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 3-70 In 2015, eight occupied leks, from seven lek complexes were documented within the YTC Sage-Grouse population with a total count of 95 lekking males. An additional three leks were occupied in 2014, for a total of 11 currently active leks. Four of the 11 active leks are within four miles of the proposed Project study area. Two inactive leks occur within four miles of the Project study area (Table 3.3-5). The first active lek (hereafter Lek #1) is located approximately 3.4 miles east of Route Segment NNR-3 and 3.6 miles north of Route Segment 1b. Lek #1 was considered an active lek starting in 2011. In 2015, three males were observed attending Lek #1, which was up from one male in 2014 (SEE 2015). The second active lek (hereafter Lek #2) occurs approximately 3.5 miles south of Route Segment NNR-6. Lek #2 was discovered in 2007 and was considered an active lek beginning in 2008. Lek #2 had two males attending in 2015, up from one male in 2014 and an average of just two males attending during the past eight years (SEE 2015). The third active lek (hereafter Lek #3) occurs approximately 2.9 miles northeast of Route Segment 1b. Lek #3 has been active every year since data collection began in 1989, with an average count of 27 males, though counts have been lower in recent years—with an average of four males during each of the past four years. Lek #3 had four males attending in 2015, and four in 2014. An inactive lek within the same complex (complex #3) is located approximately 1.6 miles southwest of the active Lek #3 and 1.3 miles northeast of Route Segment 1b. This lek was last active in 2006 (SEE 2015). The fourth active lek (hereafter Lek #4) occurs approximately 1.5 miles north of Route Segment 2b. Lek #4 was discovered in 1998 and from 1998 through 2014 was occupied every year, with an average count of 13 males. No males were observed at the lek in 2015, but it is still considered an active lek because three males were counted in 2014 (SEE 2015). An inactive lek occurs approximately 3.9 miles west of Route Segment 3b. This lek was last occupied in 2007. Table 3.3-6 shows lek counts from 1989 to 2015 for each lek complex within the entire YTC Sage-Grouse population, including leks greater than four miles from the proposed Project study area. Historical leks are known to have occurred within four miles of all route segments except Route Segment 1a/NNR-1 (Table 3.3-5). In 2016, the Sage-Grouse population at JBLM YTC was estimated to hold 140 birds—the lowest estimate since surveys were initiated in 1964. During the past five years, the estimated Sage-Grouse population at JBLM YTC has averaged 203 birds and has fluctuated dramatically, from a low of 146 birds in 2012, up to a high of 263 birds in 2014 and back down to a new low of 140 birds in 2016 (SEE 2015; Personal communication email from M. Schroeder June 8, 2016, forwarded via BLM office; Table 3.3-6; and Figure 3.3-7). The Sage-Grouse population at JBLM YTC is above the management goal of 200 for the third year in a row (SEE 2015; JBLM YTC 2002). The 28 year average population estimate for JBLM YTC is 266 Sage-Grouse. There has been an overall long-term decline in the population, though population size has fluctuated substantially. From 2007 through 2010 and again in 2012 and 2016, population estimates were below 200. This may have been a result of habitat loss from fires (2006-2009); however, between 2009 and 2015, little existing Sage-Grouse habitat has been lost to fire and areas that burned from 2006-2009 have experienced grass and shrub recovery due to restoration efforts (SEE 2013).