Draft Environmental Impact Statement for Roca Honda Mine

Chapter 3. Affected Environment and Environmental Consequences
Pocket gophers are generally limited in their distribution by the quality and type of the soil
(USFS, 2009d). The Botta’s pocket gopher species includes many reproductively isolated
populations with little interbreeding. Within the permit area, Botta’s pocket gophers were
identified and could potentially be Thomomys bottae planorum (RHR, 2011a). Botta’s pocket
gophers are found in a wide variety of habitats from valleys to high mountain meadows. They
also inhabit a wide variety of soils from soft sands to friable loams to hard clays (NatureServe,
2012b).
Fairy shrimp and clam shrimp are found in vernal and ephemeral pools. While these species
have not been documented on the permit area, there is evidence of temporary waters along some
of the drainages off of Jesus Mesa. Fairy shrimp and clam shrimp are found in seasonal ponds
called vernal pools. The eggs of these species survive the dry season and hatch when the rains
come again (National Wildlife Federation, 2012).
Roca Honda Mine Permit Area
Forest Service Management Indicator Species
The “Cibola National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan” (LRMP) identified 13
management indicator species to estimate the effects planned activities may have on forestwide
wildlife populations and habitat. Only those MIS whose habitat (vegetation) types occur within
the permit area were analyzed. Of the 13 MIS identified, 3 species and their habitat are found
within the analysis area. Table 37 displays the 3 species of the mountain districts and their
habitats. The forestwide MIS report (as revised in 2011) was used to prepare the project specific
MIS analysis.
Table 37. Management Indicator Species and current habitat/population trends analyzed
for Roca Honda analysis area
Common
Name
Rocky
Mountain
Elk
MIS
Habitat
Type
Mountain
grassland
Mule deer Mountain
shrub
Acres in
Sections 9,
10, and 16
Habitat Description
865 In general, elk prefer open
grassy meadows located less
than ½ mile from water.
Hiding cover for elk occurs
in stands of trees 30–60 acres
in size with 70 percent
canopy cover.
185 Early stages of plant
succession with an
abundance of browse plants
are more beneficial to mule
deer than late stages.
Mixtures of plant species are
preferable to single species
plant communities. Food
requirements for deer
average about 5 to 7 pounds
of green forage per day.
Existing
Forestwide
Habitat Trend
Stable Up
Down Down
Existing
Forestwide
Population
Trend
DEIS for Roca Honda Mine, Cibola National Forest 221