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The following letter is the results of request information to pass on to you regarding the Ramsey Canyon Leopard Frog.
July 5, 2000
Dear Interested Parties,
This scoping letter summarizes a proposal to release Ramsey Canyon Leopard Frogs into east side of the Huachuca Mountains, Cochise County, Arizona. The purpose of this letter is to inform interested and affected parties of the proposal, and to solicit comments.
Background
A conservation agreement for the Ramsey Canyon Leopard Frog was developed in 1996. Signatories to the conservation agreement include the U.S. Forest Service (Coronado), a local rancher, The Nature Conservancy, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of Defense Fort Huachuca Army Post, Arizona Game and Fish Department, and The Bureau of Land Management. The signatories and others (i.e. The Phoenix Zoo, private landowners) work together as the Ramsey Canyon Leopard Frog Conservation Team (RCFCT) to implement the objectives and strategies of the conservation agreement.
The primary goal of the conservation agreement is to recover the species. Another goal is to keep the species from being federally listed as threatened or endangered.
One of the management strategies identified in the conservation agreement was supplementation of existing populations and re-establishment at historic sites, using captive reared tadpoles or frogs. In the past, a portion of a wild egg mass was collected for captive “head-starting” (rearing to an advanced age/body size). Typically the eggs are laid in late March or early April, and the resultant frogs or tadpoles released at suitable sites between August and October. Since 1995, over 5,000 Ramsey Canyon leopard frog tadpoles or juvenile frogs have been head-started in captivity and later released in Ramsey (1995 and 1997), Miller (1999), and Garden (1996) Canyons. The Arizona Game and Fish Department prepared an environmental assessment checklist and obtained permission from the appropriate landowner for each of the above-mentioned releases. Thus far these activities have been limited to three sites. This proposed action covers a much broader area over the historical range of the species.
Purpose And Need For Action
The Ramsey Canyon Leopard Frog (Rana subaquavocalis) is a recently described species (1993) with an extremely limited distribution along the eastern slopes of the Huachuca Mountains. Since its discovery, the population has decreased from over 100 wild frogs in 1990, to less than 20 in 1999. Factors responsible for the decline of this species are unclear. The majority of frogs remaining on the east side of the Huachuca Mountains originated from egg masses collected in the wild, reared at The Phoenix Zoo, then released back into the wild. The Ramsey Canyon Leopard Frog would likely not exist without intensive conservation management efforts of the past (e.g. captive rearing, exotic species removal, artificial habitat maintenance).
The need to supplement existing populations and reestablish others is noted in the Conservation Agreement for the species. This need is particularly important considering the lack of individuals (either frogs or tadpoles) and minimal breeding activity at remaining wild Ramsey Canyon leopard frog populations (i.e. Tinker Pond, Brown, and Ramsey Canyons). In 1999, breeding was only recorded at one semi-wild population (a backyard pond) near Brown Canyon. This population has been the only source of eggs for conservation activities during the last three years.
The conservation activities being proposed are consistent with those recommended in the multi-party conservation agreement in 1996, and the wildlife management actions described in the 1986 Coronado National Forest Plan and Environmental Impact Statement. Wildlife 2000, Arizona Game and Fish Department’s strategic plan, also supports conservation and restoration of native biological diversity, and recovery of species either listed or in imminent threat of listing.
The desired future condition is to have several self-sustaining populations of Ramsey Canyon Leopard Frogs on the east side of the Huachuca Mountains.
The objectives of this proposal are to:
1) To supplement existing populations and re-establish others on lands managed by the Forest Service, Fort Huachuca, and willing private landowners on the eastern face (watershed) of the Huachuca Mountains.
2) Replace and update the four existing Arizona Game and Fish Department Environmental Assessment Checklists with one document.
The Coronado National Forest and a private landowner in Miller Canyon have completed a preliminary identification and evaluation of potential re-establishment sites on National Forest lands (Figures 1 & 2).
Proposed Action
To produce the frogs needed for conservation activities (population supplementation or re-establishment), Arizona Game and Fish Department biologists or volunteers will remove portions or whole embryo masses from spawnings in March or April each year, for captive rearing at The Phoenix Zoo or elsewhere. Tadpoles that hatch will be reared to larger tadpoles or frogs, and are usually returned to the wild within six months of collection. Typically the tadpoles or juvenile frogs are released between August to November, although occasionally some are occasionally released the following spring. This captive head-starting technique has been perfected by The Phoenix Zoo over the last five years, and has been used successfully to help conserve other frog species. The zoo donates all the staff labor and materials necessary for the head-starting phase, and assists in the wild release and monitoring efforts. Arizona Game and Fish Department employees, and volunteers from the zoo and The Nature Conservancy, will be responsible for transporting head-started animals to the release site and post-release monitoring. Some mortality is anticipated while the animals are being temporarily maintained in captivity, and during the transportation of larvae or frogs to the release site. Previous experience suggests the mortality rate between the egg collection and release is usually less than 5%.
Captive head-started frogs or tadpoles will be released primarily at sites on the Forest, on Fort Huachuca, or at the ponds of willing private property owners (e.g. a local bed and breakfast, The Nature Conservancy). Frogs or tadpoles will not be released within dispersal distance of unwilling property owners with potential habitat. Permission from the holder of the water rights to potential release sites will be obtained prior to the release. The success of the frog releases would be monitored over a 5-year period. Additional releases could be made during that period to bolster populations and meet management objectives.
