Middle Fork Project AQ 12 - Attachment A California Red-legged Frog Site Assessment

1. Middle Fork ProjectAQ 12 - Attachment ACalifornia Red-legged Frog Site Assessment March 10, 2008

2. Provide U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service with sufficient information to determine if protocol-level surveys are required Purpose of Site Assessment California red-legged frog (Rana aurora draytonii )

3. Study Objectives Document the distribution and abundance of CRLF populations in the study area Identify and map potential habitat for CRLF in the study area

4. California Red-legged Frog Site Assessment Study Objectives and Related Study Elements and Reports Document distribution and abundance of CRLF in study area Map potential CRLF habitatin the study area Compile and reviewexisting vegetationcommunity mapping Compile and reviewexisting aquatichabitat mapping Compile current and historic occurrence information Document the presence of CRLF during CRLF fieldreconnaissance surveys & other aquatic surveys Refine and expand existing habitat mapping basedon Project video and aerial photographs Identify current and historic CRLF occurrences Verify habitat mapping through field reconnaissancesurveys (by helicopter and foot) Develop potential CRLFhabitat map Prepare site assessment report CRLF Site Assessment

5. Extent of Study Area One mile around : • Existing Project facilities and features, recreation facilities, dispersed concentrated use areas and river/stream reaches • Potential Project betterments (below 5,000 feet in elevation)

6. Current and Historic Range of CRLF • Five isolated populations currently known to occur in foothills along west slope of Sierra Nevada • Three of these within Middle Fork American River Watershed • Study area is within: • Current and historic range of CRLF • USFWS CRLF Recovery Unit 1

7. Known Locations of CRLF in the MFAR Watershed • Single, adult CRLF detected in June 2001 in ephemeral pool • One known CRLF record within study area Ralston Ridge Pond, August 2007 • Two additional records outside the study area, but within the MFAR Watershed

8. Known Locations of CRLF in the MFAR Watershed (cont.)

9. Map Potential CRLF Habitatin the Study Area • Upland habitat • Aquatic habitat

10. Map Potential CRLF HabitatUpland Habitat in Study Area

11. Map Potential CRLF Habitat CRLF Aquatic Habitat Characteristics(based on USFWS 2002) • Marshes • Springs • Permanent and semi-permanent natural ponds • Ponded and backwater portions of streams • Artificial impoundments such as stock ponds, irrigation ponds, and siltation ponds • Slow-moving shallow riffle zones in creeks

12. Map Potential CRLF Habitat CRLF Aquatic Habitat CharacteristicsAdditional Characteristics(based on other literature) • Dense or shrubby riparian vegetation, incl. willows, cattails, and bulrushes (USFWS 2007) • Significant portion of water body with dense vegetation providing shade (Hayes and Jennings 1998) • Deep (0.5-1.5 meters) still or slow-moving water (Hayes and Jennings 1998)

13. Map Potential CRLF Habitat Aquatic Habitat CharacteristicsAdditional Characteristics(based on other literature cont.) • Water remaining long enough for metamorphosis of most tadpole (generally July to September) (USFWS 2006) • Habitats free of introduced predators (i.e. bullfrogs, non-native crayfish, and various fishes) (USFWS 2002)

14. Map Potential CRLF Habitat CRLF Aquatic Habitat (does not include) • Deep lacustrine water bodies (lakes and reservoirs > 50 acres) • Fast flowing rivers

15. Aquatic Habitats in the Study Area • Rivers • Large and Moderate Streams • Small Tributaries • Reservoirs • Diversion Pools • Off-Channel Ponds

16. Aquatic Habitats in Study Area

17. Rivers • Middle Fork American River and Rubicon River • Not appropriate CRLF habitat • Barriers to dispersal as defined by USFWS • Rocky and fast-flowing • No backwater areas • Banks do not support dense vegetation (e.g., cattail, bulrushes) Middle ForkAmerican River

18. Large and Moderate Streams • Duncan Creek • Long Canyon Creek • North Fork Long Canyon Creek • South Fork Long Canyon Creek • Not appropriate CRLF habitat • Bedrock channel (no backwater areas) • Inappropriate instream pool habitats (large, rocky, open pools) • Banks do not support dense vegetation (e.g., cattail, bulrush) Long Canyon Creek

19. Small Tributary Streams • Eleven accessible small, tributary streams surveyed by field crews • Small, remote tributaries of upper MFAR analyzed by aerial photography and helicopter surveys Gas Canyon Creek

20. Small Tributary Streams (cont.) • Not appropriate CRLF habitat • High gradient • Bedrock channel (no backwater areas) • Inappropriate instream pool habitats (Plunge-pool and waterfall) • Banks do not support dense vegetation (e.g., cattail, bulrush) American Canyon Creek

21. Reservoirs/Interbay/Afterbays • Hell Hole Reservoir and Ralston Afterbay • Not CRLF habitat as defined by USFWS • Considered barriers to dispersal • Middle Fork Interbay • Not appropriate CRLF habitat • Deep impoundment • Steep canyon walls • No floating or emergent vegetation

22. Diversion Pools • North and South Fork Long Canyon Diversion Pools North Fork Long Canyon Diversion • Not appropriate CRLF habitat • Do not support dense vegetation (e.g., cattails, bullrushes, willows) • Lack sufficient water though August or September for tadpoles to complete metamorphosis

23. Off-Channel Ponds Off-channel ponds at 5 locations: • Auburn State Recreation Area (ASRA) • Teichert Industries open pit mines • Summit Ranch • Horseshoe Bar • Ralston Ridge

24. Off-Channel Ponds (cont.) ASRA Teichert Industries Summit Ranch

25. Off-Channel Ponds (cont.) Horseshoe Bar Area

26. Horseshoe Bar Area Off-Channel Ponds (cont.) • Ponds D and E • Potential CRLF breeding habitat • Appropriate water depth • Perennial ponds (retain water long enough for complete metamorphosis) • Support dense vegetation on banks (e.g., willow, blackberry, California grape) Pond “D” – Horseshoe Bar

27. Horseshoe Bar Area Off-Channel Ponds (cont.) • Ponds C and F • Potential dispersal habitat Pond C • Water is shallow in both ponds (< 2 feet deep) • Pond F is ephemeral (dry in most years by June)

28. Horseshoe Bar Area Off-Channel Ponds (cont.) • Pond G and South Lake • Not appropriate CRLF habitat • Predatory species present • Subject to water level fluctuations of the MFAR • Banks do not support dense vegetation (e.g., cattails, bulrushes) • South Lake is very deep (~ 50 feet) Pond G