APPENDIX C – WILDLIFE 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

THREATENED OR ENDANGERED SPECIES SCREENS ...................................................................................... 119

GRIZZLY BEAR PROJECT SCREENING ELEMENTS & DETERMINATIONS ............................................... 120

WOLF PROJECT SCREENING ELEMENTS & DETERMINATIONS ................................................................. 127

LYNX PROJECT SCREENING ELEMENTS & DETERMINATIONS .................................................................. 129

CONSULTATION SUMMARY SHEET FOR PROGRAMMATIC ASSESSMENT .............................................. 137

LYNX CONSERVATION ASSESSMENT AND STRATEGY (LCAS) SUMMARY AND LYNX 

CONSERVATION MEASURES.................................................................................................................................... 139

CONSERVATION MEASURES TO ADDRESS RISK FACTORS AFFECTING LYNX PRODUCTIVITY ...... 140

CONSERVATION MEASURES TO ADDRESS MORTALITY RISK FACTORS ................................................. 145

CONSERVATION MEASURES TO ADDRESS MOVEMENT AND DISPERSAL ............................................... 146

Record of Decision (ROD)/Approved RMP 117 

Wildlife 

Record of Decision (ROD)/Approved RMP 119 

THREATENED OR ENDANGERED 

SPECIES SCREENS 

Grizzly bears, wolves, and lynx are the listed species 

that occur incidentally throughout the Butte Field Office. 

This appendix describes analysis screens developed by a 

Level 1 team of interagency field biologists to facilitate, 

streamline, and ensure consistency across administrative 

boundaries during Section 7 consultation under the Endangered Species Act. 

The screens are designed to identify simple, straightforward actions that have insignificant or discountable effects on listed species. If proposed actions are fully 

compliant with the wildlife screens, and the screen leads 

to a “not likely to adversely affect” conclusion, they will 

likely be covered for terrestrial species by a programmatic concurrence from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. These proposed actions could proceed once the 

appropriate documentation (i.e. biological assessment or 

worksheet with appropriate documentation) is completed. The screens are not all inclusive because some 

projects warrant additional analyses from the onset. Furthermore, even though an action is identified in the 

screen, the standard consultation procedure could still be 

required. A qualified wildlife biologist is responsible for 

implementing the screening process. 

Wildlife screens are attached for gray wolf, lynx and 

grizzly bear. Measures identified in the Lynx Conservation and Assessment Strategy (LCAS) will also serve as 

the screen for Canada lynx. 

The Level 1 team is currently determining the appropriate format documentation procedure for the wildlife 

screening process. At a minimum, the action agency 

would be required to submit periodic progress reports 

for NLAA actions that have been consulted on using the 

programmatic concurrence. 

The following sections provide guidance on how to use 

the wildlife screens and emphasize when the programmatic concurrence would not apply. If programmatic 

concurrence does not apply, the standard1

 section 7 

process would occur. The process described here follows 

and compliments the National Fire Plan consultation 

strategy. The screens developed for the National Fire 

 

1 Standard consultation refers to the process whereby the 

action agency biologist commences dialogue with U.S. 

Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) counterparts to determine the appropriate consultation procedures. Typically this involves phone correspondence to apprise the 

Service of the effects of an ongoing project and to reach 

consensus on such an effect and to determine if informal 

consultation is sufficient or if the project should proceed 

to formal consultation. Upon agreement of the respective 

consultation procedure, the action agency biologist will 

submit the appropriate request and documentation to the 

Service for concurrence or a biological opinion. 

Plan process consider the effects of certain fire-related 

projects and may be used to screen all National Fire Plan 

projects. The screens presented here consider the effects 

of most other activities. 

CONDITIONS APPLICABLE TO ALL SCREENS 

The programmatic concurrence applies to Forest Service 

and BLM projects or actions where the biological assessment clearly leads to a “not likely to adversely affect” (NLAA) determination. Use of the consultation 

screens is intended to be a tool to arriving at an effects 

determination; the biologist must consider the effects of 

the action added to the environmental baseline and cumulative effects. The concurrence is expressly limited to 

those simple, straightforward actions that will have documentation supporting insignificant or discountable 

effects on wildlife. More complex projects that do not 

clearly lead to an NLAA determination or those projects 

for which the project biologist has any threatened and 

endangered wildlife species concerns do not qualify for 

this programmatic concurrence. For these projects, biologists should follow standard consultation processes. 

Further, projects not meeting or included in the speciesspecific criteria are not covered by the programmatic 

consultation and must follow the standard processes for 

conducting project analysis, biological assessment development, and consultation. Several activities are not 

included in the species’ screens because the nature of the 

activity warrants additional consideration provided 

through standard consultation procedures. 

If one species does not meet the screening criteria, then 

standard consultation procedures need to be followed for 

all species. However, it is possible to use the screens as a 

documentation process for those species that fit the 

screens and include this documentation alongside the 

analysis for the species that do not fit the screens. 

As always, cumulative effects must be considered; cumulative effects findings may cause the project to go to 

standard consultation.

No Effect determinations are included in the speciesspecific flowcharts to assist in overall effect determinations even though consultation is not necessary.

Application of the screens and determination of project 

effects for compliance with Section 7 must be accomplished by a qualified wildlife biologist.

In no case does the programmatic concurrence apply to 

any project or action that has the potential to cause or 

increase the likelihood of take as defined by the Service’s regulations.

In the event that a project or action proceeds under the 

programmatic concurrence and exceeds the conditions of 

the programmatic concurrence, the action agency must 

initiate informal or formal consultation or request reaffirmation of concurrence, as appropriate, for that project 

or action. 
Appendix C 

120 Record of Decision (ROD)/Approved RMP 

GRIZZLY BEAR PROJECT 

SCREENING ELEMENTS & 

DETERMINATIONS 

Three considerations are prerequisite to more detailed 

consideration of other project information and are considered in screening process Part 1. (1) The area must be 

in compliance with the appropriate access management 

direction. (2) Human foods, livestock feed, garbage, and 

other attractants must be managed by the application of 

an adequate2

 “food storage rule” similar to the NCDE or 

Yellowstone food storage orders. If no specific rule exists for the area, use of either the Yellowstone or NCDE 

order will be considered adequate. (3) Projects that involve seeding or planting of grasses, forbs, or shrubs, 

must do so in a manner that will tend not to attract bears 

into areas where increased mortality risk or interaction 

between bears and people is likely. 

 

2

Food shall be attended or stored in a bear resistant manner. For examples of applicable methods of bear resistant storage and definitions for ‘attended’ review the 

NCDE or Yellowstone food storage orders. 

After access management, food/attractant storage, and 

seeding/planting of grasses, forbs, or shrubs has been 

considered in Part 1, only then can other project details 

be considered in the Screening Criteria Table, Part 2. 

Table 2 represents a comprehensive activity list. There 

may be activities that are not included in this Table. For 

those activities not included and for which there is an 

effect, follow standard consultation procedures. Also, 

the Not Likely to Adversely Affect (NLAA) determinations reflects a conservative determination. There may 

be activities listed as NLAA in Table 2 that upon sitespecific analyses warrant a No Effect determination. 

Note: The scope of this programmatic biological assessment applies to areas where grizzly bears are expected to occur – not just within Recovery Zone boundaries. 
Wildlife 

GRIZZLY BEAR SCREENING PROCESS PART 1

Access Mgmt a 

relevant issue? 

No Yes. Area meets access mgmt. 

direction that has been through 

adequate consultation? 

Food Storage a 

relevant issue? 

Yes 

No Yes. Adequate food storage 

rule in effect for the area or 

project? 

Yes

Seeding or Planting a 

relevant issue? 

No Yes. Seeding or planting of palatable forage species where interaction 

with people is likely? 

No 

No. Go to 

Standard Consultation Process 

Yes. Go to 

Standard 

Consultation 

Process 

No. Go to Standard 

Consultation Process 

Proceed to Screening 

Criteria Table, Part 2 

Record of Decision (ROD)/Approved RMP 121 
122 Record of Decision (ROD)/Approved RMP 

Part 2: The following Screening Criteria Table displays forest activities and criteria, that when met, will allow the project to meet “scre

does not meet the identified criteria, the project should proceed through the established consultation process3. 

# Activity Type Activity Component Crew Level and Duration of Use Screening Criteria 

1 Timber harvest Harvest, skidding, and/or hauling of timber products NA NA 2 

Healthy Forest Initiative Categorical Exclusions 

Category 12, Limited Timber Harvest: Live Trees – commercial thinning of overly dense stands of trees to improve the health of remaining trees; removing individual trees for forest products or fuel wood 

NA 

Limited timber harvest of live trees does not exceed 70 acres and there is less than 1⁄2 mile of temporary road construction. This is also not allowed in inventoried roadless areas and othespecified areas of significance such agrizzly bear core areas. 

