Jesse and Toni Kidd Marina Relocation & Facilities Placement McCreary & Pulaski Counties, Kentucky UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE FOREST SERVICE Biological Assessment and SOUTHERN REGION Evaluation DANIEL BOONE NATIONAL FOREST Prepared for: Stearns Ranger District KENTUCKY Whitley City, Kentucky October 5, 2009 Prepared by: Douglas E. Stephens P. O. Box 243 Whitley City, KY 42653 [email protected] Please direct correspondence to: Jesse and Toni Kidd, 1845 North Hwy 27 - Whitley City, KY 42653 Table of Contents Abstract .......................................................................................................................................... 3 Summary of Effect Determinations ............................................................................................ 3 Introduction ................................................................................................................................... 4 Consultation History .....................................................................................................................4 Proposed Action ............................................................................................................................ 6 Species Considered and Species Evaluated ................................................................................ 9 Threatened and Endangered Species .......................................................................................... 9 Designated Critical Habitat ....................................................................................................... 11 USDA Forest Service, R8 Sensitive Species ............................................................................ 12 Evaluated Species Survey Information ..................................................................................... 14 Environmental Baseline for the Species Evaluated in this BAE ............................................ 15 Threatened and Endangered Species ........................................................................................ 15 USDA Forest Service, R8 Sensitive Species ............................................................................ 23 Effects of Proposed Action on Each Species and Segment of Critical Habitat Evaluated ... 25 Threatened and Endangered Species ........................................................................................ 25 Designated critical habitat ........................................................................................................ 27 USDA Forest Service, R8 Sensitive Species ............................................................................ 28 Determination(s) of Effects & Rationale ...................................................................................29 Threatened and Endangered Species ........................................................................................ 29 Proposed (USFWS Threatened or Endangered) Species .......................................................... 31 Designated Critical Habitat ....................................................................................................... 32 USDA Forest Service, R8 Sensitive Species ............................................................................ 32 Mitigation Measures ................................................................................................................... 36 Appendix A .................................................................................................................................. 47 Maps of Proposed Project ......................................................................................................... 47 Appendix B .................................................................................................................................. 54 Pictures of Project Area ............................................................................................................ 54 2 Biological Assessment/Evaluation (BAE) for Jesse and Toni Kidd Marina Relocation and Facilities Placement Project on Daniel Boone National Forest - Stearns Ranger District McCreary and Pulaski Counties, Kentucky Abstract This proposed project involves relocating an existing marina from the mouth of the Rockcastle River to near the mouth of Beaver Creek on the Cumberland River (Lake Cumberland) in McCreary and Pulaski Counties, KY. The project involves both private property and public lands managed by the U. S. Forest Service (USFS). This BAE will evaluate potential effects of building a marina, boat ramp, parking area, breakwater fishing pier, road improvements, and placing underground utility lines on public land managed by the USFS (Daniel Boone National Forest). Approximately 12,237 linear feet of underground electric and water lines will be placed from a tract of personal property in Pulaski County, across federal lands, and back onto private property owned by Jesse and Toni Kidd. The project (Figure 1) occurs in northern McCreary County and southeastern Pulaski County, Kentucky along Hewling Ridge Road, Bauer Road and FS 5333 (Sediment Pond Road) on the Hail 7.5-minute topographic quadrangle map. Summary of Effect Determinations Federally Listed Species Not Likely to Likely to Species No Effect Adversely Effect Adversely Effect Gray Bat X Indiana Bat X Virginia Big-eared Bat X Duskytail Darter X Palezone Shiner X Blackside Dace X Cumberland Elktoe X Fanshell X Cumberlandian Combshell X Oyster Mussel X Tan Riffleshell X Northern Riffleshell X Pink Mucket X Little-wing Pearlymussel X Cumberland Bean Pearlymussel X Cumberland Sandwort X Cumberland Rosemary X American Chaffseed X White-haired Goldenrod X Virginia Spiraea X Running Buffalo Clover X Designated Critical Habitat Not Likely to Likely to Site Name No Effect Adversely Modify Adversely Modify Buck Creek, Marsh Creek, X Rock Creek, Sinking Creek X 3 Introduction This Biological Assessment and Evaluation (BAE) is responsive to the requirements of the Endangered Species Act to disclose effects on listed species and their habitats. Additionally, this document provides a standard process to provide full consideration of federally proposed, endangered, threatened (PET) and sensitive species (S) and their habitats and designated critical habitat in the decision-making process. For further information regarding the objectives, standards, and procedures used in this BAE process, see section 2672.4 of Forest Service Manual 2600. More specifically, this BAE will address and evaluate the effects of the actions proposed by Jesse and Toni Kidd’s marina relocation project on federally threatened, endangered, proposed species and designated critical habitats; and Forest Service sensitive species listed in this document. The following information complies with the statutory requirements to use the best scientific and commercial information available when assessing the risks posed to listed and/or proposed species and designated and/or proposed critical habitat by these actions. The proposed project area is located along the western edge of the Pottsville Escarpment within the Cumberland Plateau physiographic region in northern McCreary and southeastern Pulaski Counties, Kentucky. The western boundary of the project occurs within the transition zone of Pennsylvanian and Mississippian strata. It occurs east of US 27 and west of the Cumberland River, near the McCreary/Pulaski County line. Roads involved in the project area include Hewling Ridge Road (FS 832), Bauer Road (PUL 50), and Sediment Pond Road (FS 5333). The private land upon which the electric and water lines originate for this project is accessible via PUL 5165 (Figure 1, Appendix A). The proposed project is located approximately 4.7 miles NNE of Greenwood, Kentucky on the central section of the Hail 7.5 minute USGS topographic quadrangle map. The coordinates for near the center of the proposed project area discussed in this report are approximately N 36.938439 W -84.437868. Consultation History Jesse Kidd, Owner/Operator of proposed marina project 18 May 2009, September 2009 - project location and details; route for placement of utility lines Joe Metzmeier, Wildlife Biologist, Stearns Ranger District, Daniel Boone NF, Whitley City, KY May, August 2009 – known species locations and species concerns in the project area Laurie Smith, Supervisory Forester (ORA), Stearns Ranger District, Daniel Boone NF, Whitley City, KY 11 September 2009 – scope of project; GIS information 4 Figure 1. General location of Marina Relocation Project in McCreary/Pulaski Counties, KY 5 Proposed Action This report will assess potential impacts by Jesse and Toni Kidd’s planned marina relocation project that includes placement of approximately 12,237 linear feet of 4-inch schedule 80 waterline and 12, 237 linear feet of underground 7200/1440 Kvolt electrical line. These utilities will originate at private property owned by Steve Ritchie (off PUL 5165 in Pulaski County), travel across public lands managed by the United States Forest Service (through a wooded tract, along Sediment Pond Road (FS 5333), Bauer Road (PUL 50), and Hewling Ridge Road (FS 832)), onto private property owned by Jesse and Toni Kidd in McCreary County, and again onto public land at Lake Cumberland. Originally located at the mouth of the Rockcastle River, this marina (formerly London Dock) will be relocated to the Cumberland River (Lake Cumberland) near the mouth of Beaver Creek. A boat ramp, concrete parking lot, and breakwater