Funding opportunity number: L24AS00140FUNDING opportunity goals: identifying and supporting projects that address wildlife habitat restoration that are in alignment with restoration landscapes, and…

Funding opportunity number: L24AS00140FUNDING opportunity goals: identifying and supporting projects that address wildlife habitat restoration that are in alignment with restoration landscapes, and address habitat land health standards, and improving connectivity supporting wildlife migration such as big game, and migratory birds. 2. Projects that support collaborations with state and tribal wildlife agencies to address data gaps, implement coordinated landscape or regional monitoring to inform populations status and trend tied to public lands administered by BLM. 3. Support projects that will assist BLM with using existing assessments or data to understand climate change impacts on landscape or priority ecosystems important to achieving short- and long-term habitat objectives, for example water availability during extended droughts, or new or emerging impacts for invasive species. The rapid deployment of solar facilities, increase in urban development, and the construction of transportation corridors pose challenges to wildlife populations in the area. The primary objectivate of this project is to assess the impact of solar energy development on wildlife movement and connectivity. A secondary objective will evaluate the impact of the proposed i-11 corridor and potential urban development on wildlife. Both objectives will also guide mitigation strategies during planning of all development types. The project aligns with executive order 14008, which promotes clean energy. Surface land ownership includes BLM, state, and private lands, encompassing wilderness, kofa wildlife refuge, and the proposed i-11 corridor. To meet project objectives, we will collect GPS movement data from four species (i.e., sonoran pronghorn antilocapra americana sonoriensis , mule deer odocoileus hemionus , bobcat lynx rufus , and kit FOX vulpes macrotis ) that rely on or traverse areas with high potential for solar energy generation. Specifically, we will collar at least 40 mule deer, 20 bobcats, and 20 kit foxes near planned and completed solar facilities. Due to limited battery life on smaller collars, recaptures will occur throughout the project, for a total deployment of 40 bobcat and 40 kit FOX collars. Data from collars on sonoran pronghorn is already accessible within a section of the study area. As part of regular sonoran pronghorn operations, we will strategically deploy new pronghorn collars to address any data gaps in the study area. All collared animals will be tracked for three years and the collected data will be analyzed to identify and prioritize movement paths and habitat selection through current and future solar fields, roadways, and urban development. The project will comply with environmental assessments and regulations pertaining to wildlife handling. The project team consists of experienced arizona game and fish department (azgfd) members with extensive knowledge of wildlife habitat connectivity. Intended beneficiaries include the residents of the phoenix valley and the broader scientific community. Project success will be gauged on its ability to offer recommendations regarding solar footprint placement in relation to crucial habitat characteristics. IT will also involve conducting an evaluation of existing corridor widths, while also identifying and proposing new movement corridors. Ultimately, the data collected will inform future solar footprint design and mitigation strategies to protect wildlife habitats.