2008-06-12_GENERAL DOCUMENTS - C1980007 (3)

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food resources, possibly exerting interference competition on ivrux as well. Roads and trails may facilitate snowmobile and other human uses in the winter Ruediger e al. (2000). Snow- • compaction on roads or trails may allow competing carnivores. such as covotes and mountain lions. access into lvnx habitat ((Buskirk et al. 2000a) cited in Ruediger ei al. 2000)). In the absence of roads and trails, snow depths and snow conditions normal]}, limit the mobility of these other predators during mid-winter (Ruediger et al. 2000). In their assessment of risk factors affecting lynx within the Southern Rockies Geographic Area. Ruediger et al. (2000) identified Recreational uses or activities that create compacted snow conditions may reduce the competitive advantage that lynx have in deep snow environments. Conservation measures, in the Lvnx Conservation Assessment and Strategy, are intended to conserve the lynx, and to reduce or eliminate adverse effects from the spectrum of manaygement activities on Federal lands (Ruediger et al. 2000). The proposed action includes activities that will result in increased snow compaction within the Mount Gunnison LAU, and will therefore result in adverse effects to lynx. The BA anticipates that vehicle/lynx collisions could occur associated with increased vehicle use of the temporary roads, resulting in mortality of lynx. The Service has no evidence of a lynx mortality or collision between a lynx and a vehicle on roads similar to those proposed in this action. There is evidence that lynx mortalities have occurred in Colorado. However these mortalities occurred on high speed high volume roads where the likelihood of a lvnx/vehicle collision is much greater. The Service (2000, 2003b) and the CDOW (Spezze in litt.) expressed concern over the issue of ease of human access into forests increasing the vulnerability of lynx to intentional or unintentional shooting and trapping. While more people dispersing into lynx habitat may lead to • a greater risk of poaching, it is an unlawful activity and would not contribute to any project- related "take" that might occur, it is nevertheless a possibility that poaching could increase as a result of the proposed action. One of the highest mortality factors for lynx in Colorado during the CDOW reintroduction pro`ram has been shooting (Shenk 2005a). The Service has concluded although the proposed action will result in adverse effects to lynx within the Mount Gunnison LAU, we do not believe that these effects rise to the level of take as defined by the Act. CUMULATIVE EFFECTS Cumulative effects are the effects of future State, Tribal, local, or private actions that are reasonably certain to occur in the action area considered in this opinion. Future Federal actions that are unrelated to the proposed action are not considered in this section because they require separate consultation pursuant to section 7 of the Act. On MCC lands approximately 3 miles south of the action area. foreseeable projects could include road construction and other mine-related surface disturbance. as well as reclamation of disturbed sites no longer needed. Anv future Federal actions affecting federally listed species requires separate consultation pursuant to section 7 of the Act. • i9