3 Mechanical Off road heavy equip operation, such as 

site prep, fuel piling, log yarding, etc NA 

NA 

Helicopter use for monitoring, prescribed fire ignition, wildlife relocations, etc 

Use includes few trips and ≤2 activities/year and ≤2 days/activity/ analysis area 

NA 

4 Existing Gravel Pit Use Existing gravel pit use for road mainten- ance, etc. Use occurs off existing roads only. If on closed roads, use does not exceed administrative use levels 5 Roads and Road Maintenance Opening closed road 

3 References for crew levels and duration of use as well as time frames identified under Screening Criteria include: CEM – A model for ass

1990; Response to peer review of the A19 and proposed approach to managing access in grizzly bear habitat, NCDE Technical Group 1/2

choices made in the review and development of an access direction proposal for the NCDE grizzly bear ecosystem, 11/24/98. 
Record of Decision (ROD)/Approved RMP 123 

# Activity Type Activity Component Crew Level and Duration of Use Screening Criteria 

Reclaiming road outside of riparian/ spring habitat 

Use is 

< 14 consecutive 

days 

Reclaiming road in riparian/spring habitat Project occurs between July 1 throug

March 31 

Reclaiming road 

Does not meet administrative use levels, or occurs in riparian/spring habitat and active during 4/1-6/30 

Road maintenance: blading, culvert cleaning, brushing, etc 

Road is open, or use meets administrative use criteria 

New road construction Construction is 

< 14 consecutive days 

< 1⁄2 mile temporary road construction

If in riparian or spring habitat, new road construction occurs between Jul1 and March 31 

Bridge or stream culvert replacement Project occurs between July 1 throug

March 31 or completed in 

≤1 day 

6 Silviculture Activities Reforestation hand planting Day use only or camping of 

≤20 individuals and 

≤5 

days/analysis area 

Does not include snow plowing for access 

Reforestation mechanical treatments NA NA Insect suppression Aerial chemical application 

NA Chemicals do not effect cutworm mo

or habitat 

Insect suppression Aerial chemical application 

NA Chemicals affect cutworm moth or habitat, and in moth habitat 

Insect suppression ground chemical application NA NA Insect suppression survey, fertilization, manual treatment, individual tree fire treatment, or pheromone treatment 

NA NA 

Precommercial thinning and long term (>1 year) commercial Christmas tree 
124 Record of Decision (ROD)/Approved RMP 

# Activity Type Activity Component Crew Level and Duration of Use Screening Criteria 

harvest 

Disease control – manual treatment of larch through girdling to control larch mistletoe 

NA NA 

7 Range Infrastructure development NA NA 

Grazing 

Maintains or reduces existing livestocgrazing or changes livestock class to less vulnerable spp, and no history of depredation or control actions 

Grazing 

Increases livestock grazing, introducenew grazing into areas where depredation more likely, or history of livestocdepredation 

8 Recreation Trail maintenance or reconstruction NA Results in increased use or change of user type 

Trail maintenance or reconstruction Does not result in increase in use or change in user type New Trail construction Facility operations, including developed and dispersed camping 

Educate public campers and enforce sanitation standards. Does not increasuse or change user type. Sanitation standards are not enforced or use is increased or user type is changed. 
Record of Decision (ROD)/Approved RMP 125 

# Activity Type Activity Component Crew Level and Duration of Use Screening Criteria 9 Forest Products 

Personal use firewood collection, annual Christmas tree cutting, berry picking, low/incidental mushroom picking, and collection of “other forest products” (such as bear grass greens, medicinal herbs, pachistima, etc) 

Does not include off road mechanical skidding or hauling. Include “bear aware” education message 

Commercial firewood collection, berry picking, and “other forest products” (such as bear grass greens, medicinal herbs, pachistima, etc), but does not include mushrooms. 

Day use only or camping of 

≤20 individuals and 

≤5 

days total/analysis area 

Does not include off road mechanical skidding or hauling. Enforce sanitatiostandards, and Include “bear aware” education message. 

10 Habitat Restora- tion 

See timber harvest, mechanical treatments, roads, weed control, and prescribed fire. Also includes monitoring, 

fencing, fish barrier development, fish spp removal/trapping, rotenone treatment, interpretation/Con Ed, meadow restoration, riparian planting and restoration, snag creation, and water source development. 

Day use only or camping of 

≤20 individuals and 

≤5 

days/analysis area 

Project occurs between July 1 througMarch 31 or completed in 

≤1 day in 

riparian areas. Project does not result an increase in public use or user type

11 Prescribed Fire General support, ignition, mop-up 

Day use only or camping of 

≤20 individuals for 

≤5 

days/analysis area 

Does not include riparian areas 

Fire line construction Same as support 

Fire line does not/will not function as road or trail and will be reclaimed aftthe fire. 

Defensible space treatments (within 100m of structure) (Cohen 2000) Same as support Planting and/or seeding does not in- clude palatable forage spp. 
126 

Record of Decision (ROD)/Approved RMP 

# Activity Type Activity Component Crew Level and Duration of Use Screening Criteria 

12 Watershed Resto- ration 

Includes erosion control structures, sediment control, monitoring. Also, see reforestation, timber harvest, mechanical treatments, etc. 

Day use only or camping of 

≤20 individuals and 

≤5 

days/analysis area 

Project occurs between July 1 througMarch 31 or completed in 

≤1 day 

13 Weed Management Chemical, aerial or ground application NA NA 

Sheep or goat grazing NA NA 

14 Non-recreational Special Uses 

This includes maintenance of existing sites, corridors, or other facilities and is often carried out by the entity that owns the structures or facilities 

NA Meets administrative use levels 

New construction of facilities – this includes microwaves, cell towers, substation communications, powerlines, etc. NA Construction of powerlines is 

< 1⁄2 mi

and includes vegetation clearing. Includes 

< 1⁄2 mile of temporary road 

construction. Roads are not constructin spring habitat between April 1 and June 30. 

15 Miscellaneous 

Similar activity component, but must meet all screening criteria in parts 1 and 2 of the screens table and not violate any of these criteria. 
 Wildlife 

WOLF PROJECT SCREENING 

ELEMENTS & DETERMINATIONS 

The following screening process is intended to facilitate 

ESA processing of project consultation requirements. 

The wolf screen should be used to assist you in identifying projects that have “no effect” (NE) or “not likely to 

adversely affect” (NLAA) determination calls for the 

wolf. All projects that do not fall into the NE or NLAA 

must consider effects on wolves by using the standard 

consultation process for evaluating impacts of proposed 

projects on threatened and endangered species. Also, the 

Not Likely to Adversely Affect (NLAA) determinations 

reflect a conservative determination. There may be activities listed as NLAA that upon site specific analyses 

warrant a No Effect determination. 

The major components of the wolf screen are population 

designation (wild or experimental) and whether the proposed project has any relationship to den or rendezvous 

sites during spring/summer, the prey base and/or livestock grazing. The wolf screen was based on personal 

communications, review by the Montana Level I Team 

and the following references: 

USDI. 1987. Wolf Recovery Plan. 

Fontaine, Joe. Personal communication (with Mike Hillis) 

USDA and USDI. 2000. Interior Columbia Basin Ecosystem Management Project, Final Environmental Impact Statement. 

USDA and USDI. Biological Assessment. Interior Columbia Basin Ecosystem Management Project. 

Record of Decision (ROD)/Approved RMP 127 
Appendix C 

EXPERIMENTAL POPULATION 

[(10(j)] 

NO YES 

 (i.e. considered T&E) 

 

 Non-jeopardy 

Meets Recovery Plan direction for den 

and rendezvous sites (i.e. no projects/ 

activities within 1 mile of den or 

rendezvous sites scheduled to occur 

between 4/15-6/30) 

 YES NO 

 

 

Doesn’t meet Recovery 

 Maintains or Enhances Plan direction for den and 

 Prey Base rendezvous sites - Standard Consultation Process

 YES NO 

 

 Prey base not maintained or enhanced 

 Standard Consultation Process

Possible Increase in 

Mortality Risk to Wolves 

 NO YES 

 Concern about mortality risk 

 Standard Consultation Process 

 Livestock Grazing Concerns 

 NO YES 

 

 

 

 NE Standard Consultation Process 

Maintains existing or reduces existing livestock grazing with no 

control actions on wolves 

OR 

Changes livestock class to a less 

vulnerable species (sheep to cattle, or cattle to horse, yearlings to 

cow/calf) 

OR 

Outfitter/Guide horse grazing 

No den site, rendezvous 

site, mortality risk, livestock grazing concerns, or 

other site-specific concerns 

of the biologist. 

