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PROJECT NAME: La Sal Spring Protection and Water Development Project – Biological Assessment PROJECT LOCATION: The projects are located on west slope of the La Sal Mountains, Pinhook Valley and Andy Mesa areas (Sections 2 of T27S, R23E; Sections 7,8,9,16,19,20,29,30 of T26S, R24E and Section 24 of T25S, R24E) . Grand and San Juan Counties, Utah RANGER DISTRICT: Moab Ranger District, Manti-La Sal National Forest DATE: December 16, 2013 PURPOSE AND NEED:

The purpose of the proposal is to: 1) Improve overall hydrologic function, spring morphology, groundwater levels and water quality; reduce soil compaction/puddling; and restore associated riparian/hydric vegetation of several spring and seep areas, while providing water access to livestock and wildlife within four grazing allotments on the La Sal Mountains (see project area maps) 2) Improve livestock distribution in pasture units by improving water distribution. The hydrology of the springs/wet meadows has been affected by active use/trampling by livestock and wildlife. Soil compaction, hummocky surface, stressed vegetation and/or loss (browsed willow) and erosion has occurred at several spring/wet meadow locations including at spring sources. The springs are at risk for permanent water loss (lowering of the water table) due to severe hummocking, soil puddling and compaction. Currently the Upper Pinhook Valley has little reliable water which is not well-distributed throughout the pasture unit, resulting in an uneven pattern of livestock utilization. PROPOSED ACTION: The proposed action to address the purpose and need includes the following:

1. Expand and/or relocate the existing spring exclosures and existing troughs on the Bull Draw, Mason Draw and Lower Brumley springs.

2. Collect water from the small creek that runs out of Miners Basin about ¼ mile from where it flows to the gravel pit. Pipe the water to three trough locations in the Pinhook Valley to provide water and better livestock distribution in the pasture unit.

3. Construct spring exclosures and provide water access outside of exclosures by collecting water from springs and piping to troughs for 6 spring/seep areas located on the Bald Mesa and Mason Draw allotments.

 

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Map 1. General Location map.

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Map 2. Headbox and trough locations.

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Map 3. Watershed boundaries and spring/trough locations.

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T&E Species: The following tables list the Endangered, Threatened and Candidate species of wildlife, fish and plants that should be considered for the general project area on the Moab portion of the Moab/Monticello District of the Manti-La Sal National Forest in Grand and San Juan Counties, Utah. The analysis considers the scope, magnitude and effects of the specific project and will be documentation for assessment of these T&E species that occur/may occur in the project area. The Forest Biologist/Botanist reviewed this project, assessed the scientific literature and information on species distributions and habitat (using one or more of the following: field reconnaissance, previous surveys plus recent survey data from the project area, topographic and vegetation maps and aerial photos), and then analyzed the potential for impacts to all federally listed species. The available information is complete and adequate for the analysis of the direct/indirect effects of the proposed project. Consideration of the aforementioned material constitutes use of the best available science. If the project was determined to have No Effect, this determination was based on one or more or the following criteria:

1. Habitat for the species is not present in the project area. 2. Habitat for the species is present but the species does not occur in this area. 3. Habitat for the species is present, the species occurs or may occur in the project area, but the project

would not have any direct, indirect or cumulative effects on this species. Rationale for May Effect determinations are detailed in the tables below.

A. Wildlife (Federally Listed Threatened, Endangered and Candidate Species, USFWS, Utah Field Office, December 2013).

SPECIES STATUS DETERMINATION COMMENTS California Condor (Gymnogyps californianus)

E (Experimental

population)

No Effect Habitat for the species may be present but the species does not currently occur in this area.

Greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus)

Candidate No Effect This species does not occur on National Forest lands south of the Colorado River.

Gunnison Sage Grouse (Centrocercus minimus)

Proposed Endangered

No Effect The project area is outside the current range of the species, and the nearest population is over 40 miles away. Suitable habitat for the species is not present in the project area.

