**BIOLOGICAL OPINION**

on the

**LAND AND RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PLAN HOOSIER NATIONAL FOREST, INDIANA**

**Submitted to the U.S. Forest Service**

**July 31, 2001**

Prepared by:

Scott E. Pruitt

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Bloomington Field Office

620 S. Walker Street

Bloomington, IN 47403

\(812\) 334-4261 x 217

**TABLE OF CONTENTS**

INTRODUCTION\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\.....
1

CONSULTATION
HISTORY\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\.....
1

**[BIOLOGICAL OPINION]{.underline}**

DESCRIPTION OF THE PROPOSED
ACTION\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\.... 2

STATUS OF THE
SPECIES\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\.....
5

ENVIRONMENTAL
BASELINE\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...
8

EFFECTS OF THE
ACTION\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\....
10

CUMULATIVE
EFFECTS\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\.....
13

CONCLUSION\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\....
13

**[INCIDENTAL TAKE STATEMENT]{.underline}**

AMOUNT OR EXTENT OF
TAKE\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...
14

EFFECT OF
TAKE\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\.....
15

REASONABLE AND PRUDENT
MEASURES\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\... 15

TERMS AND
CONDITIONS\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\....
16

**[CONSERVATION
RECOMMENDATIONS]{.underline}**\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\....
18

**[REINITIATION
NOTICE]{.underline}**\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\....
19

**[LITERATURE
CITED]{.underline}**\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\....
19

**INTRODUCTION**

This document transmits the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service\'s (Service)
biological opinion based on our review of the continued implementation
of the Hoosier National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan (as
amended) and projects predicated upon it, and its effects on the Indiana
bat (*Myotis sodalis*) in accordance with section 7 of the Endangered
Species Act (Act) of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.). This
biological opinion is based on information provided in the April 5, 2000
Programmatic Biological Assessment Land and Resource Management Plan. A
complete administrative record of this consultation is on file at the
Service=s Bloomington, Indiana Field Office (BFO).

**CONSULTATION HISTORY**

On September 14, 1984 the Service issued a Biological Opinion on the
Proposed Land and Resource Management Plan for the Hoosier National
Forest. A non jeopardy opinion was included for the Indiana bat, gray
bat (*Myotis grisescens*), bald eagle (*Haliaeetus leucocephalus*), and
peregrine falcon (*Falco peregrinus*), however no Incidental Take
Statement was included, since it was concluded that no take would occur.

On July 30, 1990 the U.S. Department of Interior responded to the
Hoosier National Forest request for comments on the Draft Environmental
Impact Statement for proposed amendments to the Hoosier National Forest
Land and Resource Management Plan (Forest Plan). Within that response
was a discussion of the Federally endangered Indiana bat, gray bat, bald
eagle, and pink mucket pearly mussel (*Lampsilis orbiculata*). Peregrine
falcon was not included because it did not occur within the Hoosier
National Forest at that time. It was concluded that the Forest Plan had
adequate measures to protect the bald eagle and pink mucket pearly
mussel. A number of guidelines where recommended for implementation to
avoid take of the Indiana bat and gray bat. The Forest Plan amendment
included those recommendations and stated that, ANo destruction or
adverse modification of critical habitat and no actions likely to
adversely affect any Federally listed species will occur as a result of
National Forest management decisions.@, which concluded consultation.

On April 17, 2000 the BFO received the request from the Forest Service
initiating formal consultation for the continued implementation of the
Forest Plan, as amended. A Biological Assessment was included with that
request and it considered the Federally endangered Indiana bat, gray
bat, bald eagle, and eastern fanshell mussel (*Cyprogenia stegaria*).
The pink mucket pearly mussel was not included in that request because
species experts believe, and the Service concurs, that the mussel is
extirpated from within the proclamation boundary of the Hoosier National
Forest.

During meetings and telephone conversations in October 2000 the Service
advised the Hoosier National Forest that formal consultation under
Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act on the continued implementation
of the Forest Plan would not be necessary due to this statement in the
Forest Plan; ANo destruction or adverse modification of critical habitat
and no actions likely to adversely affect any Federally listed species
will occur as a result of National Forest management decisions.@ On
October 20, 2000 BFO received a letter from the Hoosier National Forest
stating that since the Forest Plan was amended in 1991 Indiana bats have
been captured on the Hoosier National Forest. That letter concluded
that; ABased on this new information, we have found in the Biological
Assessment that continued implementation of the Forest Plan may affect -
likely to adversely affect individual Indiana bats using the Hoosier
National Forest. We plan on amending the Forest Plan to incorporate the
reasonable and prudent measures we expect to be developed from our
formal consultation. When we amend the Forest Plan, we will modify the
above statement to make it consistent with the Biological Assessment.@
Based on this information the Service agreed to complete the Biological
Opinion.

**[BIOLOGICAL OPINION]{.underline}**

**DESCRIPTION OF THE PROPOSED ACTION**

The action considered in this biological opinion is the continued
implementation of the existing Hoosier National Forest Plan as amended.
Detailed descriptions of the proposed action are provided in the
Biological Assessment (Programmatic Biological Assessment Land and
Resource Management Plan); and are hereby incorporated by reference. A
brief description of the proposed activities is listed below along with
the potential future impacts for each.

The Hoosier National Forest estimates that the following management
activities, that cause Indiana bat habitat modification, will occur over
the next five years:

