Acoustic Monitoring and Phase 1 Habitat Assessment – Harlan County, Kentucky

Investigators for this survey included Jason B. Robinson, who performed bat acoustic data analysis, and Tom Wilson and Jacob Riddle, who served as acoustic field technicians. Habitat assessments were conducted by Michael Boller, Tom Wilson, and Jacob Riddle to evaluate site conditions and species suitability.

The habitat assessment was completed to identify and document potential bat habitat within the project corridor and to determine the presence of suitable conditions for federally listed bat species in accordance with the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and Section 7 consultation requirements. The evaluation included a comprehensive desktop review and GIS analysis of available data sources, including **U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) topographic and geologic quadrangle maps, karst potential mapping, land use/land cover data, digital elevation models (DEMs), aerial imagery, and project design plans.

Field investigations were conducted to delineate habitat types, assess structural characteristics, and evaluate their suitability for use by target bat species, including potential roosting and foraging areas. These surveys support defensible determinations of habitat presence/absence and inform regulatory coordination.

For the acoustic bat survey, ultrasonic detectors were deployed for the required number of sampling nights at strategically selected locations throughout the project area. Detectors were placed in high-probability bat activity zones, including forest canopy openings, riparian corridors, roadway edges, ponds, and wetlands, to maximize the likelihood of capturing high-quality echolocation call data. This methodology supports species identification and activity analysis consistent with current federal survey guidance and best practices.