xs7hy9e06w?redirect_to=http://www.blm.gov/pgdata/etc/medialib/blm/wo/blm_library/tech_notes.Par.29872.File.dat/TN_444

2.10 Implementation Strategy
This project considered
impacts that are likely
to occur with the full
build-out of the Dry Lake
SEZ identified in the Final Solar
PEIS. The project team found that
while the potential for avoiding
and/or mitigating many of the
impacts onsite is good, the
following impacts are likely to be
unavoidable:
• The loss of desert tortoise
habitat and the potential loss
of individual desert tortoises.
The desert tortoise is listed as
a threatened species under the
Endangered Species Act.
• The loss of habitat and the
potential loss of individual
animals for the following
BLM special status species:
Gila monster, Mojave Desert
sidewinder, ferruginous hawk,
golden eagle, loggerhead shrike,
and Le Conte’s thrasher.
• The loss of rosy two-toned
penstemon habitat and the
potential loss of individual
plants. The rosy two-toned
penstemon is a BLM special
status species plant.
• The loss of ecosystem services
and the human uses depending
on them, as a result of
development and until the lease
expires and the site is restored.
The primary components of
an ecological system are: soils,
vegetation, water, air, and
wildlife.
• The visual impacts that will occur
will exceed allowable levels in an
area designated as VRM Class II
in the Las Vegas RMP (BLM 1998).
In addition, the following
unavoidable impacts were
identified as having the potential
to occur, depending on the way
the area is developed, the success
of onsite mitigation activities,
data gaps, and/or the discovery of
unanticipated resources:
• Introduction and spread of
invasive/noxious weeds.
• Alterations to surface hydrology.
• Loss of cultural resources.
• Increased density of desert
tortoise in the Coyote Springs
ACEC (which was established for
tortoise recovery).
• Visual resources as seen from
nearby specially designated
areas.
• Certain Native American
concerns (e.g., loss of habitat and
spiritual values).
Accordingly, and consistent
with the management prescriptions
for the affected resources in the
Las Vegas RMP, the project team
recommends the following regional
mitigation goals:
• Sustain the populations of
federally listed species so they
no longer need protection under
the Endangered Species Act.
• Manage habitats for nonlisted
special status species to support
viable populations so future
listing is not necessary.
• Mitigate the loss of plants and
habitat for the rosy two-toned
penstemon to support viable
populations in which the SEZ is
located so that future listing is
not necessary.
• Restore and/or protect the
creosote-bursage vegetation
community disrupted by
development (taking into
account the existing landscape
condition in the SEZ).
• Restore and/or protect the
visual resource values altered
by development of the SEZ
(taking into account the existing
condition of visual resource
values in the Dry Lake SEZ).
To achieve these goals,
the project team recommends
mitigation actions be undertaken
in the Gold Butte ACEC. The Gold
Butte ACEC was established in the
Las Vegas RMP (BLM 1998). It has an
area of approximately 350,000 acres
(1416 km 2 ). The primary resource
values listed in the RMP are:
• Cultural and historic resources.
• Scenic values.
• Wildlife habitat.
• Special status species habitat.
• Botanical resources.
REGIONAL MITIGATION STRATEGY FOR THE DRY LAKE SOLAR ENERGY ZONE • TECHNICAL NOTE 444 • 43