United States Department of the Interior - BLM ePlanning

United States Department of the Interior
                                   BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT
                                      Mother Lode Field Office
                                        5152 Hillsdale Circle
                                     El Dorado Hills, CA 95762
                               www.blm.gov/office/mother-lode-field-office

                Decision Memorandum and Categorical Exclusion Documentation
                             DOI-BLM-CA-C080-2023-0005-CX

A. Project Title: Ione ACEC/Nevada County Wood Duck Nesting Box Placement

B. Description and Rationale: Placement of wood duck nesting boxes has provided artificial
nesting cavities since 1937 as part of a national effort to alleviate the loss of natural nesting habitat.
The wood duck (Axis sponsa) is a secondary nester relying on cavities created by broken limbs and
woodpeckers. Historically these cavities were found in the riparian zones along streams, wetlands,
and ponds. With the conversion of those zones to agriculture and urban use, nesting habitat has
declined along with the wood duck population. The population decline concerned land managers, so
placement of artificial nest boxes has been used as a tool to offset the loss of nesting habitat. Wood
ducks readily use these nest boxes which has contributed to an increase in their numbers.

The wood duck boxes would be placed at two different locations that have suitable wood duck
habitat (small ponds). The placement would consist of mounting the nest boxes on a small wooden
fence post (4”X 4”). The post would be erected in a hole dug with a post hole digging tool and/or
auger. Ground disturbance would be minimal (< 0.25 m2).

C. Location: Amador County. Township 5N, Range 10E, Section 33.
             Nevada County. Township 17N, Range 9E, Section 07(NW ¼ of the SE ¼).

D. Stipulations/Mitigations: Before soil disturbance occurs, the Bureau of Land Management
archaeologist will be notified of the exact location for clearance.

E. Plan Conformance: The proposed action is consistent with the Sierra Resource Management
Plan Record of Decision (ROD), approved in February 2008. On page 12 of the ROD, a Fish &
Wildlife goal states “Maintain, improve, or enhance native fish and wildlife populations and the
ecosystems upon which they depend.”

F. Compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act: The project is a categorically
excluded action under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) in accordance with 516 DM
11.9, A.3, which allows for “Construction of perches, nesting platforms, islands, and similar
structures for wildlife use.”

The proposed action has been reviewed to determine if extraordinary circumstances exist that would
require further environmental analysis and documentation (516 DM 2, Appendix 2). None have
been identified (see attached).

G. Signature

_______________________________________________________
Jeff Horn                           Date
Acting Field Manager
Mother Lode Field Office

H. Contact

For more information, contact Jeff Jones, Wildlife Biologist, (916) 941-3136 or jwjones@blm.gov.

NEPA Compliance
                                   Categorical Exclusion Review
                                 DOI-BLM-CA-C080-2023-0005-CX

The Department of the Interior Manual 516 2.3A (3) requires review of the following “extraordinary
circumstances” (516 DM 2 Appendix 2) to determine if an otherwise categorically excluded action
would require additional environmental analysis/documentation.

1) Have significant impacts on public health or safety.
      ( ) Yes (X) No

2) Have significant impacts on such natural resources and unique geographic characteristics as
historic or cultural resources; park, recreation or refuge lands; wilderness areas; wild or scenic
rivers; national natural landmarks; sole or principal drinking water aquifers; prime farmlands;
wetlands (Executive Order 11990); floodplains (Executive Order 11988); national monuments;
migratory birds; and other ecologically significant or critical areas.
        ( ) Yes (X) No

3) Have highly controversial environmental effects or involve unresolved conflicts concerning
alternative uses of available resources [NEPA Section 102(2)(E)].
       ( )Yes (X) No

4) Have highly uncertain and potentially significant environmental effects or involve unique or
unknown environmental risks.
      ( )Yes (X) No

5) Establish a precedent for future action or represent a decision in principle about future actions
with potentially significant environmental effects.
       ( )Yes (X) No

6) Have a direct relationship to other actions with individually insignificant but cumulatively
significant environmental effects.
        ( )Yes (X) No

7) Have significant impacts on properties listed, or eligible for listing, on the National Register of
Historic Places as determined by either the bureau or office.
       ( )Yes (X) No

8) Have significant impacts on species listed, or proposed to be listed, on the List of Endangered or
Threatened Species, or have significant impacts on designated Critical Habitat.
       ( )Yes (X) No

9) Violate a Federal law, or a State, local, or tribal law or requirement imposed for the protection
of the environment.
        ( )Yes (X) No

10) Have a disproportionately high and adverse effect on low income or minority populations
(Executive Order 12898).
       ( )Yes (X) No

11) Limit access to and ceremonial use of Indian sacred sites on Federal lands by Indian religious
practitioners or significantly adversely affect the physical integrity of such sacred sites (Executive
Order 13007).
        ( )Yes (X) No

12) Contribute to the introduction, continued existence, or spread of noxious weeds or non-native
invasive species known to occur in the area or actions that may promote the introduction, growth, or
expansion of the range of such species (Federal Noxious Weed Control Act and Executive Order
13112).
       ( )Yes (X) No

Reviewers:

5.2 BLM Interdisciplinary Team

             /s/ Jeffrey Horn              2022.12.22
             ________________________________________________
             Recreation Planner

             /s/ Beth Brenneman            2022.12.12
             ________________________________________________
             Botanist

             /s/ Ann-Sheree Brown          2022.12.21
             ________________________________________________
             Archaeologist

             /s/ Jeffrey Jones             2022.12.12
             ________________________________________________
             Wildlife Biologist/NEPA Lead

             /s/ Philip D’Amo              2022.12.22
             _________________________________________________
             Assistant Field Manager