Final Environmental Impact Statement
Final Environmental Impact Statement
Final Environmental Impact Statement
Create successful ePaper yourself
Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.
Vestal <strong>Final</strong> <strong>Environmental</strong> <strong>Impact</strong> <strong>Statement</strong> Chapter 3<br />
Species of Local Concern (SOLC), species having insufficient information to make<br />
listing determinations, as well as species tracked by the South Dakota Natural Heritage<br />
Program. Subsequent surveys were completed in 2010 and 2011 as a result of long-term<br />
rangeland monitoring for the livestock grazing program and general plant surveys of the<br />
area. Surveys would be ongoing in the project area.<br />
Rare plant species habitats include; riparian areas, moist spruce forests, hardwood forests,<br />
granite outcrops, grasslands and meadows, open areas. The project area includes all of<br />
these types of habitats.<br />
South Dakota State Listed Plant Species and Species of Insufficient Information:<br />
Forest Service Manual 2670.32 directs us to “Assist states in achieving their goals for<br />
conservation of endemic species”. These species are tracked by the South Dakota Natural<br />
Heritage Program and have been identified as rare or lack sufficient information in the<br />
State of South Dakota. The following tracked species are known to occur in the project<br />
area as a result of plant surveys.<br />
Table 45. Known State Listed and Species of Insufficient Information<br />
Scientific Name Common Name Target Type<br />
Adoxa moschatellina musk-root State-Listed<br />
Botrychium michiganense Michigan moonwort BKF Tracked<br />
Botrychium pallidum pale moonwort State-Listed<br />
Botrychium simplex least grapefern State-Listed<br />
Carex canescens silvery sedge State-Listed<br />
Carex intumescens swollen sedge State-Listed<br />
Hierochloe odorata sweetgrass BKF Tracked<br />
Muhlenbergia glomerata bristly muhly State-Listed<br />
Scirpus cyperinus woolgrass BKF Tracked<br />
Symphyotrichum boreale northern bog aster BKF Tracked<br />
Species of Local Concern (SOLC)<br />
There are no known occurrences of SOLC within the project area; however, suitable<br />
habitat is present in the project area for 4 species. Suitable habitat for species not known<br />
to occur within the project area was based upon general habitat characteristics, proximity<br />
to known populations, and professional judgment. The project area contains a significant<br />
amount of habitat that was altered during post-settlement times (e.g. mining, hay fields,<br />
homesteads, etc.). Species of Local Concern plants which may have habitat in the project<br />
area include:<br />
• leathery grapefern (Botrychium multifidum)<br />
• southwestern showy sedge (Carex bella)<br />
• alpine mountainsorrel (Oxyria digyna)<br />
• arrowleaf sweet coltsfoot (Petasites frigidus var. sagittatus)<br />
Region 2 (R2) Sensitive Species<br />
A pre-field review was conducted of available information to assemble occurrence<br />
records, describe habitat needs and ecological requirements, and determine whether field<br />
reconnaissance is needed to complete the analysis. Sources of information included<br />
123