March 29, 2010 Planning for Priority Species and Vegetation: Effects Analysis A Systematic Framework to Plan for Biological Resources In the BLM’s Land Use Planning Process

On – Site Training CORE CONCEPTS Develop monitoring framework Identify priority species and vegetation Assess health Identify management strategies Assess effects LAND USE PLANNING FOR PRIORITY SPECIES AND VEGETATION

Assess Effects LAND USE PLANNING FOR PRIORITY SPECIES AND VEGETATION

Effects Analysis under No Action Alternative IDENTIFY ALTERED KEY ECOLOGICAL ATTRIBUTES: IDENTIFY SOURCES OF ALTERED ATTRIBUTES: Assess Effects to Priority Species and Vegetation LAND USE PLANNING FOR PRIORITY SPECIES AND VEGETATION Altered key ecological attributes describe the ways that priority species or vegetation may be destroyed, degraded or impaired Sources are the proximate cause of the altered key ecological attributes

- allowable uses and potential restrictions - management actions needed for protection/restoration IDENTIFY ALTERED ATTRIBUTES: - need for change; management opportunities - restoration needs to meet land health standards IDENTIFY SOURCES OF ALTERED ATTRIBUTES: Effects Analysis LAND USE PLANNING FOR PRIORITY SPECIES AND VEGETATION Assess Effects to Priority Species and Vegetation

Key Ecological Attributes Habitat Quality Population Size Connectivity of populations LAND USE PLANNING FOR PRIORITY SPECIES AND VEGETATION

Altered Key Ecological Attributes Reduced Habitat Quality Reduced Population Size Altered Connectivity of populations LAND USE PLANNING FOR PRIORITY SPECIES AND VEGETATION

u Severity of Impact Destroy or eliminate Seriously degrade Moderately degrade Slightly impair u Severity of Impact Destroy or eliminate Seriously degrade Moderately degrade Slightly impair u Scope of Damage Very widespread —throughout priority species or vegetation Widespread Localized Very localized u Scope of Damage Very widespread —throughout priority species or vegetation Widespread Localized Very localized LAND USE PLANNING FOR PRIORITY SPECIES AND VEGETATION Level and geographic scope expected during the life of the plan under the no action alternative RATINGS FOR ALTERATION OF KEY ECOLOGICAL ATTRIBUTES

Ranking of Alterations to Key Ecological Attributes LAND USE PLANNING FOR PRIORITY SPECIES AND VEGETATION Greater Sage-Grouse

Ranking Sources of Alteration of Key Ecological Attributes  Contribution -- reasonably expected within life of the plan under no action alternative Very large contributor Large Moderate Small  Contribution -- reasonably expected within life of the plan under no action alternative Very large contributor Large Moderate Small  Irreversibility -- reversibility of the stress caused by the source Not reversible, for all intents and purposes Reversible, but not practically affordable Reversible with reasonable commitment of resources Easily reversible at relatively low cost  Irreversibility -- reversibility of the stress caused by the source Not reversible, for all intents and purposes Reversible, but not practically affordable Reversible with reasonable commitment of resources Easily reversible at relatively low cost LAND USE PLANNING FOR PRIORITY SPECIES AND VEGETATION

Altered Key Ecological Attributes Reduced Habitat Quality Source = Oil and Gas Drilling Reduced Population Size Source = West Nile Virus Altered Connectivity of populations Source = Home Development LAND USE PLANNING FOR PRIORITY SPECIES AND VEGETATION

Ranking of Sources to Alterations to KEAs LAND USE PLANNING FOR PRIORITY SPECIES AND VEGETATION Greater Sage-Grouse Effects - Sources of Alterations Altered Connectivity of populations Reduced habitat quality Reduced population size Effect to System Rank Altered KEA Rank High Effect Home development High ContributionHigh IrreversibilityHigh Very High Effect RankHigh- Effect Oil or gas drilling Medium ContributionMedium IrreversibilityHigh Effect RankMedium - Effect West Nile Virus High Contribution Medium Irreversibility Very High Effect Rank--High

BLM CONSERVATION LEARNING NETWORK Source Altered KEA Very HighHighMediumLow Very High HighMedium High MediumLow Medium Low - How ‘altered’ are the Key Ecological Attributes? How ‘serious’ is the causal factor? LAND USE PLANNING FOR PRIORITY SPECIES AND VEGETATION

LAND USE PLANNING FOR PRIORITY SPECIES AND VEGETATION Continue this process for all Priority Species and Vegetation This information is then rolled up to provide information across the landscape Assess Effects

Effects Across Systems Greater Sage- Grouse Pinyon- Juniper Wood- lands Overall Effect Rank Project-specific Effects12 1Grazing practicesHigh 2Home development adjacent to public landsHighMedium 3Invasive species (plants)Low HighMedium 4West Nile VirusHigh Medium 5Oil and gas exploration and drillingMediumLow 6Development of roads and utilitiesMedium Low 7Fuels treatments MediumLow Effect Status for Species or Vegetation and ProjectHigh Medium Summary: No Action Alternative LAND USE PLANNING FOR PRIORITY SPECIES AND VEGETATION

‘NO ACTION’ ALTERNATIVE EFFECTS ASSESSMENT -Evaluate predicted effects for the life of the plan under the No Action alternative Use this information to help formulate alternatives LAND USE PLANNING FOR PRIORITY SPECIES AND VEGETATION This analysis will also be done for each alternative to compare the effects under different alternatives

LAND USE PLANNING FOR PRIORITY SPECIES AND VEGETATION