Wildlife Specialist report

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Ungulates – Effects by Alternative Rocky Mountain Elk and Pronghorn (Game species identified as a species of concern during scoping and Ungulate Focal Species) Table 13: Elk Analysis Area - Existing Condition and Proposed Change Table by Alternative: Total NMGF Core Elk Habitat on USFS = 2,894,880 Acres Motorized Routes Existing Effects Change in Effects Alt B (No Action) Alt C Alt D Alt E Alt F Alt G Open Existing ML 2 - ML 5 Miles 3,898 -252 -1,320 -1,912 -972 -989 Acres 1,297,441 -76,059 -271,197 -436,050 -192,197 -190,677 Reopen Closed ML 1 Miles 0 2 1 1 1 1 Acres 0 2,651 1,342 1,342 1,755 1,755 Administrative Route Miles 0 125 275 358 230 232 Acres 0 75,655 182,278 220,693 156,498 156,624 Add Unauthorized Route Miles 0 5 3 1 3 4 Acres 0 6,193 10,228 1,190 4,089 5,299 Add Admin. Unauthorized Miles 0 3 3 3 2 2 Acres 0 2,028 2,441 2,441 1,628 1,628 Seasonal - Resource Protection Miles 0 0 8 0 0 0 Motorized Trails Acres 0 0 2,901 0 0 0 Existing Road to OHV Trail Miles 0 20 31 0 50 51 Acres 0 4,692 7,567 0 11,340 11,836 Existing ATV Trail Miles 16 -1 -7 -16 -1 -1 Acres 3,649 -165 -1,690 -3,649 -165 -165 Closed Road to OHV Trail Miles 0 18 5 0 12 12 Acres 0 4,535 1,387 0 2,987 2,987 Administrative Trail Miles 0 0 3 2 0 0 Acres 0 0 725 528 0 0 Add Unauthorized Trail Miles 0 64 14 0 21 21 Acres 0 15,160 3,212 0 4,961 4,961 Total FS Routes and Trails Miles 3,914 3,898 2,930 2,352 3,260 3,247 Percent in Miles of Alt. B (Existing) %Miles -0.40% -25.14% -39.91% -16.70% -17.03% Motorized Dispersed Camping Acres 2,102,340 -2,008,043 -2,029,136 -2,102,340 -2,012,753 -2,020,239 Percent in Acres of Alt. B (Existing) Motorized Areas %Acres Motorized Area - All Vehicles Acres 28 Motorized Area - OHV Only Acres 3 -95.51% -96.52% -100.00% -95.74% -96.09% NC -28 -28 NC -3 -3 Motorized Big Game Retrieval Acres 2,102,340 -300,730 -2,029,136 -2,102,340 -781,140 -2,020,239 Percent in Acres of Alt. B (Existing) %Acres NC NC 24 NC NC -14.30% -96.52% -100.00% -37.16% -96.09%
Table 14: Pronghorn Analysis Area - Existing Condition and Proposed Change Table by Alternative: Existing Effects Change in Effects Total NMGF Core Pronghorn Habitat on Alt B (No USFS = 58,426 Acres Action) Alt C Alt D Alt E Alt F Alt G Motorized Routes Open Existing ML 2 - ML 5 Miles 315 -17 -105 -135 -92 -98 Acres 43,320 -1,839 -12,489 -16,321 -10,758 -11,466 Reopen Closed ML 1 Miles 0 0 0 0 0 0 Acres 0 68 0 0 0 0 Administrative Route Miles 0 11 29 33 27 28 Acres 0 1,437 4,478 5,190 4,223 4,349 Add Unauthorized Route Miles 0 0 0 0 0 0 Acres 0 59 34 0 34 34 Add Admin. Unauthorized Miles 0 0 0 0 0 0 Motorized Trails Acres 0 0 25 25 25 25 Existing Road to OHV Trail Miles 0 0 2 0 3 3 Acres 0 0 366 0 466 466 Closed Road to OHV Trail Miles 0 1 1 0 1 1 Acres 0 159 159 0 195 195 Add Unauthorized Trail Miles 0 0 0 0 1 1 Acres 0 31 31 0 196 196 Total FS Routes and Trails Miles 315 310 242 213 254 250 Percent in Miles of Alt. B (Existing) %Miles Motorized Dispersed Camping Acres 126,017 Percent in Acres of Alt. B (Existing) %Acres -1.55% -23.18% -32.48% -19.36% -20.71% - - - - 116,401 117,712 -126,017 - 116,566 116,972 -92.37% -93.41% 100.00% -92.50% -92.82% Motorized Areas Acres 0 0 0 0 0 0 - - Motorized Big Game Retrieval Acres 126,017 -3,589 117,712 -126,017 - -25,572 116,972 Percent in Acres of Alt. B (Existing) %Acres -2.85% -93.41% 100.00% -20.29% -92.82% No Action Alternative (Alt. B): Under this alternative there are 3,898 miles of motorized routes in the elk analysis area and 315 miles of motorized routes in the pronghorn analysis area. These routes continue to cause habitat loss and the potential for other types of direct effects to this species. The potential for collision loss does exist on Forest Service routes; however, lower traffic rates and travel speeds on forest routes reduce this potential. Increases in road densities increases the potential for take associated with poaching. The potential disturbance zone in the elk analysis area (1,297,441acres) and pronghorn analysis area (43,320 acres) along motorized routes continue to cause the potential for indirect effects. Under this alternative you continue to have motorized cross country travel, dispersed camping, and big game retrieval allowed across the Gila National Forest. These three types of uses continue to have potential effects to elk and pronghorn. Additionally, these three types of uses perpetuate the development of additional roads and motorized trails; potentially allowing for the 25
