APPENDIX F – WILDLIFE 

TABLE OF CONTENTS 

THREATENED OR ENDANGERED SPECIES SCREENS........................................................................................ 729
 

GRIZZLY BEAR PROJECT SCREENING ELEMENTS & DETERMINATIONS ................................................ 730
 

BALD EAGLE PROJECT SCREENING ELEMENTS & DETERMINATIONS..................................................... 740
 

WOLF PROJECT SCREENING ELEMENTS & DETERMINATIONS................................................................... 744
 

LYNX PROJECT SCREENING ELEMENTS & DETERMINATIONS ................................................................... 746
 

CONSULTATION SUMMARY SHEET FOR PROGRAMMATIC ASSESSMENT............................................... 754
 

LYNX CONSERVATION ASSESSMENT AND STRATEGY (LCAS) SUMMARY AND LYNX 

CONSERVATION MEASURES ..................................................................................................................................... 756
 

CONSERVATION MEASURES TO ADDRESS RISK FACTORS AFFECTING LYNX PRODUCTIVITY ...... 757
 

CONSERVATION MEASURES TO ADDRESS MORTALITY RISK FACTORS.................................................. 762
 

CONSERVATION MEASURES TO ADDRESS MOVEMENT AND DISPERSAL................................................ 763
 

Butte Draft RMP/EIS 727 

Wildlife 

THREATENED OR ENDANGERED 

SPECIES SCREENS 

Grizzly bears, wolves, bald eagles, 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 bald eagle, gray wolf, 

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

the screen for 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 reafButte Draft RMP/EIS 729 
Appendix F 

firmation of concurrence, as appropriate, for that project 

or action. 

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. 

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. 

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. 

730 Butte Draft RMP/EIS 
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? 

No. Go to Standard 

Consultation Process 

Yes 

Food Storage a 

relevant issue? 

No Yes. Adequate food storage 

rule in effect for the area or 

project? 

No. Go to 

Standard Consultation Process 

Yes 

Seeding or Planting a 

relevant issue? 

No Yes. Seeding or planting of palatable forage species where interaction with people is likely? 

Yes. Go to 

Standard 

Consultation 

No Process

Proceed to Screening 

Criteria Table, Part 2 

Butte Draft RMP/EIS 731 
Part 2: The following Screening Criteria Table displays forest activities and criteria, that when met, will allow the project to meet “screening elements”. If the project does not meet the identified criteria, the project should proceed through the established consultation process3. 

Appendix F 

Butte Draft RMP/EIS 

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

1 Timber harvest Harvest, skidding, and/or hauling of timber products NA NA Potential LAA, go to Standard Consulta­ tion process 2 

Healthy ForestInitiative Categorical Exclusions 

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

NA 

Limited timber harvest of live treesdoes not exceed 70 acres and there isless than 1⁄2 mile of temporary roadconstruction. This is also not allowedin inventoried roadless areas andother specified areas of significancesuch as grizzly bear core areas. 

NLAA 

3 Mechanical Off road heavy equip operation, such as

site prep, fuel piling, log yarding, etc NA 

NA Potential LAA, go to

Standard Consultation process 

Helicopter use for monitoring, prescribedfire ignition, wildlife relocations, etc 

Use includes few tripsand ≤2 activities/yearand ≤2 days/activity/analysis area 

NA NLAA 

4 Existing Gravel Pit Use Existing gravel pit use for road mainte­ nance, etc. Use occurs off existing roads only. If on closed roads, use does not exceed administrative use levels NLAA or NE 

5 Roads and Road Maintenance Opening closed road Potential LAA, go to Standard Consultation process. 

3 References for crew levels and duration of use as well as time frames identified under Screening Criteria include: CEM – A model for assessing effects on grizzly bears, 

1990; Response to peer review of the A19 and proposed approach to managing access in grizzly bear habitat, NCDE Technical Group 1/24/01; and Draft, Rationale and 

choices made in the review and development of an access direction proposal for the NCDE grizzly bear ecosystem, 11/24/98. 

732 
 Wildlife 

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

Reclaiming road outside of riparian/spring habitat 

Use is < 14 consecutivedays NLAA 

Reclaiming road in riparian/spring habitat Project occurs between July 1 through March 31 NLAA Reclaiming road 

Does not meet administrative uselevels, or occurs in riparian/springhabitat and active during 4/1-6/30 

Potential LAA, go toStandard Consultation process 

Road maintenance: blading, culvertcleaning, brushing, etc 

Road is open, or use meets administrative use criteria NLAA 

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 July 1 and March 31 NLAA 

Bridge or stream culvert replacement 

Project occurs between July 1through March 31 or completed in 

≤1 

day 

NLAA 

6 Silviculture Activities Reforestation hand planting 

Day use only or camping of 

≤20 individuals

and 

≤5 days/analysis

area 

Does not include snow plowing foraccess NLAA 

Reforestation mechanical treatments NA NA 

Potential LAA, go toStandard Consultation process. 

