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Eight Dollar Mountain Tower Project Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest
Josephine County, Oregon
Appendix E
BE Wildlife Resources February 2014
Biological Evaluation Wildlife Resources PacifiCorp Facilities on Eight Dollar Mountain
Prepared for
PacifiCorp
February 2014
Prepared by
K2 Environmental LLC
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ContentsIntroduction .................................................................................................................................................. 1
I. Project Description ..................................................................................................................................... 1
Communication Tower .............................................................................................................................. 1
Additional Components ............................................................................................................................ 2
Helicopter Construction ............................................................................................................................ 2
Tree Clearing ......................................................................................................................................... 3
Noise ..................................................................................................................................................... 4
Dust ....................................................................................................................................................... 4
Proposed and Existing Distribution Lines .................................................................................................. 4
II. Project Location ........................................................................................................................................ 6
III. Project Timing and Duration .................................................................................................................... 6
IV. Field Review and Assessment Tools ........................................................................................................ 6
V. Project Design Features ............................................................................................................................ 8
Nest Surveys .............................................................................................................................................. 8
Helicopter Construction ............................................................................................................................ 8
VI. Region 6 Sensitive (S) and all federally listed Threatened (T), Endangered (E), and Proposed (P)
Species Existing Condition, Effect Analysis and Determination Summary ................................................... 9
VII. Summary ............................................................................................................................................... 13
Figure 1 Site Facilities…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 5
Figure 2 Project Locations…………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 7
Table 1 Species Considered…………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 8
Attachment Construction Drawings
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Introduction
This Biological Evaluation for PacifiCorp’s Eight Dollar Mountain Communication Tower and
distribution line has been developed to: 1) comply with the requirements of the Endangered
Species Act; 2) ensure that actions do not contribute to loss of viability of native or desired non‐
native plant or animal species, or cause a trend towards listing under the ESA; and 3) provide a
standard by which to ensure that endangered, threatened, proposed, and sensitive species and
critical habitats receive full consideration in Forest Service decision‐making.
I.ProjectDescription
The following briefly describes the projects proposed by PacifiCorp. For a more detailed
description of the projects please refer to the Project Plan of Development submitted August
27, 2013.
CommunicationTower
PacifiCorp currently operates mobile radio and low capacity microwave radios off of Eight
Dollar Mountain. The antennas for these uses are located on an existing 150’ self‐supporting
tower that is controlled by Sis‐Q Communications. The mobile radio and low capacity
microwave radios are housed in a building that is also controlled by Sis‐Q Communications.
PacifiCorp is required by the Federal Communications Commission to narrowband its mobile
radio system. To do so, PacifiCorp must install new mobile radios and antennas. The change in
antenna types, quantity and size cannot be supported by the existing 150’ tower as this tower
has been shown to be overloaded. Therefore PacifiCorp is proposing to construct a new self‐
supporting tower on Eight Dollar Mountain.
The tower will be 150’ in height, have four sides and a base width of 19’ x 19’. The foundation
supporting the tower will be rock anchors attached to four piers that are 6’ in diameter each. In
addition to the tower itself, there is a need for an ice bridge that connects the tower to the
communications shelter. This will allow for the proper support of coax and waveguide between
the shelter and tower (see attached drawings).
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The fact that there are no other towers capable of structurally handling the proposed loads
necessitates this construction. The location of the proposed tower is ancillary to the PacifiCorp
radio equipment that is housed in the Sis‐Q Communications shelter. The location was also
chosen to avoid physical interference with other radio paths that now exist on Eight Dollar
Mountain.
AdditionalComponents
In addition to the tower work area, two staging areas are being proposed for the project. One
area would be located in a disturbed area at the communication facility site and one is
proposed at the existing paved area immediately adjacent to Eight Dollar Mountain Road.
These areas were chosen to avoid impacts to vegetation and provide a safe working area for
staging steel and concrete.
Access to the site will be along the existing access roads. No upgrades outside of the existing
road prism are required for the use of this road; minor road grading may occur within the
existing road where significant rutting has occurred. Since large construction equipment and
materials cannot be hauled up this road, limited use of a helicopter will be required.
HelicopterConstruction
The following describes the activities associated with helicopter construction for the project.
Due to limited access to the proposed communication tower site, helicopter construction will
be required to deliver materials to the work area. PacifiCorp is proposing to use a staging area
along Eight Dollar Mountain Road to stage material that will be flown up to the site (see Figure
1, Site Facilities).
