HomeMy WebLinkAbout20190205 Ver 1_IPaC_20190129_20190215IPaC: Explore Location Page 1 of 9
IPaC Information for Planning and Consultation U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
IPaC resource list
This report is an automatically generated list of species and other resources such as critical habitat
(collectively referred to as trust resources) under the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's (USFWS)
jurisdiction that are known or expected to be on or near the project area referenced below. The list
may also include trust resources that occur outside of the project area, but that could potentially be
directly or indirectly affected by activities in the project area. However, determining the likelihood and
extent of effects a project may have on trust resources typically requires gathering additional site-
specific (e.g., vegetation/species surveys) and project -specific (e.g., magnitude and timing of proposed
activities) information.
Below is a summary of the project information you provided and contact information for the USFWS
office(s) with jurisdiction in the defined project area. Please read the introduction to each sermon that
follows (Endangered Species, Migratory Birds, USFWS Facilities, and NWI W lay foadditional
information applicable to the trust resources addressed in that section.'
Location
Union County, North Carolina
I%.
Local office
Asheville Ecological Services Field Office
t. (828) 258-3939
JEJ (828) 258-5330
160 Zillicoa Street
Asheville, NC 28801-1082
http://www.fws.gov/nc-es/es/countyfr.html
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Endangered species
This resource list is for informational purposes only and does not constitute an analysis of project
level impacts.
The primary information used to generate this list is the known or expected range of each species.
Additional areas of influence (AOI) for species are also considered. An AOI includes areas outside of the
species range if the species could be indirectly affected by activities in that area (e.g., placing a dam
upstream of a fish population, even if that fish does not occur at the dam site, may indirectly impact
the species by reducing or eliminating water flow downstream). Because species can move, and site
conditions can change, the species on this list are not guaranteed to be found on or near the project
area. To fully determine any potential effects to species, additional site-specific and project -specific
information is often required.
Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act requires Federal agencies to "request of the Secretar
information whether any species which is listed or proposed to be listed may be present in the area of
such proposed action" for any project that is conducted, permitted, funded, or licensed by any Federal
agency. A letter from the local office and a species list which fulfills this req irement can only be
obtained by requesting an official species list from either the Regulatory Review section in IPaC (see
directions below) or from the local field office directly. N 61
For project evaluations that require USFWS concurrence/r le eturn to the IPaC website and
request an official species list by doing the followin
1. Draw the project location and click CONTI
2. Click DEFINE PROJECT.
3. Log in (if directed to do so). 0
4. Provide a name and descrip r your project.
5. Click REQUESTS E LIST
Listed species
and their critic ° .,habitats are managed by the Ecological Services Program of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service (USFWS) and the fisheries division of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
(NOAA Fisheries?).
Species and critical habitats under the sole responsibility of NOAA Fisheries are not shown on this list.
Please contact NOAA Fisheries for species under their jurisdiction.
Species listed under the Endangered Species Act are threatened or endangered; IPaC also shows
species that are candidates, or proposed, for listing. See the listing status page for more
information.
2. NOAA Fisheries, also known as the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), is an office of the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration within the Department of Commerce.
The following species are potentially affected by activities in this location:
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Clams
NAME STATUS
Carolina Heelsplitter Lasmigona decorata Endangered
There is final critical habitat for this species. Your location is outside the
critical habitat.
https://ecos.fws.gov/ecp/species/3534
Flowering Plants
NAME STATUS
Michaux's Sumac Rhus michauxii Endangered
No critical habitat has been designated for this species.
https://ecos.fws.gov/ecp/species/5217
Schweinitz's Sunflower Helianthus schweinitzii Endangere
No critical habitat has been designated for this species. \Q
https://ecos.fws.gov/ecp/species/3849
7.
Critical habitats
Potential effects to critical habitat(s) in this loc e alyzed along with the endangered
species themselves.
Certain birds are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act
'- and the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act?.
