Wildlife Specialist report

Golden Eagle (Raptor Focal Species)
Table 58: Analysis Area - Existing Condition and Proposed Change Table by Alternative
Golden Eagle Habitat (Desert
Shrub/Grassland) Analysis Area
Total Habitat on USFS = 18,138
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 25 -2 -10 -12 -8 -8
Acres 3,248 -303 -1,194 -1,381 -910 -1,003
Reopen Closed ML 1 Miles 0 0 0 0 0 0
Acres 0 16 0 0 0 0
Administrative Route Miles 0 1 4 3 2 2
Acres 0 203 467 407 328 289
Add Unauthorized Route Miles 0 0 0 0 0 0
Acres 0 47 41 23 47 49
Add Admin. Unauthorized Miles 0 0 0 0 0 0
Motorized Trails
Acres 0 9 17 17 9 9
Existing Road to OHV Trail Miles 0 0 1 0 1 1
Acres 0 7 87 0 87 87
Closed Road to OHV Trail Miles 0 0 0 0 0 0
Acres 0 70 65 0 65 65
Add Unauthorized Trail Miles 0 1 0 0 1 1
Acres 0 215 22 0 65 65
Total FS Routes and Trails Miles 25 26 20 16 20 20
Percent in Miles of Alt. B (Existing) %Miles
4% -21% -34% -19% -19%
Motorized Dispersed Camping Acres 15,795 -14,838 -14,993 -15,795 -14,858 -14,995
Percent in Acres of Alt. B (Existing) %Acres
-94% -95% -100% -94% -95%
Motorized Areas Acres 0 0 0 0 0 0
Motorized Big Game Retrieval Acres 15,795 -2,508 -14,993 -15,795 -7,426 -14,995
Percent in Acres of Alt. B (Existing) %Acres
-16% -95% -100% -47% -95%
No Action Alternative (Alt. B): Under the existing condition for raptors there are 97
miles of motorized routes in the Northern goshawk PFA analysis area, 1,985 miles of
motorized routes in the Northern goshawk ponderosa pine analysis area, 19 miles of
motorized routes in the peregrine falcon analysis area, 7 miles of motorized routes in the
bald eagle analysis area, and 25 miles of motorized routes in the golden eagle analysis
area. These routes continue to cause habitat loss and the potential for direct effects like
poaching, and collection. The potential disturbance zone for goshawks in the PFA
analysis area is 21,041 acres, 455,287 acres in the goshawk ponderosa pine analysis area,
19 miles of road in the peregrine falcon analysis area, 1,632 acres in the bald eagle
analysis area, and 3,248 acres in the golden eagle area. Within these potential
disturbance zones motorized routes continue to cause the potential for disturbance,
displacement, avoidance and harassment. The literature suggests that raptors are unlikely
to be disturbed by routine use of roads, homes, and other facilities where such use pre-
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