+-----------------------+-------+--------------------------------------+
| **MANAGEMENT          | **For | **DESCRIPTION OF ACTIVITY**          |
| ACTIVITY**            | ested |                                      |
|                       | acres |                                      |
|                       | affec |                                      |
|                       | ted** |                                      |
+-----------------------+-------+--------------------------------------+
| Timber harvest        | 578   | pine clearcuts; all trees within a   |
|                       |       | stand are removed at one time        |
| (2,772 total acres    |       |                                      |
| within approximately  |       |                                      |
| 90 separate stands)   |       |                                      |
+-----------------------+-------+--------------------------------------+
|                       | 391   | pine shelterwood cuts; only the      |
|                       |       | largest and most vigorous hardwood   |
|                       |       | trees are not cut, those trees are   |
|                       |       | removed later once seedlings are     |
|                       |       | established                          |
+-----------------------+-------+--------------------------------------+
|                       | 408   | pine thinning; all trees are removed |
|                       |       | except hardwood trees greater that 4 |
|                       |       | inches in diameter                   |
+-----------------------+-------+--------------------------------------+
|                       | 777   | hardwood group selection; small      |
|                       |       | groups of trees, [\<]{.underline} 1  |
|                       |       | acre, are removed within a stand     |
+-----------------------+-------+--------------------------------------+
|                       | 518   | hardwood single tree selection;      |
|                       |       | individual trees are removed         |
|                       |       | throughout the stand                 |
+-----------------------+-------+--------------------------------------+
|                       | 100   | hardwood even-aged salvage;          |
|                       |       | individual cuts [\<]{.underline} 5   |
|                       |       | acres that have been severely        |
|                       |       | damaged by natural disturbances      |
+-----------------------+-------+--------------------------------------+
| Prescribed fire       | 7,000 | management of plant communities;     |
|                       |       | which includes hazardous fuel        |
|                       |       | reduction that requires construction |
|                       |       | of firebreaks by hand or machine,    |
|                       |       | lop and scatter, chipping, crushing  |
|                       |       | with mechanical equipment,           |
|                       |       | mechanical or hand piling for later  |
|                       |       | burning                              |
+-----------------------+-------+--------------------------------------+
| Wildlife habitat      | 3,311 | forest openings maintenance; by      |
| improvement           |       | brush hogging, edge maintenance      |
|                       |       | chainsaw work, and prescribed        |
|                       |       | burning                              |
+-----------------------+-------+--------------------------------------+
| Timber stand          | 2,264 | follow-up after timber harvest       |
| improvement           |       | listed above and other areas;        |
|                       |       | includes pruning, grapevine control, |
|                       |       | and burning                          |
+-----------------------+-------+--------------------------------------+
| Special use permits   | 286   | tree removal for right-of-way        |
|                       |       | clearing and access across Forest    |
|                       |       | land                                 |
+-----------------------+-------+--------------------------------------+
| Manage wildfire       | 250   | tree and brush clearing for fire     |
|                       |       | line construction and back fire      |
|                       |       | burning to control wildfires         |
+-----------------------+-------+--------------------------------------+
| Road construction     | 16    | tree removal for access to timber    |
|                       |       | harvest areas and dam access         |
+-----------------------+-------+--------------------------------------+
| Summer hazard tree    | *     | removal of trees between April 15    |
| removal               | **100 | and September 15 that pose a threat  |
|                       | scat  | to human safety, usually near        |
|                       | tered | recreation areas and along trails    |
|                       | tre   | and roads                            |
|                       | es*** |                                      |
+-----------------------+-------+--------------------------------------+
| Trail construction    | ***15 | new construction of 15 miles of      |
|                       | mil   | multiple use trails                  |
|                       | es*** |                                      |
+-----------------------+-------+--------------------------------------+

Three proposed action items; road maintenance, trail maintenance, and
developed recreation facility maintenance would not result in the
alteration of Indiana bat habitat except for the need to remove hazard
trees between April 15 and September 15. Hazard tree removal results in
one or very few trees being cut from any one location within an
otherwise forested landscape. Take of Indiana bats from this activity
can only occur if a tree is cut when bats are present, between April 15
and September 15. If hazard trees are removed outside the time period
when bats are present the activity is not likely to adversely affect the
Indiana bat.

The Hoosier National Forest anticipates that each year strong winds,
tornados, or other natural disturbances will leave small to very large
areas of dead, down, or severely damaged trees. The Forest Plan directs
the Hoosier National Forest to complete an appropriate analysis of each
of these events to determine if merchantable trees should be removed in
a salvage sale. Often these salvage operations approximate even-aged
harvest. As noted in the table above, the Hoosier National Forest
proposes to salvage a total of 100 acres over the next five years.
Because, salvage areas typically have severely degraded bat habitat as a
result of the storm event, coupled with the Hoosier National Forest
being approximately 97% forested, small salvage cuts will have only
minor adverse effects to Indiana bats. However, larger salvage cuts
could include a significant portion of a bat=s or maternity colonies=
foraging and roosting area. Due to the high degree of unpredictability
and variability of these events the Service cannot complete an adequate
analysis of the effects prior to such an event that affects \>5 acres of
forest. Therefore, each proposed salvage sale \>5 acres will need to
complete a separate Section 7 consultation.

Because of the variability of atmospheric and geographic factors that
must be considered when completing a prescribed fire along with the
vulnerability of bat hibernaculum, any proposed prescribed fire within 1
mile of a known Indiana bat hibernaculum must complete a separate
Section 7 consultation.

The Hoosier National Forest anticipates the construction of a 5 - 10
acre lake within the next five years. Because of the size of disturbance
(i.e. removal of hardwood trees) that could occur with the construction
of a lake of that size along with the unknown location of the site the
Service cannot complete an adequate analysis of the effects prior to
site selection. Therefore, a complete and separate Section 7 review of
the lake construction must be completed.

A variety of proposed action items are listed in the Biological
Assessment that will not result in the alteration of Indiana bat habitat
and, therefore, are not likely to adversely affect the Indiana bat.
Those actions include:

  --------------------------- -------------------------------------------
  **MANAGEMENT ACTIVITY**     **DESCRIPTION OF ACTIVITY**

  Land exchange               exchanging federal land for private land

  Land acquisition            acquiring private land

  Landline location           survey and marking of landline boundaries

  Site preparation            mowing and tilling of nonforested ground
                              for preparation of reforestation tree
                              planting

  Aquatic ecosystem           dam and dike maintenance, and structure
  maintenance                 improvements for lakes, ponds, waterholes,
                              and wetlands

  Wetland restoration         restoring hydrology on nonforested sites

  Insecticide application     wasp and insect control in recreation and
                              administrative areas

  Aquatic weed control        application to control algae blooms and
                              naiads at beaches and boat launches

  Soil and water improvement  road/trail rehab., garbage cleanup, erosion
                              control

  Heritage resource surveys   inventories of existing resources
  --------------------------- -------------------------------------------

While the list of impacts is lengthy it should be noted that only a
small percentage of the Hoosier National Forest will be impacted by
these actions. Implementation of the Forest Plan includes numerous
management activities that avoid and preserve Indiana bat habitat.

To ensure that the impacts of take associated with future projects are
appropriately minimized and that the exemption of incidental take is
appropriately documented, the Forest Service and Fish and Wildlife
Service will implement an appended programmatic consultation approach.
Under that approach this programmatic Biological Opinion and Incidental
Take Statement will exempt incidental take that result from the
implementation of site-specific actions that result from the continued
implementation of the Forest Plan. However, individual projects which
have not yet been specifically identified and which impact Indiana bat
habitat must be individually reviewed to determine if they are
consistent with the programmatic Incidental Take Statement=s reasonable
and prudent measures and associated terms and conditions, and to ensure
that once specific projects are identified, site-specific impacts of the
resulting incidental take are minimized. If an individual project is
found to be consistent with the programmatic consultation it will be
appended to this programmatic Biological Opinion and Incidental Take
Statement, along with any project-specific reasonable and prudent
measures and terms and conditions that are needed to fulfill the
requirements of section 7(a)(2). Details on how project specific
projects will be reported and documented are included in the attached
INCIDENTAL TAKE STATEMENT.

**STATUS OF THE SPECIES**

The Indiana bat was officially listed as an endangered species on March
11, 1967 (Federal Register 32\[48\]:4001) under the Endangered Species
Preservation Act of October 15, 1966 (80 Stat. 926; 16 U.S.C.
668aa\[c\]). The Endangered Species Act of 1973 extended full protection
to the species. The Service has published a recovery plan (U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service 1983) which outlines recovery actions. Briefly, the
objectives of the plan are to: (1) protect hibernacula; (2) maintain,
protect, and restore summer maternity habitat; and (3) monitor
population trends through winter censuses. The recovery plan is
currently being updated to reflect new information concerning summer
habitat use.

