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<br />Arizona Game and Fish Department <br />Draft EA: Kanab Ambersnail <br /> <br />June 1998 <br />Page 5 <br /> <br />The attempt to establish multiple KASs populations decreases the likelihood that a catastrophic event <br />would eliminate all the populations and increases the likelihood that each allele will be preserved in <br />a least one population (Leberg 1990), To address these genetic concerns and to increase the <br />probability of success, NPS/ AGFD proposes to simultaneously establish three new KASs populations, <br />each having approximately 100 KASs in residence before the end of October (the time most KASs <br />go into winter hibernation), The establishment of a least one wild population of KASs will satisfy the <br />1996 and 1997 VSFWS Biological Opinion requirements concerning BHBFs and KASs, <br /> <br />CHAPTER2:ALTERNATfVES <br /> <br />A EV ALVA nON OF SUIT ABLE HABIT AT <br /> <br />Potential KAS establishment sites were evaluated using a single-species correlation model after <br />extensive field investigations (Sorensen and Kubly 1997; Table I), Establishment sites were rated <br />on a scale of five levels: (I) optimum; (2) more desirable; (3) acceptable; (4) less desirable; and (5) <br />unsuitable, <br /> <br />Table I, KAS suitable habitat correlation model (Sorensen and Kubly 1997), <br /> Optimum More Desirable Acceplable Less Desirable Unsuitable <br />Primary Vegelation More than one Ooe type Ooetype None (only None <br /> type secondary) <br />Water Source Perennial Perennial spring Perennial spring Perennial spring lotermittent or <br /> spnog or stream or stream or stream Seasonal <br />Historical Flooding Rare Rare Rare Periodical Severe or Frequent <br />Natural Disturbance Low Low Moderate High High <br /> (or less) (or less) (or less) <br />Recreation Use Moderate Moderate High High High <br />(entire area) (or less) (or less) (or less) (or less) (or less) <br />Jurisdictional High Moderate Low Low None <br />Protection <br /> <br />In designing a single-species correlation model for KAS we used attributes from VP and 3 L sites as <br />the baseline requirements for optimal habitat. With suggestions from KA WG members, we defined <br />unsuitable conditions for KAS establishment. All survey sites would then fall within this range of <br />optimum to unsuitable attributes (Table 2), None of the variables used were weighted--a single <br />unfavorable condition would prevent a site with many high qualities from receiving a higher ranking, <br />