**BIOLOGICAL EVALUATION FOR SENSITIVE SPECIES SHORT FORM**

# MINIDOKA DISTRICT

1.  **Proposed action**: The proposal is to treat by mechanical means
    the perimeter of existing, but declining, aspen stands to stimulate
    aspen suckering. This project will effect approximately 100 to 300
    acres of aspen stands on the western portion of the Raft River
    Division in Utah, in T14N , R16W, Sec. 25, 26, 35, 36 and T13N,
    R16W, Sec. 2, 3, 10, 11, 14 and 15.

2.  **Category**: FSH 1909.15, Category 13, Section 31.2 (6). "wildlife
    habitat improvement activities which do not include the use of
    herbicides or do not require more than one mile of low standard road
    construction".

3.  **Species Identification:**

+-----------+-----------------------+---------------------------------+
| **Present | ## WILDLIFE SPECIES   | ## Potential Habitat            |
| within    |                       |                                 |
| Project   |                       |                                 |
| area**    |                       |                                 |
+-----------+-----------------------+---------------------------------+
| # X       | a\. Spotted Bat       | ## Open                         |
|           | *Euderma maculatum*   | Ponderosa pine, marshy and open |
|           |                       |  pastures, roost in rocky crevi |
|           |                       | ces on steep cliff faces.areas  |
+-----------+-----------------------+---------------------------------+
|           | b\. North American    | Many habitat types are used     |
|           | Wolverine *Gulo gulo* | from forested drainage bottoms  |
|           |                       | to sparsely timbered cirque     |
|           |                       | basins.                         |
+-----------+-----------------------+---------------------------------+
|           | c\. Peregrine Falcon  | Tall cliffs (\>150') with       |
|           | *Falco peregrinus     | ledges for nesting and          |
|           | anatum*               | perching.                       |
+-----------+-----------------------+---------------------------------+
| ### X     | d.Townsend's          | Forest edges, roost in rocky    |
|           | Big-eared bat         | outcrops, caves, old mines or   |
|           | *Corynorhinus         | buildings.                      |
|           | townsendii            |                                 |
|           | pallescens*           |                                 |
+-----------+-----------------------+---------------------------------+
| ### X     | e\. Greater           | Big sagebrush (Artemisia spp.)  |
|           | Sage-grouse           | and grasslands.                 |
|           | *Centrocercus         |                                 |
|           | urophasianus*         |                                 |
+-----------+-----------------------+---------------------------------+
| ### X     | f\. Flammulated Owl   | Mature Ponderosa pine,          |
|           | *Otus flammeolus*     | Douglas-fir and aspen forests   |
|           |                       | with an abundance of snags and  |
|           |                       | cavities for nesting.           |
+-----------+-----------------------+---------------------------------+
| ### X     | h\. Pygmy Rabbit      | Dense (high canopy cover) tall  |
|           | *Brachylagus          | stands of sagebrush.            |
|           | idahoensis*           |                                 |
+-----------+-----------------------+---------------------------------+
| ###       | i\. Columbian         | Sagebrush/grasslands and        |
|           | Sharp-tailed Grouse   | mountain brush habitats.        |
|           | *Tympanuchus          |                                 |
|           | phasianellus          |                                 |
|           | columbianus*          |                                 |
+-----------+-----------------------+---------------------------------+
| # X       | j\. Northern Goshawk  | Old aged stands with a high     |
|           | *Accipiter gentilis*  | density of large trees, high    |
|           |                       | tree canopy cover/open          |
|           |                       | understory near water.          |
+-----------+-----------------------+---------------------------------+
|           | k\. Columbian Spotted | Permanent water, marshes,       |
|           | Frog                  | ponds, or riparian areas.       |
+-----------+-----------------------+---------------------------------+
|           |                       |                                 |
+-----------+-----------------------+---------------------------------+

+------------+-----------------+--------------------------------------+
| **Present  | # PLANT SPECIES | # Habitat and Known Populations      |
| /Potential |                 |                                      |
| impact     |                 |                                      |
| within     |                 |                                      |
| Project    |                 |                                      |
| area**     |                 |                                      |
+------------+-----------------+--------------------------------------+
|            | l\. Goose Creek | Barren slopes of white tuffaceous    |
|            | milkvetch       | sand, known populations on Cassia    |
|            | *Astragalus     | Div. - Goose Creek drainage          |
|            | anserinus*      |                                      |
+------------+-----------------+--------------------------------------+
|            | m\. Christ's    | Subalpine meadows \> 9,000 ft .-     |
|            | Indian          | endemic species found only on Mt.    |
|            | paintbrush      | Harrison on, Albion Division.        |
|            | *Castilleja     |                                      |
|            | christii*       |                                      |
+------------+-----------------+--------------------------------------+
|            | n\. Davis'      | Subalpine rock outcrops and gravel   |
|            | wavewing        | areas\> 9,000 ft. - known            |
|            | *Cymopterus     | populations on Independence Mt.,     |
|            | davissii*       | Graham Pk., and Mt. Harrison on      |
|            |                 | Albion Division                      |
+------------+-----------------+--------------------------------------+
|            | o\. Desert      | Dry, lower slopes - Black Pine and   |
|            | buckwheat       | Cassia Division                      |
|            | *Eriogonum      |                                      |
|            | desertorum*     |                                      |
+------------+-----------------+--------------------------------------+
|            | p\. Idaho       | Lacustrine ash deposits, clay soils  |
|            | penstemon       | known populations on Cassia          |
|            | *Penstemon      | Division - Goose Creek drainage      |
|            | idahoensis*     |                                      |
+------------+-----------------+--------------------------------------+
|            | q\. Cottam's    | Cracks in quartzite outcrops 7,500 - |
|            | cinquefoil      | 10,400 ft. - populations on the Raft |
|            | *Potentilla     | River Division                       |
|            | cottamii*       |                                      |
+------------+-----------------+--------------------------------------+
| X          | r\. Grouse      | Marble chip outcrops from 5500 to    |
|            | Creek Rockcress | 6500 ft. in elevation along ridge    |
|            |                 | summits inbox Elder County.          |
+------------+-----------------+--------------------------------------+

4.  **Findings**

> I find that the proposed action will **not impact** any sensitive
> wildlife or botanical species.
>
> [**X**]{.underline} I find that the proposed action **may impact some
> individuals, but will not cause a trend toward federal listing or a
> loss of viability.** This action will likely have **positive impacts**
> on habitat for Townsend's Big-eared bat, Flammulated owls, and
> Northern Goshawks by improving foraging areas and increasing potential
> nesting habitat.

Due to impacts to\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_, I recommend the
action not be categorically excluded and a full Biological Evaluation be
completed.

5.  **Signatures:**

Preparer:
\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_
Date: \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

Dena Santini, Wildlife Biologist

Preparer:
\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_
Date: [\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_]{.underline}

Kim Pierson, Forest Botanist