FERC Project No. 2079 - PCWA Middle Fork American River Project ...

Application for New License Middle Fork American River Project (FERC Project No. 2079)
STICKY GOLDENWEED (PYRROCOMA LUCIDA; FSS)
This plant occurs in Great Basin scrub, lower montane coniferous forest, and meadows
and seeps. It may grow in alkaline clays. Its elevation range is from 2,250 to 6,250 feet
msl. The MFP is within the known geographic and elevation range of this species. This
species was not observed during the TERR 2 special-status plant surveys.
TAHOE YELLOW CRESS (RORIPPA SUBUMBELLATA; FC)
This species grows in lower montane coniferous forests, meadows and seeps, sandy
(granitic) lake margins at elevations ranging from 6,050 to 6,250 feet msl. The MFP is
within the known geographic and elevation range of this species, though it was not
observed during the TERR 2 special-status plant surveys.
HOWELL'S TAUSCHIA (TAUSCHIA HOWELLI; FSS)
This species occurs in subalpine /upper montane coniferous forest, granitic, gravelly
soils. It grows at 5,500 to 8,500 feet msl. The MFP is within the known geographic and
elevation range of this species, though it was not observed during the TERR 2 specialstatus
plant surveys.
SPECIAL-STATUS WILDLIFE
FISH
HARDHEAD (MYLOPHARADON CONOCEPHALUS; FSS)
The hardhead range extends from the Pit River (south of the Goose Lake drainage),
Modoc County, in the north to the Kern River, Kern County in the south. They are also
present in the Russian River, however they are absent from San Francisco Bay streams
except for the Napa River. Hardhead are extensively distributed in the Sacramento-San
Joaquin drainage. In the Sacramento drainage the hardhead is present in the
Sacramento River as well as in the majority of large tributary streams. The species is
absent from valley reaches of the San Joaquin River in the San Joaquin drainage.
Hardhead are typically found in undisturbed areas of larger low- to mid-elevation
streams, however they are also found in the Sacramento River at low elevations and in
its tributaries to about 1,500 meters. Optimal temperatures for hardhead appear to be
24-28 o C, and most streams in which they occur have summer temperatures warmer
than 20 o C. They prefer clear, deep (>80 cm) pools and runs with slow velocities and
sand-gravel-boulder substrates. Hardhead are always found in connection with
Sacramento pikeminnow and usually with Sacramento sucker.
Hardhead are most active in the early morning and evening when feeding. They are
omnivores that forage for aquatic plant material on the bottom and benthic invertebrates
but also eat drifting algae and insects. Hardhead generally reach 6-8 cm by the end of
their first growing season, 10-12 cm in their second, and 16-17 in their third. In the
American River they reach 30 cm in 4 years. They mature in their third year and mainly
February 2011 B-8