWO=Bay Delta Fish and Wildlife Office 10 KFWO=Klamath Falls Fish and Wildlife Office RFWO=Reno Fish and Wildlife Office YFWO=Yreka Fish and Wildlife Office Attachment 11 http://ecos.fws.gov/ipac, 01/05/2016 10:17 AM 1 Official Species List Provided by: Yreka Fish and Wildlife Office 1829 SOUTH OREGON STREET YREKA, CA 96097 (530) 842-5763 Consultation Code: 08EYRE00-2016-SLI-0056 Event Code: 08EYRE00-2016-E-00026 Project Type: LAND - RESTORATION / ENHANCEMENT Project Name: Elk Late Successional Restoration Project Project Description: Siskiyou County approximately 10 miles NE of the Town of McCloud, CA; Timber sale of approximately 3,500 acres; thinning from below to promote late seral/old growth characteristics , aspen and oak release, dry meadow enhancement and under burning. Timing; FEIS is due to go out to public Jan. or Feb. of 2016.

Please Note: The FWS office may have modified the Project Name and/or Project Description, so it may be different from what was submitted in your previous request. If the Consultation Code matches, the FWS considers this to be the same project. Contact the office in the 'Provided by' section of your previous Official Species list if you have any questions or concerns. United States Department of Interior Fish and Wildlife Service Project name: Elk Late Successional Restoration Project http://ecos.fws.gov/ipac, 01/05/2016 10:17 AM 2 Project Location Map: Not Available Project Coordinates: The coordinates are too numerous to display here. Project Counties: Siskiyou, CA United States Department of Interior Fish and Wildlife Service Project name: Elk Late Successional Restoration Project http://ecos.fws.gov/ipac, 01/05/2016 10:17 AM 3 Endangered Species Act Species List There are a total of 16 threatened, endangered, or candidate species on your species list. Species on this list should be considered in an effects analysis for your project and could include species that exist in another geographic area. For example, certain fish may appear on the species list because a project could affect downstream species. Critical habitats listed under the Has Critical Habitat column may or may not lie within your project area. See the Critical habitats within your project area section further below for critical habitat that lies within your project. Please contact the designated FWS office if you have questions. Amphibians Status Has Critical Habitat Condition(s) California red-legged frog (Rana draytonii) Population: Entire Threatened Final designated Oregon Spotted frog (Rana pretiosa) Threatened Proposed Birds Northern Spotted owl (Strix occidentalis caurina) Population: Entire Threatened Final designated Yellow-Billed Cuckoo (Coccyzus americanus) Population: Western U.S. DPS Threatened Proposed Conifers and Cycads Whitebark pine (Pinus albicaulis) Candidate Crustaceans Conservancy fairy shrimp (Branchinecta conservatio) Population: Entire Endangered Final designated United States Department of Interior Fish and Wildlife Service Project name: Elk Late Successional Restoration Project http://ecos.fws.gov/ipac, 01/05/2016 10:17 AM

4 Vernal Pool fairy shrimp (Branchinecta lynchi) Population: Entire Threatened Final designated Vernal Pool tadpole shrimp (Lepidurus packardi) Population: Entire Endangered Final designated Fishes Delta smelt (Hypomesus transpacificus) Population: Entire Threatened Final designated longfin Smelt (Spirinchus thaleichthys) Population: San Francisco Bay delta DPS Candidate Flowering Plants Gentner's Fritillary (Fritillaria gentneri) Endangered Hoover's spurge (Chamaesyce hooveri) Threatened Final designated Slender Orcutt grass (Orcuttia tenuis) Threatened Final designated Insects Valley Elderberry Longhorn beetle (Desmocerus californicus dimorphus) Population: Entire Threatened Final designated Mammals fisher (Martes pennanti) Population: West coast DPS Proposed Threatened Gray wolf (Canis lupus) Endangered United States Department of Interior Fish and Wildlife Service Project name: Elk Late Successional Restoration Project http://ecos.fws.gov/ipac, 01/05/2016 10:17 AM 5 Population: U.S.A.: All of AL, AR, CA, CO, CT, DE, FL, GA, IA, IN, IL, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MO, MS, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NV, NY, OH, OK, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, VA, VT, WI, and WV; and portions of AZ, NM, OR, UT, and WA. Mexico. United States Department of Interior Fish and Wildlife Service Project name: Elk Late Successional Restoration Project http://ecos.fws.gov/ipac, 01/05/2016 10:17 AM 6 Critical habitats that lie within your project area The following critical habitats lie fully or partially within your project area. Birds Critical Habitat Type Northern Spotted owl (Strix occidentalis

