West Mojave Plan FEIR/S - Desert Managers Group

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2002 Tortoise Range MapN190I n y o C o395178K e r n C o14395155814S a n B e r n a r d i n o C o40156613818L o s A n g e l e s C o247LegendCounty LinesHighwaysPlan BoundaryPlayasAreas > 4,500 ft Elevation2002 Tortoise Range1984 Tortoise Range BoundaryR i v e r s i d e C o6210/14/04West Mojave Plan FEIR/SMap 3-10Scale: 1 : 1,750,0000 10 20 30Km0 10 20 30Miles
Tortoise Distribution within the Revised Range: The TCS distribution map (Map 3-11on attached CD Rom) was generated exclusively based on 1998 to 2002 sign count surveys.Map 3-11 uses TCS categories that have been traditionally used to estimate tortoise densities,which are useful to determine relative tortoise abundance and distribution. These categoriesinclude: 0, 1 to 3, 4 to 8, 9 to 16, 17 to 28, and 29 to 50 TCS/transect (i.e., which is mostlyreported as “TCS/mi 2 ). For convenience, the six categories are occasionally segregated into twocategories of relatively low sign counts (0 to 8) or relatively high sign counts (9 to 50). Theaverage number of TCS in DWMAs was found to be 5 mi 2 , which was used as the demarcationto differentiate above- and below-average density areas.This map reveals that there are few regions within DWMAs where tortoises arecompletely extirpated, or for other reasons, do not occur. It identifies areas where high signcounts were found on 261 transects, or conversely, no sign was found (transects along the SierraNevada, west of the aqueduct). In many cases, low-density areas may be adjacent to orsurrounded by relatively higher density areas.Natural Absences of Tortoises: Several safe assumptions can be made about tortoisedistribution in the western Mojave Desert since the 1970s:• Tortoises are mostly absent from dry lakebeds.• Tortoises are absent from areas above 5,000 feet elevation, and nearly so at 4,500 feet. In1999, only 5 of 609 (0.8%) transects with tortoise sign occurred above 4,000 feet;similarly, in 2001, only 12 of 991 (1.2%) transects with tortoise sign occurred above4,000 feet. In 1998, all 875 transects were located below 4,500 feet.• Tortoises may be naturally sparse in the northern portion of the range, from the AvawatzMountains, through China Lake Naval Air Weapons Station, up to Rose Valley alongHighway 395. Much of this area is protected on military installations or otherwiseinaccessible to most casual desert visitors, yet no surveys since the 1970's have foundsignificant areas of above-average tortoise sign. Weinstein (1989) found that latitude wasa contributing factor to tortoise occurrence, and that in general densities decreased withincreasing northern latitudes.There are also places where local geological and hydrological factors may be responsiblefor relatively low tortoise numbers. The lavic flows associated with Black Mountain, north ofHarper Lake, may be sufficiently unsuitable that tortoises are naturally uncommon, althoughthere is an apparent abundance of tortoises at Pisgah Crater, a similar formation. During 1994,on the south-central and southwestern portions of Edwards Air Force Base (between SouthRogers Dry Lake and Rosamond Dry Lake, including Buckhorn Dry Lake), the only tortoisesfound were restricted to a small hill that rose above the surrounding saltbush scrub, which wasvegetated by the only creosote bush scrub observed in the region (LaRue, pers. obs.).The more difficult question is, what is the evidence that tortoises occupied all areaswhere they are now presumed extirpated (missing)? Tortoises are extirpated from large portionsChapter 3 3-93
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CHAPTER THREEAFFECTED ENVIRONMENT3.
