GJ_WL_Inventory_Standards_2015.pdf

GJFO Standards for Biological Surveys (wildlife, updated 6/2015)

When will Biological surveys be required?

Special Status Animals. All species on the Threatened and Endangered (or candidate) Species list maintained by the US Fish and Wildlife Service, the BLM Sensitive Species list, and the State of

Colorado Sensitive Species list are considered Special Status Animals. If a proposed action occurs within potential habitat for any special status species, a biological survey will be required.

The survey area may range from one quarter to one half mile (depends on the species) from the disturbance. The intensity of the survey will depend upon the probability of occurrence of a special status species and upon the degree of disturbance associated with the proposed action.

What are the qualifications for a Biological survey contractor?

BLM must approve the Biological survey contractor in advance of the field work. For wildlife, including raptors, all personnel should have a strong background in wildlife biology and ecology and be familiar with those species of concern and their habitat requirements. A minimum of a

Bachelor of Science degree in Wildlife Biology or Wildlife Ecology is recommended.

A combination of course work and appropriate experience may be substituted if it is determined that it meets the requirements. Such qualifications help to ensure that all special status species occurring in the area to be inventoried will be located, including those that were not predicted to occur at the start of the inventory. If surveys for federally listed species are appropriate (such as

Mexican Spotted Owl or Yellow Billed Cuckoo) USFWS permits should be referenced (copies of the permits are not needed, however permit numbers should be provided).

Are there some exceptions to the Biological survey requirements? The determination of whether a clearance will be required and the intensity of the clearance is made by the Wildlife

Biologist(s) for the BLM, GJFO, after reviewing aerial photos, soils maps, topographic maps and maps of known populations and consulting with other specialists familiar with special status species in the area, such as Colorado Natural Heritage Program (CNHP), US Fish and Wildlife

Service (USFWS) or the Colorado Division of Wildlife (CDOW).

Note: General information regarding the habitat in the area affected by the proposed activities provided by the operator can be very helpful at this stage. In addition, many biological survey contractors are familiar with BLM’s biological survey requirements and often based on a preliminary field visit, they could provide BLM with enough information concerning the site to help the BLM Wildlife Biologist determine the need for and intensity of the required Biological surveys. Such a preliminary evaluation of the site by the contractors is therefore recommended to facilitate the permitting process. At a minimum, the Biological survey contractor should consult the BLM Wildlife Biologist prior to initiating field work regarding the survey standards (see below).

To what standard should the Biological survey be conducted?

The species that need to be included in the inventory will vary depending on the habitat. The contractor can either contact the Wildlife Biologist(s) via written form or by phone; the important point is to ensure that some contact has been made prior to the inventory so that a discussion of what species need to be included in the inventory and the timing and intensity of the inventory, can take place. The contractor must contact the Wildlife Biologist(s) at least one week prior to onset of surveys (Heidi Plank - 970-244-3012, Amanda Ewing 970-244-3023)

Intensity of inventories conducted to assess the impacts of BLM initiated or authorized actions must be based on the probability of a species occurring within the project area, the degree of habitat disturbance expected to result from the action, and the status or category of the species.

For diurnal raptors the GJFO diurnal raptor survey protocol should be used. For burrowing owls, the Colorado Burrowing owl survey protocol should be used. In Mexican Spotted owl .

What does BLM require to document the Biological survey? A written report documenting results should be prepared for most inventories. Such a report should include the following:

a. Detailed maps of the areas inventoried and the Special Status Species, raptors, important wildlife habitats searched for and those which were found. Including electronic shapefiles of areas surveyed and locations of detections

b. Written descriptions of the areas inventoried, including the plant communities, wildlife species, soil types and/or geologic formations present.

c. Date(s) of the inventory.

d. Personnel involved in the inventory.

e. Methodology employed, including techniques and intensity of the inventory.

f. Assessments of the size and health of the population and the protective status of any special status species found.

g. Recommended management actions to conserve/protect any Special Status Species, raptor nest, important wildlife habitat or significant plant communities encountered.

h. A list of references cited, persons contacted, herbaria/museums visited, and the location of any voucher specimens collected.

I. Additional data needs.

j. Other information as appropriate. Vegetation maps and complete lists of plant and animal species are very helpful additions to the report, as are photographs.

Documentation should include a completed CNHP Field Survey Form for any Special Status

Species discovered. CNHP maintains a statewide database for all rare plant and animal data.

Copies of the CNHP Form are available from the CNHP or BLM.

Photographs should be taken of the areas inventoried, wildlife species, nests and/or important habitats, if possible, to document conclusively the occurrence of the species and the value of the habitat to that species. Any collection of wildlife species requires a special permit from either the

US Fish and Wildlife Service or the Colorado Division of Wildlife. Collection is not necessary for this effort and should not be undertaken.

The contractor must submit a draft report to the BLM and allow for two weeks of review by BLM

Wildlife Biologist prior to submitting a final report.

When must the inventories be conducted if timing is critical?

Reconnaissance may be conducted at any time of year to determine whether a site exhibits characteristics of potential habitat. If potential habitat is found to exist on the site, then a survey must be conducted during the time at which the species is likely to be present, and in the case of birds and raptors, nesting.