Insect suppressionAerial chemical application 

NA Chemicals do not effect cutworm moth or habitat NLAA 

Insect suppressionAerial chemical application 

NA Chemicals affect cutworm moth or habitat, and in moth habitat Potential LAA, go to Standard Consulta­ tion process 

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

NA NA NLAA 

Butte Draft RMP/EIS 733 
Appendix F # Activity Type Activity Component Crew Level and Duration of Use Screening Criteria Determination 

Precommercial thinning and long term(>1 year) commercial Christmas tree harvest 

Potential LAA, go toStandard Consultation process 

Disease control – manual treatment oflarch through girdling to control larchmistletoe 

NA NA NLAA 

7 Range Infrastructure development NA NA NLAA 

Grazing 

Maintains or reduces existing livestock grazing or changes livestockclass to a less vulnerable spp, and nohistory of depredation or control actions 

NLAA 

Grazing 

Increases livestock grazing, introduces new grazing into areas wheredepredation more likely, or history of livestock depredation 

Potential LAA, go toStandard Consultation process 

8 Recreation Trail maintenance or reconstruction NA Results in increased use or change of user type Potential LAA, go to Standard Consulta­ tion process 

Trail maintenance or reconstruction Does not result in increase in use or change in user type NLAA 

New Trail construction 

Potential LAA, go toStandard Consultation process 

Facility operations, including developedand dispersed camping 

Educate public campers and enforcesanitation standards. Does not increase use or change user type. NLAA Sanitation standards are not enforcedor use is increased or user type ischanged. 

Potential LAA, go toStandard Consultation process 

734 Butte Draft RMP/EIS 
 Wildlife 

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

9 Forest Products 

Personal use firewood collection, annualChristmas tree cutting, berry picking,low/incidental mushroom picking, andcollection of “other forest products”(such as bear grass greens, medicinalherbs, pachistima, etc) 

Does not include off road mechanicalskidding or hauling. Include “bearaware” education message 

NLAA 

Commercial firewood collection, berrypicking, and “other forest products” (suchas bear grass greens, medicinal herbs,pachistima, etc), but does not includemushrooms. 

Day use only or camping of 

≤20 individuals

and 

≤5 days total/analysis area 

Does not include off road mechanicalskidding or hauling. Enforce sanitation standards, and Include “bearaware” education message. 

NLAA 

10 Habitat Restora- tion 

See timber harvest, mechanical treatments, roads, weed control, and prescribed fire. Also includes monitoring,fencing, fish barrier development, fishspp 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 1through March 31 or completed in 

≤1 

day in riparian areas. Project doesnot result in an increase in public useor user type. 

NLAA 

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 NLAA 

Fire line construction Same as support 

Fire line does not/will not function asa road or trail and will be reclaimedafter the fire. 

NLAA 

Defensible space treatments (within100m of structure) (Cohen 2000) Same as support Planting and/or seeding does not include palatable forage spp. NLAA 

Butte Draft RMP/EIS 735 
Appendix F 

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

12 Watershed Resto- ration 

Includes erosion control structures, sediment control, monitoring. Also, see reforestation, timber harvest, mechanical treatments, etc. Day use only or camp­ ing of ≤20 individuals and ≤5 days/analysis area Project occurs between July 1 through March 31 or completed in ≤1 day NLAA 

13 Weed Management Chemical, aerial or ground application NA NA NLAA 

Sheep or goat grazing NA NA 

Potential LAA, go toStandard Consultation process 

14 Non-recreational Special Uses 

This includes maintenance of existingsites, corridors, or other facilities and isoften carried out by the entity that ownsthe structures or facilities 

NA Meets administrative use levels NLAA 

New construction of facilities – this includes microwaves, cell towers, substation communications, powerlines, etc. NA Construction of powerlines is < 1⁄2 mile and includes vegetation clear­ ing. Includes < 1⁄2 mile of temporary

road construction. Roads are not constructed in spring habitat betweenApril 1 and June 30. 

NLAA 

15 Miscellaneous 

Similar activity component, but mustmeet all screening criteria in parts 1 and 2of the screens table and not violate any ofthese criteria. 

NE or LNAA 

736 Butte Draft RMP/EIS 
Wildlife 

CONSERVATION ACTIONS FOR 

GRIZZLY BEARS 

The following excerpts from the Yellowstone Conservation Strategy and Grizzly Bear Management Plan for 

Southwestern Montana are pertinent to grizzly bear 

management in the Butte Field Office. These are the 

conservation measures that address the needs and risk 

factors for grizzly bear, and will be used to evaluate land 

management authorizations. The DFO is outside the 

Primary Conservation Area for grizzly, and only those 

actions specific to areas outside the PCA will be used. 

