Final FONSI and EA for hot cargo pad on Kirtland AFB - Kirtland Air ...

<strong>Final</strong> <strong>EA</strong> Addressing Construction, Operation, <strong>and</strong> Maintenance of a Hot Cargo Pad
3.7.2.4 Threatened <strong>and</strong> Endangered Species
The agencies that have primary responsibility <strong>for</strong> the conservation of plant <strong>and</strong> animal species in New
Mexico are the USFWS; the NMDGF; <strong>and</strong> the New Mexico Energy, Minerals, <strong>and</strong> Natural Resources
Department. These agencies maintain lists of plant <strong>and</strong> animal species that have been classified, or are
potential c<strong>and</strong>idates <strong>for</strong> classification, as threatened or endangered in Bernalillo County. Of those species
known to occur in the county, two Federal species of concern (western burrowing owl [Athene
cunicularia hypugaea] <strong>and</strong> mountain plover [Charadrius montanus]), <strong>and</strong> one state threatened species
(gray vireo [Vireo vicinior]) have the potential to occur in the project area.
Gray vireo. The gray vireo (Vireo vicinior), a state threatened species, as listed by the NMDGF, is the
only federally or state-listed species known to occur on the installation. The USFWS considers the gray
vireo a sensitive species. In 2003, an installationwide gray vireo survey was conducted in which
53 territories were mapped (KAFB 2004a). Territories were found throughout the juniper woodl<strong>and</strong>
community in an elevational belt of 5,850 to 6,600 feet. Gray vireos occupied areas with an open canopy
(i.e., less than 25 percent) with one seeded juniper as the dominate tree/shrub species (KAFB 2007).
Western burrowing owl. The western burrowing owl (Athene cunicularia hypugaea), a Federal species
of concern, is a common resident at Kirtl<strong>and</strong> AFB. It is very closely associated with the prairie dog
colonies on the installation, as they use ab<strong>and</strong>oned prairie dog burrows <strong>for</strong> nesting on Kirtl<strong>and</strong> AFB
during summer months. Owls generally occur on the installation between March <strong>and</strong> October be<strong>for</strong>e
migrating south, although a few birds might occur on the installation during mild winters. Burrowing owl
inventories have been conducted every year since 1994, <strong>and</strong> in 2005 a migration study was initiated to
identify where nesting owls at Kirtl<strong>and</strong> AFB go to winter. Since burrowing owls use old prairie dog
burrows <strong>for</strong> nesting, a Prairie Dog Management Plan was developed <strong>for</strong> the installation, which takes into
account burrowing owl habitat requirements (KAFB 2007). Figure 3-8 shows potential prairie dog
habitat <strong>and</strong> burrowing owl locations (observed 15 July 2009) at Kirtl<strong>and</strong> AFB. Although not depicted on
Figure 3-8, prairie dogs have been observed within the QD arcs <strong>for</strong> the exiting <strong>and</strong> proposed <strong>hot</strong> <strong>cargo</strong>
<strong>pad</strong>s.
Mountain plover. Mountain plovers (Charadrius montanus), a Federal species of concern, are not known
to occur on the installation. However, in 2003, an adult with two chicks was observed just south of the
installation on the Isleta Pueblo Indian Reservation (KAFB 2004a). Appropriate nesting habitat <strong>for</strong> this
species is limited on the installation; there<strong>for</strong>e, it is unlikely that the mountain plover uses Kirtl<strong>and</strong> AFB
during the nesting season. However, the southern grassl<strong>and</strong>s of the installation could potentially be used
as brood-rearing habitat or during migration (KAFB 2007).
Santa Fe milkvetch. Santa Fe milkvetch (Astragalus feensis), a rare plant in New Mexico, is known or
expected to occur on Kirtl<strong>and</strong> AFB (KAFB 2008d). Santa Fe milkvetch is found on gravelly hillsides in
pinyon-juniper woodl<strong>and</strong> or plains-mesa grassl<strong>and</strong> (5,100 to 6,000 feet elevation) (NMRPTC 1999).
Critical Habitat
Critical habitats are those areas of l<strong>and</strong>, air, or water that are essential <strong>for</strong> maintaining or restoring
threatened or endangered plant or animal populations. Neither the NMDGF nor the USFWS has
designated or identified any critical habitat on Kirtl<strong>and</strong> AFB. Surveys <strong>and</strong> literature indicate that
important habitats on the installation include the wetl<strong>and</strong>s, which are rare in the region <strong>and</strong> provide water
in an otherwise arid environment. Other important habitats on the installation include prairie dog towns,
which provide nesting habitat <strong>for</strong> the burrowing owl, <strong>and</strong> areas between 5,900 <strong>and</strong> 6,600 feet elevation
containing open juniper woodl<strong>and</strong>s, which are used as nesting habitat by the gray vireo (KAFB 2007).
Kirtl<strong>and</strong> AFB, NM January 2011
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