training activities (USFWS 2008). The Coolgardie Mesa area has high mineral potential, with several small recreational mining operations that may have cumulative effects (USFWS 2008). Unauthorized OHV use increased in one portion of the Coolgardie Mesa site in the 2000s, creating a barren area of approximately 20 acres where the species formerly occurred (USFWS 2008). In the critical habitat rule, the USFWS also acknowledged the potential effects of climate change on Lane Mountain milk-vetch, but there is no information specific to this species indicating what areas may become important in the future in response to climate change (76 FR 29108–29129). The large majority of the four documented populations are located on federal lands managed by the Department of Defense (DOD) at Fort Irwin and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). The Goldstone, Montana-Brinkman, and Paradise populations, which comprise 54% of the documented populations, are either entirely or mostly on Fort Irwin and the Coolgardie population, which is the largest single location at 9,757 acres (46%), is almost entirely on BLM land (USFWS 2008, Table 2). About 78% (16,690 acres) are under conservation or limited use management (USFWS 2008). As of 2008, training activities were planned to commence in 2009 on about 20% of the known distribution of Lane Mountain milk-vetch (USFWS 2008). Military activities involving the use of wheeled and tracked vehicles have the potential to directly impact individual plants and degrade occupied habitat, particularly at the Brinkman Wash/Montana Mine and Paradise Valley population sites. Loss and degradation of habitat may increase habitat fragmentation and population isolation, thus potentially reducing population viability (USFWS 2008). Dust generated by military training activities was hypothesized to have a potentially adverse impact on the growth and physiology of the species. Wijayratne et al. (2009) conducted field experiments simulating the amount of dust particulates Lane Mountain milk-vetch would be exposed to during military activities. They found that while average shoot growth declined with increased dust accumulation, net seasonal photosynthesis increased, possibly due to increased leaf temperatures (Wijayratne et al. 2009). Wijayratne et al. (2009) also found that the ambient dust deposition near experimentally dusted
training activities (USFWS 2008). The Coolgardie Mesa area has high mineral potential, with several small recreational mining operations that may have cumulative effects (USFWS 2008). Unauthorized OHV use increased in one portion of the Coolgardie Mesa site in the 2000s, creating a barren area of approximately 20 acres where the species formerly occurred (USFWS 2008). In the critical habitat rule, the USFWS also acknowledged the potential effects of climate change on Lane Mountain milk-vetch, but there is no information specific to this species indicating what areas may become important in the future in response to climate change (76 FR 29108–29129). The large majority of the four documented populations are located on federal lands managed by the Department of Defense (DOD) at Fort Irwin and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). The Goldstone, Montana-Brinkman, and Paradise populations, which comprise 54% of the documented populations, are either entirely or mostly on Fort Irwin and the Coolgardie population, which is the largest single location at 9,757 acres (46%), is almost entirely on BLM land (USFWS 2008, Table 2). About 78% (16,690 acres) are under conservation or limited use management (USFWS 2008). As of 2008, training activities were planned to commence in 2009 on about 20% of the known distribution of Lane Mountain milk-vetch (USFWS 2008). Military activities involving the use of wheeled and tracked vehicles have the potential to directly impact individual plants and degrade occupied habitat, particularly at the Brinkman Wash/Montana Mine and Paradise Valley population sites. Loss and degradation of habitat may increase habitat fragmentation and population isolation, thus potentially reducing population viability (USFWS 2008). Dust generated by military training activities was hypothesized to have a potentially adverse impact on the growth and physiology of the species. Wijayratne et al. (2009) conducted field experiments simulating the amount of dust particulates Lane Mountain milk-vetch would be exposed to during military activities. They found that while average shoot growth declined with increased dust accumulation, net seasonal photosynthesis increased, possibly due to increased leaf temperatures (Wijayratne et al. 2009). Wijayratne et al. (2009) also found that the ambient dust deposition near experimentally dusted