Final Conservation Strategy for the Grizzly Bear in 

the Greater Yellowstone Area 

March 2003 

Chapter 1 Introduction and Background 

The future management of the Yellowstone grizzly bear 

population is envisioned as one in which the grizzly and 

its habitat are conserved as integral parts of the Greater 

Yellowstone Area. 

Within the Greater Yellowstone Area (GYA), the grizzly 

bear population and its habitat will be managed utilizing 

a management approach that identifies a Primary Conservation Area (PCA) and adjacent areas where occupancy by grizzly bears is anticipated and acceptable. The 

PCA is the existing Yellowstone grizzly bear recovery 

zone as identified in the 1993 Grizzly Bear Recovery 

Plan (Recovery Plan) (USFWS 1993). The size of the 

recovery zone is not being expanded in this approach. 

Upon implementation of this Conservation Strategy, 

management using a recovery zone line and grizzly bear 

Management Situations described in the Interagency 

Grizzly Bear Guidelines (IGBC 1986) will no longer be 

necessary1. The PCA boundary will replace the recovery 

zone boundary. 

In the Conservation Strategy, management direction is 

described for both the PCA and adjacent areas within the 

GYA. State grizzly bear management plans, forest plans, 

and other appropriate planning documents will provide 

specific management direction for the adjacent areas 

outside the PCA. 

This Conservation Strategy was developed to be the 

document guiding management and monitoring of the 

Yellowstone grizzly bear population and its habitat upon 

recovery and delisting. This approach will remain in 

place beyond recovery and delisting. Ongoing review 

and evaluation of the effectiveness of this Conservation 

Strategy is the responsibility of the state and federal 

managers in the GYA. This Conservation Strategy will 

be updated by the management agencies every five years 

or as necessary, allowing public comment in the updating process. 

Upon implementation of the Conservation Strategy, the 

Yellowstone Grizzly Coordinating Committee (YGCC) 

will replace the Yellowstone Ecosystem Subcommittee. 

The Conservation Strategy and the State Management Plans 

The purpose of this Conservation Strategy (Strategy) and 

the state plans is to: 

• Describe and summarize the coordinated efforts to 

manage the grizzly bear population and its habitat to 

ensure continued conservation in the GYA 

• Specify the population, habitat, and nuisance bear 

standards to maintain a recovered grizzly bear population for the foreseeable future 

• Document the regulatory mechanisms and legal authorities, policies, management, and monitoring programs that exist to maintain the recovered grizzly bear 

population 

• Document the commitment of the participating agencies 

Implementation of the management strategies requires 

continued cooperation between federal and state agencies. 

The GYA is a dynamic environment; monitoring systems in the Strategy allow for dynamic management as 

environmental issues change. The agencies are committed to be responsive to the needs of the grizzly bear by 

dynamic management actions based on the results of 

detailed annual population and habitat monitoring. 

The vision of the Strategy can be summarized as follows: 

• The PCA will be a secure area for grizzly bears, with 

population and habitat conditions maintained to ensure a 

recovered population is maintained for the foreseeable 

future and to allow bears to continue to expand outside 

the PCA. 

• Outside of the PCA, grizzly bears will be allowed to 

expand into biologically suitable and socially acceptable 

areas. 

• Outside of the PCA, the objective is to maintain existing resource management and recreational uses and to 

allow agencies to respond to demonstrated problems 

with appropriate management actions. 

• Outside of the PCA, the key to successful management 

of grizzly bears lies in bears utilizing lands that are not 

managed solely for bears but in which their needs are 

considered along with other uses. 

• Expand public information and education efforts. 

• Provide quick responsive management to deal with 

grizzly bear conflicts. 

• Manage grizzly bears as a game animal; including allowing regulated hunting when and where appropriate. 

Butte Draft RMP/EIS 737 
Appendix F 

Relationship to Other Plans 

By integrating state plans into the Strategy, it was ensured that the plans and the Strategy are consistent 

where necessary and complementary. The state plans are 

formally incorporated in the Conservation Strategy as 

Appendices K, L, and M. 

Relationships with national forest and national park 

plans are also mentioned throughout the Strategy. Land 

and resource management plans for some national forests, national parks, and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) in the GYA have incorporated the habitat 

standards and other relevant provisions of the Conservation Strategy. For those standards and provisions not yet 

incorporated into management plans, the agencies will 

implement the habitat standards and monitoring requirements in this conservation strategy through their 

established planning processes, subject to NEPA or 

other legal requirements. 

