Treasured Landscapes

Transcription

1 Treasured Landscapes Recommended Wilderness and Inventoried Roadless Areas Report Prepared by: MaryAnn Hamilton Sandpoint Ranger District Recreation & Dan Gilfillan North Zone Recreation Staff For: Sandpoint Ranger District Idaho Panhandle National Forest 11/18/2014

2 The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or part of an individual's income is derived from any public assistance program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA's TARGET Center at (202) (voice and TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination, write to USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C , or call (800) (voice) or (202) (TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

3 Treasured Landscapes Table of Contents Introduction... 2 Overview of Issues Addressed... 2 Indicators Measures... 2 Affected Environment... 4 Existing Condition... 4 General... 4 Qualities of Wilderness Character... 5 Inventoried Roadless Area Character... 5 Desired Condition... 6 Regulatory Framework... 6 Recommended Wilderness Legislative and Policy Guidance... 7 Idaho Roadless Area Legislative and Policy Guidance... 8 Environmental Consequences... 9 Methodology... 9 Alternative 1 No Action... 9 Qualities of Wilderness Attributes... 9 Inventoried Roadless Area Characteristics... 9 Cumulative Effects Alternative 2 Proposed Action Qualities of Wilderness Attributes Inventoried Roadless Area Characteristics Cumulative Effects References (Literature Cited) List of Tables Table 1. Roadless Area Name, Idaho Roadless Rule Classification, and Acres... 5 Table 2. Roadless Area Characteristics and corresponding Wilderness Attributes... 6 Table 3. Past, Present, and Reasonably Foreseeable Actions on NFS (Alt.. 1) Table 4. Past, Present, and Reasonably Foreseeable Actions on Adjacent Lands (Alt. 1) Table 5. Past, Present, and Reasonably Foreseeable Actions on NFS in Project Area (Alt. 2) Table 6. Past, Present, and Reasonably Foreseeable Actions on Adjacent Lands (Alt. 2) List of Figures Figure 1 Management Categories of Idaho Roadless Areas..3 Figure 2 Idaho Roadless Themes within Scotchman Peaks IRA. 14 Figure 3 Proposed actions location within Inventoried Roadless Areas...17 i

4 Proposed Wilderness and Inventoried Roadless Area Specialist Report Introduction The intent of this report is to analyze how the Proposed Wilderness and Inventoried Roadless Area (IRA) related resources would be affected by the management actions proposed by the USDA Forest Service. The area used for analyze was the Treasured Landscapes project boundary determined by using Geographic Information System (GIS) data maintained by the Idaho Panhandle National Forest. Professional judgment was incorporated in determining the project s potential effects. On the ground analysis was obtained by walk through surveys including assessments from known recreation resources (e.g. trails and campgrounds). Surveys were conducted during the 2013 & 2014 field seasons by both Sandpoint Ranger District Recreation Personnel and North Zone Recreation Staff. Forest Service standards are applied in the trail design features to ensure that national forest service system routes would be appropriately reconstructed where necessary. Design standards for Forest Service Trails are found in Forest Service Handbook and vary depending on designed use and trail class. The existing condition and effects to both trails and developed recreation sites are explained, at length, within the purpose and need and proposed action of this project. Therefore no further analysis is necessary in this report. Likewise, the Recreation Opportunity Spectrum (ROS) was considered; however, any issues related to the ROS are better analyzed within the context of inventoried roadless areas or proposed wilderness. Furthermore, the activities proposed in the proposed action are not of the nature that they would raise any significant zoning issues related to ROS, as no timber harvest or road construction is planned. Overview of Issues Addressed Issues relevant to the Proposed Wilderness & Inventoried Roadless Area resources include: 1. Wilderness Attributes 2. Inventoried Roadless Area Characteristics These issues were chosen as directed by National Policy and Forest Plan Direction. The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requires integrated use of the natural and social sciences in all planning and decision-making that affects the human environment. The human environment includes the natural and physical environment and the relationship of people to the environment (40 CFR ). Indicators Measures Indicator measures are intended to address how each action individually (direct and indirect effects) and each alternative as the sum total of its proposed actions (cumulative effects) respond to the Forest Plan. Qualities of Wilderness Attributes Wilderness characteristics are the conditions of the land that may qualify areas for consideration as designated wilderness. These qualities are also used in the analysis of potential effects to the Scotchman Peaks Proposed Wilderness. 1. Untrammeled Is the proposed wilderness area essentially unhindered and free from modern human control or manipulation? 2

5 Treasured Landscapes 2. Undeveloped Is the proposed wilderness essentially without permanent improvements or modern human occupation? 3. Natural Are the ecological systems substantially free from the effects of modern civilization? 4. Outstanding opportunities for solitude or a primitive and unconfined type of recreation Does the proposed wilderness provide outstanding opportunities for people to experience solitude or primitive and unconfined recreation, including the values of inspiration and physical and mental challenge? Inventoried Roadless Area Characteristics Action must also comport with the Idaho Roadless Area Rule. Management classifications for Idaho Roadless Areas are expressed in a management continuum with the Wild Land Recreation category being the most restrictive and the General Forest category being the lest restrictive. Management classifications include: 1. Wild Land Recreation; 2. Special Areas of Historic or Tribal Significance; 3. Primitive; 4. Backcountry/Restoration; and 5. General Forest, Rangeland, and Grassland. Figure 1 Management Categories of Idaho Roadless Areas 3

