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Biological Assessment and Evaluation

Little Creek Trick Tank Installation Project Smokey Bear Ranger District

Lincoln National Forest

Lincoln County, New Mexico

A. Introduction: The purpose of this document is to analyze the preferred/selected alternative in sufficient detail to determine

its effects on the federally endangered, threatened, and proposed species along with Forest Service Region 3

Sensitive species. It will determine if formal consultation or conference is required. It will also determine if

the project will cause a sensitive species to trend toward listing. It will recommend mitigation to lessen

effects and suggest monitoring measures.

B. Project Description This project is located on National Forest System land in Section 23, T10 S., R14 E. NMPM. The trick tank

will consist of utilizing a 3,500-gallon metal umbrella storage tank. A one-inch polyethylene pipe will be

placed from the water storage to a drinker, which will be developed utilizing concrete and rocks. An

exclosure fence protecting the development will be constructed with a four-strand fence. The fence will

consist of placing smooth, twisted 12-½ gauge wire on the bottom strand to allow easy access for wildlife.

The other three strands will be 12-½ gauge barbed wire. Wooden and metal stays will be placed between

each “T” posts on the fence line. A few small pińon and juniper trees may need to be cut for fence

installation. Access to the development will be via Forest Road 9022.

Vegetation type in the area consists of pińon/juniper. Elevation is approximately 6,800 feet.

C. Species Identification:

SPECIES EXCLUDED FROM DETAILED ANALYSIS

Species lists developed by the Forest Service (Southwest Region Regional sensitive animal and plant list

dated September 2007), US Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) and New Mexico Department of Game and

Fish (NMGF) were reviewed to determine which species need to be addressed in this Biological Assessment

and Evaluation (BAE). From these lists, the Lincoln National Forest developed a forest list of Endangered,

Threatened, and Sensitive species. This list is attached to the BAE as Appendix A. The species listed in

Appendix A, will be addressed in this BAE. These species were selected based on species presence or

species suitable habitat within the project area. All species that could be affected by the project actions were

also included. A review of pertinent literature on these species was also conducted. Listed in Table 1, are

those species that will be addressed in this Biological Assessment and Evaluation.

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D. Species Evaluations There are no TES species that occur within the Little Creek Trick Tank project area. This concludes the

BA&E for the Little Creek Trick Tank project.

E. Mitigation

None required.

F. Contacts/Contributors/Preparer

PERSON ORGANIZATION/UNIT CONTRIBUTION

Todd Rawlinson

Wildlife Habitat Specialist

Lincoln National Forest

Project Information

G. Signatures

Prepared By:

/S/ Larry Cordova 05/01/2012

Larry O. Cordova Date

District Wildlife Biologist

Smokey Bear Ranger District

H. Literature Reviewed/References New Mexico Rare Plant Technical Council. 1999. New Mexico Rare Plants. Albuquerque, NM: New

Mexico Rare Plants Home Page. http://nmrareplants.unm.edu (Version 15 March 2001).

Reynolds, R. T., et al. 1991 Management Recommendation for the Northern Goshawk in the

Southwestern United States. Northern Goshawk Scientific Committee. U. S. D. A. Forest Service,

Southwestern Region.

USDA Forest Service. July 1999. Region 3 Threatened-Endangered Plant and Animal List.

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Appendix A

Threatened, Endangered, and Sensitive Species

Of the Lincoln National Forest

For use in Biological Assessments/Evaluations

SPECIES EXCLUDED FROM DETAILED ANALYSIS

The following species that are not expected to occur on or near the Lincoln National Forest due to the range of the species,

or lack of habitat, or which only occur on an incidental basis, and therefore will not be included in a detailed analysis.

Scientific Name Common Name Status

Thomomys bottae paguate Cebolleta pocket gopher S

Vulpes velox Swift fox S

Geomys bursarius arenarius Desert pocket gopher SC

Neotoma micropus leucophaea White Sands woodrat SC

Ammodramus bairdii Sparrow Baird's S

Charadrius montanus Mountain Plover PT

Chlidonias niger Tern Black SC

Sterna antillarum Interior Least Tern E

The following species are not known to occur on or near the Smokey Bear Ranger District, though they may occur

elsewhere on the Forest, and therefore will not be affected by the proposed actions. For this reason they will not be

included in a detailed analysis.

