02-21-02-F-162 BIOLOGICAL AND CONFERENCE OPINION SUMMARY Effects of the proposed Las Cienegas National Conservation Area Resource Management Plan in Pima and Santa Cruz Counties, Arizona Date of opinion: October 4, 2002 Project: Effects of the proposed Las Cienegas National Conservation Area Resource Management Plan in Pima and Santa Cruz Counties, Arizona Location: Pima and Santa Cruz Counties, Arizona Listed species affected: endangered southwestern willow flycatcher (Empidonax traillii extimus), endangered Gila topminnow (Poeciliopsis o. occidentalis), endangered Huachuca water umbel (Lilaeopsis schaffneriana var. recurva), endangered desert pupfish (Cyprinodon m. macularius), endangered Canelo Hills ladies'-tresses (Spiranthes delitescens), endangered northern aplomado falcon (Falco femoralis septentrionalis), endangered lesser long-nosed bat (Leptonycteris curasoae yerbabuenae), endangered cactus ferruginous pygmy-owl (Glaucidium brasilianum cactorum), threatened Chiricahua leopard frog (Rana chiricahuensis), and the proposed endangered Gila chub (Gila intermedia) with proposed critical habitat. Biological and conference opinion: No Jeopardy and no destruction or adverse modification of proposed critical habitat. Incidental take statement: Anticipated take: Exceeding this level may require reinitiation of formal consultation. The Service anticipates incidental take may occur for the Gila topminnow, Chiricahua leopard frog, southwestern willow flycatcher, and lesser long-nosed bat. The Service also anticipates that take may occur for the desert pupfish and aplomado falcon, should they be reestablished as proposed under this plan. Take is anticipated for the Gila chub, should it become listed. Conservation recommendations: Implementation of conservation recommendations is discretionary. Multiple conservation recommendations to further the conservation and recovery of the species and implement the appropriate recovery plans for each species. United States Department of the Interior U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 2321 West Royal Palm Road, Suite 103 Phoenix, Arizona 85021-4951 Telephone: (602) 242-0210 FAX: (602) 242-2513 In Reply Refer To: AESO/SE 02-21-02-F-162 October 4, 2002 02-21-90-F-196 02-21-90-I-150 02-21-91-I-170 02-21-93-F-430 02-21-95-F-177 02-21-95-I-304 02-21-98-F-430 02-21-96-F-160 Memorandum To: Field Manager, Bureau of Land Management, Tucson, Arizona From: Field Supervisor Subject: Las Cienegas NCA Resource Management Plan Biological Opinion Thank you for your memorandum requesting formal consultation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) following section 7 of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531- 1544), as amended (Act). Your request for formal consultation was dated April 19, 2002, and received by us on April 22, 2002. At issue are impacts that may result from the proposed Las Cienegas National Conservation Area Resource Management Plan (RMP)[File No. 6840(068)] in Pima and Santa Cruz counties, Arizona. You requested formal consultation on the endangered southwestern willow flycatcher (Empidonax traillii extimus), endangered Gila topminnow (Poeciliopsis o. occidentalis), endangered Huachuca water umbel (Lilaeopsis schaffneriana var. recurva), endangered desert pupfish (Cyprinodon m. macularius), endangered Canelo Hills ladies'-tresses (Spiranthes delitescens), and the endangered lesser long-nosed bat (Leptonycteris curasoae yerbabuenae). You also requested a conference on the Chiricahua leopard frog (Rana chiricahuensis) and the Gila chub (Gila intermedia). Only the Gila chub has proposed critical habitat within the planning area, and no other species has designated critical habitat in the area. In your memorandum, you requested our concurrence that the proposed action was not likely to adversely affect the endangered Aplomado falcon (Falco femoralis) and the endangered jaguar (Panthera onca). You determined the proposed action would not affect the endangered cactus ferruginous pygmy-owl (Glaucidium brasilianum cactorum). Discussions between our staffs determined that the pygmy-owl and aplomado falcon should undergo formal consultation. Your letter of July 10, 2002, requested formal consultation for these two species. We concur with the determination for the jaguar, and our rationale is given in Appendix A. 2 This biological opinion and conference opinion is based on information provided in the April 2002 biological assessment, the August 2001 draft resource management plan and environmental impact statement, numerous telephone conversations, field investigations, and other sources of information. References cited in this biological and conference opinion are not a complete bibliography of all references available on the species of concern, the proposed activities and its