6 Proposed Wilderness and Inventoried Roadless Area Specialist Report Affects to the Idaho Roadless Areas are evaluated against the areas roadless values. The nine inventoried roadless area values used in analysis are: 1. High quality or undisturbed soil, water, and air. 2. Sources of public drinking water. 3. Diversity of plant and animal communities. 4. Habitat for threatened, endangered, proposed, candidate, and sensitive species and for those species dependent on large, undisturbed areas of land. 5. Primitive, semi-primitive non-motorized and semi-primitive motorized classes of dispersed recreation. 6. Reference landscapes. 7. Natural appearing landscapes with high scenic quality. 8. Traditional cultural properties and sacred sites. 9. Other locally identified unique characteristics. Affected Environment Existing Condition General Lands within the project area include a wide range of natural and developed settings and have a long history of non-motorized and motorized recreation use. A ten minute drive from Clark Fork and within an hour of Sandpoint, Idaho, the area is a popular summer destination. Recreation areas are easily accessed via Lightning Creek Road and Trestle Creek Road, both well maintained, two lane Forest roads. Motorized use includes passenger vehicles, OHV (ATV, UTV and single-track motorcycle), and winter snowmobile use. Non-motorized uses include hiking, mountain bike riding, horseback riding, snowshoeing and cross country skiing. Lightning Creek Road is the main access into the project area and follows Lightning Creek to its upper reaches. Lands in the project area accommodate a diversity of activities ranging from driving for pleasure, car camping, cabin rental, huckleberry picking, firewood gathering, hunting and fishing, to horseback, motorcycle and ATV riding, mountain bike riding,day hikes and backpacking trips. Due to terrain and already developed access, these lands provide some of the best potential on the District for fully accessible recreation activities. Recreational day use is high along the roads throughout the project area. Although the highest seasons of use are spring through fall, lower elevations and easy access allow full year round recreation opportunities. Landforms vary from stream side forested slopes and rock outcroppings to high mountain peaks. Scotchman Peak is the highest peak in the project area at 7009 in elevation. Long range vistas are typical. The general setting of the project area is natural appearing, yet evidence of human activities such as roads, timber harvest, developed recreation sites, etc. are present and visible. 4

7 Treasured Landscapes Qualities of Wilderness Character Scotchman Peaks Recommended Wilderness Area (25,900 Acre) is located within the project area. Scotchman Peak Recommended Wilderness Area includes outstanding examples of the subalpine environment indicative of the Cabinet Mountains of Northern Idaho and Western Montana. Scotchman s Peak reaches just above 7,000 feet and provides outstanding opportunities for wildlife viewing. No congressional designated wilderness or wilderness study areas are located within the project boundary. Impacts to wilderness character are evaluated by analyzing impacts to the follow four Qualities of Wilderness Attributes: Untrammeled - wilderness is essentially unhindered and free from modern human control or manipulation. Forest Service Manual 2320 defines untrammeled as an area where human influence does not impede the free play of natural forces or interfere with natural processes in the ecosystem. Undeveloped wilderness is essentially without permanent improvements or modern human occupation. Natural - wilderness ecological systems are substantially free from the effects of modern civilization. Outstanding opportunities for solitude or a primitive and unconfined type of recreation Wilderness provide outstanding opportunities for people to experience solitude or primitive and unconfined recreation, including the values of inspiration and physical and mental challenge. Inventoried Roadless Area Character There are portions of four separate Inventoried Roadless Areas (IRA) s within the project area. These include Beetop IRA (#130), Scotchman Peaks (#662), Trestle Peak (129), and Mt. Willard Lake Estelle IRA (173). For the purposes of this document, effects will be measured against the existing Roadless Area Characteristics of these four areas. Table 1. Roadless Area Name, Idaho Roadless Rule Classification, and Acres IRA Name & # Idaho Roadless Rule Management Classification(s) Acres in Idaho * Proposed actions Beetop (#130), Backcountry/Restoration 12,446 Scotchman Peaks (#662) Idaho Panhandle& Kootenai Wild Land Recreation Backcountry/Restoration Forest Plan Special Area 24,573 WLR ** 8,056 B/R 1,312 FPSA Beetop / Roundtop Trail #120 Reconstruction Scotchman Peak Trail #65 Reconstruction Trestle Peak (#129 Backcountry/Restoration 7, Mt. Willard-Lake Estelle (#173) Backcountry/Restoration Forest Plan Special Area 35,009 B/R 282 1,426 FPSA *** none * Part of the IRA lies in Montana on the Kootenai National Forest. These figures reflect only the area in Idaho. ** Acreage reflects updated mapping with GIS tools not available for the 1987 Forest Plan which shows 23,900 acres. *** Not shown on map. When considering how the proposed action will affect the ability of an individual IRA to become congressionally designated wilderness effects to the roadless area characteristics would have 5

