Further information of project proposals is available on the World Wide Web at:

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1 United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service Newport/Sullivan Lake Ranger Districts 315 North Warren Newport, WA FAX: File Code: 1950 Date: February 7, 2014 Dear Planning Participant: The Newport-Sullivan Lake Ranger Districts, in coordination with Pend Oreille County Public Utility District (District), are proposing to enhance/restore aquatic habitat within Fourth of July Creek, a tributary of the East Branch LeClerc Creek. The proposed project restoration work is located on National Forest System (NFS) lands within the Fourth of July basin (see Vicinity Map, Figure 1). Analysis of the proposed Fourth of July Creek restoration will be documented in an Environmental Assessment (Fourth of July EA). The purpose of this letter is to give the public an opportunity to provide early and meaningful participation on a proposed action prior to a decision being made by the Responsible Official (USDA Forest Service). Further information of project proposals is available on the World Wide Web at: Location The proposed project is located on a tributary to the Pend Oreille River in Northeast Washington State, approximately 100 miles north of the City of Spokane. The Project Area encompasses 3.4 miles of Fourth of July Creek, from its confluence with the East Branch LeClerc Creek upstream into the NE ¼ of Section 3, T35 N, Range 44 E, to a culvert located on a closed road. The Project Area is located only on the mainstem of Fourth of July Creek. Elevation at the mouth of Fourth of July Creek at its confluence with the East Branch of LeClerc Creek, is around 2,350 ft. Mean Sea Level (MSL). The elevation at the upper end of the restoration sites is approximately 3,200 ft. MSL. The legal description of the analysis area includes all or portions of the following: North-half of Section 3, T 35 N, Range 44 E; Willamette Meridian; Pend Oreille County, WA. South-half of Section 4, T 35 N, Range 44 E; Willamette Meridian; Pend Oreille County, WA. Southeast corner of Section 5, T 35, N, Range 44 E; Willamette Meridian; Pend Oreille County, WA. North-half of Section 8, T 35 N, Range 44 E; Willamette Meridian; Pend Oreille County, WA. Primary access to the Project Area, starting at Newport, WA, will consist of driving east across Highway 2, and then northeast and north along LeClerc Road to the East Branch LeClerc Creek Caring for the Land and Serving People Printed on Recycled Paper

2 Road, which then veers right (east) to Fourth of July Creek and the trout habitat restoration project. Purpose and Need for Action The Trout Habitat Restoration Program (THRP 2010) requires the District to restore and maintain 164 miles of tributary habitat over 25 years. The THRP includes streams within LeClerc, Calispell, Cee Cee Ah, Indian, Ruby, Cedar, Tacoma, and Mill creek watersheds. The proposed Fourth of July Creek restoration project will fulfill a part of the THRP requirements. Purpose The purpose of this proposed project is to restore habitat within the mainstem of Fourth of July Creek. The restoration efforts are needed and required under Revised 4(e) Condition 6 of the Box Canyon Hydroelectric Project License and associated THRP. Actions implemented to address the Fourth of July Creek restoration work included the following: Conducted general surveys to identify stream limiting factors Conducted in-field target surveys Identified restoration sites based on meeting desired stream habitat thresholds. The reaches surveyed within Fourth of July Creek include Reaches F1-F7 (see Figure 1) Produced a design report that identified the restoration activities to be completed. Proposed Trout Restoration Actions The proposed action is to restore and maintain the physical parameters of stream habitat within Fourth of July Creek. From the East Branch LeClerc Creek, the proposed restoration sites will extend from the mouth of Fourth of July Creek to a culvert on a closed road that crosses Fourth of July Creek (F-1 to F-7). The EA analysis will include both in-stream and upland areas. Restoration work at Fourth of July Creek is proposed for Brook, westslope cutthroat, bull, and brown trout have been observed in Fourth of July Creek. DNR fish maps indicate there are no fish-bearing tributaries to Fourth of July Creek. Stream surveys for Fourth of July Creek in the Project Area were completed by the District in the summer of 2010, with a draft report submitted to the Box Canyon Hydroelectric Project Fish Sub-Committee (FSC) in 2011 (EESC 2011a). Survey protocols and limiting factor criteria were described in separate reports (EESC 2011b; 2011c). Figure 1 shows stream reaches surveyed and land ownership in Fourth of July Creek. Survey results found that habitat attribute values fall outside of acceptable levels for pool habitat in Reaches F1, F2 and F7. Reaches F4, F5, F6, and F7 also fall outside of acceptable levels for large woody debris (LWD). The Project work at Fourth of July Creek will include restoration for pool habitat at reaches F1, F2, F7, and addition of LWD at reaches F4, F5, F6, and F7. Project 2