Shasta-Trinity National Forest, Shasta-McCloud Management Unit 9 Final Biological Assessment and Evaluation for Botanical Species Report - Elk Late Successional Reserve Enhancement Project – April 5, 2016

caurina) Population: Entire Final designated United States Department of Interior Fish and Wildlife Service Project name: Elk Late Successional Restoration Project http://ecos.fws.gov/ipac, 01/05/2016 10:17 AM - Appendix A 1 Appendix 2: FWS National Wildlife Refuges There are no refuges within your project area. United States Department of Interior Fish and Wildlife Service Project name: Elk Late Successional Restoration Project http://ecos.fws.gov/ipac, 01/05/2016 10:17 AM - Appendix B 1 Appendix 3: FWS Migratory Birds The protection of birds is regulated by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA) and the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act (BGEPA). Any activity, intentional or unintentional, resulting in take of migratory birds, including eagles, is prohibited unless otherwise permitted by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (50 C.F.R. Sec. 10.12 and 16 U.S.C. Sec. 668(a)). The MBTA has no otherwise lawful activities. For more information regarding these Acts see: http://www.fws.gov/birds/policies-and-regulations/laws-legislations/migratory-bird-treaty-act.php http://www.fws.gov/birds/policies-and-regulations/laws-legislations/bald-and-golden-eagle-protection-act.php All project proponents are responsible for complying with the appropriate regulations protecting birds when planning and developing a project. To meet these conservation obligations, proponents should identify potential or existing project-related impacts to migratory birds and their habitat and develop and implement conservation measures that avoid, minimize, or compensate for these impacts. The Service's Birds of Conservation Concern (2008) report identifies species, subspecies, and populations of all migratory nongame birds that, without additional conservation actions, are likely to become listed under the Endangered Species Act as amended (16 U.S.C 1531 et seq.). For information about Birds of Conservation Concern, go to: http://www.fws.gov/birds/management/managed-species/birds-of-conservation-concern.php For information about conservation measures that help avoid or minimize impacts to birds, please visit: http://www.fws.gov/birds/management/project-assessment-tools-and-guidance/conservation-measures.php To search and view summaries of year-round bird occurrence data within your project area, go to the Avian Knowledge Network Histogram Tools at: http://www.fws.gov/birds/management/project-assessment-tools-and-guidance/akn-histogram-tools.php Migratory birds of concern that may be affected by your project: There are 23 birds on your Migratory birds of concern list. Species Name Bird of Conservation Concern (BCC) Seasonal Occurrence in Project Area Bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) Yes Year-round United States Department of Interior Fish and Wildlife Service Project name: Elk Late Successional Restoration Project http://ecos.fws.gov/ipac, 01/05/2016 10:17 AM - Appendix B 2 Brewer's Sparrow (Spizella

Shasta-Trinity National Forest, Shasta-McCloud Management Unit 10 Final Biological Assessment and Evaluation for Botanical Species Report - Elk Late Successional Reserve Enhancement Project – April 5, 2016

