Environmental Assessment

AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT & ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES CHAPTER 3
Pygmy rabbit - This species may occur on the eastern fringes of the project, but it is the collective
opinion of Forest Service and Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife biologists that it is highly
unlikely. Pygmy rabbits require relatively tall, dense clumps of sagebrush (i.e. Great Basin or big sage)
on deep, friable soils. Studies suggest that a high canopy cover of sage is required (i.e. 21 to 36 percent).
The volcanic pumice soils characteristic of the planning area are loose and not conducive to supporting
the tunnels built by pygmy rabbits. In addition, the area is dominated by low and mountain sage species
that have relatively low height and canopy cover (Wildlife BE page 3).
There are no known direct or indirect effects pygmy rabbits under any of the alternatives. This
determination is based upon the following:
Very low probability of rabbits occupying the planning area; and
Under the action alternatives, there are no treatments in sagebrush dominated plant associations that
would substantially eliminate or degrade sagebrush cover.
Furthermore, fuel reduction treatments proposed in open ponderosa pine stands would not affect pygmy
rabbits or their habitat because this species does not inhabit forested areas (Wildlife Be page 5).
There are no known indirect, direct, or cumulative negative impacts on this species by the action
alternatives of this project. This determination is based upon: 1) very low probability of any pygmy
rabbits occupying the project's area; and 2) no planned treatments of sagebrush dominated plant
associations that would substantially eliminate or degrade sagebrush cover. Treatments in small shrub
dominated openings in areas to be treated by natural fuels units in open ponderosa pine stands would not
be impacting, because pygmy rabbits do not inhabit forested areas.
Greater or Western sage-grouse - Sage-grouse are closely associated with big sagebrush habitat types
and are commonly referred to as “sagebrush obligates.” During spring and summer months, they may use
the fringes of open forest habitat types with good herbaceous understory. In winter, they depend upon
low elevation big sagebrush habitats for survival (Wildlife BE page 3).
Sage-grouse are generally not known to winter within the planning area, but one (1) bird has recently
been documented on Forest Service lands (Wildlife BE page 3).
There are no known lek sites (i.e. breeding/display grounds) on Forest Service lands, but there is a site
near Evans Well on BLM managed lands approximately three (3) miles northwest of the planning area
boundary (Wildlife BE page 3).
Sage-grouse have been documented to nest and rear young within the planning area boundary. A BLM
radio telemetry study (USDI 1995) verified both nest sites and brood rearing areas in the vicinity of Pine
Mountain. Another telemetry study is presently underway by the BLM. Together the two studies have
identified the present known area of occupied habitat within the project’s boundary. Additional
information regarding these studies can be found in the analysis files at the Bend-Fort Ranger District
office (Wildlife BE page 3).
In early 2003, a habitat analysis using plant association groups was conducted to determine the
approximate historic habitat areas for the Opine Project Historic habitat was identified within the
project's area using plant associations that have a strong sagebrush component. Within the planning area,
there are a total of approximately 29,541 acres of historic habitat including approximately 11,713 acres of
ponderosa pine-sagebrush habitat and approximately 17,828 acres of xeric shrublands with sagebrush
(Wildlife BE page 4).
Table 3-54 summarizes the information by sub-area, and plant association.
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