West Mojave Plan FEIR/S - Desert Managers Group

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Indian Joe Spring Ecological Reserve (546 acres): The Indian Joe Spring EcologicalReserve consists of a parcel in a canyon of the Argus Range in Inyo County. This area containssignificant riparian habitat and protects the endangered Inyo California towhee. Other riparianbirds utilize the canyon during migration and for nesting, and both nesting and communal roosthabitat is present for the long-eared owl. The surrounding lands provide nest sites for prairiefalcon and golden eagle, and the water in the canyon supports a healthy population of quail andchuckar.Indian Wells Valley Mitigation Lands (80 acres): CDFG obtained a parcel adjacent toLittle Dixie Wash in Kern County with known occupied habitat for the desert tortoise, Mohaveground squirrel, and LeConte’s thrasher.King Clone Ecological Reserve (488 acres): A reserve was established to protectancient creosote bush vegetation, including the oldest known specimen, a circular shrubestimated to be 11,700 years old. This reserve is surrounded by the BLM’s Johnson Valley OpenArea north of Lucerne Valley and has been fenced.West Mojave Desert Ecological Reserve (11,817 acres): CDFG owns 22 propertiesnorth of Highway 58 between Barstow and Kramer Junction. These lands are within deserttortoise critical habitat and the Fremont-Kramer DWMA. The reserve contains occupied habitatfor desert tortoise, Mohave ground squirrel, LeConte’s thrasher and Barstow woolly sunflower.Other target species (e.g. desert cymopterus) may occur but have not been verified.3.1.2.3 California Department of Parks and RecreationThe California Department of Parks and Recreation owns 25,400 acres that it operates asState Parks in four separate units. In addition, the CDPR’s Division of Off-highway Vehiclescontributes funds annually to maintain and monitor BLM Open Areas. The conservation landsaffording protection to species addressed by the West Mojave Plan are described below.Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve: Located within Los Angeles County 15miles west of Lancaster, the 1,750 acre Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve protectsextensive wildflower fields and receives thousands of visitors annually. The park is fenced toexclude grazing and prescribed burns are conducted to maintain the habitat. The reserve alsosupports nesting burrowing owls and provides wintering habitat for a variety of raptors,including the golden eagle, prairie falcon, northern harrier, and ferruginous hawk.Red Rock Canyon State Park: The Park encompasses the southwestern portion of theEl Paso Mountains, and was established for protection of outstanding scenic values and wildlifehabitat. Within the 26,000-acre park is the majority of the range of two narrow endemic plantspecies, the Red Rock poppy and the Red Rock tarplant. The tarplant is listed as endangered bythe State of California. The mountainous terrain contains nest sites for prairie falcons, and twounique alkali seeps support the alkali mariposa lily. Red Rock Canyon State Park provides alinkage between BLM lands to the east and west, and lies within the proposed Mohave GroundSquirrel Conservation Area.Chapter 3 3-12
Ripley Joshua Tree Woodland: The state established the 566 acre Ripley reserve toprotect a Joshua tree and juniper woodland. This natural community has nearly disappeared inthe Antelope Valley. Most of the site is fenced, and restoration efforts are underway.Saddleback Butte State Park: Protection of Joshua tree woodland was the reason forestablishing the 3,336-acre Saddleback Butte State Park. The desert floor surrounding the butteshas blowsand soils that support the westernmost population of the Mojave fringe-toed lizard andexhibits an outstanding display of wildflowers in wet years. Birds of prey nest on the buttes, andthe Mohave ground squirrel is found on some of the surrounding lands to the north.3.1.2.4 California Department of TransportationCaltrans has been a major provider of protected habitat in the state for the past severalyears. Caltrans purchases replacement habitat as compensation for loss due to highwayimprovements, including some of the CDFG lands northeast of Kramer Junction. Thesecommitments normally are specified as terms and conditions of biological opinions from theUSFWS to the Federal Highways Administration (FHWA), which provides federal funding tomajor Caltrans projects, and as requirements associated with 2081 permits from CDFG.3.1.3 Local JurisdictionsCounties, cities and towns have land use planning authority over private lands in theWest Mojave planning area. California law requires that local jurisdictions adopt and maintain ageneral plan as a guide to future development within their communities. The general planincludes a land use element that describes the distribution and intensity of land uses expected todevelop within the jurisdiction over time, as well as a conservation element that