breweri) Yes Breeding California spotted Owl (Strix occidentalis occidentalis) Yes Year-round Calliope Hummingbird (Stellula calliope) Yes Breeding Eared Grebe (Podiceps nigricollis) Yes Breeding Flammulated owl (Otus flammeolus) Yes Breeding Fox Sparrow (Passerella liaca) Yes Breeding Green-tailed Towhee (Pipilo chlorurus) Yes Breeding Lewis's Woodpecker (Melanerpes lewis) Yes Year-round Loggerhead Shrike (Lanius ludovicianus) Yes Year-round Oak Titmouse (Baeolophus inornatus) Yes Year-round Olive-Sided flycatcher (Contopus cooperi) Yes Breeding Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus) Yes Year-round Pinyon Jay (Gymnorhinus cyanocephalus) Yes Year-round Purple Finch (Carpodacus Yes Year-round United States Department of Interior Fish and Wildlife Service Project name: Elk Late Successional Restoration Project http://ecos.fws.gov/ipac, 01/05/2016 10:17 AM - Appendix B 3 purpureus) Sage Thrasher (Oreoscoptes montanus) Yes Breeding Short-eared Owl (Asio flammeus) Yes Year-round Snowy Plover (Charadrius alexandrinus) Yes Breeding Swainson's hawk (Buteo swainsoni)

Shasta-Trinity National Forest, Shasta-McCloud Management Unit 11 Final Biological Assessment and Evaluation for Botanical Species Report - Elk Late Successional Reserve Enhancement Project – April 5, 2016

Yes Breeding Western grebe (aechmophorus occidentalis) Yes Breeding White-headed Woodpecker (Picoides albolarvatus) Yes Year-round Williamson's Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus thyroideus) Yes Year-round Willow Flycatcher (Empidonax traillii) Yes Breeding United States Department of Interior Fish and Wildlife Service Project name: Elk Late Successional Restoration Project http://ecos.fws.gov/ipac, 01/05/2016 10:17 AM - Appendix C 1 Appendix 4: NWI Wetlands The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is the principal Federal agency that provides information on the extent and status of wetlands in the U.S., via the National Wetlands Inventory Program (NWI). In addition to impacts to wetlands within your immediate project area, wetlands outside of your project area may need to be considered in any evaluation of project impacts, due to the hydrologic nature of wetlands (for example, project activities may affect local hydrology within, and outside of, your immediate project area). It may be helpful to refer to the USFWS National Wetland Inventory website. The designated FWS office can also assist you. Impacts to wetlands and other aquatic habitats from your project may be subject to regulation under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act, or other State/Federal Statutes. Project Proponents should discuss the relationship of these requirements to their project with the Regulatory Program of the appropriate U.S. Army Corps of Engineers District. The Service's objective of mapping wetlands and deepwater habitats is to produce reconnaissance level information on the location, type and size of these resources. The maps are prepared from the analysis of high altitude imagery. Wetlands are identified based on vegetation, visible hydrology and geography. A margin of error is inherent in the use of imagery; thus, detailed on-the-ground inspection of any particular site may result in revision of the wetland boundaries or classification established through image analysis. The accuracy of image interpretation depends on the quality of the imagery, the experience of the image analysts, the amount and quality of the collateral data and the amount of ground truth verification work conducted. Metadata should be consulted to determine the date of the source imagery used and any mapping problems. Wetlands or other mapped features may have changed since the date of the imagery and/or field work. There may be occasional differences in polygon boundaries or classifications between the information depicted on the map and the actual conditions on site. Exclusions - Certain wetland habitats are excluded from the National mapping program because of the limitations of aerial imagery as the primary data source used to detect wetlands. These habitats include seagrasses or submerged aquatic vegetation that are found in the intertidal and subtidal zones of estuaries and nearshore coastal waters. Some deepwater reef communities (coral or tuberficid worm reefs) have also been excluded from the inventory. These habitats, because of their depth, go undetected by aerial imagery. Precautions - Federal, state, and local regulatory agencies with jurisdiction over wetlands may define and describe wetlands in a different manner than that used in this inventory. There is no attempt, in either the design or products of United States Department of Interior Fish and Wildlife Service Project name: Elk Late Successional Restoration Project http://ecos.fws.gov/ipac, 01/05/2016 10:17 AM - Appendix C 2 this inventory, to define the limits of proprietary jurisdiction of any Federal, state, or local government or to establish the geographical scope of the regulatory programs of government agencies. Persons intending to engage in activities involving modifications within or adjacent to wetland areas should seek the advice of appropriate federal,