8 Proposed Wilderness and Inventoried Roadless Area Specialist Report similar effects to corresponding wilderness attributes. For the purposes of this report effects to roadless area characteristics will correspond to the wilderness attributes as listed in table 2. Table 2. Roadless Area Characteristics and corresponding Wilderness Attributes Wilderness Attributes Natural: Ecological systems are substantially free from the effects of modern civilization and generally appear to have been affected primarily by forces of nature. Undeveloped: Degree to which the area is without permanent improvements or human habitation. Outstanding Opportunities for Solitude or Primitive and Unconfined Recreation: Solitude: opportunity to experience isolation for the sights sounds, and presence of other form the developments and evidence of humans. Primitive and unconfined recreation: opportunity to experience isolation form the evidence of humans, to feel a part of nature, to have a vastness of scale, and a degree of challenge and risk while using outdoor skills. Special Features and Values: Capability of the area to provide other values such as those with geologic, scientific, education, scenic, historic, or cultural significance. Manageability: The ability of the Forest Service to manage an area to meet size criteria and the elements of wilderness. Roadless Area Characteristics High quality or undisturbed soil, water and air Sources of public drinking water Diversity of plan and animal communities Habitat for threatened, endangered, proposed candidate and sensitive species and for those species dependent on large, undisturbed areas of land Reference landscapes Natural appearing landscapes with high scenic quality Primitive, semi-primitive non-motorized and semi-primitive motorized classes of dispersed recreation. Traditional cultural properties and sacred sites Other locally identified unique characteristics No Criteria Desired Condition Regulatory Framework The Wilderness Act of 1964 (Public Law ) (78 Stat. 890) (September 3, 1964): The Wilderness Act states Congressional policy, establishes a National Wilderness Preservation System, defines wilderness, provides administrative and management direction, prohibits certain uses and activities, and establishes a process for adding wild lands to the NWPS. This act also lists the original areas included in the NWPS, and it provides a study and evaluation process for additional areas. Multiple Use, Sustained Yield Act. June 12, (74 Stat. 215, as amended: 16 U.S.C ): Sec. 1 It is the policy of the Congress that the national forests are established and shall be administered for outdoor recreation, range, timber, watershed, and wildlife and fish purposes. Sec. 2 The Secretary of Agriculture is authorized and directed to develop and administer the renewable surface resources of the national forests of the national forests for multiple use and sustained yield of the several products and services obtained there from. The establishment and maintenance of areas of wilderness are consistent with the purposes and provisions of this Act. 6

9 Treasured Landscapes Forest Service Manual 2320 Wilderness Management: FSM 2320 directs the Forest Service in managing wilderness. The Wilderness Act is the overriding legislative direction, and FSM 2320 provides more detailed administrative guidance for compliance with the Wilderness Act and Forest Service policy. Endangered American Wilderness Act of 1978 (Public Law ) (February 24, 1978): By passing the Endangered Wilderness Act, Congress further established that areas previously modified or influenced by man should not be precluded from wilderness designation, nor should roadless areas near major cities since they provide primitive recreation opportunities close to population concentrations. The Congressional Record for this law endorsed the Forest Service plan to conduct a RARE II evaluation. Secretary s Memorandum : On May 29, 2009 the Secretary of Agriculture ordered that the Secretary of Agriculture holds the decision-making authority over the construction and reconstruction of roads and the cutting, sale, or removal of timber in inventoried roadless areas. Idaho Roadless Rule: Developed through a collaborative process that included conservation groups Idaho Conservation League and Trout Unlimited, along with county commissioners, timber companies, hunters and recreation groups. Instead of blanket restrictions on the use of all IRAs, as provided by the national Roadless Rule, the Idaho Rule creates several different categories of lands within Idaho s 9.3 million acres of IRAs and applies different management themes to each category. Under three of the themes covering over 3 million acres, the Idaho Rule provides more protection than the national Roadless Rule, banning all road-building, with a single exception for roads required by statute, treaty, reserved or outstanding rights, or other legal duty of the United States. Unlike the national rule, however, the Idaho Rule does permit some temporary road-building and logging in lands covered by the Backcountry/Restoration (BCR) theme, while providing certain restrictions to ensure that the roadless characteristics of the lands are maintained or improved over the long term. Idaho Panhandle National Forests (IPNF) Land Management Plan: Details local management prescriptions for the IPNF National Forest, including the Scotchman Peaks Wilderness, the Beetop IRA, Scotchman Peak IRA, Trestle Peak IRA and the Mt. Willard Lake Estelle IRA. Recommended Wilderness Legislative and Policy Guidance The 2015 Revision of the IPNF Forest Plan identified four recommended wilderness areas (Mallard Larkins, Salmo-Priest, Scotchman Peaks, and Selkirk) as additions to the National Wilderness Preservation System. These areas represent approximately 17% if the inventoried roadless areas found on the forest. For each recommended wilderness, the wilderness character and potential for the area to be included in the National Wilderness Preservation System remain intact until Congressional action is taken. These areas are additionally classified as Wild Land Recreation under the Idaho Roadless Area Rule and have the additional management requirements as described in 36 CFR 294 Subpart C. The Wilderness Act begins its statement of policy, to assure that an increasing population, accompanied by expanding settlement and growing mechanization, does not occupy and modify all areas within the United States and its possessions, leaving no lands designated for preservation and protection in their natural condition. Section 2(c) of the Wilderness Act further defines wilderness as an area where the earth and its community of life are untrammeled by man, where man himself is a visitor who does not remain. An area of wilderness is further defined to mean 7

