Draft terrestrial resources biological assessment
Pacific Region Cook’s Lomatium
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- 4.2.1 Site Specific Biological Requirements and Project Context
- 4.2.2 Site Specific Critical Habitat Availability and Project Context
- 4.2.3 Site Specific Limiting Factors for Recovery
4.2 Pacific Region Cook’s LomatiumCook’s lomatium is listed as endangered under both the state and federal ESA. There are 13 reported occurrences of Cook’s lomatium within Jackson County (USFWS 2011). Of these, six are within the action area and one within the project footprint. Within the action area, CH has been designated is six distinct areas, one of which is within the project footprint. Most areas of DCH are between five and 20 acres in size. 4.2.1 Site Specific Biological Requirements and Project ContextCook's lomatium is a small perennial plant (0.5-1.6 feet) in the parsley family (Apiaceae). Its slender twisted taproot often branches at ground level, forming multiple stems. An umbel of pale yellow flowers develops boat-shaped fruits 8-13 mm (0.3-0.5 in) long with thickened margins. The leaves are smooth, finely dissected, and strictly basal. In the project action area, Cook’s lomatium flowering and fruiting time occurs from approximately the beginning of May to mid-June (USFWS 2011). This plant occurs only where soil types have a hard pan or clay pan layer close to the soil surface, creating seasonally wet soils and vernal pools. Within the project action area, it is found in close association with vernal pool complexes as described under Section 4.1. In general, this species prefers vernal pool edges or other seasonally wet habitats. Information available on the USFWS website indicates that this species is known to occur in the Agate Desert near Medford, in Jackson County, Oregon and French Flat in the Illinois Valley in Josephine County, Oregon, on land owned by The Nature Conservancy (Agate Desert Preserve), Jackson County, ODFW, City of Medford, ODOT, Bureau of Land Management (French Flat), and private landowners. 4.2.2 Site Specific Critical Habitat Availability and Project ContextUSFWS identified DCH within the action area is located along the Medco Haul Road, near Aviation Way and Cardinal Road. A second area of identified critical habitat is located near the southern end of 11th Road, just south of Antelope Road. Refer to Figures 5-1 through 5-4. The final critical habitat rule published by the Service identifies four PCEs for Cook’s lomatium: 1) “Vernal pools and adjacent upland margins that hold water for a sufficient length of time to sustain woolly meadowfoam germination, growth and reproduction, occurring the Agate Desert vernal pool landscape. These pools are seasonally inundated but do not necessarily fill with water every year. They support native plant populations and are likely to have the following characteristics: a) occurring at elevations between 1,220 feet to 1,540 feet, b) associated with dominant native FIGURE 5-1: DIRECT AND INDIRECT IMPACT, SD ALTERNATIVE: VERNAL POOL COMPLEXES AND COOK’S LOMATIUM FIGURE 5-2: DIRECT AND INDIRECT IMPACT, DI ALTERNATIVE: VERNAL POOL COMPLEXES AND COOK’S LOMATIUM FIGURE 5-3: DIRECT AND INDIRECT IMPACT, BYPASS DESIGN OPTIONS: VERNAL POOL COMPLEXES, COOK’S LOMATIUM AND LARGE-FLOWERED WOOLLY MEADOWFOAM FIGURE 5-4: DIRECT AND INDIRECT IMPACT, BYPASS JTA PHASE: VERNAL POOL COMPLEXES, COOK’S LOMATIUM AND LARGE-FLOWERED WOOLLY MEADOWFOAM FIGURE 5-5: DIRECT AND INDIRECT IMPACT, NORTHERN COMMON ALIGNMENT: VERNAL POOL COMPLEXES, COOK’S LOMATIUM AND LARGE-FLOWERED WOOLLY MEADOWFOAM plants, and c) comprise a minimum area of 20 acres to provide intact hydrology and protection from development and weed sources. 2) The hydrologically functional system of interconnected pools within a matrix of surrounding uplands that together form vernal pool complexes within the greater watershed. Associated features may include: pool basin or depression; intact hardpan subsoil; and, surrounding uplands including mound topography and other geographic features that support these systems. 3) Soils described by the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) as those in the Agate-Winlo complex, Coker clay, Carney clay, Provig-Agate complex or Winlo very gravelly loam soils. 4) No or negligible presence of competitive nonnative invasive plant species”. The Service further states that all of the above described PCEs do not have to occur simultaneously within a unit for the unit to constitute critical habitat (USFWS 2011). Singular, known populations of Cook’s lomatium have been identified by the OBIC in VPCs within Jackson County. A southern population identified near the Medco Haul Road and Commerce Drive was described as having a “poor estimated viability” with many plants noted as not blooming. OBIC described the population as most likely expanding (OBIC, unpublished, 2004). A second population, on the Airport property near an access road is described as having “good estimated viability”, with many small plants noted in a modified vernal pool area. OBIC noted the area appeared to have been disturbed by a tractor and that the population was recovering. The northern population of Cook’s lomatium, near Antelope Road, is described as having “good estimated viability”, with several patches concentrated in the population area. The population near the Airport, approximately two acres in size, is the only USFWS identified community within the project footprint (USFWS 2011). A survey conducted in 1999 by MB&G noted two patches of Cook’s lomatium totaling approximately 500 individuals, located in a vacant field south of Commerce Road and west of Cardinal Avenue and Aviation Way (MB&G 2000). 4.2.3 Site Specific Limiting Factors for RecoveryA draft recovery plan has been prepared by USFWS for several species that utilize VPCs, including Cook’s lomatium and large-flowered woolly meadowfoam (USFWS 2006). Factors limiting the recovery of Cook’s lomatium are closely tied to those listed under Section 4.1.3. for VPFS habitat. Degradation or removal of habitat would have a direct impact on population recovery and viability. These factors include: changes in water quality and/or quantity due to ground disturbance or development activities; direct removal of individual plants; removal or distress of enough individuals to affect the reproduction of a currently viable population; introduction of non-native species that may outcompete existing individuals or populations by development, or direct / indirect introduction of seed. Directory: HWY62 -> Terrestrial BA Terrestrial BA -> Draft Terrestrial Resources Biological Assessment oregon highway 62 corridor solutions project Download 486.24 Kb. Share with your friends:
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