Shasta-Trinity National Forest, Shasta-McCloud Management Unit 12 Final Biological Assessment and Evaluation for Botanical Species Report - Elk Late Successional Reserve Enhancement Project – April 5, 2016

state, or local agencies concerning specified agency regulatory programs and proprietary jurisdictions that may affect such activities. The following NWI Wetland types intersect your project area in one or more locations. To understand the NWI Classification Code, see http://wetlandsfws.usgs.gov/Data/interpreters/wetlands.aspx. Wetland Types NWI Classification Code Total Acres Freshwater Emergent Wetland PEMC 12.6 Freshwater Forested/Shrub Wetland PFOC 4.92 Freshwater Forested/Shrub Wetland PSSC 9.75 Freshwater Pond PABG 0.393 Other PUSCx 0.412 Riverine R3USC 0.633 United States Department of Interior Fish and Wildlife Service Project name: Elk Late Successional Restoration Project Appendix 2 – Sensitive Plant List

Table 3: Sensitive and Endemic Plant species known or potentially occurring on the Shasta National Forest including McCloud, Mt. Shasta and Shasta Lake Range Districts as of July 24, 2013 Project: Elk Late-Successional Reserve Enhancement Project Scientific Name General Habitat Description Potential Reason for Non-consideration (Common Name) to Occur for Project Area Y/N Ageratina shastensis Found often but not always on Not found in the S. cascades. Shasta eupatory carbonate rock outcrops in lower Known to occur in the Lower AGSH2 montane coniferous forest and N McCloud and Shasta Lake areas. G2/S2 Endemic chaparral. Elevation: 1300 – 5900 feet. E. Klamath Range Anisocarpus scabridus Open ridges or slopes on No open ridges or slopes on Scabrid alpine tarplant metamorphics. Elevation 5250- N metamorphics. Project area is ANSC14 7870 feet. volcanic. G2G3/ S2S3

Arnica venosa Often found in disturbed areas Most occurrences in the Shasta Veiny arnica and road cuts in oak woodlands, lake area. Occurs in the E. ARVE foothill chaparral and lower N Klamath Range. G3/S3.2 Endemic montane coniferous forest. Elevation: 1100 – 4900 ft. Boletus pulcherrimus Occurs in humus in association Out of geographical range Red-pore bolete with the roots of Pseudotsuga N Fungi menziesii and Abies grandis in coastal forests. Botrychium crenulatum Saturated hard water seeps and No saturated hard water seeps or Scalloped moonwort stream margins. stream edges. Known to occur N BOCR west of I-5 G3/S2.2 Botrychium pinnatum Moist fields, shrubby slopes; Project area out of elevational Northwestern moonwort elevation 5400 – 9180 feet range. Nearest population is on N BOPI the east slope of Mt. Shasta on G4/S2 upper Cold Ck.

Shasta-Trinity National Forest, Shasta-McCloud Management Unit 13 Final Biological Assessment and Evaluation for Botanical Species Report - Elk Late Successional Reserve Enhancement Project – April 5, 2016

Project: Elk Late-Successional Reserve Enhancement Project Scientific Name General Habitat Description Potential Reason for Non-consideration (Common Name) to Occur for Project Area Y/N Botrychium pumicola Open volcanic soil. Elevation Project area out of elevational Pumice moonwort range 8860 – 9184 feet range. Only population in Calif. N BOPU2 occurs in Dillard Canyon on Mt. G3/S1 Shasta Brodiaea rosea Openings along drainages, closed- Soils in the project area are Indian Valley Brodiaea cone coniferous forest, chaparral, volcanic not serpentine. BRCOR2 cismontane woodland and valley N G2/S2 and foothill grassland; serpentine; elevation approx. 1100 – 4800 feet Buxbaumia viridis Large diameter, advanced decay No large diameter, advanced Green bug-on-a-stick logs in riparian habitat in conifer N decay logs in riparian habitat. Bryophyte forest. Low elevation to alpine.

