US Customs and Border Protection Ajo Housing Development ... - GSA

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human nutritive value, or aesthetic significance of these trees.
Large, mature Ironwoods and Mesquites are very sensitive to the monsoon rain desert environment. The
environment. The trees that have survived the current drought on the site have devloped extensive root
extensive root systems around and outward from their driplines to surivive. Any design of the project
project must avoid leveling, cut and fill , utlity line construction and road paving around the driplines of
driplines of these trees. Merely leaving a small open area at the trunk of the trees will not suffice, the
the trees will die.
Feasible Alternatives and Mitigation Measures
Engineer outside the box. Design a project that conforms to the existing landscape and environment.
environment. This is the way to stewardship required by federal policies of federal agencies.
Where mature trees exist next to existing sidewalks, roads or to proposed development, ensure the
survival of the trees by leaving the roadway as existing compacted unpaved dirt the length of the
dripline area around the tree and across the width of the existing roadway. Leave the dripline area
area around the trees free of utility line or residential construction. These alternatives and mitigation
mitigation measure must be adopted as condtitions of project site construction design and
implementation in order to reduce the adverse impact of the project to a non-significant level.
Wildlife
Inventory
A detailed inventory, in consultation with adjoining resident sitings and with professional wildlife
biologists at Cabeza Prieta Wildlife Refuge and Organ Pipe National Monument who ar familiar with
wildlife species and wildlife habitat requirements in the A Mountain watershed must be conducted. In
In addition, recognized professional Herptologist and Desert Tortoise Expert Betsy Wirt
(bwirt@tabletoptelephoneI520-6239396) must be contacted to inventory the site regarding prescence
prescence and habitat of the Desert Tortoise. Adjacent wildlife corridors and possible use of the
proposed project site as migration trails for wildlife species must also be inventoried. Arizona State
State Department of Game and Fish request to address urban wildlife must be included in the inventory.
inventory.
In 2010, a Desert Tortoise was seen crossing the road near the corner of Esperanza and Sahauro, (the
(the project site northwest corner), by Ajo residents Adrian Vega and Pilar Hanson.
Again, a livable environment for wildlife is a quality environment for people. This is evident by letters
letters submitted on the project by adjoining area residents.
Impacts
Completely removing all the existing vegeation on the site will have a significant adverse impact on
on wildlife by destroying valuabvle wildlife desert lifelines such as mature treees which are extrememly
extrememly rare in the Ajo area. In addition, new construction, noise, street and safety lights, and traffic
traffic will disrupt wildlife habitat and migration corridors on and adjacent to the site to a significant
significant adverse level.
Consultation on site with local professional wildlife biologists from Cabeza Prieta Wildlife Refuge and
and Organ Pipe National Monument must be carried out to determine the exact impacts to wildlife
which may occur and whether or not these impacts are significant and adverse. In particular professional
professional area herptologist Betsy Wirt must be consulted regarding the Desert Tortoise and impacts
12/]6/2010