Thirteen winter hibernacula (11 caves and two mines) in six states were
designated as Critical Habitat for the Indiana bat in 1976 (Federal
Register, Volume 41, No. 187). In Indiana, two winter hibernacula are
Designated Critical Habitat, including Big Wyandotte Cave in Crawford
County and Ray=s Cave in Greene County. Ray=s Cave is in Greene County,
18 miles from the nearest National Forest System (NFS) land, and
Wyandotte Cave is in Crawford County, approximately 8 miles for the
nearest NFS land.

Based on censuses taken at hibernacula, the total known Indiana bat
population is estimated to number about 352,000 bats. The most severe
declines in wintering populations have occurred in two states: Kentucky,
where 145,000 bats were lost between 1960 and 1975, and Missouri, where
250,000 Indiana bats were lost between 1980 and 1995. In Indiana
populations dropped by 50,000 between the earliest censuses and 1980,
but have rebounded to former levels in recent years. Currently, half of
all the hibernating Indiana bats in existence (approximately 176,000)
winter in Indiana.

A variety of factors have contributed to Indiana bat population declines
(U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1983). Sometimes their winter
hibernacula are flooded, ceilings of the hibernacula collapse, or cold
temperatures kill the bats through hypothermia. Exclusion of bats from
hibernacula through blocking of entrances, installations of gates that
do not allow for bat ingress and egress, disruption of cave air flow,
and human disturbance during hibernation have been documented causes of
Indiana bat declines. Because many known threats are associated with
hibernation, protection of hibernacula has been a management priority.

Despite the protection of most major hibernacula, population declines
have continued. Continued population declines of Indiana bats, in spite
of efforts to protect hibernacula, have led scientists to the conclusion
that additional information on summer habitat is needed (Romme et al.
1995). In addition to increased focus on summer habitat, attention is
also being directed to pesticide contamination. Broad band application
of insecticides has been known or suspected as the cause of a number of
bat die-offs in North America, including endangered gray bats in
Missouri (Clark et al. 1978). The insect diet and longevity of bats also
exposes them to persistent organochlorine chemicals which may
bioaccumulate in bat tissue and cause sub-lethal effects such as
impaired reproduction.

**[Description and Distribution]{.underline}**

The Indiana bat is a medium-sized bat with a head and body length that
ranges from 41 to 49 mm. It is a monotypic species that occupies much of
the eastern half of the United States, from Oklahoma, Iowa, and
Wisconsin east to Vermont, and south to northwestern Florida. The
Indiana bat is migratory, and the above described range includes both
winter and summer habitat. The winter range is associated with regions
of well-developed limestone caverns. Major populations of this species
hibernate in Kentucky, Indiana, and Missouri. Smaller winter populations
have been reported from Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland,
Mississippi, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania,
Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia. More than 85% of the entire
known population of Indiana bats hibernates in only nine caves.

**[Life History]{.underline}**

Generally, Indiana bats hibernate from October through April (Hall 1962;
LaVal and LaVal 1980), depending upon local weather conditions. Bats
cluster on cave ceilings in densities ranging from 300-484 bats per
square foot. Hibernation facilitates survival during winter when prey
are unavailable. However, the bat must store sufficient fat to support
metabolic processes until spring. Substantial risks are posed by events
during the winter that interrupt hibernation and increase metabolic
rates.

After hibernation ends in late March or early April, most Indiana bats
migrate to summer roosts. Female Indiana bats emerge from hibernation in
late March or early April, followed by the males. The period after
hibernation but prior to migration is typically referred to as staging.
Most populations leave their hibernacula by late April. Migration is
stressful for the Indiana bat, particularly in the spring when their fat
reserves and food supplies are low. As a result, adult mortality may be
the highest in late March and April.

Summering Indiana bats roost in trees in riparian, bottomland, and
upland forests. Roost trees generally have exfoliating bark which allows
the bat to roost between the bark and bole of the tree. Cavities and
crevices in trees also may be used for roosting. A variety of tree
species are known to be used for roosts including (but not limited to)
silver maple (*Acer saccharinum*), shagbark hickory (*Carya ovata*),
shellbark hickory (*Carya laciniosa*), bitternut hickory (*Carya
cordiformis*), green ash (*Fraxinus pennsylvanica*), white ash
(*Fraxinus americana*), Eastern cottonwood (*Populus deltoides*),
northern red oak (*Quercus rubra*), post oak (*Quercus stallata*) ,
white oak (*Quercus alba*), shingle oak (*Quercus imbricaria*), slippery
elm (*Ulmus rubra*), American elm (*Ulmus americana*), sassafras
(*Sassafras albidum*), and sugar maple (*Acer saccharum*) (Romme et al.
1995). At one site in southern Indiana, black locust (*Robinia
psuedoacacia*) was used extensively by roosting bats (Pruitt 1995).
Structure is probably more important than the species in determining if
a tree is a suitable roost site; tree species which develop loose,
exfoliating bark as they age and die are likely to provide roost sites.
Male bats disperse throughout the range and roost individually or in
small groups. In contrast, reproductive females form larger groups,
referred to as maternity colonies.

Maternity colonies, which may be occupied from mid-May to mid-September,
usually contain 100 or fewer adult female bats. Females each give birth
to a single young in late June or early July . Young Indiana bats are
capable of flight within a month of birth. They spend the latter part of
the summer foraging to accumulate fat reserves for the fall migration
and hibernation. Maternity colonies occupy roost sites in trees in
forested riparian, flood plain, or upland habitats (Romme et al. 1995).
Female Indiana bats exhibit strong site fidelity to summer roosting and
foraging areas, that is, they return to the same summer range annually
to bear their young. Traditional summer sites are essential to the
reproductive success of local populations. It is not known how long or
how far female Indiana bats will search to find new roosting habitat if
their traditional roost habitat is lost or degraded. If they are
required to search for new roosting habitat, it is assumed that this
effort places additional stress on pregnant females at a time when fat
reserves are low or depleted and they are already stressed from the
energy demands of migration.

Indiana bat roosts are ephemeral and frequently associated with dead or
dying trees. Most roost trees may be habitable for only 2-8 years
(depending on the species and condition of the roost tree) under natural
conditions. Gardner et al. (1991[a]{.underline}) evaluated 39 roost
trees and found that 31% were no longer suitable the following summer,
and 33% of those remaining were unavailable by the second summer. A
variety of suitable roosts are needed within a colony\'s traditional
summer range for the colony to continue to exist. Indiana bat maternity
sites generally consist of one or more primary maternity roost trees
which are used repeatedly by large numbers of bats, and varying numbers
of alternate roosts, which may be used less frequently and by smaller
numbers of bats. Bats move among roosts within a season and when a
particular roost becomes unavailable from one year to the next. It is
not known how many alternate roosts must be available to assure
retention of a colony within a particular area, but large, nearby forest
tracts appear important (Callahan 1993). In addition to having
exfoliating bark, roost trees must be of sufficient diameter. Trees in
excess of 40 cm diameter at breast height (dbh) are considered optimal
for maternity colony roost sites, but trees in excess of 22 cm dbh
appear to provide suitable maternity roosting habitat. Male Indiana bats
have been observed roosting in trees as small as 8 cm dbh.