Calochortus greenei Shrubby hillsides, open Known sites occur near Greene’s mariposa lily woodland. Elevation 2300 – 4180 Dunsmuir and northern Siskiyou CAGR feet. Modoc and Siskiyou N County. No shrubby hillsides or G3/S3 Counties. open woodlands.

Calochortus longebarbatus Vernal meadows, heavy clay No heavy clay soils. Nearest var. longebarbatus soils, elevation 3930 -6200 feet. population approximately 13 air Long-haired star tulip Occurs on the east side of the miles to the east. CALOL McCloud Ranger District in N G4T3/S3 Siskiyou and Shasta Counties. Campanula shetleri Granite and diorite cliffs; Castle No granite or diorite cliffs Castle Crags harebell Crags endemic; elevation 3600- N CASH3 6000 feet. G2/S2.3

Campanula wilkinsiana Stream banks and springs in red Elevation of project area too Wilkins’ harebell fir and subalpine forests; N low. It is known to occur at CAWI8 elevation 5500- 8600 feet. higher elevations on the S and E G2/S2.2 slopes of Mt. Shasta, including along Ash Creek Chaenactis suffrutescens Unstable, sandy to rocky, No ultramafic soils. Shasta Chaenactis generally serpentine soils, scree, CHSU drainages. Elevation 2300-7540 N G3/S3 ft.

Clarkia borealis ssp. Foothill woodland, forest margin. Not known to occur in Siskiyou borealis Elevation 1300-2600 feet; Shasta N Co. Project out of elevational northern clarkia and Trinity Counties. range. CLBOB G3T2/S2.3 Collomia larsenii Volcanic talus; elevation 7250- Elevation of project area to low. talus collomia 11500 feet; Shasta and Siskiyou No volcanic talus. COLA8 Counties. Occurs on Little Mt. N G4/S2 Hoffman, Magee Peaks, Mt. Lassen.

Shasta-Trinity National Forest, Shasta-McCloud Management Unit 14 Final Biological Assessment and Evaluation for Botanical Species Report - Elk Late Successional Reserve Enhancement Project – April 5, 2016

Project: Elk Late-Successional Reserve Enhancement Project Scientific Name General Habitat Description Potential Reason for Non-consideration (Common Name) to Occur for Project Area Y/N Cordylanthus tenuis ssp Open volcanic alluvium elevation Not known to occur on the pallescens 2950-3940 feet. Only known to McCloud Dist. Localized pallid bird’s beak occur near Black Butte and Weed, N around the base of Black Butte, COTEP2 CA. northwest of Mt. Shasta. G4G5T1/S1 Cudonia monticola Spruce needles and coniferous N No spruce in the project area No common name debris fungi Generally coastal Cypripedium fasciculatum Moist to mesic, shady conifer Project area generally dry. No clustered ladies slipper forest; elevation 330-6560 feet. N known sites on the McCloud CYFA Not known to occur in the Dist. Nearest populations occur G4/S3.2 Southern Cascades in Trinity and W. Siskiyou Counties Cypripedium montanum Moist areas, dry slopes, mixed – No known sites in project area. mountain lady’s slipper evergreen or coniferous forest. Y Potential habitat was surveyed CYMO2 Elevation 760-7200 feet. along Ash Creek. Nearest G4/S4.2 population on the forest occurs approx. 1.0 air miles west of Mt. Shasta City Dendrocollybia racemosa Small groups or colonies on old Out of geographical range. branched collybia decayed or blackened mushrooms N fungi or occasionally in coniferous duff; western Trinity and Siskiyou Cos. (Coast & Klamath ranges) Draba carnosula Rocky slopes; elevation 6560- Does not occur in the S. Mt. Eddy draba 9840 feet. KR, Mt. Eddy area. N Cascades. Elevation of project to DRCA6 low. G2/S2.2 Epilobium oreganum Wet, gently sloping stream banks, Not known to occur in the S. Oregon willowherb meadows & bogs, 1800-5900 feet. N Cascades. EPOR KR, NcoRO, sw OR. G2/S2.2 Eriogonum alpinum Serpentine; elevation 6560- 9180 Out of geographical and Trinity buckwheat feet. Mt. Eddy area. Listed as N elevational range. No ERAL6 Endangered by State of Calif. serpentinite soils. G3/S3 Fritillaria eastwoodiae Dry benches & slopes, chaparral, Project out of geographic area. Butte County fritillary woodlands and lower mixed FREA conifer opening; elevation <4920 N feet. Known to occur in the Squaw Creek and Pit River Arms of Shasta Lake. Howellia aquatilis Seasonal ponds, Marshes and No seasonal ponds, swamps or water howellia swamps (fresh water); elevation; N marshes HOAQ (federal listed 3560-4230 feet. G3/S2 Threatened) Ivesia longibracteata Granite & diorite outcrops near Known only from Castle Crags. Castle Crags ivesia and above timberline; Castle N No granite or diorite outcrops in IVLO Crags endemic; elevation 3940- project area. G1/S1 5300 feet