Any person or organization who plans or conducts activities that may result in impacts to migratory
birds, eagles, and their habitats should follow appropriate regulations and consider implementing
appropriate conservation measures, as described below.
1. The Migratory Birds Treaty Act of 1918.
2. The Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act of 1940.
Additional information can be found using the following links:
• Birds of Conservation Concern http://www.fws.gov/birds/management/managed-species/
birds-of-conservation-concern.php
• Measures for avoiding and minimizing impacts to birds
http://www.fws.gov/birds/management/project-assessment-tools-and-guidance/
conservation-measures.php
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• Nationwide conservation measures for birds
Page 4 of 9
http://www.fws.gov/migratorybirds/pdf/management/nationwidestandardconservationmeasures.pdf
The birds listed below are birds of particular concern either because they occur on the USFWS Birds of
Conservation Concern (BCC) list or warrant special attention in your project location. To learn more
about the levels of concern for birds on your list and how this list is generated, see the FAQ below. This
is not a list of every bird you may find in this location, nor a guarantee that every bird on this list will be
found in your project area. To see exact locations of where birders and the general public have sighted
birds in and around your project area, visit the E -bird data mapping tool (Tip: enter your location,
desired date range and a species on your list). For projects that occur off the Atlantic Coast, additional
maps and models detailing the relative occurrence and abundance of bird species on your list are
available. Links to additional information about Atlantic Coast birds, and other important information
about your migratory bird list, including how to properly interpret and use your migratory bird report,
can be found below.
For guidance on when to schedule activities or implement avoidance and minimization measures to
reduce impacts to migratory birds on your list, click on the PROBABILITY OF PRESENCE SUMMARY at
the top of your list to see when these birds are most likely to be present and breeding in your project
area.
NAME
Bald Eagle Haliaeetus leucocephalus
This is not a Bird of Conservation Concern (BCC) in this area, but
warrants attention because of the Eagle Act or for potential
susceptibilities in offshore areas from certain types of development or
activities.
https://ecos.fws.gov/ecp/species/1626
Prothonotary Warbler Protonotaria citrea
This is a Bird of Conservation Concern (BCC) throughout its range in the
continental USA and Alaska.
Red-headed Woodpecker Melanerpes erythrocephalus
This is a Bird of Conservation Concern (BCC) throughout its range in the
continental USA and Alaska.
BREEDING SEASON (IF A BREEDING
...............................................................................................
SEASON IS INDICATED FOR A BIRD
.............................................................................................
ON YOUR LIST, THE BIRD MAY
.................................................................................
BREED IN YOUR PROJECT AREA
....................................................................................
SOMETIME WITHIN THE
................................................................
TIMEFRAME SPECIFIED, WHICH IS A
...............................................................................................
VERY LIBERAL ESTIMATE OF THE
.......................................................................................
DATES INSIDE WHICH THE BIRD
.....................................................................................
BREEDS ACROSS ITS ENTIRE
............................................................................
RANGE. "BREEDS ELSEWHERE"
...................................................................................
INDICATES THATTHE BIRD DOES
.........................................................................................
NOT LIKELY BREED IN YOUR
............................................................................
PROJECT AREA.)
..........................................
Breeds Sep 1 to Jul 31
Breeds Apr 1 to Jul 31
Breeds May 10 to Sep 10
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Probability of Presence Summary
The graphs below provide our best understanding of when birds of concern are most likely to be
present in your project area. This information can be used to tailor and schedule your project activities
to avoid or minimize impacts to birds. Please make sure you read and understand the FAQ "Proper
Interpretation and Use of Your Migratory Bird Report" before using or attempting to interpret this
report.
Probability of Presence( )
Each green bar represents the bird's relative probability of presence in the 10km grid cell(s) your
project overlaps during a particular week of the year. (A year is represented as 12 4 -week months.) A
taller bar indicates a higher probability of species presence. The survey effort (see below) can be used
to establish a level of confidence in the presence score. One can have higher confidence in the
presence score if the corresponding survey effort is also high.
