Acronyms and Abbreviations... vii

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1 CONTENTS Acronyms and Abbreviations... vii Chapter 1 Purpose and Need for Action Background Proposed Action Scope of this Analysis Purpose and Need Providing Additional Ski Terrain Providing Additional Beginner and Intermediate Ski Terrain Enhancing Summer Use and Balancing Summer and Winter Use Decisions to be Made Regulatory Requirements Chapter 2 Alternatives History and Process used to Develop Alternatives Alternative Evaluation Alternatives Considered and Eliminated from Further Analysis Description of Alternatives Alternative A - No Action Alternative B Proposed Action Mitigation Mitigation Sources and Practices Project-specific Mitigation Measures Comparing Alternatives and Predicting Environmental Effects Monitoring Forest Plan Monitoring Monitoring Specific to this Proposed Project Permits Required Chapter 3 Affected Environment Introduction Geology and Soil Resources Standards Applicable to Geology and Soil Resources Geology and Soil Resources Methods Geology and Soil Resources Analysis Area Geology and Soil Resources Affected Environment Water Resources Standards Applicable to Water Resources Water Resources Methods Water Resources Analysis Area Water Resources Affected Environment Vegetation Standards Applicable to Vegetation Vegetation Methods Vegetation Analysis Area Vegetation Affected Environment Wildlife Standards Applicable to Wildlife Final EIS i Montana Snowbowl

2 (continued) Wildlife Methods Wildlife Analysis Area Wildlife Affected Environment Fisheries Standards Applicable to Fisheries Fisheries Methods Fisheries Analysis Area Fisheries Affected Environment Air Quality Standards Applicable to Air Quality Air Quality Methods Air Quality Analysis Area Air Quality Existing Environment Facilities and Safety Standards Applicable to Facilities and Safety Facilities and Safety Methods Facilities and Safety Analysis Area Facilities and Safety Affected Environment Cultural Resources Standards Applicable to Cultural Resources Cultural Resource Methods Cultural Resources Analysis Area Cultural Resources Affected Environment Recreation Standards Applicable to Recreation Recreation Methods Recreation Analysis Area Recreation Affected Environment Visual Resources Standards Applicable to Visual Resources Visual Resources Methods Visual Resources Analysis Area Visual Resources Affected Environment Economics Standards Applicable to Economics Economics Methods Economics Analysis Area Economics Affected Environment Economics of Local Ski Areas Economics of Montana Snowbowl Chapter 4 Environmental Consequences Introduction Geology and Soil Resources Alternative A: No Action Alternative B: Proposed Action Forest Plan Consistency Management Area Change Water Resources Final EIS ii Montana Snowbowl

3 (continued) Description of Potential Impact Mechanisms Alternative A: No Action Alternative B: Proposed Action Forest Plan Consistency Management Area Change Vegetation Alternative A: No Action Alternative B: Proposed Action Forest Plan Consistency Management Area Designation Change Wildlife Alternative A: No Action Alternative B: Proposed Action Forest Plan Consistency Management Area Change Fisheries Alternative A: No Action Alternative B: Proposed Action Forest Plan Consistency Management Area Change Air Quality Alternative A: No Action Alternative B: Proposed Action Forest Plan Consistency Management Area Designation Change Facilities and Safety Alternative A: No Action Alternative B: Proposed Action Forest Plan Consistency Management Area Designation Change Cultural Resources Alternative A: No Action Alternative B: Proposed Action Forest Plan Consistency Management Area Change Recreation Alternative A: No Action Alternative B: Proposed Action Forest Plan Consistency Management Area Change Visual Resources Alternative A: No Action Alternative B: Proposed Action Forest Plan Consistency Management Area Designation Change Economic Effects Alternative A: No Action Alternative B: Proposed Action Forest Plan Consistency and Management Area Change Final EIS iii Montana Snowbowl

