There is a lot of work throughout the Four Corners region involving a biological evaluation of the ecological resources. From high elevation montane habitats to the Colorado Plateau’s high desert ecosystems, countless flora and fauna are affected every day by human changes to the environment. Many plants and animals are recognized by various government and political agencies as needing attention through special management practices and are obligated to do so through such federally enacted legislation as the Endangered Species Act (ESA) of 1973.
We at ACI work closely with these agencies, including the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), the States of Colorado, Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico, the United States Forest Service (USFS), the Navajo and Jicarilla Apache Nations, among other government agencies, to ensure the proper management of any and all potentially affected flora and fauna in any given proposed project area.
Although a supplement to the more detailed Environmental Assessments (EA) that ACI composes, Biological Evalutaions/Biological Assessments Evaluations (BE/BAE) outline the potentially affected flora and fauna and recommends any special management concerns associated with a project or proposal.
Species Focus in San Juan County, NM: The Brack’s hardwall cactus (Sclerocactus cloveriae var. brackii) is considered by the US Fish and Wildlife Service as a Species of Concern and is managed by the BLM’s Farmington Field Office (FFO) as a Sensitive Species. Brack’s cactus habitat is known to occur on BLM and Navajo Nation lands in San Juan County throughout the BLM/FFO designated potential habitat area. ACI is qualified to perform Brack’s cactus, and the closely associated Aztec gilia, surveys and transplants under the direction of the BLM/FFO.
Brack's hardwall cactus (Sclerocactus cloverae brackii)
Brack’s hardwall cactus, also known as the smallflower fishhook cactus, occurs in the sandy-clay hills of the Nacimiento Formation in desert scrub habitat in northwestern New Mexico and southwestern Colorado. The plant is found within piñon-juniper woodland, Great Basin Desert scrub, and open high desert grassland habitats at elevations between 5,000 and 6,400 feet. Suitable habitat is found throughout the San Juan Basin, one of the largest natural gas fields in the nation.
The Farmington Resource Management Plan (RMP) outlines a Specially Designated Area as boundaries of potential habitat for the Brack’s hardwall cactus and Aztec gilia. When individual plants or suitable habitat for Brack’s cactus are found during a biological survey for a ground-disturbing project, ACI will assist in mitigating impacts to the plants and their habitat by offering alternative location solutions, avoidance of any observed plants, or transplanting the affected specimens. We also provide monitoring services during construction to protect near-by species and/or suitable habitat from being disturbed.
ACI is qualified to survey for all Federally listed birds, mammals, fish, and reptiles listed by the various agencies with land management responsibilities throughout the Southwest. Some of the species include the Southwest Willow Flycatcher, Northern Goshawk, Pagosa milkvetch, and Mexican Spotted Owl.