Page 1 and 2: Gila National Forest Travel Managem
Page 3 and 4: that are on the Regional Forester S
Page 5 and 6: ALTERNATIVES and MITIGATION MEASURE
Page 7 and 8: AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT The Gila Natio
Page 9 and 10: In 1977, a study was published by a
Page 11 and 12: Regional Forester Sensitive Species
Page 13 and 14: MacGillivray’s Warbler HP Painted
Page 15 and 16: Barriers to Animal Travel or Moveme
Page 17 and 18: occupied sites, etc.). For habitat
Page 19 and 20: Issues identified during scoping re
Page 21 and 22: Elk (Game Species identified as spe
Page 23: Table 12 summarizes the harvest ind
Page 27 and 28: Bighorn Sheep (Forest Service Sensi
Page 29 and 30: Mule Deer (Gila Management Indicato
Page 31 and 32: Wide Ranging Carnivores Table19: Wi
Page 33 and 34: from a road, except when feeding. K
Page 35 and 36: HUC 1303020202 Hot/Cold Springs 195
Page 37 and 38: Percent Change -0.17% -20.66% -45.4
Page 39 and 40: Mountain Lion and Black Bear (game
Page 41 and 42: So under this alternative through t
Page 43 and 44: microhabitat in the desert landscap
Page 45 and 46: Southern red-backed vole (Forest Se
Page 47 and 48: largely unknown, but it is thought
Page 49 and 50: Small Mammals-Effects by Alternativ
Page 51 and 52: Beaver (Gila Management Indicator S
Page 53 and 54: White-nosed Coati, Western Red Bat,
Page 55 and 56: 2% in the Hooded Skunk and Botta’
Page 57 and 58: The literature documents that a lar
Page 59 and 60: iparian (cottonwood/sycamore), and
Page 61 and 62: Reptiles and Amphibians-Effects by
Page 63 and 64: effects to the species and its habi
Page 65 and 66: Arizona Toad and Narrow Headed Gart
Page 67 and 68: Under this alternative you continue
Page 69 and 70: from grassland areas, and game bird
Page 71 and 72: Spotted Owl and determined that roa
Page 73 and 74: and Miller, 1997, Hamann et al, 199
Page 75 and 76:
Shrub/Grassland vegetation types, a
Page 77 and 78:
Table 49: Mexican Spotted Owl Criti
Page 79 and 80:
The potential disturbance area in P
Page 81 and 82:
Table 51: Mexican spotted owl feder
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Northern Goshawk (Gila MIS Species,
Page 85 and 86:
Peregrine Falcon (Forest Service Se
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dates the species’ successful nes
Page 89 and 90:
NMPIF High-Priority Species Alt. B
Page 91 and 92:
Cavity Nesting Birds-Effects by Alt
Page 93 and 94:
Findings: Table66: Hairy woodpecker
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2008). The GBMA is primarily manage
Page 97 and 98:
trees, and succulents dominated by
Page 99 and 100:
New Mexico, where it is resident in
Page 101 and 102:
Table 71: Analysis Area - Existing
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In these analysis areas the area of
Page 105 and 106:
Neotropic Cormorant (Forest Service
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the Wilson’s phalarope analysis a
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NMPIF High Priority Species Common
Page 111 and 112:
Gray Vireo (Forest Service Sensitiv
Page 113 and 114:
Song Bird Summary: Table 82 list ro
Page 115 and 116:
Costa’s Hummingbird (Forest Servi
Page 117 and 118:
Plains Titmouse (Forest Service Sen
Page 119 and 120:
For the focal species and their ass
Page 121 and 122:
the forest edge (New Mexico Partner
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conifers with dense foliage. Limiti
Page 125 and 126:
Merriam’s Wild Turkey (Ponderosa
Page 127 and 128:
Findings: Table 96: Mearn’s quail
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showed an increase in numbers from
Page 131 and 132:
Insect - Effects by Alternative A M
Page 133 and 134:
Dashed Ringtail (Forest Service Sen
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area. These routes continue to caus
Page 137 and 138:
ecreational activities, game manage
Page 139 and 140:
6 th codes remains between 1.5 to 2
Page 141 and 142:
Table 107: 5th Code 6th Code Waters
Page 143 and 144:
MSO PACs Analysis Area 187,083 Acre
Page 145 and 146:
HUC 1302020804 Alamocito Canyon Tot
Page 147 and 148:
6th Code Watershed Alt B Alt C Alt
Page 149 and 150:
Forest Plan and Other Laws and Regu
Page 151 and 152:
Topic Threatened & Endangered Speci
Page 153 and 154:
Appendix A Gila National Forest Neo
Page 155 and 156:
Oak-Juniper Acorn Woodpecker Dark-e
Page 157 and 158:
Ponderosa Pine Acorn Woodpecker Chi
Page 159:
Marsh/Open American Avocet Clark’
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