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

302 Pages·2000·16.5 MB·English

by  United States. Bureau of Land Management. Las Cruces District Office

III BLM LIBRARY 1
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United States Department of the Interior
Bureau of Land Management
oU S©. Depwartm-enDt of thee I®nferiosr
Las Cruces Field Office
Final
Environmental Impact Statement
for Riparian and Aquatic
Habitat Management in the
Las Cruces Field Office - New Mexico
Volume 1
August 2000
BLM/NM/PL-00-011 -1040
3LM LIBRARY
BLDG 50, ST-150A
DENVER FEDERAL CEf !T"R
P.O.BOX 2504/
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.
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B LM/N M/P L-00-011-1040
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United States Department of the Interior
Bureau of Land Management
Las Cruces Field Office
Final
Environmental Impact Statement
for Riparian and Aquatic
Habitat Management in the
Las Cruces Field Office - New Mexico
Volume 1
August 2000
BLM/NM/PL-00-011-1040

United States Department of the Interior
BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT
Las Cruces Field Office
1800 Marquess St.
Las Cruces, New Mexico 88005
www.nm.blm.gov
Dear Reader,
Enclosed for your review and comment is the Proposed Las Cruces 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) Las Cruces Field Office. The
proposed HMP is based on Alternative 1, Current 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 1, Current 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 informal open houses followed by formal public
hearings on November 22 and 23, 1999, in Lordsburg and Las Cruces, New Mexico, respectively, 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:
Bill Merhege
U.S. Bureau of Land Management
Las Cruces Field Office
1800 Marquess St.
Las Cruces, New Mexico 88005
[phone]
Any comments received will be considered in preparation of the ROD for this project.
Sincerely,
s^~
Amy Lueders, Manager
Las Cruces Field Office
m

ABSTRACT
Environmental Impact Statement
for Riparian and Aquatic Habitat Management
in the Las Cruces 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 Las Cruces Field
Office in the former Mimbres Resource Area, which includes all or parts of Doha Ana, Luna, Hidalgo,
and Grant Counties, New Mexico.
3. Abstract: This Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) includes a Habitat Management Plan
(HMP) (Volume 2) based on Alternative 1, Current Management, which was presented and analyzed in
the Draft EIS that was issued October 8, 1999. The HMP, Volume 2 of this FEIS, discusses
implementation of a set of policies and management guidance for riparian areas that was presented in the
Mimbres Resource Management Plan. On the basis of these policies and management guidance, a set of
actions specific to each riparian area under BLM jurisdiction provides a road map for present and future
riparian activities. 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: Bill Merhege, Project Leader
Bureau of Land Management
Las Cruces Field Office
1800 Marquess St.
Las Cruces, New Mexico 88005
505-525-4369
6. Date Final Filed with EPA:
v

CONTENTS
ABSTRACT. v
ABBREVIATIONS/ACRONYMS . ix
SUMMARY. S-l
1 COMMENTS ON THE DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL
IMPACT STATEMENT AND RESPONSES. 1-1
1.1 Introduction . 1-1
1.2 Public Hearing Comments and Responses. 1-1
1.3 Written Comments and Responses . 1-1
1.4 References . 1-239
2 DESCRIPTION OF THE HABITAT MANAGEMENT PLAN. 2-1
APPENDIX A: Addendum to the Las Cruces 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 Summaries and Responses for the DEIS for Riparian
and Aquatic Habitat Management in the Las Cruces Field Office - New Mexico. 1-2
1.2 Index of Letters Received during the Public Comment Period. 1-8
B.l Federally Listed Plant and Animal Species within the Four-County FEIS Area . B-5
B.2 Determination of Effect for the Federally Listed Species within the FEIS Area . B-7
B.3 Numbers and Density of Loach Minnows Collected during 1997, 1998,
and 1999 Surveys of the Gila Middle Box and Gila Lower Box. B-l3
B.4 Numbers and Density of Spikedace Collected during 1997, 1998,
and 1999 Surveys of the Gila Middle Box and Gila Lower Box. B-16
B.5 Livestock Grazing Management within Riparian Areas Identified as Current or
Potential Southwestern Willow Flycatcher Habitat . B-26
Vll