How is the probability of presence score calculated? The calculation is done in three steps:
1. The probability of presence for each week is calculated as the number of survey events in the week
where the species was detected divided by the total number of survey events for that week. For
example, if in week 12 there were 20 survey events and the Spotted Towhee was found in 5 of
them, the probability of presence of the Spotted Towhee in week 12 is 0.25.
2. To properly present the pattern of presence across the year, the relative probability of presence is
calculated. This is the probability of presence divided by the maximum probability of presence
across all weeks. For example, imagine the probability of presence in week 20 for the Spotted
Towhee is 0.05, and that the probability of presence at week 12 (0.25) is the maximum of any week
of the year. The relative probability of presence on week 12 is 0.25/0.25 = 1; at week 20 it is
0.05/0.25 = 0.2.
3. The relative probability of presence calculated in the previous step undergoes a statistical
conversion so that all possible values fall between 0 and 10, inclusive. This is the probability of
presence score. "< %WWI
To see a bar's probability of presence score, simply hover your mouse cursor over the bar.
Breeding Season( )
Yellow bars denote a very liberal estimate of the time -frame inside which the bird breeds across its
entire range. If there are no yellow bars shown for a bird, it does not breed in your project area.
Survey Effort (1)
Vertical black lines superimposed on probability of presence bars indicate the number of surveys
performed for that species in the 10km grid cell(s) your project area overlaps. The number of surveys is
expressed as a range, for example, 33 to 64 surveys.
To see a bar's survey effort range, simply hover your mouse cursor over the bar.
No Data (—)
A week is marked as having no data if there were no survey events for that week.
Survey Timeframe
Surveys from only the last 10 years are used in order to ensure delivery of currently relevant
information. The exception to this is areas off the Atlantic coast, where bird returns are based on all
years of available data, since data in these areas is currently much more sparse.
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probability of presence breeding season I survey effort — no data
SPECIES JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC
Bald Eagle —+-- +11 — — -- - — — —
Non -BCC Vulnerable
.............is n.............................
(This ot a Bird of
.........................................
Conservation Concern
..............................................
(BCC) in this area, but
............................................
warrants attention
......................................
because of the Eagle
..........................................
Act or for Potential
.....................................
susceptibilities in
...................................
offshore areas from
.........................................
certain types of
................................
development or
..............................
activities.)
.....................
Prothonotary _+-- +++— ++------
Warbler
BCC Rangewide (CON)
(This is a Bird of
Conservation Concern
.................gho.............................
(BCC) throuut its
range in the
.........................
continental USA and
...............................
Alaska.)
Red-headed _+-- ++" ++�— —+�— +"I + —��— —�+— --'—
Woodpecker
BCC Rangewide (CON)
AL
(This is a Bird of
.............................
Conservation Concern
(BCC) throughout its
range in the L5
.........
continental USA and
.......................
Alaska.)
Tell me more about conservation measures I mplement to avoid or minimize impacts to migratory birds.
Nationwide Conservation Measures describes measures that can help avoid and minimize impacts to all birds at any
location year round. Implementation of these measures is particularly important when birds are most likely to occur in
the project area. When birds may be breeding in the area, identifying the locations of any active nests and avoiding
their destruction is a very helpful impact minimization measure. To see when birds are most likely to occur and be
breeding in your project area, view the Probability of Presence Summary. Additional measures and/orep rmits may be
advisable depending on the type of activity you are conducting and the type of infrastructure or bird species present
on your project site.
What does IPaC use to generate the migratory birds potentially occurring in my specified location?
The Migratory Bird Resource List is comprised of USFWS Birds of Conservation Concern (BCC) and other species that
may warrant special attention in your project location.
