Dear Interested Party: Background

Transcription

1 United States Frest Suthwestern Regin 3 P. O. Bx 38 USDA Department f Service Carsn Natinal Frest Tres Piedras, New Mexic Agriculture Tres Piedras Ranger District (575) FAX (575) File Cde: 1950/2510/2630 Date: January 26, 2015 Dear Interested Party: The Tres Piedras Ranger District, Carsn Natinal Frest is sliciting cmments n a prpsal t implement numerus stream and watershed restratin management measures within the Upper San Antni Drainage Basin (frm here n referred t as the UpperSan Antni Prject). Specifically, this prpsal articulates management measures t imprve water quality within the upper San Antni watershed, n lands managed by the Carsn Natinal Frest, Tres Piedras Ranger District (Figure 1). We are asking whether yu may have any issues r cncerns regarding the prpsed actin. Based n ur preliminary assessment, we intend t categrically exclude the prpsed prject under 36 CFR 220.6(e)(6) Timberstand and/r wildlife imprvement activities that d nt include the use fherbicides r d nt require mre than J mile flw standard rad cnstructin. Backgrund Accrding t the New Mexic Envirnment Department (NMED) Water Quality Cntrl Cmmissin Apprved Integrated 303(d)-305(b) List, the Ri San Antni (frm Mntya Canyn t the headwaters), a high quality cldwater fishery, des nt meet water quality standards fr temperature, disslved xygen, and E. cli. The Canada Ti Grande (a principle tributary fthe Ri San Antni) des nt meet water quality standards fr temperature and nutrients. Ttal maximum daily lads have been develped fr the Ri San Antni, fr temperature and E. cli. The Ri Grande cutthrat trut (RGCT), listed as a Frest Service sensitive species, ccurs in the Ri San Antni main stream, and multiple tributaries, including the Canada Ti Grande, where a 99% genetically pure ppulatin ccurs. The Ri San Antni als cntains the Ri Grande Chub, which is als a Frest Service Sensitive Species. Any effrt t reduce temperature and increase disslved xygen wuld imprve the habitat cnditins fr these species. The Tres Piedras Ranger District, in cperatin with NMED Surface Water Quality Bureau (SWQB) and Chhnay Cnservatin Crps (CCC), has cllected extensive data n water quality within the watershed during the past decade. In 2012, Clean Water Act (CWA) Sectin 319 funding was awarded thrugh NMED t the CCC t further study water quality thrughut the prject area and develps a set f management measures t imprve water quality. As part fthat prcess, a Watershed Based Plan is being prepared separately by CCC, with Tres Piedras Ranger District assistance, which will be a mre cmprehensive and lnger term plan fr this watershed. That plan may enable the District t becme eligible fr future CWA Sectin 3 19 funds, t supprt implementatin fthe prpsed actin. Prject Lcatin The Upper San Antni prject is lcated n the Ties Piedras Ranger District f the Carsn Natinal Frest. The prpsed prject area is apprximately 14 river miles and receives drainage frm 34,408 Caring fr the Land and Serving Peple printed n Recycled Paper 4**

