Decision Memo Hungry Creek Watershed Road Maintenance and Stony Quarry Development Project

Transcription

1 Decision Memo Hungry Creek Watershed Road Maintenance and Stony Quarry Development Project USDA Forest Service Mount Hough and Beckwourth Ranger Districts Plumas County, CA Background We, (the USDA Forest Service, Plumas National Forest, Mt. Hough and Beckwourth Ranger Districts) are proposing the Hungry Creek Watershed Road Maintenance and Stony Quarry Development Project. The purpose of the Hungry Creek Watershed Road Maintenance and Stony Development Project is to conduct road maintenance and improve road drainage structures in the watershed. Project Location The project area includes the Hungry Creek Drainage on the Mt. Hough Ranger District and the Stony Quarry site is on the Beckwourth Ranger District. The Hungry Creek drainage lies south and west of Antelope Lake and Forest Primary Route 172. The major roads and travel ways in the project area include Primary Forest Route 172, the 27N09 road, and the Antelope Lake/Taylor Lake Trail and Cold Stream Trail. The proposed activities are located in sections 1, 2, 11, 12, 13, 14, and 15 of T26N, R11E; sections 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 16, 17, and 18 of T26N, R12E; sections 13, 14, 15, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 35, and 36 of T27N, R11E; and sections 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, and 33 of T27N, R12E, MDBM. The Stony Quarry is located on 26N16A spur road in an area commonly referred to as Doyle Crossing near Johnson Hill, just south of the old Laufman Ranger Station. Primary Forest Route 176 also called the 28N03 road is the main Forest access road through the area. Stony Quarry is located in sections 11 of T26N, R13E, MDBM. Figure 1, Figure 2, and Figure 3 display the locations of the proposed activities. Purpose and Need for Action In July 2007, the Antelope Complex Fire burned approximately 23,000 acres, over 13,000 acres of which experienced high fire severity. Two months later in September of 2007, the Moonlight Fire burned adjacent and into the Antelope Complex Fire area resulting in an additional 65,000 acres burned; 37,000 acres of which experienced high severity. After the areas burned seasonal flooding and the incidental sediment transport from spring runoff increased due to unusual amounts of rainfall and snow. Consequently, the effects of these fires and the resulting flooding damaged Hungry Creek Watershed roads and resulted in increased sedimentation throughout the project area. The Forest Service Rocky Mountain Research Station and Utah State University conducted a geomorphic road analysis and inventory study (the study) in the Moonlight Fire area in The Page 1 of 11

2 study looked at how soil sediments from roads and specific features of roads, such as stream crossings and drainage ditches, impacted streams and watersheds in the Moonlight Fire area. The study data was also used to locate specific drain points causing sedimentation problems which could be corrected or improved by management activities. Less than 5 percent of the drain points in the study area resulted in 90 percent of the sediment delivered to hydrologic features (USDA Forest Service 2015). We need to conduct maintenance activities on the transportation system to decrease the likelihood of sediment reaching live streams and watercourses from identified drain points in the geomorphic road analysis and inventory study and other sources. The purpose of the Hungry Creek Watershed Road Maintenance and Stony Development Project is to improve road drainage structures in the watershed. This would help us reduce the kind of damage caused by the flooding that followed the Moonlight Fire, and create a more sustainable transportation network that minimizes adverse impacts to water and soil quality, and terrestrial and aquatic habitat. Page 2 of 11