Under this proposal, there will be no significant soil, vegetation, or cultural disturbance at any site. Although some gravel, rock, or debris may be removed or slightly modified from artificial or natural water impoundment, to increase pool depth. Before RASU tadpoles or frogs are released in the wild, the appropriate landowner or agency land manager will be contacted. The appropriate land management agency or the Arizona Game and Fish Department would also complete requirements for the National Environmental Policy Act, Endangered Species Act, cultural resources, and other laws and regulations.
Construction or modification of sites to create aquatic habitat for native species has been proposed or is being undertaken by the Coronado National Forest and Fort Huachuca. These projects are separate from the current proposal.
Decision To Be Made
The Director of the Arizona Game and Fish Department is the responsible official for determining whether the release of Ramsey Canyon Leopard Frogs into the east side of the Huachuca Mountains complies with the goals and authority of the Department. The Forest Supervisor of the Coronado National Forest is the responsible official for determining whether this release complies with the goals and authority of the U.S. Forest Service. The Base Commander is the responsible official for determining whether the release complies with the goals and authority of the Fort. These responsible officials may decide to select a no release alternative, defer or modify the action, or select the proposal as described in this scoping letter.
Preliminary Issues
Five preliminary issues were identified by the RCLFCT. Identified issues will ultimately define the scope of the environmental analysis for the proposed action. These issues are:
1) Effects on other resource activities. The primary concern is for recreation, grazing, hunting, fishing, and mining on public lands
2) Effects on water rights. The primary concern is present and future use of water at potential release sites
3) Effects on economy, cultural, and social stability of local community. A primary concern is the effect on private property used for release sites and on adjoining landowners. A second primary concern is visitor enjoyment and commodity production on public lands
4) Effects on released frogs. The primary concern is the suitability of potential sites for survival of the Ramsey Canyon leopard frog.
5) Determination of success of releases. The primary concern is the method of measuring success of the releases
Initial Measures
The following initial measures have been selected to evaluate issue resolution, attainment of objectives, and describe environmental impacts. In most cases, the measures are quantified. Otherwise a narrative discussing specific effects will be present in the environmental analysis document. The measures anticipated for use in this analysis are:
Issue 1): Resource Activities
a. Effects- narrative of effects on resource activities from land managing agencies
Issue 2): Water Rights
a. Quantity- narrative of holder and applied/awarded water rights for potential release site
b. Authority- written permission from holder of water rights prior to release
Issue 3): Economic and Social
a. Benefits/Losses- a narrative on economic and social effects by the Arizona Game and Fish Department and land management agencies
Issue 4): Suitability of release sites
a. Habitat features- a narrative of evaluation criteria by the Arizona Game and Fish Department
b. Dispersal- a narrative of potential for dispersal to other waters in vicinity by the Arizona Game and Fish Department
Issue 5): Success of Releases
a. Self-sustaining populations at the end of 5 years- number of sites
b. Identification of released frogs- narrative by the Arizona Game and Fish Department on identifying markers
c. Cost of releases and maintenance of release sites- $$
Alternatives
At least three alternatives have been identified. Under the first alternative, the release would not occur. Under the second alternative, population supplementation and re-establishment efforts would be limited to approved sites in three canyons: These are:
1) Ramsey Canyon watershed (The Nature Conservancy property and adjoining National Forest)
2) Private property in Miller Canyon
3) Garden Canyon (Fort Huachuca).
The third alternative and the proposed action, is to expand re-establishment efforts to include suitable sites in canyons within the historic range of the frog. If approved, past environmental checklists prepared by the Arizona Game and Fish Department would be superseded by one document.
Project Location/Analysis Area
An Environmental Assessment Checklist will be prepared that reviews the environmental effects related to the release of Ramsey Canyon Leopard Frogs on the eastside of the Huachuca Mountains. Approximate boundaries of the project area include Fort Huachuca Military Reservation; Forest Service managed lands from the boundary with Fort Huachuca (north), to the Coronado National Memorial (south); and on the private property of willing landowners within these drainages. Specifically, sites have been identified within the drainages of Tinker, Garden, Brown, Ramsey, Pat Scott, Carr, Miller, Ash, Hunter, Stump, and Lutz Canyons. Figures 1 and 2 illustrate the boundaries of the proposed project. One map outlines potential sites, and the other delineates the entire scope of the proposal.
The project area contains approximately 37,000 acres. Acreage affected will vary with the alternative selected and the number of release sites.
Scoping Input Needed/Process Schedule
Comments are specifically requested on the design of the proposed action, discussion of issues, units of measure, and alternatives. Any suggestions that you have for additional actions to move the existing condition to the desired future condition would be welcome. Comments made on this proposal are most helpful if they pertain directly to the project area (i.e., as site specific as possible). Issues identified that are outside the scope of this proposal will not be addressed at this level of planning.
Comments are welcomed from all interested parties and should be received by August 9, 2000. These comments will be reviewed and changes made to the proposed action if needed. The projected date for completion of the analysis is September 1, 2000.
Please submit your comments, or questions to:
Mike Demlong
Arizona Game and Fish, Nongame Branch
2221 West Greenway Road
Phoenix, Arizona 85023-4399
602-789-3504 (office)
602-789-3926 (FAX)
mdemlong@gf.state.az.us
Thank you for your interest in this proposal.
Sincerely,
Mike Demlong
Enclosures