3 work in these reaches will include potential disturbance of approximately 67,500 sq. ft. or 1.5 acres. Project sites would be spread out, with distances between each restoration site. Light gear equipment would be used to minimize impacts related to access roads and staging areas. Handcarried winches with block and tackle and chainsaws, and perhaps pack mules or horses, will be used as needed. Trees may also be taken near the streams in close proximity to the sites to use for restoration activities. No loaders or excavators will be used. This analysis will be tiered to the Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Colville National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan (Forest Plan FEIS) and Record of Decision (Forest Plan ROD) as amended and revised; the Inland Native Fish Strategy (INFISH); and the THRP, Appendix A, Revised 4(e) Condition 6 of the Box Canyon Hydroelectric Project License. These documents provide direction for management of the Forest and associated environmental impacts. The Forest Service is initiating this EA, in coordination with the District, to partially meet restoration and enhancement requirements of the Box Canyon Hydroelectric Project License and THRP. Management Areas The following addresses the management areas related to the Fourth of July Creek restoration projects. The current Colville National Forest Plan was prepared in The Forest Plan provides direction for each Management Area (MA) and describes the goals, objectives, standards, guidelines, and management prescriptions (Forest Plan Chapter 4, 1988). Area Guidelines Table 1: Fourth of July Creek NFS Management Area Allocation and Non-USFS Lands Management Area Allocation Acres Percent of Analysis Area MA 1: Old Growth Dependent Species Habitat % MA 5: Scenic Timber % MA 6: Scenic Winter Range % MA 7: Wood/Forage 2, % MA 8: Winter Range 4, % Non-USFS Lands 54, % The specific Goals, Objectives, and Management prescriptions, together with direction in the Regional Forester's Forest Plan Amendment #2 and INFISH EA, are the basis for defining the desired future condition of that Management Area. Achievement of the desired future condition in the analysis area may require several decades. It will be reached by applying integrated management practices responsive to site-specific, on-the-ground conditions. 3

4 Figure 2 includes a map showing the FS designations and project reaches. Management Prescriptions related to the Fourth of July Creek project area, including the goals of each MA, are briefly described below. Management Area 1 (Old Growth Dependent Species Habitat): Provide essential habitat for wildlife species that require old growth forest components, and contribute to the maintenance of diversity of wildlife habitat and plan communities. Management Area 5 (Scenic/Timber): In general, management prescriptions include goals to provide a natural-appearing foreground, middle, and background along major scenic travel routes while providing wood products. Management Area 6 (Scenic/Winter Range): The management goal for this area is to provide a natural-appearing foreground, middle, and background along major scenic travel routes while providing for winter range management. Management Area 7 (Wood/Forage): Management prescriptions include goals to provide optimum production of timber products while protecting basic resources. Management Area 8 (Winter Range): Management goals meet the habitat needs of deer and elk to sustain carrying capacity at 120 percent of the 1980 level, while managing timber and other resources consistent with fish and wildlife management objectives. Resource Concerns Preliminary issues may include aquatic resources, cultural resources, rare plants, threatened and endangered species and potential recreational impacts. These issues may result in the formulation of alternatives. At this time, it is assumed that the Alternatives Analysis would consist of a No-action and Action alternative(s). Decision Needed The decision needed is whether to implement the trout habitat restoration work proposed on Fourth of July Creek. Response to Request Please notify us if you would like to stay on the mailing list for this project as well as let me know if you have any comments or questions regarding this project. You may provide responses to this project by letter, phone call, or to either me or Brian Peck, Hydropower Coordinator. Written comments regarding this project may be sent to me at the address listed on the front page of this letter. Comments may also be submitted via phone at (509) or via to comments-pacificnorthwest-colville-newport@fs.fed.us or to bjpeck@fs.fed.us. 4

5 Any comments provided will become a matter of public record and should include: the name, address, and telephone number of the provider as well as the title of the document (Fourth of July Creek EA) document (THRP Habitat Restoration). Also, comments should include specific items, along with supporting facts, you believe the Responsible Official should consider in reaching a decision. We would appreciate receiving your response by February 21, Sincerely, /s/ Gayne Sears GAYNE SEARS District Ranger Enclosures 2 Maps cc: Franklin A Pemberton Amy L Dillon Brian J Peck Debbie Howe (McMillen LLC) Marcy J Rumelhart Robert R Lawler 5