FHWA-AZ-EIS-19-01-D Draft Tier 1 Environmental Impact Statement and Preliminary Section 4(f) Evaluation Appendix E14, Biological Resources Technical Memorandum March 2019 Federal Aid No. 999-M(161)S ADOT Project No. 999 SW 0 M5180 01P This page intentionally left blank I-11 Corridor Draft Tier 1 EIS Appendix E14. Biological Resources Technical Memorandum 1 SUMMARY 2 Purpose 3 This technical memorandum describes the biological resources that could be affected by the 4 proposed Interstate 11 from Nogales to Wickenburg, Arizona. This biological resources 5 technical memorandum supports the Draft Tier 1 Environmental Impact Statement and 6 Preliminary Section 4(f) Evaluation (Draft Tier 1 EIS) that evaluates the social, economic, and 7 environmental impacts potentially resulting from the alternatives under evaluation, including the 8 No Build Alternative. March 2019 Project No. M5180 01P / Federal Aid No. 999-M(161)S I-11 Corridor Draft Tier 1 EIS Appendix E14. Biological Resources Technical Memorandum This page intentionally left blank March 2019 Project No. M5180 01P / Federal Aid No. 999-M(161)S I-11 Corridor Draft Tier 1 EIS Appendix E14. Biological Resources Technical Memorandum 1 Table of Contents 2 E14.1 REGULATORY SETTING ................................................................................................ E14-1 3 E14.1.1 Federal ................................................................................................ E14-1 4 E14.1.1.1 Endangered Species Act ....................................................... E14-1 5 E14.1.1.2 Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act ......................................... E14-2 6 E14.1.1.3 Migratory Bird Treaty Act ....................................................... E14-2 7 E14.1.1.4 Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act .................................. E14-3 8 E14.1.1.5 Federal Noxious Weed Act .................................................... E14-3 9 E14.1.1.6 The Wilderness Act of 1964 .................................................. E14-3 10 E14.1.1.7 The Organic Act of 1916 ....................................................... E14-3 11 E14.1.1.8 Executive Order 13112 .......................................................... E14-3 12 E14.1.1.9 Executive Order 13186 .......................................................... E14-4 13 E14.1.1.10 Executive Order 13751 .......................................................... E14-4 14 E14.1.1.11 Bureau of Land Management Special Status Species 15 Policy .................................................................................... E14-4 16 E14.1.2 State of Arizona ................................................................................... E14-4 17 E14.1.2.1 Title 17 of the Arizona Revised Statutes, Game and Fish ...... E14-4 18 E14.1.2.2 Arizona Native Plant Law ...................................................... E14-5 19 E14.1.2.3 Arizona Noxious Weed Law .................................................. E14-6 20 E14.1.2.4 Protection of Riparian Areas .................................................. E14-6 21 E14.1.2.5 Local Ordinances .................................................................. E14-6 22 E14.1.2.6 Pima County Native Plant Ordinance .................................... E14-6 23 E14.1.2.7 Pima County Multi-species Conservation Plan for Pima 24 County, Arizona ..................................................................... E14-6 25 E14.1.2.8 City of Tucson Habitat Conservation Plan ............................. E14-7 26 E14.1.2.9 City of Tucson Avra Valley Habitat Conservation Plan .......... E14-7 27 E14.2 METHODOLOGY .............................................................................................................. E14-7 28 E14.2.1 Biotic Communities (Vegetation and Wildlife)....................................... E14-8 29 E14.2.2 Special Status Species ........................................................................ E14-8 30 E14.2.3 Wildlife Connectivity ............................................................................. E14-9 31 E14.3 AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT ......................................................................................... E14-10 32 E14.3.1 Biotic Communities (Vegetation and Wildlife)..................................... E14-10 33 E14.3.1.1 South Section ...................................................................... E14-10 34 E14.3.1.1.1 Semidesert Grassland (South Section)...................... E14-10 35 E14.3.1.1.2 Madrean Evergreen Woodlands (South Section) ....... E14-16 36 E14.3.1.1.3 Sonoran Desertscrub Arizona Upland Subdivision 37 (South Section) ......................................................... E14-17 March 2019 Project No. M5180 01P / Federal Aid