Increases grazing 

OR 

Maintains grazing with history of 

livestock depredation 

OR 

Introduces new grazing into areas 

where depredation is possible 

OR 

Any other situations where the 

biologist has concerns 

 NE or NLAA 

128 Record of Decision (ROD)/Approved RMP 
 Wildlife 

Record of Decision (ROD)/Approved RMP 129 

LYNX PROJECT SCREENING 

ELEMENTS & 

DETERMINATIONS4

The lynx screen is a two-part process. Projects are initially screened through the Part 1 Flow Chart to determine whether they are carried forward into Part 2 or if 

standard consultation procedures need to be followed. 

Part 2 consists of two different tables, D1 and D2. Table 

D1 is composed of those activities described in the 

LCAS. Table D2 consists of projects that are not identified in the LCAS but that may be implemented as part of 

program of work and as such need to be analyzed for 

effects to listed species. 

 

4 Screening elements apply to projects that are in lynx 

habitat that are within a lynx analysis unit. 

Refer to the Lynx Conservation Assessment and Strategy for a definition of lynx habitat 

Table D2 is a based on the consultation that was completed when the lynx was listed in 2000 and through 

ongoing project analysis. As such, we retained the “no 

effect” determination in these screens as a general guideline for use by project biologists. 

Applicable to both Tables, the Not Likely to Adversely 

Affect (NLAA) determinations reflect a conservative 

determination. There may be activities listed as NLAA 

that upon site specific analyses warrant a No Effect determination. 
Appendix C 

LYNX SCREENS 

PART 1 

Is the project in lynx habitat or is there 

potential to impact lynx habitat 

NO YES 

No Effect Project type covered in LCAS 

NO YES 

Does project currently 

meet LCAS Standards 

Does project meet LCAS 

Standards 

NO YES NO YES 

Proceed to 

standard 

consultation 

NLAA, use 

Table D1 

Project is 

screened, use 

Table D2 

Does project reduce 

existing suitable 

habitat 

NO YES 

No effect, or 

NLAA, use 

Table D2 

Proceed to 

standard consultation 

130 Record of Decision (ROD)/Approved RMP 
Record of Decision (ROD)/Approved RMP 131 

LYNX SCREENS, PART 2 (Tables D1 and D2) 

Table D1. Screening criteria for projects included in the Lynx Conservation and Assessment Strateg

# Activity Type Activity Component Screening Criteria 

1 Timber Harvest (from LCAS)

Felling, skidding, and/or hauling of timber products (not including salvage harvest). Includes post sale prescribed fire (slash, broadcast burning, etc.) 

Management actions shall not change more than 15% lynx habitat within a LAU to an unsuitable conditwithin a 10-year period; no more than 30% of lynx hatat within an LAU will be in unsuitable condition; greathan 10% denning habitat remains after the project; hatat connectivity is maintained 

(From LCAS) 

Salvage harvest (in this case, salvage harvest of blowdown) 

Affected area is greater than or equal to 5 acres OR dning habitat has been field verified and comprises mthan 10% of lynx habitat within an LAU and will well-distributed after salvage harvest 

2 

Healthy Forest Initiative Categorical Exclusions or similar project meeting these and screening criteria in #1 

Category 12, Limited Timber Harvest: Live Trees – commercial thinning of overly dense stands of trees to improve the health of remaining trees; removing individual trees for forest products or fuelwood 

Area does not exceed 70 acres and there is no more t1⁄2 mile of temporary road construction (and mescreening criteria in #1 above) 

Category 13, Salvage of Dead and Dying Trees – Salvage harvest in areas where trees have been severely damaged by forces such as fire, wind, ice, insects, or disease and still have some economic value 

Area does not exceed 250 acres and there is no more t1⁄2 mile of temporary road construction 

Category 14, Tree Removal to Prevent Spread of Insect/Disease – Commercial and noncommercial felling and removal of any trees necessary to control the spread of insects and disease 

Area does not exceed 250 acres and there is no more t1⁄2 mile of temporary road construction 

3 Roads and Road Maintenance 

Highways Highway crossings are identified that reduce highw

impacts on lynx. This screening element refers to actprojects that involve the creation of highway crossingfacilitate lynx movement. 
132 Record of Decision (ROD)/Approved RMP # Activity Type Activity Component Screening Criteria 

Non-recreation motorized winter access Over-snow access is restricted to designated routes 

4 Silviculture Activities Precommercial thinning Precommercial thinning occurs in stands that no lo

provide snowshoe hare habitat 

5 Range Livestock grazing in post-fire and post-harvest areas Livestock use is delayed in these created openings 

successful regeneration of the shrub and tree compoccurs 

Livestock grazing in aspen stands Aspen stands are managed to ensure sprouting and 

vival sufficient to perpetuate long-term viability oclones 

Livestock grazing in shrub-steppe habitats Shrub-steppe habitats are managed to maintain or ac

mid-seral or higher condition to provide lynx habitatrix 

Livestock grazing in riparian areas or willow carrs Livestock grazing is managed to maintain or ac

mid-seral or higher condition to provide cover and ffor prey species 

6 Recreation Snowmobiling and other over-the-snow activi- ty such as cross country skiing, snowshoe rac- es, and dogsledding No net increase in groomed or designated over-the-

routes for any winter activity and snowmobile play by LAU (see definition of ‘designated’ 5/19/2002 Mlister letter with Clarification and Revised Definip.2) 

Developed Recreation including planning and operating new or expanded recreation developments 

Landscape connectivity is not compromised; trails, rand lift termini are designed to direct winter use from diurnal security areas; key linkage areas are vided for landscape connectivity 

7 Prescribed Fire All activity components Burn prescriptions are designed to regenerate or c

snowshoe hare habitat 
Record of Decision (ROD)/Approved RMP 133 

Table D2. Screening criteria for projects not included in the Lynx Conservation and Assessment Strate

# Activity Type Activity Component Screening Criteria 

1 Roads and Road Maintenance 

Road Maintenance - This includes general road maintenance that may involve the brushing of vegetation on the road or along roadsides. Road maintenance may include but is not limited to roadbed blading, brushing, cleaning ditches, replacing or cleaning culverts, cleaning dips, or spot graveling. 

Brushing included 

No brushing associated with activity 

Road Decommissioning - This involves the use of heavy equipment and includes obliteration and other methods to hydrologically neutralize the road. General Road Use - This includes hauling timber, removing mining waste and materials, and moving livestock over federal roads for which permits are required. It also includes routine road use by administrative units to carry out work associated with recreation, range, timber and minerals management, fire prevention and suppression, inventories, surveys, and other monitoring activities. This includes use of roads consistent with existing travel plans. 

Activity includes right-of-ways, multiple dwelling construction, or development of large corporate lands 

Activity occurs in winter and does NOT include rightof-ways, multiple dwelling construction, or development of large corporate lands Activity occurs in spring, summer, or fall and does NOT include right-of-ways, multiple dwelling construction, or development of large corporate lands 

2 Silvicultural Activities Tree planting Tree planting does not result in stand type conversion

Activity does not involve snowplowing 

Disease control – manual treatment of larch through girdling to control larch mistletoe 

Activity does not involve snowplowing 

3 Recreation 

Recreation Special Uses - This includes activities for which permits are issued and includes outfitting and permits issued to a variety of organizations that engage in activities such as mountaineering, rock climbing, outward bound, ski races, concerts, “Poker Runs”, “Fun Runs”, driving tours, nature watch hikes, hunting, fishing, and a wide variety of other events. 

Activity is consistent with existing access management from Forest and Travel Plans and is consistent with the LCAS 

Activity occurs in SpringSummer, Fall 

Activity involves hunting mountain lions with dogs Activity occurs in winter 
134 Record of Decision (ROD)/Approved RMP

# Activity Type Activity Component Screening Criteria 

Trail Use consistent with existing travel manage- ment Activity occurs in winter, meets LCAS 

Activity occurs in spring, summer, or fall 

Maintenance and/or Minor Trail Re-routes - This consists of maintenance of trails and minor trail re-routes and may require use of heavy equipment. 

