Sensitive Plants

A biological evaluation (BE) will be prepared as part of the NEPA process for each project to evaluate and disclose the potential impacts of proposed activities on sensitive species (TLMP p.4-89-90). A BE begins with a PROJECT INITIATION FORM that describes the proposed project in enough detail to allow the BE preparer to analyze the effects of the project on sensitive plants and their habitats.

To determine the need for and extent of field surveys the BE preparer does a pre-field review to identify which sensitive species and their habitats may be present in the planning area. The procedure is summarized on the PRE-FIELD REVIEW WORKSHEET, including documentation whether, and to what extent, field surveys are needed. The intensity and scope of needed inventories should be commensurate with the potential risk of a proposed project on sensitive species. In some cases the completed PRE-FIELD REVIEW WORKSHEET can serve as the BE. During the pre-field review, the preparer may determine that a survey is not necessary because the proposed activity is very low-impact and/or the site has very low probability of supporting rare plants.

If the results of the pre-field review indicate field surveys are needed, map known and suspected sensitive species occurrence on topographic maps, accurate detailed maps or air photos. Also map known and potential habitat on the same map base. The size of area mapped should include the project area and enough adjacent habitat to assess direct, indirect and cumulative effects.

Conduct plant surveys using the “timed meander” technique at a time of the year when sensitive plants are identifiable. The survey intensity level selected to apply the timed meander is based upon professional knowledge and the information the investigator has about the project. Use the following factors to help determine the survey intensity level and document the rationale for selection in the BE. An explanation of the techniques and degree of coverage for each Level are described on page 4-90 of TLMP.

a). Level 1 & 2 Surveys: May be appropriate if the botanist needs to quickly confirm that a more intensive survey is not warranted.

b). Level 3 Survey: Can be appropriate if there is no possibility of project boundaries changing and no possibility of disturbance planned in the area that was not surveyed.

c). Level 4 Survey: For an accurate risk assessment, the surveyor should at least walk around and through the project area enough to be able to identify all the high potential habitat. If there is no high-potential habitat found during this investigation then the field survey is completed. If high potential habitat is found but can be flagged off and protected from direct, indirect, and cumulative impacts of project activities, then the botanist doesn't need to look for rare plants in these areas.

d). Level 5 Survey: In most cases this is the recommended intensity level for field surveys.

e). Level 6 Survey: Usually only possible for small tracts of land.

Surveys should be conducted by individuals able to make positive field identification of sensitive plants. Surveys are documented on the R-10 DAILY SENSITIVE PLANT SURVEY FORM. If a sensitive plant is found, an R-10 SENSITIVE PLANT SIGHTING FORM is completed and sent to the Regional Botanist. All of the forms mentioned here are available electronically from the Regional Botanist or Forest Wildlife Biologist or Ecologist.