Final EIS USFS Biological Evaluation Appendix M APPENDIX M—FOREST SERVICE BIOLOGICAL EVALUATION AND MANAGEMENT INDICATOR SPECIES REPORT 1 Final EIS USFS Biological Evaluation Appendix M Forest Service Biological Evaluation for the Greater Sage-Grouse Conservation Effort to Amend the Bridger-Teton and Medicine Bow National Forest Plans and the Thunder Basin National Grassland Management Plan May 13 17, 2015 Prepared by Tim Byer, Wildlife Biologist [email protected] Steve Loose, Wildlife Biologist [email protected] Katharine Haynes, Botanist [email protected] Chris Colt, Wildlife Biologist [email protected] 2 Final EIS USFS Biological Evaluation Appendix M Table of Contents I. INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................. 11 II. PROJECT HISTORY ........................................................................................................ 12 III. PURPOSE AND NEED ..................................................................................................... 13 IV. DESCRIPTION OF THE ALTERNATIVES .................................................................... 14 Alternative A: No-Action .......................................................................................................... 15 Alternative B: ............................................................................................................................ 15 Alternative C: ............................................................................................................................ 15 Alternative D: ............................................................................................................................ 16 Proposed Amendment (Selected Alternative): .......................................................................... 16 V. ANALYSIS AREA .................................................................................................................. 16 VI. SPECIES CONSIDERED IN THE ANALYSIS .................................................................... 17 FOREST SERVICE SENSITIVE SPECIES ............................................................................ 17 VII. SPECIES INFORMATION AND EFFECTS ANALYSIS .................................................. 39 A. Greater Sage-Grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) ............................................................. 39 Distribution ............................................................................................................................ 39 Habitat Associations and Threats .......................................................................................... 40 Population Status and Trend .................................................................................................. 42 Key Threats by Forest............................................................................................................ 49 Evaluating Viability ............................................................................................................... 50 Alternative Comparison ......................................................................................................... 51 Alternative A - No Action ..................................................................................................... 52 Alternative B.......................................................................................................................... 60 Alternative C.......................................................................................................................... 62 Alternative D ......................................................................................................................... 65 Proposed Plan Amendment (Preferred Alternative) .............................................................. 67 B. Sagebrush Associated Species .............................................................................................. 76 Northern Goshawk (Accipiter gentilis).................................................................................. 77 Ferruginous Hawk (Buteo regalis) ........................................................................................ 78 Northern Harrier (Circus cyaneus) ........................................................................................ 79 Short-eared Owl (Asio flammeus) .......................................................................................... 80 3 Final EIS USFS Biological Evaluation Appendix M Loggerhead shrike (Lanius ludovicianus) ............................................................................. 81 Sage sparrow (Amphispiza bellii) .......................................................................................... 81 Brewer’s sparrow (Spizella brewerii) .................................................................................... 82 Columbian Sharp-tailed Grouse (Tympanuchus phasianellus) ............................................. 82 Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep (Ovis Canadensis canadensis) .......................................... 83 White-tailed prairie dog (Cynomys leucurus) ........................................................................ 84 Wyoming Pocket Gopher (Thomomys clusius) ..................................................................... 85 Fringed Myotis (Myotis thysanodes) ..................................................................................... 85 Townsend’s Big-eared Bat (Corynorhinus townsendii) ........................................................ 86 Spotted Bat (Euderma maculatum) ....................................................................................... 87 Hoary Bat (Lasiurus cinereus) .............................................................................................. 88 Boreal toad (Bufo boreas boreas) .......................................................................................... 88 Alternative A - No Action ..................................................................................................... 89 Alternative B.......................................................................................................................... 92 Alternative C.......................................................................................................................... 94 Alternative D ......................................................................................................................... 97 Proposed Plan Amendment (Preferred Alternative) .............................................................. 99 C. Grassland Associated Species ...................................................................................... 102 Mixed Grass Prairie ............................................................................................................. 103 Short-Grass Prairie .............................................................................................................. 103 Black-tailed Prairie Dog (Cynomys ludovicianus) .............................................................. 103 Swift Fox (Vulpes velox) ..................................................................................................... 104 Long-billed Curlew (Numenius americanus) ...................................................................... 105 Burrowing Owl (Athene cunicularia) .................................................................................. 105 Chestnut-Collared Longspur (Calicarius ornatus) .............................................................. 106 McCown’s Longspur (Calcarius mccownii) ....................................................................... 107 Mountain Plover (Charadrius montanus)............................................................................ 108 Grasshopper Sparrow (Ammodramus savannarum) ............................................................ 109 Alternative A - No Action ................................................................................................... 111 Alternative B........................................................................................................................ 113 Alternative C........................................................................................................................ 115 4 Final EIS USFS Biological Evaluation Appendix M Alternative D ....................................................................................................................... 118 Proposed Plan Amendment (Preferred Alternative) ............................................................ 120 D. Plants ............................................................................................................................ 124 Astragalus barrii (Barr’s milkvetch) .................................................................................... 124 Astragalus diversifolius var. diversifolius (Meadow milkvetch) ........................................ 125 Astragalus paysonii (Payson’s milkvetch) .......................................................................... 125 Lesquerella paysonii (Payson’s bladderpod) ....................................................................... 126 Symphyotrichum molle (Soft aster)...................................................................................... 126 Eriogonum exifolium (Dropleaf {slender leaved} buckwheat) ........................................... 127 Machaeranthera coloradoensis (Colorado tansy