United States Department of the Interior FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE New Mexico Ecological Services Field Office 2105 Osuna Road, NE Albuquerque, N.M. 87113 Consultation No. 02ENNM00-2014-F-0064 Memorandum To: Manager, Indian Program Branch, Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, Western Regional Office, Denver, Colorado From: Supervisor, Fish and Wildlife Service, New Mexico Ecological Services, Albuquerque, New Mexico Subject: Biological Opinion for the Four Corners Power Plant and Navajo Mine Energy Project This transmits the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) biological opinion (BO) regarding effects of actions associated with the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE) proposed Four Corners Power Plant and Navajo Mine Energy Project on federally listed species and their critical habitats in accordance with section 7(b) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (ESA; 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) and implementing regulations (50 CFR 402). Species affected by the proposed action are: endangered Colorado pikeminnow (Ptychocheilus lucius) and its critical habitat, endangered razorback sucker (Xyrauchen texanus) and its critical habitat, endangered southwestern willow flycatcher (Empidonax traillii extimus) (flycatcher), threatened yellow-billed cuckoo (Coccyzus americanus) (cuckoo), endangered California condor (Gymnogyps californianus), threatened Mexican spotted owl (Strix occidentalis lucida), endangered Mancos milkvetch (Astragalus humillimus), endangered Fickeisen plains cactus (Pediocactus peeblesianus var. fickeiseniae), threatened Mesa Verde cactus (Sclerocactus mesae-verdae), and threatened Zuni fleabane (Erigeron rhizomatus). You determined that the proposed action is likely to adversely affect Colorado pikeminnow and its critical habitat, razorback sucker and its critical habitat, as well as the flycatcher and the cuckoo. You also determined that the proposed action may affect, but is not likely to adversely affect, California condor, Mexican spotted owl, Mancos milk vetch, Fickeisen plains cactus, Mesa Verde cactus and Zuni fleabane. We concur with OSMRE’s determinations (provided in the biological assessment (BA) (OSMRE 2014b)), which justify the findings that the proposed action is not likely to adversely affect California condor, Mexican spotted owl, Mancos milk vetch, Fickeisen plains cactus, Mesa Verde cactus and Zuni fleabane. We base our concurrence on the rationales provided in the BA and additional Service review and analysis. We conclude informal consultation under section 7 of the ESA for California condor, Mexican spotted owl, Mancos milk vetch, Fickeisen plains cactus, Mesa Verde cactus and Zuni fleabane. Please contact the Service if the proposed action Biological Opinion for Four Corners Power Plant and Navajo Mine Energy Project 2 is changed and new information reveals effects of the proposed action to these species or critical habitat to an extent not addressed in the BA or this BO. This BO does not rely on the regulatory definition of “destruction or adverse modification” of critical habitat at 50 CFR 402.02; instead, we have relied upon the statute and the August 6, 2004, Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals decision in Gifford Pinchot Task Force v. USDI Fish and Wildlife Service (CIV No. 03-35279) to complete the following analysis with respect to critical habitat. This consultation analyzes the effects of the action and the relationship of those effects to the function and conservation role of critical habitat for the Colorado pikeminnow and razorback sucker to determine whether the current proposal destroys or adversely modifies critical habitat for these species. During formal consultation, we found that the proposed action will not jeopardize the continued existence of the Colorado Pikeminnow and razorback sucker; or the flycatcher or cuckoo, and will not adversely modify or destroy their respective designated critical habitats in the San Juan River Basin. Working with OSMRE and others, we developed Conservation Measures, Reasonable and Prudent Measures (RPM), and Terms and Conditions that can be implemented in a manner consistent with the intended purpose of the proposed action, and that can be implemented consistent with the scope of the Federal agencies’ legal authorities and jurisdiction. The RPMs are economically and technologically feasible and we believe would avoid the likelihood of jeopardizing the continued existence of Colorado pikeminnow and razorback sucker, flycatcher, and cuckoo or result in the destruction or adverse modification of their designated critical habitats in the San Juan River Basin. The RPMs are necessary and appropriate to minimize the effect of incidental take associated with the proposed action. In accordance with section 7 of the ESA and its implementing regulations, the BA and this BO represents the best scientific and commercial information available on the effects of the proposed action to federally listed species and their critical habitats, including from any release of nonnative species, water withdrawal, entrainment, or mercury and selenium emissions and subsequent deposition and accumulation in listed species in the San Juan River Basin. A complete administrative record of this consultation is on file at the Service’s New Mexico Ecological Services Field Office, in Albuquerque, New Mexico. If you have questions regarding this consultation, please contact David Campbell at (505) 761-4745. Field Supervisor Attachment Biological Opinion for Four Corners Power Plant and Navajo Mine Energy Project 3 cc: (w/attch) Regional Director, BIA, Navajo Region, Gallup, New Mexico (Attn. H. Yazzie) (electronic copy) Director, Water Division, USEPA, Region 9, San Francisco, California (Attn. G. Sheh) (electronic copy) Commander, USACE, Albuquerque District, Albuquerque, New Mexico (Attn. D. Cummings) (electronic copy) Assistant Regional Director, Ecological Services, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Region 6, Denver, Colorado (electronic copy) Field Supervisor, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Grand Junction Ecological Services Field Office, Grand Junction, Colorado (electronic copy) Field Supervisor, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Arizona Ecological Services Field Office, Phoenix, Arizona (electronic copy) Biological Opinion for Four Corners Power Plant and Navajo Mine Energy Project 4 Endangered Species Act – Section 7 Consultation Biological Opinion Four Corners Power Plant and Navajo Mine Energy Project, New Mexico Agency: Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement Consultation Conducted By: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, New Mexico Ecological Services Field Office Date Issued: April 8, 2015 Approved by: Wally Murphy Field Office Supervisor Biological Opinion Number: 02ENNM00-2014-F-0064 Biological Opinion for Four Corners Power Plant and Navajo Mine Energy Project 5 TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION....................................................................................................................... 14 Background and Consultation History ................................................................................. 14 DESCRIPTION OF THE PROPOSED ACTION ................................................................... 16 ACTION AREA ............................................................................................................................ 16 PROPOSED ACTION..................................................................................................................... 23 Navajo Mine .......................................................................................................................... 23 Four Corners Power Plant ................................................................................................... 25 Transmission Lines and Ancillary Facilities ..................................................................... 27 San Juan River Diversion and Water Withdrawal ................................................................ 27 Conservation Measures ........................................................................................................ 28 STATUS OF THE SPECIES (INCLUDING IN THE ACTION AREA) .............................. 32 COLORADO PIKEMINNOW .......................................................................................................... 32 Colorado Pikeminnow Life History ...................................................................................... 33 Colorado Pikeminnow Population Dynamics ....................................................................... 37 Competition and Predation of Colorado Pikeminnow by Nonnative Fishes ........................ 39 Colorado Pikeminnow Status and Distribution .................................................................... 41 RAZORBACK SUCKER ................................................................................................................. 45 Razorback Sucker Life History ............................................................................................. 47 Razorback Sucker Population Dynamics .............................................................................. 48 Competition with and Predation of Razorback Suckers ....................................................... 49 Razorback Sucker Status and Distribution ........................................................................... 49 ENDANGERED FISHES PROPAGATION AND AUGMENTATION ...................................................... 51 SOUTHWESTERN WILLOW FLYCATCHER