The migratory bird list generated for your project is derived from data provided by the Avian Knowledge Network
(AKN). The AKN data is based on a growing collection of survey, banding, and citizen science datasets and is queried
and filtered to return a list of those birds reported as occurring in the 10km grid cell(s) which your project intersects,
and that have been identified as warranting special attention because they are a BCC species in that area, an eagle
(Eagle Act requirements may apply), or a species that has a particular vulnerability to offshore activities or
development.
Again, the Migratory Bird Resource list includes only a subset of birds that may occur in your project area. It is not
representative of all birds that may occur in your project area. To get a list of all birds potentially present in your
project area, please visit the.E-bird Explore Data Tool.
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What does IPaC use to generate the probability of presence graphs for the migratory birds potentially occurring in
my specified location?
The probability of presence graphs associated with your migratory bird list are based on data provided by the Avian
Knowledge Network (AKN). This data is derived from a growing collection of survey, banding, and citizen science
datasets.
Probability of presence data is continuously being updated as new and better information becomes available. To learn
more about how the probability of presence graphs are produced and how to interpret them, go the Probability of
Presence Summary and then click on the "Tell me about these graphs" link.
How do I know if a bird is breeding, wintering, migrating or present year-round in my project area?
To see what part of a particular bird's range your project area falls within (i.e. breeding, wintering, migrating or year-
round), you may refer to the following resources: The Cornell Lab of Ornithology All About Birds Bird Guide, or (if you
are unsuccessful in locating the bird of interest there), the Cornell Lab of Ornithology Neotropical Birds guide. If a bird
on your migratory bird species list has a breeding season associated with it, if that bird does occur in your project area,
there may be nests present at some point within the timeframe specified. If "Breeds elsewhere" is indicated,. then the
bird likely does not breed in your project area.
What are the levels of concern for migratory birds?
Migratory birds delivered through IPaC fall into the following distinct categories of concern:
1. "BCC Rangewide" birds are Birds of Conservation Concern (BCC)_thatare of concern throughout their range
anywhere within the USA (including Hawaii, the Pacific Islands, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands);
2. "BCC - BCR" birds are BCCs that are of concern only in particular Bird Conservation Regions (BCRs) in the
continental USA; and
3. "Non -BCC - Vulnerable" birds are not BCC species in your project area, but appear on your list either because of
the Eagle Act requirements (for eagles) or (for non -eagles) potential susceptibilities in offshore areas from certain
types of development or activities (e.g. offshore energy development or longline fishing).
Although it is important to try to avoid and minimize impacts to all birds, efforts should be made, in particular, to avoid
and minimize impacts to the birds on this list, especially eagles and BCC species of rangewide concern. For more
information on conservation measures you can implement to help avoid and minimize migratory bird impacts and
requirements for eagles, please see the FAQs for these topics.
Details about birds that are potentially affected by offshore projects
For additional details about the relative occurrence and abundance of both individual bird species and groups of bird
species within your project area off the Atlantic Coast, please visit the Northeast Ocean Data Portal. The Portal also
offers data and information about other taxa besides birds that may be helpful to you in your project review.
Alternately, you may download the bird model results files underlying the portal maps through the NOAA NCCOS
Integrative Statistical Modeling and Predictive Mapping of Marine Bird Distributions and Abundance on the Atlantic
Outer Continental Shelf project webpage.
Bird tracking data can also provide additional details about occurrence and habitat use throughout the year, including
migration. Models relying on survey data may not include this information. For additional information on marine bird
tracking data, see the Diving Bird Study and the nanotag studies or contact Caleb Spiegel or Pam Loring.
What if I have eagles on my list?
If your project has the potential to disturb or kill eagles, you may need to obtain a permit to avoid violating the Eagle
Act should such impacts occur.
Proper Interpretation and Use of Your Migratory Bird Report
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The migratory bird list generated is not a list of all birds in your project area, only a subset of birds of priority concern.