Activity does not involve blasting 

New Trail Construction and/or Major Trail Reroutes and Maintenance - This includes the development of new trails used for foot, stock, or motorcycles and may require the use of heavy equipment or hand tools and may create a clearing width up to 10 feet wide (FSH 2309.18). This also includes major re-routing and may require use of heavy equipment and/or blasting. Camping – Includes dispersed and developed campgrounds 

Consistent with existing travel plans and LCAS aoccurs during spring, summer, or fall 

Dispersed off-road activities Consistent with existing travel plans and LCAS Permitted and Non-permitted use of Developed Sites, Facilities, and Their Maintenance - This includes special use permits issued for facilities, residences, and other structures. Permits are also issued for organizational camps such as the Boy Scouts and church groups at developed campgrounds. Other facilities include but are not limited to campgrounds, rental cabins, watchable wildlife sites, picnic areas, warming huts, and communication sites. Also includes Forest Service administrative sites and their maintenance (e.g. campgrounds, trailheads, ranger stations, etc.) 

Activity occurs or is associated with ski areas 

Activity occurs during the winter Activity occurs during spring, summer, or fall 

4 Forest Products 

Post and Pole Sales – This includes both commercial and non-commercial post and pole sales. This typically occurs in forested stands consisting of trees 5-9” diameter at breast height (dbh). 

LCAS habitat criteria are met within the respectiLAU (i.e. activity occurs in dense stands where lolive limbs are generally out of reach for snowshhare). 
Record of Decision (ROD)/Approved RMP 135 

# Activity Type Activity Component Screening Criteria 

Firewood Collection - This includes both commercial and non-commercial collection and involves the collection of standing dead or down wood. 

LCAS habitat criteria are met within the respectiLAU 

Other Forest Products – This includes but is not limited to berry, mushroom, and bear grass collection and includes both commercial and noncommercial activities. Collection of tree products is not included. 

LCAS habitat criteria are met within the respectiLAU 

Christmas Tree/Bough Cutting - This includes both commercial and non-commercial cutting. The trees cut range from 3” to 5” dbh and are less than 25’ tall. 

LCAS habitat criteria are met within the respectiLAU. Stand must not be converted to unsuitable snowshoe hare habitat. See Lynx Conservation Assessmeand Strategy for a definition of ‘unsuitable’ habitat. 

5 Habitat Restoration 

Forest and Shrub/Grassland Habitat Management - This includes aspen rejuvenation, shrub field maintenance and other types of ecosystem ‘driven’ projects designed to promote natural processes in an area. 

LCAS habitat criteria are met within the respectiLAU 

6 Noxious Weed Management 

This includes chemical and biological treatments to noxious weeds within or adjacent to lynx habitat 

Activity includes aerial application 

Activity includes only ground application (no aerapplication) 

7 Other Special Uses 

This includes maintenance of existing sites, corridors, or other facilities and is often carried out by the entity that owns the structures or facilities. Maintenance may include vegetation blading or cutting, or spraying to reduce brush and reduce the invasion of shrubs and trees among other activities. 

8 Mining and Gra- vel Pits Quarries, recreational mining, small mines, and reclamation of small mines Mines and gravel pits <5 acres, no winter time oper

tion 
136 Record of Decision (ROD)/Approved RMP # Activity Type Activity Component Screening Criteria 

9 Ditches and Diversions 

10 Surveys Surveys – This includes snow course surveys, track counts, habitat sampling, hair posts, remote camera stations, and radio telemetry among other methods. Operations are during winter and include repeat

snow compaction activities(cross country ski tripsnowmobile trips) on ungroomed trails generally nbeing used by public 

Operations are during spring, summer, or fall 

11 Miscellaneous Similar activity component, but must meet all screening criteria in parts 1 and 2 of the screens table and not violate any of these criteria 
Wildlife 

CONSULTATION SUMMARY SHEET FOR PROGRAMMATIC 

ASSESSMENT 

CONSULTATION SUMMARY SHEET INSTRUCTIONS FOR PROGRAMMATIC BIOLOGICAL 

ASSESSMENT 

Summary sheets will be filled out by project biologists. BLM biologists will submit summary sheets to the U.S. Fish and 

Wildlife Service quarterly and, as needed, these projects will be reviewed and discussed by the Level One Team to ensure the screening criteria are adequately interpreted and applied. There will be a random audit of a few projects each 

year to insure compliance and effectiveness of the screens and reporting requirements. 

Page ___ of ___ 

Administrative Unit: __________________________________________________________________ 

Contact: ______Project Biologist________________________________________________________ 

Reviewed by: _____________ BLM Biologist ___________________________________________ 

Date: _______________________________ 

Project Name 

and Description Species Effects of Action Cumulative Effects (ESA) 

How does the 

project meet 

screening criteria? 

Determination of 

Effects 

Project description should provide pertinent 

information including all aspects of the 

project that potentially affect 

T&E species. 

This includes but 

is not limited to: 

project name, 

project location 

including management unit if 

applicable, timing of implementation and details 

of project activities. 

Grizzly Bear 

Briefly describe 

the overall effect 

for the entire 

project on the 

species and base 

it on the screening criteria. 

Briefly describe 

the effects of 

future, nonfederal actions 

that are reasonably likely to occur in the action 

area (this is the 

area where the 

effects of the 

project may be 

felt). 

Specifically 

identify the 

screening criteria 

and describe how 

the project meets 

these specific 

criteria. 

• No Effect

• May affect not 

likely to adversely affect 

Gray Wolf 

Canada Lynx 

Record of Decision (ROD)/Approved RMP 137 
Appendix C 

CONSULTATION SUMMARY SHEET FOR PROGRAMMATIC BIOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT 

Page ___ of ___ 

Administrative Unit: _____________________________________________________________________ 

Contact: _______________________________________________________________________________ 

Reviewed by: ___________________________________________________________________________ 

Date: ___________________________________________________________________________________ 

Project Name and 

Description Species Effects of Action Cumulative Effects (ESA) 

How does the 

project meet 

screening 

 criteria? 

Determination of 

Effects 

Grizzly Bear 

Gray Wolf 

Lynx 

138 Record of Decision (ROD)/Approved RMP 
Wildlife 

LYNX CONSERVATION 

ASSESSMENT AND STRATEGY 

(LCAS) SUMMARY AND LYNX 

CONSERVATION MEASURES 

The BLM and FWS signed a Conservation Agreement to 

promote the conservation of the Canada lynx and its 

habitat on BLM lands, using the Lynx Science Report 

and the Lynx Conservation and Assessment Strategy. 

The LCAS was developed in place of the normal recovery plan previously used for most other species listed 

under ESA. 

The agreement and strategy identify objectives, standards, guidelines, and conservation measures to reduce 

or eliminate risk factors. These measures are intended to 

conserve the lynx, and to reduce or eliminate adverse 

effects from the spectrum of management activities on 

federal lands. These measures are provided to assist federal agencies in seeking opportunities to benefit lynx and 

to help avoid negative impacts through the thoughtful 

planning of activities. Plans that incorporate them, and 

projects that implement them, are generally not expected 

to have adverse effects on lynx, and implementation of 

these measures across the range of the lynx is expected 

to lead to conservation of the species. 

Critical habitat for the Canada Lynx was not designated 

through the listing process. The LCAS instead relies on 

defining potential habitat based on vegetation characteristics and prey availability wherever that may occur 

since current lynx populations are small and widely dispersed. Conservation focus is to: 

• Manage forested habitat within the historic 

range of variability for vegetation, and maintain 

large unfragmented blocks of forest with the appropriate structure; 

• Maintain dense understory conditions providing 

cover and forage for snowshoe hares as the primary lynx prey base; 

• Minimize snow compaction that would encourage access for competing predators into lynx habitat; and 

• Provide connections within and between lynx 

habitat areas, emphasizing riparian habitats. 

CONSERVATION MEASURES APPLICABLE TO 

ALL PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES 

Because it is impossible to provide standards and guidelines to address all possible actions in all locations 

across the broad range of the lynx, it is imperative that 

project specific analysis and design be completed for all 

actions that have the potential to affect lynx. Circumstances unique to individual projects or actions and their 

locations may still result in adverse effects on lynx. In 

these cases, additional or modified mitigating measures 

may be necessary to avoid or minimize adverse effects. 

Programmatic Planning - Objectives

Design vegetation management strategies that are consistent with historical succession and disturbance regimes. The broad-scale strategy should be based on a 

comparison of historical and current ecological 

processes and landscape patterns, such as age-class distributions and patch size characteristics. It may be necessary to moderate the timing, intensity, and extent of 

treatments to maintain all required habitat components in 

lynx habitat, to reduce human influences on mortality 

risk and interspecific competition, and to be responsive 

to current social and ecological constraints relevant to 

lynx habitat. 

Programmatic Planning - Standards

1. Conservation measures will generally apply only to 

lynx habitat on federal lands within LAUs. 

2. To facilitate project planning, delineate LAUs. To 

allow for assessment of the potential effects of the 

project on an individual lynx, LAUs should be at 

least the size of area used by a resident lynx and 

contain sufficient year-round habitat. 

