2019 USFS REGION 6 RESTORATION SERVICES TEAM Vegetation and Fungi Survey Report Marys Peak Bonneville Power Administration Communications Site Project: West Point Spur Component April 11, 2019 Prepared by: United State Department of Agriculture, Forest Service Region 6 Restoration Services Team Prepared for: Bonneville Power Administration CONTENTS Introduction .................................................................................................................................................. 4 Project Location ........................................................................................................................................ 5 Description of Alternatives that Include West Point Spur ............................................................................. 7 West Point Spur Site Climate, Soils, and Vegetation ................................................................................ 7 Vegetation Survey Area ............................................................................................................................ 8 Background Research .................................................................................................................................. 10 Special-status Vascular Plant Species ..................................................................................................... 10 Special Status Non-Vascular Plant and Fungal Species ........................................................................... 11 Noxious Weeds ....................................................................................................................................... 12 Plant communities .................................................................................................................................. 13 Field Survey Methodology ........................................................................................................................... 13 Vascular Plant Survey Methodology ....................................................................................................... 13 Non-Vascular Vegetation Survey Methodology...................................................................................... 14 Field Documentation............................................................................................................................... 15 Special-status Plant Species .................................................................................................................... 16 Noxious Weeds ....................................................................................................................................... 16 Plant Communities .................................................................................................................................. 16 Botanists Resumes .................................................................................................................................. 17 Field Survey Results ..................................................................................................................................... 18 Plant Species Observed ........................................................................................................................... 18 Target Special-status Species Present..................................................................................................... 18 Vascular Plants .................................................................................................................................... 18 Non-vascular Plants and Fungi ............................................................................................................ 18 Target Noxious Weed Species Present ................................................................................................... 21 Description of Habitat Types/Plant Communities .................................................................................. 23 Forest .................................................................................................................................................. 24 Meadow .............................................................................................................................................. 26 Project Land Uses ................................................................................................................................ 28 Potential Impacts from Project Implementation ......................................................................................... 28 Removal of Native Vegetation and Seedbank, Soil compaction/Topsoil Removal, Erosion ................... 29 Introduction or Spread of non-native and noxious weeds ..................................................................... 29 Effects of Increased trampling of Plants and Effects of Disturbance on Meadow Habitat .................... 30 2 Marys Peak Bonneville Power Administration Communications Site Project: West Point Spur Component Vegetation Report Tree Removal .......................................................................................................................................... 30 Impacts Specific to Non-vascular Species ............................................................................................... 31 Best Management Practices ........................................................................................................................ 35 Construction-related BMPs: .................................................................................................................... 35 Revegetation-related BMPs: ................................................................................................................... 36 Weed-related BMPs: ............................................................................................................................... 36 Non-vascular Plant and Fungi Related BMP’s: ........................................................................................ 37 Additional BMPs Recommended by RST:................................................................................................ 37 Construction-related BMPs: ................................................................................................................ 37 Revegetation-related BMPs: ................................................................................................................ 38 Weed-related BMPs: ........................................................................................................................... 38 Control of Noxious Weeds ........................................................................................................................... 38 References ................................................................................................................................................... 40 Attachment 1 - U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service List ....................................................................................... 44 Attachment 2 - Known and Suspected Occurrences of Special-Status Vascular and Non-vascular Plant Species and Fungi ....................................................................................................................................... 52 Attachment 3 - ORBIC List of Vascular and Non-Vascular Plant Species and Fungi that Occur in Benton County, Oregon ........................................................................................................................................... 56 Attachment 4 - Vascular and Non-vascular Plant Species and Fungi on the SNF and Salem District BLM Sensitive Plant Lists ..................................................................................................................................... 68 Attachment 5 - Target Survey Special-Status Species List ........................................................................... 80 Attachment 6 - Target Noxious Weed Species ............................................................................................ 83 Attachment 7 - 2018 Vascular Plants Observed ......................................................................................... 85 Attachment 8 - Field Data Forms ................................................................................................................. 89 Attachment 9 Resumes .............................................................................................................................. 97 Attachment 10 - 2018 Non-vascular Plants and Fungi Observed .............................................................. 103 3 Marys Peak Bonneville Power Administration Communications Site Project: West Point Spur Component Vegetation Report INTRODUCTION The Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) needs to maintain and upgrade the existing BPA communications site located at Marys Peak, approximately 15 miles southwest of Corvallis, in Benton County, Oregon. Some communications equipment at the site is outdated and unstable and needs to be replaced. The site needs a more reliable back-up power source due to potential power outages. These proposed actions are part of the Marys Peak BPA Communications Site Project (Project). The Project has four action Alternatives in addition to the No Action Alternative. Each Alternative has two geographic components. An unobstructed microwave beam path is needed between two communications sites in two different locations in order for voice