fbir ba/be addendum dakota skipper programmatic …
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FBIR BA/BE ADDENDUM DAKOTA SKIPPER PROGRAMMATIC REQUIREMENTS
Mark Herman (BIA); Juli Anna McNutt and Dr. Jana White (Trihydro)
February 10, 2016
Bismarck, ND
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Background
Trihydro is 3rd party contractor for preparing FBIR PEA and the BA/BE, under BIA’s direction
Dakota skipper listed as threatened under the ESA, 10/23/14, developed Addendum
BIA and USFWS coordinated and concluded with informal consultation
Concurrence received from USFWS with the FBIR Revised BA/BE Addendum (Oct, 2015) on 12/3/15
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Outline of Today’s Discussion
Background
Initial Screening
Photo by USFWS; Phil Delphey
Desktop and Field Survey
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Desktop and Field Survey
Detailed Screening
Field Survey Methods
Implementation Guidelines
Questions
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Proposed O/G DevelopmentScreening
Initial Screening Detailed Screening
Disturbed HabitatInitial Screening
DAKOTA SKIPPER DESKTOP HABITAT SUITABILITY MODEL – INITIAL SCREENING
DAKOTA SKIPPER SURVEY REQUIREMENTS
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Proposed Well Pad
Disturbed habitat = initial screening Perform a desktop analysis of the proposed
project area in a landscape setting Does the proposed project area in a landscape
setting consists of >75% unsuitable habitat? Does the proposed project area disturb less
than 0.25 acre of native prairie habitat? Yes to both, then schedule onsite and
document results with a qualitative field survey
If not, then the operator may choose Initial Screen Qualitative Field Survey Quantitative Field Survey
Disturbed Habitat
Disturbed HabitatExample
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In Disturbed HabitatProposed Well Pad
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In Disturbed HabitatProposed Well Pad
~>75% UnsuitableLandscape Scale – Unsuitable Habitat
~0.84 acre and 3.7 acres patchesDirect Disturbance – Native Prairie Habitat
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In Disturbed HabitatProposed Well Pad
Qualitative Field Results 0.25 acre native prairie habitat not
directly disturbed Greater than 75% unsuitable within
0.62 mile buffer If survey permissions of the
landscape area can not be obtained, line of sight and Habitat Suitability Model are acceptable
Document and submit to BIA
Habitat Suitability ModelDetailed Screening
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Habitat Suitability Model DatasetsDetailed Screening
Prairie Habitat; U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) 2010
Requisite vegetation species; Royer et al. 2014 and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 2015
Soil types; Natural Resource Conservation Service 2012-2014
Slopes; USGS 2013; Operator Data; Dana 1997
DAKOTA SKIPPER DESKTOP HABITAT SUITABILITY MODEL – DETAILED SCREENING
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Habitat Suitability Model ResultsDetailed Screening
Habitat Type Approx. Total Acreage Approx. % of Project Area
Possible High Quality Habitat 3,780 <1%
Possible Habitat 247,900 25%
Habitat Not Likely 92,500 9%
Habitat Not Present 669,500 66%
Habitat Not Likely/Not Present and Possible HabitatExamples
DAKOTA SKIPPER SURVEY REQUIREMENTS
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In Habitat Not Likely or Habitat Not PresentProposed Well Pad
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Proposed Well Pad
Conduct a Qualitative Field Survey >50% woody vegetation present >50% invasive species present >75% disturbed area
collectively exceed 50% Native prairie habitat in the proposed project
area <5 acres And proposed project area within 0.62 mile
from an adjacent native prairie complex Yes to 1 of the first requirements and to the
orange, then document results and submit to BIA If not, then the operator should plan for Quantitative
Field Survey
Not Present or Not Likely Habitat
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In Possible HabitatProposed Well Pad
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Proposed Well Pad
If proposed project area is on possible habitat Conduct an aerial imagery survey
>50% woody vegetation present >50% invasive species present >75% disturbed area
collectively exceed 50% Is native prairie habitat in the proposed
project area <0.25 acre And proposed project area within 0.62 mile
from an adjacent native prairie complex Yes to 1 of the first requirements and to the
orange, then document results and submit to BIA If not, then the operator should plan for
Quantitative Field Survey
Possible Habitat
DAKOTA SKIPPER SURVEY REQUIREMENTS
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Proposed Well Pad
Quantitative Survey > 75% of total plant cover consists of
native prairie species Minimal woody vegetation (<15%) Five requisite species are present
(including a minimum of 2 forb species) Requisite species are dominant
All 3 Questions Must Answer No And not within 0.62 mile of a larger
complex
Possible Habitat Possible High Quality Vegetation
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: Implementation Guidelines
TAME GRASSLANDS WOODY VEGETATION DOMINANCE INVASIVE/DOMINANCE BY NON-NATIVE
MULTIPLE HABITAT TYPES SCALE OF IMAGERY ANALYSIS DEFINITIONS
Picture Source: North Dakota Game and FIsh Picture Source: Robert H. Mohlenbrock, USDA-NRCS
Field Survey Methods
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General RequirementsQualitative Survey
Timing Before or during the onsite meeting
Qualified Representative Trained in biological sciences Equivalent field experience
Purpose/Approach Ocular estimates Verify results from the desktop
screening approach Reveal the need for follow-up
quantitative surveys
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Data Collection Qualitative Survey
Ecological Site Description (ESD) List of Dominant Plant Species Plant Cover Estimates
Total plant cover Major growth forms
Vertical Structure of the Vegetation Topography (slope, aspect, elevation,
landform) Photographic Documentation General Soil Characterization
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General RequirementsQuantitative Survey
Qualified Representative Trained in biological sciences and/or has equivalent field
experience Significant experience in plant ID and survey methodologies in this
ecosystem Purpose/Approach To evaluate habitat quality as it relates to the life history and
associated vegetation requirements for the Dakota skipper Data Collection is Focused on Presence and Abundance Requisite species Woody species Invasive species
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Timing Quantitative Survey
Timing Recommended - May 1 though October 15 Ideal – June (based on forb abundance) As needed: Initial surveys may be conducted outside of
the recommended survey window but snow cover should be absent
Results of initial surveys should be considered preliminary.
