fbir ba/be addendum dakota skipper programmatic …

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

jwhite@trihydro.com307/745-7474www.trihydro.com

Jana White, PhDTeam Leader for NEPA & Ecological Services

jmcnutt@Trihydro.com307/232-8091www.trihydro.com