DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT FOR THE DESIGNATION OF CRITICAL HABITAT FOR THE NEW MEXICO MEADOW JUMPING MOUSE PHOTO CREDIT: G. WRIGHT PREPARED BY HARRIS ENVIRONMENTAL GROUP, INC. FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE This page left intentionally blank Draft Environmental Assessment For The Designation Of Critical Habitat For The New Mexico Meadow Jumping Mouse CONTENTS TABLES ........................................................................................................................................ V FIGURES ...................................................................................................................................... VI ACRONYMS ............................................................................................................................... VII CHAPTER 1: PURPOSE OF AND NEED FOR ACTION ........................................................... 1 Introduction ................................................................................................................................. 1 Purpose and Need for the Action ................................................................................................ 1 Proposed Action .......................................................................................................................... 2 Background ................................................................................................................................. 3 Critical Habitat ........................................................................................................................ 3 New Mexico meadow jumping mouse ................................................................................... 7 Related Laws, Authorizations, and Plans ................................................................................. 11 Federal laws, authorizations, and plans ................................................................................ 11 State Wildlife Laws, authorizations, and plans ..................................................................... 12 Issues from public comments on proposed rule ........................................................................ 14 Topics Analyzed in Detail in this Environmental Assessment ................................................. 14 Topics Dismissed from Detailed Analysis ................................................................................ 15 Energy requirements and conservation potential .................................................................. 15 Urban quality and design of the built environment .............................................................. 15 Public health and safety ........................................................................................................ 16 Climate change...................................................................................................................... 16 Ecologically critical areas, wilderness, Wild and Scenic Rivers, or other unique natural areas ...................................................................................................................................... 16 CHAPTER 2: ALTERNATIVES ................................................................................................. 17 i Draft Environmental Assessment For The Designation Of Critical Habitat For The New Mexico Meadow Jumping Mouse Development of Alternatives .................................................................................................... 17 Alternative A: No Action Alternative ....................................................................................... 17 Alternative B: Critical Habitat Designation .............................................................................. 17 Alternative C: Designation of Critical Habitat With Exclusions .............................................. 34 CHAPTER 3: AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES 35 Methodology ............................................................................................................................. 35 Nature of impacts from critical habitat designation .............................................................. 36 Economic Analysis ............................................................................................................... 41 Fish, wildlife, and vegetation .................................................................................................... 41 Existing conditions................................................................................................................ 41 Environmental consequences ................................................................................................ 51 Floodplains and wetlands .......................................................................................................... 57 Existing conditions................................................................................................................ 57 Environmental consequences ................................................................................................ 58 Water resources and management ............................................................................................ 59 Existing conditions................................................................................................................ 59 Environmental consequences ................................................................................................ 61 Livestock grazing ...................................................................................................................... 65 Existing conditions................................................................................................................ 65 Environmental consequences ................................................................................................ 66 Agriculture ................................................................................................................................ 70 Existing conditions................................................................................................................ 70 Environmental consequences ................................................................................................ 70 Fire management ....................................................................................................................... 71 ii Draft Environmental Assessment For The Designation Of Critical Habitat For The New Mexico Meadow Jumping Mouse Existing conditions................................................................................................................ 71 Environmental consequences ................................................................................................ 72 Highway construction and reconstruction ................................................................................ 74 Existing conditions................................................................................................................ 74 Environmental consequences ................................................................................................ 75 Development ............................................................................................................................. 77 Existing conditions................................................................................................................ 77 Environmental consequences ................................................................................................ 77 Energy resources ....................................................................................................................... 79 Existing conditions................................................................................................................ 79 Environmental consequences ................................................................................................ 82 Recreation ................................................................................................................................. 84 Existing conditions................................................................................................................ 84 Environmental consequences ................................................................................................ 85 Cultural or historic resources .................................................................................................... 87 Existing conditions................................................................................................................ 87 Environmental consequences ................................................................................................ 87 Socioeconomics ........................................................................................................................ 89 Existing conditions................................................................................................................ 89 Environmental consequences ................................................................................................ 95 Environmental justice ............................................................................................................. 103 Existing conditions.............................................................................................................. 103 Environmental consequences