Proposed Action Report Big Creek WBP Enhancement Project

Transcription

1 Proposed Action Report Big Creek WBP Enhancement Project USDA Forest Service Cascade Ranger District Boise National Forest Valley County, Idaho July 2013 PURPOSE AND NEED FOR THE PROPOSED ACTION The encroachment of subalpine fir and lodgepole pine and the resultant competition for limited moisture, nutrients, and sunlight is inhibiting the growth and vigor of immature (i.e. seedlings, saplings, and polesized trees) whitebark pine. In addition, subalpine fir and lodgepole pine encroaching on mature whitebark pine are increasing the susceptibility of affected trees to infestation by mountain pine beetles. Eliminating competing conifers would enhance the vigor and survival of immature whitebark pine trees and reduce the risk of mature whitebark pine to bark beetle attack which is ongoing in scattered locations within the project area. The Cascade Ranger District has numerous isolated populations of whitebark pine, several of which have received management activities over the last decade to maintain or restore this declining tree species. Enhancement of whitebark pine in the Big Creek Summit area would build upon the broader goal of having numerous populations of vigorous whitebark pine scattered across the District thereby minimizing the effects of a localized incident, such as a mountain pine beetle epidemic, on the overall sustainability of this species. The expected outcome of the Proposed Action is a vigorous, resilient population of whitebark pine within the 1,195 acre project area. The elimination of conifers in a similar fashion that were competing with whitebark pine has been implemented in three separate locations on the District. Preliminary evaluations indicate these treatments were successful in creating stands with a compliment of thrifty, resilient whitebark pine trees. Activities associated with the Proposed Action would further the accomplishment of all, or portions of, the following Forest Plan goals and objectives: Goal VEGO06 - Species identified as declining (e.g. whitebark pine, western larch, aspen) are restored to desired levels of representation across the planning unit consistent with that described in Appendix A. Botanical Objective 1723 Maintain or restore known populations and occupied habitats of TEPCS plant species, including giant helleborine orchid and Idaho douglasia, to contribute to the long-term viability of these species. Vegetation Objective Restore whitebark pine in PVG11 (High Elevation Subalpine Fir) vegetation group as described in Appendix A in all watersheds in the management area. Botanical Objective 1938 Maintain or restore known populations and occupied habitats of TEPCS plant species, including Idaho douglasia, Kellogg s bitterroot, giant helleborine orchid, podgrass, white beakbrush, and bulb-bearing water hemlock to contribute to the long-term viability of these species. 1

2 PROPOSED ACTION Under the Proposed Action (Figure 1), competing conifers 1 foot tall to 5 inches dbh and within 5 to 20 feet of live whitebark pine trees would be felled, lopped, and retained on site. Competing conifers greater than 5 inches dbh and less than 20 inches dbh and within 5 to 20 feet of live whitebark pine trees would be girdled. Individual unit prescriptions may include a minimum spacing between released whitebark pine to reduce fuel loading and impacts on visual quality of Trail #150. Implementation would be accomplished with chainsaws. Depending on funding availability, proposed treatments would occur on roughly half of the acres in the summer of 2014 and the remaining half in the summer of However, should the necessary funding become available, all 1,195 acres could be implemented in the summer of Attachment A discloses design features associated with the Proposed Action. PROJECT AREA DESCRIPTION The project area (Figure 1) encompasses an estimated 1,195 acres and is located roughly 10 miles northeast of Cascade, Idaho along the major ridge dividing the North Fork Payette River and South Fork Salmon River drainages. The legal location of the area is T15N, R5E, sections 13, 14, 15, 22, 23, 25, 26, 35, and 36. MANAGEMENT DIRECTION FOR THE PROJECT AREA The project area occurs within Management Areas 17 (North Fork Payette River) and 19 (Warm Lake) as described in the Forest Plan. Several Management Prescription Categories (MPCs) apply within these management areas but proposed activities would occur only within MPC 3.2 and MPC 4.1c. REASONS FOR CATEGORICAL EXCLUSION The Chief of the Forest Service has identified specific actions that may be categorically excluded from documentation in an environmental impact statement (EIS) or environmental assessment (EA) if there are no extraordinary circumstances related to the proposed action and the proposed action is within a category listed in the Forest Service Handbook (FSH) , Chapter 30. The Responsible Official has made a preliminary determination that this proposed action falls within 36 CFR 220.6(e)(6) which states that timber stand improvement activities which do not include the use of herbicides or do not require more than one mile of low standard road construction may be categorically excluded from documentation in an EIS or EA provided that no extraordinary circumstances exist. FINDING OF NO EXTRAORDINARY CIRCUMSTANCES Based upon the findings for resource conditions described below, the Responsible Official has tentatively determined that no extraordinary circumstances are associated with implementation of this project. Forest Service direction at 36 CFR 220.6(b) describes the resource conditions that should be considered in determining whether extraordinary circumstances related to the proposed action warrant further analysis and documentation in an EIS or EA. Additionally, 36 CFR 220.6(b) states that the mere presence of one or more of these resource conditions does not preclude use of a categorical exclusion. It is the existence of a cause-effect relationship between a proposed action and the potential effect on these resource 2

