Attachment A - Biological Review, Report of Site Visit & Species Inventory From August 31 – September 2, 2014, Charles Britt conducted a pedestrian survey for all diurnal faunal and floral species along the proposed fiber optic line route for WNMT. Approximately 18 miles of cable to be placed. The project begins at milepost 28.28 on NM Highway 1, crosses NM Highway 1 at milepost 25.37, and crosses I-25 at milepost 116.572. It continues on State Route 107 at milepost 0 and ends at milepost 15.37. All three days had clear skies. Surveyor recorded all faunal and floral species observed within the Project Area/Action Area, taking photographs, and noting any features that may present potential impediments for the project The route traversed across six ecological sites. The Nolam gravelly sandy loam, 1 to 7 percent slopes (655) soil map unit is found in the R042XB035NM Gravelly Loam ecological site. This site usually occurs on nearly level to rolling piedmont slopes, hill slopes, fan remnants, or alluvial fans. Slopes range from 0 to 15 percent and occasionally reach 30 percent but average 4 to 9 percent. Elevations range from 4,300 to 5,000 feet. This site is not influenced by water from wetlands or streams. This ecological site is frequently associated with gravelly ecological sites. The historic plant community type is assumed to have exhibited dominance by black grama (Bouteloua eriopoda) and secondarily by bush muhly (Muhlenbergia porteri), Arizona cottontop (Digitaria californica) and/or cane bluestem (Bothriochloa barbinodis). Creosotebush (Larrea tridentata) and mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa) occur but are not co-dominants with grasses. This ecological site tends to occur at slightly higher elevations, receives more rainfall, has higher water holding capacity, and is more productive than the other two members of the gravelly site group. Consequently, the grassland state of this site is more resilient than the other gravelly-soil sites. Continuous heavy grazing tends to remove black grama and results in dominance by tobosa (Pleuraphis mutica) and/or threeawns (Aristida spp) and subshrubs within the grassland state. Loss of grasses results in dominance or co-dominance by creosotebush and tarbush (Flourensia cernua) within a tobosa/bush muhly-shrub state. Grazing-induced retrogression from this community is characterized by a reduction in the cover of black grama (Bush muhly/black grama community). Secondarily, bush muhly, cane bluestem, Arizona cottontop, sideoats grama and winterfat will decrease. This is accompanied by an increase in the proportional representation tobosa, threeawns, burrograss (Scleropogon brevifolius), fluffgrass (Dasyochloa pulchella), snakeweed (Gutierrezia sarothrae), and shrubs (tobosa/bush muhly community). Along NM 1, the R042XB035NM Gravelly Loam ecological site was found to be in the Eroded Shrubland - Creosotebush Burrograss ecological state with additions of honey mesquite and fourwing saltbush. Further east, closer to the communication tower on Ft. Craig Road, the ecological site was observed to be in the Eroded Shrubland - Creosotebush/Mesquite ecological state. However, it was overwhelmingly dominated by creosotebush and bareground. Along SR107, the project route was found to be in the Shrub-dominated - Mesquite Threeawn ecological state between miles 2.3 and 4.8. Between miles 4.8 and 8.4, the route was observed to be in the Tobosa-bush muhly/shrub ecological state. This changed at the edge of the Mulligan Gulch valley. Between miles 10.2 to 12.5, the route was observed to be in the Grassland State. Shrub density was noted to be low. However, there was an observed increase in threeawn and fluffgrass as the route moved west. The portion of this ecological site that was parallel to I- 25 was observed to be in the Eroded shrubland – Creosote burrograss ecological state. In the various drainages, desert riparian vegetation was dominated by honey mesquite, littleleaf sumac, desert willow, apache plume and burrobush. A - 1 Several soil map units and soil map unit components are located in the R042XB010NM Gravelly ecological site; the Nickel component of the Nickel-Caliza very gravelly sandy loams, 1 to 30 percent slopes (649); Sedillo component of the Millett-Sedillo complex, 1 to 15 percent slopes (445). This site usually occurs as a complex of soils on alluvial fans, fan piedmonts, fan remnants, and some low hills or ridge slopes. The soils formed in calcareous gravelly alluvium from limestone and sandstone. Slopes average less than 5 percent but range as high as 30 percent. Aspect is variable. Elevations range from 3,800 to 5,200 feet. This site is not influenced by water from wetland or stream. This ecological site may exist with inclusions of gravelly sand, gravelly loam, or sandy