SBCT Final EIS - Govsupport.us

Chapter 3 ⎯ Affected EnvironmentThreatened and Endangered Species/Species of ConcernThreatened and endangered plant and animal species are protected under the ESA and/or Coloradostate law. The MBTA protects migratory birds and implements the U.S. commitment to internationalconventions for the protection of migratory birds. Though the bald eagle was delisted from theUSFWS list of threatened and endangered species (USFWS 2007b), both bald and golden eagles(Haliaeetus leucocephalus and Aquila chrysaetos, respectively) are protected by the Bald and GoldenEagle Protection Act. Other sensitive wildlife species include those listed by the Colorado Division ofWildlife, Colorado Natural Heritage Program (CNHP), USFWS, Partners in Flight, and the CentralShortgrass Prairie Ecoregional Assessment and Partnership Initiative. Other sensitive plant speciesinclude those identified by the CNHP as Colorado Species of Concern.Special Status Wildlife Species. Ten animal species that are on the USFWS list of federally listed endangered,threatened, and candidate species occur in El Paso, Pueblo, and Fremont Counties, in whichFTC is located. No critical habitat for these species has been designated or proposed for designationin these counties (USFWS 2005a, USACE 2007a).The following federally listed wildlife species are known to use FTC: Mexican spotted owl (Strixoccidentalis lucida), greenback cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarki stomias), and Arkansas darter(Etheostoma cragini; candidate species) (USACE 2007a).Forty-two Colorado-listed special status wildlife species occur on FTC. The species are tracked byCNHP, USFWS, Partners in Flight, and the Central Shortgrass Prairie Ecoregional Assessment andPartnership Initiative.Special Status Plant Species. No federally listed threatened or endangered plant species or candidatesfor federal listing are known to occur on FTC, and no portion of FTC has been designated or proposedfor designation as critical habitat for listed plant species identified (USACE 2005a; USACE2007a).In addition, no state-listed threatened or endangered plant species are known to occur on FTC.The Federally Threatened Ute ladies’-tresses orchid (Spiranthes diluvialis) has the potential to occuron FTC. However, surveys in potentially suitable habitat have not found the species and there are nohistoric records of its occurrence on FTC (DECAM 2002a). Sensitive plant species known to occuron FTC include Roundleaf Four-O’Clock (Oxybaphus rotundifolius), Pueblo Goldenweed (Oonopsispuebloensis), Arkansas Valley Evening Primrose (Oenothera harringtonii) ,Arkansas River Feverfew(Bolophyta tetraneuris) and Gold Blazingstar (Mentzelia chrysantha) . While these species have nofederal or state protection, they are considered as regional targets for conservation by the CNHP.These species are not known or suspected to occur with the ROI.Seven Colorado Plant Species of Special Concern (as listed by CNHP) occur on FTC. Surveys conductedin 1995 for other Colorado Species of Special Concern plants potentially occurring on FTCdid not find Brandegee wild buckwheat (Eriogonum brandegei) or Degener penstemon (Penstemondegeneri) (DECAM 2002a).Chalk-shale barrens on FTC host several of these sensitive plants, including Arkansas Valley feverfewand Colorado endemics golden blazing star, round-leaf four o’clock, and Pueblo goldenweed(USACE 2007b). FTC barrens communities are characterized by exposed bedrock formations andgenerally low plant cover. They are generally restricted to the extreme southern third of the installationand are most commonly found in Indian ricegrass (O. hymenoides) grasslands and one-seed juniper/Indianricegrass/New Mexico feathergrass (Sabina monosperma/O. hymenoides/H. neomexicana)woodlands (USACE 2005a). Dwarf milkweed (Asclepias uncialis) is known from a single location inthe extreme southeastern corner of FTC. The distribution of other sensitive plant species on FTC isFebruary 2008 3–173 2/25th SBCT Final EIS