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The CDCA Plan assigns a “multiple
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Desert Tortoise Research Natural Ar
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closure to target shooting. Hunting
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percentage of public land ownership
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As of March 2004, BLM had acquired
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Ripley Joshua Tree Woodland: The st
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through “resource use” designat
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Significant Ecological Areas: There
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Wildlife and Wildflower Sanctuaries
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Mojave River Forks Regional Park: A
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oriented commercial uses are expect
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HCP would include mitigation measur
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3.1.3.12 City of RidgecrestThe City
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It is a goal of the town’s genera
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• Inyo California Towhee (April 1
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(i) The taking will be incidental;(
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handled, and number accidentally ki
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3.1.5 California Endangered Species
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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: Regional Declines in the Four DWMAs
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
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ManixACECMojave fishhookcactusRainb
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Range of Mohave Ground SquirrelN190
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3.3.3.2.2 Seasonal ActivityThe MGS
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1996). As herbaceous annuals appear
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1998 Mohave Ground Squirrel Transec
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Finally, the 84% success rate was a
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LaRue characterized substrates at t
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There were no MGS occurrences in 28
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certain shrubs (e.g. winterfat) tha
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NAWS China Lake 1993). As discussed
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Cumulatively, one finds there to be
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Citing Bury and Luckenbach (1977),
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the MGS is restricted to about 7,00
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Habitat Management Plans (HMPs) wer
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Basic to the biology of bighorn she
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3.3.6 Birds3.3.6.1 Bendire’s Thra
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3.3.6.5 Golden EagleLife History: T
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The towhee recovery plan establishe
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Regulatory Status: Federal Endanger
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3.3.6.15 Western Yellow-billed Cuck
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Other major threats are flood contr
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Population Status in the Planning A
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on the inaccessible mountain slopes
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3.3.8.8 Kern BuckwheatLife History:
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Threats Affecting the Mojave Monkey
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3.3.8.16 Red Rock PoppyLife History
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populations show intergradation wit
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3.4.1.1 Regional EnvironmentIn tota
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Table 3-37Average Annual Units Cons
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2002 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIAEMPLOYMENT
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TABLE 3-382000 CENSUS DEMOGRAPHIC C
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to undergo a dramatic reversal to t
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3.4.1.5 Study Area Property Valuati
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The supply of private property in t
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ALLOTMENT NAME TYPE OF LIVESTOCK FO
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Grazing AllotmentsNOlanchaDarwinTun
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ALLOTMENT NAMEALLOTMENTACRESP. L. 1
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3.4.3 Mineral Potential and Develop
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Mineral Potential, Active and Inact
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Mineral Potential, Active and Inact
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development based on the results of
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MANAGEMENT AREATable 3-46Potential
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A third item, yttrium (on the USBM
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the California Department of Conser
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Table 3-49 shows the number of mini
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produces about 75,000 tons per year
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Table 3-50Most Important Deposits B
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3.4.3.5 Coolgardie MesaThe Coolgard
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Areas designated as regionally sign
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Recreationists engage in activities
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OPENAREADoveSpringsElMirageJawboneC
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cycle engine motorcycles in OHV rid
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One popular activity is dual sport
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Compliance With Regulations: Compli
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REGIONORCITYRidgecrestSanBernardino
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REGIONORCITYVictorville /AppleValle
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Rail: The West Mojave planning area
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Arterials: Arterials are routes wit
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Ridgecrest-Inyokern Sanitary Landfi
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approximately 3 miles south of the
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Trona-Agrus Transfer Station (SWIS
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The BLM is an agency of the U.S. De
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Route designations apply only to ro
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Utility Maintenance: Many powerline
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ACECNAME ANDNUMBERHarper Dry Lake(3
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SUBREGIONAmboyBighornCoyoteEastSier
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• All pipelines with diameters gr
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3.6.2 Energy Generation PlantsEnerg
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3.7 CULTURAL RESOURCES3.7.1 Archaeo
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seasonal movement from place to pla
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RIDGECREST FIELD OFFICEPROPERTY NAM
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ACECRose SpringFossil FallsLast Cha
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have been dated by radiocarbon and
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MYACENOZOICEPOCHTable 3-65Paleontol
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In the southern area, fossils of la
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At Twenty-Nine Palms, there is an u
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West Mojave Plan FEIR/S - Desert Managers Group

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