Mexican Spotted Owl (Strix occidentalis lucida)

T No Effect There is no designated critical habitat in the project area. There is modeled canyon habitat in Mill Creek Canyon adjacent to one of the spring sites, but the site is more than ½ mile from modeled breeding/roosting habitat below the canyon rim. Surveys have been conducted along Mill Creek Canyon in past years, and no MSO have been detected. The nearest known territory is over 30 miles away. Widely scattered pixels from the 1997 habitat model are a reflection of the steep and rocky mountain slopes, which do not provide suitable MSO foraging habitat in the vicinity of the spring sites in the project area.

Southwestern Willow Flycatcher (Empidonax traillii extimus)

E No Effect The project area is outside the Upper Colorado Recovery Unit (USFWS 2002) and there is no designated critical habitat (USFWS 2013). The upper elevation for documented southwestern willow flycatcher breeding is 8500 feet, and five of the sites (the 3 existing spring developments at Bull Draw, Mason Draw and Lower Brumley, Pinhook diversion and new Web Hollow trough) are at or below that elevation. However, there is no to very limited willow habitat associated with the springs. While there is no potential breeding habitat for southwestern willow flycatcher, downstream effects must be considered. The small amount of water seasonally appropriated will have no effect on riparian habitat downstream in the Colorado River.

Western yellow-billed Cuckoo (Coccyzus americanus occidentalis)

Proposed Threatened

No Effect This neotropical migrant requires dense, deciduous riparian forest for breeding, generally in tall cottonwoods and willows in at least 25-acre patches. Suitable habitat for the species is not available in the project area.

Comments/rationale: The project area is the action area. There is no suitable habitat in the project area, and no T&E or candidate species are expected to occur.

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B. Fisheries & Amphibians (Federally Listed Threatened, Endangered and Candidate Species, USFWS, 2013). SPECIES STATUS DETERMINATION COMMENTSBonytail chub (Gila elegans)

E May Effect, Likely to Adversely Affect

The bonytail chub does not occur on the Manti-La Sal National Forest (MLNF), but is present in large river system drainages that receive water originating on the MLNF. The La Sal Springs water development would use approximately 0.58 acre-feet per year of water from the Colorado River watershed for stockwatering purposes on MLNF range allotments by permitted livestock. This water depletion would be less than 100 acre feet. Water depletions of less than one hundred acre feet constitute a small depletion. Therefore, the water development may affect, and is likely to adversely affect Colorado River Endangered Fishes.

Colorado Pikeminnow (Ptychocheilus lucius)

E May Effect, Likely to Adversely Affect

The Colorado pikeminnow does not occur on the Manti-La Sal National Forest, but is present in large river system drainages that receive water originating on the MLNF. The La Sal Springs water development would use approximately 0.58 acre-feet per year of water from the Colorado River watershed for stockwatering purposes on MLNF range allotments by permitted livestock. This water depletion would be less than 100 acre feet. Water depletions of less than one hundred acre feet constitute a small depletion. Therefore, the water development may affect, and is likely to adversely affect Colorado River Endangered Fishes.

Greenback Cutthroat Trout (Oncorhynchus clarkia stomias)

T No Effect This species is not known to occur within the Placer Creek or Mill Creek drainage.

Humpback Chub (Gila cypha)

E May Effect, Likely to Adversely Affect

The humpback chub does not occur on the Manti-La Sal National Forest, but is present in large river system drainages that receive water originating on the MLNF. The La Sal Springs water development would use approximately 0.58 acre-feet per year of water from the Colorado River watershed for stockwatering purposes on MLNF range allotments by permitted livestock. This water depletion would be less than 100 acre feet. Water depletions of less than one hundred acre feet constitute a small depletion. Therefore, the water development may affect, and is likely to adversely affect Colorado River Endangered Fishes.

Razorback Sucker (Xyrauchen texanus)

E May Effect, Likely to Adversely Affect

The razorback sucker does not occur on the Manti-La Sal National Forest, but is present in large river system drainages that receive water originating on the MLNF. The La Sal Springs water development would use approximately 0.5 8acre-feet per year of water from the Colorado River watershed for stockwatering purposes on MLNF range allotments by permitted livestock. This water depletion would be less than 100 acre feet. Water depletions of less than one hundred acre feet constitute a small depletion. Therefore, the water development may affect, and is likely to adversely affect Colorado River Endangered Fishes.