Chapter 2 Population Standards and Monitoring 

To maintain a healthy (recovered) grizzly bear population in the GYA, it is necessary to have adequate numbers of bears that are widely distributed with a balance 

between reproduction and mortality. This section details 

the population criteria in the Recovery Plan that were 

necessary to achieve recovery, and the population standards necessary to maintain it. Recovery Plan criteria 

focus on the PCA and a 10-mile perimeter, whereas 

standards in the Strategy and the parameters in appended 

state plans focus beyond the PCA and encompass the 

entire GYA. Because grizzly bears are a difficult species 

to monitor and manage, multiple standards with additional monitoring items are identified to provide sufficient information upon which to base management decisions. It is the goal of the agencies implementing this 

Conservation Strategy to manage the Yellowstone grizzly population in the entire GYA at or above a total of 

500 grizzly bears. 

Chapter 3 Habitat Standards and Monitoring 

The habitat standards identified in this document will be 

maintained at identified levels inside the PCA. In addition to the habitat standards, several other habitat factors 

will be monitored and evaluated to determine the overall 

condition of habitat for bears. It is the goal of the habitat 

management agencies to maintain or improve habitat 

conditions existing as of 1998, as measured within each 

subunit within the PCA, while maintaining options for 

management of resource activities at approximately the 

same level as existed in 1998. The habitat standards in 

this document are subject to revision based on the best 

available science and will be reviewed and updated as 

necessary. 

Habitat standards include: 

• Maintenance of secure habitat at 1998 levels in each 

BMU subunit through management of motorized access 

route building and density, with short-term deviations 

allowed under specific conditions. Secure habitat is defined as more than 500 meters from an open or gated 

motorized access route or reoccurring helicopter flight 

line and must be greater than or equal to 10 acres in size. 

• The number of commercial livestock allotments and 

number of permitted domestic sheep will not exceed 

1998 levels inside the PCA. Existing sheep allotments 

will be phased out as the opportunity arises with willing 

permittees. 

• Management of developed sites at 1998 levels within 

each BMU subunit, with some exceptions for administrative and maintenance needs 

Habitat criteria that will be monitored and reported include: 

• Monitoring open and total motorized access route density in each BMU subunit inside the PCA 

• Monitoring of four major food items throughout the 

Yellowstone area: winter ungulate carcasses, cutthroat 

trout spawning numbers, bear use of army cutworm 

moth sites, and whitebark pine cone production. The 

incidence of white pine blister rust in sampled areas will 

also be monitored. 

• Monitoring of habitat effectiveness in the PCA using 

the databases from the Yellowstone Grizzly Bear Cumulative Effects Model 

• Monitoring the number of elk hunters inside the PCA 

• Monitoring the number of grizzly bear mortalities 

throughout the Yellowstone area on private lands and 

development of a protocol to monitor private land status 

and condition 

• Land managers will ensure that habitat connectivity is 

addressed throughout the Yellowstone area as part of 

any new road construction or reconstruction 

Chapter 4 Management and Monitoring of Grizzly 

Bear/Human Conflicts 

The management of grizzly bear/human conflicts inside 

the PCA is based upon the existing laws and authorities 

of the state wildlife agencies and federal land management agencies. Outside the PCA, state management 

plans will direct the management of nuisance bears. 

Management of nuisance bears usually falls into one or 

more of the following categories: 

• Removing or securing the attractant 

• Deterring the bear from the site through the use of 

aversive conditioning techniques 

• Capturing and relocating the nuisance bear 

• Removing the bear from the wild, including lethal control 

The focus and intent of nuisance grizzly bear management inside and outside the PCA will be predicated on 

strategies and actions to prevent grizzly bear/human 

738 Butte Draft RMP/EIS 
Wildlife 

conflicts. It is recognized that active management aimed 

at individual nuisance bears will be required in both areas. Management actions outside the PCA will be implemented according to state management plans. These 

actions will be compatible with grizzly bear population 

management objectives for each state for the areas outside the PCA. 

In circumstances that result in a nuisance bear situation 

outside the PCA, more consideration will be given to 

existing human uses. Site-specific conflict areas within 

and outside the PCA will be documented and prioritized 

to focus proactive management actions to minimize 

grizzly bear/human conflicts and address existing and 

potential human activities that may cause future conflicts. Past conflict management has demonstrated that 

grizzly bears can coexist with most human activities. 

Management of all nuisance bear situations will emphasize resolving the human cause of the conflict. Relocation and removal of grizzly bears may occur if other 

management actions are not successful. 

Before any removal, except in cases of human safety, 

management authorities will consult with each other 

prior to judging the adequacy of the reason for removal. 

Captured grizzly bears identified for removal may be 

given to public research institutions or public zoological 

parks for appropriate non-release educational or scientific purposes as per regulations of states and national 

parks. Grizzly bears not suitable for release, research, or 

educational purposes will be removed as described in 

appropriate state management plans or in compliance 

with national park management plans. . 