4 (continued) Chapter 5 Response to Comments Introduction Content Analysis Purpose and Need Proposed Action and Alternatives Geology and Soils Water Resources Water Quality Water Resources Water Quantity Vegetation Weeds Vegetation Timber and Old Growth Wildlife General Wildlife TES Fish Facilities, Transportation and Safety Recreation Visual Resources Economics Climate Change Land Use NEPA Compliance and Adequacy Chapter 6 Sources of Information List of Photographs 3-1 Headwaters of La Valle Creek and Associated Ski Trail Subalpine Fir on TV Mountain Mixed Conifer Stand on East-facing Slope Lodgepole Pine Stand Subalpine Fir Stand Clearcut Area with Young Lodgepole Pine Logged Area with Scattered Western Larch Butler Creek C3/C4 Channel Type near the LNF Boundary January 2006 View of the TV Mountain Expansion Area from KOP Visual Simulation of Proposed Action Depicting Anticipated Visual Effects to the View of TV Mountain List of Figures 1-1 Montana Snowbowl Vicinity Map Base Area Map Three-year Periods for Annual Averages Lolo Forest Management Areas Existing and Proposed Expansion Areas Grading Areas Final EIS iv Montana Snowbowl

5 List of Figures (continued) 2-3 Proposed Expansion Showing Existing and Proposed Power, Sewer and Waterlines Forest Types Habitat Types Grant/O Keefe EMA Rattlesnake Lynx Analysis Unit Lynx Habitat, Rattlesnake and Adjacent LAUs (1998 present) Grizzly Bear Recovery Zone Occupied Grizzly Bear Habitat Wolverine Denning Habitat Flammulated Owl Habitat in MSB Analysis Area Fisher Habitat Goshawk Analysis Area Goshawk Habitat Mule Deer Ranges Moose Distribution Wildlife Connectivity Wetland Perimeter Analysis Site Plan Skier Visits at Montana Snowbowl and Marshall Mountain Ski Areas (Rolling Three-year Average Skier Visits) Population Distribution around Montana Snowbowl Population Levels for Analysis Area Counties, Missoula County Population by Age Group in 1990, 2000 and Ravalli, Lake, and Mineral Counties Population by Five-year Age Group Total Personal Income Levels for Montana Snowbowl Area Counties, Total Personal Income Growth for Recent Periods Area per Capita Personal Income Levels Rolling Three-year Annual Average Skier Visits for Montana Snowbowl and Marshall Mountain Ski Areas List of Tables 1-1 Improvements Approved in 1996 Analyzed as Connected Actions in this EIS Comparison of Existing and Proposed and Planned Ski Trail Classifications Existing Conditions and Proposed Action Comparison of Alternatives Regulatory Responsibilities Land-type Mapping Units the Proposed Expansion Area Ownership of Butler and La Valle Creek Watersheds Forest Service Harvest History in Analysis Area Summary of Existing Forest Types Summary of Existing Habitat Types Lolo National Forest Threatened, Endangered and Sensitive Plants Final EIS v Montana Snowbowl

6 List of Tables (continued) 3-7 Noxious and Other Weeds of Concern on the Lolo National Forest and Proposed Expansion Area Snowbowl Wildlife Analysis Area Landowners by Sub-watershed Total Acres of Vegetation Management on Forest Service Lands by Harvest Type and Sub-watershed Total Acres of Vegetation Management on Forest Service Lands by Harvest Type in Rattlesnake Sub-watershed Sub-watershed Total Miles of Roads (All Ownerships) Potential Threatened and Endangered Terrestrial Species in the Proposed Expansion Area Lynx Habitat in Rattlesnake LAU by Vegetation Structural Stage Acres of Post-fire Stands in Region 1 and the LNF Wildfire Habitat Available to Black-backed Woodpeckers Forested Habitat in the Analysis Area Flammulated Owl Habitat Fisher Habitat in MSB Analysis Area Estimated Goshawk Nesting Habitat in MSB Analysis Area, Forest Service Lands Composition of Goshawk Home Range Foraging Habitat by Sub-watershed, Forest Service Lands Pileated Woodpecker Habitat in Analysis Area by Sub-watershed Forest Plan Management Area Standards for Big Game Winter and Summer Range Types of Wildlife Corridors Field Visit Summary Butler Creek Flows and Changes in Flows Population/Habitat Conditions in Relation to Bull Trout Montana Snowbowl Existing Parking Capacity Existing Montana Snowbowl Base Area Skier Service Buildings Cultural Properties in the Area of Potential Effect and Vicinity Summary of Existing Ski Trail Classifications by Ability Level Existing Montana Snowbowl Facility Capacities Area County Population, Personal Income and Employment, (2003 Dollars) Area Employment by Major Sector (2003) Montana Snowbowl Employment and Wages by Season Impacts by Forest Type Impacts by Habitat Type Rattlesnake LAU, Acres of Habitat Change in Existing and Proposed MSB SUPs MSB Expansion Effects on NRLMD Objectives, Standards, and Guidelines Effects to Primary Constituent Elements for Designated Lynx Critical Habitat Change in Fisher Habitat in MSB Analysis Area (on Forest Service Lands Only) MSB Proposed SUP Impacts to Flammulated Owl Habitat by Sub-watershed Project Impacts to Goshawk Nesting Habitat Impacts to Goshawk Home Range Foraging Habitat Impacts to Pileated Woodpecker Habitat Cumulative Effects to Lynx Habitat Cumulative Impacts to Fisher Habitat Checklist for Documenting Effects of the Proposed Action on Individual Species and Habitat Indicators and Bull Trout Habitat Comparison of Existing and Proposed and Planned Ski Trail Classifications Final EIS vi Montana Snowbowl

