Final environmental impact statement for riparian and aquatic habitat management in the Taos Field Office, New Mexico

332 Pages·2000·17.9 MB·English

by  United States. Bureau of Land Management. Taos Field Office

BLM LIBRARY
88063964
United States Department of the Interior
Bureau of Land Management
U S. Department of the Inteitor
Taos Field Office
Final
Environmental Impact Statement
for Riparian and Aquatic
Habitat Management in the
Taos Field Office - New Mexico
Volume 1
August 2000
BLM/NM/PL-00-008-1040
BUM LIBRARY
BLDG 50, ST-150A
DENVER FEDERAL CENTER
P.O. BOX 25047
DENVER, COLORADO 80225
Mission Statement
It is the mission of the U.S. Bureau of Land Management to sustain the health, diversity,
and productivity of the public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future
generations.
B LM/N M/P L-00-008-1040
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Taos Field Office
Final
Environmental Impact Statement
for Riparian and Aquatic
Habitat Management in the
Taos Field Office - New Mexico
Volume 1
BLM Li BH/\n
BLDG 50, ST-15UA
DENVER FEDERAL CENTER
P.O. BOX 25047
DENVER, COLORADO 802S8
BLM Library
August 2000
Denver Federal Center
Bldg. 50, OC-521
P.O. Box 25047
Denver, CO 80225 BLM/NM/PL-00-008-1040

United States Department of the Interior
BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT
Taos Field Office
226 Cruz Alta Road
Taos, New Mexico 87571
www.nm.blm.gov
Dear Reader,
Enclosed for your review and comment is the Proposed Taos Riparian and Aquatic Habitat
Management Plan (HMP) and the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for riparian and aquatic
habitats under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Taos Field Office. The
proposed HMP is based on Alternative 2, Adaptive Management, which was presented and analyzed in the
Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for riparian and aquatic habitat management. The public
notice of availability of the DEIS was published in the Federal Register, and the DEIS was made available
to the public October 8, 1999, with a 90-day public comment period followed by a 30-day extension of the
public comment period. The Bureau has selected Alternative 2, Adaptive Management, as the agency’s
preferred alternative. The DEIS is included by reference but not duplicated in this document.
Following release of the DEIS, the BLM held an informal open house followed by a formal public
hearing on November 15, 1999, in Taos, New Mexico, to accept public comments and statements on the
DEIS.
The BLM received comment letters and statements on the adequacy of the DEIS and the merits of
the alternatives presented. The public comments resulted in modification of the FEIS.
Following the 30-day availability period for the proposed HMP and the FEIS, a Record of Decision
(ROD) will be prepared for this project, and copies will be sent to those on the project mailing list.
Individuals wanting to comment on the changes made in preparing the final HMP or the FEIS should send
them to:
Pam Herrera
U.S. Bureau of Land Management
Taos Field Office
226 Cruz Alta Road
Taos, New Mexico 87571
[phone]
Any comments received will be considered in preparation of the ROD for this project.
Sincerely,
Taos Field Office
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ABSTRACT
Environmental Impact Statement
for Riparian and Aquatic Habitat Management
in the Taos Field Office - New Mexico
Draft ( ) Final ( x )
United States Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management (BLM)
1. Type of Action: Administrative (x) Legislative ( )
2. Proposed Action: To restore and protect riparian habitats under BLM jurisdiction in the Taos Field
Office, which includes all or parts of Colfax, Harding, Los Alamos, Mora, Rio Arriba, San Miguel, Santa
Fe, Taos, and Union Counties. Riparian habitats in the Rio Grande and Rio Chama watersheds that are
included in the Rio Grande Corridor Proposed Plan and Final Environmental Impact Statement and the
Rio Chama Management Plan are outside the scope of this proposed action.
3. Abstract: This Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) (Volume 1) includes a Habitat Management
Plan (HMP) (Volume 2) based on Alternative 2, Adaptive Management, which was presented and
analyzed in the Draft EIS that was issued October 8, 1999. The HMP, Volume 2 of this FEIS, presents an
adaptive management model that is applied to each riparian area under BLM jurisdiction. The desired
outcome of implementing the HMP is achievement of proper functioning condition for all riparian areas
and the protection and restoration of threatened and endangered species habitat.
4. Comments on the Draft EIS from individuals, groups, and agencies, and the BLM responses to these
comments are included in Volume 1.
5. For further information contact: Pam Herrera, Project Leader
Bureau of Land Management
Taos Field Office
226 Cruz Alta Road
Taos, New Mexico 87571
505-751-4705
6. Date Final Filed with EPA:
7. Approved:
Ron Huntsinger
Field Manager
v

CONTENTS
ABSTRACT. v
ABBREVIATIONS/ACRONYMS . ix
SUMMARY. s_]
1 COMMENTS ON THE DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
STATEMENT AND RESPONSES. 1_1
j_j
1.1 Introduction .
1.2 Public Hearing Comments and Responses.
1_1
1.3 Written Comments and Responses .
1_1
1.4 References . 1-267
2 DESCRIPTION OF HABITAT MANAGEMENT PLAN. 2-1
APPENDIX A: Addendum to the Taos Field Office Draft EIS. A-l
APPENDIX B: Biological Evaluation for Riparian and
Aquatic Habitat Management. B-l
APPENDIX C: Endangered Species Act Consultation. C-l
TABLES
1.1 Public Hearing Comment Summary and Response for the DEIS
for Riparian and Aquatic Habitat Management in
the Taos Field Office - New Mexico . 1_2
1.2 Index of Letters Received during the Public Comment Period. 1-3
B.l Status of Listed Species Occurring or with the Potential to Occur
in the Taos Field Office Area . b-5
B.2 Livestock Grazing Management within Riparian Areas Identified
as Potential Short-Term and Long-Term Southwestern Willow
Flycatcher Habitat. b-18
...
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