All grizzly bear relocations and removals will be documented and reported annually in the IGBST (Interagency 

Grizzly Bear Study Team) Annual Report. 

Chapter 5 Information and Education 

The purposes of the information and education aspects 

of this cooperative effort are to support the development, 

implementation, and dissemination of a coordinated information and education program. This program should 

be understandable and useful for the people who visit, 

live, work, and recreate in bear habitat to minimize grizzly bear/human conflicts and to provide for the safety of 

people while building support for viable bear populations. 

Information made available to the public will be open 

and responsive to public concerns. Open discussions 

with the public will increase credibility of the grizzly 

bear management program. 

These efforts will be reviewed periodically and program 

adjustments will be made as necessary. In addition, efforts will be expanded as the bear population expands 

and additional efforts will be needed in areas that could 

become occupied in the near future. 

The current information and education (I & E) working 

group within the Greater Yellowstone Area will continue. Members of this I & E team include public affairs 

personnel from Forest Service Regions 1, 2, and 4; 

Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks; the BLM; 

representatives from each state wildlife agency; and the 

information and education specialist from the IGBC. 

This team will continue to work with all affected interests to ensure consistency of information, efficient funding strategies, identifying and targeting audiences, developing partnerships, and identifying new tools for implementation. 

Grizzly Bear Management Plan for Southwestern 

Montana 

2002-2012 

Specific Habitat Management and Guidelines 

FWP will seek to maintain road densities of 1 mile or 

less per square mile of habitat as the preferred approach. 

This is the goal of the statewide elk management plan 

(including the southwestern Montana areas covered by 

this plan). The goal seeks to meet the needs of a variety 

of wildlife while maintaining reasonable public access. 

If additional management is needed based on knowledge 

gained as bears reoccupy areas, it should be developed 

and implemented by local groups as suggested in this 

plan. 

The following general management guidelines are applicable coordination measures. They should be considered 

when evaluating the effects of existing and proposed 

human activities in identified seasonally important habitats for a variety of wildlife species including grizzlies 

on federal and State lands. 

1. Identify and evaluate, for each project proposal, the 

cumulative effects of all activities, including existing uses and other planned projects. Potential sitespecific effects of the project being analyzed are a 

part of the cumulative effects evaluation which will 

apply to all lands within a designated “biological 

unit”. A biological unit is an area of land which is 

ecologically similar and includes all of the yearlong habitat requirements for a sub-population of 

one or more selected wildlife species. 

2. Avoid human activities, or combinations of activities, on seasonally important wildlife habitats that 

may result in an adverse impact on the species or 

reduce long-term habitat effectiveness. 

3. Base road construction proposals on a completed 

transportation plan which considers important wildlife habitat components and seasonal use areas in relation to road location, construction period, road 

standards, seasons of heavy vehicle use, road management requirements, and more. 

4. Use minimum road and site construction specifications based on projected transportation needs. 

Butte Draft RMP/EIS 739 
Appendix F 

Schedule construction times to avoid seasonal-use 

periods for wildlife as designated in species-specific 

guidelines. 

5. Locate roads, drill sites, landing zones, etc., to avoid 

important wildlife habitat components based on sitespecific evaluation. 

6. Roads that are not compatible with area management objectives, and are no longer needed for the 

purpose, for which they were built, will be closed 

and reclaimed. Native plant species will be used 

whenever possible to provide proper watershed protection on disturbed areas. Wildlife forage and/or 

cover species will be used in rehabilitation projects 

where appropriate. 

7. Impose seasonal closures and/or vehicle restrictions 

based on wildlife, or other resource needs, on roads 

that remain open and enforce and prosecute illegal 

use by off-road vehicles if given authority. FWP 

will actively work to secure authority through the 

appropriate process and identify funding to support 

enforcement efforts. 

8. FWP supports the U.S. Forest Service and BLM 

restrictions banning all off-road/trail use. 

9. Efforts will be directed towards improving the quality of habitat in site-specific areas of habitually high 

human-caused bear mortality. Increased sanitation 

measures, seasonal road closures, etc., could be applied. 

BALD EAGLE PROJECT 

SCREENING ELEMENTS & 

DETERMINATIONS 

All attempts were made to adhere to and be compatible 

with the guidance found in the Montana Bald Eagle 

Management Plan (July 1994). Please refer to the Montana Bald Eagle Management Plan for further, more detailed, information. For a proposed activity in or near 

bald eagle breeding habitat, take it through each of the 

screens that refer to the location in which the project will 

occur (e.g. Zone I, etc.). Read each separate section if it 

is within the area of zone affected. Note, 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. 

Definitions: 

Zone I - Nest Site Area, 1⁄4 mi (400 m) radius of all nest 

sites in the breeding area that have been active within 5 

years or until an active nest is located. When an active 

nest is located, Zone I applies only to the active nest 

(MBEMP p.23). Zone maps may be modified if sufficient information on bald eagle use of the area exists. 