No. 999-M(161)S Page i I-11 Corridor Draft Tier 1 EIS Appendix E14. Biological Resources Technical Memorandum 1 E14.3.1.1.4 Sonoran Desertscrub Lower Colorado River Valley 2 Subdivision (South Section) ...................................... E14-21 3 E14.3.1.2 Central Section .................................................................... E14-23 4 E14.3.1.2.1 Sonoran Desertscrub Arizona Upland Subdivision 5 (Central Section) ....................................................... E14-23 6 E14.3.1.2.2 Sonoran Desertscrub Lower Colorado River Valley 7 Subdivision (Central Section) .................................... E14-23 8 E14.3.1.3 North Section ...................................................................... E14-24 9 E14.3.1.3.1 Semidesert Grassland (North Section) ...................... E14-24 10 E14.3.1.3.2 Sonoran Desertscrub Arizona Upland Subdivision 11 (North Section) .......................................................... E14-24 12 E14.3.1.3.3 Sonoran Desertscrub Lower Colorado River Valley 13 Subdivision (North Section) ....................................... E14-24 14 E14.3.1.3.4 Mohave Desertscrub (North Section) ........................ E14-24 15 E14.3.1.4 Riparian Habitats and Important Bird Areas ........................ E14-28 16 E14.3.1.4.1 Riparian Habitats ....................................................... E14-28 17 E14.3.1.4.2 Important Bird Areas ................................................. E14-31 18 E14.3.1.5 Species of Economic and Recreational Importance............. E14-33 19 E14.3.1.6 Invasive Species ................................................................. E14-33 20 E14.3.2 Special Status Species ...................................................................... E14-35 21 E14.3.2.1 Endangered Species Act Species ....................................... E14-35 22 E14.3.2.2 Critical and Protected Habitat .............................................. E14-35 23 E14.3.2.3 Other Sensitive Species ...................................................... E14-36 24 E14.3.2.4 Migratory Bird Treaty Act ..................................................... E14-64 25 E14.3.3 Wildlife Connectivity ........................................................................... E14-64 26 E14.3.3.1 South Section ...................................................................... E14-67 27 E14.3.3.2 Central Section .................................................................... E14-73 28 E14.3.3.3 North Section ...................................................................... E14-74 29 E14.4 ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES ........................................................................ E14-75 30 E14.4.1 Biotic Communities (Vegetation and Wildlife)..................................... E14-75 31 E14.4.1.1 Build Corridor Alternatives ................................................... E14-75 32 E14.4.1.1.1 Biotic Communities ................................................... E14-75 33 E14.4.1.1.2 Riparian and Important Bird Area Habitats ................ E14-77 34 E14.4.1.1.3 Species of Economic and Recreational Importance... E14-80 35 E14.4.1.1.4 Wildlife/Motor Vehicle Collisions ................................ E14-81 36 E14.4.1.1.5 Invasive Species ....................................................... E14-81 37 E14.4.1.2 No Build Alternative ............................................................. E14-81 38 E14.4.1.2.1 Biotic Communities ................................................... E14-82 39 E14.4.1.2.2 Species of Economic and Recreational Importance... E14-82 40 E14.4.1.2.3 Wildlife/Motor Vehicle Collisions ................................ E14-82 41 E14.4.1.2.4 Invasive Species ....................................................... E14-82 42 E14.4.2 Special Status Species ...................................................................... E14-82 43 E14.4.2.1 Build Corridor Alternatives ................................................... E14-82 March 2019 Project No. M5180 01P / Federal Aid No. 999-M(161)S Page ii I-11 Corridor Draft Tier 1 EIS Appendix E14. Biological Resources Technical Memorandum 1 E14.4.2.1.1 Endangered Species Act Species: Aquatic and 2 Riparian Species ....................................................... E14-85 3 E14.4.2.1.2 Endangered Species Act Species: Sonoran Desert 4 and Mountainous Area Species ................................. E14-86 5 E14.4.2.1.3 Habitat Conservation Plans ....................................... E14-87 6 E14.4.2.1.4 Critical Habitat of Endangered Species Act Species 7 and other Protected Habitats ..................................... E14-87 8 E14.4.2.1.5 Other Sensitive Species ............................................ E14-88 9 E14.4.2.1.6 Migratory Bird Treaty Act ..........................................