DECISION MEMO SFA EXPERIMENTAL FOREST HERBACEOUS POND RESTORATION AUGUST, 2009 ANGELINA/SABINE RANGER DISTRICT ANGELINA NATIONAL FOREST

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1 402 C B B DECISION MEMO SFA EXPERIMENTAL FOREST HERBACEOUS POND RESTORATION AUGUST, 2009 ANGELINA/SABINE RANGER DISTRICT ANGELINA NATIONAL FOREST NACOGDOCHES COUNTY, TEXAS USDA FOREST SERVICE, REGION 8 NATIONAL FORESTS AND GRASSLANDS IN TEXAS Decision I have decided to restore an approximately three acre ephemeral pond on the Stephen F. Austin Experimental Forest (SFAEF) by removing existing woody tree encroachment and reintroducing prescribed fire. Currently, this pond holds water during the wetter seasons of the year. Historically, fire probably prevented woody vegetation from becoming established during the dry months allowing an herbaceous ground layer to develop. Personnel from the Southern Research Station (SRS) have marked the perimeter of the pond and leave trees within the area. The unmarked trees will be cut using hand tools, removed to the outside of the flagged perimeter of the pond, and scattered in the adjacent forest. Alternatively, the stems to remove may be mulched or cut and chipped and then scattered. Repeated entries using hand tools to remove the sprouting woody stems may be necessary before fire is able to maintain an herbaceous ground cover during the dry periods. Woody encroachment will be controlled using prescribed fire in the future. Prescribed fire on the SFAEF is addressed under a separate environmental assessment. The following map displays the location of the ephemeral pond on the SFAEF. US0069 SH0007 SH0094 US0059 BU0069J SH0021 SL0287 Lufkin SH0021 Vicinity Map Nacogdoches Chireno Redland TX-7 Huntington US0069 C Stephen F. Austin Experimental Forest Ephemeral Pond Restoration l Disclaimer This GIS product was compiled from various sources and may be corrected, updated, modified, or replaced at any time. August 4, 2009 ¹ Diboll FM1818 SH0147 Zavalla B 402B A NAC-GUY BLOUNT B Legend 400A Roads Plant Material Center 405 Ephemeral Pond to Restore Ephemeral Pond FS Lands Fig 1. Location Map C Miles Page 1 of 5

2 The following two photos show the woody encroachment in this ephemeral pond. Fig. 2 Pond with woody encroachment. Fig. 3 Example of tree to be left Nuttall Oak. Photo by K. Duncan Aug Photo by K. Duncan Aug The following photo is of an example of what the pond should eventually look like. This is an ephemeral pond north of the project area in the SFA Experimental Forest. Fig. 5 Ephemeral Pond north of project pond. Photo by K. Duncan Aug Page 2 of 5

3 The pond occurs in Management Area 11 SFA Experimental Forest as defined on page 287 in the Revised Land and Resource Management Plan for the National Forests and Grasslands in Texas (the Plan). The SFAEF is located approximately 10 miles north of Lufkin, Texas and 8 miles south of Nacogdoches, Texas in Nacogdoches County. The vegetation layer will be monitored after the removal of the woody trees and prescribed fire. Fire will be used to prevent resprouting of the woody stems. However, if fire is not able to do so initially, hand tools will be used in repeat applications to cut back resprouting woody vegetation until fire is able to maintain the herbaceous layer. The non native invasive tallow tree has been found growing in the pond area. It will be removed following direction given in the 2008 Non Native Invasive Plant Species (NNIPS) Environmental Assessment (EA). This project is tiered to that document. The project area will be monitored for additional spouts of tallow tree and infestations of other non native invasive plant species during and following implementation of the proposed activities. Monitoring will conform to that which is being conducted as part of the National Forests and Grasslands in Texas Revised Land and Resource Management Plan, as amended, (Plan) direction and the NNIPS EA. Any tallow species or other NNIPS discovered in the pond site will be removed following direction in the NNIPS EA. Inventories for new infestations as a result of the proposed activities will be conducted every growing season. The monitoring and inventories will be conducted by qualified invasive species, range, and/or botany personnel on the NFGT. This action is categorically excluded from documentation in an environmental impact statement or environmental assessment as it falls within the category identified by the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 36 CFR (e) (6) Timber stand and/or wildlife habitat improvement activities which do not include the use of herbicides or do not require more than one mile of low standard road construction (Service level D). I have determined that this Project does not involve any extraordinary circumstances (36 CFR 220.6), which would cause the Project to have significant effects. This determination is based on the following: 1) Past projects which are similar to the proposed action have had no significant effects on the quality of the human environment either directly, indirectly, or cumulatively. 2) This proposal is consistent with and similar to the categories of action which may be excluded from documentation in an EA or EIS. 3) No extraordinary circumstances exist that might cause the action to have significant effects on the human environment. Page 3 of 5

4 Public Involvement A scoping letter indicating the availability of the draft decision memo (DM) was mailed to the current list of potentially interested or affected parties on the Angelina National Forest on August 10, This project is posted on the National Forests and Grasslands in Texas (NFGT) website and entered into the Schedule of Proposed Actions. Three responses were received in response to the scoping. This included the Texas Conservation Alliance, the Wild Turkey Federation, and the Alabama- Coushatta Tribe of Texas. All were in support of the project. Findings Required by Other Laws As required by Forest Service Manual and Forest Service Handbook , this decision is consistent with Standards and Guidelines of the 1996 Revised Land and Resource Management Plan of the National Forests and Grasslands in Texas (the Plan), as amended. This direction is summarized as follows: 1. The manipulation of vegetation complies with the applicable requirements of the National Forest Management Act (NFMA). The actions of this project provide for the protection of resources, including soil productivity and water quality, are best suited for the multiple-use goals of the area, protect riparian areas, and provide for the maintenance of plant and animal diversity. 2. Management practices in conjunction with the use of mechanical equipment on National Forest land are consistent with the Plan standards and guidelines for the protection of soil and water (the Plan, pgs ). 3. In accordance with FSM and , and regulations set forth in Section 7(a) of the Endangered Species Act, a Biological Evaluation (BE) was conducted to evaluate the effects of planned activities on federally listed and proposed threatened and endangered (T&E) species, and Region 8 Forest Service (R8 FS) sensitive species. The BE determined that this action will have beneficial impacts and that there would be no effect on any federally listed proposed, threatened, or endangered species (BE # , signed September 15, 2009). 4. The Forest Service is obligated, under the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA), to consider the effects of all undertakings on historic properties (heritage resources) that may be eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places. This area had been previously surveyed in A report on this project was sent to the State Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO) on September 25, 2009 and to the Tribal contacts on November 6, The SHPO concurred with this project on October 30, One response was received by the Tribal contacts within the 30 day review period stating there would be no impacts to Page 4 of 5

5 religious, cultural, or historical assets of the tribe. This project is in compliance with Section 106 of the NHPA. This decision is based on a review of the record that shows a thorough analysis of relevant scientific information, a consideration of responsible opposing views, and the acknowledgment of incomplete or unavailable information, scientific uncertainty, and risk. Implementation Implementation of this decision may begin on or after the date of the signature of the Deciding Official below. Administrative Review or Appeal Opportunities This categorically excluded activity is not subject to notice, comment, and appeal under the 36 CFR 215 rules. Contact Person For further information concerning this decision, contact me at the Angelina National Forest, 111 Walnut Ridge, Zavalla, TX or phone (936) Signature and Date /s/ W. E. Taylor, Jr. 12/9/09 WILLIAM E. TAYLOR, JR. District Ranger Date 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 a 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. Page 5 of 5