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Supplemental Final Environmental Impact Statement I Federal Coal Lease Modifications COC -1362 & COC -67232 <br />Cumulative Effects under ESA <br />Cumulative effects for the Endangered Species Act include future non-federal actions which may impact <br />this species. Past actions are included in the existing conditions described in the BA (project file) and <br />the beginning of Chapter 3. Mining activities may occur on private lands adjacent to the lease <br />modification, and may include MDWs and grazing in this area which may contribute to vegetation changes <br />on private lands in the area. However, those lands are already modified through long-term human use, <br />and continued grazing is not likely to alter the suitability of lynx habitat in this area from current conditions. <br />Water development in this area (reservoirs and ditches) already exists, and future actions will continue <br />use of existing facilities. Grazing and outfitting impacts are the same as above. Within the past ten <br />years, a total of 2550 acres of vegetation management has occurred in the LAU, with a total of 125 acres <br />(163 acres based on 25% addition in 2016 consultation) of habitat rendered or planned to be rendered <br />unsuitable. Other actions are either of insignificant and discountable impacts to lynx or their habitat (road <br />and trail maintenance) or occur on already disturbed sites (special use permits). Recreational activities <br />are not expected to be substantially altered by this project. <br />Climate Change <br />As the climate continues to warm, major changes may occur in ecosystem structure and function, species' <br />ecological interactions, and species' geographic ranges, with predominantly negative consequences for <br />biodiversity. Warmer temperatures and precipitation changes will likely affect the habitats and migratory <br />patterns of many types of wildlife. The range and distribution of lynx may change. Spruce -fir and aspen <br />habitats may be affected as described under Section 3.9. <br />With regard to fish in the Colorado River System, they may be affected by any number of climate factors <br />and climate scenarios that impact water supply, water temperature, water quality from formations that <br />water flows through if there is a concentration of those minerals/metals. Currently, while conditions are <br />dry they are no longer in drought. <br />3.10.1.7 Determination <br />Implementation of the project "may affect, but is not likely to adversely affect" the Canada lynx. The <br />..may affect" is based primarily on the loss of suitable habitat in the project. Other impacts such as <br />disturbance during denning or increased mortality risk are insignificant and discountable due to the <br />distance of the project from typical Colorado denning habitat, and the low probability of loss of lynx from <br />traffic or incidental shooting as a result of this project. <br />When we initially consulted with USFWS, we included in the impacts the reasonably foreseeable mine <br />plan, which includes (in broad terms if not exact location) the surface disturbance associated with the <br />mining, with the intent of not having to consult again when and if mining occurred. Had we not, there <br />would have been no direct or indirect effects at the lease stage (and therefore no cumulative effects), <br />and the consultation would merely have been postponed until there was a plan for surface activity. Both <br />USFWS and GMUG agreed the way we made the most sense. While, LAU boundary and acreage has <br />changed from 49,704 to 37,995 acres between 2010 and 2016 the effects on lynx have not. It is still the <br />same disturbance consulted upon with USFWS in 2010 and the same habitat alteration as discussed in <br />the BA. We have not had any disturbance related to this leasing or post -lease development and therefore <br />the consulted upon acreage (75 acres) still has not been reached or a need found to reinitiate <br />consultation. However, we do not expect to reach 75 acres even if the lease modifications are fully <br />developed. <br />3.10.1.8 Consistency with Forest Plan and Other Regulations <br />The NFMA and the ESA require the Forest Service to manage wildlife habitat to maintain viable <br />populations of native and desirable non-native wildlife species and conservation of listed threatened or <br />193 <br />