APPENDIX A13 US FOREST SERVICE SENSITIVE SPECIES TECHNICAL MEMORANDUM FOR THE State Highway 9 Iron Springs Alignment Environmental Assessment Prepared for COLORADO DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION FEDERAL HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION Prepared by JEFF PETERSON COLORADO DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAMS BRANCH April 2014 USFS Sensitive Species for the State Highway 9 Iron Springs Alignment EA CONTENTS Introduction .................................................................................................................. 1 Proposed Action .............................................................................................................. 1 No Action Alternative ..................................................................................................... 3 Applicable Statutes and Regulations ............................................................................. 5 Federal ............................................................................................................................ 5 White River National Forest – Revised Land and Resource Management Plan ..................... 5 Issues: Possibility of impacting the USFS Sensitive Species ........................................... 5 Method of Evaluation ..................................................................................................... 5 Historical Precedent from Other Activities Proposed for this Area ............................... 6 Other Uses: Recreation .................................................................................................. 6 Habitat within the Study Area ........................................................................................ 8 Lodgepole Pine Forest Community ....................................................................................... 10 Aspen Mixed Conifer Community ......................................................................................... 10 Grass/Forb and Shrub Community ....................................................................................... 10 Wetlands ............................................................................................................................... 11 USFS Sensitive Species .................................................................................................. 11 Bald Eagle .............................................................................................................................. 17 Boreal Owl ............................................................................................................................. 17 Northern Goshawk ................................................................................................................ 18 Olive‐sided Flycatcher ........................................................................................................... 20 Trianglelobe Moonwort ........................................................................................................ 21 Narrowleaf Moonwort .......................................................................................................... 22 Livid Sedge ............................................................................................................................ 22 Roundleaf Sundew ................................................................................................................ 23 Slender Cottongrass .............................................................................................................. 24 Hall Fescue ............................................................................................................................ 24 Simple Kobresia .................................................................................................................... 25 Colorado Tansyaster ............................................................................................................. 25 Dwarf Raspberry ................................................................................................................... 26 Peat Moss ............................................................................................................................. 26 Lesser Bladderwort ............................................................................................................... 27 Project Impacts ........................................................................................................... 29 No Action Alternative ................................................................................................... 29 Proposed Action ............................................................................................................ 30 Impacts to Target Species ........................................................................................... 31 Bald Eagle ...................................................................................................................... 31 Impacts of No Action Alternative .......................................................................................... 31 Impacts of Proposed Action Alternative ............................................................................... 31 Boreal Owl ..................................................................................................................... 33 Impacts of No Action Alternative .......................................................................................... 33 Impacts of Proposed Action Alternative ............................................................................... 33 April 2014 i USFS Sensitive Species for the State Highway 9 Iron Springs Alignment EA Northern Goshawk ........................................................................................................ 35 Impacts of No Action Alternative .......................................................................................... 35 Impacts of Proposed Action Alternative ............................................................................... 35 Olive‐sided Flycatcher ................................................................................................... 37 Impacts of No Action Alternative .......................................................................................... 37 Impacts of Proposed Action Alternative ............................................................................... 38 Trianglelobe Moonwort ................................................................................................ 39 Narrowleaf Moonwort .................................................................................................. 39 Livid Sedge .................................................................................................................... 39 Roundleaf Sundew ........................................................................................................ 40 Slender Cottongrass ...................................................................................................... 40 Hall Fescue .................................................................................................................... 40 Simple Kobresia............................................................................................................. 40 Colorado Tansyaster ..................................................................................................... 40 Dwarf Raspberry ........................................................................................................... 41 Peat Moss ...................................................................................................................... 41 Lesser Bladderwort ....................................................................................................... 41 Conclusion .................................................................................................................. 41 Agencies Contacted ...................................................................................................... 41 Date of Data Used ......................................................................................................... 41 Context Summary ......................................................................................................... 42 Impact Summary ........................................................................................................... 42 Result of Evaluation ...................................................................................................... 42 Impact Significant Determination ......................................................................................... 42 Required Project Modifications to Avoid Impacts ................................................................ 43 Permits .................................................................................................................................. 43 Mitigation Description .......................................................................................................... 43 References .................................................................................................................. 44 TABLES Table 1 Vegetation Cover Types within the Iron Springs Study Area ....................................... 8 Table 2 Common Vegetation within the Iron Springs Study Area ............................................ 8 Table 3 USFS Sensitive Species within Study Area—Mammals, Birds, and Insects ...............