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

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Cascades Frog (Rana cascade) Environmental Baseline The Cascades frog is a medium sized frog, olive to olive-brown with sharply defined dark splotches on the back. It is a montane species found in the Olympic Peninsula of Washington and in the Cascade Range of Oregon, Washington, and northern California (Blaustein et. al. 1995). It appears that populations are declining throughout the range. Reasons for this decline are not well understood but locally populations have been impacted by predation from introduced trout in mountain lakes. Habitat for this species includes open montane meadows, marshes, ponds, small bodies of water, ephemeral pools, potholes without vegetation, and along small creeks (Blaustein et. al. 1995). They are typically found at elevations above 2500 feet (Corkran and Thoms, 1996) and are closely restricted to water (Stebbins 1966). Aquatic habitat suitable for Cascades frogs is absent within the project area. No mapped or unmapped ponds, lakes, or marshes occur within the project area. Almost all streams are characterized by steep gradients or, in low-gradient reaches, the areas over the streams typically consist of dense canopy. Surveys have not been conducted for Cascades Frog and there are no known locations in the project area. The most common habitat types associated with Cascade frogs will not be affected; therefore, there will be no effect to the Cascades Frog. Blue-gray tail dropper (Prophysaon coeruleum) Environmental Baseline The blue-gray tail dropper is a forest-dwelling slug. Typical habitat for this species includes moist, usually late-successional forests or mid-successional forests with late-successional attributes, mosses and moist plant communities such as big-leaf maple or other hardwoods and sword fern associations, partially decayed logs, leaf and needle litter (Burke et al. 2000, Duncan et al. 2003). Its habitat has been described as “sites with relatively higher shade and moisture levels than those of the general forest habitat” (Duncan et al. 2003). The blue-gray tail dropper normally comes to the surface during the fall and spring rainy seasons. Otherwise, it is thought to be subterranean. The blue-gray tail dropper has been found at scattered sites in British Columbia, in western Washington, and commonly in the Coast Range and into the Cascades of Oregon and Washington. Pre-project surveys since establishment of the Record of Decision and Standards and Guidelines for management of habitat for late successional and old-growth forest related species within the range of the northern spotted owl (commonly known as the.Northwest Forest Plan (NWFP)) has found wide distribution in Oregon (Burke et al. 2005). The occurrence of the 30
lue-gray tail dropper on the KNF is limited. Pre-project surveys begun in 1998, and Forest-wide random grid surveys in 1999 and 2000 at more than 100 sites, documented locations in three areas on the Happy Camp Ranger District (one just south of Jackson Peak and in two areas of Indian Creek). There are no known locations within the project area. Direct and Indirect Effects Alternative 1 – No Action There will be no direct effects to blue-gray tail dropper from this alternative. In the absence of large-scale natural disturbance it is unlikely that the amount of blue-gray tail dropper habitat in the project area will significantly change in the near future. However, models project that indirect effects to habitat could occur. Due to increases in stand density, mortality, and increased surface fuels, a higher proportion of the landscape is projected to burn at high intensity, thus affecting more potential blue-gray tail dropper habitat. Action Alternatives There are limited occurrences of this species on the KNF and there are no known locations within the project area; however, suitable habitat does exist. Surveys will be conducted in a stratified sample of suitable habitat prior to project implementation; any new sites located during those surveys will be protected and managed as known sites. This and project design features will minimize direct and indirect impacts to individuals but may not completely avoid them. Effects that could occur to habitat would not likely render such habitat unsuitable so potential effects are not expected to be significant to the population if it were to occur in this landscape. Cumulative Effects Reasonable foreseeable future actions that could affect suitable habitat include the Checkerboard Hazard project, which may result in ground disturbing activities on or adjacent to suitable habitat that could kill or injure individuals, but it is likely this represents a small proportion of suitable potential tail dropper habitat in this landscape. Given the scope of this analysis and the availability of habitat occurring in this landscape, overall, cumulative effects from the Checkerboard or other actions are not expected to be measurable. There are no other known ongoing or proposed non-federal actions that would combine with the action alternatives to cause cumulative effects to the blue-gray tail droppers or their habitat beyond the project’s direct and indirect effects. Determination – Due to the factors described above, the Johnny O’Neil Project may impact individuals, but is not likely to result in a trend toward federal listing or loss of viability of the blue-gray tail dropper. 31
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Page 35 and 36: Corkran, C. and C. Thoms. 1996. Amp
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