environmental assessment for the hog lake road improvement project

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Ramona Hog Lake Road Improvement Project August 2011 The Quino is a medium-sized butterfly of the brush-footed butterfly family. Preferred habitats consist of open spaces within coastal sage scrub, chaparral, and sparse native woodlands. Quino has a 4-6 week flight period from late January-early March and continuing as late as early May, depending on weather conditions. In 2008 the USFWS proposed an updated and revised critical habitat area, from that originally designated, based on the most recent occupation data for Quino. The revised critical habitat does alter critical habitat in the San Jacinto and Cahuilla area and now includes the central portion of the Project area. Consultation with the USFWS is required for projects that fall within designated critical habitat. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Biological Opinion, dated June 9 th , 2010, concluded that the “proposed action is not likely to jeopardize the continued existence of the Quino checkerspot butterfly and is not likely to adversely modify its designated critical habitat” based on the following reasons: 1. The project affects a small amount of the overall range of the species. 2. Impact minimization measures: habitat replacement, implementation outside the butterfly’s breeding and plant seeding season, numerous BMP’s, bio monitoring of construction and the speed limit of 25 mph. 3. Only a small portion of the Bautista Unit of Quino Designated Critical Habitat will be subject to potential impacts and these impacts will be effectively minimized. 4. The expected use of the road is low as it is only for Reservation access. USFWS anticipates the level of incidental take will not exceed 0.15 acres and this level of take will not result in jeopardy to the Quino Checkerspot butterfly. No additional reasonable or prudent measures were identified beyond those outlined in the Design Criteria (Table 1) that would minimize incidental take. Determination Botanical Based on the lack of habitat, lack of designated or proposed critical habitat and lack of species occurrence within the Project area, the Proposed Action would not affect endangered or threatened botanical species, or designated critical plant habitat. Wildlife The BE/BA (L & L Environmental, Inc. 2009), determined that the Proposed Action may affect and is likely to adversely affect the Quino Checkerspot butterfly. According to the results of the Section 7 Consultation process conducted between the BIA and US Fish & Wildlife Service the Proposed Action is not likely to jeopardize the continued existence of the Quino checkerspot butterfly and is not Frank Springer & Associates, Inc. Page 41 of 79 Environmental Assessment
Ramona Hog Lake Road Improvement Project August 2011 likely to adversely modify its designated critical habitat. A copy of the USFWS Biological Opinion dated June 9 th 2010 is available in the Project record. Direct and Indirect Effects No Action: For the No Action alternative, it is expected that all direct and indirect impacts on all botanical and wildlife TEPC species and habitat would remain unchanged compared to current levels. Proposed Action: For the Proposed Action alternative, the following direct and indirect effects could be anticipated: Botanical Resources Based on the lack of habitat, no designated or proposed critical habitat in the area and no documented occurrences of the species, including the previous 2005 botanical report, no impacts are expected to TEPC botanical species as a result of this Project. Wildlife Resources The proposed Project may affect Quino checkerspot butterfly (Quino) and will affect designated critical habitat during construction. The US Fish and Wildlife service Biological Opinion (BO), dated June 9, 2010, determined the following potential effects and indicated that project design criteria would sufficiently prevent or minimize them. Direct Effects 1. The proposed road improvement construction activities could result in mortality of Quino by crushing larvae. These direct effects to larvae could occur over the 0.15 acres (0.06 hectares) of habitat subject to removal. Additionally, host and nectar plants may be permanently removed. Design Criteria: Project activities will not occur between February 1 and July 31, therefore no direct effects are expected to adults, pupae, eggs or host/nectar plants (see Table 1: Mitigation Measures/Design Criteria; Biological Resources, Bio 2). In the Biological Opinion, the USFWS determined that the level of anticipated take is not likely to result in jeopardy to the Quino. 2. The proposed Project will remove 0.15 acres (0.06 hectares) of the 13,880 acre (5,618 hectare) Bautista Unit of Quino Designated Critical Habitat. Effects will occur to primary constituent element 1 (open areas with host plants). This effect should be minimal since the area of removal is small compared to the size of the unit. Frank Springer & Associates, Inc. Page 42 of 79 Environmental Assessment
Page 1 and 2: FINAL FRANK SPRINGER & ASSOCIATES,
Page 3 and 4: LIST OF TABLES Table 1: Mitigation
Page 5 and 6: Ramona Hog Lake Road Improvement Pr
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