Shasta-Trinity National Forest, Shasta-McCloud Management Unit 15 Final Biological Assessment and Evaluation for Botanical Species Report - Elk Late Successional Reserve Enhancement Project – April 5, 2016

Project: Elk Late-Successional Reserve Enhancement Project Scientific Name General Habitat Description Potential Reason for Non-consideration (Common Name) to Occur for Project Area Y/N Ivesia pickeringii Wet, rocky meadows, generally No ultramafic soils. Project out Pickering’s ivesia on serpentine clay; elevation N of geographic range. IVPI 2600-4900 feet; Scott Mtns.- G2/S2.2 Shasta Valley. Lewisia cantelovii metasedimentary rocks in the No granitic or serpentinite soils Cantelow’s lewisia eastern KR. Geographic range is N LECA11 Sierra Nevada and KR chaparral, G3/S3 woodland and conifer forests; elevation 1200-4500 feet. Lewisia kelloggii ssp. Open, gravelly, rocky ridgetops; No open gravelly ridgetops hutchisonii8 decomposed granite, slate, within project area. Nearest LEKEH volcanic rubble, conifer forest; population in the Bear Ck. area N G4T2T3/S2S3 Elevation 4500-7000 ft. approx. 14 air mi. SE of the project area.

Lewisia kelloggii ssp. Open, gravelly, rocky ridgetops; There are no open, gravelly, kelloggii decomposed granite, slate, ridgetops or volcanic rubble. Kellogg’s lewisia volcanic rubble, conifer forest; Nearest population in the Bear LEKEK Elevation 4800-7750 ft. N Ck. area, private property, G3G4T2T3Q/S2S3 approx. 14 air mi. SE of the project boundary.

Meesia uliginosa Bogs and fens, meadows and Habitat too dry. No bogs or broad-nerved hump-moss seeps, subalpine coniferous forest N fens; montane coniferous forest, bryophyte and upper montane coniferous but no upper montane or MEUL70 forest subalpine coniferous forest. G4/S2 Minuartia stolonifera Serpentine soils, Jeffreyi pine Project out of geographic range. Scott Mountain sandwort forests; elevation4100-4600 feet. N No serpentine soils. MIST9 Scott Mountain G2/S2 Neviusia cliftonii Shaded, north-facing slopes; 990- N Project out of geographic and Shasta snow-wreath 1970 ft.; KR, near Shasta Lake elevational range. Ophioglossum pusillum Marsh edges, grassy roadside No wetland habitat Northern adder’s tongue ditches, vernal pool margins; N OPPU3 eKR; elevation 3600-6560 feet. G5/S1.2 Historically (1894) known to occur in Sisson (West Mt. Shasta City). Closest occurrence is in Mendocino County Orcuttia tenuis Vernal pools; elevation 660-3600 No vernal pools or clay soils. slender Orcutt-grass (also feet. N Nearest population occurs near listed by state & fed.) Dana, CA ORTE G2/S2

8 Lewisia kelloggii ssp. hutchisonii and L. kelloggii ssp. kelloggii may be the same ssp. More study is needed.

Shasta-Trinity National Forest, Shasta-McCloud Management Unit 16 Final Biological Assessment and Evaluation for Botanical Species Report - Elk Late Successional Reserve Enhancement Project – April 5, 2016