Scientific Name Common Name Status

Aquilegia chrysantha var. chaplinei Chapline’s columbine S

Argemone pleiacantha ssp. pinnatisecta Sacramento prickly-poppy E

Astragalus altus Tall milkvetch S

Cirsium vinaceum Sacramento Mountain thistle T

Cirsium wrightii Wright's marsh thistle S

Escobaria villardii Villard's pincushion cactus S

Microthelys rubrocallosa Ladies-Tresses S

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Penstemon alamosensis Alamo penstemon S

Penstemon cardinalis ssp. regalis Guadalupe beard-tongue S

Sophora gypsophila var. guadalupensis Guadalupe mescal bean S

Streptanthus sparsiforus Guadalupe jewelflower S

Empidonax traillii

extimus

SW willow flycatcher E

Falco femoralis septentrionalis Northern aplomado falcon E

Passerina versicolor Varied Bunting S

Cynomys ludovicianus Black-tailed prairie dog C

Mustela nigripes Blackfooted ferret E

Cratogeomys castanops Yellow-faced pocket gopher S

Thomomys umbrinus guadalupensis Guadalupe pocket gopher SC

Microtus longicaudus Long-tailed vole S

Sorex neomexicanus New Mexican shrew S

Peromyscus pectoralis laceianus White-ankled mouse S

Rana blairi Plains leopard frog S

Cyprinodon tularosa Pupfish White Sands SC

Etheostoma lepidum Greenthroat darter S

Ictalarus lupus Headwater catfish S

Gila Pandora Rio Grande Chub S

Euphydryas anicia

cloudcrofti

Sacramento Mountains

checkerspot

S

Fixsenia poingi Poling’s Hairstreak S

Humboltiana ultima Northern threeband S

Holospira montivaga Vagabond holospira S

The following species are not known to occur or have habitat in the project areas, though they may occur elsewhere on the

District, and therefore will not be affected by the proposed actions. For this reason they will not be included in a detailed

analysis.

Scientific Name Common Name Status Comments

Neotamias canipes Gray-footed chipmunk S

Located in high elevations (mixed

conifer habitat) on the Sacramento

and Capitan mtns.

Neotamias minimus

atristriatus Peńasco least chipmunk S

Endemic; found in high elevation,

often associated with boulder fields.

Historical occurrences in the Sierra

Blanca peak and Buck mtn. areas.

Spermophilus

tridecemlineatus monticola

White Mountain ground

squirrel S

Located in grasslands in the foothills

& valleys of mesic mountain ranges.

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Historical occurrences in the White Mt.

Tamiasciurus hudsonicus

lychnuchus Ruidoso red squirrel S

Endemic; Located in mix-conifer and

spruce-fir forests in the Sacramento and

Capitan mtns.

Sorex nanus Dwarf shrew S

Found in mixed-conifer, associated with

White-fir and Douglas fir at an elev.

range from 7,000 to 11,000 ft.

Zapus hudsonius luteus New Mexico meadow

jumping mouse SC

Found in the Upper Eagle Creek

area; usually associated with

wetlands.

Oncorhynchus clarki

virginalis Rio Grande cutthroat trout S

Re-introduced population in the Pine

Lodge drainage in NE Capitan Mtn.

Aneides hardyi Sacramento Mountain

salamander S

No suitable habitat identified. This

species has only been found above

8000 feet on the District.

Streptocephalus n. sp.1 Fairy shrimp S Narrow endemic species, found in the

Blue Lake area near Gavilan Ridge.

Ashmunella pseudodonta Capitan woodlandsnail S Found in Capitan Mountains

Oreohelix nogalensis No Common Name S Narrow endemic species, found in

small localized locations.

Oxyloma retusum Blunt ambersnail S Species known to occur in the

Sacramento Mtns.

Deroneotes clarki virginalis Bonito diving beetle S

Narrow endemic species, found along

the lower Bonito drainage and it’s

tributaries.

Strix occidentalis lucida Mexican spotted owl T

Found in mix-conifer & pine-oak

forests. Habitat contains a complex

forest structure & large

trees. Found above 7,000 ft.

Accipiter gentilis Northern goshawk S

Found in ponderosa pine & mix-

conifer forests. Habitat contains high

canopy closure/tree density, dispersed

with small openings.

Bueteo swainsoni Swainson’s hawk S Found in grassland mixed habitat

below 5,000 ft.

Athene cunicularia hypugaea Burrowing owl S Found in grassland habitat below

5,000 ft.

