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APPENDIX L OTHER SPECIAL STATUS SPECIES FOR THE WEP ---PAGE BREAK--- ---PAGE BREAK--- L-1 TABLE L-1 Species Status a Other Special Status Species for the WEP Habitat/Presence Impacts Mitigation Measures Terrestrial Invertebrates Beller's ground beetle Agonum belleri PHS SC SOC Acidic sphagnum bogs in forested regions. If beetles are present at time of construction, individuals could be killed or displaced. Habitat could be affected if construction alters water quality. Northwest would coordinate with WDFW to determine if mitigation measures are needed. Hatch's click beetle Eanus hatchi PHS SC SOC Sphagnum bogs; known only from King County. If beetles are present at time of construction, individuals could be killed or displaced. Habitat could be affected if construction alters water quality. Northwest would coordinate with WDFW to determine if mitigation measures are needed. Birds Northern goshawk Accipiter gentilis PHS SC SOC None observed in project area and buffer zone during 2013 aerial survey. Construction activity within 0.25 mile of active nest could affect nesting success. Northwest would conduct preconstruction raptor nesting surveys if any clearing would occur during breeding season. Golden eagle Aquila PHS SC None observed in project area and buffer zone during 2013 aerial survey. Construction activity within 0.25 mile of active nest could affect nesting success. Northwest would conduct preconstruction raptor nesting surveys if any clearing would occur during breeding season. Great blue heron Ardea herodias PHS Nests in colonies in trees along or near streams/rivers. Forages in aquatic habitats. Construction activity within 0.25 mile of active nest could affect nesting success. Northwest would coordinate with WDFW to determine if mitigation measures needed. Vaux's swift Chaetura vauxi PHS SC Late stages of coniferous and mixed deciduous/coniferous forest. Construction noise could disturb nesting birds up to 500 feet from right-of-way centerline. Northwest would coordinate with WDFW to determine if mitigation measures needed. Snow goose Chen caerulescens PHS Migrant/winter resident. Roosts in lakes and large ponds, feeds in sileage fields and meadows. Construction activity could temporarily displace birds. Northwest would coordinate with WDFW to determine if mitigation measures needed. Band-tailed pigeon Columba fasciata PHS Montane and mixed-species forests. Construction noise could disturb nesting birds up to 500 feet from right-of-way centerline. Northwest would coordinate with WDFW to determine if mitigation measures needed. Sooty grouse Dendragapus fuliginosus PHS Conifer forest edges and openings. Construction noise could disturb nesting birds up to 500 feet from right-of-way centerline. Northwest would coordinate with WDFW to determine if mitigation measures needed. Pileated woodpecker Dryocopus pileatus PHS SC Late successional deciduous or coniferous forest; younger forest with large trees. Construction noise could disturb nesting birds up to 500 feet from right-of-way centerline. Northwest would coordinate with WDFW to determine if mitigation measures needed. Bald eagle Haliaeetus leucocephalus PHS ST SOC Riparian and lacustrine habitats; nests in large trees. Four nests identified and individuals incidentally observed within project area and buffer zone in 2013 survey. If active nests present, could be directly impacted by clearing activities. Construction during nesting season could affect nest success. Northwest would conduct preconstruction raptor nesting surveys if any clearing would occur during breeding season. Harlequin duck Histrionicus histrionicus PHS Nests along fast moving, low gradient, clear mountain streams. In winter found along marine shorelines Construction noise could disturb nesting birds up to 500 feet from right-of-way centerline. Northwest would coordinate with WDFW to determine if mitigation measures needed. ---PAGE BREAK--- L-2 TABLE L-1 Species Status a Other Special Status Species for the WEP Habitat/Presence Impacts Mitigation Measures Wild turkey (nonnative game species) Meleagris gallopava PHS Variety of wooded, shrubby and agricultural habitats. Tolerant of human activity. If active nests present, could be directly affected by construction activity. Northwest would coordinate with WDFW to determine if mitigation measures needed. Mountain quail Oreortyx pictus PHS Shrubby habitats. Limited range in WA may not overlap with project. Suitable blocks of brushy habitat unlikely on mowed right-of-way. None anticipated due to lack of suitable habitat on project. Northwest would coordinate with WDFW to determine if mitigation measures needed. Black-backed woodpecker Picoides arcticus PHS SC Early successional burned coniferous forest. None anticipated due to lack of suitable habitat on project. Northwest would coordinate with WDFW to determine if mitigation measures needed. Cavity-nesting ducks Multiple species PHS Breeding habitat (trees/snags) not present on previously cleared and maintained right-of-way. Clearing in forested areas could remove nest trees and/or destroy nests. Preconstruction nest surveys as needed immediately prior to clearing. Avoid nesting season as possible. Waterfowl concentrations Multiple species PHS Some open fields and large lakes/wetlands near right- of-way (e.g. Tradition and Round Lakes near Sumner North B Loop) can be migratory stop-over habitat during fall and winter. Migrant or resident birds could be temporarily displaced during construction. Preconstruction surveys as needed. Avoid nesting season as possible. Reptiles and Amphibians Northwestern pond turtle Actinemys marmorata