Middle Fork Project AQ 12 - Attachment A California Red-legged Frog Site Assessment

1
Middle Fork ProjectAQ 12 - Attachment
ACalifornia Red-legged Frog Site Assessment

• March 10, 2008

2
Purpose of Site Assessment

• Provide U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service with
  sufficient information to determine if
  protocol-level surveys are required

California red-legged frog (Rana aurora
draytonii )
3
Study Objectives

• Document the distribution and abundance of CRLF
  populations in the study area
• Identify and map potential habitat for CRLF in
  the study area

4
California Red-legged Frog Site Assessment Study
Objectives and Related
Study Elements and Reports
Map potential CRLF habitatin the study area
Document distribution and abundance of CRLF in
study area
Compile and reviewexisting vegetationcommunity
mapping
Compile and reviewexisting aquatichabitat
mapping
Compile current and historic occurrence
information
Document the presence of CRLF during CRLF
fieldreconnaissance surveys other aquatic
surveys
Refine and expand existing habitat mapping
basedon Project video and aerial photographs
Identify current and historic CRLF occurrences
Verify habitat mapping through field
reconnaissancesurveys (by helicopter and foot)
Develop potential CRLFhabitat map
Prepare site assessment report
CRLF Site Assessment
5
Extent of Study Area

• One mile around
• Existing Project facilities and features,
  recreation facilities, dispersed concentrated use
  areas and river/stream reaches
• Potential Project betterments
• (below 5,000 feet in elevation)

6
Current and Historic Range of CRLF

• Five isolated populations currently known to
  occur in foothills along west slope of Sierra
  Nevada
• Three of these within Middle Fork American River
  Watershed
• Study area is within
• Current and historic range of CRLF
• USFWS CRLF Recovery Unit 1

7
Known Locations of CRLF in the MFAR Watershed

• One known CRLF record within study area

• Single, adult CRLF detected in June 2001 in
  ephemeral pool

Ralston Ridge Pond, August 2007

• Two additional records outside the study area,
  but within the MFAR Watershed

8
Known Locations of CRLF in the MFAR Watershed
(cont.)
9
Map Potential CRLF Habitatin the Study Area

• Upland habitat
• Aquatic habitat

10
Map Potential CRLF HabitatUpland Habitat in
Study Area
11
Map Potential CRLF Habitat CRLF Aquatic Habitat
Characteristics(based on USFWS 2002)

• Marshes
• Springs
• Permanent and semi-permanent natural ponds
• Ponded and backwater portions of streams
• Artificial impoundments such as stock ponds,
  irrigation ponds, and siltation ponds
• Slow-moving shallow riffle zones in creeks

12
Map Potential CRLF Habitat CRLF Aquatic Habitat
CharacteristicsAdditional Characteristics(based
on other literature)

• Dense or shrubby riparian vegetation, incl.
  willows, cattails, and bulrushes (USFWS 2007)
• Significant portion of water body with dense
  vegetation providing shade (Hayes and Jennings
  1998)
• Deep (0.5-1.5 meters) still or slow-moving water
  (Hayes and Jennings 1998)

13
Map Potential CRLF Habitat Aquatic Habitat
CharacteristicsAdditional Characteristics(based
on other literature cont.)

• Water remaining long enough for metamorphosis of
  most tadpole (generally July to September)
  (USFWS 2006)
• Habitats free of introduced predators (i.e.
  bullfrogs, non-native crayfish, and various
  fishes) (USFWS 2002)

14
Map Potential CRLF Habitat CRLF Aquatic Habitat
(does not include)

• Deep lacustrine water bodies (lakes and
  reservoirs gt 50 acres)
• Fast flowing rivers

15
Aquatic Habitats in the Study Area

• Rivers
• Large and Moderate Streams
• Small Tributaries
• Reservoirs
• Diversion Pools
• Off-Channel Ponds

16
Aquatic Habitats in Study Area
17
Rivers

• Middle Fork American River and Rubicon River
• Not appropriate CRLF habitat
• Barriers to dispersal as defined by USFWS
• Rocky and fast-flowing
• No backwater areas
• Banks do not support dense vegetation (e.g.,
  cattail, bulrushes)

Middle ForkAmerican River
18
Large and Moderate Streams

• Duncan Creek
• Long Canyon Creek
• North Fork Long Canyon Creek
• South Fork Long Canyon Creek

• Not appropriate CRLF habitat
• Bedrock channel (no backwater areas)
• Inappropriate instream pool habitats (large,
  rocky, open pools)
• Banks do not support dense vegetation (e.g.,
  cattail, bulrush)

Long Canyon Creek
19
Small Tributary Streams

• Eleven accessible small, tributary streams
  surveyed by field crews
• Small, remote tributaries of upper MFAR analyzed
  by aerial photography and helicopter surveys

Gas Canyon Creek
20
Small Tributary Streams (cont.)

• Not appropriate CRLF habitat
• High gradient
• Bedrock channel (no backwater areas)
• Inappropriate instream pool habitats (Plunge-pool
  and waterfall)
• Banks do not support dense vegetation (e.g.,
  cattail, bulrush)

American Canyon Creek
21
Reservoirs/Interbay/Afterbays

• Hell Hole Reservoir and Ralston Afterbay
• Not CRLF habitat as defined by USFWS
• Considered barriers to dispersal
• Middle Fork Interbay
• Not appropriate CRLF habitat
• Deep impoundment
• Steep canyon walls
• No floating or emergent vegetation

22
Diversion Pools

• North and South Fork Long Canyon Diversion Pools

North Fork Long Canyon Diversion

• Not appropriate CRLF habitat
• Do not support dense vegetation (e.g., cattails,
  bullrushes, willows)
• Lack sufficient water though August or September
  for tadpoles to complete metamorphosis

23
Off-Channel Ponds

• Off-channel ponds at 5 locations
• Auburn State Recreation Area (ASRA)
• Teichert Industries open pit mines
• Summit Ranch
• Horseshoe Bar
• Ralston Ridge

24
Off-Channel Ponds (cont.)
Teichert Industries
Summit Ranch
ASRA
25
Off-Channel Ponds (cont.)
Horseshoe Bar Area
26
Off-Channel Ponds (cont.)
Horseshoe Bar Area

• Ponds D and E
• Potential CRLF breeding habitat
• Appropriate water depth
• Perennial ponds (retain water long enough for
  complete metamorphosis)
• Support dense vegetation on banks (e.g., willow,
  blackberry, California grape)

Pond D Horseshoe Bar
27
Off-Channel Ponds (cont.)
Horseshoe Bar Area

• Ponds C and F
• Potential dispersal habitat

Pond C

• Water is shallow in both ponds (lt 2 feet deep)
• Pond F is ephemeral (dry in most years by June)

28
Off-Channel Ponds (cont.)
Horseshoe Bar Area

• Pond G and South Lake

• Not appropriate CRLF habitat
• Predatory species present
• Subject to water level fluctuations of the MFAR
• Banks do not support dense vegetation (e.g.,
  cattails, bulrushes)
• South Lake is very deep ( 50 feet)

Pond G