DESERT TORTOISE

NV Energy’s Southwest Intertie Project (SWIP) / ON-Line Project

Clark County, NV

Supervised desert tortoise (DT) staff of 5-9 people while conducting presence / absence surveys. Excavated DT burrows and possible cover sites within the impact area. Relocated (no transmitters) all desert tortoises in immediate harm’s way. Presented DT awareness trainings to construction crews. Monitored construction activities to ensure environmental compliance. Escorted vehicles with low visibility through tortoise habitat without exclusion fencing.

Conducted pre-construction surveys, flagged all desert tortoise burrows, excavated burrows and moved desert tortoises if the project activities are likely to affect them. If a desert tortoise was moved, it was moved into appropriate habitat adjacent to the project site, but not more than 1,000 feet if it is an adult or 300 feet if it is a juvenile or hatchling.

Removed any desert tortoise that was threatened to a nearby location in accordance with protocol set forth by USFWS (USFWS 2009).

Monthly reports submitted to CDFW.