effects, or on other subjects considered in this opinion. A complete administrative record of this consultation is on file at this office. Because there have been several section 7 consultations completed on actions in the area and the RMP includes all actions proposed to be taken over the next 20 years, the previous consultations are incorporated here by reference. In addition, all reasonable and prudent measures and terms and conditions still outstanding are incorporated here by reference. The Service appreciates the Bureau’s efforts to identify and minimize effects to listed species on the Las Cienegas National Conservation Area. For further information please contact Doug Duncan (520) 670-4860 or Sherry Barrett (520) 670-4617. Please refer to the consultation number, 2-21-02-F-162, in future correspondence concerning this project. /s/ Steven L. Spangle Enclosure cc: Regional Director, Fish and Wildlife Service, Albuquerque, NM (ARD-ES) Director, Arizona Game and Fish Department, Phoenix, AZ Regional Supervisor, Arizona Game and Fish Department, Tucson, AZ John Kennedy, Arizona Game and Fish Department, Phoenix, AZ W:\Doug Duncan\Duncan - LCNCA RMP BO..09.18.02.wpd:cgg BIOLOGICAL AND CONFERENCE OPINION Las Cienegas National Conservation Area Resource Management Plan Arizona Ecological Services Field Office U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service AESO/SE 2-21-02-F-162 October 4, 2002 Field Manager, Bureau of Land Management i TABLE OF CONTENTS CONSULTATION HISTORY ..................................................1 BIOLOGICAL AND CONFERENCE OPINION ..................................2 DESCRIPTION OF THE PROPOSED ACTION ...............................2 Desired Future Conditions ...............................................3 Resource Management Plan (RMP ) Land Use Plan -Proposed Actions .........12 Management Actions ...................................................19 ENVIRONMENTAL BASELINE - OVERVIEW ..............................52 Description of the Area .................................................52 EFFECTS OF THE ACTION - OVERVIEW ..................................53 Vegetation and Watershed Management Actions ............................53 Fish and Wildlife Management Actions ....................................56 Cultural Resources Management Actions ..................................57 Access and Transportation Management Actions ...........................58 Recreation Management Actions .........................................59 Mineral Resources Management Actions ..................................60 Livestock Grazing Management Actions ...................................60 SCOPE OF THE CONSULTATION .........................................61 CUMULATIVE EFFECTS .................................................61 APLOMADO FALCON ...................................................62 Status of the Species ....................................................62 Environmental Baseline .................................................63 Conclusion ...........................................................64 Incidental Take Statement ..............................................65 Conservation Recommendations .........................................66 CACTUS FERRUGINOUS PYGMY-OWL ...................................67 Status of the Species ....................................................67 Environmental Baseline .................................................72 Conclusion ...........................................................76 Incidental Take Statement ..............................................76 Conservation Recommendations .........................................77 CANELO HILLS LADIES-TRESSES .......................................77 Status of the Species ....................................................77 Environmental Baseline .................................................79 Conclusion ...........................................................79 Incidental Take Statement ..............................................80 Conservation Recommendations .........................................80 CHIRICAHUA LEOPARD FROG ..........................................81 Status of the Species ....................................................81 Field Manager, Bureau of Land Management ii Environmental Baseline .................................................86 Effects of the Action ....................................................87 Conclusion ...........................................................93 Incidental Take Statement ..............................................93 Conservation Recommendations .........................................97 DESERT PUPFISH .......................................................98 Status of the Species ....................................................98