West Mojave Plan FEIR/S - Desert Managers Group

More documents

Recommendations

Info

Indian Joe Spring Ecological Reserve (546 acres): The Indian Joe Spring EcologicalReserve consists of a parcel in a canyon of the Argus Range in Inyo County. This area containssignificant riparian habitat and protects the endangered Inyo California towhee. Other riparianbirds utilize the canyon during migration and for nesting, and both nesting and communal roosthabitat is present for the long-eared owl. The surrounding lands provide nest sites for prairiefalcon and golden eagle, and the water in the canyon supports a healthy population of quail andchuckar.Indian Wells Valley Mitigation Lands (80 acres): CDFG obtained a parcel adjacent toLittle Dixie Wash in Kern County with known occupied habitat for the desert tortoise, Mohaveground squirrel, and LeConte’s thrasher.King Clone Ecological Reserve (488 acres): A reserve was established to protectancient creosote bush vegetation, including the oldest known specimen, a circular shrubestimated to be 11,700 years old. This reserve is surrounded by the BLM’s Johnson Valley OpenArea north of Lucerne Valley and has been fenced.West Mojave Desert Ecological Reserve (11,817 acres): CDFG owns 22 propertiesnorth of Highway 58 between Barstow and Kramer Junction. These lands are within deserttortoise critical habitat and the Fremont-Kramer DWMA. The reserve contains occupied habitatfor desert tortoise, Mohave ground squirrel, LeConte’s thrasher and Barstow woolly sunflower.Other target species (e.g. desert cymopterus) may occur but have not been verified.3.1.2.3 California Department of Parks and RecreationThe California Department of Parks and Recreation owns 25,400 acres that it operates asState Parks in four separate units. In addition, the CDPR’s Division of Off-highway Vehiclescontributes funds annually to maintain and monitor BLM Open Areas. The conservation landsaffording protection to species addressed by the West Mojave Plan are described below.Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve: Located within Los Angeles County 15miles west of Lancaster, the 1,750 acre Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve protectsextensive wildflower fields and receives thousands of visitors annually. The park is fenced toexclude grazing and prescribed burns are conducted to maintain the habitat. The reserve alsosupports nesting burrowing owls and provides wintering habitat for a variety of raptors,including the golden eagle, prairie falcon, northern harrier, and ferruginous hawk.Red Rock Canyon State Park: The Park encompasses the southwestern portion of theEl Paso Mountains, and was established for protection of outstanding scenic values and wildlifehabitat. Within the 26,000-acre park is the majority of the range of two narrow endemic plantspecies, the Red Rock poppy and the Red Rock tarplant. The tarplant is listed as endangered bythe State of California. The mountainous terrain contains nest sites for prairie falcons, and twounique alkali seeps support the alkali mariposa lily. Red Rock Canyon State Park provides alinkage between BLM lands to the east and west, and lies within the proposed Mohave GroundSquirrel Conservation Area.Chapter 3 3-12
Ripley Joshua Tree Woodland: The state established the 566 acre Ripley reserve toprotect a Joshua tree and juniper woodland. This natural community has nearly disappeared inthe Antelope Valley. Most of the site is fenced, and restoration efforts are underway.Saddleback Butte State Park: Protection of Joshua tree woodland was the reason forestablishing the 3,336-acre Saddleback Butte State Park. The desert floor surrounding the butteshas blowsand soils that support the westernmost population of the Mojave fringe-toed lizard andexhibits an outstanding display of wildflowers in wet years. Birds of prey nest on the buttes, andthe Mohave ground squirrel is found on some of the surrounding lands to the north.3.1.2.4 California Department of TransportationCaltrans has been a major provider of protected habitat in the state for the past severalyears. Caltrans purchases replacement habitat as compensation for loss due to highwayimprovements, including some of the CDFG lands northeast of Kramer Junction. Thesecommitments normally are specified as terms and conditions of biological opinions from theUSFWS to the Federal Highways Administration (FHWA), which provides federal funding tomajor Caltrans projects, and as requirements associated with 2081 permits from CDFG.3.1.3 Local JurisdictionsCounties, cities and towns have land use planning authority over private lands in theWest Mojave planning area. California law requires that local jurisdictions adopt