In Illinois, Gardner et al. (1991[b]{.underline}) found that forested
stream corridors, and impounded bodies of water, were preferred foraging
habitats for pregnant and lactating Indiana bats, which flew up to 2.4
km from upland roosts to forage. Females typically utilize larger
foraging ranges than males (Garner and Gardner 1992). Bats forage at a
height of approximately 2-30 meters under riparian and flood plain trees
(Humphrey et al. 1977). They forage between dusk and dawn and feed
exclusively on flying insects, primarily moths, beetles, and aquatic
insects. Riparian habitat is occupied by Indiana bats from mid-April to
mid-September. Romme et al. (1995) cite several studies which document
that Indiana bats also forage in upland forests.

After the summer maternity period, Indiana bats migrate back to
traditional winter hibernacula. Some male bats may begin to arrive at
hibernacula as early as July. Females typically arrive later and by
September numbers of males and females are almost equal. Autumn
Aswarming@ occurs prior to hibernation. During swarming, bats fly in and
out of cave entrances from dusk to dawn, while relatively few roost in
the caves during the day. By late September many females have entered
hibernation, but males may continue swarming well into October in what
is believed to be an attempt to breed late arriving females.

Swarming is important to the life history of the bat as most copulation
occurs during this time. Females store sperm through the winter and
fertilization occurs in the spring. Females are pregnant when they
arrive at the maternity roost. Fecundity is low; female Indiana bats
produce only one young per year.

**ENVIRONMENTAL BASELINE**

The Hoosier National Forest encompasses 196,484 acres, as of September
30, 1999, in nine Indiana counties (Brown, Crawford, Dubois, Jackson,
Lawrence, Martin, Monroe, Orange, and Perry). Forest covers 188,453
acres of the 196,484 acres of the Hoosier National Forest or
approximately 97%. The Hoosier National Forest forested area accounts
for approximately 4% of the State of Indiana=s 4,501,300 acres of forest
cover.

The Hoosier National Forest dominant forest community types include; 47
percent of oak-hickory stands, 15 percent of yellow poplar stands, 15
percent of mixed upland hardwood stands, 17 percent of pine plantations,
and about 1 percent of elm-ash-cottonwood and other bottomland hardwood
stands. Approximately 65 percent of the forest stands are 61 years old
or older. About 46 percent is over 80 years old. Nineteen percent is
young forest from 11 to 40 years old. Regenerating forest, 0 to 9 years
old, comprises less than one percent of the Hoosier National Forest. The
remaining 3.5 percent is in open habitats, although only 2.58 percent of
that acreage is maintained for those conditions.

There are approximately 925 acres of lakes, ponds, and water holes on
Hoosier National Forest land. There are also 512 miles of intermittent
and perennial streams within the forest. Seeps and springs occur
throughout the forest.

There are nearly 100 known caves on the Hoosier National Forest, as of
September 30, 1999, ranging from small shallow rock shelters to complex
caves with over one mile of passage. Many of those caves have active
streams flowing through them.

Of the total 196,484 acres of the Hoosier National Forest approximately
188,453 acres are forested. About 20% of that forested acreage is
between 0 and 40 years old and provides foraging habitat for Indiana
bats, but very limited roosting habitat. Approximately 29% of the
forested acreage is between 41 and 80 years old and provides foraging
along with limited roosting habitat. The remainder of the forested
acreage, 47%, is greater than 80 years old and provides both foraging
and roosting habitat for the Indiana bat.

**[The Indiana Bat on the Hoosier National Forest]{.underline}**

In July and August of 1996 a mist net survey of 7 sites in Jackson
County on the Brownstown Ranger District was conducted to determine the
forest bat community within a proposed timber salvage area. A total of
63 bats, representing 6 species, were captured, including 1 Indiana bat
(U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service 1996). During May, June, and July of 1998
a mist net survey of 34 sites in Crawford and Perry Counties on the Tell
City Ranger District was conducted to determine the forest bat community
within that portion of the Hoosier National Forest. A total of 191 bats,
representing 9 species, were captured, including 4 Indiana bats
(3D/International 1998). All the Indiana bats captured in both on those
studies were adult males. We are not aware of any other mist net surveys
that have captured Indiana bats on the Hoosier National Forest.

Prior to these and other recent surveys in southern Indiana, it was
known that adult male Indiana bats could be found throughout Indiana in
summer, but it was unclear if southern Indiana supported maternity
colonies of Indiana bats. Summer records of reproductive female or
juvenile Indiana bats provide evidence of a nearby maternity colony.
There are relatively few records of reproductive female Indiana bats or
juveniles from the cave region of Indiana, which includes the Hoosier
National Forest, during the summer (Brack 1983, Brack et al. 1987);
however, the number of records is growing. At Camp Atterbury, Johnson
County, 2 reproductive female and 8 juvenile Indiana bats were captured
in 1997(Montgomery Watson 1997). At Jefferson Proving Ground, a closed
Army ammunition testing facility in southern Indiana, 9 of 14 Indiana
bats captured between 1993-1995 were adult females or juveniles (Pruitt
1995). Whitaker (1994) captured a lactating female Indiana bat in
Jennings County. One reproductive female was also captured at Crane
Naval Weapons Support Center during 1998 (Amy Henry, 3D/I., pers.
comm.). Tyrell and Brack (1990) reported that there are records for
reproductive females or juveniles in Knox, Martin, and Ripley counties.
Collectively, these records provide evidence that southern Indiana is
clearly within the maternity range of the Indiana bat.

Based on the results of male Indiana bat captures on both Ranger
Districts of the Hoosier National forest and other recent evidence of
Indiana bat presence in southern Indiana the Service concurs with the
Biological Assessment=s conclusion that Indiana bats may be present in
all suitable habitat on the Hoosier National Forest. Further the Service
believes that based on the evidence provided here, the limited mist
netting effort considering the size of the Hoosier National Forest, and
the expansive acreage of suitable habitat on the Hoosier National Forest
that maternity colonies of Indiana bats are present on the Hoosier
National Forest.