Vireo bellii arizonae Arizona bell’s vireo S Found in riparian habitat below 5,000

ft. on the East side of District.

Ammodramus bairdii Baird’s Sparrow S Found in tall/dense grass habitat

below 5,000 ft.

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The following species may use the project areas on an incidental basis, or have minimal amounts of historic habitat, but do

not depend significantly upon the area resources for their continued existence. No effect is expected from this project

under the worst case. For this reason they will not be included in detailed analysis.

Scientific Name Common Name Status Comments

Haliaeetus leucocephalus Bald eagle S

Occasional foraging; Nearest

foraging area is located near

Sunset Peak, on the east end of

the Capitan Mountains, approx.

7.0 miles from the project area.

Falco peregrinus anatum American peregrine falcon S

Occasional foraging; found east

of the project area approximately

10.5 miles Found near Pancho

Canyon.

Bueto albonotatus Zone-tailed hawk S

Occasional foraging. Found in

ponderosa pine or riparian areas

below 8,000 ft.

Vireo vaccinator Gray vireo S

Found in pińon/juniper habitat

below 7,000 ft. Any possible

disturbance to its habitat will be

minimal. The tank is scheduled

to be installed during the Fall of

2012, outside the breeding

season.

The following species may use the project areas but the nature of the proposed action, the species' life histories, or their

habitat requirements preclude measurable or detectable effects to individuals, habitats, or populations. For this reason

they will not be included in detailed analysis.

Scientific Name Common Name Status Comments

Corynorhinus townsendii

pallescens

Pale Townsend’s big-

eared bat SC

Occasional foraging; No

caves/mines or crevice habitat

near the project area.

Euderma maculatum Spotted bat S Cave/Rock crevice habitat will

not be altered

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The Smokey Bear Ranger District’s records for the occurrence of threatened, endangered, proposed, and sensitive (TES)

plant species were reviewed. The following species will have no effects from the project activities due to the absence of

plants or habitat within project areas.

Scientific Name Common Name Status Comments

Allium gooddingii Goodding's onion S

No suitable habitat identified. Found

only in the higher elevations near

Sierra Blanca.

Astragalus kerrii Kerr’s Milkvetch S

No suitable habitat identified.

Its natural habitat appears to be dry

arroyos associated with Ponderosa

pine which receive occasional

scouring of it’s banks.

Besseya oblongifolia Sierra Blanca Kittentails S

No suitable habitat identified.

Found in higher elevations in alpine

openings

Cirsium wrightii Wright’s Marsh Thistle S Found in wet environments (springs

& wetlands up to 8,000 ft.

Crategus wootoniana Wooton’s Hawthorn S Grows in canyon bottoms in lower

montane conifer forest.

Cypripedium parviflorum var.

pubescens Yellow Lady’s Slipper S

A showy orchid found on north

slopes within montane conifer

forest. Grows in riparian areas from

about 7,000 feet & up. Flowering in

early May.

Hexalectris spicata var.

arizonica Arizona Coralroot S

This orchid is found under oaks.

Ionactis elegans Sierra Blanca Cliff Daisy S

Found in the higher elevations on

the south and east slopes of Sierra

Blanca. Grows on cliffs.

Lillium philadelphicum Wood Lily S Found in wet meadows.

Penstemon alamosensis Alamo Penstemon S

Grows on the western slopes of the

Sacramento Mountains. Grows in

sheltered rocky areas on canyon

sides and bottoms.

Potentilla sierrae-blancae Sierra Blanca Cinquefoil S

Found in alpine tundra on Sierra

Blanca, with occasional plants on

rock outcrops as low as 8,000 ft.

Sedum integrifolium ssp. New Mexican Stonecrop S

Endemic to alpine tundra of Sierra

Blanca Peak. Occurs on within ski

runs & on roads cuts along the

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neomexicana highway leading up to Ski Apache.

Found on Buck Mountain.

Echinocereus fendleri

var. kuenzleri

Kuenzler’s hedgehog

cactus E

No plants or suitable habitat

present within project areas. Found

in pińon/juniper habitat type in

southern exposures. Project area

was surveyed in 2010. Nearest

known population is approximately

1.2 mile northeast of the project.

Detailed analysis for each individual species:

The following Threatened, Endangered or Proposed species are known or expected to occur in the project.

Scientific Name Common Name Status

None

S = sensitive

SC = species of concern

T = threatened

PT = proposed threatened

PE = proposed endangered

E = endangered

C = candidate