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<br />Arizona Game and Fish Department <br />Draft EA: Kanab Arnbersnail <br /> <br />June 1998 <br />Page 6 <br /> <br />This approach was highly conservative, but should increase our chances of successful KAS establishment <br /> <br />Optimum KAS habitat qualities include: more than one type of primary vegetation present, perennial spring source from a limestone or <br />sandstone geologic strata, rare historic flooding events, low natural and recreational disturbance (specifically to ambersnail habitat, not just <br />the site), and a conservation-based jurisdiction (as opposed to multiple-use land management), Unsuitable KAS habitat was defined as lack <br />of primary or secondary vegetation; intennittent or seasonal water source; frequent or catastrophic natural disturbance; or severe impacts <br />to habitat by recreation, livestock, agriculture, wildfire, industrial use, or commercial development, <br /> <br />Reasonable access is necessary for KAS establishment and monitoring; however, an area that is difficult to reach can provide added security <br />from recreational impacts and other disturbances, An invertebrate community of high species richness and diversity would indicate suitable <br />environmental conditions for many species of arachnids, insects, and mollusks, There is a lack of information concerning KAS tolerance limits <br />for water quality conditions, as well as detailed physical/chemical analysis of all springs and seeps in Grand Canyon, For these reasons, water <br />quality was not evaluated as a prime category for suitable habitat Optimum criteria for historical flooding of potential habitat was considered <br />"rare" not "absent" Both VP and 3L have experienced severe historic flooding in the past, but their KAS populations still persist Not all <br />of the habitat at these sites, and at proposed establishment sites, would be affected by an occasional flash flood, <br /> <br />Potential KAS establishment sites require jurisdictional or land management authority that provides for species and habitat conservation, <br />Grand Canyon National Park provides the best protection for sensitive wetland habitats from multiple-use practices (i,e" livestock grazing, <br />commercial development, mining, unrestricted recreation access), Management stipulations for most federal lands require the protection of <br />endangered species State and tribal lands have various land-use mandates, offering less protection to species of concern and sensitive <br />habitats, Jurisdictional protection of KASs and their habitat on state and tribal lands would require case-by-case evaluation, Private <br />landowners may not be willing to protect wetlands or endangered species on their property, For this reason, private land is the least preferable <br />choice for KAS establishment sites, <br />