3. To be effective for the intended purposes of planning and monitoring, LAU boundaries will not be 

adjusted for individual projects, but must remain 

constant. 

4. Lynx habitat will be mapped using criteria appropriate to each geographic area. 

5. Prepare a broad-scale assessment of landscape patterns that compares historical and current ecological 

processes and vegetation patterns, such as age-class 

distributions and patch size characteristics. In the 

absence of guidance developed from such an assessment, limit disturbance within each LAU as follows: if more than 30 percent of lynx habitat within 

a LAU is currently in unsuitable condition, no further reduction of suitable conditions shall occur as a 

result of vegetation management activities by federal agencies. 

Programmatic Planning - Guidelines

1. The size of LAUs should generally be 6,500- 10,000 

ha (16,000 – 25,000 acres or 25-50 square miles) in 

contiguous habitat, and likely should be larger in 

less contiguous, poorer quality, or naturally fragmented habitat. Larger units should be identified in 

the southern portions of the Northern Rocky Mountains Geographic Area (in Idaho from the Salmon 

River south, Oregon, Wyoming, and Utah) and in 

the Southern Rocky Mountains Geographic Area. 

Record of Decision (ROD)/Approved RMP 139 
Appendix C 

 In the west, we recommend using watersheds (e.g., 

6th code hydrologic unit codes (HUCs) in more northerly portions of geographic areas, and 5th code 

HUCs in more southerly portions). In the east, terrestrial ecological units that have been delineated at 

the land type association or subsection level (e.g., 

LTAs or whatever scale most closely approximates 

the size of a lynx home range) may be an appropriate context for analysis. Coordinate delineation of 

LAUs with adjacent administrative units and state 

wildlife management agencies, where appropriate. 

2. After LAUs are identified, their spatial arrangement 

should be evaluated. Determine the number and arrangement of contiguous LAUs needed to maintain 

lynx habitat well distributed across the planning 

area. LAUs with only insignificant amounts of lynx 

habitat may be discarded, or portions of the unit 

combined with or divided among neighboring LAUs 

to provide a meaningful unit for analysis. 

Project Planning - Standards

1. Within each LAU, map lynx habitat. Identify potential denning habitat and foraging habitat (primarily 

snowshoe hare habitat, but also habitat for important 

alternate prey such as red squirrels), and topographic features that may be important for lynx movement (primary ridge systems, prominent saddles, 

and riparian corridors). Also identify non-forest vegetation (meadows, shrub-grassland communities, 

etc.) adjacent to and intermixed with forested lynx 

habitat that may provide habitat for alternate lynx 

prey species. 

2. Within a LAU, maintain denning habitat in patches 

generally larger than 5 acres, on at least 10 percent 

of the area that is capable of producing stands with 

these characteristics. Where less than 10 percent of 

the forested lynx habitat within a LAU provides 

denning habitat, defer those management actions 

that would delay achievement of denning habitat 

structure. 

3. Maintain habitat connectivity within and between 

LAUs. 

CONSERVATION MEASURES TO 

ADDRESS RISK FACTORS 

AFFECTING LYNX 

PRODUCTIVITY 

TIMBER MANAGEMENT IN LYNX HABITAT 

Timber management modifies the vegetation structure 

and mosaic of forested landscapes. Timber management 

can be used in conjunction with, or in place of, fire as a 

disturbance process to create and maintain snowshoe 

hare habitat. In the southern portion of its range, lynx 

populations appear to be limited by the availability of 

snowshoe hare prey, as suggested by large home range 

sizes, high kitten mortality due to starvation, and greater 

reliance on alternate prey, especially red squirrels, as 

compared with populations in northern Canada. Timber 

management practices should be designed to maintain or 

enhance habitat for snowshoe hare and alternate prey 

such as red squirrel. Dense horizontal cover of conifers, 

just above the snow level in winter, is critical for snowshoe hare habitat. This structure may occur either in regenerating seedling/sapling stands, or as an understory 

layer in older stands. 

Most aspen stands in the Rocky Mountains are in late 

successional condition as a result of past fire prevention 

and grazing. In aspen stands intermixed with spruce-fir 

forests, particularly in southern Idaho, southern Montana, Wyoming, Utah, and Colorado, treatments that 

result in dense regeneration of aspen are likely to enhance habitat for potential prey of lynx. 

Programmatic Planning - Objectives

1. Evaluate historical conditions and landscape patterns to determine historical vegetation mosaics 

across landscapes through time. For example, large 

infrequent disturbance events may have been more 

characteristic of lynx habitat than small frequent 

disturbances. 

2. Maintain suitable acres and juxtaposition of lynx 

habitat through time. Design vegetation treatments 

to approximate historical landscape patterns and disturbance processes. 

3. If the landscape has been fragmented by past management activities that reduced the quality of lynx 

habitat, adjust management practices to produce 

forest composition, structure, and patterns more 

similar to those that would have occurred under historical disturbance regimes. 

Project Planning - Objectives

1. Design regeneration harvest, planting, and thinning 

to develop characteristics suitable for snowshoe 

hare habitat. 

2. Design project to retain/enhance existing habitat 

conditions for important alternate prey (particularly 

red squirrel). 

Project Planning - Standards

1. Management actions (e.g., timber sales, salvage 

sales) shall not change more than 15 percent of lynx 

habitat within a LAU to an unsuitable condition 

within a 10-year period. 

140 Record of Decision (ROD)/Approved RMP 
Wildlife 

2. Following a disturbance such as blowdown, fire, 

insects, and disease that could contribute to lynx 

denning habitat, do not salvage harvest when the affected area is smaller than 5 acres; exceptions would 

include areas such as developed campgrounds. 

Where larger areas are affected, retain a minimum 

of 10% of the affected area per LAU in patches of at 

least 5 acres to provide future denning habitat. In 

such areas, defer or modify management activities 

that would prevent development or maintenance of 

lynx foraging habitat.

3. In lynx habitat, pre-commercial thinning will be 

allowed only when stands no longer provide snowshoe hare habitat (e.g., self-pruning processes have 

eliminated snowshoe hare cover and forage availability during winter conditions with average snowpack). 

4. In aspen stands within lynx habitat in the Cascade 

Mountains, Northern Rocky Mountains and Southern Rocky Mountains Geographic Areas, apply 

harvest prescriptions that favor regeneration of aspen. 

Project Planning - Guidelines

1. Plan regeneration harvests in lynx habitat where 

little or no habitat for snowshoe hares is currently 

available, to recruit a high density of conifers, 

hardwoods, and shrubs preferred by hares. Consider 

the following: 

a) Design regeneration prescriptions to mimic historical fire (or other natural disturbance) events, 

including retention of fire-killed dead trees and 

coarse woody debris; 

b) Design harvest units to mimic the pattern and 

scale of natural disturbances and retain natural 

connectivity across the landscape. Evaluate the 

potential of riparian zones, ridges, and saddles to 

provide connectivity; and 

c) Provide for continuing availability of foraging 

habitat in proximity to denning habitat. 

2. In areas where recruitment of additional denning 

habitat is desired, or to extend the production of 

snowshoe hare foraging habitat where forage quality 

and quantity is declining due to plant succession, 

consider improvement harvests (commercial thinning, selection, etc). Improvement harvests should 

be designed to: 

a) Retain and recruit the understory of small diameter conifers and shrubs preferred by hares; 

b) Retain and recruit coarse woody debris, consistent with the likely availability of such material 

under natural disturbance regimes; and 

c) Maintain or improve the juxtaposition of denning and foraging habitat. 

WILDLAND FIRE MANAGEMENT 

Wildland fire and insects have historically played the 

dominant role in maintaining a mosaic of forest successional stages in lynx habitat. Stand-replacing fires were 

infrequent and affected large areas. In areas with a 

mixed fire regime, moderate to low intensity fires also 

occurred in the intervals between stand-replacing events. 

Refer to the geographic area descriptions for more detailed information regarding historical fire regimes. 

Periodic vegetation disturbances maintain the snowshoe 

hare prey base for lynx. In the period immediately following large stand-replacing fires, snowshoe hare and 

lynx densities are low. Populations increase as the vegetation grows back and provides dense horizontal cover, 

until the vegetation grows out of the reach of hares. Low 

to moderate intensity fires may also stimulate understory 

development in older stands. 

Fire exclusion may have altered the pattern and composition of vegetation in subalpine forests. In the western 

United States, particularly in the southern portion of the 

Northern Rocky Mountains Geographic Area and in the 

Southern Rocky Mountains Geographic Area, fire exclusion is one of the primary factors contributing to the 

decline or loss of aspen. Aspen communities occupy a 

small percentage of the total forested area, but they provide important habitat diversity. Aspen/tall forb community types, especially those that include snowberry, serviceberry and chokecherry shrubs in the understory, are 

very productive and may contribute to the quality of 

lynx foraging habitat. 

