Biological Evaluation New Mexico Unit of the Central Arizona Project Environmental Impact Statement December 2019 MISSION STATEMENT Protecting America’s Great Outdoors and Powering Our Future The Department of the Interior (DOI) conserves and manages the Nation’s natural resources and cultural heritage for the benefit and enjoyment of the American people, provides scientific and other information about natural resources and natural hazards to address societal challenges and create opportunities for the American people, and honors the Nation’s trust responsibilities or special commitments to American Indians, Alaska Natives, and affiliated island communities to help them prosper. The mission of the Bureau of Reclamation is to manage, develop, and protect water and related resources in an environmentally and economically sound manner in the interest of the American public. The mission of the New Mexico Interstate Stream Commission is to investigate, conserve, protect, and develop the water resources and stream systems of New Mexico and carry out plans and programs for beneficial uses in the state, all in accordance with law. Acronyms and Abbreviations ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS °F degrees Fahrenheit amsl above mean sea level ASNF Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests ASR aquifer storage and recovery AWSA Arizona Water Settlements Act AZ Arizona AZGFD Arizona Game and Fish Department AZHGIS Arizona Heritage Geographic Information System BA biological assessment BE biological evaluation BISON-M Biota Information System of New Mexico BLM United States Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management BMP best management practice CAP Central Arizona Project CEQ Council on Environmental Quality cfs cubic feet per second cm/s centimeters per second COA Conservation Opportunity Area CUFA Consumptive Use and Forbearance Agreement DCH Designated Critical Habitat ECOS Environmental Conservation Online System EFC environmental flow conditions EIS environmental impact statement ESA Endangered Species Act FMI Freeport McMoRan, Inc. ft/s feet per second GIS geographic information system GNF Gila National Forest HDMS Heritage Data Management System LF linear feet IBA Important Bird Area IHA Indicators of Hydrological Alteration IPaC Information for Planning and Consultation ISC New Mexico Interstate Stream Commission IUCN International Union for Conservation of Nature Joint Leads U.S. Bureau of Reclamation and New Mexico Interstate Stream Commission December 2019 New Mexico Unit of the Central Arizona Project i Acronyms and Abbreviations MBTA Migratory Bird Treaty Act MEI Mussetter Engineering MIS Management Indicator Species NEPA National Environmental Policy Act NM New Mexico NMDGF New Mexico Department of Game and Fish NM Unit New Mexico Unit of the Central Arizona Project NWI National Wetlands Inventory PCH Proposed Critical Habitat PR&Gs Agency Specific Procedures for Implementing the Council on Environmental Quality’s Principles, Requirements, and Guidelines for Water and Land Related Resources Implementation Studies Reclamation United States Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation SGCN Species of Greatest Conservation Need SSPA S.S. Papadopulos and Associates, Inc. SWCA SWCA Environmental Consultants SWReGAP Southwest Regional Gap Analysis Project U.S. United States USDA United States Department of Agriculture USFS United States Forest Service USFWS United States Fish and Wildlife Service USGS United States Geological Survey WCA Wildlife Conservation Act W-S West Side December 2019 New Mexico Unit of the Central Arizona Project ii Contents CONTENTS Page Acronyms and Abbreviations ..................................................................................................................... i Chapter 1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................ 1 1.1 Description of the Project Area ................................................................................................. 1 Chapter 2 Proposed Action and Alternatives .................................................................................... 5 2.1 NM Unit Alternatives ................................................................................................................ 5 2.1.1 Conservation Measures Incorporated into the Proposed Action and Alternatives .......... 5 2.2 Methods of Analysis ................................................................................................................ 17 2.2.1 Description of the Analysis Area ................................................................................... 17 2.2.2 Impact Methods and Terminology................................................................................. 19 Chapter 3 Species Evaluated ............................................................................................................. 25 3.1 Special Status Plant Species .................................................................................................... 25 3.2 Special Status Wildlife Species ............................................................................................... 26 3.3 Management Indicator Species ............................................................................................... 30 Chapter 4 Environmental Baseline ................................................................................................... 33 4.1 Vegetation ............................................................................................................................... 33 4.1.1 Wetland and Riparian Areas .......................................................................................... 35 4.1.2 Noxious Weeds .............................................................................................................. 35 4.1.3 Special Status Plant Species .......................................................................................... 37 4.2 Aquatic and Terrestrial Wildlife .............................................................................................. 40 4.2.1 Aquatic Wildlife Habitat ............................................................................................... 40 4.2.2 Terrestrial Wildlife Habitat ........................................................................................... 43 4.2.3 General Wildlife Species ............................................................................................... 44 4.2.4 Conservation Areas........................................................................................................ 44 4.2.5 Neotropical Migratory Birds and Bald and Golden Eagles ........................................... 46 4.2.6 Special Status Wildlife Species ..................................................................................... 46 4.2.7 Threatened and Endangered Species ............................................................................. 69 Chapter 5 Effects of the Action ......................................................................................................... 79 5.1 Vegetation ............................................................................................................................... 79 5.1.1 Alternative A: No Action Alternative ............................................................................ 79 5.1.2 Impacts Common to All Action Alternatives ................................................................ 82 5.1.3 Analysis of Action Alternatives .................................................................................... 84 5.2 Aquatic and Terrestrial Wildlife .............................................................................................. 98 5.2.1 Alternative A, No Action ............................................................................................... 98 5.2.2 Impacts Common to All Action Alternatives .............................................................. 104 5.2.3 Analysis of Action Alternatives .................................................................................. 118 5.2.4 Special Status Species ................................................................................................. 130 5.2.5 Threatened and Endangered Wildlife Species ............................................................. 140 Chapter 6 Literature Cited .............................................................................................................. 176 December 2019 New Mexico Unit of the Central Arizona Project iii Contents Appendices Appendix A. Project Mapbook Appendix B. Project Components by Alternative Appendix C. GIS Methods Appendix D. Special Status Species Database Appendix E. Special Status Species Occurrence Appendix F. Landcover Database Report Appendix G. Hydrologic Analysis Supporting Tables Appendix H. Best Management Practices Figures Figure 1-1. New Mexico Unit project vicinity. ............................................................................................. 3 Tables Table 2-1. Cliff-Gila Location Alternatives Summary ................................................................................. 7 Table 2-2. Virden Valley Location Alternatives Summary ........................................................................ 11 Table 2-3. San Francisco River Alternatives Summary .............................................................................. 13 Table 2-4. Total AWSA Average Annual Storage, Diversion, Return Flows,