Initial survey results may be used to determine the absence of habitat. >50% of total plant cover consists of one or more
invasive species >50% of total plant cover consists of woody species
(shrubs) >50% of the area is bareground, significantly disturbed
site
site
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Data CollectionQuantitative Survey
Area to be Characterized – Landscape-scale Evaluation. Area that will be disturbed during development Adjacent habitat(s) surrounding the area
Survey locations should be placed to characterize this area as a whole.
Final habitat quality determination includes project area and immediately adjacent area.
Accepted Methodologies. Point intercept Daubenmire
site
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Data Collection – Point Intercept Method Quantitative Survey
Project Area Sample Size Minimum of four randomly located
50-m transects within each ecological site - measurements should be taken at 1-m increments.
More transects may be needed if vegetation is heterogeneous
Data Presentation Cover class estimates must include a
90% confidence interval Native species, woody plant, invasive
species, and requisite species
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Data Collection – Daubenmire Method Quantitative Survey
Project Area Sample Size Minimum of ten randomly located 0.25-m2 Daubenmire frames More frames may be needed based on vegetation is
heterogeneous Aerial Cover Estimates Total cover must sum to 100% within each frame Plants must be rooted within the frame to be counted
Data Presentation Cover class estimates must include a 90% confidence interval Native species, woody plant, invasive species, and requisite
species
site
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Data Analysis –Determining DominanceQuantitative Survey
Project Area Means Percent cover by invasive species Percent cover by woody vegetation Percent cover by native prairie species Percent cover by Dakota skipper requisite species Percent cover of each species
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Data Analysis –Determining DominanceQuantitative Survey
Dominance - mean cover of requisite species versus other species Requisite species dominance occurs under the following conditions: Mean cover by a single requisite species exceeds 50% >50% of the dominant species are requisite species.
The 50/20 rule should be used to identify dominant species Rank all species from most to least abundant Select species from the ranked list until cumulative cover > 50% Select species with cover > 20% Count dominant requisite species, dominant other species. If dominant requisite species exceeds 50%, then dominance by requisite
species has been achieved.
37Determining DominanceSpecies Scientific Name Species Common Name Growth Form Requisite Species
Native/ Invasive/Introduced Status
Average Cover (%)
Dominant
Achillea millefolium Western yarrow F Native 3
Aristida purpurea Red threeawn G Native 2
Artemisia frigida Fringed sagewort F R Native 1
Artemisia ludoviciana Cudweed sagewort F Native 2
Astragalus agrestis Field milkvetch F Native 2
Bouteloua gracilis Blue grama G Native 7 D
Carex filifolia Threadleaf sedge G Native 5
Echinacea angustifolia Purple coneflower F R Native 10 D
Hesperostipa comata needle-and-thread G R Native 2
Hesperostipa spartea Porcupine grass G R Native 1
Koeleria macrantha Prairie junegrass G Native 12 D
Linum lewisii Blue flax F Native 2
Nasella viridula Green needlegrass G Native 3
Pascopyrsum smithii Western wheatgrass G R Native 15 D
Poa pratensis Kentucky bluegrass G Introduced/Invasive 10 D
Pulsatilla patens Pasque flower F Native 1
Schizachyrium scoparium Little bluestem G R Native 3
Symphoricarpos occidentalis Western snowberry S Native 7 D
Symphyotrichum falcatum White prairie aster F Native 2
Taraxacum offinale Common dandelion F Introduced/Invasive 2
Viola pedatifida Prairie violet F Native 5
Bare ground 4
1. Requisite Species
2. Native prairie species
3. Woody Vegetation
4. Requisite Species Dominance
QUESTIONS
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Juli Anna McNuttSenior Biologist/NEPA
Project Manager
[email protected]/745-7474www.trihydro.com
Jana White, PhDTeam Leader for NEPA & Ecological Services
[email protected]/232-8091www.trihydro.com