Hanna Flats GNA Project

Transcription

1 Hanna Flats GNA Project Purpose and Need The purpose and need for this project may be refined in the future as more resource information is collected and collaborative and IDT discussions occur. However, at this time four resource objectives have been identified for the project as well as objectives related to the use of the Good Neighbor Authority. The objectives and the underlying needs are: Resource Objectives Reduce the risk or extent of, or increase resilience to, insect or disease infestation; Increase the quantity and maintain or improve the vigor (health) of long-lived, drought resistant and fire-adapted western white pine, western larch and ponderosa pine trees; Decrease the quantity and modify the arrangement of hazardous fuels to lessen the current and future potential wildfire risk to people, private lands and resource values; Contribute to the local economy and forest products industry through timber production. Resource Needs Insects and Diseases- the Hanna Flats GNA project area contains stands where trees are being killed by bark beetle species such as mountain and western pine beetles, fir engraver, Douglas-fir beetle and spruce beetles. In other situations, root diseases such as Armillaria and/or laminated root rot are also killing trees. White pine blister rust disease is impacting the health of the white pine trees in many stands and stem decay fungi are very impactive to some tree species in some areas. Lastly, there are stands in the project area that are overstocked with trees and as a result, the trees are stressed and more susceptible to being impacted by insects and/or diseases, especially during droughty periods. The IPNF forest plan contains management direction that emphases the need to increase the resistance and resiliency of the forest vegetation to both natural and man-caused disturbances and stressors. One type of stressor and disturbance agent that is specifically addressed in the plan is insects and diseases. A number of goals, desired conditions and objectives in the forest plan highlight the need to increase the prevalence of the tree species that are less susceptible to forest insects and diseases, while decreasing the dominance of the tree species that are generally more susceptible. 1 In addition, the forest plan contains components indicating there is a need to reduce tree densities within many forest stands in order to decrease tree stress and in turn decrease the susceptibility of the trees to insect and diseases. 2 For the reasons noted above, some of the forest vegetation conditions in the project area are not desirable and there is a need to improve the resistance and resiliency of the forest stands to insects and diseases. Restoration of Long-Lived, Seral Tree Species- This project area occurs in the heart of the natural range of the western white pine tree. However, largely due to the accidental introduction of a non-native fungus known as white pine blister rust, this species now dominates less than five percent of its historical occurrence on the Forest. In the absence of this tree species, the forests are much less productive and stable and have become more susceptible to wildfire, drought, as well as the insects and diseases previously noted. The forest plan recognizes the need to help restore this tree species. In addition, two other long-lived, drought tolerant and fire adapted tree species (western larch and ponderosa pine) are in 1 The following forest plan components provide more direction on this topic: GOAL-VEG-01, FW-DC-VEG-01, 06, 11, and FW-OBJ-VEG See elements FW-DC-VEG-04 and 11 in the forest plan. Page 1 of 5

2 need of restoration. For a number of reasons, these tree species are also under represented on the Forest relative to historical conditions, and the forest plan emphasizes the need to restore these tree species as well. Within the project area, there numerous stands that contain middle aged western larch trees. However, in some instances this extremely shade-intolerant species, is being crowded-out and weakened by adjacent shade-tolerant species. Therefore, in order to maintain or improve the health of this species in the future, there is a need to thin out surrounding trees and provide more sunlight to the larch. Lastly, although there is a limited amount of fairly dry sites in the project area that are suitable for growing ponderosa pine, the areas that do exist generally have ponderosa pine that are being shaded by grand fir or Douglas-fir, which are more shade tolerant that ponderosa pine, but that are more susceptible to drought, insects/diseases and fire than are ponderosa pine. Therefore, on those drier sites, there is a need to create more growing space for the ponderosa pine. Hazardous Forest Fuels- the Hanna Flats GNA project area lies entirely within the Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) as defined by Bonner County. In 2012, Bonner County updated the Community Wildfire Protection Plan for the county and indicated that the highest priority in the county for fuel reduction work was along the Highway 57 and Highway 41 corridors and within the greater Priest Lake area. The Hanna Flats GNA project area occurs adjacent to Highway 57 for approximately 5 miles and that highway serves as the primary evacuation route for a large portion of the Priest Lake area. The Priest Lake community of Lamb Creek lies just south of the project area and the community of Nordman lies a short distance to the north. The Priest Lake Ranger District office and numerous administrative buildings and residences occur within the project area. Some forest stands in the project area contain large amounts of surface, ladder and/or canopy fuels. Where these conditions occur over fairly large areas or are located near values, there is a concern that wildfires could burn rapidly, be difficult or impossible to suppress and pose risks to people, property and natural resources. The forest plan contains direction to reduce hazardous fuels within WUI areas and to manage forest vegetation in these areas so that the risk is low for large wildfires, epidemic levels of bark beetles and high levels of root disease. 3 Based on a preliminary assessment I find that there is a need to modify the fuel conditions in some stands within the project area in order to meet the forest plan direction and reduce the risk to people, property and natural resource values. Timber Production- approximately 86% of the total NFS acres within the project area are suitable for timber production as defined in the forest plan. Those suitable acres were included into the land base for determining the long-term sustained yield capacity for the Forest. The desired condition that is described in the forest plan for the suitable timber lands is that they have a regularly scheduled timber harvest program and the production of timber from these lands contributes toward ecological, social and/or economic sustainability. The forest plan contains a number of goals, desired conditions and objectives related to the production of timber and the need to contribute products to the forest products industry to help provide jobs and support local economies. 4 Based on the forest plan direction for suitable timber lands and an initial assessment of the condition of the timber stands within the project area, I find that there is a need for some level of timber products to be produced from this project while meeting the other two resource needs that were previously described. 3 See the following desired conditions and objectives in the forest plan: FW-DC-FIRE-02, FW-OBJ-FIRE-01 and FW-DC-SES See the following forest plan components for details: GOAL-TBR-01, FW-DC-TBR-01 and 02, FW-OBJ-TBR-01, GOAL-SES-01, FW-DC-SES-01, FW-DC-SES-02 and FW-DC-SES-03. Page 2 of 5

