Reestablish Amargosa Voles in Shoshone and Augment Vole Populations near Tecopa, Inyo County
Summary
SCH Number
2022030284
Public Agency
California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Inland Deserts Region 6
(CDFW)
Document Title
Reestablish Amargosa Voles in Shoshone and Augment Vole Populations near Tecopa, Inyo County
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
3/9/2022
Document Description
The project would release pairs of wild-caught Amargosa Voles into restored habitat on private land near Shoshone. The project will minimize impact to the donor populations by moving individuals for transfer at the time of maximum seasonal abundance. Proven handling techniques will minimize the chance of injury or loss to
translocated individuals. The receiving property owner, and the source property owner US Bureau of Land Management are full partners in the project. Amargosa voles currently occupy approximately 75 acres of suitable habitat within a 1.5-mile radius of Tecopa but have been absent from Shoshone for over 100 years. The project will
secure an independent, second population of Amargosa Voles, to better secure the subspecies from extinction. Additionally, the project will translocate wild-caught voles and release captive-bred voles into marshes with few to no voles in the southern part of the range (Tecopa) in order to augment small or locally extinct populations in
specific marshes. Both activities will occur from 2022-2025 following protocols established in federal and state permits and in accordance with a yearly release plan approved by the United Fish and Wildlife Service. The survival of translocated and released individuals will be monitored to determine conservation outcomes.
Contact Information
Name
Heidi Calvert
Agency Name
Fish and Wildlife, Region 6
Job Title
Environmental Program Manager I
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Location
Coordinates
Counties
Inyo
Regions
Southern California
Other Location Info
35°53.00’N 116°14.01W and 35°52.85’N 116°13.90W)
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Type – Class (7); California Code of Regulations, title 14, section (15307)
Reasons for Exemption
Class 7, §15307, Actions by Regulatory Agencies for Protection of Natural
Resources-The proposed project is an activity that falls within the Class 7 exemption because it is a wildlife preservation activity of CDFW that is limited in scope and no serious or major disturbances to environmental resources are expected. The project will reestablish Amargosa voles in former habitat to support Recovery Plan
objectives and to decrease the probability of subspecies extinction.
County Clerk
Inyo
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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