Zone II - Primary Use Area, includes the area 1⁄4 mi (400 

m) to 1⁄2 mi (800 m) from all nest sites in the breeding 

area that have been active within 5 years or until an activities nest is located. When an active nest is located, 

Zone II applies only to the active nest (Id.p.23). 

Zone III - Home Range, represents most of a home 

range used by eagles during the nesting season. It usually includes all suitable foraging habitat within 2.5 mi 

(4 km) of all nest sites in the breeding area that have 

been active within 5 years (Id. p.24). 

Foraging Habitat - Includes foraging habitat outside of 

Zones I, II and III where resident breeding birds may 

forage. This is essential for the entire population, not 

just resident breeding eagles. This includes lakes, rivers, 

wetlands and meadows (Id. p.24). 

Human Activity - Examples of low intensity such as 

dispersed recreation; high intensity is heavy equipment 

use, blasting, logging, or concentrated recreation (Id. 

p.24). 

Development - Development that may increase human 

activity levels or negatively impact bald eagle habitat 

(Id. p. 24 refers to permanent development) 

Nesting Season (dates) - As early as Feb. 1 and as late 

as Aug. 15 in MT (Id. p.22); nest specific information 

will firm up the dates for that nest/pair. 

Postfledging - Birds leave the nest area, generally in 

Aug. in MT 

Habitat alteration - That which may negatively affect 

bald eagles include, but are not limited to, timber harvest, prescribed fire, power line construction, pesticide 

use, land clearing, stream channeling, levee or dam construction or wetland drainage (Id.p.23). 

Nesting and feeding habitat characteristics - See 

MBEMP p. 27-28 

Structures - Example of a structure hazardous to bald 

eagles is overhead utility lines (Id. p.24) 

Disturbance - Any human elicited response that induces 

a behavioral or physiological change in a bald eagle contradictory to those that facilitate survival and reproduction. Disturbance may include elevated heart or respiratory rate, flushing from a perch or events that cause a 

bald eagle to avoid an area or nest site (Id. p. 48). 

Key use areas - Parts of Zone III most used by bald eagles 

Successful Production Criteria - 60% nest success and 

has fledged 3 or more young during the preceding 5 

years (Id. p. 23) 

740 Butte Draft RMP/EIS 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

Wildlife 

ZONE I AND II 

Human Activity 

Decrease Increase 

Stay the same and 

meets succ. production criteria 

NE 

Stays the same 

and does not meet 

succ. production 

NLAA 

Low Intensity High Intensity 

Non-nesting Nesting Season Non-Nesting Season Nesting Season 

NE Other 

NLAA or NE 

NLAA If minimize 

disturbance 

Postfledging & short 

duration & nonrecurring & non-motorized 

N Standard LAA 

Consultation 

ZONE I AND II 

Permanent Development 

(Also see Habitat Alteration below) 

No Yes 

Standard NE/NLAA Consultation 

Butte Draft RMP/EIS 741 
 

 

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

Appendix F 

ZONE I AND II* 

Repeated flights by helicopter, light plane, hang glider, paraglider, parachute, 

or hot air balloon under the control of an agency (permitted, etc.) 

During nesting season, less than 1⁄2 mi above nest,* 

in Zone I or II within line of sight of nest, and Zone I outside of line of sight of nest 

No Yes 

NE Standard 

 Consultation 

ZONE I, II AND III 

Habitat Alteration 

No Yes 

NE Will it alter nesting and feeding 

habitat characteristics in the Zones? 

No Yes 

NE Standard consultation 

ZONE II AND III AND FORAGING AREAS
 

Structures proposed that pose no risk to bald eagles or their prey 

NE 

ZONE III 

Disturbance proposed in key use areas 

No Yes 

NE Standard consultation 

742 Butte Draft RMP/EIS 
Wildlife 

FORAGING HABITAT 

Will the project increase road kills? 

No Yes 

NE NLAA if mitigate by 

removal of road kills 

*Not addressed in Montana Bald Eagle Management Plan (1994); taken from Pacific Bald Eagle Recovery Plan (USDI 

USFWS 1986), p. 53 (pers. comm. Eric Greenquist to Carole Jorgensen) 

Butte Draft RMP/EIS 743 
Appendix F 

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. 

744 Butte Draft RMP/EIS 
Wildlife 

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 

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 

Increases grazing 

OR Maintains existing or reduces ex- Maintains grazing with history of isting livestock grazing with no No den site, rendezvous livestock depredation control actions on wolves site, mortality risk, live- OR 

stock grazing concerns, or OR Introduces new grazing into areas Changes livestock class to a less other site-specific concerns where depredation is possible vulnerable species (sheep to cat- of the biologist. OR tle, or cattle to horse, yearlings to Any other situations where the cow/calf) biologist has concerns OR 

Outfitter/Guide horse grazing 

NE Standard Consultation Process 

NE or NLAA 

Butte Draft RMP/EIS 745 
Appendix F 

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. 