7 4-15 Proposed and Planned Montana Snowbowl Facility Capacities Total Economic Impacts from 11 Years of Montana Snowbowl Expansion Construction Activities Total Annual Economic Impacts from Expanded Operations at Montana Snowbowl Appendices Appendix A Implementation Schedule Appendix B Weed Mitigation for MSB Expansion to TV Mountain Appendix C List of Preparers and Reviewers Appendix D Distribution List Appendix E Responses Received during the Public Comment Period for the DEIS Appendix F Changes between DEIS and FEIS Final EIS vii Montana Snowbowl

8 ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS amsl APE ARM BE BEA BLM BMPs BO CAA CAPS cfs CWCS DNRC DPS EA EIS EMA EPA ESA FEIS FIA FR FSM GIS gpm GPS HUC IGBC INFISH KOP LAU LCAS LNF LSI MA MBTSG MCCHD MDEQ MDP MFWP MIS MISMU MNHP MNHP MOU MSB NAAQS NCED NEPA above mean sea level Analysis Area Administrative Rules of Montana Biological Evaluation United States Bureau of Economic Analysis Bureau of Land Management Best Management Practices Biological Opinion Clean Air Act Crucial Area Planning System Cubic feet per second Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategies Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation Distinct Population Segments Environmental Assessment Environmental Impact Statement Ecological Management Area United States Environmental Protection Agency Endangered Species Act Final Environmental Impact Statement Forest Inventory and Analysis Forest Road Forest Service Manual Geographic Information System Gallons per minute Global Positioning System Hydraulic Unit Code Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee Inland Native Fish Strategy Key Observation Point Lynx Analysis Unit Canada Lynx Conservation Assessment and Strategy Lolo National Forest Lands System Inventory Management Area Montana Bull Trout Scientific Group Missoula City-County Environmental Health Department Montana Department of Environmental Quality Master Development Plan Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife & Parks Management Indicator Species Montana/Idaho Smoke Monitoring Unit Montana Natural Heritage Program Montana Natural Heritage Program Memorandum of Understanding Montana Snowbowl Ski and Summer Resort National Ambient Air Quality Standards Northern Continental Divide Ecosystem National Environmental Policy Act Final EIS viii Montana Snowbowl

9 Acronyms and Abbreviations Acronyms and Abbreviations (continued) NFMA NFS NOA NPDES NRCS NRLMD PCE PFA PVA R1 REIS RHCAs RMO SAOT SHPO SPCCP SUP TES TMDL USC USDA USDI USFS USFWS USGS VHF VQO National Forest Management Act National Forest System Notice of Availability National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System National Resources Conservation Service Northern Rockies Lynx Management Direction Primary Constituent Element Post-Fledging Area Population Viability Analysis Forest Service Northern Region Region One Regional Economic Information System Riparian Habitat Conservation Areas Riparian Management Objective Skiers At One Time Montana State Historic Preservation Office Spill Prevention, Control and Countermeasures Plan Special Use Permit Threatened, Endangered, or Forest Service Sensitive Total Maximum Daily Load United States Code United States Department of Agriculture United States Department of the Interior United States Forest Service United States Fish & Wildlife Service United States Geological Survey Very High Frequency (radio-collars) Visual Quality Objective Final EIS ix Montana Snowbowl