West Mojave Plan FEIR/S - Desert Managers Group

Threats Affecting the Southwestern Pond Turtle: The greatest single threat to thisspecies is habitat destruction. Urban and rural development on the north slope of the San GabrielMountains is the primary threat to the long-term viability of the Elizabeth Lake and AmargosaCreek populations. Urban and agricultural demands on the water sources are a threat for theMojave River pond turtle locations. Collection by collectors and children has contributed to thedecline in numbers of this species. Bullfrog predation may impact populations.3.3.7.4 Panamint Alligator LizardLife History: The Panamint alligator lizard is found most often in canyons with riparianhabitat and nearby permanent springs. They forage in thick brush and along talus slopes wherethey may be observed basking on rocks in open areas, near thick vegetation.Population Status in the Planning Area: The Panamint alligator lizard is endemic toCalifornia, where it is known only from 16 disjunct localities in the Panamint Mountains(Brewery and Limekiln Springs, Surprise Canyon, Pleasant Canyon), Nelson Mountains(Grapevine Canyon), Inyo Mountains (Daisy Canyon, Lime Hill), and White Mountains(Batchelder Spring, Marble Canyon, Tollhouse Spring, Westgard Pass) of Inyo County,California. Sight records (12) have been reported for the eastern Argus, Cosos, Panamint, Inyo,and White Mountains of Inyo and southeastern Mono counties, California.Surveys conducted in 2002 at the China Lake NAWS have located the Panamint alligatorlizard in the Argus Mountains at Mountain Springs Canyon. There are no verified records fromthe planning area outside of the China Lake NAWS.Regulatory Status: BLM Sensitive, California Species of Special Concern.Threats Affecting the Panamint Alligator Lizard: A potential decline in Panamintalligator lizard populations may be attributed to the direct loss of riparian habitat. Althoughthere are no baseline data that suggests a current decline in population numbers, habitat loss oralteration due to expanded mining operations, off-highway vehicle (OHV) activity, grazing(domestic and feral), and introduction of non-native invasive plant species (e.g., Tamarisk) couldhave serious adverse effects in riparian areas where this species occurs.3.3.8 Plants3.3.8.1 Alkali Mariposa LilyLife History: This species is most often found at the edges of alkali sinks and playas, infloodplains with alkali soils, and at alkali seeps and springs. The alkaline floodplain north ofLancaster and south and east of Edwards AFB appears to provide a large block of undisturbedhabitat for alkali mariposa lily. Sheet flooding of the flat terrain supports the plants, which areabundant in wet years. The saltbush scrub north of Highway 138 and west of EAFB has notbeen well surveyed.Chapter 3 3-184