3 Figure 1. Hungry Creek Watershed Road Maintenance and Stony Quarry Development Project vicinity map Page 3 of 11

4 Figure 2. Hungry Creek Watershed road maintenance map Page 4 of 11

5 Figure 3. Stony quarry development map Page 5 of 11

6 Decision We have decided to conduct general maintenance and road improvement activities on the following National Forest System roads in the Hungry Creek Watershed: 27N06; 26N54B; 27N09; 27N10; 27N07; 26N54; 26N54B1; 27N45; 27N09C; 27N56D; 26N54; 27N56. We would maintain approximately 40 miles of National Forest System roads. Maintenance activities would include: adding new drainage features, out-sloping the road bed, filling in ditches, cleaning existing ditches, adding gravel to the road surface, installing larger culverts, cleaning existing culverts and catch basins, constructing rolling dips, constructing diversion potential dips, armoring slopes with riprap, and reshaping the road bed to eliminate ruts caused by water runoff. These maintenance activities should decrease sedimentation and increase overall drainage function throughout the project area. We have also decided to decommission two short non-system road spurs off of forest route 27N09. These roads are located along Hungry Creek and are contributing sediment to Hungry Creek, a perennial stream. Finally, we will develop Stony Quarry to provide crushed aggregate for roadbed surfacing. Development would involve drilling, blasting with explosives, and sorting and crushing of material. We estimate that approximately 20,000 cubic yards of crushed aggregate would be produced. Forest Service Best Management Practices, Plumas National Forest Land Management Plan (as amended by the Sierra Nevada Framework) standards and guidelines or other design features will be incorporated to minimize project impacts to water quality, aquatic species, wildlife, botany and heritage resources as follows: Page 6 of 11

7 Table 1: Project design features Resource Aquatics Wildlife Non-native invasive species Hydrology Archeology Recreation/Safety Design Feature Special status aquatic species are not currently known to occur near the site. Standard Best Management Practices (BMPs) would be applied, unless monitoring discovers presence of special status species. For species that are not federally listed (e.g., Forest Service sensitive), the aquatics specialist may determine that seasonal restrictions and additional mitigation may be necessary. Within suitable Sierra Nevada yellow-legged frog habitat the project will comply with all applicable Conservation measures & Terms and Conditions identified in the Programmatic Biological Opinion dated February 17, 2015, in addition within the Riparian Conservation Area the project will meet all Riparian Conservation Objectives and apply applicable forestwide standards and guidelines (USDA Forest Service 2004). There are three spotted owl activity centers (PLU0071, PLU0287, PLU0167) that could be affected by disturbance associated with the proposed project. A limited operating period (LOP) restriction would be implemented within ¼ mile of the nest centers between March 1 and August 15 to limit effects. LOPs may be able to be modified after consulting with District Wildlife Biologist regarding survey results. Stony Quarry A small wooly mullein infestation at the Stony Quarry will be staked and flagged out. In order to prevent spreading this invasive species in stockpile materials, control treatments and follow up monitoring would occur on the infested areas. Infested stockpile materials may need to be transported to the edge of the quarry area to isolate the weed infestation while the seed bank is depleted. Hungry Creek Roads Invasive plants are present throughout the project area, in particular, Canada thistle and medusahead. Implementing preventive and control measures described below will considerably reduce the project s risk of introducing or spreading invasive plant species. a) Use standard vehicle cleaning clause to clean vehicles before entering Plumas National Forest to reduce the potential spread of Non-native Invasive Species. b) Use weed-free equipment and materials, mulches, and seed sources. Avoid seeding in areas where revegetation will occur naturally, unless noxious weeds are a concern. Save topsoil from disturbance and put it back to use in onsite revegetation, unless contaminated with noxious weeds. All activities that require seeding or planting will need to use only locally collected native seed sources. As necessary, Plumas National Forest botanists will develop project and site-specific revegetation and seeding guidelines that will be customized from existing general guidelines. c) If possible, avoid staging equipment, materials, or crews in noxious weed infested areas. As practical, flag and avoid known invasive sites (see map in project file). d) Flag and avoid, or treat and monitor noxious weed locations discovered during project implementation. Implement treatment consistent with existing approved projects. Standard BMP s for road maintenance and to minimize floodplain disturbances and sediment mobilization. One cultural resource site (the Cold Stream historic trail) is located near the project site. The archeologist has provided site specific restrictions to protect these sites in the project file. A transportation plan for construction with consideration of recreation use along Forest Primary Route 172; 28N03; and 27N09 will need to be developed and implemented as part of any construction contracts. Page 7 of 11