Wildland fire management activities include suppression 

and pre-suppression activities, as well as prescribed fire 

(natural and management ignitions). 

Programmatic Planning - Objectives

1. Restore fire as an ecological process. Evaluate 

whether fire suppression, forest type conversions, 

and other forest management practices have altered 

fire regimes and the functioning of ecosystems. 

2. Revise or develop fire management plans to integrate lynx habitat management objectives. Prepare 

plans for areas large enough to encompass large historical fire events. 

3. Use fire to move toward landscape patterns consistent with historical succession and disturbance regimes. Consider use of mechanical pre-treatment 

and management ignitions if needed to restore fire 

as an ecological process. 

Record of Decision (ROD)/Approved RMP 141 
Appendix C 

4. Adjust management practices where needed to produce forest composition, structure, and patterns 

more similar to those that would have occurred under historical succession and disturbance regimes. 

5. Design vegetation and fire management activities to 

retain or restore denning habitat on landscape settings with highest probability of escaping standreplacing fire events. Evaluate current distribution, 

amount, and arrangement of lynx habitat in relation 

to fire disturbance patterns. 

Project Planning - Objectives

1. Use fire as a tool to maintain or restore lynx habitat. 

2. When managing wildland fire, minimize creation of 

permanent travel ways that could facilitate increased 

access by competitors. 

Project Planning - Standards

1. In the event of a large wildfire, conduct a postdisturbance assessment prior to salvage harvest, particularly in stands that were formerly in late successional stages, to evaluate potential for lynx denning 

and foraging habitat. 

2. Design burn prescriptions to regenerate or create 

snowshoe hare habitat (e.g., regeneration of aspen 

and lodgepole pine). 

Project Planning - Guidelines

1. Design burn prescriptions to promote response by 

shrub and tree species that are favored by snowshoe 

hare. 

2. Design burn prescriptions to retain or encourage 

tree species composition and structure that will provide habitat for red squirrels or other alternate prey 

species. 

3. Consider the need for pre-treatment of fuels before 

conducting management ignitions. 

4. Avoid constructing permanent firebreaks on ridges 

or saddles in lynx habitat. 

5. Minimize construction of temporary roads and machine fire lines to the extent possible during fire 

suppression activities. 

6. Design burn prescriptions and, where feasible, conduct fire suppression actions in a manner that maintains adequate lynx denning habitat (10% of lynx 

habitat per LAU). 

RECREATION MANAGEMENT 

Lynx have evolved a competitive advantage in environments with deep soft snow that tends to exclude other 

predators during the middle of winter, a time when prey 

is most limiting (Murray and Boutin 1991, Livaitis 1992, 

Buskirk et al. 1999). Widespread human activity (snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, snow cats) 

may lead to patterns of snow compaction that make it 

possible for competing predators such as coyotes and 

bobcats to occupy lynx habitat through the winter, reducing its value to and even possibly excluding lynx 

(Bider 1962, Ozoga and Harger 1966, Murray et al. 

1995, O'Donoghue et al. 1998). In order to maintain a 

competitive advantage for lynx, it may be necessary to 

minimize or even preclude snow compacting activities in 

and around quality snowshoe hare habitat. To not do so 

may lead to the elimination of lynx, or preclude the 

ability to re-establish them, in these landscapes. 

A consideration for lynx in winter landscapes is exploitation or interference competition from other predator/competitors (Buskirk et al. 1999) and human disturbance (e.g., large developed recreational sites or areas of 

concentrated winter recreational use). Lynx may be able 

to adapt to the presence of regular and concentrated recreational use, so long as critical habitat needs are being 

met. Therefore it is essential that an interconnected network of foraging habitat be maintained that is not subjected to widespread human intervention or competition 

from other predator species. 

In areas of concentrated recreational use (e.g., large ski 

areas), it may be necessary to maintain or provide "diurnal security habitat". In landscapes where there is widespread or intense recreational use, the natural diurnal 

patterns of human and lynx activity may provide the 

opportunity to maintain both uses in the landscape. Most 

human activity occurs during daylight hours, while lynx 

appear to be most active dusk to dawn, although weather 

may affect the time period when lynx are most active 

(Apps 1999). A key to providing temporal segregation of 

use may be in ensuring there are places in that landscape 

were lynx can bed during the day relatively undisturbed. 

Sites that are similar to denning habitat (i.e., areas that 

are tangled with large woody debris) will tend to exclude 

most human activity because of the inherent difficulty 

they pose for human movement. Diurnal security habitat 

should be sufficiently large to provide effective and visual insulation from human activity, and must be well 

distributed and in proximity to foraging habitat. 

Where such diurnal security sites exist, they should be 

protected from actions or activities that would destroy or 

compromise their functional value. In landscapes where 

these areas are lacking or inadequate, it may be desirable 

to create them, focusing on location, adequate size, and 

an abundance of jackstrawed large woody debris. 

Landscape connectivity may be provided by narrow forested mountain ridges, plateaus, or forest stringers that 

142 Record of Decision (ROD)/Approved RMP 
Wildlife 

link more extensive areas of lynx habitat. Woodland 

riparian communities that provide travel cover across 

otherwise open areas may also provide connectivity. 

Minimizing disturbance around denning habitat is important from May to August. 

Programmatic Planning - Objectives

1. Plan for and manage recreational activities to protect the integrity of lynx habitat, considering as a 

minimum the following: 

a) Minimize snow compaction in lynx habitat. 

b) Concentrate recreational activities within existing developed areas, rather than developing new 

recreational areas in lynx habitat. 

c) On federal lands, ensure that development or 

expansion of developed recreation sites or ski 

areas and adjacent lands address landscape connectivity and lynx habitat needs. 

Programmatic Planning - Standards

1. On federal lands in lynx habitat, allow no net increase in groomed or designated over-the-snow 

routes and snowmobile play areas by LAU. This is 

intended to apply to dispersed recreation, rather than 

existing ski areas. 

2. Map and monitor the location and intensity of snow 

compacting activities (for example, snowmobiling, 

snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, dog sledding, 

etc.) that coincide with lynx habitat, to facilitate future evaluation of effects on lynx as information becomes available. 

Programmatic Planning - Guidelines

1. Provide a landscape with interconnected blocks of 

foraging habitat where snowmobile, cross-country 

skiing, snowshoeing, or other snow compacting activities are minimized or discouraged. 

2. As information becomes available on the impact of 

snow-compacting activities and disturbance on lynx, 

limit or discourage this use in areas where it is 

shown to compromise lynx habitat. Such actions 

should be undertaken on a priority basis considering 

habitat function and importance. 

Project Planning - Standards

 Developed Recreation:

1. In lynx habitat, ensure that federal actions do not 

degrade or compromise landscape connectivity 

when planning and operating new or expanded 

recreation developments. 

2. Design trails, roads, and lift termini to direct winter 

use away from diurnal security habitat. 

 Dispersed Recreation:

To protect the integrity of lynx habitat, evaluate (as new 

information becomes available) and amend as needed, 

winter recreational special use permits (outside of permitted ski areas) that promote snow compacting activities in lynx habitat. 

Project Planning - Guidelines

 Developed Recreation:

1. Identify and protect potential security habitats in 

and around proposed developments or expansions. 

2. When designing ski area expansions, provide adequately sized coniferous inter-trail islands, including 

the retention of coarse woody material, to maintain 

snowshoe hare habitat. 

3. Evaluate, and adjust as necessary, ski operations in 

expanded or newly developed areas to provide nocturnal foraging opportunities for lynx in a manner 

consistent with operational needs, especially in 

landscapes where lynx habitat occurs as narrow 

bands of coniferous forest across the mountain 

slopes. 

FOREST/BACKCOUNTRY ROADS AND TRAILS 

Forest and backcountry roads and trails are those that 

occur on public lands; highways are addressed separately. Refer also to the conservation measures in the Forest 

Management, Recreation, and Trapping sections. 

Plowed roads and groomed over-the-snow routes may 

allow competing carnivores such as coyotes and mountain lions to access lynx habitat in the winter, increasing 

competition for prey (Buskirk et al. 1999). However, 

plowed or created snow roads may be necessary to accomplish winter logging, which may be desirable to 

meet a variety of resource management objectives. 