Depending on the availability of contract helicopters, PacifiCorp may use a helicopter ranging in
size from a MD 500 helicopter to a large heavy lift type helicopter. The type of helicopter used
for this activity will be determined once a helicopter subcontractor has been selected.
The helicopter will be used to transport the following equipment to the site:
Tower components (too large to be transported by 4‐wheel drive truck)
Concrete for foundation
Equipment (too large to be transported by 4‐wheel drive truck)
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The helicopter subcontractor will be responsible for determining the safest flight path up to the
site from the staging area, but the flight path of the helicopter when transporting material will
not be over homes. The proposed flight path will be submitted to the forest service after
PacifiCorp’s contractor selects a helicopter subcontractor, but prior to construction. The
helicopter subcontractor can modify the flight path based on requests by the forest service to
avoid sensitive resource areas and/or receptors. PacifiCorp will notify any residents in the
vicinity of the helicopter activities at least two weeks prior to activities. Helicopter activities are
not expected to take more than three days, but will be dependent on flying conditions during
the operations.
Traffic control measures will be taken at the staging area during loading of materials and/or the
concrete into the helicopter bucket to maintain the safety of the helicopter operation and to
protect the public.
Helicopter activities will be scheduled for Monday through Friday (i.e. no weekend work),
during daylight hours. During helicopter operations, PacifiCorp estimates there will be up to 40
trips per day required to deliver materials. The majority of trips will involve the transfer of
concrete to the work site.
TreeClearing
Tree clearing will be required for helicopter construction. The area surrounding the proposed
tower location and temporary access road will need to be cleared of trees to allow the
helicopter access to the site. The area of tree clearing is on the northwestern side of the
existing facilities. Approximately 70 trees will need to be removed in this area; see Figure 1 for a
general description of the tree clearing area.
The majority of the trees to be removed are pine, but a few cedar and fir trees will also require
removal. The majority of trees are small, less than 10‐inch dbh, and fall within an area that
appears to have been previously cleared; tree clearing will occur in an area about ¼ of an acre
in size immediately north/northeast of the existing buildings. No large snags with the potential
to support bats or cavity nesting birds are proposed for removal.
The trees will be removed prior to construction. Once the trees are cut they will be disposed of
as required by the forest service. Generally, smaller trees (less than 12 dbh) will be chipped
onsite. Larger trees will be limbed and chipped, with the trunk and larger branches left onsite as
downed timber.
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To minimize impacts to nesting birds, preconstruction surveys to identify nesting birds will be
conducted prior to any vegetation removal. All active nests will be identified and marked for
avoidance. Additional details regarding nest survey protocols can be found in Section V, Project
Design Features.
Noise
During helicopter operations, there will be a temporary increase in noise during the actual
operation of the helicopter. The type of helicopter used will determine how much ambient
noise levels are increased. As noted above, this increase in noise levels will be temporary and is
not expected to extend beyond three days of operations.
In order to reduce the impact to sensitive resources and receptors design features, as described
in Section V will be implemented.
Dust
To minimize the generation of fugitive dust, work areas will be watered, as necessary, during
flight operations. The areas will be watered to sufficiently reduce the generation of dust, but
will not be watered to the point of causing runoff from the site.
ProposedandExistingDistributionLines
PacifiCorp is also proposing to replace an existing underground electric distribution line due to
conflicts with existing propane tanks and required line clearances. The new underground
distribution line will be approximately 93‐feet in length and is located in a previously disturbed
area at the existing facilities. The underground line will have a small transformer mounted on a
pad and will tie into a meter point owned by Verizon. The current underground line it is
replacing will be abandoned in place; no ground disturbing activity will be associated with
abandonment of this line.
In addition, PacifiCorp is requesting coverage for four (4) existing 12.47kV distribution lines that
were not previously covered under a Special Use Permit or easement. No work is proposed on
these existing lines.
Figure 1, Site Facilities, shows the location of proposed activities.
