U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Rio Mora National Wildlife Refuge and Conservation Area Environmental Assessment July 2012 U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service Mission Statement The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working with others to conserve, protect, and enhance fish, wildlife, plants, and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. National Wildlife Refuge System Mission Statement The mission of the National Wildlife Refuge System is to administer a national network of lands and waters for the conservation, management, and, where appropriate, restoration of fish, wildlife, and plant resources and their habitats within the United States for the benefit of present and future generations of Americans. —National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997 Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Rio Mora National Wildlife Refuge and Conservation Area, Colfax, Mora, and San Miguel Counties, New Mexico June 1, 2012 U.S Fish and Wildlife Service National Wildlife Refuge System Southwest Region Division of Planning Albuquerque, NM Table of Contents 1. PURPOSE OF AND NEED FOR PROPOSED ACTION ..................................................... 1 Introduction................................................................................................................................. 1 Project Area Location ................................................................................................................. 1 Background................................................................................................................................. 3 Purpose and Need ....................................................................................................................... 3 Refuge Purposes.......................................................................................................................... 5 Proposed Refuge Purposes.......................................................................................................... 6 Decision(s) to be Made ............................................................................................................... 6 Regulatory Compliance .............................................................................................................. 7 USFWS Land Acquisition Policy ............................................................................................... 7 Related Efforts and Resources.................................................................................................... 9 Public Participation, Issue Identification, and External Coordination ...................................... 15 Issues Identified During Scoping.............................................................................................. 17 2. ALTERNATIVES................................................................................................................. 18 Alternative A (No Action): ....................................................................................................... 18 Alternative B (Rio Mora NWR only alternative) ..................................................................... 18 Alternative C (Rio Mora NWR and Conservation Area) Preferred Alternative: ...................... 18 Comparison of Alternatives ...................................................................................................... 19 3. AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT............................................................................................ 20 Physical Environment ............................................................................................................... 20 Climate Change/Air Quality ................................................................................................. 20 Topography........................................................................................................................... 20 Surface and Ground Water Quality/Quantity ....................................................................... 20 Flooding ................................................................................................................................ 21 Minerals and Energy Resources............................................................................................ 21 Biological Environment ............................................................................................................ 22 Vegetation............................................................................................................................. 22 Wildlife Species Diversity/Abundance ................................................................................. 22 Wildlife ................................................................................................................................. 23 Non-native species................................................................................................................ 25 Human Environment ................................................................................................................. 25 Cultural/Archaeological/Historic Resources ........................................................................ 25 Socioeconomic Resources .................................................................................................... 26 Outdoor Educational/Recreational Opportunities................................................................. 26 ii Public Access........................................................................................................................ 27 Tax Revenues and Property Values ...................................................................................... 27 Land Use ............................................................................................................................... 27 Quality of Life....................................................................................................................... 28 Residents on the Proposed NWR .......................................................................................... 28 Aesthetics and Scenery ......................................................................................................... 28 4. ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES ........................................................................... 29 Physical Environment ............................................................................................................... 29 Climate Change/Air Quality ................................................................................................. 29 Topography........................................................................................................................... 30 Surface and Ground Water Quality/Quantity ....................................................................... 30 Flooding ................................................................................................................................ 31 Minerals and Energy Resources............................................................................................ 31 Biological Environment ............................................................................................................ 32 Vegetation............................................................................................................................. 32 Wildlife Species Diversity/Abundance ................................................................................. 32 Wildlife ................................................................................................................................. 33 Non-native Species ............................................................................................................... 33 Human Environment ................................................................................................................. 34 Cultural/Archaeological/Historic Resources ........................................................................ 34 Educational/Recreational Opportunities ............................................................................... 35 Public Access........................................................................................................................ 35 Tax Revenues and Property Values ...................................................................................... 36 Land Use ............................................................................................................................... 36 Quality of Life....................................................................................................................... 37 Residents on the Proposed NWR .......................................................................................... 37 Aesthetics and Scenery ......................................................................................................... 38 Summary of Environmental Consequences by Alternative ...................................................... 38 Assessment of Cumulative Effects by Alternative ................................................................... 39 Environmental Justice ............................................................................................................... 40 Indian Trust Assets ................................................................................................................... 41 Unavoidable Adverse Effects ..................................................................................................