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. 

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 

746 Butte Draft RMP/EIS 
Wildlife 

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 

Does project reduce Project is 

existing suitable screened, use 

habitat Table D2 

Proceed to 

standard 

consultation 

NLAA, use 

Table D1 

NO YES 

No effect, or 

NLAA, use 

Table D2 

Proceed to 

standard consultation 

Butte Draft RMP/EIS 747 
Appendix F LYNX SCREENS, PART 2 (Tables D1 and D2) Table D1. Screening criteria for projects included in the Lynx Conservation and Assessment Strategy 

# Activity Type Activity Component Screening Criteria Determination 

1 Timber Harvest (from LCAS) 

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

Management actions shall not change more than 15% oflynx habitat within a LAU to an unsuitable condition 

within a 10-year period; no more than 30% of lynx habitat within an LAU will be in unsuitable condition; greater than 10% denning habitat remains after the project; habitat connectivity is maintained 

Proceed to standard consultation 

(From LCAS) 

Salvage harvest (in this case, salvage harvestof blowdown) 

Affected area is greater than or equal to 5 acres ORdenning habitat has been field verified and comprisesmore than 10% of lynx habitat within an LAU and willbe well-distributed after salvage harvest 

Proceed to standard consultation 

2 

Healthy Forest Initiative CategoricalExclusions or similarproject meeting theseand screening criteria in #1 

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

Area does not exceed 70 acres and there is no more than1⁄2 mile of temporary road construction (and meetsscreening criteria in #1 above) 

NLAA 

Category 13, Salvage of Dead and DyingTrees – Salvage harvest in areas where treeshave been severely damaged by forces such asfire, wind, ice, insects, or disease and stillhave some economic value 

Area does not exceed 250 acres and there is no more than1⁄2 mile of temporary road construction 

NLAA 

Category 14, Tree Removal to Prevent Spreadof Insect/Disease – Commercial and noncommercial felling and removal of any treesnecessary to control the spread of insects anddisease 

Area does not exceed 250 acres and there is no more than1⁄2 mile of temporary road construction 

NLAA 

3 Roads and Road Maintenance 

Highways Highway crossings are identified that reduce highway

impacts on lynx. This screening element refers to actualprojects that involve the creation of highway crossings to facilitate lynx movement. 

Proceed to standard consultation 

748 Butte Draft RMP/EIS 
 Wildlife 

# Activity Type Activity Component Screening Criteria Determination 

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

4 Silviculture Activities Precommercial thinning Precommercial thinning occurs in stands that no longer provide snowshoe hare habitat NLAA 5 Range 

Livestock grazing in post-fire and post-harvestareas 

Livestock use is delayed in these created openings untilsuccessful regeneration of the shrub and tree componentoccurs 

NLAA 

Livestock grazing in aspen stands Aspen stands are managed to ensure sprouting and survival sufficient to perpetuate long-term viability of the

clones 

NLAA 

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

mid-seral or higher condition to provide lynx habitat matrix 

NLAA 

Livestock grazing in riparian areas or willowcarrs 

Livestock grazing is managed to maintain or achievemid-seral or higher condition to provide cover and foragefor prey species 

NLAA 

6 Recreation 

Snowmobiling and other over-the-snow activity such as cross country skiing, snowshoeraces, and dogsledding 

No net increase in groomed or designated over-the-snowroutes for any winter activity and snowmobile play areasby LAU (see definition of ‘designated’ 5/19/2002McAllister letter with Clarification and Revised Definitions, p.2) 

NLAA 

Developed Recreation including planning andoperating new or expanded recreation developments 

Landscape connectivity is not compromised; trails, roads, and lift termini are designed to direct winter use awayfrom diurnal security areas; key linkage areas are provided for landscape connectivity 

NLAA 

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

snowshoe hare habitat 

NLAA 

Butte Draft RMP/EIS 749 
Appendix F Table D2. Screening criteria for projects not included in the Lynx Conservation and Assessment Strategy # Activity Type Activity Component Screening Criteria Determination 

1 Roads and Road Maintenance 

Road Maintenance - This includes general roadmaintenance that may involve the brushing of vegetation on the road or along roadsides. Roadmaintenance may include but is not limited toroadbed blading, brushing, cleaning ditches, replacing or cleaning culverts, cleaning dips, or spotgraveling. 

Brushing included NLAA 

No brushing associated with activity NE 

Road Decommissioning - This involves the use ofheavy equipment and includes obliteration and other methods to hydrologically neutralize theroad. 

