Middle Fork ProjectMiddle Fork ProjectAQ 12 - Attachment AAQ 12 - Attachment A

California Red-legged Frog California Red-legged Frog Site AssessmentSite Assessment

March 10, 2008March 10, 2008

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Purpose of Site AssessmentPurpose of Site Assessment

Provide U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Provide U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service with sufficient information to determine with sufficient information to determine

if protocol-level surveys are requiredif protocol-level surveys are required

California red-legged frog (Rana aurora draytonii )

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Study ObjectivesStudy Objectives

Document the distribution and Document the distribution and abundance of CRLF populations in the abundance of CRLF populations in the study area study area

Identify and map potential habitat for Identify and map potential habitat for CRLF in the study areaCRLF in the study area

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California Red-legged Frog Site Assessment Study Objectives and California Red-legged Frog Site Assessment Study Objectives and RelatedRelated

Map potential CRLF habitatin the study area

Document distribution and abundance of CRLF in study area

Compile current and historic occurrence information

Document the presence of CRLF during CRLF fieldreconnaissance surveys & other aquatic surveys

Identify current and historic CRLF occurrences

Refine and expand existing habitat mapping basedon Project video and aerial photographs

Verify habitat mapping through field reconnaissancesurveys (by helicopter and foot)

Develop potential CRLFhabitat map

Prepare site assessment report

Compile and reviewexisting vegetation

community mapping

Compile and reviewexisting aquatichabitat mapping

Study Elements and Study Elements and ReportsReports

CRLF Site Assessment

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Extent of Study AreaExtent of Study Area

One mile around :One mile around : Existing Project facilities and Existing Project facilities and

features, recreation facilities, features, recreation facilities, dispersed concentrated use areas dispersed concentrated use areas and river/stream reaches and river/stream reaches

Potential Project bettermentsPotential Project betterments

(below 5,000 feet in elevation)(below 5,000 feet in elevation)

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Current and Historic Range of Current and Historic Range of CRLFCRLF

Five isolated populations currently Five isolated populations currently known to occur in foothills along west known to occur in foothills along west slope of Sierra Nevada slope of Sierra Nevada

Three of these within Middle Fork Three of these within Middle Fork American River WatershedAmerican River Watershed

Study area is within: Study area is within: Current and historic range of CRLFCurrent and historic range of CRLF USFWS CRLF Recovery Unit 1USFWS CRLF Recovery Unit 1

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Known Locations of CRLF in the Known Locations of CRLF in the MFAR WatershedMFAR Watershed

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

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

Ralston Ridge Pond, August 2007

One known CRLF record within study areaOne known CRLF record within study area

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Known Locations of CRLF in the Known Locations of CRLF in the MFAR Watershed (cont.)MFAR Watershed (cont.)

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Map Potential CRLF HabitatMap Potential CRLF Habitatin the Study Areain the Study Area

Upland habitatUpland habitat Aquatic habitatAquatic habitat

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Map Potential CRLF HabitatMap Potential CRLF HabitatUpland Habitat in Study AreaUpland Habitat in Study Area

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Map Potential CRLF Habitat Map Potential CRLF Habitat CRLF Aquatic Habitat CharacteristicsCRLF Aquatic Habitat Characteristics

(based on USFWS 2002(based on USFWS 2002) )

MarshesMarshes SpringsSprings Permanent and semi-permanent natural Permanent and semi-permanent natural

pondsponds Ponded and backwater portions of streamsPonded and backwater portions of streams Artificial impoundments such as stock Artificial impoundments such as stock

ponds, irrigation ponds, and siltation ponds, irrigation ponds, and siltation pondsponds

Slow-moving shallow riffle zones in creeksSlow-moving shallow riffle zones in creeks

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Map Potential CRLF Habitat Map Potential CRLF Habitat CRLF Aquatic Habitat CharacteristicsCRLF Aquatic Habitat Characteristics

Additional CharacteristicsAdditional Characteristics(based on other literature)(based on other literature)

Dense or shrubby riparian vegetation, incl. Dense or shrubby riparian vegetation, incl. willows, cattails, and bulrushes (USFWS willows, cattails, and bulrushes (USFWS 2007)2007)

Significant portion of water body with Significant portion of water body with dense vegetation providing shade dense vegetation providing shade (Hayes and Jennings 1998)(Hayes and Jennings 1998)

Deep (0.5-1.5 meters) still or slow-moving Deep (0.5-1.5 meters) still or slow-moving water (Hayes and Jennings 1998)water (Hayes and Jennings 1998)

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Map Potential CRLF Habitat Map Potential CRLF Habitat Aquatic Habitat CharacteristicsAquatic Habitat Characteristics

Additional CharacteristicsAdditional Characteristics(based on other literature cont.)(based on other literature cont.)