Preliminary information suggests that lynx may not 

avoid roads, except at high traffic volumes. Therefore, at 

this time, there is no compelling evidence to recommend 

management of road density to conserve lynx. However, 

new road construction continues to occur in many watersheds within lynx habitat, many of which are already 

highly roaded, and the effects on lynx are largely unknown. Further research directed at elucidating the effects of road density on lynx is needed. 

Programmatic Planning - Objectives

Maintain the natural competitive advantage of lynx in 

deep snow conditions. 

Programmatic Planning - Standards

Record of Decision (ROD)/Approved RMP 143 
Appendix C 

On federal lands in lynx habitat, allow no net increase in 

groomed or designated over-the-snow routes and snowmobile play areas by LAU. Winter logging activity is 

not subject to this restriction. 

Programmatic Planning - Guidelines

1. Determine where high total road densities (>2 miles 

per square mile) coincide with lynx habitat, and prioritize roads for seasonal restrictions or reclamation 

in those areas. 

2. Minimize roadside brushing in order to provide 

snowshoe hare habitat. 

3. Locate trails and roads away from forested stringers. 

4. Limit public use on temporary roads constructed for 

timber sales. Design new roads, especially the entrance, for effective closure upon completion of sale 

activities. 

5. Minimize building of roads directly on ridgetops or 

areas identified as important for lynx habitat connectivity. 

LIVESTOCK GRAZING 

In riparian areas within lynx habitat, ungulate forage use 

levels may reduce forage resources available to snowshoe hares. Browsing or grazing can have a direct effect 

on snowshoe hare habitat if it alters the structure or 

composition of native plant communities. 

Throughout the Rocky Mountains, grazing has been a 

factor in the decline or loss of aspen as a seral species in 

subalpine forests. Young, densely regenerating aspen 

stands with a well-developed understory provide good 

quality habitat for snowshoe hares and other potential 

lynx prey species, such as grouse. Grazing should be 

managed to allow for regeneration of aspen clones. 

Particularly in the naturally fragmented habitats of the 

western United States, inclusions of high elevation 

shrub-steppe habitats often may exist within the home 

range of a lynx. Resident lynx are also known to occasionally make exploratory movements out of their home 

ranges (Squires and Laurion 1999, Aubry et al. 1999), 

encountering these habitats and potential alternate prey 

such as ground squirrels and jackrabbits. Therefore, 

shrub-steppe habitats within the elevational ranges of 

forested lynx habitat should be considered lynx habitat 

and be managed to maintain or achieve mid-seral or 

higher conditions, thereby providing maximum natural 

cover and prey availability. Those areas that are currently in late seral condition should not be degraded. 

Programmatic Planning - Objectives

In lynx habitat and adjacent shrub-steppe habitats, manage grazing to maintain the composition and structure of 

native plant communities. 

Project Planning - Objectives

1. Manage livestock grazing within riparian areas and 

willow carrs in lynx habitat to provide conditions 

for lynx and lynx prey. 

2. Maintain or move towards native composition and 

structure of herbaceous and shrub plant communities. 

3. Ensure that ungulate grazing does not impede the 

development of snowshoe hare habitat in natural or 

created openings within lynx habitat. 

Project Planning - Standards

1. Do not allow livestock use in openings created by 

fire or timber harvest that would delay successful 

regeneration of the shrub and tree components. Delay livestock use in post-fire and post-harvest 

created openings until successful regeneration of the 

shrub and tree components occurs. 

2. Manage grazing in aspen stands to ensure sprouting 

and sprout survival sufficient to perpetuate the longterm viability of the clones. 

3. Within the elevational ranges that encompass forested lynx habitat, shrub-steppe habitats should be 

considered as integral to the lynx habitat matrix and 

should be managed to maintain or achieve mid seral 

or higher condition. 

4. Within lynx habitat, manage livestock grazing in 

riparian areas and willow carrs to maintain or 

achieve mid seral or higher condition to provide 

cover and forage for prey species. 

OTHER HUMAN DEVELOPMENTS: OIL AND 

GAS LEASING, MINES, RESERVOIRS, 

AGRICULTURE 

Most of these activities affect lynx habitat by changing 

or eliminating native vegetation, and may also contribute 

to fragmentation. The primary effects of leases and 

mines on lynx are probably related to the potential for 

plowed roads to provide access for lynx competitors, 

particularly coyotes. Construction of reservoirs will be 

handled under normal FERC and consultation procedures, and no conservation measures were developed 

specific to those projects. 

Programmatic Planning - Objectives

Design developments to minimize impacts on lynx habitat. 

144 Record of Decision (ROD)/Approved RMP 
Wildlife 

Programmatic Planning - Guidelines

Map oil and gas production and transmission facilities, 

mining activities and facilities, dams, and agricultural 

lands on public lands and adjacent private lands, in order 

to assess cumulative effects. 

Project Planning - Standards

On projects where over-snow access is required, restrict 

use to designated routes. 

Project Planning - Guidelines

1. If activities are proposed in lynx habitat, develop 

stipulations for limitations on the timing of activities and surface use and occupancy at the leasing 

stage. 

2. Minimize snow compaction when authorizing and 

monitoring developments. Encourage remote monitoring of sites that are located in lynx habitat, so that 

they do not have to be visited daily. 

3. Develop a reclamation plan (e.g., road reclamation 

and vegetation rehabilitation) for abandoned well 

sites and closed mines to restore suitable habitat for 

lynx. 

4. Close newly constructed roads (built to access 

mines or leases) in lynx habitat to public access during project activities. Upon project completion, reclaim or obliterate these roads. 

CONSERVATION MEASURES TO 

ADDRESS MORTALITY RISK 

FACTORS 

TRAPPING 

(LEGAL AND NON-TARGET) 

Lynx are known to be very vulnerable to trapping. Ward 

and Krebs (1985) stated that trapping was the single 

most important mortality factor in their Yukon study 

area. Incidental trapping of lynx can occur in areas 

where regulated trapping of other species overlaps with 

lynx habitat (Mech 1973, Carbyn and Patriquin 1983, 

Squires and Laurion 1999). Lynx may be more vulnerable to trapping near open roads (Koehler and Aubry 

1994, Bailey et al. 1986). 

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) is proposing 

to work with the States to develop a 4-d. rule for all regulated or unregulated trapping (e.g., coyote, wolverine, 

bobcat, fox) in lynx habitats by establishing adequate 

trapping protocols to minimize incidental take. Each 

state would work with FWS to customize the protocol 

for their specific regions. 

Programmatic Planning - Objectives

Reduce incidental harm or capture of lynx during regulated and unregulated trapping activity, and ensure retention of an adequate prey base. 

Programmatic Planning - Guidelines

Federal agencies should work cooperatively with States 

and Tribes to reduce incidental take of lynx related to 

trapping. 

PREDATOR CONTROL 

Predator control activities conducted on federal lands by 

Wildlife Services include trapping, shooting, and poisoning animals on domestic livestock allotments, occasionally within lynx habitat. Similar efforts may be conducted on adjacent private lands. Although such actions 

are intended to target the offending animal, non-target 

animals including lynx may be impacted. 

Programmatic Planning - Objectives

Reduce incidental harm or capture of lynx during predator control activities, and ensure retention of adequate 

prey base. 

Programmatic Planning - Standards

Predator control activities, including trapping or poisoning on domestic livestock allotments on federal lands 

within lynx habitat, will be conducted by Wildlife Services personnel in accordance with FWS recommendations established through a formal Section 7 consultation 

process. 

SHOOTING 

Lynx may be mistakenly shot by legal predator hunters 

seeking bobcats, or illegally by poachers. Prey species, 

such as snowshoe hares and ground squirrels, may also 

be affected by legal shooting. 

Programmatic planning - Objectives

Reduce lynx mortalities related to mistaken identification or illegal shooting. 

Programmatic Planning - Guidelines

1. Initiate interagency information and education efforts throughout the range of lynx in the contiguous 

states. Utilize trailhead posters, magazine articles, 

news releases, state hunting and trapping regulation 

booklets, etc., to inform the public of the possible 

presence of lynx, field identification, and their status. 

2. Federal agencies should work cooperatively with 

States and Tribes to ensure that important lynx prey 

are conserved. 

Record of Decision (ROD)/Approved RMP 145 
Appendix C 

COMPETITION AND PREDATION AS 

INFLUENCED BY HUMAN ACTIVITIES 

Habitat changes that benefit competitor/ predator species, including some vegetation management practices 

and providing packed snow travel ways, may lead to 

increased starvation or direct mortality of lynx. Refer 

also to applicable conservation measures in the Forest 

Management, Recreation, and Forest/ Backcountry 

Roads and Trails sections. 

Programmatic Planning - Objectives

Maintain the natural competitive advantage of lynx in 

deep snow conditions. 