10 Proposed Wilderness and Inventoried Roadless Area Specialist Report in this Act an area of undeveloped Federal land retaining its primeval character and influence, without permanent improvements or human habitation, which is protected and managed so as to preserve its natural conditions and which (1) generally appears to have been affected primarily by the forces of nature, with the imprint of man's work substantially unnoticeable. The Act contains further definitions for wilderness, but the above is most relevant to this analysis. Section 4(b) of the Wilderness Act requires that the Forest Service administer wilderness in a way that preserves wilderness character except as otherwise provided in the Wilderness Act. For practical purposes, land management agencies in charge of administering wilderness, including the Forest Service, have simplified the statutory definition of wilderness into four qualities for planning and monitoring purposes (Landres, et. al. 2008; Landres, et. al. 2009). The four qualities of wilderness character come directly from the Wilderness Act, but they make planning and monitoring for managing wilderness character more tangible. The four qualities of wilderness character include untrammeled, undeveloped, natural, and outstanding opportunities for solitude or a primitive and unconfined type of recreation More specific wilderness management guidelines are found within FSM 2320 Wilderness Management. In general, the protection of wilderness character is prioritized over other resource concerns. As written in policy, Where there are alternatives among management decisions, wilderness values shall dominate over all other considerations except where limited by the Wilderness Act, subsequent legislation, or regulations (FSM #1). In accordance with the Wilderness Act, exceptions are granted in certain cases, and when an exception occurs the impacts should be minimized (FSM ). A detailed policy review is required in order to clarify management direction and exceptions found within Forest Service policy as it relates to the proposed action. Idaho Roadless Area Legislative and Policy Guidance Since the Forest Service Roadless Area Review and Evaluation (Rare II) the Agency has used locally driven forest plans to manage inventoried roadless areas. While these plans accounted for the comments of local communities by considering the characteristics of each individual roadless area, some felt these plans lacked a national perspective and allowed too much modification of roadless characteristics. The 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule was established to provide nationwide consistency in the management of roadless areas. The State of Idaho petitioned the U.S. Department of Agriculture in 2006 to establish new management for National Forest System roadless areas in the State by the proposed Idaho Roadless Rule. The final Rule was adopted by the Department in 2008, and supersedes the 2001 Roadless Rule. It establishes a system of 250 Idaho Roadless Areas that are designated and managed by a continuum of five management classifications that detail prohibitions with exceptions or conditioned permissions governing road construction, timber cutting and discretionary mineral development. The 2008 Idaho Roadless Rule designated roadless areas on the Idaho Panhandle National Forest and assigned management classifications to all Idaho roadless areas, with some having two or more management classifications. The Rule assigns management classifications and excepted or permitted activities associated with them, based on the roadless character and wilderness attributes of a roadless area and its future potential for wilderness designation, as well as effects to recommended and designated wilderness areas adjacent to designated Idaho Roadless Areas. 8

11 Treasured Landscapes Environmental Consequences Methodology Geographic Information System data from the Idaho Panhandle National Forest was used in determining the acreage that the proposed action would occur in Inventoried Roadless Areas and the Scotchman Peaks Proposed Wilderness. The factors being analyzed for impacts on wilderness are derived from the Wilderness Act, Forest Service Manual 2320 Wilderness Management, and Forest Service technical reports. The factors being analyzed for IRAs are a result of discussions with the Region 1 Office on procedures for activities in IRAs and guidance from the Idaho Roadless Rule (36 CFR Part 294). Furthermore, other specialist reports contain a more detailed analysis on specific resource concerns that relate to the analysis factors in wilderness and IRAs. For example, the Invasives Specialist Report has a more detailed analysis of invasive weeds, but this is related to the analysis factors in this report. Connected Actions, Past, Present, and Foreseeable Activities Relevant to Cumulative Effects Analysis Alternative 1 No Action Direct and Indirect Effects Qualities of Wilderness Attributes Scotchman Peak Proposed Wilderness Area Untrammeled: As a direct effect, the no action alternative would support the untrammeled quality of wilderness character. However, indirectly we could see greater impacts to the area due to deteriorating trail conditions. If trail conditions are not address through the proposed action, recreational users would continue to cause trail braiding increasing the visual signs of the presences of man. Undeveloped: The no action alternative would support the undeveloped quality of wilderness character. No additional trail would be constructed through the no action alternative. Natural: A direct effect of the no action alternative would be the support the Natural quality of wilderness. The ecological system would remain substantially free from the effects of modern civilization. Outstanding opportunities for solitude or a primitive and unconfined type of recreation: The no action alternative would have no direct effect on opportunities for primitive and semiprimitive recreation. Indirectly however, by taking no action to correct the deteriorating trail conditions and lack of access, primitive recreational activities may be limited in the future. Inventoried Roadless Area Characteristics Scotchman Peak IRA (#662) Wild Land Recreation (24,573 ac.) and Backcountry / Restoration (8,056 ac.) 9

