SURPRISE CANYON MEETINGS - This Week!!!! [Archive]

Ed A. Stevens

07-29-2002, 11:05 AM

Talking points to Mojave Fringe-toed Lizard Species protection threats raised by OHV's in Surprise Canyon (and in the Mojave Desert).

Mojave Fringe-toed Lizard:

Summary points:
The report does not identify the range of this species extending north to the Panamint Range. The preferred habitat is sand (not the typical terrain of Surprise Canyon). No known accurate count of this species has been made (none to determine the species population, or true health). Each male lizard has a domain of 0.25 acre, resulting in a six-mile road (Surprise Canyon Road corridoor of a 100 yard width) impacting (at most) 240 male lizards. Given the same domain area and the known range of the species the impact of vehicle use on Surprise Canyon Road is a minute fractional percentage of the population.

The OHV impact references are attributed to Timothy Beatley, the same co-author as the following text (note the other co-authors, and expertise credential).

Natural Hazard Mitigation: Recasting Disaster Policy and Planning. David R. Godschalk, Timothy Beatley, Philip Berke, David J. Brower, and Edward J.Kaiser. Island Press, Washington, DC, 1999. 575 pp. Paper, ISBN 1-55963-602-5.

Timothy Beatley: Environmental planner, author, and professor at the University of Virginia School of Architecture. "Green Urbanism: The Move Toward Sustainable Communities in the United States and Europe"

====

The Mojave Fringe-toed Lizard report (more can be found at):

http://cluster4.biosci.utexas.edu/deathvalley/uma/umastart.htm

Population Status:

No data on population status and relative density of the Mojave Fringe-toed Lizard are available.

Threats Analysis:

The loose wind-blown sand habitat on which the Mojave Fringe-toed Lizard depends is a fragile ecosystem requiring the protection
against both direct and indirect disturbances (Weaver, 1981; Beatley, 1994; Barrows, 1996). Potential direct disturbances would include
habitat loss or damage from urban development, off-highway vehicles, and agriculture. Potential indirect disturbances are associated with
the disruption of the dune ecosystem source sand, wind transport, and sand corridors.

The decline of the closely related Coachella Valley Fringe-toed (Uma inornata) Lizard is attributed primarily to the urban development
associated with the population increases of that region (Beatley, 1994; Barrows, 1996). Viable, long-term habitat has been reduced to 2%
of the original range of the Coachella Valley Fringe-toed Lizard (Barrows et. al., 1995). Direct loss of habitat is the result of land
conversion to agriculture, roads, houses, and golf courses (Weaver, 1981; Beatley, 1994). Off-highway vehicles are also implicated in
habitat degradation (Beatley, 1994). Long-term habitat protection is further threatened by the interruption of natural sand movement by
buildings, railroad windbreaks, roads, and other man-made alterations (Weaver, 1981; Beatley, 1994).

Although there are no baseline data suggesting a decline in population sizes of Mojave Fringe-toed Lizards, similar urban development
threats exist in the WMPA to cause concern that populations will be (or have already been) adversely affected.

Off-highway vehicle recreation has compromised the ecological integrity of some Fringe-toed lizard habitats. (L.C.)

Biological Standards:

Management efforts should be directed at protecting aeolian sand habitats associated with all known populations of Mojave Fringe-toed
Lizards. Protected land should encompass ecosystem processes including source sand, wind and sand corridors, as well as the sand dune
habitat, such as, shade plants. Successful Habitat Conservation Plans (HCP) have been developed for the Coachella Valley Fringe-toed
Lizard (The Nature Conservancy, 1986; Beatley, 1994; Barrows, 1996). These HCPs incorporated an ecological model to identify
habitat with long-term viability, as well as those habitats deemed nonviable because their sand source and/or wind corridor were blocked
by previous developments (Beatley, 1994; Barrows, 1996). Further details within the Coachella Valley Fringe-toed Lizard HCP should
be consulted. Preventing sand source and wind corridor disruptions will ensure the long-term viability of known populations, while direct
habitat degradation can be avoided through land use restrictions. Because little is known about the population status of the Mojave
Fringe-toed Lizard, mark and recapture studies should be implemented in as many populations as possible (see Muth, 1987, 1991). Until
sand dune ecosystem and population data become available, a management plan and reccommendations for long-term population viability
are inconclusive.


