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Vantage to Pomona Heights Chapter 3
<br />230 kV Transmission Line Project FEIS Affected Environment
<br />PAGE 3-23
<br />Annual Sandwort
<br />Annual sandwort (Minuartia pusilla var. pusilla) is a Washington Sensitive species. It is known to occur
<br />from British Columbia south to California, Nevada and Arizona. In Washington, it has been documented
<br />in Grant, Chelan, Whitman, Spokane, Walla Walla, and Klickitat counties. With the region, one
<br />population occupying approximately 23 acres is known to occur. The primary threat to annual sandwort is
<br />from off-highway vehicles (OHVs).
<br />WNHP data indicate that annual sandwort intersects Route Segments 3b and NNR-8 for approximately
<br />0.8 mile. However, special status species locations include large buffers; therefore, it is uncertain whether
<br />this occurrence intersects the ROW.
<br />Awned Halfchaff Sedge
<br />Awned halfchaff sedge (Lipocarpha aristulata) is a BLM Sensitive and Washington Threatened species.
<br />This species is found from California north to Washington and west to Idaho, Wyoming, Utah, Arizona,
<br />Colorado, New Mexico, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, and Indiana. In
<br />Washington, awned halfchaff sedge is known from two recent occurrences along the Columbia River in
<br />Benton, Grant, and Franklin counties and five historical occurrences from Klickitat, Whitman, Benton,
<br />and Asotin counties. Two populations occupying approximately 2,718 acres are known to occur within
<br />the region. The current primary threat is hydrologic change (Camp and Gamon 2011).
<br />WNHP data indicate that awned halfchaff sedge intersects Route Segments 2d, 3b, and 3c for
<br />approximately 0.6 miles. As the entirety of all route segments were not surveyed, it is possible that awned
<br />halfchaff sedge could occur elsewhere.
<br />Basalt Daisy
<br />Basalt daisy (Erigeron basalticus) is a federal SOC, BLM Sensitive, and Washington Threatened species.
<br />It is endemic to Washington and occurs exclusively in a small area (approximately 33 square miles) along
<br />the Yakima River and Selah Creek Canyons. The Project study area is adjacent to the Selah Cliffs Natural
<br />Area Preserve, which was established in 1993 to protect basalt daisy (Washington State Department of
<br />Natural Resources [DNR] 2014). Five populations occupying approximately 1,369 acres are known to
<br />occur in Washington. Primary threats to basalt daisy include basalt mining, railroad and highway
<br />maintenance and construction, and herbicide spray drift from nearby agricultural fields (WNHP and BLM
<br />2005; Camp and Gamon 2011).
<br />Within the proposed Project area, basalt daisy is known to occur where Route Segment NNR-3 crosses
<br />Selah Creek Canyon (for approximately 0.7 mile). This species was not documented during the special
<br />status plant surveys; however, the steep canyon wall above Selah Creek was not surveyed due to safety
<br />and access limitations.
<br />Beaked Cryptantha
<br />Beaked cryptantha (Cryptantha rostellata) is a BLM Sensitive and a Washington Threatened species.
<br />Beaked cryptantha is known to occur in central Washington south to central California. In Washington, it
<br />is known to occur in Kittitas, Grant, Klickitat, Garfield, and Asotin counties. Within the region, six
<br />populations occupying approximately 817 acres are known to occur. The primary threats to beaked
<br />cryptantha include grazing, erosion, and habitat loss through the invasion of exotic plant species (Camp
<br />and Gamon 2011).
<br />WNHP data indicate that beaked cryptantha intersects Route Segments NNR-7 for approximately 0.7
<br />mile. As the entirety of all route segments were not surveyed, it is possible that beaked cryptantha could
<br />occur elsewhere.
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