Two Med/Pike Oblit/Restoration Project Rocky Mountains

Transcription

1 S DA 0, TED DEP1R-VENT AGR,CUL-JPE FOREST SERPCE Two Med/Pike Oblit/Restoration Project Rocky Mountains Decision Memo Rocky Mountain Ranger District Glacier County, Montana NORTHERN REGION Lewis and Clark National Forest March 2012 For Information Contact: MICHAEL A. MUSI- OZ Rocky Mountain Ranger District Choteau, MT (406) 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 USDAs 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. 1

2 Purpose and Need The Rocky Mountain Ranger District Travel Management Plan, Record of Decision for Badger-Two Medicine, March, 2009, for Forest Service (FS) identified Trails in the Two Medicine drainage on the Rocky Mtn. Ranger District as delivering unacceptable levels of sediment to Two Medicine River and westslope cutthroat trout habitat. The travel plan decision closed the trails/roads to all motor vehicle use (ROD pg.6). I have decided to treat these routes as described below, to address these sedimentation concerns and to facilitate the return of the stream system to a more natural condition. Decision and Rationale Routes identified in the Rocky Mountain Ranger District Travel Plan to be decommissioned totaling approximatelly 6 miles of established routes and unauthorized ATV trails will be obliterated in the South Fork Two Medicine River drainage. Work will vary from simply scarifing the tracks to full obliteration of a road prism. One route will have stream bank restoration work associated with it, and one route will only have erosion issues addressed with some light scarification and seeding with a foot/horse trail left intact. Some portions of these routes are actually old jeep trails with a road prism, these will he re-shaped bringing the old road fill material back up to the road prism and re-establishing the natural slopes. Trees and other woody material will be laid across the re-contoured slopes to help stabilize the slopes and seeding with natural grasses will take place. Work will consist of restoring the stream to a more natural configuration at the crossings. The disturbed areas will be seeded with native grasses and areas of heavy compaction will be scarified to a depth of 12" or more to encourage plant growth. The Forest plans to conduct the work during low flow conditions (July 1 to October 1). This project will be completed by the fall of Wildlife, fisheries, soils, and water resources will have a short term effects while project activities are occurring however, these effects are not significant and project mitigation has been included to reduce these effects. In the long term, wildlife, fisheries, soils, and water resources will have a beneficial effect from project implementation. Specifically, big game will have a reduced open road density and fisheries and water will experience long term benefits by decreased sediment to the streams. Other resources analyzed for this project include visuals, recreation, sensitive plants, heritage resources, timber and transportation. The interdisciplinary resource review determined there would be no effect short or long term from the project. This project's analysis indicates there are no significant cumulative effects. Public Involvement I considered input from my interdisciplinary team and comments heard through project discussion with: The 2007 Final Environmental Impact Statement for Travel Management planning on the Rocky Mountain Ranger District completed extensive public involvement phases. This project has been posted on the Lewis and Clark National Forest Schedule of Proposed Actions (SOPA) and projects webpage. A notice of 30-day public comment period was published in the Great Falls Tribune. Additional internal and external communications has been completed with the interdisciplinary team, the Coalition to Protect the Rocky Mountain Front, the Montana Wilderness Association, the Two Medicine Alliance, and the Blackfeet Natural Resources Committee. 2