**EFFECTS OF THE ACTION**

Implementation of the Forest Plan management activities that require the
clearing or disturbance of trees will remove or alter Indiana bat
habitat. A description of those management activities, as detailed in
the Biological Assessment is hereby incorporated by reference. See the
ADESCRIPTION OF THE PROPOSED ACTION@ section above for a summary of this
information. Cutting an Indiana bat roost tree when bats are present in
the tree is likely to result in bats being injured or killed. As
previously noted, female Indiana bats establish traditional summer
ranges which they return to annually. It is anticipated that tree
removal will result in the loss of some traditional summer roost trees.
Loss of traditional roost sites will require females to expend energy
locating new roosting habitat when they return to the Hoosier National
Forest after migrating from their winter hibernacula. Weight loss and
stress associated with hibernation, migration, and pregnancy would be
magnified. These stresses could potentially result in lower reproductive
success and/or lower survival of juvenile bats. Clearing may also result
in alteration of foraging habitat, forcing bats to fly farther to
forage. The quality of foraging habitat also may be degraded due to
erosion, and subsequent sedimentation of stream corridors, associated
with these management activities. Sedimentation could affect the
production of insects associated with aquatic habitats, which make up a
portion of the prey base of Indiana bats. However, the Hoosier National
Forest utilizes Standards and Guidelines for riparian areas outlined in
the Forest Plan Management Direction Chapter 2 and Appendix J. These
best management practices minimize siltation and very little management
is conducted within riparian corridors.

**[Pine Timber Harvest]{.underline}**

A total of 1,377 acres of pine timber harvest is proposed over the next
five years. That harvest will include 578 acres of clearcuts, 391 acres
of shelterwood cuts, and 408 acres of thinning. All of the pine harvests
will remove most if not all of the pine trees in a stand. The objective
of these harvests is to release existing native hardwood trees in the
stand or to convert the stand to a hardwood stand. All of the pine
stands proposed for harvest are plantations, created primarily to
control soil erosion. Conversion of those pine stands back to native
hardwoods will have a net beneficial impact on Indiana bat habitat. Male
Indiana bats have been found roosting under the bark of pine snags on
the Hoosier and other National Forests. The Hoosier National Forest has
indicated snags will not be removed during pine stand harvest, unless
they are a safety hazard, which will greatly diminish the chance of the
direct take of a roosting bat.

**[Hardwood Timber Harvest]{.underline}**

A total of 1,295 acres of hardwood timber harvest is proposed over the
next five years. That harvest will be completed using uneven-age
management practices, including 777 acres of group selection and 518
acres of single tree selection. These types of timber harvesting do not
result in the removal of a significant proportion of the canopy,
resulting in only minor and short-term Indiana bat foraging habitat
impacts. Only live merchantable trees will be removed during these
harvests which will greatly reduce the chance that roosting bats will be
present in a harvested tree. Snags, or standing dead trees, are
generally retained during all timber harvests except where they pose a
hazard to public safety. This will greatly reduce the chance that
roosting bats will be present in a harvested tree.

Each year, part of the Hoosier National Forest is affected by strong
winds, tornados, or other natural disturbances. Hardwood salvage cuts
within small pockets of blow down would include removing dead, downed,
severely damaged (cracked or broken boles, less than 20 percent live
crown remaining from branch loss), or weakened trees (signs of root
upheaval, twisting of the bole, or leaning more that15 degrees from
vertical). Salvage operations within severely damaged stands will
approximate even-aged harvest. A total of 100 acres, the sum of 5 acre
or less per individual cut, of even-aged salvage cuts is proposed over
the next five years. These blow down areas typically result in severely
degraded bat habitat from the storm event and the salvage cut will only
remove a minimal amount of bat habitat.

**[Prescribed Fire]{.underline}**

The Hoosier National Forest proposes to conduct 7,000 acres of
prescribed fires over the next five years. However, the same acres may
be treated (burned) more than once in that five-year period. Prescribed
fire is used to manage plant comminutes for wildlife habitat improvement
and forest regeneration. Burns are conducted under conditions that
generally result in low intensity burns, that is, only ground cover,
shrubs, and trees less than two inches in diameter are burned. Under
these conditions few snags are lost; while at the same time a small
number of snags are created by the fire. The Indiana bat habitat changes
that result from these prescribed burns are very minor and may be
beneficial in cases where the understory is reduced in mature hardwood
stands. Romme et al. (1995) found that Indiana bats preferred foraging
in forests with a reduced understory component. Burns will occur before
April 15 and after September 15, eliminating the chance of direct take
occurring from the destruction of an occupied roost tree.

**[Forest Opening Maintenance]{.underline}**

Hoosier National Forest opening maintenance will total 3,311 acres over
the next five year period. However, the same opening may be maintained
more than once in that 5 year period. Forest openings are maintained to
perpetuate early successional condition by brush hogging, edge
maintenance chainsaw work, and prescribed burning. Because tree removal
is a minor component of opening maintenance this activity should have
very little effect, if any, on Indiana bat habitat.

**[Timber Stand Improvement]{.underline}**

Timber stand improvement (TSI) over the next five years is proposed on
2,264 acres of the Hoosier National Forest as a follow up on the
hardwood and pine harvest areas and in other areas. Timber Stand
Improvement generally includes activities that do not remove a
significant number of trees. Snags will not be removed and Indiana bat
habitat should not be significantly impaired.

**[Special Use Permits]{.underline}**

Most of the proposed Special Use permits are re-issues of existing
permits. The majority of new permits for utilities are kept within
existing rights-of-way of other utilities or are along existing roads.
Many new utility lines are buried under the forest canopy. Most of the
Special Use permits do not require tree cutting. While 286 acres will be
included in Special Use Permits it is anticipated that only a small
portion of that acreage will actually be cleared. In addition, each
individual permit area is typically small, linear, and would only
include a small portion of a otherwise forested landscape, therefore,
this activity should have minimal impact on Indiana bat habitat.

**[Manage Wildfire]{.underline}**

Each fire season the Hoosier National forest must contain wildfires.
Completing that work requires constructing fire lines and burning out
approximately 50 acres per year, totaling 250 acres over the five year
period.. The Indiana bat habitat changes that result from these actions
are very minor and may be beneficial in cases where the understory is
reduced in mature hardwood stands.

**[Road Construction]{.underline}**

Based on the analysis conducted for the Biological Assessment,
approximately16 acres of suitable habitat for Indiana bats will be
impacted over the next 5 years due to road construction. Habitat impacts
from this activity should be minimal due to the acreage of individual
projects. Each individual project is typically small, linear, and would
only remove a small portion of an otherwise forested landscape.

**[Summer Hazard Tree Removal]{.underline}**

Trees which pose a danger to human safety should be removed. These trees
are usually found in recreation areas and along trails and roads. Due to
the low number of single trees being removed, when bats may be present,
and from individual locations this action has a low potential for
negatively impacting Indiana bats.

**[Trail Construction]{.underline}**

Large tree removal during trail construction is avoided when possible.
Due to the low number of single trees being removed from individual
locations along with the linear nature of trail construction this action
has a low potential for negatively impacting Indiana bats.