ecological sites. On bajadas, it often grades into gravelly loam and loamy ecological sites. The presence of a shallow petrocalcic layer in this site limits productivity and is an important aspect of its ecology. As currently defined, the gravelly site exhibits a high degree of topographic diversity. The historic plant community type is generally assumed to exhibit co-dominance between grasses, including black grama (Bouteloua eriopoda) and bush muhly (Muhlenbergia porteri), and shrubs and half-shrubs, chiefly creosotebush (Larrea tridentata) and mariola (Parthenium incanum). Due to aspect, slope, landscape position, and subsurface soil properties, there is likely to have been considerable variation in historic plant communities within and among gravelly soil series. In cases where natural erosional slopes occur along bajadas (e.g. the erosional fan remnant of the fan piedmont landform; Wondzell et al. 1996), creosotebush may have dominated plant communities since pre-colonization times (Stein and Ludwig 1979). In the upper fan collar near the base of desert mountains, on the other hand, run-on water to loamy-skeletal soils may currently support black-grama dominated communities with few shrubs. Transitions from mixed shrub grasslands to a mixed shrub- dominated state may be catalyzed by overgrazing (Whitford et al. 2001) which reduces grass competition to shrubs. Transitions to the shrubland state are associated with severe and persistent grass cover reduction, erosion, and soil truncation (Gile et al. 1998). Along NM 1, the R042XB010NM Gravelly ecological site was observed to be in the highly degraded Shrubland – Creosotebush Fluffgrass to Creosotebush (Mesquite) ecological states. There is Johnsongrass present in some of the drainages. The portion of this ecological site that was parallel to I-25 was observed to be in the highly degraded Shrubland – Creosotebush Tarbush/Mesquite ecological state. In the various drainages, desert riparian vegetation was dominated by honey mesquite, littleleaf sumac, desert willow, apache plume and burrobush. Along SR107, the project route was found to be in the highly degraded Shrubland – Creosotebush Fluffgrass to Shrubland – Fluffgrass Creosotebush ecological states between miles 0 to 2.3, and Shrub-dominated Bush muhly Shrubs to Shrubland - Fluffgrass Creosotebush ecological states between miles 9.4 to 10.2. The Arizo component of the Arizo-Riverwash complex, 0 to 5 percent slopes (621) and the Caliza component of the Nickel-Caliza very gravelly sandy loams, 1 to 30 percent slopes (649) are found in the R042XA053NM Gravelly Sand ecological site. This site usually occurs on arroyo terraces, alluvial fans, terraces or dissected piedmont slopes. Slopes range 1 to 15 percent, and average less than 15 percent. Elevations range from 3,700 feet to 5,000 feet. This site is not influenced by water from wetlands or streams. This ecological site is associated with the gravelly ecological site and may grade into sandy or deep sand ecological sites. This site often occupies arroyos and is flanked by gravelly sites (e.g. Caliza gravelly sandy loam). In some cases, Bluepoint loamy sand soils (classified as deep sand sites) on dissected piedmont slopes may contain sufficient gravel so as to behave similarly to gravelly sands (e.g. in the Bluepoint-Caliza-Yturbide complex). The historic plant community type is generally assumed to exhibit dominance by dropseed grasses (mesa dropseed, Sporobolus flexuosus and sand dropseed, A - 2 Sporobolus cryptandrus), and, secondarily black grama (Bouteloua eriopoda) and bush muhly (Muhlenbergia porteri). Creosotebush (Larrea tridentata) is a secondary dominant and annuals may be important components. Loss of these grasses due to overgrazing and/or drought, or due to climate change, may lead to a transition to dominance by creosotebush and mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa). Persistent lack of grass permits wind erosion, leading to loss of soil fertility and eventual loss of the A horizon and exposure of the calcic horizon on some soils (transition to eroded shrubland state). No studies have been conducted on the ecology of the gravelly sand ecological site. Generally, this site is less susceptible to effects of erosion than the gravelly ecological site due to the absence of a shallow petrocalcic horizon. The coarse texture of the soils and lack of a restrictive layer, on the other hand, increase percolation from shallow soil layers and overall productivity is slightly lower. This site is dominated by drought-tolerant grasses and shrubs. Ground cover is sparse and litter accumulates slowly, relative even to other semi-arid sites. Along NM1, the R042XA053NM Gravelly Sand ecological site was observed to be in the highly degraded Eroded Shrubland - Creosotebush