Pirate4x4.Com > Land Use and Trails > Land Use Issues > SURPRISE CANYON MEETINGS - This Week!!!! PDA : SURPRISE CANYON MEETINGS - This Week!!!! YellowSub1962 07-28-2002, 08:39 PM THIS IS OUR LAST CHANCE TO REOPEN SURPRISE CANYON - The Anti-Recreationists will be in force at these meetings --WILL WE???? check the calendar or these threads for more info http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?threadid=69507&referrerid=1494 http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?threadid=64380&referrerid=1494 http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?threadid=60708&referrerid=1494 :usa: Ed A. Stevens 07-29-2002, 11:05 AM Talking points to Mojave Fringe-toed Lizard Species protection threats raised by OHV's in Surprise Canyon (and in the Mojave Desert). Mojave Fringe-toed Lizard: Summary points: The report does not identify the range of this species extending north to the Panamint Range. The preferred habitat is sand (not the typical terrain of Surprise Canyon). No known accurate count of this species has been made (none to determine the species population, or true health). Each male lizard has a domain of 0.25 acre, resulting in a six-mile road (Surprise Canyon Road corridoor of a 100 yard width) impacting (at most) 240 male lizards. Given the same domain area and the known range of the species the impact of vehicle use on Surprise Canyon Road is a minute fractional percentage of the population. The OHV impact references are attributed to Timothy Beatley, the same co-author as the following text (note the other co-authors, and expertise credential). Natural Hazard Mitigation: Recasting Disaster Policy and Planning. David R. Godschalk, Timothy Beatley, Philip Berke, David J. Brower, and Edward J.Kaiser. Island Press, Washington, DC, 1999. 575 pp. Paper, ISBN 1-55963-602-5. Timothy Beatley: Environmental planner, author, and professor at the University of Virginia School of Architecture. "Green Urbanism: The Move Toward Sustainable Communities in the United States and Europe" ==== The Mojave Fringe-toed Lizard report (more can be found at): http://cluster4.biosci.utexas.edu/deathvalley/uma/umastart.htm Population Status: No data on population status and relative density of the Mojave Fringe-toed Lizard are available. Threats Analysis: The loose wind-blown sand habitat on which the Mojave Fringe-toed Lizard depends is a fragile ecosystem requiring the protection against both direct and indirect disturbances (Weaver, 1981; Beatley, 1994; Barrows, 1996). Potential direct disturbances would include habitat loss or damage from urban development, off-highway vehicles, and agriculture. Potential indirect disturbances are associated with the disruption of the dune ecosystem source sand, wind transport, and sand corridors. The decline of the closely related Coachella Valley Fringe-toed (Uma inornata) Lizard is attributed primarily to the urban development associated with the population increases of that region (Beatley, 1994; Barrows, 1996). Viable, long-term habitat has been reduced to 2% of the original range of the Coachella Valley Fringe-toed Lizard (Barrows et. al., 1995). Direct loss of habitat is the result of land conversion to agriculture, roads, houses, and golf courses (Weaver, 1981; Beatley, 1994). Off-highway vehicles are also implicated in habitat degradation (Beatley, 1994). Long-term habitat protection is further threatened by the interruption of natural sand movement by buildings, railroad windbreaks, roads, and other man-made alterations (Weaver, 1981; Beatley, 1994). Although there are no baseline data suggesting a decline in population sizes of Mojave Fringe-toed Lizards, similar urban development threats exist in the WMPA to cause concern that populations will be (or have already been) adversely affected. Off-highway vehicle recreation has compromised the ecological integrity of some Fringe-toed lizard habitats. (L.C.) Biological Standards: Management efforts should be directed at protecting aeolian sand habitats associated with all known populations of Mojave Fringe-toed Lizards. Protected land should encompass ecosystem processes including source sand, wind and sand corridors, as well as the sand dune habitat, such as, shade plants. Successful Habitat Conservation Plans (HCP) have been developed for the Coachella Valley Fringe-toed Lizard (The Nature Conservancy, 1986; Beatley, 1994; Barrows, 1996). These HCPs incorporated an ecological model to identify habitat with long-term viability, as well as those habitats deemed nonviable because their sand source and/or wind corridor were blocked by previous developments (Beatley, 1994; Barrows, 1996). Further details within the Coachella Valley Fringe-toed Lizard HCP should be consulted. Preventing sand source and wind corridor disruptions will ensure the long-term viability of known populations, while direct habitat degradation can be avoided through land use restrictions. Because little is known about the population status of the Mojave Fringe-toed Lizard, mark and recapture studies should be implemented in as many populations as possible (see Muth, 1987, 1991). Until sand dune ecosystem and population data become available, a management plan and reccommendations for long-term population viability are inconclusive.