Keefer Pasture Drift Fence Project. Challis-Yankee Fork Ranger District Salmon-Challis National Forest

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1 Keefer Pasture Drift Fence Project Challis-Yankee Fork Ranger District Salmon-Challis National Forest PROPOSED ACTION The Challis-Yankee Fork Ranger District proposes construction of approximately.11 miles of barbed wire fence with cattle guard installation across the road (the Custer Motorway, Forest Service Road 070) to create a pasture boundary drift fence between the Mill Creek and Keefer Pastures (Figures 1 and 2). The Mill Creek and Keefer Pastures presently share an unfenced boundary on the Garden Creek Cattle and Horse Allotment with insufficient topographic barriers to prevent cattle movement between the two pastures. The proposed action would improve livestock management to meet riparian resource objectives. The construction of the fence and installation of the cattle guard would be arranged by the Garden Creek Allotment permittees. The project area is next to and immediately across the Custer Motorway so materials would be transported by vehicle. The excavation for the installation of the cattle guard would be done with heavy equipment across and along the existing roadbed. The barbed wire fence on either side of the cattle guard would be built by hand. Implementation could begin in spring 2016 upon approval of this action through the NEPA process. The project is expected to be completed within the same year that it is implemented. This action is expected to fit the category of exclusion 36 CFR 220.6(e)(9) that includes implementation or modification of minor management practices to improve allotment condition or animal distribution when an allotment management plan is not yet in place. PROJECT LOCATION The project area is located on the Mill Creek and Keefer Pastures on the Garden Creek Allotment, about six air miles west of Challis, Idaho in Custer County. The project is located in T14N, R18E, SW ¼ Sec. 28, B.M. The project is not located in a designated Wilderness Area, Inventoried Roadless Area, or a Wild and Scenic Area. 1

2 Figure 1. Project vicinity. 2

3 Proposed fence and cattle guard Figure 2. Project area. 3

4 PURPOSE AND NEED FOR THE PROPOSED ACTION Need: Insufficient topographic boundaries between the Mill Creek and Keefer Pastures allow cattle to drift from the Keefer Pasture into the Mill Creek Pasture when cattle are scheduled to be in the Keefer Pasture. Bull trout are present in Mill Creek within the Mill Creek Pasture. Per the 2011 Biological Assessment for the Garden Creek Allotment, the Mill Creek Pasture is allowed incidental use only as cattle are trailed through this pasture and only prior to August 15 th in order to protect bull trout habitat and to achieve riparian resource objectives. Purpose: The proposed action would prevent cattle from drifting from the Keefer Pasture to the Mill Creek Pasture where no active grazing is authorized. The action would help accomplish all or portions of the Forest Plan Management Direction identified in the next section below. The implementation of this action would help meet resource objectives for bull trout by controlling when livestock may enter a grazing pasture that has an occupied bull trout stream. This would result in improved riparian conditions, and thus improve bull trout habitat as well as reduce potential impacts from cattle on bull trout redds. MANAGEMENT DIRECTION LAWS 1. Clean Water Act, The Federal Water Pollution Control Act of 1972 (PL ) as amended in 1977 (PL ) and 1987 (PL 100-4), 2. Endangered Species Act 3. National Forest Management Act (NFMA) 4. National Historic Preservation Act 5. The Clean Air Act 6. American Indian Religious Freedom Act, Executive Order 12875, Executive Order 13007, Executive Order 13175, and Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act POLICY This action intends to support the following direction found in the Land Resource Management Plan for the Challis National Forest: Manage riparian areas according to the Riparian Standards and Guidelines. Protect or improve riparian dependent resources during management activities within or affecting riparian areas. (pg IV-1) Provide habitat to ensure viability and recovery of Threatened and Endangered and Forest Service Sensitive plants and animals (pg IV-3). Maintain or improve the current productivity level of wildlife and fish habitat (pg IV-3). Place priority on improving essential wildlife and fish habitats (e.g., aspen, mahogany, riparian, aquatic ) and seasonal ranges (pg IV-4) Maintain or provide for increase in livestock grazing to maintain local ranching economy (pg IV-5). Emphasize habitat improvement for Threatened and Endangered Species, Forest Service Sensitive, and economically and socially important species (pg IV-13). Prohibit or mitigate activities that will, or have a potential to, increase sediment in spawning gravels 2% over existing levels or to a maximum of 30%, whichever is lower (pg IV-13). Construct and modify fences to allow for wildlife passage (pg IV-14). Replace gates with cattle guards or self-closing gates on roads where problems with control of livestock occurs from gates being left open (pg IV-15). Require permittees cooperation and participation in the range improvement program, to achieve and maintain Animal Unit Month output (pg IV-15). Retain at a minimum, 75% of natural stream shade provided by woody vegetation (pg IV-33). Discourage livestock concentrations in riparian areas and within 100 feet of lakes and perennial streams. Restrict livestock grazing in identified problem areas where necessary (pg IV-33). Provide a level of management on allotments that will maintain suitable range in fair or better condition and improve the condition of suitable range that is in less than fair or better condition. Improve livestock distribution. Provide for increase in permitted livestock use as conditions allow (pg IV-168). Emphasize projects to improve streambank stability and cover (IV-170). Emphasize improved livestock distribution of livestock in development of Allotment Management Plans and range projects (IV-170). 4

5 PROJECT DESIGN FEATURES Design features were developed based on publications describing wildlife-friendly fence, Best Management Practices (BMPs), the Challis Land and Resource Management Plan (Forest Plan) standards and guides, and other direction to eliminate or mitigate potential impacts of the project. Fence specifications are based on effective control of livestock based on anticipated pressure. The following is a list of these features and requirements: Four-strand wire drift fence: 12½ gauge wire with smooth top and bottom strands, middle two strands are barbed wire; wire spacing from ground: 18, 24, 30, 42 ; line posts are spaced 15 ft apart with a maximum of 10 steel to one wood; steel T-posts, 133 wt; and all wood is full pressure-treated, 4-inch diameter line posts, 6-inch minimum diameter for braces; wood vertical stays. Instead of wood braces, steel H-brace panels may be used as an alternate brace. Any change in fence direction will require a brace. Consider in-line braces wherever there is a break in topography. Excavation for the placement of the cattle guard would be done with heavy equipment along the existing road bed at a location outside of any identified cultural resource. The drift fence will include a gate adjacent to the cattle guard to be left open when livestock are not on the allotment. Monitoring The fence would be inspected as indicated necessary for maintenance. PROJECT CONTACT Direct questions or requests for additional information to: Brianna Goehring Rangeland Management Specialist bjgoehring@fs.fed.us (208)