In summary, only a small fraction of the Hoosier National Forest=s
188,453 acres of forested land will be altered by the continued
implementation of the Forest Plan. Pine harvest will remove a total of
1,377 acres, which is less than 1% of the forested land on the Hoosier
National Forest, and will result in a long term benefit to the Indiana
bat. A total of 1,295 acres of uneven-aged hardwood timber harvest is
proposed, which is less than 1% of the forested land on the Hoosier
National Forest. This type of harvest does not remove a significant
portion of an individual forested stand and, therefore, does not
significantly degrade Indiana bat habitat. Timber Stand Improvement is
proposed on 2,264 acres, approximately 1% of the forested land on the
Hoosier National Forest, this activity results in very few trees being
removed and has little impact on Indiana bat habitat. Seven thousand
acres, approximately 4% of the forested land on the Hoosier National
Forest, is proposed for prescribed burns, however it will have very
little negative if not positive impacts on Indiana bat habitat. All the
other proposed management activities combined will affect less than
1,000 acres spread across the entire Hoosier National Forest and will
result in only minor impacts to Indiana bat habitat. The total acreage
of the proposed actions is approximately 7% of the Hoosier National
Forest=s forested acreage and most of the activities only alter Indiana
bat habitat, not eliminate it.

**CUMULATIVE EFFECTS**

Cumulative effects include the effects of future State, tribal, local or
private actions that are reasonably certain to occur in the action area
considered in this biological opinion. Future Federal actions that are
unrelated to the proposed action are not considered in this section
because they require separate consulta­tion pursuant to section 7 of the
Act.

Future Federal, state, local or private actions that are reasonably
certain to occur within the action area, i.e. the Hoosier National
Forest, will either be carried out by, or will require a permit from,
the Forest Service. These actions will, therefore, require a Section 7
consultation. The Service is not aware of any future state, local or
private actions that could occur within the action area that would not
be subject to a Section 7 review. Therefore, cumulative effects, as
defined in the Act, are not expected to occur within the action Area and
will not be addressed further in this Opinion.

**CONCLUSION**

After reviewing the current status of the Indiana bat, the environmental
baseline for the action area, the effects of the continued
implementation of the existing Hoosier National Forest Land and Resource
Management Plan, and the cumulative effects, it is the Service\'s
biological opinion that the continued implementation of the existing
Hoosier National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan, is not likely
to jeopardize the continued existence of the Indiana bat. No critical
habitat has been designated for the Indiana bat in the action area;
therefore, none will be affected.

**[INCIDENTAL TAKE STATEMENT]{.underline}**

Section 9 of the Act and Federal regulation pursuant to section 4(d) of
the Act prohibits the take of endangered and threatened species,
respectively, without special exemption. Take is defined as to harass,
harm, pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, kill, trap, capture or collect, or to
attempt to engage in any such conduct. Harm is further defined by the
Service to include significant habitat modification or degradation that
results in death or injury to listed species by significantly impairing
essential behavioral patterns, including breeding, feeding, or
sheltering. Harass is defined by the Service as intentional or negligent
actions that create the likelihood of injury to listed species to such
an extent as to significantly disrupt normal behavior patterns which
include, but are not limited to, breeding, feeding or sheltering.
Incidental take is defined as take that is incidental to, and not the
purpose of, the carrying out of an otherwise lawful activity. Under the
terms of section 7(b)(4) and section 7(o)(2), taking that is incidental
to and not intended as part of the agency action is not considered to be
prohibited taking under the Act provided that such taking is in
compliance with the terms and conditions of this Incidental Take
Statement.

The measures described below are non-discretionary, and must be
undertaken by the Forest Service for the exemption in section 7(o)(2) to
apply. The Forest Service has a continuing duty to regulate the activity
covered by this incidental take statement. If the Forest Service fails
to assume and implement the terms and conditions the protective coverage
of section 7(o)(2) may lapse. In order to monitor the impact of
incidental take, the Forest Service must report the progress of the
action and its impact on the species to the Service as specified in the
incidental take statement \[50 CFR \'402.14(i)(3)\].

**AMOUNT OR EXTENT OF TAKE**

The Service anticipates that incidental take of Indiana bats will occur
in the form of harm through habitat loss. Based on our knowledge of the
ecology of Indiana bats, and the distribution of Indiana bats on the
Hoosier National Forest, we assume that the habitat that will be lost
will affect the roosting and foraging habitat of Indiana bats.

It is unlikely that direct mortality of bats will be detected, that is,
we do not expect that dead or moribund bats will be found. Behavioral or
physiological effects which impair reproduction and recruitment, or
other essential behavioral patterns are anticipated; there is no
practical means to directly measure these impacts to bats. Therefore,
the anticipated level of take is expressed as the habitat alteration
that will occur over the next 5 years, as designated in the Biological
Assessment, of currently suitable summer roosting and foraging habitat
for Indiana bats, and includes:

-   Pine clearcuts 578 acres

-   Pine shelterwood cuts 391 acres

-   Pine thinning 408 acres

-   Hardwood group selection cuts 777 acres

-   Hardwood single tree selection cuts 518 acres

-   Hardwood even-aged salvage cuts 100 acres

```{=html}
<!-- -->
```
-   Prescribed fire treatment 7000 acres

```{=html}
<!-- -->
```
-   Forest openings maintenance 3311 acres

-   Timber stand improvement 2264 acres

-   Special use permits 286 acres

-   Wildfire management 250 acres

-   Road construction 16 acres

-   Summer hazard tree removal 100 trees

-   Trail construction 15 miles

For a description of the level of take anticipated from these actions
see the AEFFECTS OF THE ACTION@ section above.

**EFFECT OF THE TAKE**

In the accompanying biological opinion, the Service determined that this
level of anticipated take is not likely to result in jeopardy to the
species or destruction or adverse modification of critical habitat.

**REASONABLE AND PRUDENT MEASURES**

Within the Biological Assessment and the Forest Plan the timber harvest,
TSI, and riparian area management guidelines of the Hoosier National
Forest are documented. Those guidelines are sound forest management
practices and benefit a variety of wildlife species, including the
Indiana bat. However, the Service believes the following reasonable and
prudent measures are necessary and appropriate to minimize take of
Indiana bats:

1\. Maintain adequate canopy cover in all hardwood stands to provide
Indiana bat foraging habitat.

2\. Provide roosting habitat by eliminating the removal of shagbark
hickory (*Carya ovata*) or shellbark hickory (*Carya laciniosa*) trees.

3\. No snag removal, except where they pose a serious human safety
hazard.

4\. Maintain a component of large, over mature trees, in every forest
stand. These trees will ensure a continuous supply of large roost trees
for the bat.

5\. All tree removal activity will be closely monitored and reported on
a project-by-project basis to ensure that impacts of incidental take
associated with future proposed projects are appropriately minimized.

**TERMS AND CONDITIONS**

In order to be exempt from the prohibitions of section 9 of the Act, the
Hoosier National Forest must comply with the following terms and
conditions, which implement the reasonable and prudent measures
described above and outline required reporting/monitoring requirements.
These terms and conditions are non-discretionary.

1\. When conducting uneven-aged hardwood timber harvests and completing
TSI within hardwood stands maintain at least 60% canopy cover (on a
stand-by-stand basis, depending on size of stands).

