U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management March 2017 Apache Canyon Fence and Wildlife Guzzler Environmental Assessment DOI-BLM-NM-L000-2016-0137-EA Sierra County, New Mexico /s/ Jesse Bergloff, Rangeland Management Specialist 3/27/2017 Signature and Title of Project Lead Date /s/ Ikumi Doucette 3/14/2017 Signature of Planning & Environmental Coordinator Date Las Cruces District Office 1800 Marquess Street Las Cruces, New Mexico 88005 575-525-4300 TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER 1. INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................... 1 1.1. Purpose and Need for Action ........................................................................................... 1 1.2. Decision to be Made ......................................................................................................... 1 1.3. Plan Conformance ............................................................................................................ 1 1.4. Scoping and Issues ........................................................................................................... 2 1.4.1. Internal Scoping ........................................................................................................ 2 1.4.2. External Scoping ....................................................................................................... 2 1.4.3. Issues ......................................................................................................................... 2 CHAPTER 2. PROPOSED ACTION AND ALTERNATIVES .......................................... 5 2.1. Proposed Action ............................................................................................................... 5 2.1.1. Design Features ......................................................................................................... 8 2.2. No Action Alternative ...................................................................................................... 9 CHAPTER 3. AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS ... 9 3.1. Introduction ...................................................................................................................... 9 3.2. Cumulative Actions .......................................................................................................... 9 3.2.1. Past and Present Actions ........................................................................................... 9 3.2.2. Reasonably Foreseeable Future Actions ................................................................... 9 3.3. Issue 1: How would construction of the proposed wildlife guzzler and fence impact vegetation? ................................................................................................................................ 10 3.3.1. Affected Environment ............................................................................................. 10 3.3.2. Environmental Impacts ........................................................................................... 11 3.3.2.1. Impacts of the Proposed Action ....................................................................... 11 3.3.2.2. Impacts of the No Action Alternative .............................................................. 12 3.4. Issue 2: How would the proposed fence influence grazing distribution? ..................... 12 3.4.1. Affected Environment ............................................................................................. 12 3.4.2. Environmental Impacts ........................................................................................... 14 3.4.2.1. Impacts of the Proposed Action ....................................................................... 14 3.4.2.2. Impacts of No Action Alternative ................................................................... 14 3.5. Issue 3: What would be the effects of the projects on special status species habitat? .. 14 3.5.1. Affected Environment ............................................................................................. 14 3.5.2. Environmental Impacts ........................................................................................... 15 3.5.2.1. Impacts of the Proposed Action ....................................................................... 15 3.5.2.2. Impacts of No Action Alternative ................................................................... 15 Apache Canyon Fence and Wildlife Guzzler Environmental Assessment i March 2017 3.6. Issue 4: How does providing permanent water in the Caballo Mountains improve habitat for desert bighorn sheep? .............................................................................................. 15 3.6.1. Affected Environment ............................................................................................. 15 3.6.2. Environmental Impacts ........................................................................................... 16 3.6.2.1. Impacts of the Proposed Action ....................................................................... 16 3.6.2.2. Impacts of the No Action Alternative .............................................................. 17 CHAPTER 4. CONSULTATION AND COORDINATION .............................................. 17 CHAPTER 5. LIST OF PREPARERS................................................................................. 17 CHAPTER 6. REFERENCES .............................................................................................. 18 TABLES Table 1-1. Issues Identified for Detailed Analysis......................................................................... 2 Table 1-2. Issues Not Included in Further Detail in the Environmental Assessment ........... Error! Bookmark not defined. Table 5-1. Identifies the BLM staff consulted in the preparation of this EA .............................. 17 APPENDICIES APPENDIX A - List and Description of BLM Sensitive Species and Bird Species of Conservation Concern Occurring in the Project Area………………………………………… A-1 Apache Canyon Fence and Wildlife Guzzler Environmental Assessment ii March 2017 CHAPTER 1. INTRODUCTION This environmental assessment is being prepared to address a proposed fence and wildlife watering facility or guzzler, on the Apache Canyon Allotment No. 16023. The Apache Canyon Allotment is located in Sierra County, New Mexico and is approximately 18 miles south of Truth or Consequences or approximately 52 miles north of Las Cruces. The allotment totals 15,036 acres with 12,135 acres of public land, 2,267 acres of state land, 160 acres of deeded land, 384 acres of uncontrolled private, and 90 acres of Bureau of Reclamation. A Coordinated Resource Management Plan (CRMP) was developed between Duane Woods, the permittee, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), the Caballo Soil and Water Conservation District, the New Mexico State Land Office, and the New Mexico Association of Conservation Districts (NMACD). The plan outlined the opportunity to combine efforts and resources from the land management agencies with the overall goal of improving the productivity of rangeland resources through implementation of proposed conservation practices. 1.1. Purpose and Need for Action The purpose of the proposed action is to facilitate better livestock management practices on the allotment and provide water for wildlife, specifically bighorn sheep. The proposed action is needed to provide increased options for livestock rotation and grazing deferment. Additionally, the action is needed to: provide water on a consistent dependable basis to benefit wildlife in the arid habitat of the Caballo Mountains; keep bighorn sheep out of flats/terraces and away from watering sources utilized by livestock to reduce exposure to disease and predation; reduce potential for forage competition between livestock and bighorn sheep by locating water higher up on hills/backslopes; and keep bighorn sheep away from the interstate to reduce both sheep and human injury/mortality. 1.2. Decision to be Made The decision to be made by the BLM is whether to authorize the construction of the cross-fence and wildlife guzzler for the Apache Canyon Allotment No. 16023 on public lands or to reject the proposed action. For projects which occur on or cross state lands, the applicant would need to obtain authorization from the State Land Office. 1.3. Plan Conformance This allotment is currently listed in the improve (I) category and management is in conformance with the White Sands Resource Area/Resource Management Plan (BLM 1986) as follows: (p. 31) The extent, location and timing of rangeland improvements will be based on allotment specific objectives developed through the resource management process, interdisciplinary development and review of proposed actions, contributions from operators and others, and BLM funding capability. Apache Canyon Fence and Wildlife Guzzler Environmental Assessment 1 March 2017 (p. 31) When rangeland improvements are constructed on public land, the BLM will adhere to procedures and design specifications to protect all resources. (p. 32) Disturbance of soil and vegetation at all project sites will be held to a minimum (BLM Policy and BLM Manual 6300). (p. 33) All refuse will be removed from work areas on public land and be disposed of in approved sanitary landfills. (p. 33) Visual resource contrast ratings would be completed as part of site-specific EAs prior to construction of all proposed rangeland improvements and implementation of grazing