Water remaining long enough for Water remaining long enough for metamorphosis of most tadpole (generally metamorphosis of most tadpole (generally July to September) (USFWS 2006)July to September) (USFWS 2006)

Habitats free of introduced predators (i.e. Habitats free of introduced predators (i.e. bullfrogs, non-native crayfish, and various bullfrogs, non-native crayfish, and various fishes) (USFWS 2002)fishes) (USFWS 2002)

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Map Potential CRLF Habitat Map Potential CRLF Habitat CRLF Aquatic Habitat CRLF Aquatic Habitat

(does not include)(does not include)

Deep lacustrine water bodies (lakes and Deep lacustrine water bodies (lakes and reservoirs > 50 acres)reservoirs > 50 acres)

Fast flowing riversFast flowing rivers

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Aquatic Habitats in the Study Aquatic Habitats in the Study AreaArea

RiversRivers Large and Moderate StreamsLarge and Moderate Streams Small TributariesSmall Tributaries ReservoirsReservoirs Diversion PoolsDiversion Pools Off-Channel PondsOff-Channel Ponds

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Aquatic Habitats in Study AreaAquatic Habitats in Study Area

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RiversRivers Middle Fork American Middle Fork American

River and Rubicon River and Rubicon RiverRiver Not appropriate CRLF Not appropriate CRLF

habitathabitat Barriers to dispersal as Barriers to dispersal as

defined by USFWS defined by USFWS Rocky and fast-flowing Rocky and fast-flowing No backwater areasNo backwater areas Banks do not support Banks do not support

dense vegetation (e.g., dense vegetation (e.g., cattail, bulrushes)cattail, bulrushes)

Middle ForkAmerican River

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Large and Moderate StreamsLarge and Moderate Streams Duncan CreekDuncan Creek Long Canyon CreekLong Canyon Creek North Fork Long Canyon CreekNorth Fork Long Canyon Creek South Fork Long Canyon CreekSouth Fork Long Canyon Creek

Long Canyon Creek

Not appropriate CRLF habitatNot appropriate CRLF habitat Bedrock channel (no backwater Bedrock channel (no backwater

areas)areas) Inappropriate instream pool Inappropriate instream pool

habitats (large, rocky, open pools) habitats (large, rocky, open pools) Banks do not support dense Banks do not support dense

vegetation (e.g., cattail, bulrush)vegetation (e.g., cattail, bulrush)

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Small Tributary StreamsSmall Tributary Streams

Eleven accessible Eleven accessible small, tributary small, tributary streams surveyed by streams surveyed by field crews field crews

Small, remote Small, remote tributaries of upper tributaries of upper MFAR analyzed by MFAR analyzed by aerial photography and aerial photography and helicopter surveyshelicopter surveys

Gas Canyon Creek

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Small Tributary Streams (cont.)Small Tributary Streams (cont.)

Not appropriate CRLF habitat Not appropriate CRLF habitat High gradientHigh gradient Bedrock channel (no backwater Bedrock channel (no backwater

areas)areas) Inappropriate instream pool Inappropriate instream pool

habitats (Plunge-pool and waterfall)habitats (Plunge-pool and waterfall) Banks do not support dense Banks do not support dense

vegetation (e.g., cattail, bulrush)vegetation (e.g., cattail, bulrush)

American Canyon Creek

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Reservoirs/Interbay/AfterbaysReservoirs/Interbay/Afterbays

Hell Hole Reservoir and Ralston Hell Hole Reservoir and Ralston AfterbayAfterbay Not CRLF habitat as defined by USFWSNot CRLF habitat as defined by USFWS Considered barriers to dispersalConsidered barriers to dispersal

Middle Fork InterbayMiddle Fork Interbay Not appropriate CRLF habitat Not appropriate CRLF habitat Deep impoundmentDeep impoundment Steep canyon wallsSteep canyon walls No floating or emergent vegetationNo floating or emergent vegetation

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Diversion PoolsDiversion Pools

North and North and South Fork South Fork Long Canyon Long Canyon Diversion Diversion PoolsPools

Not appropriate CRLF habitat Not appropriate CRLF habitat Do not support dense vegetation (e.g., cattails, Do not support dense vegetation (e.g., cattails,

bullrushes, willows)bullrushes, willows) Lack sufficient water though August or September for Lack sufficient water though August or September for

tadpoles to complete metamorphosistadpoles to complete metamorphosis

North Fork Long Canyon Diversion

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Off-Channel PondsOff-Channel Ponds

Off-channel ponds at 5 locations:Off-channel ponds at 5 locations:

Auburn State Recreation Area (ASRA)Auburn State Recreation Area (ASRA) Teichert Industries open pit minesTeichert Industries open pit mines Summit RanchSummit Ranch Horseshoe BarHorseshoe Bar Ralston RidgeRalston Ridge

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Off-Channel Ponds (cont.)Off-Channel Ponds (cont.)

Teichert Teichert IndustriesIndustries

Summit Summit RanchRanch

ASRAASRA

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

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Off-Channel Ponds (cont.)Off-Channel Ponds (cont.)

Pond “D” – Horseshoe Bar

Ponds D and E Ponds D and E Potential CRLF breeding Potential CRLF breeding

habitathabitat Appropriate water depth Appropriate water depth Perennial ponds (retain water Perennial ponds (retain water

long enough for complete long enough for complete metamorphosis)metamorphosis)

Support dense vegetation on Support dense vegetation on banks (e.g., willow, blackberry, banks (e.g., willow, blackberry, California grape)California grape)

Horseshoe Bar AreaHorseshoe Bar Area

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Off-Channel Ponds (cont.)Off-Channel Ponds (cont.)

Ponds C and FPonds C and F Potential dispersal Potential dispersal

habitathabitatPond C

Horseshoe Bar AreaHorseshoe Bar Area

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

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Off-Channel Ponds (cont.)Off-Channel Ponds (cont.)

Not appropriate CRLF habitat Not appropriate CRLF habitat Predatory species presentPredatory species present Subject to water level Subject to water level

fluctuations of the MFARfluctuations of the MFAR Banks do not support dense Banks do not support dense

vegetation (e.g., cattails, vegetation (e.g., cattails, bulrushes)bulrushes)

South Lake is very deep (~ South Lake is very deep (~ 50 feet)50 feet)

Pond G and South LakePond G and South Lake

Pond G

Horseshoe Bar AreaHorseshoe Bar Area