Minimize upland soil compaction Alignments for planned during practice construction construction (pipelines, fences) WFA by selecting the location will be routed so as to avoid and timing of the practice to specific areas known to be minimize compaction (i.e. avoid occupied by listed species and periods when soil is wet, known habitat features such as especially high clay soils). burrows and nests. Use existing roads and limit Conduct a pre-installation, cross-country travel or initiation pedestrian survey for wildlife ES of new roads. that may be trapped within a temporarily fenced construction Where clearing of vegetation is area. Trapped wildlife will be determined to be necessary allowed to escape prior to during planned construction or construction. maintenance, the corridor cleared, otherwise prepared, or Screen inlets and outlets to maintained will not exceed 25 prevent non-native fish and feet in width. amphibians from spreading into other habitats. Flag or otherwise protect individuals of a listed plant Time practice implementation to species in construction areas. reduce spread of non-native plants or animals by A pre-construction survey will be implementing the practice completed to ensure that vegetation or habitat structural during the dormant season (e.g. avoid ground disturbance in materials to be removed are not riparian areas in the summer to occupied or used as primary reduce salt cedar spread). cover for a listed species. Cover Clean equipment used in practice or nest materials will remain implementation (vehicles, farm equipment, and with a 250' undisturbed buffer. tools) before entering and leaving project site to Herbicide applications will follow prevent the spread of non-native plant/animals the conservation measures or disease recommended in the FWS document "Recommended CONSIDERATIONS Protection Measures For Pesticide Applications in Region Planting materials selected should contribute to 2 of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife wildlife and aesthetics when opportunities exist. Service". Use of certified planting materials should be Use the NRCS computer encouraged, however, distance and source program Win _PST to determine limitations on seed and planting stock should be pesticide mitigation considered in terms of logistics and costs. requirements. Complete practice outside Any special handling requirements for planting covered species' critical periods materials need to be followed for best results, (as detailed in Table 1), (e.g., beards or awns on seed, hard seed coats, referenced in practice standard seed mixture ratios). as Field Office Technical Guide, Where air quality concerns exist, site Section II, Technical note. preparation techniques should be utilized that Use existing travel routes through listed species habitat.
Minimize upland soil compaction during practice construction WFA by selecting the location and timing of the practice to minimize compaction (i.e. avoid periods when soil is wet, especially high clay soils). Use existing roads and limit cross-country travel or initiation ES of new roads. Where clearing of vegetation is determined to be necessary during planned construction or maintenance, the corridor cleared, otherwise prepared, or maintained will not exceed 25 feet in width. Flag or otherwise protect individuals of a listed plant species in construction areas. A pre-construction survey will be completed to ensure that vegetation or habitat structural materials to be removed are not occupied or used as primary cover for a listed species. Cover or nest materials will remain with a 250' undisturbed buffer. Herbicide applications will follow the conservation measures recommended in the FWS document "Recommended Protection Measures For Pesticide Applications in Region 2 of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service". Use the NRCS computer program Win _PST to determine pesticide mitigation requirements. Complete practice outside covered species' critical periods (as detailed in Table 1), referenced in practice standard as Field Office Technical Guide, Section II, Technical note. Use existing travel routes through listed species habitat. Alignments for planned construction (pipelines, fences) will be routed so as to avoid specific areas known to be occupied by listed species and known habitat features such as burrows and nests. Conduct a pre-installation, pedestrian survey for wildlife that may be trapped within a temporarily fenced construction area. Trapped wildlife will be allowed to escape prior to construction. Screen inlets and outlets to prevent non-native fish and amphibians from spreading into other habitats. Time practice implementation to reduce spread of non-native plants or animals by implementing the practice during the dormant season (e.g. avoid ground disturbance in riparian areas in the summer to reduce salt cedar spread). Clean equipment used in practice implementation (vehicles, farm equipment, and tools) before entering and leaving project site to prevent the spread of non-native plant/animals or disease CONSIDERATIONS Planting materials selected should contribute to wildlife and aesthetics when opportunities exist. Use of certified planting materials should be encouraged, however, distance and source limitations on seed and planting stock should be considered in terms of logistics and costs. Any special handling requirements for planting materials need to be followed for best results, (e.g., beards or awns on seed, hard seed coats, seed mixture ratios). Where air quality concerns exist, site preparation techniques should be utilized that
550RANGEPLANTINGSTD_5_2012.docx