BLM-CA Tasks GeomorphIS Team to Conduct Flat-Tailed Horned Lizard Surveys

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) California State Office has tasked the GeomorphIS/SDNHM team to conduct flat-tailed horned Lizard (Phrynosoma mcalli) surveys within the BLM lands in the East Mesa Flat-tailed Horned Lizard Management Area/ACEC, in Eastern Imperial County, California. This Management Area/ACEC is also identified as an area with Geothermal Resources. In order to evaluate options for developing the geothermal potential, current occupancy surveys of Flat-tailed horned lizards within this area are needed. There are 203
established long-term occupancy plots. GeomorphIS/SDNHM field biologists will survey a portion of these plots following standard FTHL survey protocols as identified in the FTHL Range Wide Management Strategy.

GeomorphIS Team to Conduct Mexican Spotted Owl Surveys for BLM-UT

GeomorphIS and partner BIOME will conduct USFWS Section 7-level protocol surveys for Mexican Spotted Owls (MSO; Strix occidentalis lucida) at established Protected Activity Center (PAC) sites on public lands administered by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Richfield Field Office (RFO) – Henry Mtns. Field Station (HMFS), Utah’s School and Institutional Trust Lands Administration (SITLA), and National Park Service (NPS), Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. Sites were selected according to USFWS habitat models in addition to desktop GIS and on the ground surveys for habitat suitability and observed MSO nests.  The GeomorphIS/BIOME team will conduct 4 surveys spread out over the breeding season (March 1st – August 31st) and which occur within 7 PAC sites: Burro Seep, French Spring, Larry Canyon, Marinus Canyon, Sams Mesa Box Canyon, Stair Canyon, Twin Corral Box Canyon. These surveys will allow the BLM to be compliant with the latest MSO protocol and therefore carry out planned special recreation permits (SRP) and non-commercial recreation, primarily increased canyoneering efforts in and around these areas. These surveys will also be beneficial for grazing permit renewals for the allotments that contain the PAC sites, aiding the BLM in planning efforts that support the protections afforded the MSO under the Endangered Species Act.

GeomorphIS Team Conducting Cultural Survey in NPS Big Thicket National Preserve, Texas

The National Park Service (NPS) has contracted with GeomorphIS and our partner Algonquin Consultants, Inc. to complete an archaeological survey of approximately 61 acres within Big Thicket National Preserve, in eastern Texas. The GeomorphIS/Algonquin team will conduct a shovel test pit survey on 30 meter grid for a property known as the SOLO tract. It is estimated that approximately 273 shovel tests will be required to complete this task. Excavated soils from each shovel test pit (STP) will be dry-screened through 1/4-inch hardware cloth mesh screens in order to recover any artifacts in the soil matrix. Likewise, the constituent soil matrix and stratigraphy of each STP will be recorded, employing standard Munsell Soil Chart terminology. Should any of the STPs on 30-meter centers across the APE prove to be culturally positive (i.e., yield either artifacts or features), then at least 6, radial STPs shall be plotted and dug at 5-meter spacings (N,S,E, and W) around each positive STP in order to more accurately discern the lateral and vertical extent of subsurface cultural deposits across the project APE. The GeomorphIS/Algonquin team will prepare a final report documenting results in conformance with the Texas Historical Commission and National Park Service standards.

NAVFAC SW Tasks GeomorphIS to Maintain Protective Fencing on MCB Camp Pendleton

The Naval Facilities Engineering Command Southwest (NAVFAC SW) has awarded a task order to the GeomorphIS/Apex team to provide habitat protection, maintenance and enhancement for the endangered California least tern (Sternula antillarum browni) (LETE) and threatened western snowy plover (Charadrius nivosus nivosus) at designated tern colony sites on Marine Corps Base, Camp Pendleton (MCBCP) during 2018-2019. This project will improve the nesting habitat within the LETE colonies through fence construction and maintenance. Habitat within the LETE colonies varies annually and is dependent upon natural processes and anthropogenic disturbances. This is the third year GeomorphIS/Apex has been tasked to perform this work.

BLM-ID Awards GeomorphIS Team Special Status Plant Inventory Task Order

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has awarded the GeomorphIS/Pyramid Botanical Consultants (PBC) team a task order to conduct field monitoring for special status plants in the Bruneau Field Office, Idaho. The project objective is to monitor three perennial special status plants that occur in the lakebed soils of the Bruneau Field Office. These include Mulford’s milkvetch (Astragalus mulfordiae), Packard’s cowpie buckwheat (Eriogonum shockleyi var. packardiae), and Janish’s penstemon (Penstemon janishiae). The monitoring would provide population condition and trend information on these species which is needed to evaluate impacts from permitted activities such as livestock grazing and OHV use in the lakebeds habitat. Monitoring units include multiple polygons in the lakebeds habitat. Monitoring will be conducted using the Boise District’s Botany Program of Operations Special Status Plant Biological Evaluation and established protocol for monitoring Mulford’s milkvetch.