Draft Environmental Impact Statement for Roca Honda Mine

Chapter 3. Affected Environment and Environmental Consequences
The Botta’s pocket gopher is known to occur within the permit area and could potentially be
Thomomys bottae planorum. Adverse impacts to this species would be similar to impacts to
general wildlife species discussed above. Pocket gophers typically live alone in a burrow system
that can cover an area that is 200 to 2,000 square feet. The use of BMPs would help to protect this
species. Speed limits of 15 mph would reduce the amount of vehicle collisions and fencing
around the mine shaft would help keep gophers out of the mine. Adverse effects are anticipated to
be moderate in magnitude and medium in extent. Effects would also be probable, long term (but
not permanent), and slight to moderate in precedence. Once mining and related activities have
ceased and reclamation has occurred, population recovery of this species would be expected to
recover. Impacts to habitat or individuals would not result in a trend toward Federal listing.
Both the fairy shrimp and clam shrimp are not known to occur within the permit area, but
suitable habitat is present. Adverse effects to these species would be similar to impacts to general
wildlife species discussed above. Mining development or operation could cause temporary pools
of water to collect in the permit area, benefiting these species. Adverse effects are anticipated to
be minor in magnitude and medium in extent. Effects would also be possible, long term, and
slight to moderate in precedence. Once mining and related activities have ceased and reclamation
has occurred, population recovery of these species would be expected. Impacts to habitat or
individuals would not result in a trend toward Federal listing.
Forest Service Management Indicator Species
Impacts to the Rocky Mountain elk would be similar to impacts to general wildlife. Direct
impacts to browse and forage habitat of elk would occur from mine development and operation
(USFS, 2011). Approximately 171 acres of montane grassland (desert grassland/shrubland and
juniper savannah) of the 865 acres within Sections 10 and 16 could be temporarily lost due to
mining development and operations. Additional habitat would be lost in 35 acres outside of these
sections. Within Forest Service land on Sections 9 and 10, 71 acres of mountain grassland could
be removed. Up to an additional 10.5 acres of desert grassland/shrubland could be temporarily
lost due to the pipeline development on Cibola National Forest. The Cibola National Forest
contains 192, 037 acres of this habitat (USFS, 2005 MIS Report). In addition, reclamation
activities would restore grasslands in this area. The proposed action is not expected to impact elk
to the point of causing declining population trends forestwide. The forestwide habitat trend for
mountain grassland is anticipated to remain stable.
Overall adverse effects to elk are expected to be long term, minor in magnitude, medium in
extent, probable, and slight to moderate in precedence.
Impacts to mule deer would be similar to impacts to general wildlife and Rocky Mountain elk.
Suitable grazing, fawning, and winter range habitat for mule deer would be removed on about 12
acres of piñon-juniper woodland and up to 171 acres of montane grassland/shrubland on Sections
9, 10, and 16 with 71 acres removed on National Forest Service land. Up to an additional 10.5
acres of desert grassland/shrubland or piñon-juniper woodland could be temporarily lost due to
the pipeline development on Cibola National Forest. The Cibola National Forest contains
approximately 57,755 acres of mountain shrub and 838,376 acres of piñon-juniper woodland.
Mule deer numbers have decreased over the past decade across the western United States, which
may be due to the mule deer’s need for early and mid-successional habitats that are being lost due
to a lack of disturbance either from fire and/or mechanical (timber harvest) treatment. Recent
DEIS for Roca Honda Mine, Cibola National Forest 241