8 This action is categorically excluded from documentation in an environmental impact statement (EIS) or an environmental assessment (EA). The applicable category of actions is identified in agency procedures as 36 CFR 220.6(e)(20) and 36 CFR 220.6(d)(4). I find that there are no extraordinary circumstances that would warrant further analysis and documentation in an EA or EIS. I took into account resource conditions identified in agency procedures that should be considered in determining whether extraordinary circumstances might exist: Federally listed threatened or endangered species or designated critical habitat, species proposed for Federal listing or proposed critical habitat, or Forest Service sensitive species There will be no significant adverse effects to federally listed or forest service sensitive species o o o The project was designed to minimize and not adversely impact the Sierra Nevada yellow-legged frog and its habitat. The project was included among many other projects on all nine Sierra Nevada forests in a U.S. Forest Service Region-wide programmatic formal consultation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) (June 16, 2014), addressing effects of Forest Service actions on three species of Threatened and Endangered amphibians. The agency requested concurrence from USFWS on the determination of May Affect and Likely to Adversely Affect Sierra Nevada yellow-legged frogs and Not Likely to Destroy or Adversely Modify its proposed critical habitat for the set of projects included in the region-wide programmatic formal consultation. The final Biological Opinion was issued by USFWS on December 19, The project will comply with all applicable Terms and Conditions identified in the programmatic Biological Opinion dated February 17, There is no aquatic habitat near the Stony Quarry site so no effects are anticipated from that work. The remainder of the project area is suitable habitat for the Sierra Nevada yellow-legged frog, however, they have never been found in the project subwatershed, and their presence is highly unlikely. Short-term (few years) negative effects (e.g., increased sediment, cover removal) within suitable amphibian habitat are expected to occur due to heavy equipment use within and near the stream channel. The long-term result is expected to be improved aquatic habitat due to a more natural stream channel configuration, and reduced road-related sediment input adjacent and downstream of culvert removal sites and road obliteration/maintenance segment. Project area is outside known historic range of California red-legged frog. The project area passes through three spotted owl protected activity centers (PACs). LOPs (see Table 1) will limit effects to California spotted owl. No threatened, endangered, or sensitive plants are known at the project locations. Flood plains, wetlands, or municipal watersheds Plumas National Forest corporate GIS data was reviewed to determine if floodplains, wetlands or municipal watersheds are present within project boundaries. Short-term increases in sediment and turbidity can be expected immediately downstream due to ground disturbance. The potential effects of the proposed action on the floodplain would be limited in magnitude given the small footprint and the implementation of BMPs. The proposed obliteration of a short spur road off the 27N09 road is within a wetland/floodplain area. This spur road historically cut through the southern Page 8 of 11

9 portion of a 2.8-acre wetland. Although sediment may reach the wetland due to ground disturbance, the magnitude would be limited given that the work would be conducted within the existing road prism. The small footprint along with the implementation of BMPs would results in minor effects. The obliteration would eventually restore wetland connectivity. There are no municipal watersheds. Therefore no effects to these are expected from this action. There are no floodplains, wetlands, or municipal watersheds within the Stony Quarry project area. Congressionally designated areas such as wilderness, wilderness study areas, or national recreation areas none present. Inventoried roadless areas or potential wilderness areas none present. Research natural areas none present. American Indians and Alaska Native religious or cultural sites none present. Archaeological sites, or historic properties or areas There are no sites present at the Stony Quarry site. The mitigation measure discussed above (and described in the project file) must be followed to protect the historic trail that follows Cold Stream Creek. Public Involvement This action was originally listed as a proposal on the Plumas National Forest Schedule of Proposed Actions and updated periodically during the analysis. Project information was posted to the public website and a scoping letter was mailed to interested parties and tribes on February 8, No public comments were received about the project. Findings Required by Other Laws and Regulations National Forest Management Act This decision is consistent with the Plumas National Forest Land Management Plan as amended by the Sierra Nevada Framework. National Historic Preservation Act This project meets the requirements of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended and implementing procedures outlined in the Region 5 Programmatic Agreement. Implementation Date It is anticipated that the project will be implemented in spring or summer of Administrative Appeal and Review Opportunities This decision is not subject to appeal. Contact For additional information concerning this decision, contact: Janine Book, Deputy District Ranger, jbook@fs.fed.us and Page 9 of 11

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11 In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity (including gender expression), sexual orientation, disability, age, marital status, family/parental status, income derived from a public assistance program, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity, in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA (not all bases apply to all programs). Remedies and complaint filing deadlines vary by program or incident. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the responsible Agency or USDA s TARGET Center at (202) (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English. To file a program discrimination complaint, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, AD-3027, found online at and at any USDA office or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by: (1) mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C ; (2) fax: (202) ; or (3) program.intake@usda.gov USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender. Page 11 of 11