12 Proposed Wilderness and Inventoried Roadless Area Specialist Report Soil, water and air resources: The no action alternative would have no direct effect on air quality. See the Air Quality Specialist Report for more technical analysis. The no action alternative would continue to encourage erosion and sedimentation within areas of high quality and undisturbed soil and water. See the Soils and Hydrology Specialist Report for a more detailed analysis. Diversity of plant and animal communities: The no action alternative would have no effect on the diversity of plant and animal communities. More technical analysis can be found in the sensitive plant species specialist report and the wildlife report. Habitat for threatened, endangered, proposed, candidate, and sensitive species and for those species dependent on large, undisturbed areas of land: The no action alternative would have no effect on the habitat for T&E, proposed candidate, and sensitive plant and animal species. More specific analysis can be found in the wildlife and botany specialist reports. Primitive, semi-primitive non-motorized and semi-primitive motorized classes of dispersed recreation: The no action alternative would have no direct effect on opportunities for or primitive and semi-primitive recreation. Indirectly though, by taking no action to correct the deteriorating trail conditions and lack or access, primitive recreational activities may be limited in the future. Reference landscapes: The no action alternative would have no adverse impact on the area as a reference landscape. Natural appearing landscapes with high scenic quality: If the No Action Alternative is selected there would be no immediate effect to the scenery resources of the project area. Traditional cultural properties and sacred sites: If the No Action Alternative is selected there would be no immediate effect to cultural resources of the project area. A more detailed analysis can be found in the heritage specialist report. Other locally identified unique characteristics: No other locally identified unique characteristics were identified by the Interdisciplinary team or the public. Beetop (#130) Backcountry / Restoration (12,446 ac.), Trestle Peak (#129) Backcountry / Restoration (7,274 ac.), and the Mt. Willard-Lake Estelle (#173) Backcountry / Restoration (35,009 ac.). Soil, water and air resources: The no action alternative would have no direct effect on air quality. See the Air Quality Specialist Report for more technical analysis. The no action alternative would continue to allow impacts to the shorelines effecting High quality or undisturbed soil and water. See the Soils and Hydrology Specialist Report for a more detailed analysis. Diversity of plant and animal communities: The no action alternative would have no effect on the diversity animal communities; however, it would indirectly allow for further habitat degradation to know rare plants due to the lack of boardwalk construction around the identified lakes. More technical analysis can be found in the Invasive and the Sensitive Plant Species Specialist report. 10

13 Treasured Landscapes Habitat for threatened, endangered, proposed, candidate, and sensitive species and for those species dependent on large, undisturbed areas of land: The no action alternative would have no effect on the diversity of plant and animal communities. More specific analysis can be found in the invasive and the sensitive plant species specialist report. Primitive, semi-primitive non-motorized and semi-primitive motorized classes of dispersed recreation: The no action alternative would have no direct effect on opportunities for primitive and semi-primitive recreational opportunities. Indirectly though, by taking no action to correct the deteriorating trail conditions and lack of access, primitive recreational activities may be limited in the future. Reference landscapes: The no action alternative would have no adverse impact on the area as a reference landscape. Natural appearing landscapes with high scenic quality: If the No Action Alternative is selected there would be no immediate effect to the scenery resources of the project area. Traditional cultural properties and sacred sites: If the no action alternative is selected there would be no immediate effect to cultural resources of the project area. A more detailed analysis can be found in the heritage specialist report. Other locally identified unique characteristics: No other locally identified unique characteristics were identified by the interdisciplinary team or the public. Cumulative Effects Within the Treasured Landscapes Project area, there are activities that are past, present, and/or reasonably foreseeable that have, or could, affect proposed wilderness and inventoried roadless resources. Within the project file, there is a comprehensive list of those specific activities. For the purposes of this analysis, focus was given to only those activities with potential affects (table 3). Table 3. Past, Present, and Reasonably Foreseeable Actions on NFS (Alt. 1). Actions on National Forest Lands Past Present Prescribed burns: The Forest Service has treated 8,829 acres in the past and is planning to conduct approximately 3, 500 acres of prescribed burning activities associated with this project under a separate analysis.. Tree planting Approximately 9,300 acres have been planted in the analysis area. Timber stand improvement activities : Stand improvement activities are actions such as pre-commercial thinning of young tree plantations and pruning of white pine trees to reduce blister rust mortality. A total of 5,300 acres of precommercial thinning and 1650 acres of white pine pruning have occurred in previously harvested forest stands. In addition, approximately 60 acres of young forest stands may have white pine pruning activities conducted on them in the foreseeable future. These occur in the North Lightning BMU. Wildfires: Wildfires will continue to ignite within and adjacent to the project area. Thunderstorms can be expected to occur across the Sandpoint Ranger District. A majority of documented ignitions since the 1940 s are lightning caused within the project area. A total of 1,891 acres have burned from wildfires within the project area since 1988 and 46,183 acres since Reasonably Foreseeable 11

