Bureau of Land Management's Decision Record and Environmental

Jersey Valley Geothennal Development Project
Environmental Assessment: NV063 -EAO8-09 1
recorded within or near the Jersey Valley Unit Area and the proposed transmission line corridor
(NNHP 2008a and 2008b). No threatened or endangered species were identified.
Special Status Species
The USFWS expressed concern that the proposed Project activities could potentially impact the
greater sage grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) and the pygmy rabbit (Brachylagus
idahoensis).
The NNHP identified (either within the proposed Project area or a 5 km buffer around the subject
lands): Lahontan beardtongue (Pensternon palmeri var. macranthus), windloving buckwheat
(Eriogonum anemophilum) and Reese River phacelia (Phacelia glaberrima). Habitat may also be
available for the Sadas pyrg (Pyrgulopsis sadai) and the Dixie Valley pyrg (Pyrgulopsis
dixensis) (NNHP 2008a and 2008b).
Additionally, the BLM MLFO requested surveys for burrowing owls and bats, and identified the
ferruginous hawk (Buteo regalis), prairie falcon (Falco mexicanus) and golden eagle (Aquila
chrysaetos) as potentially within or adjacent to the proposed Project Area.
Greater Sage- Grouse
Greater sage-grouse use sagebrush habitats with significant grass and forb components. Breeding
habitat consists of habitat suitable for leks, nesting, and early brood-rearing areas. Suitable
nesting and early brood rearing habitats are dominated by sagebrush with a healthy herbaceous
understory. From late June to early November, sage-grouse will use a variety of moist and mesic
habitats where succulent forbs are found. These habitats include riparian areas, wet meadows,
lakebeds, farmlands, uplands including sagebrush and recently burned areas. During the winter
months sage-grouse feed almost exclusively on sagebrush. Sagebrush stands with canopy covers
of 10-30% and winter cover heights of at least 25 centimeters above the snow is needed.
Topographic relief and a diversity of sagebrush heights in an area are important (Stamm 2006).
All of the seasonal habitats for sage-grouse were either lacking within the surveyed portions of
the Jersey Valley Unit Area or were only present in marginal condition. No extensive stands of
sagebrush were present and no signs of sage-grouse were observed (GBE 2008).
The sagebrush within the transmission line corridor may occasionally serve as sage-grouse
winter habitat for birds that normally spend the entire year in the Fish Creek Mountains or in the
Tobin Range. In rare years when snow accumulation in these mountain areas is sufficiently deep
to cover the sagebrush, sage-grouse may use the valley floor sagebrush (GBE 2008). Although
some potential movement between the Fish Creek Mountains and the Tobin Range exists, data
suggests this movement is seldom and unlikely. Based on radio telemetry data gathered from
2003-04 in the Fish Creek Mountains, sage-grouse in the Fish Creeks appear to be nonmigratory,
spending the entirety of the year in that range. In addition, no locations of individuals
were recorded within 2 miles of any portion of the Project vicinity. Also, Great Basin Ecology
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