2\. Shagbark hickory or shellbark hickory trees shall not be harvested
or manipulated during TSI activities, unless the density of trees of
these 2 species combined exceeds 16 trees/acre. If present, at least 16
live shagbark and shellbark hickory (combined) greater than 11\" dbh
must be maintained per acre.

3\. Snags shall not be removed for TSI purposes, unless they are safety
hazards. Firewood cutting permits must clearly state that standing dead
trees may not me taken, unless specific trees are identified in the
permit by the Forest Service, to allow for the removal of specific trees
under a firewood cutting permit.

4\. To maintain a component of large, over mature trees in harvest
areas, at least 3 live trees per acre \> 20\" dbh of these species:

shagbark hickory (*Carya ovata*)

> shellbark hickory (*Carya laciniosa*)
>
> bitternut hickory (*Carya cordiformis*)
>
> silver maple (*Acer saccharinum*)
>
> green ash (*Fraxinus pennsylvanica*)
>
> white ash (*Fraxinus americana*)
>
> eastern cottonwood (*Populus deltoides*)
>
> northern red oak (*Quercus rubra*)
>
> post oak (*Quercus stallata*)
>
> white oak (*Quercus alba*)
>
> slippery elm (*Ulmus rubra*)
>
> American elm (*Ulmus americana*) (This list is based on review of
> literature and data on Indiana bat roosting
>
> black locust (*Robinia pseudoacacia*) requirements. Possibility of
> adding other species as identified)

should always be maintained in the stand. (A tree with \< 10% live
canopy should be considered a snag). These must be the largest trees of
these species remaining in the stand. An additional 6 live trees per
acre \> 11\" dbh (of the species listed above) must also be maintained.
(The \"per acre\" requirement can be expressed as the average per acre
on a stand-wide basis, depending on the definition of a stand).

If there are no trees \> 20\" dbh to leave, then 16 live trees per acre
must be left, and these must include the largest specimens of the
preferred species remaining in the stand.

5\. To ensure that the impacts of take associated with future projects
are appropriately minimized and that the exemption of incidental take is
appropriately documented, the Forest Service and Fish and Wildlife
Service will implement an appended programmatic consultation approach.
Under that approach this programmatic Biological Opinion and Incidental
Take Statement will exempt incidental take that result from the
implementation of site-specific actions that result from the continued
implementation of the Forest Plan. However, individual projects which
have not yet been specifically identified and which impact Indiana bat
habitat must be individually reviewed to determine if they are
consistent with the programmatic Incidental Take Statement=s reasonable
and prudent measures and associated terms and conditions, and to ensure
that once specific projects are identified, site-specific impacts of the
resulting incidental take are minimized. If an individual project is
found to be consistent with the programmatic consultation it will be
appended to this programmatic Biological Opinion and Incidental Take
Statement, along with any project-specific reasonable and prudent
measures and terms and conditions that are needed to fulfill the
requirements of section 7(a)(2).

Because habitat manipulation acreage is being used to monitor levels of
incidental take, for each proposed individual project, within the tree
removal activities listed below, provide the Service=s Bloomington Field
Office with a description of the project that includes the location,
type of activity, and total acreage to be disturbed by individual
project. When reporting the type of activity it must correspond to one
of the following management activities:

-   Pine clearcuts 578 acres

-   Pine shelterwood cuts 391 acres

-   Pine thinning 408 acres

-   Hardwood group selection cuts 777 acres

-   Hardwood single tree selection cuts 518 acres

-   Hardwood even-aged salvage cuts 100 acres

```{=html}
<!-- -->
```
-   Prescribed fire treatment 7000 acres

```{=html}
<!-- -->
```
-   Forest openings maintenance 3311 acres

-   Timber stand improvement 2264 acres

-   Special use permits 286 acres

-   Wildfire management 250 acres

-   Road construction 16 acres

-   Summer hazard tree removal 100 **trees**

-   Trail construction 15 **miles**

Each project proposal must report how the individual project increases
the cumulative forested acres (or number of trees or miles) affected
within each of the above management activities and report on the total
acreage (or number of trees or miles) remaining in each management
activity. Your letter requesting the project specific review must
include your determination that the proposed project is consistent with
this programmatic Biological Opinion and Incidental Take Statement and
request that the proposed project be appended to this programmatic
Biological Opinion.

6\. Any dead bats located on the Hoosier National Forest, regardless of
species, should be immediately reported to BFO \[(812) 334-4261\], and
subsequently transported on ice to that office. No attempt should be
made to handle any live bat, regardless of its condition; report bats
that appear to be sick or injured to BFO. BFO will make a species
determination on any dead or moribund bats found on the Hoosier National
Forest. If an Indiana bat is identified, BFO will contact the
appropriate Service Law Enforcement office.

In conclusion, the Service believes that the alteration of currently
suitable summer roosting and foraging habitat for Indiana bats will be
limited to 578 acres from pine clear cuts, 391 acres from pine
shelterwood cuts, 408 acres from pine thinning, 777 acres from hardwood
group selection cuts, 518 acres from hardwood single tree selection
cuts, 100 acres from hardwood even-aged salvage cuts, 7000 acres from
prescribed fire, 3311 acres from forest opening maintenance, 2264 acres
from TSI, 286 acres from special use permits, 250 acres from wildfire
management, 16 acres from road construction, 100 trees from summer
hazard tree removal, and 15 miles of trail construction. The total
acreage of the proposed actions is approximately 7% of the Hoosier
National Forest=s forested acreage and most of the activities only alter
Indiana bat habitat, not eliminate it. The reasonable and prudent
measures, with their implementing terms and conditions, are designed to
minimize the impact of incidental take that might otherwise result from
the proposed action. If, during the course of the action, this level of
incidental take is exceeded such incidental take represents new
information requiring reinitiation of consultation and review of the
reasonable and prudent measures provided. The Hoosier National Forest
must immediately provide an explanation of the causes of the taking and
review with the Service the need for possible modification of the
reasonable and prudent measures.

**[CONSERVATION RECOMMENDATIONS]{.underline}**

Section 7(a)(1) of the Act directs Federal agencies to utilize their
authorities to further the purposes of the Act by carrying out
conservation programs for the benefit of endangered and threatened
species. Conservation recommendations are discretionary agency
activities to minimize or avoid adverse effects of a proposed action on
listed species or critical habitat, to help implement recovery plans, or
to develop information.

The Service provides the following conservation recommendations for the
Hoosier National Forest; these activities may be conducted at the
discretion of the Hoosier National Forest as time and funding allow:

1\. If a snag must be removed due to a serious human safety hazard, if
possible it should be not be cut during the Indiana bat reproductive
season (April 15 through September 15). If it must be cut during that
time period, when possible, first determine if it is an active roost
tree by conducting a evening bat exit survey. If it is an active roost
tree please contact BFO for further measures to minimize take of those
individuals.