14 Proposed Wilderness and Inventoried Roadless Area Specialist Report Actions on National Forest Lands Past Present Fire suppression: Fire suppression will continue because the project area is within the wildland-urban Interface, and is a continuation of current management. Reasonably Foreseeable Trail maintenance: Clearing limits and drainage work completed annually. Table 4. Past, Present, and Reasonably Foreseeable Actions on Adjacent Lands (Alt. 1). Actions on Adjacent Ownerships Past Present Prescribed burning: Based on past experience, we expect prescribed burning is taking place now and in the future, on both small non-industrial as well as industrial forestland parcels. Tree Planting: Hancock Forest Management plants and is planning future tree planting on their lands in the future Timber stand improvement activities: Based on current practices, it is reasonable to assume there has been and will be pre-commercial thinning on industrial and other privately held forestland. Wildfires will continue to ignite within and adjacent to the project area. Thunderstorms can be expected to occur across the Sandpoint Ranger District. A majority of documented ignitions since the 1940 s are lightning caused within the project area. The timing, size, intensity and resource impacts from future wildfires cannot be predicted. Fire suppression will continue because Idaho Code states that fire is a nuisance and must be suppressed, and this is the direction for adjacent land fire protection. Reasonably Foreseeable The no action alternative would have no cumulative effects related to past, present, and foreseeable actions in the Scotchman Peaks Proposed Wilderness Area, Scotchman Peaks IRA, Beetop IRA, Trestle Peak IRA, and the Mt. Willard-Lake Estelle IRA. Compliance with Forest Plan and Other Relevant Laws, Regulations, Policies and Plans Regulatory Framework Idaho Panhandle National Forest Land Management Plan: Details local management prescriptions for the Idaho Panhandle National Forest, including the Scotchman s Peak Proposed Wilderness. Subpart C - Idaho Roadless Area Management 36 CFR Ch. II ( Edition): Details analysis methodologies for the Beetop-Roundtop, Scotchman Peaks, Willard Lake & Estelle and Trestle Peak IRAs. The Wilderness Act of 1964 (Public Law ) (78 Stat. 890) (September 3, 1964): The Wilderness Act states Congressional policy, establishes a National Wilderness Preservation System, defines wilderness, provides administrative and management direction, prohibits certain uses and activities, and establishes a process for adding wild lands to the NWPS. This act also lists the original areas included in the NWPS, and it provides a study and evaluation process for additional areas. 12

15 Treasured Landscapes Multiple Use, Sustained Yield Act. June 12, (74 Stat. 215, as amended: 16 U.S.C ): Sec. 1 It is the policy of the Congress that the national forests are established and shall be administered for outdoor recreation, range, timber, watershed, and wildlife and fish purposes. Sec. 2 The Secretary of Agriculture is authorized and directed to develop and administer the renewable surface resources of the national forests of the national forests for multiple use and sustained yield of the several products and services obtained there from. The establishment and maintenance of areas of wilderness are consistent with the purposes and provisions of this Act. Endangered American Wilderness Act of 1978 (Public Law ) (February 24, 1978): By passing the Endangered Wilderness Act, Congress further established that areas previously modified or influenced by man should not be precluded from wilderness designation, nor should roadless areas near major cities since they provide primitive recreation opportunities close to population concentrations. The Congressional Record for this law endorsed the Forest Service plan to conduct a RARE II evaluation. Forest Service Manual 2320 Wilderness Management: FSM 2320 directs the Forest Service in managing wilderness. The Wilderness Act is the overriding legislative direction, and FSM 2320 provides more detailed administrative guidance for compliance with the Wilderness Act and Forest Service policy. Secretary s Memorandum : On May 29, 2009 the Secretary of Agriculture ordered that the Secretary of Agriculture holds the decision-making authority over the construction and reconstruction of roads and the cutting, sale, or removal of timber in inventoried roadless areas. Summary of Effects Within the Scotchman Peaks Proposed Wilderness, the no action alternative would result in the continued deterioration of the Morris Creek Trail indirectly impacting both the untrammeled and primitive recreation attributes of wilderness character. Deteriorating trail conditions would also affect the soil, water and air characteristic of the Scotchman Peaks IRA encouraging erosion and sedimentation. By taking no action to correct these conditions the Forest Service would also indirectly effect the primitive and unconfined recreation wilderness attribute and the primitive and semi-primitive recreation IRA characteristic. Within the Beetop-Roundtop IRA, taking no action to correct the lack of access to the existing Bee-top Round-Top Trails (#120) would indirectly result in the reduction of opportunities for primitive, semi-primitive non-motorized classes of dispersed recreation. Within the Mt.Willard- Lake Estelle IRA, the no action alternative would allow for continued impacts to the shorelines effecting high quality or undisturbed soil and water. This alternative would also indirectly allow for further habitat degradation to know rare plants due to the lack of boardwalk construction around the identified lakes. This would also result in a reduction of opportunities for primitive, semi-primitive non-motorized classes of dispersed recreation 13

