WILDLIFE AND WILDFIRE IMPACT ASSESSMENT SUB-GROUP

PLANNED MITIGATION ACTIONS

SHEET NO. 1

IMPACT

PLANNED ACTIONS

RESPONSIBLE

AGENCY*
An assessment of drought-related environmental impacts should be conducted for the state to define qualitatively and quantitatively problems for planning purposes and critical decision making. The assessment will be conducted to:
  1. Identify baseline conditions, major potential impacts, and offer an evaluation of findings and considerations of alternatives to alleviate negative impacts.
  2. Identify alternatives that involve systems control should be evaluated for their: speed (how quickly stressors or disturbances can be eliminated), precision (the ability to achieve a desired outcome), reliability (conditions under which management approaches succeed or fail), and cost efficiency.
  3. Summarize findings and present in regional management plans.
  4. Direct effort toward establishment of site-specific assessment categories, criteria and standards for the comprehensive and efficient inventory, monitoring and evaluation of fishery resources. Likewise, efforts will be directed toward extending site-specific assessment to a regional framework in the form of Indices of Biotic Integrity as an aid to biological assessment.
  5. Enable NMDGF to analyze contemporary fish distributions with respect to a large suite of environmental variables to establish sensitive, objective indicators of accumulative stress at the community level of ecological organization.
  6. Enable NMDGF biologists to perform a regional assessment of the fish fauna of New Mexico to provide a statistical description of historical fish faunal change to reveal aquatic areas most vulnerable to environmental stressors, including those associated with drought conditions.
 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 11, 12, 14
During periods of drought, reduced in-stream flow may affect endangered species of aquatic plants and animals. 1. Prior to drought, develop prioritized list of possible drought affected habitats for endangered

species of aquatic plants and animals.

2. Based on priority areas, develop alternatives for sustaining existing habitat or developing

emergency habitats for targeted species.

3. Prior to drought, initiate partnerships with local water users and regulatory agencies in priority

areas to develop emergency alternatives for in-stream flow manipulation.

ALL
During periods of drought, low stream or lake levels may cause fishing opportunities to diminish.
  1. Develop partnerships with major water users to develop alternatives for providing emergency water transfers to affected lakes and/or streams.
 1, 2, 6, 8, 12
Reduction in income on private drought affected fish and wildlife-based enterprises
  • Develop economic analyses, by climatic regions, to reflect reduced private hunting and fishing revenues for 25%, 50%, 75% reduction in hunting and fishing opportunities.
  • Provide enterprise stabilization training sessions for private fish and wildlife-based enterprises, emphasizing drought contingency planning for the enterprise.
    		• 13

    *1 –NM DEPT GAME & FISH; 2 – US FISH & WILDLIFE SERVICE; 3 – US FOREST SERVICE; 4 – NM ENVIRONMENT DEPARTMENT - EPA; 5 – NM DIV OF FORESTRY; 6 – NM STATE ENGINEER;
    7 – FED WATER DEVELOPMENT AGENCIES; 8 – LOCAL WATER USERS ASSOCIATIONS; 9 – NM STATE LAND OFFICE; 10 – BUREAU OF INDIAN AFFAIRS; 11 – BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT;12 – INTERSTATE STREAM COMMISSION; 13 – ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT & TOURISM; 14 - NATIONAL PARK SERVICE.

    WILDLIFE AND WILDFIRE IMPACT ASSESSMENT SUB-GROUP

    PLANNED MITIGATION ACTIONS

    SHEET NO. 2

    IMPACT

    PLANNED ACTIONS

    RESPONSIBLE AGENCY*
    While flows may be adequate to sustain aquatic plants and animals during the irrigation season (except when flows are excluded from natural channels), they often become critically low at other times. Extensive manipulation of flows through large reservoirs and irrigation canals serves to disrupt the continuity of aquatic habitats in time and space, often precluding the existence of an attractive perennial fishery. Habitat simplification and fragmentation often results from regulated flows leading to altered ecological functions, different levels of biological organization, and reduced biological diversity. This may also contribute significantly to the demise of numerous taxa of fish.
    1. Several alternative approaches exist for the establishment of in-stream flows that would sustain aquatic life forms, including during periods of drought. These alternative approaches should be assessed for their applicability to different situations and locations in New Mexico, with emphasis on areas of impaired habitat and areas vulnerable to cumulative stress.
    2. Initiate discussions with local water users in priority areas to assess alternatives for in-stream flow.
    		 ALL
    Many populations of big game species respond to drought conditions through reduced reproductive and survival rates and increased mortality rates. Land uses such as livestock grazing can exacerbate the effect of drought through competition for limited resources. Hunting, especially of females, can also exacerbate the impact for many big game species. Hunting opportunities may diminish due to lack of food and water for affected species. Drought conditions may reduce the amount of available wildlife drinking water, affect the amount of usual food supply for wildlife species and may cause species to migrate to areas of adequate food and water. Drought conditions may also reduce grain production at waterfowl preserves. All of these items may increase the incidence of wildlife depredation on private interests.
    1. Examine alternatives for reducing competitive land uses during periods of drought.
    2. Consider elimination of hunting female mule deer and other big game species during periods of drought.
    3. Develop priority list of waterfowl preserves vulnerable to drought induced feedstock reductions. From priority list, develop waterfowl feeding alternatives, including local farmer emergency agreements.
    4. Continue NMDGF wildlife depredation program.
    5. Emphasize public education programs to address wildlife survival and hunting restrictions during drought.
    6. Prior to drought, determine the effect of alternative hunting seasons on the compensatory response of populations of drought affected species.
    		 1, 2, 3, 11, 14

