Vantage to Pomona FEIS Index 34 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Vantage to Pomona Heights Chapter 3 230 kV Transmission Line Project FEIS Affected Environment PAGE 3-24 Beaked Spike-rush Beaked spike-rush (Eleocharis rostellata) is a BLM Strategic and a Washington Sensitive species. Beaked spike-rush is known from Vancouver Island to Nova Scotia, Canada south to northern Mexico and the Greater Antilles and in the South American Andes. In Washington, beaked spike-rush is currently known from Grant and Yakima counties. Within the region, six populations occupying approximately 563 acres are known to occur. The primary threats to beaked spike-rush include invasion of habitat by exotic species and increasing density of woody species (Camp and Gamon 2011). WNHP data indicate that beaked spike-rush intersects Route Segment 3b for approximately 0.7 mile. As the entirety of all route segments were not surveyed, it is possible that beaked spike-rush could occur elsewhere. Bristle-flowered Collomia Bristle-flowered collomia (Collomia macrocalyx) is a BLM Strategic and a Washington Sensitive species. This species is distributed from north-central Oregon into central Washington. In Washington, it is known to occur in Kittitas and Yakima counties. Within the region, nine populations occupying 869 acres are known to occur. Primary threats to bristle-flowered collomia are habitat loss through non-native plant invasion, grazing, OHV use, and military training (WNHP and BLM 2005). WNHP data indicate that bristle-flowered collomia intersects Route Segment 3b and NNR-7 for approximately 2.3 miles. As the entirety of all route segments were not surveyed, it is possible that bristle-flowered collomia could occur elsewhere. Caespitose Evening-Primrose Caespitose evening-primrose (Oenothera caespitosa ssp. caespitosa) is a BLM Strategic, and Washington Sensitive species. This species is known from eastern Oregon eastward through Montana and Wyoming to the Dakotas. In Washington, it occurs in Kittitas, Yakima, Grant, and Benton counties. Within the region, nine populations occupying approximately 1,737 acres are known to occur. Primary threats to caespitose evening-primrose include habitat disturbance through grazing, road construction and maintenance, land conversion, and mineral extraction (WNHP and BLM 2005). WNHP data indicate that caespitose evening-primrose intersects Route Segment 3b and NNR-7 for approximately 3.0 miles. One occurrence of caespitose evening-primrose was located during the special status plant surveys along Route Segment 3b. This occurrence was located in a previously documented location and consisted of approximately 75 individuals scattered throughout 0.14 acre within the 160 foot ROW. As the entirety of all route segments were not surveyed, it is possible that caespitose evening- primrose could occur elsewhere. Columbia Milkvetch Columbia milkvetch is a federal SOC, BLM Sensitive, and a Washington Sensitive species. Columbia milkvetch is restricted to an area approximately 25 miles by 5.0 miles along the west side of the Columbia River in Yakima, Kittitas, and Benton counties. In the region, nineteen populations are known to occur on approximately 34,579 acres. Primary threats to this species are the continued degradation of habitat by military training activities and livestock grazing, increase competition by exotic invasive species, and loss of habitat by orchard development (WNHP and BLM 2005). BLM GeoBOB and WNHP data indicate that Columbia milkvetch intersects Route Segments 2b, 2d, 3b, and 3c for approximately 10.8 miles. Special status plant surveys located three occurrences within Route Segments 2b, 2d, and 3b. All of these occurrences were within or near previously documented occurrences. The occurrence within Route Segment 2b consisted of approximately 116 individuals scattered throughout 1.9 acres. Route Segment 2d’s occurrence consisted of approximately 110