Comments/rationale: The action area includes the 7 spring developments, 1 stream diversion and 3 existing troughs to be reconstructed on the east side of the La Sal Mountains on the Manti-La Sal National Forest and downstream in the Granite Creek-Lower Dolores River, Placer Creek and Mill Creek HUC 5 watersheds in the Colorado River. Using the number of new troughs, permitted livestock numbers and 25 gallons per head/day, there is a total of 134,750 gallons or 0.42 acre feet of depletion (see Appendix 1). There are three existing spring developments/troughs currently used by livestock that will be reconstructed; the amount of water diverted to these structures is approximately 54,000 gallons or 0.17 acre feet.

Design features of the project include exclosures for protection of spring sources and piping water to a trough outside of the spring area, which is expected to result in less direct impact to the spring source and any associated wetlands. Headboxes will be designed to take a portion of the spring output, retaining a minimum flow at the source. Overflow is returned to the system in the same drainage.

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Appendix 1.

Estimate on water total gallons that would be used for the proposed water developments for the La Sal Spring Protection and Water Development Project.

Pinhook Development- This water development is to divert water from a stream to three troughs. Lower Pinhook is usually used about 3 weeks by less than 100 c/c pairs. There is really only 1 other reliable water source in this pasture so I will estimate that half the herd will use the new trough. So 50*25 gallons/day*21 days= 26,250 gallons for the lower trough. There will be two troughs in Upper Pinhook. There are other water sources and usually not more than 60 pairs are kept here, or if more they are kept for a shorter time. I will base the estimate of what we permitted in 2012. 50 c/c for 80 days. I would estimate maybe 12 cows for each trough, so 24*25gallons*80 days= 48,000 gallons Wilcox Flat Trough- 291 pair are permitted to be in Wilcox Flat for about 30 days each year. There are several other water sources. This one is right by the road and a good flowing spring. I would estimate that it could at least fully water 45 animals/day. 45*25 gal*30 days= 33,750. There are 3 springs that are proposed to be developed in North Hollow. 2 were flowing well last spring, 1 showed no flow. The 1 with no flow last year will probably have very little flow and not be able to keep the trough full. I would estimate only 5 pairs/day throughout the time they will be there about 30 days. 5*25*30= 3750. The other two springs should be able to keep troughs full depending on the year. Based on last year probably enough for 20 pair each over the 30 days. There is a ditch nearby and other water sources lower in the pasture. 20*25*30=15,000 There are 2 proposed troughs in South Hollow. Neither spring was flowing last year and both were small. They mainly need protection from trampling, may not be enough water there to actually flow to a trough. If so it probably wouldn’t be more than 8,000 gallons total for the both of them. So using the logic lined out above I would estimate at least 134,750 gallons for the 9 new troughs. So this is about .42 acre feet. The 3 other springs on the proposal are not new developments, but are existing and all we are doing is expanding the exclosures and/or moving the trough to a better location. 1 trough is located in Lower Brumley Unit. There was a little flow last year. Cows mainly just trail through this area. I would estimate it may be able to water 20 pair for about 14 days (7 in the spring and 7 in the fall). 30*25*14= 10,500 The trough located in Mason Draw is within an aspen area. There is good flow on this spring. There are two other springs not far from here. The permit is for 71 pair in this pasture for about 45 days. I would guess the spring could water 20 pair/day. 20*25*45= 22,500 Bull Draw Spring- flow is good, just need to expand the exclosure to prevent trampling of wet ground and move trough out of depression. The past few years about 300 pair have used this pasture for about 28 days. There are other water sources near and this one is a little hard to get to. Would estimate only about 10% of the herd use it. 30*25*28= 21,000 For the 3 existing troughs, it would be an additional 54,000 gallons or 0.17 acre feet. Prepared by Tina Marian, Rangeland Management Specialist, December 3, 2013