Project: Elk Late-Successional Reserve Enhancement Project Scientific Name General Habitat Description Potential Reason for Non-consideration (Common Name) to Occur for Project Area Y/N Parnassia cirrata var. Wet places: elevation 2300-9500 Ash Creek does not provide the intermedia feet. right type of wetland. Its riparian fringed grass –of-parnassus N edges are narrow with steep PACII sides. The closest populations G5T2T3/S2 known to occur in Sacramento River Canyon near Dunsmuir and Sims. Also known to occur near Caldwell Lakes. Peltigera gowardii Aquatic, in spring-fed streams N Streams in project area are snow veined water lichen that never flood fed and tend to flood. Phacelia cookei Lightly disturbed openings, ashy N Only occurs between Bolam and Cook’s Phacelia volcanic soils; elevation 4100- Military Pass Rd. on the north PHCO20 5600 feet. side of Mt. Shasta. No Delaney G1/S1 family soils in project area. Phacelia greenei Serpentinized soils; openings in Project out of geographic range. Scott Valley Phacelia conifer; elevation 2630-5900 feet. N No serpentine soils. PHGR2 G2/S2.2 Pinus albicaulis Upper red fir forest to timberline, Elevation of project too low. Whitebark pine (also especially subalpine. Maximum project elevation Candidate for listing ( Elevation above 6500 ft. to N approx. 4,680 feet FWS) 12,140 ft. PIAL Raillardella pringlei Wet ultramafic meadows, seeps & N No ultramafic meadows, seeps showy raillardella streambanks; elevation 4200-7220 or streambanks. RAPR feet. G2/S2.2 Rorippa columbiae Streambanks, lake or pond N No habitat in the project area. Columbia cress margins, meadows, wet fields; Known to occur in White Deer ROCO3 elevation 3280-5900 Lake and Dry Lake. G3/S1.1 Sedum obtusatum ssp. Granite outcrops, meta-volcanic No volcanic outcrops that paradisum outcrops, siltstone; elevation 980- N support Sedum species. There Canyon Creek stonecrop 4590 feet; se KR; one occurrence are a few small lava flows, but SEOBP2 in CaR on Red Mtn. approx. 19 no Sedums have been found. G4G5T1/S1.3 air miles SE of the project area.

Appendix 3 – Plant List

Table 4: List of plants known to occur in the Elk Late-Successional Reserve Enhancement Project Assessment Area (names according to Baldwin et al. 2013.9 Scientific Name (+= trace) Common Name (*=noxious weed) Trees Abies concolor White fir Calocedrus decurrens Incense cedar Cornus nuttallii+ Pacific dogwood

9 Baldwin, B. et al. 2013. The Jepson Manual: Vascular Plants of California, 2nd ed. Univ. of Calif. Press, Berkeley.

Shasta-Trinity National Forest, Shasta-McCloud Management Unit 17 Final Biological Assessment and Evaluation for Botanical Species Report - Elk Late Successional Reserve Enhancement Project – April 5, 2016

Scientific Name (+= trace) Common Name (*=noxious weed) Pinus contorta Lodgepole pine Pinus lambertiana+ Sugar pine Pinus ponderosa Ponderosa pine Populus tremuloides+ Aspen Pseudotsuga menziesii Douglas fir Quercus kelloggii+ Black oak Sambucus nigra ssp. caerulea+ Blue elderberry

Shrubs Alnus spp. Amelanchier utahensis Serviceberry Arctostaphylos patula Green-leaf manzanita Ceanothus cordulatus White thorn Ceanothus prostratus Forest carpet or Mahala carpet Ceanothus velutinus Snowbush or Tobacco bush Chrysolepis sempervirens Bush chinquapin Ericameria bloomeri Bloomer’s goldenbush Paxistima myrsinites Oregon boxwood Prunus virginiana var. demissa Western choke cherry Purshia tridentata Antelope bitterbrush Ribes cereum Wax current Ribes roezlii var. roezlii Sierra gooseberry Rosa sp.+ Wild rose Salix scouleriana+ Scouler’s willow Salix lemmonii Lemmon’s willow Symphoricarpos mollis Creeping snowberry

