Comprehensive Evaluation Report

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on the Grasslands soils. Predictions for a drying climate trend and increases in irrigation use on private land may additionally reduce water levels and availability. Climate change effects may take years to manifest themselves and the correct actions to address them may not be apparent, however, climate change is considered a “reasonably foreseeable” effect. While there is scientific uncertainty about extent and timing of climate change there are also effects that are beginning to be observed. Extent and intensity of fires, insect and disease events are increasing. Drought is increasing as is the intensity of flood events. Species Diversity 8 Analysis of ecological sustainability must include consideration of both ecosystem and species diversity. To better capture the ecological sustainability of the Grasslands, a hierarchical approach was used to analyze species diversity on the Grasslands. A comprehensive list of species (including plant, macrolichen, bird, insect, and animal species) that have population or habitat concerns and that are found in Texas, New Mexico, and Oklahoma was developed using: o Lists maintained under the Ecological Services Agency of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife o Species ranks maintained by NatureServe o New Mexico, Texas, and Oklahoma State T& E lists o New Mexico, Texas, and Oklahoma priority <strong>Comprehensive</strong> Wildlife Conservation Strategy, (CWCS) species o Species for which there are local concerns resulting from declines in habitat, population, and/or distribution o Species that are of high public interest, and o Species that have emerging issues (such as invasive species). Using this comprehensive list as a starting point, research was conducted to determine those species that currently have: o population and/or habitat within the Plan area o population and/or habitat concerns (e.g., small or decreasing population, degrading habitat or habitat loss, etc.) o or may be affected by Forest Service management actions Species and Habitat Associations The species included in (Table 2 Species for Consideration in Plan Revision and Habitat Association) were organized according to their associated Vegetation Types and the Grasslands on with they occur Some species, however, are not associated with a vegetation type, but rather, are dependent on unique habitat features (such as Playa Lakes, aquatic or riverine wetlands, etc. The species habitat associations were used to assess the status of species and severity of risk to ecosystem characteristics. Table 2 Species for Further Consideration in Plan Revision and Habitat Association # Common Name Ranger District Habitat or Vegetation Type 1 Alpine Fever-few KRB Shortgrass Prairie 8 USDA 20011a p. 55-57 16
# Common Name Ranger District Habitat or Vegetation Type 2 Ambersnail KRB Other Wetlands 3 American avocet KRB Ponds and Playas 4 Andean prairie-clover KRB Shortgrass Prairie 5 Arid Land Ribbon Snake KRB Cottonwood-Willow Riparian 6 Arkansas River Shiner BKMC Rivers 7 Bald eagle KRB Shortgrass Prairie Bald eagle KRB Cottonwood-Willow Riparian Bald Eagle BKMC Aquatic Lakes 8 Bell's vireo BKMC Mixed Hardwood Riparian 9 Black-tailed prairie dog KRB Sand Sagebrush Black-tailed prairie dog KRB Shortgrass Prairie 10 Burrowing Owl KRB Shortgrass Prairie 11 Conchas Crayfish KRB Rivers 12 Dotted Checkerspot KRB Sandsage Dotted Checkerspot KRB Shortgrass Prairie 13 Ferruginous Hawk KRB Shortgrass Prairie 14 Grasshopper sparrow BKMC Mixed Grass Prairie Grasshopper Sparrow KRB Shortgrass Prairie Grasshopper Sparrow BKMC Shinnery Oak Grasshopper Sparrow KRB Sand Sagebrush 15 Great Plains narrow-mouth toad KRB Cottonwood-Willow Riparian 16 Greene milkweed KRB Shortgrass Prairie Greene milkweed KRB Pinyon-Juniper 17 Hobomok Skipper KRB Cottonwood-Willow Riparian 18 Horrid Herrickia KRB Caves-Cliffs-Rock Outcrops 19 Interior Least Tern BKMC Rivers 20 Largemouth bass BKMC Rivers Largemouth bass BKMC Aquatic Lakes 21 Lesser Prairie-chicken BKMC Mixed Grass Prairie Lesser Prairie-chicken BKMC Shinnery Oak Lesser Prairie-chicken KRB Sand Sagebrush 22 Long-billed Curlew KRB Ponds and Playas Long-billed Curlew KRB Shortgrass Prairie Long-billed Curlew BKMC Mixed Grass Prairie 23 Mountain Plover KRB Shortgrass Prairie 24 Northern Bobwhite BKMC Shinnery Oak Northern Bobwhite BKMC Mixed Grass Prairie 25 One-flowered Milkvetch KRB Shortgrass Prairie One-flowered Milkvetch KRB Pinyon-Juniper 26 Panhandle Spurge KRB Pinyon-Juniper Panhandle Spurge KRB Sandsage 27 Plains Leopard Frog KRB Ponds and Playas 17
Page 1 and 2: United States Department of Agricul
Page 3 and 4: Executive Summary This Comprehensiv
Page 5 and 6: three percent of the land with the
Page 7 and 8: Historical Context Beginning about
Page 9 and 10: ural region would be substantially
Page 11 and 12: seven PNVTs found on the Grasslands
Page 13 and 14: Departure from Reference: The shinn
Page 15 and 16: making this an important ecosystem.
Page 17: conditions relationship to referenc
Page 21 and 22: determined not to be at risk. None
Page 23 and 24: Hiking and Camping 13 Based on surv
Page 25 and 26: eplace facilities at the end of the
Page 27 and 28: o The revised plan should acknowled
Page 29 and 30: Livestock and Range Management 21 O
Page 31 and 32: tree removal practices are designed
Page 33 and 34: vital role in supporting social and
Page 35: USDA Forest Service. 2011b. Socio-E

Comprehensive Evaluation Report

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