Well Density. In 2016, Xxxxxxx et al. (2016) found a marked decline in DSL occurrence at well densities of eight well pads/mi2; nonetheless, they suggested that 13 well pads/mi2 should be considered to be “degraded” habitat because it was generally accepted as a standard in the scientific literature. Xxxxxxx and Xxxxxxxxxx (2013) found that fragmented areas (i.e., areas with 13 well pads/mi2 or greater) had considerably lower abundance of DSL than non-fragmented sites. Further, they found that high well and road density at the landscape scale resulted in smaller, fewer, and more dispersed sand dune blowouts that are less suited to DSL persistence (Xxxxxxx and Xxxxxxxxxx, 2013; Xxxxxx et al., 2017). Xxxxxx et al., (2017) found that DSL had a relatively high susceptibility to local extinction in landscapes with 13 or more well pads/mi2 — there were too few DSL to “maintain the demographic structure of a self-sustaining population.” Id. at 10. They concluded that the network-like development of well pads and their connecting roads both isolates populations and disrupts the underlying geomorphologic processes that maintain the shinnery oak dune blowout formations. Id. The 2020 DSL CCAA addresses the potential impacts of well pad development by limiting new oil and gas development in areas of High and Intermediate Suitability habitat and concentrating development in Low Suitability habitat areas, where legally, technically, and economically feasible, and where additional well pad development is not expected to have a significant impact on the DSL or its habitat. To determine habitat areas where development may continue, the CPA analyzed oil and gas well development in the defined habitat. The CPA reports that there are 2,849 oil and gas xxxxx in DSL Habitat as defined by the Texas State University map (See Appendices E and G.). Xxxxx and xxxxx densities are not distributed uniformly through DSL Habitat (See Appendix E.). Many of the xxxxx are in Low Suitability Habitat in Crane County and the western part of Xxxxxxx County. Xxxxx are also aggregated in part of the High Suitability habitat in Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx and Xxxx counties (See Appendices E and G).