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Source: Esri, DigitalGlobe, GeoEye, i-cubed, USDA, USGS, AEX, Getmapping, Aerogrid, IGN, IGP,swisstopo, and the GIS User Community
Cell Tower CenterProject ComponentsStaging Area
Distribution LinesAbandon UGExisting OverheadProposed UG
Township 38S Range 8WExisting RoadTemporary Road
Tree Thinning^ Jewel FlowerFigure 2: Site Map
Eight Dollar Mountain Communication Site ±
Section 18Section 17
Siskiyou National Forest
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II.ProjectLocation
The project is located on the summit of Eight Dollar Mountain on the Wild Rivers Ranger
District, of the Rogue River Siskiyou National Forest, Township 38 South, Range 8 West, Section
17, SE ¼, Josephine County, Oregon. The project location includes the tower location and
temporary work areas, distribution line locations, and staging areas (2) at the summit of Eight
Dollar Mountain and immediately adjacent to Eight Dollar Mountain Road at the base of the
mountain. The access road leading to the project area is under Bureau of Land Management
jurisdiction. (See Figure 2, Project Location)
III.ProjectTimingandDuration
The project is expected to occur between March and July of 2014. Duration for construction
activities is not expected to exceed six weeks.
IV.FieldReviewandAssessmentTools
A review of all existing documentation for the Eight Dollar Mountain Communication Tower
was reviewed; this included the PacifiCorp Eight Dollar Mountain Test Drilling BA/BE‐Wild Rivers
Ranger District prepared by Above and Beyond Ecosystems Enterprise Unit. A site visit was
conducted on August 16, 2013. The site visit was conducted to address the potential impacts
from all construction activities, particularly tree clearing, associated with this work.
In addition, a literature review was conducted for the project area. GIS information from public
sources such as the Rogue River‐Siskiyou National Forest Data Library was also reviewed.
Consultation with resource specialists for the Rogue River‐Siskiyou National forest helped to
identify concerns associated with this work. Of particular concern was the removal of snags
with the potential to support cavity nesting species and impacts to nesting birds from tree
clearing and helicopter activities.
Copyright:© 2013 National Geographic Society, i-cubed
Communications SiteExisting Access RoadStaging Area
Figure 1. Project Location with USGS TOPO: Quad: Eight Dollar Mountain & Cave Junction ±1 inch = 5,000 feet 1:60,000Absolute Scale
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V.ProjectDesignFeatures
The following project design features have been developed to avoid or minimize impacts to
wildlife species.
NestSurveys
PacifiCorp will conduct nesting bird surveys prior to all construction activities including
vegetation clearing if activities occur between March 1st and June 30th.
Surveys will be conducted by a qualified wildlife biologist, familiar with species expected
to occur in the project area.
Surveys will be conducted no more than 7 days prior to activities. If activities are
delayed for more than 7 days, a new survey will be conducted.
Surveys will begin immediately prior to construction and run through the duration of
activities or June 30th, whichever is sooner.
A summary report of nesting activities will be provided to the forest service at their
request.
If a nest is located, it will be marked for avoidance and no construction activities will be
allowed within 100 meters of the nest site, unless approved by the forest service.
HelicopterConstruction
Helicopter construction will take place during the week, during normal work hours (i.e. 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.)
PacifiCorp will coordinate with the forest service on all proposed flight paths and will notify the forest service one week prior to operations with the helicopter’s make and model.
PacifiCorp will coordinate with the forest service if helicopter activities must occur during nesting season for raptor and migratory species (generally March through June).
Dust control measures will be implemented to avoid the generation of excessive fugitive dust.
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VI.Region6Sensitive(S)andallfederallylistedThreatened(T),Endangered(E),andProposed(P)SpeciesExistingCondition,EffectAnalysisandDeterminationSummary
The project area has been previously developed and includes numerous structures and
buildings associated with the existing communication facilities. This includes existing towers,
equipment buildings and access roads. The proposed communication tower is located
immediately adjacent to an existing tower and equipment building in an area that has been
previously disturbed. The underground distribution line is also located in a previously disturbed
area including an existing access road. The overhead distribution lines will remain in their
current location and no ground disturbing or vegetation clearing is associated with the
permitting of these existing facilities. Tree clearing will occur in an area that has been
previously disturbed as indicated by the small size of the existing trees and evidence (e.g. old
road) of previous use during construction of existing facilities.
Eight Dollar Mountain supports a wide variety of plant communities including western azalea
thickets, chaparral, Jeffery pine forests and fens. The area also supports a large number of rare
and endemic plants. The project area is characterized by open conifer forest with open areas
dominated by shrub species. Common tree species include pine, fir and cedars along with
shrubs such as huckleberry oak, manzanita and coffeeberry. No sensitive plant communities
such as Darlingtonia wetlands occur in the project area. The site is very dry, no wetland or
riparian areas are present in or near proposed areas of disturbance that could support sensitive
species associated with these types of habitat.