and maintain ageneral plan as a guide to future development within their communities. The general planincludes a land use element that describes the distribution and intensity of land uses expected todevelop within the jurisdiction over time, as well as a conservation element that establishespolicy for the management of natural resources, including biological resources.Cities and counties are required to conduct environmental review of developmentprojects proposed within their jurisdictions pursuant to the California Environmental QualityAct. This review includes an assessment of the proposed development’s affect on biologicalresources. In addition, some jurisdictions have adopted ordinances that establish biologicalmitigation requirements for ministerial permits not subject to CEQA. Figure 3-1 provides anoverview of the existing review process for development projects that have the potential to affectlisted or sensitive species. This process may vary somewhat by jurisdiction.Following is a summary of existing development patterns, land use and conservationpolicies directing future development in the West Mojave’s cities and counties.3.1.3.1 Inyo CountyMost of the private land available for development is located along the Highway 395corridor. According to the county’s 1984 General Plan Land Use Element, future populationgrowth is expected to occur primarily in the Owens Valley. The Olancha area, at the verynorthern end of the planning area, has been designated by the General Plan as an urbanizing areaChapter 3 3-13
Page 1 and 2: CHAPTER THREEAFFECTED ENVIRONMENT3.
Page 3 and 4: The CDCA Plan assigns a “multiple
Page 5 and 6: Desert Tortoise Research Natural Ar
Page 7 and 8: closure to target shooting. Hunting
Page 9 and 10: percentage of public land ownership
Page 11: As of March 2004, BLM had acquired
Page 15 and 16: through “resource use” designat
Page 17 and 18: Significant Ecological Areas: There
Page 19 and 20: Wildlife and Wildflower Sanctuaries
Page 21 and 22: Mojave River Forks Regional Park: A
Page 23 and 24: oriented commercial uses are expect
Page 25 and 26: HCP would include mitigation measur
Page 27 and 28: 3.1.3.12 City of RidgecrestThe City
Page 29 and 30: It is a goal of the town’s genera
Page 31 and 32: • Inyo California Towhee (April 1
Page 33 and 34: (i) The taking will be incidental;(
Page 35 and 36: handled, and number accidentally ki
Page 37 and 38: 3.1.5 California Endangered Species
Page 39 and 40: Obtaining an Incidental Take Permit
Page 41 and 42: Monitoring: Monitoring is often the
Page 43 and 44: is so restrictive that project dela
Page 45 and 46: excess moisture. A minus 4 is consi
Page 47 and 48: Air BasinsN190I n y o C o395Ridgecr
Page 49 and 50: Federal PM10 Planning AreasN190Owen
Page 51 and 52: POLLUTANTOzone (O 3 )RespirablePart
Page 53 and 54: AIRBASINAIR QUALITYDISTRICTPOLLUTAN
Page 55 and 56: subtraction of transported ozone in
Page 57 and 58: The general soil information and ma
Page 59 and 60: The Marine Corps Ground Combat Cent
Page 61 and 62: The most permeable basin-fill depos
Page 63 and 64:
Surface water was and is the major
Page 65 and 66:
A relatively small number of introd
Page 67 and 68:
freshwater or alkali wetlands, or o
Page 69 and 70:
3.3.2 Desert Tortoise3.3.2.1 Regula
Page 71 and 72:
progress toward meeting the overall
Page 73 and 74:
“higher density” and “lower d
Page 75 and 76:
several seasons (Esque 1994 in Aver
Page 77 and 78:
Assistant District Manager Molly Br
Page 79 and 80:
• Since 1975, federal land manage
Page 81 and 82:
“52 mi 2 of higher density tortoi
Page 83 and 84:
1984 Tortoise Range and Density Map
Page 85 and 86:
Higher Density Tortoise Sign Count
Page 87 and 88:
When data for the three lowest sign
Page 89 and 90:
Occurrence of Tortoises Relative to
Page 91 and 92:
Regional Declines in the Four DWMAs
Page 93 and 94:
Tortoise Distribution within the Re
Page 95 and 96:
Boarman (pers. comm., Nov 2002) has
Page 97 and 98:
tortoises are either extirpated (La
Page 99 and 100:
sites surveyed by LaRue between 199
Page 101 and 102:
aseline data are lacking. Grasses p
Page 103 and 104:
Canine Predators: This includes coy
Page 105 and 106:
The spatial distribution of 12 of 1
Page 107 and 108:
Predation Versus Scavenging of Juve
Page 109 and 110:
Table 3-20Prevalence of Tortoises i
Page 111 and 112:
(Jacobson et al. 1991, Brown et al.
Page 113 and 114:
3.3.2.5.3 Older and Newer Die-off R
Page 115 and 116:
Table 3-21Characteristics of Older
Page 117 and 118:
Table 3-22Characteristics of Older
Page 119 and 120:
of the Johnson Valley Open Area, an
Page 121 and 122:
Distribution of Recreational and Re
Page 123 and 124:
Tortoises and Burrows Crushed: Vehi
Page 125 and 126:
TypeYearsSignCount98-99-01Distance2
Page 127 and 128:
OHV Impacts to Soils: OHV use has r
Page 129 and 130:
Rodman DWMA. There were no higher d
Page 131 and 132:
of Dove Springs that has experience
Page 133 and 134:
Both inside and adjacent to open ar
Page 135 and 136:
3.3.2.6.6 Organized Competitive OHV
Page 137 and 138:
3.3.2.7 Current Effectiveness of Ex
Page 139 and 140:
Overall, one sees that 68% of the 3
Page 141 and 142:
off regions discussed herein. Black
Page 143 and 144:
ManixACECMojave fishhookcactusRainb
Page 145 and 146:
Range of Mohave Ground SquirrelN190
Page 147 and 148:
3.3.3.2.2 Seasonal ActivityThe MGS
Page 149 and 150:
1996). As herbaceous annuals appear
Page 151 and 152:
1998 Mohave Ground Squirrel Transec
Page 153 and 154:
Finally, the 84% success rate was a
Page 155 and 156:
LaRue characterized substrates at t
Page 157 and 158:
There were no MGS occurrences in 28
Page 159 and 160:
certain shrubs (e.g. winterfat) tha
Page 161 and 162:
NAWS China Lake 1993). As discussed
Page 163 and 164:
Cumulatively, one finds there to be
Page 165 and 166:
Citing Bury and Luckenbach (1977),
Page 167 and 168:
the MGS is restricted to about 7,00
Page 169 and 170:
Habitat Management Plans (HMPs) wer
Page 171 and 172:
Basic to the biology of bighorn she
Page 173 and 174:
3.3.6 Birds3.3.6.1 Bendire’s Thra
Page 175 and 176:
3.3.6.5 Golden EagleLife History: T
Page 177 and 178:
The towhee recovery plan establishe
Page 179 and 180:
Regulatory Status: Federal Endanger
Page 181 and 182:
3.3.6.15 Western Yellow-billed Cuck
Page 183 and 184:
Other major threats are flood contr
Page 185 and 186:
Population Status in the Planning A
Page 187 and 188:
on the inaccessible mountain slopes
Page 189 and 190:
3.3.8.8 Kern BuckwheatLife History:
Page 191 and 192:
Threats Affecting the Mojave Monkey
Page 193 and 194:
3.3.8.16 Red Rock PoppyLife History
Page 195 and 196:
populations show intergradation wit
Page 197 and 198:
3.4.1.1 Regional EnvironmentIn tota
Page 199 and 200:
Table 3-37Average Annual Units Cons
Page 201 and 202:
2002 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIAEMPLOYMENT
Page 203 and 204:
TABLE 3-382000 CENSUS DEMOGRAPHIC C
Page 205 and 206:
to undergo a dramatic reversal to t
Page 207 and 208:
3.4.1.5 Study Area Property Valuati
Page 209 and 210:
The supply of private property in t
Page 211 and 212:
ALLOTMENT NAME TYPE OF LIVESTOCK FO
Page 213 and 214:
Grazing AllotmentsNOlanchaDarwinTun
Page 215 and 216:
ALLOTMENT NAMEALLOTMENTACRESP. L. 1
Page 217 and 218:
3.4.3 Mineral Potential and Develop
Page 219 and 220:
Mineral Potential, Active and Inact
Page 221 and 222:
Mineral Potential, Active and Inact
Page 223 and 224:
development based on the results of
Page 225 and 226:
MANAGEMENT AREATable 3-46Potential
Page 227 and 228:
A third item, yttrium (on the USBM
Page 229 and 230:
the California Department of Conser
Page 231 and 232:
Table 3-49 shows the number of mini
Page 233 and 234:
produces about 75,000 tons per year
Page 235 and 236:
Table 3-50Most Important Deposits B
Page 237 and 238:
3.4.3.5 Coolgardie MesaThe Coolgard
Page 239 and 240:
Areas designated as regionally sign
Page 241 and 242:
Recreationists engage in activities
Page 243 and 244:
OPENAREADoveSpringsElMirageJawboneC
Page 245 and 246:
cycle engine motorcycles in OHV rid
Page 247 and 248:
One popular activity is dual sport
Page 249 and 250:
Compliance With Regulations: Compli
Page 251 and 252:
REGIONORCITYRidgecrestSanBernardino
Page 253 and 254:
REGIONORCITYVictorville /AppleValle
Page 255 and 256:
Rail: The West Mojave planning area
Page 257 and 258:
Arterials: Arterials are routes wit
Page 259 and 260:
Ridgecrest-Inyokern Sanitary Landfi
Page 261 and 262:
approximately 3 miles south of the
Page 263 and 264:
Trona-Agrus Transfer Station (SWIS
Page 265 and 266:
The BLM is an agency of the U.S. De
Page 267 and 268:
Route designations apply only to ro
Page 269 and 270:
Utility Maintenance: Many powerline
Page 271 and 272:
ACECNAME ANDNUMBERHarper Dry Lake(3
Page 273 and 274:
SUBREGIONAmboyBighornCoyoteEastSier
Page 275 and 276:
• All pipelines with diameters gr
Page 277 and 278:
3.6.2 Energy Generation PlantsEnerg
Page 279 and 280:
3.7 CULTURAL RESOURCES3.7.1 Archaeo
Page 281 and 282:
seasonal movement from place to pla
Page 283 and 284:
RIDGECREST FIELD OFFICEPROPERTY NAM
Page 285 and 286:
ACECRose SpringFossil FallsLast Cha
Page 287 and 288:
have been dated by radiocarbon and
Page 289 and 290:
MYACENOZOICEPOCHTable 3-65Paleontol
Page 291 and 292:
In the southern area, fossils of la
Page 293 and 294:
At Twenty-Nine Palms, there is an u
show all

West Mojave Plan FEIR/S - Desert Managers Group

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?