3 conditions, and if such a relationship exists, the degree of the potential effect of a proposed action on these resource conditions that determines whether extraordinary circumstances exist. A summary of the effects of the Proposed Action on the resource conditions outlined in 36 CFR 220.6(b) is included below. The detailed information and analyses supporting the summaries below are located in the project planning record on file at the Cascade Ranger District. 1. The Biological Assessment (BA) completed for this project evaluated potential effects on Threatened, Endangered, Proposed Species, and their Habitats. That BA documents that the Proposed Action may affect but is not likely to adversely affect Canada lynx. Denning and forage habitat would not be affected due to the lack of these functional habitats within the project area. This project would have no effect on northern Idaho ground squirrel because source habitat is not present for this species. The Proposed Action would not likely jeopardize the continued existence of wolverine because it would not change the quality or quantity of source habitat and would not affect denning habitat or activities. The BA concluded that the Proposed Action may affect but is not likely to adversely affect Chinook salmon, steelhead trout, or bull trout or their designated critical habitats. The Proposed Action would not measurably impact Riparian Conservation Area (RCA) functions and processes, large woody debris, stream temperature, or disturbance history Watershed Condition Indicators (WCIs). Other WCIs would not be impacted. Further, it was determined that this project would have no effect on any threatened, endangered, or proposed plant species. Biological Evaluations (BEs) completed for the project evaluated potential effects on Candidate Species, Sensitive Species, and their Habitats. The BE documents that the Proposed Action may impact individuals or habitat but would not likely contribute to a trend toward Federal listing or loss of viability to the population or species of American three-toed woodpecker, boreal owl, fisher, great gray owl, northern goshawk, gray wolf, or Columbia spotted frog and would have no impact on other sensitive terrestrial species. The BE concluded that the Proposed Action may impact individuals but would not likely contribute to a trend toward Federal listing or loss of viability to the population or species of westslope cutthroat trout. Although the analysis is still ongoing, the preliminary assessment indicates that the Proposed Action would result in a beneficial impact on Pinus albicaulis (whitebark pine); may impact individuals of Douglasia idahoensis or Lewisia sacajaweana but would not likely contribute to a trend toward Federal listing or cause a loss of viability, and; would have no impact on other candidate or sensitive plant species. Final determinations, approved by the Forest Botanist, will be disclosed in the decision document. 2. Flood Plains, Municipal Watersheds or Wetlands: The Proposed Action is not expected to negatively change the functions or values of wetlands and floodplains due to incorporated design features. There are no municipal watersheds involved or potentially affected by the Proposed Action. 3. The proposed activities would not occur within or immediately adjacent to any Congressionally Designated Areas such as Wilderness, Wilderness Study Areas, or National Recreation Areas and therefore would have no effect on these resources. 4. Inventoried Roadless Areas (IRAs): The entire 1,195 acre project area occurs within either the Stony Meadows Inventoried Roadless Area (IRA) or the Needles IRA. The Proposed Action would result in short term effects on natural appearance, solitude, and opportunities for primitive recreation, followed by maintenance and/or improvement of those same criteria in the long term. This project would not affect the potential designation of any IRA in its entirety as wilderness under the Wilderness Act of This proposal was presented to the Idaho Roadless Commission on November 13, 2012 at which time the 3

4 Commission stated their support for the project as proposed, inferring that it would be consistent with the Idaho Roadless Rule. 5. No permitted activities would occur within any Research Natural Areas. Therefore, this project would have no effect on this resource. 6. American Indian and Alaska Native Religious or Cultural Sites: This project was presented to the Shoshone-Paiute Tribe at the Wings & Roots Meeting on November 8, Comments were solicited from the Shoshone-Bannock and Nez Perce Tribes via letters mailed in late November of None of the tribal representatives expressed any concerns regarding this project. 7. Archaeological Sites, Historic Properties or Areas: Given the nature of proposed activities, there is a low risk for damage to historic properties should they exist in the project area. On January 24, 2013, the State Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO) concurred with the Forest s no effect determination. 4

5 ATTACHMENT A Design Features Included with the Proposed Action The following design features would be incorporated to minimize or avoid undesirable impacts on a variety of resources. 1. Vehicle use off of roads shown on the MVUM as open to the general public would not be permitted. 2. Stumps of felled trees (1 foot tall to 5 inches dbh) would be cut as close to ground level as practicable to minimize impacts on natural appearance of the IRA. 3. Trees would not be felled or girdled within 100 feet of Trail #150. Trail #150 would be kept free of created slash. 4. Trees would not be felled or girdled within 300 feet of the Curtis Lake shoreline or dispersed campsites around Curtis Lake. 5. The District Wildlife Biologist would be notified of any occupied nests or dens that may be associated with listed, proposed, candidate, sensitive, or management indicator species. If necessary to maintain key features of nesting or denning habitat or to avoid disruption of nesting or denning activities, prescribed activities would be delayed until such time that the activity would not be disruptive. 6. All existing dead trees not posing a safety hazard to proposed activities would be retained within proposed units. 7. Option 2 (Forest Plan, Appendix B, p. B-34) was used to delineate Riparian Conservation Areas (RCAs): Perennial Streams (and Intermittent Streams Providing Seasonal Rearing and Spawning Habitat) - The RCA shall consist of two site potential tree heights. Since the most restrictive PVG affected would be PVG 7, a distance of 200 feet would apply in all units. Intermittent Streams Not Providing Seasonal Rearing and Spawning Habitat - The RCA shall consist of one site potential tree height. Since the most restrictive PVG affected would be PVG 7, a distance of 100 feet would apply in all units. Ponds, Lakes, Reservoirs, and Wetlands - The RCA shall consist of one site potential tree height. Since the most restrictive PVG affected would be PVG 7, a distance of 100 feet would apply in all units. 8. All refueling of equipment would take place outside of RCAs as defined above. 9. Felling and girdling of trees would be prohibited within 50 feet of perennial and intermittent streams, ponds, lakes, reservoirs, and wetlands. 10. Individual unit prescriptions would address pruning of whitebark pine infected with white pine blister rust where such treatments are practical and where a meaningful benefit could be achieved. 5

6 Figure 1 6