     

    *1 –NM DEPT GAME & FISH; 2 – US FISH & WILDLIFE SERVICE; 3 – US FOREST SERVICE; 4 – NM ENVIRONMENT DEPARTMENT - EPA; 5 – NM DIV OF FORESTRY; 6 – NM STATE ENGINEER;
    7 – FED WATER DEVELOPMENT AGENCIES; 8 – LOCAL WATER USERS ASSOCIATIONS; 9 – NM STATE LAND OFFICE; 10 – BUREAU OF INDIAN AFFAIRS; 11 – BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT; 12 – INTERSTATE STREAM COMMISSION; 13 – ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT & TOURISM; 14 - NATIONAL PARK SERVICE.

     

    WILDLIFE AND WILDFIRE IMPACT ASSESSMENT SUB-GROUP

    PLANNED MITIGATION ACTIONS

    SHEET NO. 3

    IMPACT

    PLANNED ACTIONS

    RESPONSIBLE AGENCY*
    Fish habitat conditions may deteriorate at some sites during times of drought and preclude recreational fishery management programs that are reliant on hatchery produced fish. There may be insufficient water to produce fish at existing hatcheries.
    1. If necessary, temporarily curtail fish stocking programs where habitat conditions become unsuitable for species of stocked fish.
    2. If necessary, curtail hatchery production and reallocate inventory of fish to alternative recreational fishing sites.
    3. Reengineer hatchery water delivery systems to provide technical solutions to possible water quality problems.
    		 1, 2
    Loss or impairment of fish and wildlife resources, fragmented ecosystems and animal populations; altered ecosystem functions and energy pathways; reduced productivity.
    1. Implement corrective and compensatory adjustments through fishing and hunting regulations
    2. Conduct public education programs.
    		 1, 2
    Unfavorable public opinion and public concern about fish and wildlife conservation and preservation, along with environmental protection. 1. Enhance sport-fishing opportunities by stocking hatchery-produced fish where habitat

    conditions permit.

    2. Employ aquaculture to secure and enhance the status of nongame species of fish including

    state and federal listed engangered species.

    		1, 2
    Increased wildfires on private and public lands may present hazards to land users and public domain natural resources. However, wild fire suppression can negatively affect habitat suitability for many species.
    1. Review existing Initial Attack Trade-Off Agreements and modify as necessary.
    2. Employ managed and prescribed fires to reduce fuel loading and to restore the structure and dynamic functions of natural ecosystems.
    3. Use wildfire and controlled fire as a management tool to improve habitat quality for select big game species as appropriate.
    4. By use of Public Service Announcements emphasize existing Southwest Area Coordination Center Webpage as source of statewide fire danger information.
    5. At onset of "Alert Level" of drought, initiate accelerated public wildfire awareness program in areas targeted by Southwest Area Monthly Fire Potential Assessments.
    6. Implement fire control procedures as outlined in Southwest Area Mobilization Guide and Southwest Fire Management Board Handbook.
    		 1, 3, 5, 9, 10, 11, 14

     

    *1 –NM DEPT GAME & FISH; 2 – US FISH & WILDLIFE SERVICE; 3 – US FOREST SERVICE; 4 – NM ENVIRONMENT DEPARTMENT - EPA; 5 – NM DIV OF FORESTRY; 6 – NM STATE ENGINEER;
    7 – FED WATER DEVELOPMENT AGENCIES; 8 – LOCAL WATER USERS ASSOCIATIONS; 9 – NM STATE LAND OFFICE; 10 – BUREAU OF INDIAN AFFAIRS; 11 – BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT;12 – INTERSTATE STREAM COMMISSION; 13 – ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT & TOURISM; 14 - NATIONAL PARK SERVICE.