3 Good Neighbor Authority The overall goal of the Good Neighbor Authority (GNA) is to increase the pace and scale of forest and watershed restoration activities on federal forests and improve forest health and reduce threats to communities and watersheds from catastrophic wildfires. By using State of Idaho employees and/or private contractors for some of the project development/nepa tasks as well as the implementation duties, the IPNF hopes to be able to increase the amount of restoration treatments that are accomplished. The Hanna Flats GNA project is the first project on the IPNF that the State and Forest Service are working together on under the GNA. One of the administrative or managerial objectives (as opposed to specific resource objectives) for this project is to test different methods or approaches of working together to be most efficient. As an example, currently IDL is reaching out to potential contractors or other State workers (e.g. Fish and Game biologists) with NEPA experience in certain resource areas where the Forest Service IDT could benefit from assistance. Restoration projects may provide fiber to Idaho s forest products markets creating jobs, tax revenues, and other benefits to local economies. Timber revenues resulting from GNA restoration projects will support future management activities. Successful implementation of GNA in Idaho will require a focused and committed effort from all partners over the next several years to achieve these benefits. Summary of Resources and Uses in the Project Area A summary of some of the natural resources and human uses within the project area is presented below. This information may be helpful when developing the proposed action and determining the scope of environmental analysis. Aquatics- There are a number of creeks and wetlands in the project area as well as a large aquifer. Both Lamb and Kalispell Creeks are listed by Idaho DEQ as water quality limited streams. Lamb Creek is listed for both temperature and unknown causes and Kalispell Creek is listed for sediment and temperature. A large aquifer lies underneath the project area and a number of wells provide domestic water sources to individuals and community water systems, including the Priest Lake Ranger Station administrative site. Lamb and Reynolds Creeks both contain brook trout and Kalispell Creek contains brook and cutthroat trout. Wildlife- The project area contains a portion of an area known as the Bear Outside of Recovery Zone (BORZ). A portion of the project area also contains a lynx analysis units (LAU s) as well as some mapped lynx habitat. Flammulated owl and black-backed woodpecker may or may not need to be analyzed in detail depending upon the proposed action while fisher will likely need to be. Grazing Allotment- Approximately one-half of the Lamb Creek grazing allotment occurs in the Hanna Flats GNA project area. Although the allotment has been vacant for a couple of years that could change in the near future. Most of the grazing is transitory in nature although there are some concentrations of forage in small meadows around Lamb Creek and the North Fork of Lamb Creek. Some weed issues exist in the allotment. Rare Plants Several rare plant species are known to occur within the general Hanna Flats project area. Specifically, the northern end of the project area contains Hager Lake, which is a 5-acre body of water that was likely created when an ice block melted from the last glaciation period. That glacial kettle contains a floating peat mat that supports a number of rare plant species. Almost all of the lake is on private land that has been put into a 60-acre conservation trust (Inland Northwest Land Conservancy) by the George family. The eastern edge of the lake occurs on NFS lands. Page 3 of 5