16 Proposed Wilderness and Inventoried Roadless Area Specialist Report Alternative 2 Proposed Action Direct and Indirect Effects Qualities of Wilderness Attributes Scotchman Peak Proposed Wilderness Area Within the Scotchman Peaks Proposed Wilderness the Forest Service is proposing to repair approximately 3.7 miles/ of tread and reroute one tenth of a mile of the washed out section of the Morris Creek Trail #132 at T56N, R3E, section 8. The Forest Service is also proposing to reroute the lower portion of the Scotchman Peak Trail #65 in T56N, R3E, sections 20, 21, 29, and 32. Untrammeled: The proposed action alternative would have no effect as the trail construction would result in no net gain or loss areas of ground disturbance or new trail construction. All existing trail being replaced would be rehabbed to a natural appearing condition. The area would continue to appear free of human manipulation. Undeveloped: The proposed trail construction would be noticeable as a sign of human habitation in the area. Natural: The ecological systems found within the area would continue to be primarily affected by the forces of nature. They would be substantially free of the effect of modern civilization Outstanding opportunities for solitude or a primitive and unconfined type of recreation: The proposed action alternative would a positive effect on opportunities for solitude and primitive and unconfined types of recreation. By repairing and rerouting both the Morris Creek Trail and the Scotchman Peaks trail the general public would have increase access to opportunities for solitude and primitive recreational opportunities. Inventoried Roadless Area Characteristics Scotchman Peak IRA (#662) Wild Land Recreation (24,573 ac.) and Backcountry / Restoration (8,056 ac.) Within the Scotchman Peaks IRA the Forest Service is proposing to repair approximately 3.7 miles/ of tread and reroute one tenth of a mile of the washed out section of the Morris Creek Trail #132 at T56N, R3E, section 8. The Forest Service is also proposing to reroute the lower portion of the Scotchman Peak Trail #65 in T56N, R3E, sections 20, 21, 29, and 32. Following the completion of the new route, the old trail would be decommissioned and rehabilitated. 14

17 Treasured Landscapes Figure 1. Idaho Roadless Themes within Scotchman Peaks IRA 15

18 Proposed Wilderness and Inventoried Roadless Area Specialist Report Soil, water and air resources: The proposed action alternative would have beneficial effects to soil and water resources in that the trail reroutes would reduce the amount of fine sediment delivered to surrounding creeks. See the soils and hydrology specialist report for a more detailed analysis. There would be no direct effect on air quality. See the air quality specialist report for more technical analysis. Diversity of plant and animal communities: The proposed action alternative would have no effect on the diversity of plant and animal communities. More technical analysis can be found in the Invasive and the Sensitive Plant Species Specialist report. Habitat for threatened, endangered, proposed, candidate, and sensitive species and for those species dependent on large, undisturbed areas of land: The proposed action alternative could have effects on grizzle bear, lynx and wolverine habitat please see the wildlife section of this document for more specific analysis. The proposed action alternative would have no effect on the diversity of plant communities within the project area. More specific analysis can be found in the botany specialist report. Primitive, semi-primitive non-motorized and semi-primitive motorized classes of dispersed recreation: The proposed action alternative would a positive effect on opportunities for primitive, semi-primitive non-motorized types of recreation. By repairing and rerouting both the Morris Creek Trail and the Scotchman Peaks trail the general public would have increase access to opportunities for solitude and primitive recreational opportunities. Reference landscapes: The proposed action alternative would have no adverse impact on the area as a reference landscape. Natural appearing landscapes with high scenic quality: If the proposed action alternative is selected there would be no immediate effect to the scenery resources of the project area. Traditional cultural properties and sacred sites: If the proposed action alternative is selected there would be no immediate effect to cultural resources of the project area. More detailed analysis can be found in the heritage specialist report. Other locally identified unique characteristics: No other locally identified unique characteristics were identified by the interdisciplinary team or the public. Beetop (#130) Backcountry / Restoration (12,446 ac.), Trestle Peak (#129) Backcountry / Restoration (7,274 ac.), and the Mt. Willard-Lake Estelle (#173) Backcountry / Restoration (35,009 ac.). Within the Beetop IRA the Forest Service is proposing to construct a new trail to access the Bee Top-Round-Top Trail #120 in T56N, R2E, sections 14 and 15. Trail work includes construction of two miles of trail to connect the trailhead (located outside of the IRA) to the existing trail. In addition, 2 miles of the old trail would be decommissioned below the intersection with the new trail. Within Mt. Willard-Lake Estelle IRA the Forest Service is proposing to construct boardwalks or decked puncheons and high-lines at Lake Darling (T58N, R2E, section 1), Moose Lake (T58N, R3E, section 29), and Blacktail Lake (T58N, R2E, section 25). Approximately 500 of 4 wide boardwalk would be constructed between the three lakes in 8 increments. Material would likely 16

