Appendix Q Forest Service Biological Evaluation and Wildlife Specialists Report APPENDIX Q FOREST SERVICE BIOLOGICAL EVALUATION AND WILDLIFE SPECIALISTS REPORT June 2015 Nevada and Northeastern California Greater Sage-Grouse Proposed LUPA/Final EIS Q-1 This page intentionally left blank U.S. Forest Service Biological Evaluation and Wildlife Specialists Report for the Greater Sage-Grouse Conservation Effort to Amend the Forest Plans in Nevada for the Humboldt and Toiyabe National Forest Plans May 15, 2015 Prepared by: Katherine Malengo, Wildlife Biologist [email protected] Kimberly O’Connor, Botanist [email protected] Kat Carsey, Botanist [email protected] Chris Colt, Wildlife Biologist [email protected] 1 Table of Contents I. INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................ 10 II. PROJECT HISTORY ........................................................................................................... 10 III. PURPOSE AND NEED ..................................................................................................... 11 IV. DESCRIPTION OF THE ALTERNATIVES .................................................................... 12 Alternative A:............................................................................................................................ 12 Management Common to All Alternatives ............................................................................... 12 Alternative B: ............................................................................................................................ 13 Alternative C: ............................................................................................................................ 14 Alternative D:............................................................................................................................ 14 Alternative E: ............................................................................................................................ 16 Alternative F: ............................................................................................................................ 16 Proposed Plan: .......................................................................................................................... 17 V. PLANNING AREA/ANALYSIS AREA ............................................................................. 18 VI. BIOLOGICAL EVALUATION ............................................................................................ 14 A. Forest Service Sensitive Species .......................................................................................... 15 B. Species Information and Effects Analysis (Direct, Indirect and Cumulative) ........................ 36 1. Greater Sage-Grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) .......................................................... 36 Evaluating Viability .............................................................................................................. 36 Life History ........................................................................................................................... 37 Habitat and Population Condition ......................................................................................... 38 Threats................................................................................................................................... 41 Alternative A - No Action......................................................................................................... 41 Vegetation and Soils Management ....................................................................................... 41 Livestock Grazing ................................................................................................................. 43 Fire and Fuels ........................................................................................................................ 44 Energy and Locatable Minerals Development ...................................................................... 47 Land Uses and Realty Management ..................................................................................... 48 Travel, Transportation and Recreation Management ............................................................ 49 Determination ................................................................................................................... 50 Alternative B ............................................................................................................................. 50 Vegetation and Soils Management ....................................................................................... 50 Livestock Grazing ................................................................................................................. 51 Fire and Fuels ........................................................................................................................ 52 2 Wild Horse and Burro Management ..................................................................................... 53 Energy and Locatable Minerals Development ...................................................................... 53 Land Uses and Realty Management ..................................................................................... 54 Travel, Transportation and Recreation Management ............................................................ 55 Determination ................................................................................................................... 56 Alternative C ............................................................................................................................. 56 Vegetation and Soils ............................................................................................................. 56 Livestock Grazing ................................................................................................................. 57 Fire and Fuels ........................................................................................................................ 57 Wild Horse and Burro Management ..................................................................................... 58 Energy and Locatable Minerals Development ...................................................................... 58 Land Uses and Realty Management ..................................................................................... 59 Travel, Transportation and Recreation Management ............................................................ 60 Determination ................................................................................................................... 60 Alternative D ............................................................................................................................. 60 Vegetation and Soils Management ....................................................................................... 60 Livestock Grazing ................................................................................................................. 61 Fire and Fuels ........................................................................................................................ 62 Wild Horse and Burro Management ..................................................................................... 63 Energy and Locatable Minerals Development ...................................................................... 64 Land Uses and Realty Management ..................................................................................... 65 Travel, Transportation and Recreation Management ............................................................ 66 Determination ................................................................................................................... 67 Alternative E ............................................................................................................................. 67 Vegetation and Soils ............................................................................................................. 67 Livestock Grazing ................................................................................................................. 68 Fire and Fuels ........................................................................................................................ 69 Wild Horse and Burro Management ..................................................................................... 70 Energy and Locatable Minerals Development ...................................................................... 70 Land Uses and Realty Management ..................................................................................... 71 Travel, Transportation and Recreation Management ............................................................ 72 Determination ................................................................................................................... 73 Alternative F ............................................................................................................................. 73 Vegetation and Soils ............................................................................................................. 73 3 Livestock Grazing ................................................................................................................. 74 Fire and Fuels 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