establishespolicy for the management of natural resources, including biological resources.Cities and counties are required to conduct environmental review of developmentprojects proposed within their jurisdictions pursuant to the California Environmental QualityAct. This review includes an assessment of the proposed development’s affect on biologicalresources. In addition, some jurisdictions have adopted ordinances that establish biologicalmitigation requirements for ministerial permits not subject to CEQA. Figure 3-1 provides anoverview of the existing review process for development projects that have the potential to affectlisted or sensitive species. This process may vary somewhat by jurisdiction.Following is a summary of existing development patterns, land use and conservationpolicies directing future development in the West Mojave’s cities and counties.3.1.3.1 Inyo CountyMost of the private land available for development is located along the Highway 395corridor. According to the county’s 1984 General Plan Land Use Element, future populationgrowth is expected to occur primarily in the Owens Valley. The Olancha area, at the verynorthern end of the planning area, has been designated by the General Plan as an urbanizing areaChapter 3 3-13
Page 1 and 2: CHAPTER THREEAFFECTED ENVIRONMENT3.
Page 3 and 4: The CDCA Plan assigns a “multiple
Page 5 and 6: Desert Tortoise Research Natural Ar
Page 7 and 8: closure to target shooting. Hunting
Page 9 and 10: percentage of public land ownership
Page 11: As of March 2004, BLM had acquired
Page 15 and 16: through “resource use” designat
Page 17 and 18: Significant Ecological Areas: There
Page 19 and 20: Wildlife and Wildflower Sanctuaries
Page 21 and 22: Mojave River Forks Regional Park: A
Page 23 and 24: oriented commercial uses are expect
Page 25 and 26: HCP would include mitigation measur
Page 27 and 28: 3.1.3.12 City of RidgecrestThe City
Page 29 and 30: It is a goal of the town’s genera
Page 31 and 32: • Inyo California Towhee (April 1
Page 33 and 34: (i) The taking will be incidental;(
Page 35 and 36: handled, and number accidentally ki
Page 37 and 38: 3.1.5 California Endangered Species
Page 39 and 40: Obtaining an Incidental Take Permit
Page 41 and 42: Monitoring: Monitoring is often the
Page 43 and 44: is so restrictive that project dela
Page 45 and 46: excess moisture. A minus 4 is consi
Page 47 and 48: Air BasinsN190I n y o C o395Ridgecr
Page 49 and 50: Federal PM10 Planning AreasN190Owen
Page 51 and 52: POLLUTANTOzone (O 3 )RespirablePart
Page 53 and 54: AIRBASINAIR QUALITYDISTRICTPOLLUTAN
Page 55 and 56: subtraction of transported ozone in
Page 57 and 58: The general soil information and ma
Page 59 and 60: The Marine Corps Ground Combat Cent
Page 61 and 62: The most permeable basin-fill depos
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Surface water was and is the major
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A relatively small number of introd
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freshwater or alkali wetlands, or o
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3.3.2 Desert Tortoise3.3.2.1 Regula
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progress toward meeting the overall
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“higher density” and “lower d
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several seasons (Esque 1994 in Aver
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Assistant District Manager Molly Br
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• Since 1975, federal land manage
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“52 mi 2 of higher density tortoi
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1984 Tortoise Range and Density Map
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Higher Density Tortoise Sign Count
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When data for the three lowest sign
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Occurrence of Tortoises Relative to
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Regional Declines in the Four DWMAs
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Tortoise Distribution within the Re
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Boarman (pers. comm., Nov 2002) has
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tortoises are either extirpated (La
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sites surveyed by LaRue between 199
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aseline data are lacking. Grasses p
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Canine Predators: This includes coy
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The spatial distribution of 12 of 1
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Predation Versus Scavenging of Juve
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Table 3-20Prevalence of Tortoises i
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(Jacobson et al. 1991, Brown et al.
