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Vantage to Pomona Heights Chapter 3
<br />230 kV Transmission Line Project FEIS Affected Environment
<br />PAGE 3-28
<br />and Yakima counties. Within the region, 25 populations occupying approximately 8,776 acres are known
<br />to occur. Potential threats to Suksdorf’s monkeyflower include habitat degradation by livestock,
<br />agriculture, and military training activities (Camp and Gamon 2011).
<br />WNHP data indicate that Suksdorf’s monkeyflower intersects Route Segments NNR-6 and NNR-7 for
<br />approximately 0.9 mile (Table 3.2-5). These locations include large buffers, so it is uncertain whether
<br />these occurrences intersect the ROW. As the entirety of all route segments were not surveyed, Suksdorf’s
<br />monkeyflower could be present elsewhere.
<br />3.2.2.4 Priority Ecosystem
<br />The WNHP identifies species and ecosystems that are priorities for conservations efforts. Priority species
<br />and ecosystems are those that are rare or have very limited distribution (WNHP 2009). The priority
<br />species and ecosystems are given a priority rating of 1, 2, or 3. Priorities are based on how well each is
<br />represented within existing natural areas, rarity and degree of threat; with Priority 1 communities being
<br />the rarest and with the highest degree of threat (DNR 2011). The status of priority ecosystems with the
<br />potential to occur in the Project study area were reviewed and documented during the field survey
<br />(WNHP 2009). Eleven priority ecosystems are present within five miles of Route Segments 1c, 2b, 2c, 2d,
<br />3a, 3b, 3c, NNR-3, NNR-4, NNR-7, NNR-8 and MR-1 (Table 3.2-7). No priority ecosystems are located
<br />within five miles of Route Segments 1a/NNR-1, 1b, 2a, NNR-2, NNR-5, and NNR-6.
<br />Table 3.2-7 Priority Ecosystems Documented in Project Area
<br />PRIORITY ECOSYSTEM
<br />ROUTE
<br />SEGMENT(S) LOCATED WITHIN 5 MILES
<br />NUMBER OF OCCURRENCES
<br />TOTAL ACRES
<br />PRESENT WITHIN 5 MILES OF ROUTE SEGMENT(S)
<br />PRIORITY OF ECOSYSTEM1
<br />1 2 3
<br />Antelope bitterbrush-Indian ricegrass
<br />(Purshia tridentata-Achnatherum
<br />hymenoides)
<br />2d, 3a, 3b, 3c,
<br />NNR-7, NNR-8 4 2453 X
<br />Big sagebrush-Bluebunch wheatgrass
<br />(Artemisia tridentata-Pseudoroegneria
<br />spicata)
<br />1c, 2b, 2c, 2d, 3b,
<br />3c, NNR-3, NNR-
<br />4, MR-1
<br />5 942 X
<br />Big sagebrush-Idaho fescue (Artemisia
<br />tridentata-Festuca idahoensis) MR-1 1 8 X
<br />Big sagebrush- Sandberg bluegrass
<br />(Artemisia tridentata-Poa secunda) 2d, 3b, 3c 2 377 X
<br />Intermountain Basins Active and
<br />Stabilized Dune
<br />2d, 3a, 3b, 3c,
<br />NNR-7, NNR-8 9 7193 X
<br />Sand dropseed- Sandberg bluegrass
<br />(Sporobolus cryptandrus-Poa secunda) 2d, 3b, 3c 1 286 X
<br />Stiff sagebrush-Sandberg bluegrass
<br />(Artemisia rigida-Poa secunda) MR-1 1 8 X
<br />Spiny hopsage-Sandberg bluegrass
<br />(Grayia spinosa-Poa secunda) 2d, 3c 2 24 X
<br />Thyme buckwheat-Sandberg bluegrass
<br />(Eriogonum thymoides-Poa secunda) 1c 1 370 X
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