2 acres. The prject is primarily lcated within the Canada Ti Grande-Ri San Antni and Canada del ls Ranchs-Ri San Antni 6th cde watersheds. Multiple canyns and/r streams drain int the Ri San Antni within the prject area, including Placita Canyn, Dry Canyn, Canada Ti Grande, the Ri Nutrias, Tanques Canyn, Lagunitas Creek, and Cann Larg. The analysis bundary lies within T30N, R6E, sectins 1-2; T30N, R8E, sectin 6; T30N, R7E, sectins 1-2, 4-10; T31N, R7E, sectins 31-32; and T31N,R6E, sectins Purpse and Need fr Actin The purpse fthe prpsed actin is t implement a series f management measures t imprve water quality and fisheries habitat within the Upper Ri San Antni watershed. The regulatry need fr actin is determined by the extent and intensity fdifferences between the existing cnditins and desired future cnditins friparian areas. Desired future cnditins fr riparian areas and watershed frest-wide prescriptins have been set frth in the Carsn Natinal Frest Resurce Management Plan. Currently, existing cnditins within riparian areas fthe Upper Ri San Antni watershed are significantly departed frm the desired future cnditins. Prpsed Actin The Frest Service is prpsing the implementatin fnumerus management measures at key lcales within the prject area t address temperature and disslved xygen impairment, and imprve verall riparian health and functin fthe river crridr. Six treatment areas (TAs) are prpsed (Figure 2). These include three river treatment reaches: TA #1 (Ti Grande reach), TA #2 (San Antni: Ri Nutrias cnfluence t Olguin Mesa), and TA #3 (San Antni: Olguin Mesa reach); and three upland tank cnstructin sites: TA #4 (upper Lla Creek Tank), TA #5 (Upper Canyn Larg Tank), and TA #6 (Upper Cann Puela Creek). The fllwing are the recmmended management measures under the prpsed actin: Riparian vegetatin imprvements (TAs 1-3) Revegetatin fstreambanks and adjacent riparian meadws with wdy and herbaceus vegetatin. In-stream structure placement (large wdy debris, bulders) (TAs 1-3) Placement f in-channel structures t create a series fdeep pls, t decrease the width/depth rati in strategic lcatins, and ultimately reduce slar radiatin. Small, fence exclsures arund critical planted areas (TAs 1-3) Small fence exclsures (0-1 acre) wuld be cnstructed arund critical planted areas t deter livestck, beaver (and elk if necessary), and give shrub and herbaceus species the pprtunity t establish. Fish barrier cnstructin (TA 3) A barrier t fish migratin may be cnstructed n the main stem f the Ri San Antni t reduce nn-native fish expansin and help cnserve ppulatins fnative fishes (i.e., Ri Grande Cutthrat Trut and Ri Grande Chub). Native fishes within the Ri San

3 Antni are utcmpeted by nn-native species (e.g., German Brwn Trut)fr fd, space, and ther resurces. Reducing the ability f nn-native fishes t migrate and cmpete will help ensure the lng-term persistence fthe native fishes within the Ri San Antni. Steambank/riparian ersin cntrl (TAs 1-3) Pst-vanes and ther bankline stabilizatin/ grade cntrl techniques wuld be utilized in areas where banklines shw significantevidence f n-ging ersin. Cnstructin fup t three water catchments (TAs 4-6) Water catchments wuld be cnstructed in the uplands within the watershed t prvide water fr ungulates and deter them frm traveling dwn t the Ri San Antni. Site access and limited tree remval: Fr TAs 1, 2 and 3, up t thirty (30) trees ttal, less than 12" diameter at breast height wuld be cut frm the adjacent slpes and used fr the in-stream structures and riparian vegetatin imprvements previusly described. These trees wuld be cut with chainsaws and transprted t stream reaches with heavy equipment. Access t TA 1 wuld be frm an adjacent 2-track rad. Access t trees (described abve) n adjacent slpes at this area wuld entail limited, crss-cuntry travel n up t three shrt segments (< 300 ft). TA 2 access wuld be frm Frest Rad 93, and frm an adjacent 2-track rad. Access t trees n adjacent slpes wuld entail limited, crss-cuntry travel n up t three shrt segments (< 100 ft). Access t TA 3 wuld be frm an ld, abandned Frest Rad. Access t trees) n adjacent slpes wuld entail limited, crss-cuntry travel n up t five shrt segments (<400ft). Access t TAs 4 and 5 wuld be frm Frest Rad 87. Limited crss cuntry travel wuld ccur acrss less than 600 feet t the water catchment sites. Access t TA 6 wuld ccur frm an ld, abandned 2-track rad, which travels t the prpsed water catchment site. All areas fcrss-cuntry travel wuld be limited t three rund-trips. All areas that experience vegetatin disturbance wuld be reseeded with a native seed mix upn cmpletin fthe prject. If yu wish t cmment n this prpsed prject, please d s by February 17, If yu have any questins abut the prpsed prject, please d nt hesitate t cntact Chris Furr, District Ranger, at the Tres Piedras Ranger District, P.O. Bx 38, Tres Piedras, New Mexic Yu can als cntact Alicia Gallegs, Interdisciplinary Team Leader, at (575) The fax number is (575) Sincerely, CHRIS W. FURR District Ranger

4 Tres Piedras Ranger District Upper Ri San Antni Watershed Restratin Prject Site Lcatin N A Figure 1. Site Lcatin Map fr the Upper Ri San Antni Watershed Restratin Prject.

5 Figure 2. Upper Ri San Antni Watershed Restratin Prject Prpsed Treatment Areas (TAs).