Johnny O'Neil Late Successional Reserve Habitat Restoration and ...

Action Alternatives
Habitat for willow flycatchers does not occur within the project area, so there would be no
direct effects to flycatchers or their habitat. Small patches of habitat, usually one acre or
less, adjacent to the project area could contain individuals or breeding pairs; however, this
habitat is considered as low quality, so the likelihood of willow flycatcher occupancy is
low. The temporary increased vehicle traffic along Road 46N50 during project
implementation could result in the disturbance of, or direct impacts to, willow flycatchers
along the lower Horse Creek adjacent to the project area if they were to occur there, but
these effects would be limited in time and space.
Cumulative Effects
There are no similar actions proposed on federal lands that could affect willow flycatchers;
however, the Horse Creek Grazing Allotment encompasses the project area and extends outside
of the project area into the upper reaches of the watershed. 85 cow-calf units currently are
permitted to free range in this allotment from April 15-October 15 (USDA 2011, Horse Creek
Allotment Grazing Permit). Most of the riparian areas within the allotment are inaccessible
because they are steep and heavily vegetated (USDA 1996). Potential impacts from the
permitted grazing could occur within the suitable habitat on federal lands within the meadow
complexes within Reeves Ranch Springs and Sheep Camps, which are located outside of the
project area. Previous analyses for this area suggested, that there is a low risk of nest disturbance
and nestlings as the nesting period (mid-June-mid August) when the cattle are least likely to
utilize shrubs (Van Sickle, pers. comm, as cited in USDA 1996). Potential nesting habitat could
be degraded, or breeding activities could be disrupted, by livestock movement or ongoing
grazing in these meadows and on private lands along the lower reaches of Horse Creek outside
the project area as cattle access water. These actions could be additive to potential effects from
temporary increased vehicle movement on road 46N50 (described above), but are not likely to be
significant when combined with the effects of the actions proposed in the Project.
Determination
Due to the factors described above, the Johnny O’Neil project may affect individual
Willow Flycatchers but is not expected to result in a trend toward federal listing or
loss of viability.
Wolverine (Gulo gulo)
Environmental Baseline
Sightings of this species are rare in northern California; sightings range from Del Norte
and Trinity Counties east through Siskiyou and Shasta Counties, and south through Tulare
County. Habitat distribution in California is poorly known for the North Coast and
northern Sierra Nevada. In northern California, wolverines range from 500-1500 m
elevation (1,600 to 4,800 feet) in Douglas-fir and mixed conifer and true fir habitats
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