Draft Environmental Impact Statement for Roca Honda Mine

Chapter 3. Affected Environment and Environmental Consequences
are undisturbed, largely due to the geological features and rugged terrain, disturbance from yearround
grazing and dirt and two-track roads has been documented in this section. Wildlife
communities found within this section are typical of Great Basin Desert and/or piñon-juniper
woodland interfaces (RHR, 2009d).
Habitat found within Section 9 varies from desert grassland and open piñon-juniper woodlands in
the lower areas to sheer rock faces in the higher elevations. Elevation ranges from approximately
7,200 to 7,832 feet and changes sharply throughout the section; much of the area is bare bedrock.
Sand dunes also occur in some areas. Jesus Mesa, a mountain summit, occupies about 50 percent
of Section 9. Rafael Canyon also runs north to south along the section’s western boundary.
Section 10 is positioned along the northeastern slope of Jesus Mesa. Terrain and habitat in this
area are highly variable and ranges from flat mesa top with rock outcroppings to gentle slopes at
the base of the mesa. Elevation ranges from approximately 7,152 to 7,720 feet and vegetation
throughout the section is dominated by piñon-juniper woodland with desert-scrub and grassland
along the southeast corner and along the canyon bottom in the north. A nameless canyon is
located in the northwest quarter of this section, with sheer cliff faces greater than 15 meters in
height along the rim. Wildlife documented within Sections 9 and 10 are indicative of desert
grassland and piñon-juniper interfaces. Habitat disturbance in these sections has occurred from
moderate grazing from native and domestic ungulates at higher elevations. Bladed roads, jeep
trails, multiple drill pads, and several cow trails are also found in these sections (RHR, 2009d).
Amphibians and reptile species that could occur within the permit area include the New Mexico
spadefoot (Spea mutliplicata), leopard lizard (Gambelia wislizenii), greater short-horned lizard
(Phynosoma hernandesi), sagebrush lizard (Sceloporus graciosus), prairie lizard (S. tristichus),
plateau striped whiptail (Aspidoscelis velox), plateau lizard (Sceloporus tristichus), gopher snake
(Pituophis melanoleucus), western terrestrial garter snake (Thamnophis elegans), and prairie
rattlesnake (Crotalus viridis). The four most common species found during surveys were the
plateau striped whiptail, sagebrush lizard, plateau lizard, and the greater short-horned lizard
(RHR, 2009d).
Small mammals potentially found in the permit area include the pinyon mouse (Peromyscus
truei), silky pocket mouse (Perognathus flavus), deer mouse (Peromyscus maniculatus), whitethroated
woodrat (Neotoma albigula), Ord’s kangaroo rat (Dipodomys ordii), cliff chipmunk
(Tamias dorsalis), white-tailed antelope ground squirrel (Ammospermophilus leucurus), desert
shrew (Notiosorex crawfordi), black-tailed jackrabbit (Lepus californicus), desert cottontail
(Sylvilagus auduboni), Botta’s pocket gophers (Thomomys bottae), big brown bat (Eptesicus
fuscus), little brown bat (Myotis occultis), fringed myotis (Myotis thysanodes), and Gunnison’s
prairie dog (Cynomys gunnisoni). The prairie dog populations within the permit area appear to be
healthy (RHR, 2009d).
Big game species documented within the permit area include Rocky Mountain elk (Cervus
elaphus nelsoni), mule deer—Rocky Mountain subspecies (Odocoileus hemionus), and mountain
lion (Puma concolor). Other mammals found within the permit area include porcupine (Erthizon
dorsatum), coyote (Canis latrans), gray fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus), badger (Taxidea taxus),
striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis), and bobcat (Lynx rufus).
DEIS for Roca Honda Mine, Cibola National Forest 213