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 3-89 along bluffs within the Yakima River drainage (JBLM YTC 2002). The Project study area overlaps the Mount Baldy bighorn sheep winter range. Potential habitat exists within the Project study area; however, suitable habitat may be limited to canyons outside the Project study area. Black-tailed jackrabbit (Lepus californicus) occurs in sagebrush and grasslands within the Columbia Plateau (ASM 2011; WDFW 2013a). Black-tailed jackrabbits have been observed within the Project study area and suitable habitat exists throughout the Project study area. White-tailed jackrabbit (Lepus townsendii) occurs in the grasslands of the Columbia Basin (ASM 2011). They are associated with bunchgrass grasslands, rabbitbrush, and relatively undisturbed shrub-steppe habitats (DES 2000; WDFW 2013a). White-tailed jackrabbits have been documented within the Project study area and suitable habitat exists. In Washington, WDFW identifies deer east of U.S. Route 97 (US-97) as Rocky Mountain mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus hemionus) and deer west of US-97 as Columbian black-tailed deer (Odocoileus hemionus columbianus). Rocky Mountain mule and Columbian black-tailed deer occupy a wide variety of habitats in Washington, including canyon complexes along the major rivers, shrub-steppe, grasslands, and coniferous forests. Shrub-steppe and grasslands provide important deer habitat, especially during winter months. Suitable habitat exists within the Project study area. The Columbia Basin represents the periphery of the northwest white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus ochrourus) distribution in central Washington. The habitat in the Project study area is generally more suitable for mule deer. In the Columbia Basin, white-tailed deer are associated with riparian areas along creeks and streams, grasslands and agricultural land (WDFW 2010). Suitable habitat in the Project study area is limited, occurring primarily near Burbank, Foster, Johnson, and Lower Crab Creeks. Elk occur in open areas such as alpine pastures, marshy meadows, river flats, aspen parklands, and coniferous forests (Snyder 1991). Elk winter range generally consists of shrub-steppe habitats in relatively close proximity to denser forested cover areas; within the Project study area winter range occurs west of the Yakima River and also within the southern portions of the Project study area. Elk are known to occur west of the Project study area in Wenas Wildlife Area (DES 2000). Suitable habitat is present within the Project study area and they were observed within the Project study area by POWER biologists during 2013 field surveys completed in support of the SDEIS. Merriam’s shrew (Sorex merriami) is most commonly found in big sagebrush, rabbitbrush, and bitterbrush shrublands (Azerrad 2004). Information about the range of Merriam’s shrew is limited; however, it has been documented in the JBLM YTC and within the Project study area (DES 2000; Azerrad 2004; WDFW 2015a). The Project study area occurs outside the known range of Preble’s shrew (Sorex preblei) and this species has not been documented in the Project study area or on the JBLM YTC (DES 2000, NatureServe 2013a). Recorded habitat for Preble’s shrew includes arid and semiarid shrub- grass associations dominated by sagebrush (NatureServe 2013a). Suitable habitat exists within the Project study area. Little brown myotis (Myotis lucifugus) is one of the most common and widespread bats in North America. In the northeastern U.S., the species suffered a recent severe population collapse due to white- nose syndrome, but populations in Washington were unaffected. This species is a habitat generalist. In Washington, it is most abundant in the forests of the Cascade Mountains and the northeastern part of the state, but it also occurs in open forests, forest margins, shrub-steppe, clumps of trees in open habitats, sites with cliffs, and urban areas. Within these habitats, riparian areas and sites with open water are usually preferred. Roosting occurs in a variety of sites, including buildings and other structures, tree cavities and beneath bark, rock crevices, caves, and mines. Hibernacula include caves, abandoned mines, and lava tubes (Hayes and Wiles 2013). Occurrence is likely throughout the Project study area, especially near residential areas, trees, cliffs, and water.