The project area does not provide suitable habitat for any federally listed threatened,
endangered or proposed wildlife species. The majority of Region 6 sensitive species do not have
habitat within one or more miles of the project area and would not have any potential to be
impacted by the proposed activities (USDA, September 2012). There is the potential to impact
avian species if work is conducted during the nesting season (March through June) from
tree/vegetation removal and noise from helicopter and construction activities. Table 1 shows all
species considered for this analysis, the determination of potential effects/impacts, and the
rationale for that determination.
Table 1. Species Considered
Species Determination Rationale
Threatened and Endangered Wildlife
Northern spotted owl NE No suitable habitat within 1.3 miles of project area
Northern spotted owl CHU NE No CHU within 1.3 miles of the
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Species Determination Rationale
project area
Marbled murrelet NE No suitable habitat present
Marbled murrelet CHU NE No suitable habitat present
Forest Service Region 6 Sensitive Species
American peregrine falcon NI No nesting habitat near the project area
Bald Eagle NI No suitable nesting habitat within 1.3 miles of the project area
Harlequin duck NI No suitable habitat present
Lewis’ woodpecker MIIH Lewis’ woodpeckers frequent open pine forest. This species is not expected to be nesting in the area, but surveys will be conducted prior to construction.
White‐headed woodpecker NI This species is not expected to occur in the area, but surveys will be conducted prior to construction.
Northern waterthrush NI No suitable habitat present
California wolverine NI This solitary species is not expected to occur in the project area.
Fisher NI No suitable habitat present
Pacific pallid bat NI No roosting habitat present
Townsend’s big‐eared bat NI No suitable habitat present
Pacific fringed‐tailed bat NI No suitable habitat present
Northwestern pond turtle NI No suitable habitat present
Oregon spotted frog NI No suitable habitat present
Foothill yellow‐legged frog NI No suitable habitat present
Siskiyou mountain salamander NI No suitable habitat present
Black salamander NI No suitable habitat present
Siskiyou short‐horned grasshopper NI No suitable habitat present
Johnson’s hairstreak NI Low potential for this species to occur in the project area.
Mardon skipper NI No suitable habitat present
Coronis fritillary NI No suitable habitat present
Insular blue butterfly NI No suitable habitat present
Hoary elfin NI Outside of known range
Franklin’s bumble bee NI Outside of known range
Western bumble bee NI No suitable habitat present
Pristine springsnail NI Outside of known range
Siskiyou Hesperian NI Outside of known range
Crater Lake tightcoil NI Outside of known range
Green sideband NI Outside of known range
Traveling sideband NI Outside of known range
Chace sideband NI Outside of known range
Pacific walker NI Outside of known range
Robust walker NI No known sites near the project area.
Scale lanx NI Outside of known range
Highcap lanx NI No suitable habitat present
Oregon shoulderband snail NI Outside of known range
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Species Determination Rationale
Klamath rim pebblesnail NI Outside of known range
Evening fieldslug NI Outside of known range
Western ridged mussel NI No suitable habitat present
Management Indicator Species
Bald eagle NI No suitable nesting habitat within 1.3 miles of the project area
Northern spotted owl NI No suitable habitat within 1.3 miles of project area
Osprey NI No nesting habitat within 1.3 miles of the project area
Pileated woodpecker MIIH There is the potential for this species to occur in the project area. Preconstruction surveys will be conducted to identify any nesting birds. Construction activities are unlikely to impact woodpeckers foraging in the area due to the limited area of activity and short duration of the construction period.
Woodpeckers (Acorn, Downy, Hairy, Northern Flicker, Red‐breasted sap sucker, white‐headed woodpecker, Lewis’)
MIIH There is the potential for woodpecker species to occur in the project area. Preconstruction surveys will be conducted to identify any nesting birds. Construction activities are unlikely to impact woodpeckers foraging in the area due to the limited area of activity and short duration of the construction period.
American marten NI No suitable habitat present
Columbian black‐tailed deer NI The project area is not critical habitat for this species and due to the limited area of disturbance and short duration of construction; this species is not expected to be impacted.