Programmatic Planning - Standards

1. On federal lands in lynx habitat, allow no net increase in 

groomed or designated over-the-snow routes and snowmobile play areas by LAU. This is intended to apply to 

dispersed recreation, rather than existing ski areas. 

HIGHWAYS 

Direct mortality from vehicular collisions may be detrimental to lynx populations in the lower 48 states. Mortality levels can drastically increase with relatively small 

increases in traffic volumes and speed. 

Programmatic Planning - Objectives

Reduce the potential for lynx mortality related to highways. 

Programmatic Planning - Standards

Within lynx habitat, identify key linkage areas and potential highway crossing areas. 

Programmatic Planning - Guidelines

Where needed, develop measures such as wildlife fencing and associated underpasses or overpasses to reduce 

mortality risk. 

CONSERVATION MEASURES TO 

ADDRESS MOVEMENT AND 

DISPERSAL 

It is essential to provide landscape connectivity so that 

all or most habitat has the potential of being occupied, 

and populations remain connected. 

At the southern periphery and eastern portions of lynx 

range, habitat occurs in narrow fragmented bands (manmade or naturally-occurring), or has been fragmented by 

human developments. Connected forested habitats allow 

lynx, and other large and medium size carnivores, to 

easily move long distances in search of food, cover, and 

mates. Highways and private lands that are subdivided 

for commercial or residential developments or have high 

human use patterns can interrupt existing habitat connectivity and further fragment lynx habitat, reducing the 

potential for population interchange. In some areas, particularly the eastern United States, habitat connectivity 

may be difficult to achieve because of mixed ownerships. Land exchanges and cooperative management 

with private landowners may be the only options available to provide landscape connectivity. 

Shrub-steppe habitats provide connectivity between 

mountain ranges and other blocks of primary forested 

lynx habitat. Where blocks of lynx habitat are separated 

by intervening basins, valleys, or high mesas of shrubsteppe, land managers should evaluate those shrubsteppe expanses for potential to provide landscape connectivity. Vegetative or geomorphic features within 

shrub-steppe habitats that may be particularly important 

are riparian systems and relatively high ridge systems. 

Where such features exist, land management practices 

should be consistent with maintaining landscape connectivity. Livestock grazing within shrub-steppe habitats in 

such areas should be managed to maintain or achieve 

mid seral or higher condition, to maximize cover and 

prey availability. Such areas that are currently in late 

seral condition should not be degraded. 

Programmatic Planning - Objectives

Maintain and, where necessary and feasible, restore habitat connectivity across forested landscapes. 

Programmatic Planning - Standards

1. Identify key linkage areas that may be important in 

providing landscape connectivity within and between geographic areas, across all ownerships. 

2. Develop and implement a plan to protect key linkage areas on federal lands from activities that 

would create barriers to movement. Barriers could 

result from an accumulation of incremental projects, 

as opposed to any one project. 

3. Evaluate the potential importance of shrub-steppe 

habitats in providing landscape connectivity between blocks of primary lynx habitat. Livestock 

grazing within shrub-steppe habitats in such areas 

should be managed to maintain or achieve mid seral 

or higher condition, to maximize cover and prey 

availability. Such areas that are currently in late seral condition should not be degraded. 

Programmatic Planning - Guidelines

Where feasible, maintain or enhance native plant communities and patterns, and habitat for potential lynx 

prey, within identified key linkage areas. Pursue opportunities for cooperative management with other landowners. 

HIGHWAYS 

Highways impact lynx and other carnivores by fragmenting habitat and impeding movements. As traffic 

lanes, volume, speeds, and right-of-way width increase, 

146 Record of Decision (ROD)/Approved RMP 
Wildlife 

the effects on lynx and other carnivores are magnified. 

As human demographics change, highways tend to increase in size and traffic density. Special concern must 

be given to the development of new highways (gravel 

roads being paved), and changes in highway design, 

such as additions in the number of traffic lanes, widening of rights-of-way, or other modifications to increase 

highway capacity or speed. 

Within key linkage areas, highway crossing structures 

should be employed to reduce effects on wildlife. Information from Canada (Trans-Canada Highway) suggests 

crossings should generally be at 1⁄2-mile intervals and not 

farther than 1 mile apart, depending on topographic and 

vegetation features. 

Programmatic Planning - Objectives

Ensure that connectivity is maintained across highway 

rights-of-way. 

Programmatic Planning - Standards

1. Federal land management agencies will work cooperatively with the Federal Highway Administration 

and State Departments of Transportation to address 

the following within lynx geographic areas: 

a) Identify land corridors necessary to maintain 

connectivity of lynx habitat. 

b) Map the location of "key linkage areas" where 

highway crossings may be needed to provide 

habitat connectivity and reduce mortality of lynx 

(and other wildlife). 

Programmatic Planning - Guidelines

Evaluate whether land ownership and management practices are compatible with maintaining lynx highway 

crossings in key linkage areas. On public lands, management practices will be compatible with providing 

habitat connectivity. On private lands, agencies will 

strive to work with landowners to develop conservation 

easements, exchanges, or other solutions. 

Project Planning - Standards

1. Identify, map, and prioritize site-specific locations, 

using topographic and vegetation features, to determine where highway crossings are needed to reduce 

highway impacts on lynx. 

2. Within the range of lynx, complete a biological assessment for all proposed highway projects on federal lands. A land management agency biologist will 

review and coordinate with highway departments on 

development of the biological assessment. 

Project Planning - Guidelines

Dirt and gravel roads traversing lynx habitat (particularly those that could become highways) should not be 

paved or otherwise upgraded (e.g., straightening of 

curves, widening of roadway, etc.) in a manner that is 

likely to lead to significant increases in traffic volumes, 

traffic speeds, increased width of the cleared ROW, or 

would foreseeably contribute to development or increases in human activity in lynx habitat. Such projects may 

increase habitat fragmentation, create a barrier to 

movements, increase mortality risks due to vehicle collisions, and generate secondary adverse effects by inducing, facilitating, or exacerbating development and human activity in lynx habitat. Whenever rural dirt and 

gravel roads traversing lynx habitat are proposed for 

such upgrades, a thorough analysis should be conducted 

on the potential direct and indirect effects to lynx and 

lynx habitat. 

LAND OWNERSHIP 

Lynx exemplify the need for landscape-level ecosystem 

management. Contiguous tracts of land in public ownership (national forests, national parks, wildlife refuges, 

and BLM lands) provide an opportunity for management 

that can maintain lynx habitat connectivity. Throughout 

most of the lynx range in the lower 48 states, connectivity with habitats and populations in Canada is critical for 

maintaining populations in the U.S. 

Programmatic Planning - Objectives

Retain lands in key linkage areas in public ownership. 

Programmatic Planning - Standards

Identify key linkage areas by management jurisdiction(s) 

in management plans and prescriptions. 

Programmatic Planning - Guidelines

In land adjustment programs, identify key linkage areas. 

Work towards unified management direction via habitat 

conservation plans, conservation easements or agreements, and land acquisition. 

Project Planning - Standards

1. Develop and implement specific management prescriptions to protect/ enhance key linkage areas. 

2. Evaluate proposed land exchanges, land sales, and 

special use permits for effects on key linkage areas. 

SKI AREAS/LARGE RESORTS AND 

ASSOCIATED ACTIVITIES 

Ski areas and large resorts are often developed in and 

across bands of high elevation boreal forests containing 

lynx habitat. Landscape location, the high intensity of 

recreational and operational use, and associated development pose a risk to lynx movement and dispersal. Developments that may impede lynx movement occur in 

Utah and western Wyoming (Northern Rocky Mountains 

Geographic Area), Colorado (Southern Rocky Mountains Geographic Area), and possibly portions of the 

Northeast Geographic Area.

Record of Decision (ROD)/Approved RMP 147 
Appendix C 

148 Record of Decision (ROD)/Approved RMP 

Programmatic Planning - Objectives

When conducting landscape level planning on Federal 

lands, allocate land uses such that landscape connectivity is maintained. 

Programmatic Planning - Standards

Within identified key linkage areas, provide for landscape connectivity. 

Project Planning - Standards

When planning new or expanding recreational developments, ensure that key linkage areas are protected. 

Project Planning - Guidelines

Plan recreational development, and manage recreational 

and operational uses to provide for lynx movement and 

to maintain effectiveness of lynx habitat. 

This information has been excerpted from the Canada 

Lynx Conservation Assessment and Strategy. The entire 

assessment and strategy, along with the amendment proposed for the Northern Rockies can found on the U.S. 

Fish and Wildlife Service website at: 

http://www.fs.fed/r1/planning/lynx/reports/lcas.pdf