To learn more about how your list is generated, and see options for identifying what other birds may be in your project
area, please see the FAQ "What does IPaC use to generate the migratory birds potentially occurring in my specified
location". Please be aware this report provides the "probability of presence" of birds within the 10 km grid cell(s) that
overlap your project; not your exact project footprint. On the graphs provided, please also look carefully at the survey
effort (indicated by the black vertical bar) and for the existence of the "no data" indicator (a red horizontal bar). A high
survey effort is the key component. If the survey effort is high, then the probability of presence score can be viewed as
more dependable. In contrast, a low survey effort bar or no data bar means a lack of data and, therefore, a lack of
certainty about presence of the species. This list is not perfect; it is simply a starting point for identifying what birds of
concern have the potential to be in your project area, when they might be there, and if they might be breeding (which
means nests might be present). The list helps you know what to look for to confirm presence, and helps guide you in
knowing when to implement conservation measures to avoid or minimize potential impacts from your project
activities, should presence be confirmed. To learn more about conservation measures, visit the FAQ "Tell me about
conservation measures I can implement to avoid or minimize impacts to migratory birds" at the bottom of your
migratory bird trust resources page.
Facilities
National Wildlife Refuge lands 00OX N\00`
Any activity proposed on lands managed by the National Wildlife Refuge system must undergo a
'Compatibility Determination' conducted by the efuge. Please contact the individual Refuges to
discuss any questions or concerns.
THERE ARE NO REFUGE LANDS ATT CATI
1 0"'
Fish ht er s
T RE R N FISH HATCHERIES AT THIS LOCATION.
Wetlands in the National Wetlands Inventory
Impacts to NWI wetlands and other aquatic habitats may be subject to regulation under Section 404 of
the Clean Water Act, or other State/Federal statutes.
For more information please contact the Regulatory Program of the local U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
District.
Please note that the NWI data being shown may be out of date. We are currently working to update our
NWI data set. We recommend you verify these results with a site visit to determine the actual extent of
wetlands on site.
This location overlaps the following wetlands:
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FRESHWATER FORESTED/SHRUB WETLAND
PF01A
RIVERINE
R4SBC
A full description for each wetland code can be found at the National Wetlands Inventory website
Data limitations
The Service's objective of mapping wetlands and deepwater habitats is to produce reconnaissance level information
on the location, type and size of these resources. The maps are prepared from the analysis of high altitude imagery.
Wetlands are identified based on vegetation, visible hydrology and geography. A margin of error is inherent in the use
of imagery; thus, detailed on -the -ground inspection of any particular site may result in revision of the wetland
boundaries or classification established through image analysis.
The accuracy of image interpretation depends on the quality of the imagery, the experience of the image analysts, the
amount and quality of the collateral data and the amount of ground truth verification work conducted, Meta ata
should be consulted to determine the date of the source imagery used and any mapping problems.
Wetlands or other mapped features may have changed since the date of the imagery or fieldwork. There may be
occasional differences in polygon boundaries or classifications between the information depicted on the map and the
actual conditions on site.
Data exclusions
Certain wetland habitats are excluded from the National mapping program because of the limitations of aerial imagery
as the primary data source used to detect wetlands. These -habitats include seagrasses or submerged aquatic
vegetation that are found in the intertidal and subtidal zones of estuaries and nearshore coastal waters. Some
deepwater reef communities (coral or,tuberficid worm reefs) have also been excluded from the inventory. These
habitats, because of their depth o cted by aerial imagery.
Data precautions
Federal, state, a"local reulatory agencies with jurisdiction over wetlands may define and describe wetlands in a
different manner than that used in this inventory. There is no attempt, in either the design or products of this
inventory, to define the limits of proprietary jurisdiction of any Federal, state, or local government or to establish the
geographical scope of the regulatory programs of government agencies. Persons intending to engage in activities
involving modifications within or adjacent to wetland areas should seek the advice of appropriate federal, state, or
local agencies concerning specified agency regulatory programs and proprietary jurisdictions that may affect such
activities.
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