19 Treasured Landscapes be flown to the lakes using a helicopter in accordance with bear management unit requirements. Horses or mules could pack materials if helicopters are not feasible. Figure 2 Proposed actions location within Inventoried Roadless Areas. 17

20 Proposed Wilderness and Inventoried Roadless Area Specialist Report Soil, water and air resources: The proposed action alternative would have no direct effect on air quality. See the air quality specialist report for more technical analysis. The proposed boardwalks would have positive effects on soil and water resources within the Mt. Willard-Lake Estelle IRA. They would limit disturbance in sensitive areas. Please see the hydrology report for more in depth analysis. Diversity of plant and animal communities: The proposed boardwalks and highline construction at the identified mountain lakes will help reduce negative impacts to rare plants and fens. More technical analysis can be found in the invasive and the sensitive plant species specialist report. Short duration impacts to fisheries habitat would likely occur during boardwalk construction; however, upon completion the boardwalk would protect the lake s shorelines from further damage improving habitat. More technical analysis can be found in the fisheries specialist report. Habitat for threatened, endangered, proposed, candidate, and sensitive species and for those species dependent on large, undisturbed areas of land: The proposed action alternative would have no effect on the diversity of plant communities. More specific analysis can be found in the invasive and the sensitive plant species specialist report. Analysis completed in this wildlife report indicates the project could potentially affect grizzly bear, wolverine and lynx. More technical analysis can be found in the wildlife specialist report. Primitive, semi-primitive non-motorized and semi-primitive motorized classes of dispersed recreation: The proposed action alternative would a positive effect on opportunities primitive, semi-primitive non-motorized and semi-primitive motorized types of recreation. By repairing and rerouting both the Morris Creek Trail and the Scotchman Peaks Trail the general public would have increase access to opportunities for solitude and primitive recreational opportunities. Reference landscapes: The proposed action alternative would have no adverse impact on the area as a reference landscape. Natural appearing landscapes with high scenic quality: If the proposed action alternative is selected there would be no immediate effect to the scenery resources of the project area. Traditional cultural properties and sacred sites: If the proposed action alternative is selected there would be no immediate effect to cultural resources of the project area. A more detailed analysis can be found in the heritage specialist report. Other locally identified unique characteristics: No other locally identified unique characteristics were identified by the Interdisciplinary team or the public. Cumulative Effects This section addresses how the proposed alternative would potentially contribute cumulatively with past, present, and reasonably foreseeable actions that may affect the proposed wilderness and inventoried roadless resources in the project area. As mentioned for the cumulative effects analysis for the no-action alternative, the activities and actions most relevant to recreational resource were identified and will now be assessed with activities that are part of the proposed action for possible effects. 18

21 Treasured Landscapes Past, present, and reasonably foreseeable activities that may have, or had, the greatest impact on the recreational resource in the cumulative effects area includes prescribed burns, tree planting, timber stand improvement, wildfire, fire suppression and ongoing trail maintenance activities. Table 5. Past, Present, and Reasonably Foreseeable Actions on NFS in Project Area (Alt. 2). Actions on National Forest Lands Past Present Reasonably Foreseeable Prescribed burns: The Forest Service has treated 8,829 acres in the past and is planning to conduct approximately 3, 500 acres of prescribed burning activities associated with this project under a separate analysis.. Tree planting Approximately 9,300 acres have been planted in the analysis area. Timber stand improvement activities : Stand improvement activities are actions such as pre-commercial thinning of young tree plantations and pruning of white pine trees to reduce blister rust mortality. A total of 5,300 acres of precommercial thinning and 1650 acres of white pine pruning have occurred in previously harvested forest stands. In addition, approximately 60 acres of young forest stands may have white pine pruning activities conducted on them in the foreseeable future. These occur in the North Lightning BMU. Wildfires: Wildfires will continue to ignite within and adjacent to the project area. Thunderstorms can be expected to occur across the Sandpoint Ranger District. A majority of documented ignitions since the 1940 s are lightning caused within the project area. A total of 1,891 acres have burned from wildfires within the project area since 1988 and 46,183 acres since Fire suppression: Fire suppression will continue because the project area is within the wildland-urban Interface, and is a continuation of current management. Trail maintenance: Clearing limits and drainage work completed annually. Table 6. Past, Present, and Reasonably Foreseeable Actions on Adjacent Lands (Alt. 2). Actions on Adjacent Ownerships Past Present Prescribed burning: Based on past experience, we expect prescribed burning is taking place now and in the future, on both small non-industrial as well as industrial forestland parcels. Tree Planting: Hancock Forest Management plants and is planning future tree planting on their lands in the future Timber stand improvement activities: Based on current practices, it is reasonable to assume there has been and will be pre-commercial thinning on industrial and other privately held forestland. Wildfires will continue to ignite within and adjacent to the project area. Thunderstorms can be expected to occur across the Sandpoint Ranger District. A majority of documented ignitions since the 1940 s are lightning caused within the project area. The timing, size, intensity and resource impacts from future wildfires cannot be predicted. Fire suppression will continue because Idaho Code states that fire is a nuisance and must be suppressed, and this is the direction for adjacent land fire protection. Reasonably Foreseeable 19