SBCT Final EIS - Govsupport.us

Chapter 3 ⎯ Affected EnvironmentNoxious WeedsThe RTLA program at DTA monitors for invasive plants. Recent surveys have not revealed any majorinvasive plant infestations (Clark 2005). At DTA, vegetation control is conducted along majorroadsides and around range buildings, fences, and targetry infrastructure. Weeds, such as dandelions,knotweed, and crabgrass, are treated when requested through the USARAK DPW.WildlifeMammals. Large mammals on DTA include black bear, grizzly bear, moose, Dall sheep, caribou, andbison. DTA typically has three or four wolf packs, although the structure, distribution, and numbersof packs in a given area are highly variable. Other furbearers on the training area include lynx, beaver,river otter, pine marten, muskrat, mink, coyotes, red fox, wolverine, and four species of weasel.Anderson et al. (2000) conducted a small mammal survey at DTA. Eleven species of small mammalswere found in this study.Avian Species. Several upland game species are found on DTA including three species of both ptarmigan(Lagopus mutus) and grouse. Twenty-eight species of ducks and geese use lands and waterwayson the training area. Approximately 300,000 sandhill cranes, a large portion of the world’spopulation, migrate through DTA between late April and mid-May. Anderson et al. (2000) reportedsightings of black-backed woodpecker (Picoides arcticus), gray-cheeked thrush, varied thrush, bohemianwaxwing (Bombysilla garrulus), Townsend’s warbler, blackpoll warbler, Smith’s longspur(Calcarius pictus), and rusty blackbird (Euphagus carolinus). The dark-eyed junco (Junco hyemalis),savanna sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis), Wilson’s warbler, and orange-crowned warbler (Vermivoracelata) were observed most frequently. A variety of other bird species are found on DTA includingthree loon (Gavia spp.), two grebe, three gull, one tern, one dove, one hummingbird, onekingfisher, and six woodpecker.Reptiles and Amphibians. Wood frogs are the only amphibians on DTA. No reptiles exist on DTA.Fisheries. DTA West is within the Fairbanks Management Area for fisheries, and DTA East is withinthe Delta Junction Management Area. Sixteen lakes on DTA, ranging in size from 3 to 320 acres, arestocked. Naturally, occurring populations of lake chub (Couesius plumbeus), northern pike (Esoxlucius), sculpin, and the northern longnose sucker (Catostomus catostomus) are found in lakes atDTA (BLM and Army 1994). Major streams on DTA are generally silt-laden and do not support fisheries.Jarvis Creek and the Delta River are glacially fed and flow from the north side of the AlaskaRange to the Tanana River. Downstream of DTA, the Tanana River provides year-round habitat forsome species, overwintering habitat for others, and supports migratory species. The mouth of theDelta River is important to chum salmon (Oncorhynchus keta). Grayling (Thymallus arcticus (Pallus))migrate through these glacial streams to clear tributaries to spawn, and a few clear streams providesummer habitat for grayling (USARAK 2007).Threatened and Endangered Species/Species of ConcernThere are no known federally endangered or threatened species on DTA, but there are several rare,uncommon, or priority species (USARAK 2002d).Threatened and Endangered Plants. The AKNHP’s Biological Conservation Database tracks rareplants and is updated regularly. At least eighteen species of rare vascular plants being tracked byAKNHP (2006) occur on DTA (USARAK 2007). Carex sychnocephala is currently the only one ofthese 18 plant species ranked on USAGAK’s short list of species of concern for ecosystem management.It is considered rare and critically imperiled in Alaska.February 2008 3–128 2/25th SBCT Final EIS