Herbaceous Species Achillea millefolium Yarrow Antennaria geyeri Pussy-toes Apocynum androsaemifolium Dogbane Asarum hartwegii Hartweg’s ginger Astragalus sp. Milk vetch Calyptridium umbellatum Pussy paws Cephalanthera austiniae Phantom orchid Chamaesaracha nana Dwarf chamaesaracha Chimaphila menziesii Little Prince’s pine Chimaphila umbellata+ Prince’s pine Cirsium vulgare* Bull thistle Collinsia parviflora Maiden blue-eyed Mary Collomia grandiflora Grand collomia Corallorhiza maculata+ Spotted corral root Epilobium sp. Fireweed Eriogonum marifolium var. McCloud wild buckwheat cupulatum Eriogonum nudum Naked buckwheat Eriogonum umbellatum Sulphur buckwheat Fragaria virginianum Mountain strawberry Galium sp. Bedstraw Gayophytum sp. Gayophytum Gooderya oblongifolia Rattlesnake orchid Hackelia californica California stickseed Hieracium albiflorum White hawkweed Hieracium greenei Greene’s hawkweed Horkelia fusca ssp. parviflora Dusky horkelia Horkelia tridentata Three-toothed horkelia Ipomopsis aggregata+ Desert trumpet Iris tenuissima Long-tubed iris Kelloggia galioides Kelloggia Lathyrus sp. Pea

Shasta-Trinity National Forest, Shasta-McCloud Management Unit 18 Final Biological Assessment and Evaluation for Botanical Species Report - Elk Late Successional Reserve Enhancement Project – April 5, 2016

Scientific Name (+= trace) Common Name (*=noxious weed) Lotus sp. Lotus Lupinus lepidus var. sellulus Dwarf lupine Madia sp. Madia Monardella odoratissima Coyote mint Monotropa hypopitys Pinesap Osmorhiza chilensis Sweet mountain cicely Penstemon sp. Penstemon Phlox diffusa Spreading phlox Potentilla glandulosa Sticky cinquefoil Pterospora andromedea+ Pine drops Pyrola picta White-veined wintergreen Senecio aronicoides California butterweed Packera cana Woolly butterweed Sidalcea sp. Checkerbloom Maianthemum racemosum False Solomon’s Seal Verbascum thapsus* Common mullein Viola lobata Pine violet Viola purpurea Mountain violet

Grasses and Grass-like Plants Stipa occidentalis var. pubescens Western needlegrass Mountain brome or California Bromus carinatus brome Bromus tectorum* Cheatgrass Carex inops Volcano or long-rhizomed sedge Carex rossii Ross’s sedge Elymus elymoides var. californicus Squirrel tail Elymus glaucus Blue wildrye Festuca idahoensis Idaho fescue Festuca occidentalis Western fescue Melica aristata Awned melic grass Muhlenbergia jonesii Jones’ or Modoc muhly

Ferns Pteridium aquilinum var. Bracken fern pubescens

Bryophytes (mosses and liverworts) Dicranum sp. Dicranoweisia sp. Ptilidium californicum Pacific fuzzwort

Fungi Boletus appendiculatus Butter bolete Boletus edulis var. grandedulis King bolete Boletus regineus Queen bolete Boletus aff. regius Butter bolete Boletus rex-veris Spring king bolete Cantharellus subalbidus White chanterelle Cortinarius sp. Gomphus floccosus Scaly chanterelle Morchella sp. Morels Mycena overholtzii Russula sp.

Lichens Cladonia sp. Hypogymnia imshaugii Letharia vulpina Wolf bane Usnea sp.

Shasta-Trinity National Forest, Shasta-McCloud Management Unit 19 Final Biological Assessment and Evaluation for Botanical Species Report - Elk Late Successional Reserve Enhancement Project – April 5, 2016

Shasta-Trinity National Forest, Shasta-McCloud Management Unit 20