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Endangered Species Evaluation Study
subsections below. For the purposes of wildlife resources, the wildlife study area is defined as the Footprint of Potential Disturbance17 and a surrounding buffer of one mile (HDR 2022c).
Black Canyon conducted a Habitat Assessment and Rare, Threatened, and Endangered Species Evaluation Study (HDR 2022c) within the wildlife study area, including background literature reviews, desktop analyses, and field investigations. The results of this study form the baseline and over-arching characterization of terrestrial habitat and wildlife within the wildlife study area; as such, the study methods are summarized in this section with the relevant results discussed in the subsections below. The study methods and results are described in detail in the 2021 Habitat Assessment and Rare, Threatened, and Endangered Species Evaluation Study (HDR 2022c) as Appendix G to this FLA.
Vegetation Mapping
Based on USGS Gap Analysis Program (GAP)/LANDFIRE National Terrestrial Ecosystems dataset (USGS 2011), there are 19 landcover types mapped within the wildlife study area. In preparation for field efforts, the GAP landcover dataset was uploaded as polygons in ArcGIS Collector, a geographical information system (GIS) application that was used on a tablet in the field (HDR 2022c).
Landcover mapping was conducted concurrently with the special-status plants and noxious weeds surveys (HDR 2022d) conducted between June 28 through July 2, 2021. The dominant species observed in the field was noted within each landcover type. Habitat conditions in the wildlife study area, such as level of disturbance, relative dominance of non-native species, and availability of wildlife habitat were noted in the field. Additionally, field biologists recorded incidental observations of wildlife within and adjacent to the wildlife study area (HDR 2022c).
If the landcover did not match the mapped GAP landcover type, a GPS point was taken, and biologists reassigned the landcover type. Four representative photographs were also taken in each cardinal direction at each GPS point (HDR 2022c).
Wildlife Habitat Assessment
A field-based wildlife habitat assessment was conducted from June 7–11, 2021, in conjunction with raptor nest surveys (described below in Section 3.7.1.4). During the assessment, biologists documented and mapped unique or high-quality wildlife habitat.
17 At the time the study was initiated in 2021, the Conceptual Project Boundary and a 1-mile buffer was utilized for the wildlife study area. As stated in Section 1.2, the Conceptual Project Boundary was revised and expanded in 2021 as Project design advanced to encompass all lands potentially disturbed by Project construction, as well as those lands required for Project operation and maintenance, now being referred to as the Footprint of Potential Disturbance.
