SOW_FY22_Raptor_Surveys_revised_4_11_2022_0002.docx

FY 2022 LAS CRUCES DISTRICT RAPTOR SURVEYS

STATEMENT OF WORK

GENERAL

Objectives Raptor surveys and nest monitoring in the Rough & Ready Hills, Doña Ana Mountains, and Sugarloaf within the Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument. There has been an increase in casual use for rock climbing and expressed interest in commercial climbing within these areas. The goal is to find out if raptors use these areas and monitor them should they exist, to determine if climbing has any effects. This data would support management planning and decisions. Currently the Rough & Ready Hills has commercial climbing and Prairie Falcon (Falco mexicanus) have been observed in the area related to recreation opportunities and use in the Monument.

Project Dates The proposed period of performance would begin on May 11, 2022. A preliminary project meeting will be held prior to the beginning of the proposed survey and monitoring work. The exact date and time will be provided later. The survey work would begin May 11, 2022 and would extend to August 15, 2022. Report to be due on or before October 14, 2022.

Project Locations and Descriptions** Locations for raptor surveys in the Rough and Ready Hills, Doña Ana Mountains, and Sugarloaf are as follows:

Rough & Ready Hills: 32° 23.841' N, 107° 2.294' W

Doña Ana Mountains: 32° 26.828' N, 106° 46.858' W

Sugarloaf: 32° 20.789' N, 106° 32.553' W

*See attached maps of the project survey areas. General locations are provided for the Doña Ana Mountains and Sugarloaf. Rough and Ready Hills is an exact coordinate of the area.

**Additional maps can be provided upon request

RESPONSIBILITY OF SURVEYOR

Capture monitoring data related to all cliff dwelling raptors that may be present at the identified locations. The data collection for the survey will not be limited to a specific raptor species.

Conduct surveys (2 per month) within the 3 areas described above.

Habitat assessments will be completed for all sighting locations.

Conduct breeding pair monitoring at the Rough and Ready Hills and/or other locations mentioned if detected.

Monitor territorial and/or breeding pairs of raptors to assess their habitat use, habitat characteristics, prey availability, prey use, breeding behavior, and productivity, as appropriate (at least 1 visit per week and up to 2 visits per week during critical stages of nesting to document breeding success). Continue monitoring of young birds until fully independent of parents (approximately 30 days after leaving the nest).

Construct field data sheets that will capture the above monitoring information. The BLM will not provide field data sheets for the work.

No specialized equipment is required for the survey work aside from the use of binoculars.

UTM locations (NAD 1983) of all raptor sightings and nest locations will be collected.

Provide survey and monitoring updates at 2-week intervals via email to the Contracting Officer Representative (COR).

Provide the BLM Las Cruces District with a completion report summarizing raptor surveys and monitoring on or before October 14, 2022. The survey report will be compiled in a word document (doc), including map(s), sighting/nest location (as appropriate) coordinate summary, habitat assessment summary for raptor sighting locations, and summary observations from each survey date.

All spatial information collected and included within the summary report must meet the following specifications:

Projection - NAD83/UTM/Units Meters.

Vertical Datum – GSC North American 1983.

Format – ESRI file (geodatabase)

STIPULATIONS OF WORK

The contractor will be expected to follow the rules and regulations for each of the BLM management areas where the survey is being conducted. For this survey, the BLM management areas are the OMDPNM, Dona Ana Mountains Area of Critical Environmental Concern, the Organ Mountains Wilderness Area, and Organ/Franklin Mountain Area of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC).

Wilderness: These areas are found to have characteristics of wilderness enumerated by Congress in Section 2 (c) of the Wilderness Act of 1964. The BLM is required to manage all wilderness "so as not to impair the suitability of such areas for preservation as wilderness.” Therefore, all proposed uses must meet the non-impairment standard, in that they are both temporary and do not create surface disturbance. Surface disturbance is defined as “no new disruption of the rock, soil, or vegetation, including vegetative trampling, that would necessitate reclamation, rehabilitation, or restoration in order for the site to appear and function as it did prior to the disturbance.” Most primitive forms of recreation are allowed within wilderness. Wilderness is present in the Organ Mountains unit of the survey area.

Vehicle Use: Motorized and mechanized vehicles are not allowed within wilderness. Within National Monuments, motorized vehicles use is restricted to designated roads. The BLM can provide information and maps as to routes open to motorized use.

Heritage Resources: All persons associated with operations under this Agreement must be informed that that any objects or sites of cultural, paleontological, and scientific interest, shall not be excavated, removed, damaged, or otherwise altered or defaced. Cultural resources include historic or prehistoric resources, graves or grave markers, human remains, ruins, cabins, rock art, and/or artifacts. Paleontological resources include vertebrate body and trace fossils, as well as body and trace fossils of uncommon/rare plants and invertebrates.

Land Ownership: This survey is restricted to public lands (i.e., lands administered by the BLM) within the Las Cruces District of New Mexico. This contract does not authorize work on private, state, and other federal lands, including National Forests, National Parks or Preserves, National Wildlife Refuges, or lands managed by the military.

Survey Data: The BLM may use information obtained through this contract work as needed help improve the management of the natural resources on public lands. The deliverables should be sent to the BLM Las Cruces District Office, 1800 Marquess St., Las Cruces, NM 88005. Electronic versions of the deliverables should be sent to the COR.

TRANSPORTATION CHARGES

All costs associated with transportation shall be paid by the contractor and included in the unit price quoted for the survey.

Map 1: Rough and Ready Hills

Map 2: Doña Ana Mountains

Map 3: Sugarloaf image1.jpeg image2.jpeg