sr 77/oracle road multimodal corridor profile study final report - Pima ...

Biotic Community
Arizona Upland Sonoran Desertscrub
Semidesert Grassland
* Denotes sensitive species
Exhibit 4-2
COMMON FAUNA
Common Fauna
Mule deer, Sonoran pronghorn, javelina, jackrabbit, cottontail,
Harris antelope squirrel, red-tailed hawk, mourning dove, cactus
wren, lesser nighthawk, cactus mouse, Harris’s Hawk, western
whiptail, Sonoran desert tortoise.
Black-tailed prairie dog, meadow lark, northern Aplomado
falcon*, quail, red-tailed hawk, whooping crane*, rattlesnake,
Sonoran desert tortoise, western yellow bat.
are protected by the Endangered Species Act (ESA) of 1973, and must be considered prior to
development. Consultation with the USFWS may be required if development will impact any of
these species or designated critical habitat. Exhibit 4-3 (see next page) presents the combined
Pinal and Pima County lists of Threatened and Endangered Species; there are 18 Listed
Endangered, 5 Listed Threatened, 1 Proposed Endangered, 1 Proposed Threatened, and 3
Candidate species in these two counties. Candidate species are not offered protection under the
ESA, however they should be considered in the planning process. Specific habitat requirements
such as elevation or a permanent water source may exclude many of the species listed for the SR
77 Corridor. Further analysis will be required to determine which species may be impacted by
construction. Note that at the time this study was being completed, the Cactus Ferruginous
Pygmy Owl (CFPO) was de-listed, but there was a pending injunction request with the
court to block the de-listing. The Pygmy Owl may become listed again, and impacts to the
Owl should be considered. The SR 77 corridor is in a CFPO survey zone 2 where suitable,
but unoccupied habitat is present.
The Arizona Game and Fish Department (AGFD) Heritage Data Management System
documents the known locations of special status species in the state and seven special status
species were identified by AGFD that are known to occur within the vicinity of the project area.
Exhibit 4-4 lists these special status species. AGFD did not offer any specific recommendations
regarding these species at this time: however, these species will be addressed during the design
of specific projects and mitigated for if necessary. The Heritage Data Management System can
be used as a guide of potential species and habitats that have been documented in the SR 77
Corridor. It is important to note that other species may occur in the areas that have not yet been
documented.
4.4 NATIONAL PARKS, MONUMENTS, AND WILDLIFE REFUGES
The National Park Service (NPS) does not administer any parcels within the project area. The
closest NPS land is the Tucson Mountain District of Saguaro National Park, west of I-10 at
milepost 248 northwest of Tucson. There are no National Wildlife Refuges within the vicinity of
the project area.
4.5 WILD AND SCENIC RIVERS
A review of the “Arizona Statewide Wild and Scenic Rivers Final Legislative Environmental
Impact Statement” (U.S. Department of Interior, Bureau of Land Management, December 1994)
SR 77/Oracle Road Multimodal Corridor Profile Study May 2007
Final Report Page 4-3