Roosevelt elk NI No suitable habitat present
Survey & Manage Species
Bats (fringed, long‐eared, long‐legged myotis; silver‐haired, pallid and Townsend big‐eared)
NI Suitable habitat for bat species is not present in the project area. It is unlikely that the existing structure provide suitable roosting habitat for bats. No large snags will be removed from the project area.
Black‐backed woodpecker NI No suitable habitat present
Flammulated owl MIIH This species has the potential to occur in the project area. Preconstruction surveys will be conducted to identify any nesting birds in order to avoid impacts to this species.
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Species Determination Rationale
Great gray owl NI No suitable habitat present
Red tree vole (xeric zone) NI This species is typically found in late successional forest, it is unlikely it occurs at the project site.
Bird Conservation Region 5 High Priority Species
Yellow‐billed loon NI No suitable habitat present
Western Grebe NI No suitable habitat present
Laysan albatross NI No suitable habitat present
Black‐footed albatross NI No suitable habitat present
Pink‐footed shearwater NI No suitable habitat present
Red‐faced cormorant NI No suitable habitat present
Pelagic cormorant NI No suitable habitat present
Bald Eagle NI No suitable nesting habitat within 1.3 miles of the project area
Northern goshawk MIIH This species has the potential to occur in the project area. Preconstruction surveys will be conducted to identify any nesting birds in order to avoid impacts to this species.
Peregrine falcon NI This species may forage in the project area, but no suitable nesting habitat is present. No impacts are expected to this species.
Black oystercatcher NI No suitable habitat present
Solitary sandpiper NI No suitable habitat present
Lesser yellowlegs NI No suitable habitat present
Whimbrel NI No suitable habitat present
Long‐billed curlew NI No suitable habitat present
Hudsonian godwit NI No suitable habitat present
Marbled godwit NI No suitable habitat present
Red knot NI No suitable habitat present
Short‐billed dowitcher NI No suitable habitat present
Aleutian tern NI No suitable habitat present
Caspian tern NI No suitable habitat present
Artic tern NI No suitable habitat present
Marbled murrelet NI No suitable habitat present
Kittlitz’s murrelet NI No suitable habitat present
Black swift NI No suitable habitat present
Rufous hummingbird NI No suitable habitat present
Allen’s hummingbird NI No suitable habitat present
Olive‐sided flycatcher NI This species is unlikely to occur in the project area as it prefers burned areas with large snags.
Willow flycatcher NI No suitable habitat present
Horned lark NI No suitable habitat present
Oregon vesper sparrow NI No suitable habitat present
Purple finch MIIH This species has the potential to occur in the project area. Preconstruction surveys will be
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Species Determination Rationale
conducted to identify any nesting birds in order to avoid impacts to this species.
Neo‐tropical Migratory Birds
All birds in this category MIIH Numerous species that are covered under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act have the potential to occur in the project area. Preconstruction surveys will be conducted to identify any nesting birds in order to avoid impacts to these species.
Determination Acronyms
Threatened and Endangered Species: NE‐No Effect LAA‐May Affect, Likely to Adversely Affect BE‐Beneficial Effect CHU‐Critical Habitat Unit NLAA‐May Affect, Not Likely to Adversely Affect
All other species categories: NI‐No Impact BI‐Beneficial Impact MIIH‐May impact individuals or habitat, but will not likely contribute to a trend towards federal listing or cause a loss of viability to the populations or species WIFV‐Will impact individuals or habitat with a consequence that the action may contribute to a trend towards federal listing or cause a loss of viability to the population or species
VII.SummaryThe project is expected to have no impact on any threatened, endangered or proposed species,
and may impact individuals or habitat but will not likely contribute to a trend towards federal
listing or cause a loss of viability to the population or species for non‐federally listed species.
Through the implementation of the proposed design features (e.g. nesting bird surveys) project
activities would avoid and/or minimize any impact to bird species in the project area.
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References
Oregon Biodiversity Information Center, 2013. Rare, Threatened and Endangered Species of Oregon. Institute for Natural Resources, Portland State University, Portland, Oregon. 111 pp. Region Six Forest Service & OR/WA Bureau of Land Management, 2013. Incorporating Migratory & Resident Bird Concerns into the National Environmental Policy Act Process.
United States Department of Agriculture‐Forest Service, Rogue River‐Siskiyou National Forest,
Wild Rivers Ranger District, 2012. PacifiCorp Eight Dollar Mountain Communication Tower
Geotechnical Investigation (Test Drilling), Biological Assessment/Biological Evaluation of
Wildlife Species.
