Biological Studies

Biological studies are needed for the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) process and to comply with the Endangered Species Act.

Congress created the Endangered Species Act to help conserve the ecosystems that support endangered and threatened species and to provide conservation programs for those species.

The studies will include data and reports gathered by outside organizations, including:

• Bureau of Land Management
• Desert Research Institute
• Great Basin Bird Observatory
• Nevada Department of Wildlife
• Nevada Natural Heritage Program
• U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
• U.S. Geological Survey
• Utah Division of Wildlife Resources
• Utah Natural Heritage Program

The preliminary list of studies conducted or contracted by SNWA, which may change as the process moves forward, is as follows:

• Aerial Ferruginous Hawk Surveys (2005)
• Baseline Acoustic Monitoring of Bat Populations (2006)
• Baseline Bird Inventory in Eastern Nevada Valley Bottoms (2007)
• Baseline Winter Raptor Inventory in Eastern Nevada Valley Bottoms (2007)
• Breeding Dates of Nevada's Breeding Birds - Results from Nevada Breeding Bird Atlas Project 1997-2000 (2007)
• Ecological Evaluation of Selected Aquatic Ecosystems Vol. 1 (2007)
• Ecological Evaluation of Selected Aquatic Ecosystems Vol. 2 (2007)
• Ecology of Springs in Spring and Snake Valleys (2009)
• Great Basin and Mojave Desert Biological Findings Report for SNWA Groundwater Development Project (2007)
• Herpetofauna Survey Report (2008)
• Mojave Desert Biological Surveys for SNWA Groundwater Development Project (2005)
• Pygmy Rabbit Survey Report (2007)
• Sage Grouse Lek Survey Report (2007)
• Small-Mammal Survey Report (2007)
• Terrestrial Invertebrate Survey Report (2007)
• Ute Ladies'-Tresses Evaluation in Spring and Snake Valleys (2007)
• 2008 Wildlife Surveys (2009). Chapters:
  • Sage Grouse Telemetry Survey
  • Sage Grouse Lek Survey
  • Bat Mist-Netting Survey
  • Northern Leopard Frog Survey
  • Pygmy Rabbit Survey
  • Mammalian Carnivore Survey
• Spring Valley Stipulation Biological Monitoring Program
  • Biological Monitoring Plan for the Spring Valley Stipulation (2009)
  • Spring Valley Stipulation Biological Monitoring Plan 2009 Annual Report (2010)

Fill out the Groundwater Development Project Interest Form for more information or to request copies of the Groundwater Development Project reports, studies and/or Plan of Development Map Books.