2023-10-30_PERMIT FILE - P2023018

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5.2 Botanical Surveys Clearance surveys for rare plants of concern were conducted on August 14,2023, by Ms. Rea Orthner of Peak Ecological Services, LLC and one assistant botanist, Ms.Alicia Langton of EcoloGIS. Ms. Orthner has a M.S. degree in botany from the University of Colorado in Boulder (1999) and has completed numerous floristic inventories and rare plant surveys in Colorado over the past two decades is an approved botanical contractor for the BLM. Ms. Langton is a former botanist with the US Fish and Wildlife Service in Grand Junction and has completed numerous rare plant studies in western Colorado. She is an authority on DeBeque phacelia (Phacelia submutica), a federally listed plant species known from heavy clay soils in Mesa and Garfield Counties, Colorado. Prior to commencement of the survey, Ms. Orthner and Ms. Langton reviewed the CNHP data for the project area (Lyon and Hanson 20o6, CNHP 2022). In addition,they visited known occurrences of the Gypsum Valley cateye, a BLM Sensitive species known to occur off US Highway 141 just east of the project area. Surveys for all federally listed and BLM sensitive plant species habitat were conducted by walking along existing roads to be improved, proposed access roads and the drill sites as illustrated in Figure 2. The rare plant survey buffer extended approximately loo feet from the center of the road or drill site but varied depending on the quality of the habitat.In areas that lacked suitable habitat,the use of binoculars greatly aided survey efforts. Once potential habitat was found, the habitat was closely and systematically searched for target plant species. Survey intensity was intuitively controlled so that a greater search effort was used in areas with the highest potential for finding target plants species or in areas with hard to detect species. If a target species was located, notes were taken on the number of individuals, habitat, associated species, slope,aspect,and any evidence of disease, predation,or injury. In addition, any rare plant occurrences were mapped by a Geographic Position System (GPS) and photographed.The extent of survey area,GPS tracks,and rare plant occurrences are within the Project File and are available upon request,pending approval from the BLM. 6.o Survey Results Field reconnaissance in 2023 confirmed the lack of habitat for federally listed, proposed, or candidate wildlife or plant species.Therefore,the project will not require consultation with the USFWS. In addition, no BLM or CPW listed wildlife species were noted during comprehensive field reconnaissance duringthe pedestrian surveys. For plants, only one BLM listed plant species was identified during the onsite field reconnaissance.This plant is the Naturita milkvetch, which occurs on sandstone rimrock above the Dolores River.The exact location of this BLM Sensitive plant is available upon request. Potential habitat remains for the Gypsum Valley cateye, another BLM Sensitive plant, if appropriate gypsum bearing soils were to be identified within the Mancos shale geologic unit in areas not previously surveyed.See Table 1.