NLAA 

General Road Use - This includes hauling timber,removing mining waste and materials, and movinglivestock over federal roads for which permits arerequired. It also includes routine road use by administrative units to carry out work associatedwith recreation, range, timber and minerals management, fire prevention and suppression, inventories, surveys, and other monitoring activities. Thisincludes use of roads consistent with existingtravel plans. 

Activity includes right-of-ways, multiple dwelling construction, or development of large corporate lands Proceed to Stan­ dard Consultation 

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

NE 

2 Silvicultural Activities Tree planting Tree planting does not result in stand type conversion. Activity does not involve snowplowing NE 

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

Activity does not involve snowplowing NLAA 

3 Recreation 

Recreation Special Uses - This includes activitiesfor which permits are issued and includes outfitting and permits issued to a variety of organizations that engage in activities such asmountaineering, 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 withexisting access management from Forest andTravel Plans and is consistent with the LCAS 

Activity occurs in Spring,Summer, Fall 

NE 

Activity involves huntingmountain lions with dogs 

NLAA 

Activity occurs in winter NLAA 

750 Butte Draft RMP/EIS 
# Activity Type Activity Component Screening Criteria Determination Trail Use consistent with existing travel manage­ ment Activity occurs in winter, meets LCAS NLAA Activity occurs in spring, summer, or fall NE 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 NE New Trail Construction and/or Major Trail Re­ routes and Maintenance - This includes the devel­ opment of new trails used for foot, stock, or mo­ torcycles 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. NLAA Camping – Includes dispersed and developed campgrounds Consistent with existing travel plans and LCAS and occurs during spring, summer, or fall NE Dispersed off-road activities Consistent with existing travel plans and LCAS NLAA 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 camp­ grounds. Other facilities include but are not lim­ ited 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 Proceed to Stan­ dard Consulta­ tion Activity occurs during the winter NLAA Activity occurs during spring, summer, or fall NE 4 Forest Products Post and Pole Sales – This includes both commer­ cial 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 respective LAU (i.e. activity occurs in dense stands where low live limbs are generally out of reach for snowshoe hare). NLAA 

Butte Draft RMP/EIS 751 
Appendix F # Activity Type Activity Component Screening Criteria Determination 

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

LCAS habitat criteria are met within the respectiveLAU 

NLAA 

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

LCAS habitat criteria are met within the respectiveLAU 

NE 

Christmas Tree/Bough Cutting - This includes both commercial and non-commercial cutting. Thetrees cut range from 3” to 5” dbh and are less than25’ tall. 

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

NLAA 

5 Habitat Restoration 

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

LCAS habitat criteria are met within the respectiveLAU 

NLAA 

6 Noxious Weed Management This includes chemical and biological treatments to noxious weeds within or adjacent to lynx habi­ tat Activity includes aerial application NLAA Activity includes only ground application (no aerial application) NE 

7 Other Special Uses 

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

NLAA 

8 Mining and Gravel Pits Quarries, recreational mining, small mines, and reclamation of small mines Mines and gravel pits <5 acres, no winter time opera­ tion NLAA or NE 

752 Butte Draft RMP/EIS 
# Activity Type Activity Component Screening Criteria Determination 9 Ditches and Diversions NE 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 repeated snow compaction activities(cross country ski trips, snowmobile trips) on ungroomed trails generally not being used by public NLAA Operations are during spring, summer, or fall NE 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 NE or LNAA 

Butte Draft RMP/EIS 753 
Appendix F 

CONSULTATION SUMMARY SHEET FOR PROGRAMMATIC 

ASSESSMENT 

CONSULTATION SUMMARY SHEET INSTRUCTIONS FOR PROGRAMMATIC BIOLOGICAL 

ASSESSMENT 

Summary sheets will be filled out by Project Biologists and reviewed by Forest Biologists. Project Biologists will submit 

summary sheets to Forest Biologists on a project-by-project basis. Forest Biologists will submit summary sheets, with 

one project per sheet, 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: _____________Forest 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 

Bald Eagle 

Canada Lynx 

754 Butte Draft RMP/EIS 
Wildlife 

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 

Bald Eagle 

Lynx 

Butte Draft RMP/EIS 755 
Appendix F 

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. 

756 Butte Draft RMP/EIS 
Wildlife 

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 nonforest 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. 

Butte Draft RMP/EIS 757 
Appendix F 

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. 

758 Butte Draft RMP/EIS 
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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 

Butte Draft RMP/EIS 759 
Appendix F 

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 

760 Butte Draft RMP/EIS 
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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. 

Butte Draft RMP/EIS 761 
Appendix F 

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, nontarget 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. 

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Wildlife 

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, 

Butte Draft RMP/EIS 763 
Appendix F 

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. 

764 Butte Draft RMP/EIS 
Wildlife 

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 

Butte Draft RMP/EIS 765