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3.3.2.5.3 Older and Newer Die-off R
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Table 3-21Characteristics of Older
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Table 3-22Characteristics of Older
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of the Johnson Valley Open Area, an
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Distribution of Recreational and Re
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Tortoises and Burrows Crushed: Vehi
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TypeYearsSignCount98-99-01Distance2
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OHV Impacts to Soils: OHV use has r
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Rodman DWMA. There were no higher d
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of Dove Springs that has experience
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Both inside and adjacent to open ar
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3.3.2.6.6 Organized Competitive OHV
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3.3.2.7 Current Effectiveness of Ex
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Overall, one sees that 68% of the 3
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off regions discussed herein. Black
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ManixACECMojave fishhookcactusRainb
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Range of Mohave Ground SquirrelN190
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3.3.3.2.2 Seasonal ActivityThe MGS
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1996). As herbaceous annuals appear
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1998 Mohave Ground Squirrel Transec
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Finally, the 84% success rate was a
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LaRue characterized substrates at t
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There were no MGS occurrences in 28
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certain shrubs (e.g. winterfat) tha
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NAWS China Lake 1993). As discussed
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Cumulatively, one finds there to be
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Citing Bury and Luckenbach (1977),
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the MGS is restricted to about 7,00
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Habitat Management Plans (HMPs) wer
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Basic to the biology of bighorn she
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3.3.6 Birds3.3.6.1 Bendire’s Thra
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3.3.6.5 Golden EagleLife History: T
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The towhee recovery plan establishe
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Regulatory Status: Federal Endanger
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3.3.6.15 Western Yellow-billed Cuck
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Other major threats are flood contr
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Population Status in the Planning A
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on the inaccessible mountain slopes
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3.3.8.8 Kern BuckwheatLife History:
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Threats Affecting the Mojave Monkey
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3.3.8.16 Red Rock PoppyLife History
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populations show intergradation wit
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3.4.1.1 Regional EnvironmentIn tota
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Table 3-37Average Annual Units Cons
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2002 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIAEMPLOYMENT
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TABLE 3-382000 CENSUS DEMOGRAPHIC C
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to undergo a dramatic reversal to t
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3.4.1.5 Study Area Property Valuati
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The supply of private property in t
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ALLOTMENT NAME TYPE OF LIVESTOCK FO
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Grazing AllotmentsNOlanchaDarwinTun
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ALLOTMENT NAMEALLOTMENTACRESP. L. 1
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3.4.3 Mineral Potential and Develop
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Mineral Potential, Active and Inact
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Mineral Potential, Active and Inact
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development based on the results of
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MANAGEMENT AREATable 3-46Potential
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A third item, yttrium (on the USBM
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the California Department of Conser
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Table 3-49 shows the number of mini
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produces about 75,000 tons per year
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Table 3-50Most Important Deposits B
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3.4.3.5 Coolgardie MesaThe Coolgard
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Areas designated as regionally sign
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Recreationists engage in activities
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OPENAREADoveSpringsElMirageJawboneC
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cycle engine motorcycles in OHV rid
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One popular activity is dual sport
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Compliance With Regulations: Compli
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REGIONORCITYRidgecrestSanBernardino
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REGIONORCITYVictorville /AppleValle
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Rail: The West Mojave planning area
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Arterials: Arterials are routes wit
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Ridgecrest-Inyokern Sanitary Landfi
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approximately 3 miles south of the
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Trona-Agrus Transfer Station (SWIS
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The BLM is an agency of the U.S. De
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Route designations apply only to ro
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Utility Maintenance: Many powerline
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ACECNAME ANDNUMBERHarper Dry Lake(3
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SUBREGIONAmboyBighornCoyoteEastSier
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• All pipelines with diameters gr
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3.6.2 Energy Generation PlantsEnerg
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3.7 CULTURAL RESOURCES3.7.1 Archaeo
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seasonal movement from place to pla
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RIDGECREST FIELD OFFICEPROPERTY NAM
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ACECRose SpringFossil FallsLast Cha
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have been dated by radiocarbon and
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MYACENOZOICEPOCHTable 3-65Paleontol
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In the southern area, fossils of la
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At Twenty-Nine Palms, there is an u
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West Mojave Plan FEIR/S - Desert Managers Group

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