2\. Conduct a radio telemetry study of Indiana bats within the action
area to assess the movements and habitat use of bats relative to timber
harvest.

3\. In consultation with the Service continue to identify and support
Indiana bat research to gain a better understanding of the bat on the
Hoosier National Forest and throughout its range. The Hoosier National
Forest has recently provided funding to study contaminant levels in
Indiana bats. We encourage that type of participation in the future as
an aid to the recovery of the species.

In order for the Service to be kept informed of actions for minimizing
or avoiding adverse effects or benefitting listed species or their
habitats, the Service requests notification of the implementation of any
conservation recommendations.

**[REINITIATION NOTICE]{.underline}**

This concludes formal consultation on the continued implementation of
the Hoosier National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan (as
amended) and projects predicated upon it, as outlined in the Biological
Assessment. As provided in 50 CFR \'402.16, reinitiation of formal
consultation is required where discretionary Federal agency involvement
or control over the action has been retained (or is authorized by law)
and if: (1) the amount or extent of incidental take is exceeded; (2) new
information reveals effects of the continued implementation of the
Hoosier National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan (as amended)
and projects predicated upon it may affect listed species in a manner or
to an extent not considered in this opinion; (3) the continued
implementation of the Hoosier National Forest Land and Resource
Management Plan (as amended) and projects predicated upon it is
subsequently modified in a manner that causes an effect to listed
species not considered in this opinion; or (4) a new species is listed
or critical habitat designated that may be affected by the action. In
instances where the amount or extent of incidental take is exceeded, any
operations causing such take must cease pending reinitiation. Requests
for reinitiation, or questions regarding reinitiation, should be
directed to BFO.

**[LITERATURE CITED]{.underline}**

3D/International, Inc. 1996. Biological assessment of the master plan
and ongoing mission, U.S. Army Engineer Center and Fort Leonard Wood.
Prepared for Kansas City Corps of Engineers.

3D/International, Inc. 1998. Mist net survey and telemetry study of
Indiana bats (*Myotis sodalis*) on the Tell City Ranger District of the
Hoosier National Forest in Crawford and Perry Counties, Indiana.

Brack, V., Jr. 1983. The nonhibernating ecology of bats in Indiana with
emphasis on the endangered Indiana bat, *Myotis sodalis*. Ph.D.
dissertation, Purdue Univ., West Lafayette, Ind. 280pp.

Brack, V., T. Larkins, and S. Bell. 1987. The bats of Crane Naval
Weapons Support Center, Indiana. Report to Indiana Department of Natural
Resources, Indianapolis.

Callahan, E.V., III. 1993. Indiana bat summer habitat requirements. M.S.
Thesis. University of Missouri Columbia. 84pp.

Clark, D.R., Jr., R.K. LaVal, and D.M. Swineford. 1978. Dieldrin-induced
mortality in an endangered species, the gray bat (*Myotis grisescens*).
Science 199:1357-1359.

Gardner, J.E., J.D. Garner, and J.E. Hofmann. 1991[a]{.underline}.
Summer roost selection and roosting behavior of *Myotis sodalis*
(Indiana bat) in Illinois. Unpublished report, Illinois Natural History
Survey, Section of Faunistic Surveys and Insect Identification. 51pp.

Gardner, J.E., J.D. Garner, and J.E. Hofmann. 1991[b]{.underline}.
Summary of *Myotis sodalis* summer habitat studies in Illinois: with
recommendations for impact assessment. Unpublished report prepared for
the Indiana/Gray Bat Recovery Team Meeting, Columbia, Mo. Illinois
Natural History Survey, Section of Faunistic Surveys and Insect
Identification. 28pp.

Garner, J.D, and J.E. Gardner. 1992. Determination of summer
distribution and habitat utilization of the Indiana bat (*Myotis
sodalis)* in Illinois. Final Report: Project E-3. Endangered Species Act
Section 6 Report, Illinois Dept. of Conservation.

Hall, J. 1962. A life history and taxonomic study of the Indiana bat,
(*Myotis sodalis*). Reading Public Museum and Art Gallery Publication
12:1-68.

Humphrey, S.R., A.R. Richter, and J.B. Cope. 1977. Summer habitat and
ecology of the endangered Indiana bat, *Myotis sodalis*. Journal of
Mammalogy 58:334-346

Kurta, A., K.J. Williams, and R. Mies. 1996. Ecological, behavioral, and
thermal observations of a peripheral population of Indiana bats (*Myotis
sodalis*). Pages 102-117 [in]{.underline} R.M.R. Barclay and R.M.
Brigham, eds. Bats and Forests Symposium. Research Branch, British
Columbia Ministry of Forests, Working Paper 23:1-292. Victoria, British
Columbia, Canada.

LaVal, R.K. and M.L. LaVal. 1980. Ecological studies and management of
Missouri bats, with emphasis on cave-dwelling species. Missouri Dept. of
Conservation Terrestrial Series 8:1-53.

Montgomery Watson. 1997. Final survey of bat species: Atterbury Reserve
Forces Training Area, Edinburgh, Indiana. Report prepared for the
Military Dept. of Indiana: Contract #DAHA90-94-0013.

Montgomery Watson and 3D/International, Inc. 1998. Biological
assessment: effects to Indiana bats and bald eagles from construction
and operation of the proposed multi-purpose training range: Atterbury
Reserve Forces Training Area, Edinburgh, Indiana.

Pruitt. L. 1995. Summary of Jefferson Proving Ground bat surveys:
1993-1995. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bloomington Field Office,
Unpublished report. 5pp.

Romme, R.C., K. Tyrell, and V. Brack, Jr. 1995. Literature summary and
habitat suitability index model: components of summer habitat for the
Indiana bat, *Myotis sodalis*. Report to Indiana Department of Natural
Resources, Federal Aid Project E-1-7, Study No. 8. 38pp.

Science Applications International Corporation. 1998. Final
environmental impact statement for the proposed upgrade of training
areas and facilities: Camp Atterbury, Indiana.

Smith, W.B. and M.F. Golitz. 1988. Indiana forest statistics, 1986.
North Central Forest Experiment Station Resource Bulletin NC-108. 139pp.

Tyrell, K. and V. Brack, Jr. 1990. A survey for the endangered Indiana
bat (*Myotis sodalis*) on Hoosier National Forest, Indiana. A report to
the Hoosier National Forest and the Indiana Department of Natural
Resources. 93pp.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 1983. Recovery plan for the Indiana bat.
Washington, D.C. 80pp.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 1996. August 30, 1996 letter to Cid
Morgan, U.S. Forest Service, and report on bat surveys completed on the
Brownstown Ranger District.

Whitaker, J.O., Jr. 1994. Survey of bats and search for endangered bat
species, particularly the Federally endangered Indiana bat (*Myotis
sodalis*) and the State endangered evening bat (*Nycticeius humeralis*),
in the area of the proposed Zenas Lake project along the Muscatatuck
River in Jennings County, Indiana. Report to Algonquin Consultants, Inc.
20pp.