Draft Environmental Impact Statement for Roca Honda Mine

Common Name
(Scientific Name)
Gunnison’s prairie dog
(Cynomys gunnisoni)
Botta’s pocket gopher
(Thomomys bottae
morulus)
Botta’s pocket gopher
(Thomomys bottae
planorum)
Cebolletta southern
pocket gopher
(Thomomys bottae
paguatate)
Mt. Taylor northern
pocket gopher
(Thomomys talpoides
taylori)
Long-tailed vole
(Microtus longicaudus)
Nitocris fritillary
(Speyeria nokomis
nitocris)
Clam shrimp
(Eulimnadia follisimilis)
Fairy shrimp
(Streptocephalus n.
sp.1)
RHR, 2011a; USFS, 2009d
Potential to
Occur in
Permit Area**
Chapter 3. Affected Environment and Environmental Consequences
Habitat Description
K Level to gently sloping grasslands, semidesert and montane
shrublands (6,000–12,000 feet).
NP This species occurs in the extreme southeast foothills of the Zuni
Mountains and southward to the Grants lava field.
S Found in Cibola County, southwest of San Mateo, in 1940. It is
from the Mt. Taylor vicinity and along the east side of the Grants
lava field. Marginal distribution records include: New Mexico,
Horace Mesa, 1.5 miles south of Canyon Lobo Ranger Station; and
11 miles south-southeast of Grants. Specimens have been taken at
6,700 feet (type locality) elevation, as well as at higher elevations
(e.g. 9,000 feet at Cloudcroft).
NP Occurs in the vicinity of the village of Cebolleta, Cibola County on
the Rio Paquate on the southeast side of Mt. Taylor. Gophers were
collected only in the areas of the flood plain that were, or had been,
under cultivation.
NP The type locality for was taken in November 1940 from 6 miles
northeast of the summit of Mt. Taylor, at about 8,900 feet
elevation, near Fernandez Summer Camp, Valencia County (now
Cibola County), New Mexico. Also found at Mirabel Spring on the
southwest slope of Mt. Taylor. Prefers deep soils along streams and
in meadows and cultivated fields.
NP Permanent water in montane habitats. The long-tailed vole is found
in coniferous forest, but most abundant where there is at least some
grassy vegetation present on the forest floor, usually associated
with meadows and forest edge. It is most common in mixed
coniferous and spruce-fir forest, descending into ponderosa forest
along sheltered canyon sides where stands of spruce and fir occur
and riparian spruce, willow, and alder communities from 8,100 to
9,500 feet in elevation.
Insects
NP Found in streamside meadows and open seepage areas with an
abundance of violets in generally desert landscapes. The colonies
are often isolated.
Crustaceans
S Temporary waters. Found in dirt stock tanks in New Mexico.
S Temporary waters.
Presence** K Known, documented observation within the permit area.
S Habitat suitable and species could occur within the permit area.
NS Habitat suitable but species is not suspected to occur within the permit area.
NP Habitat not present and species unlikely to occur within the permit area.
DEIS for Roca Honda Mine, Cibola National Forest 219