BLM WY Burrowing Mammal Soils Study Focusing on WY Pocket Gopher (CESU)

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A. Project Background Information: This project is under development to further the conservation of a rare endemic species of Wyoming that is under specific threat from Wyoming BLM activities and has been petitioned for federal listing under the ESA. The Wyoming Pocket Gopher is a fossorial mammal that lives primarily underground and visits the surface only at night and very infrequently. Because the BLM is responsible to manage habitats for wildlife such that activities of the agency do not lead species toward the need for federal listing, it is imperative that BLM understand the necessary components of this rare species? habitat and how to conserve them to meet this species? needs. B. Project Objective: The BLM?s ability to conserve habitats of the Wyoming pocket gopher and to insure agency actions are not contributing to the need for federal listing depends heavily on BLM?s ability to scientifically describe this gopher?s habitat needs and the relative distribution of those habitats across the landscape. Toward that endeavor, the WY BLM proposes to have professional soil scientists, with working local knowledge and previous experience in this area, conduct the necessary soil analyses and testing to determine the unique soil properties of this species? habitat in order to better define the distribution of this species and potentially make recommendations as to how BLM might be able to protect or conserve those soils and habitat components while still allowing for multiple-use management to continue on select landscapes. C. Statement of Joint Objectives/Project Management Plan: Joint objectives of the plan include the understanding, mapping and maintenance of soils and important wildlife habitats, such that listing of additional species under the Endangered Species Act are unnecessary. The conservation of species and the soils and vegetation upon which they survive is a primary objective of all parties involved in this effort. Contributions toward this goal are from a multitude of cooperating entities. These cooperators include members of the oil and gas industry, wind energy industry, the State of Wyoming and the University of Wyoming. This project could be a precursor to additional, more in-depth study, into the unique soil properties that are required by this species for suitable habitats. Provided that this preliminary project identifies some soil properties that appear unique, additional work may be warranted to identify where those properties occur on the landscape and the current model would likely be adapted to include this information and improve the predictive properties of the model in displaying where this species is most likely to occur and therefore warrant additional protections or conservation measures. If this project does not b ear results that indicate unique soils are necessary for this species, then further work in this area may be delayed until more information can be gathered. D. Period of Project: The period of this project is approximately one year.

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