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-~~~ - mines which could - ain bat habitat in the Crystal Lek area at this time <br />j (White and Sares Navo and Piaggio 1996). <br />Mining activities should not occur on the rocky outcroppings and cliffs to <br />protect potential nesting of the peregrine falcon. <br />Although this Biological Evaluation covers Che TE69 ^pooiea peseibly <br />inhabiting the area, site specific surveys for plants and animals will <br />need to be done at each of the proposed claims by a biologist. The <br />programatic BE will be referenced at that time and used as a guideline <br />for the field survey. This action will assist in preventing impacts <br />on some species (rare plant populations, goshawk nests, etc.). <br />Additional mitigation measures may be needed after this work, such as: <br />* Timing restrictions <br />* Avoidance of a plant species by moving the claim location. <br />CONFLICT DETERMINATION <br />The accumulation of mining activities in the Crystal Creek area will have a <br />direct effect on the pygmy nuthatch. The pygmy nuthatch resides in the area <br />and is dependent on the ponderosa and Douglas-fir trees. Forest vegetation <br />removal will also affect the flammulated owl, three-toed woodpecker and <br />northern goshawk by removing nesting and foraging habitaC. The golden-crowned <br />kinglet may be affected by the loss of winter cover and foraging. <br />Because many of the mining claims in the Crystal Creek area are small and <br />nonmechanized, much of the Forest cover will remain. Similar habitat is found <br />in the areas surrounding the 6-7 square miles addressed in this BE. This will <br />reduce the effects on these species. Due to the abundance of canopy cover, <br />plus the significant amount of understory tree species, it is likely that the <br />claim openings.wil not create a significant loss of tree cover. <br />The Crystal Creek mines may adversely impact individual pygmy nuthatch, <br />flammulated owl, three-toed woodpecker, golden-crowned kinglet and northern <br />goshawk but this proposal is not expected to lead to a trend toward Federal <br />listing or in a loss of species viability rangewide. <br />SIGNIFICANCE/RISK ASSESMENT <br />Medium. <br />