4 Hanna Flats Botanical Area and Bath Creek Gorge Geological Area- The Hanna Flats Botanical Area is a 16-acre ancient cedar grove that contains a short interpretive trail (FS trail #600). The trail was designated as the Hanna Flats National Recreation Trail in In addition to old growth cedar trees, the grove contains a diverse community of other native plant species (including several rare plants). Near the extreme northwest corner of the project area, there is a special area called the Bath Creek Gorge Geological Area that is likely a remnant outlet of a glacial lake. Recreation- The project area contains a system of cross country ski trails (approx. 9.4 miles), a groomed snowmobile route and several hiking trails (trail # s 600, 232 and 204). In addition, the area is used for several special use recreation events such as dog sled races, vintage snowmobile races, and other events such as triathlons and/or marathons. The dirt airstrip in the project area not only serves as an airstrip in the non-winter months for small private aircraft, but it is also heavily used in the winter by snowmobilers, x- country skiers and others. Road System- The project area contains a number of Forest Service system roads as well as numerous unclassified roads. The system roads include: 310, 1395, 1395A,B,C, 1345, 1345A, 313, 313A,B,E,F, 2519, 2519A,B,C,F. Ranger Station Administrative Site- The Priest Lake Ranger Station compound occurs along the eastern edge of the project area and in addition to offices, bunkhouses, warehouses, and associated buildings, it contains a number of residential homes for Forest Service employees. Forest Vegetation- In addition to the insects/disease and other forest health topics previously mentioned, the project area contains a few other noteworthy items related to forest vegetation. There are some stands that meet the definition of old growth within the project area and some stands that contain off-site ponderosa pine trees. Hazardous Fuels- As previously noted, some stands in the project area have fuel conditions that are not desirable given that the area is in the WUI. However, in other areas, vegetation treatments have occurred in the recent past and have reduced the hazard in those locations. The northwest and southern portions of the project area have had more extensive and recent vegetation treatments, and therefore those areas have a relatively low fuel hazard compared to other areas that have not had treatments. Soils- Soils over most of the project area were formed over glacial outwash and alluvium that dominate the flats, or weakly weathered granitics that occur on the ridges and side slopes. Surface soil layers are dominated by volcanic ash and are 8-18 in depth with very sandy/gravelly subsoils. The coarse textured subsoils can be droughty and infertile so site productivity depends upon the depth and specific texture of the volcanic ash surface layer. 5 Some of the older era, timber harvest activities that occurred in the area may have used dozers to pile logging slash so soil compaction and/or the lack of large woody debris may be issues in some locations. Other Resources and Uses- Other natural resources and human uses that are not mentioned above such as scenery, cultural resources, other special use permits (e.g., utility, private road use permits, other recreation permits, etc.) and noxious weeds are probably important to be aware of as the proposed action is being developed. Four authorized recreation special use permit holders in the project area. Selkirk Guiding and Outfitting (hunting and horseback riding), Inland Empire Sled Dog Association (sled dog races), Lion s Club, Kaniksu Chapter (vintage snowmobile races) and Priest Lake Productions (Marathon Race Routes). There are 13 lands special use authorizations in or near the project area. They include 5 private driveway easements, 2 private waterlines, Frontier telephone, N. Lights electric, Plum Creek logging, State of Idaho Highways and BNSF Railway. 5 Landtype/Map Units #155, 350 and 360 dominate the project area and the soil characterization came from those Map Unit descriptions. Page 4 of 5

5 Timeline for Project Development and NEPA Planning Stage Steps Approx. Completion Date Project Development Key FS and IDL personnel reviews draft PIL/collaboration plan and make changes as needed. IDT meets and Ed Wingert presents treatment opportunities. Team reviews PIL/collaboration plan and DR approves. Invitation sent to potential stakeholders explaining project, soliciting participation and inviting them to a meeting. Public meeting to introduce stakeholders to project, present treatment opportunities to group and develop P/N. IDT conducts focused transportation analysis (TAPs process) and develops preliminary recommendations. 5/1/17 Proposed Action IDT develops preliminary PA based on P/N, collaborative input received thus far, recommendations from TAPS that responsible official wants to include and tentative design features that IDT members prescribe. Public meeting (in field) to share preliminary proposed action with collaborative group, solicit input and refine if needed. 6/3/17 5/15/17 Scoping Send PA out to general public for comment, analyze responses and determine how to address any substantial issues that are identified. 6/15/17 Field Surveys and PA Refinement IDT members conduct any necessary field surveys based on PA in order to: determine exiting conditions, potential impacts, refine treatment areas, and finalize design criteria. Consider the potential need or desire that the public may have for another meeting at this stage to share any refinements to PA. 10/1/17 Environmental Analysis IDT members complete specialist reports to disclose effects from PA and ensure project is consistent with Forest Plan direction and other laws and regulations. BE s and BA s completed. FWS and SHPO consultation conducted. Consider the potential need or desire that the public may have for another meeting at this stage to share findings from analysis prior to decision. 12/1/17 Decision IF analysis confirms project meets CE category then a Decision Memo is written, Forest Supervisor approves project and notices sent to public. 1/1/2018 Page 5 of 5