Biological Monitoring on Deferred Maintenance Projects, Endangered Species Act, Joshua Tree National Park

Joshua Tree has over $35 million in deferred maintenance; this project addresses multiple road rehabilitation projects (Pine City, Geology Tour, Black Eagle Mine road, etc.) that travel through federally threatened desert tortoise habitat. This project addresses Secretary of the Interior Priorities of Modernizing our Infrastructure (8.c.3. Deferred maintenance). Joshua Tree National Park represents one of the most robust, healthy desert tortoise recovery areas across the entire range of the species, and is a critical reproductive area supporting recovery alongside partners in the Department of the Interior and Department of Defense. Tortoises are extremely long-lived, and do not reproduce until they are 15 to 20 years old. Road mortality has been shown to have significant population level impacts on tortoises. In addition to haphazard crossings, tortoises may be drawn to preferred forage on road shoulders. Tortoises also take advantage of pooled water in roads following rain storms and are frequently killed by passing vehicles during these events. This project provides monitoring to protect the tortoise as a part of this deferred maintenance projects in the park slated to begin in January/February 2019 that improves visitor services and access to Joshua Tree National Park. Providing monitoring streamlines the regulatory process while maintaining environmental standards. The federally listed desert tortoise, migratory birds, and invasive plant species require monitoring during these activities to ensure that park resources are not degraded or affected by the project. Monitoring activities for listed species are required by the Endangered Species Act with guidance from the United States Fish and Wildlife Service to ensure the survival of these species and to avoid harm from construction activities. These deferred maintenance construction projects cannot begin without required biological monitors.