marmorata SE SOC Ponds and lakes with logs and other basking structures at surface. Some potential habitat from south end of project to Snohomish Loop. If present, direct mortality and/or nest loss from construction and maintenance activities. Northwest would coordinate with WDFW to determine if mitigation measures needed. Western toad Bufo boreas PHS SC SOC Variety of terrestrial habitats (prairies, forests, woodlands, canyon grasslands). Breeding habitat includes permanent waters (wetlands, ponds, lakes, etc.). Some potential habitat present through length of project. If present, direct mortality and/or egg loss from construction and maintenance activities. Northwest would coordinate with WDFW to determine if mitigation measures needed. Sharptail snake Contia tenuis PHS SC SOC Habitats that are moist in spring may be dry in summer (rocky slopes, open pine-oak woodland, deciduous floodplains, woody debris). Some potential habitat in Sumner South Loop, but species very rare in WA. If present, could be directly affected or displaced by construction or maintenance activities. Northwest would coordinate with WDFW to determine if mitigation measures needed. Larch Mountain salamander Plethodon larselli PHS SS SOC Habitat includes talus, scree, and gravelly soils on steep slopes in a variety of forested and nonforested habitats with woody debris and leaf litter. In nonforested areas, occupied sites are usually north- facing rocky slopes dominated by mosses. Patchy distribution that could include some of southern portion of project. If present, direct mortality and/or egg loss from construction and maintenance activities. Northwest would coordinate with WDFW to determine if mitigation measures needed. Van Dyke's salamander Plethodon vandykei PHS SC SOC Cool, moist habitats in forest. Some potential habitat in Woodland, Chehalis, and Sumner South Loops. If present, direct mortality and/or egg loss from construction and maintenance activities. Northwest would coordinate with WDFW to determine if mitigation measures needed. ---PAGE BREAK--- L-3 TABLE L-1 Other Special Status Species for the WEP Species Status a Habitat/Presence Impacts Mitigation Measures Cascades frog Rana cascadae SOC Primarily above 2,000-foot elevation, typically but not always near water. Breeds in standing water (wetlands, ponds, lakes, flooded meadows, etc.). Widespread throughout its range in WA, which includes coastal and Cascade regions. If present, direct mortality and/or egg loss from construction and maintenance activities. Northwest would coordinate with WDFW to determine if mitigation measures needed. Columbia spotted frog Rana luteiventris PHS SC Wetlands in forested and nonforested habitats. If present, adults, egg masses, and metamorphs could be crushed during construction and maintenance of right-of- way; adults could be displaced from right- of-way by disturbance. Northwest would coordinate with WDFW to determine if mitigation measures needed. Cascade torrent salamander Rhyacotriton cascadae PHS SC Along streams in southern WA; not widely present. Could potentially be present in vicinity of Woodland and Chehalis Loops. If present, direct mortality and/or egg loss from construction and maintenance activities. Northwest would coordinate with WDFW to determine if mitigation measures needed. Mammals Elk Cervus elaphus PHS Occur primarily in the mountain ranges and shrublands east of the Cascades crest (east of project area). Small herds have been established, or reestablished, throughout other parts of western Washington. If present, individuals could be temporarily displaced by construction or maintenance noise and activities. Northwest would coordinate with WDFW to determine if mitigation measures needed. Marten Martes americana PHS Mature conifer or mixed forests, usually subalpine, with greater than 35 percent canopy cover. If present, could be temporarily displaced by construction activity. None proposed, per consultation with FWS. Northwest would work with WDFW as needed. Fisher (West Coast DPS) Martes pennanti PHS SE FC Dense montane forests with abundant large woody debris, snags, cavity trees. No potential habitat on project. None anticipated due to lack of suitable habitat on project. None proposed, per consultation with FWS. Northwest would work with WDFW as needed. Columbian black-tailed deer Odocoileus hemionus columbianus PHS Common species west of Cascade crest in brushy, logged lands and coniferous forests. Individuals could be temporarily displaced by construction and maintenance noise and activities. Northwest would coordinate with WDFW to determine if mitigation measures needed. Western gray squirrel Sciurus griseus PHS ST SOC Oak woodlands. One small potential habitat patch in Sumner South Loop. Presence unlikely. If present, could be directly (mortality, habitat loss) or indirectly (displacement) affected by construction. None proposed, per consultation with FWS. Northwest would work with WDFW as needed. Mazama pocket gopher Thomomys mazama ssp. glacialis, pugetensis, tumuli, yelmensis PHS ST FC Prairies, pastures, open meadows with light-textured, well-drained soils. Some potentially suitable habitat in north portion of Chehalis Loop. No record of presence within construction footprint. If present, could be temporarily displaced by ground disturbance within construction footprint. Pipeline could impede burrowing. Preconstruction surveys. Minimize/avoid construction activities where species present. a PHS = Priority Habitat Species; SE = State Endangered; ST = State Threatened; SC = State Candidate; SS = State Sensitive; SOC= Species of Concern; DPS = Distinct Population Segment; FC = Federal Candidate ---PAGE BREAK---