3 Forest Plan direction The project is located within Forest Plan Management Areas E and G. Management Area E emphasizes sustained high level of forage for livestock and big game animals. Management Area G has the goal of maintaining and protecting Forest resources with minimal investments. I have considered possible future needs for these routes for recreation purposes and determined that converting them into foot/pack trails meets the goals of the forest plan. The soil and water prescription states that, priority for funding will be low to moderate for structural or land treatments which maintain or rehabilitate watersheds or soil in both Management Areas. Resource specialist review for soils, water, sensitive plants, heritage resources, timber fish and wildlife have assessed Forest Plan Requirements related to management standards in the Forest Plan. The project is consistent with all applicable Forest Plan Standards. Reports and conclusions are located in the project case file. Categorically Excluding from Documentation in an EA or EIS Pursuant to 36 CFR 220.6, a proposed action may be categorically excluded from further analysis and documentation in an environmental impact statement (EIS) or an environmental assessment (EA) if there are no extraordinary circumstances related to the action and if: The proposed action is within one of the categories established by the Secretary at 7 CFR part lb.3; or, The proposed action is within a category listed in 220.6(d) and (e). After review and analysis this project was found to meet the category of actions referenced above and listed at 36 CFR 220.6(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. This project will improve wildlife and fisheries habitat, reduce sedimentation to stream channels, restore soil productivity, re-establish native vegetation and does not include use of herbicides or construction of new roads. 36 CFR 220.6(d)(4)- Repair and maintenance of roads, trails and landline boundaries. The project would repair disturbance at system road junctions and intersections with treated sections. This may include a combination of drainage features, erosion control, road narrowing, widening, reshaping, seeding, stabilization or similar No extraordinary circumstances have been identified as outlined at 36 CFR 220.6(b) that would warrant further analysis and documentation in an Environmental Assessment (EA) or Environmental Impact Statement. Resource reports and conclusions are located in the project case file. I have considered the following extraordinary circumstances as required by 36 CFR 220.6(b): a. Federally listed threatened and endangered species or designate critical habitat, species proposed for 3

4 Federal listing or proposed critical habitat, or Forest Service sensitive species. This Biological Evaluation (BE) and Wildlife Report has considered the Threatened or Endangered wildlife species that occur, or are expected to occur, on the LCNF and has thus determined that there will be NO EFFECT to the Threatened Canada Lynx, Canada Lynx Critical Habitat, or the Candidate species Wolverine and Sprague's Pipit. The project MAY AFFECT but is NOT LIKELY TO ADVERSELY AFFECT the Threatened Grizzly Bear. This project is a type of activity (Watershed Restoration) covered by the Programmatic Biological Assessment (Terrestrial) prepared by the USDA Forest Service Region 1. Concurrence on the screens for grizzly bear for projects that are Not Likely to Adversely Affect (NLAA) grizzly bears was received by the US Fish and Wildlife Service in 2010 (USFWS February 19, 2010). Those screens were used to analyze this project, and resulted in a clear NLAA determination. Therefore, under the terms of the concurrence letter, further consultation on this project is not required. This BE has also considered Sensitive wildlife species on the LCNF and has determined that there will be NO IMPACT to those species. This BE has also determined that the culvert replacements WILL NOT AFFECT Management Indicator Species on the LCNF. The sensitive plant biological evaluation (BE) was completed for this project. The BE identified the project may impact individuals or habitat for Missoula phlox and Northern rattlesnake plantain but will not likely result in a trend toward federal listing or reduced viability for the population or species. There would be no impact on all other plants listed as sensitive on the Lewis and Clark National Forest per Regional Foresters Sensitive Species List (2011). Floodplains, wetlands, or municipal watershed. With implementation of this project, the affected stream channels will exhibit the dimension, pattern and profile reflective of natural processes at work within their watersheds. They will achieve or retain their characteristics of: (1) accessing their floodplains; (2) maintaining local water tables; and (3) transporting and depositing natural sediment loads. Vegetative community types necessary for maintaining and supporting these functions will remain present. Inputs of water, sediment and large woody debris will be a function of natural processes. Wetlands will not be impacted and Badger Creek is not a municipal watershed. Congressionally designated areas, such as wilderness, wilderness study area, or National Recreation Areas. The project is not located within any of these areas, and will not have an effect. Inventoried roadless areas. The project is not located within an inventoried roadless area and will not have an effect. Research Natural Areas. This project is not located within any Research Natural Areas, as identified by Management Area M in the Lewis and Clark Forest Plan. Research Natural Areas will not be affected. American Indian and Alaska Native religious or cultural sites. Federal agencies must consider American Indian traditional use, belief systems, religious practices and life-way values as directed by the Archaeological Resources Protection Act of 1979 (ARPA), the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA), the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the American Indian Religious Freedom Act (AIRFA) and the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA). Additionally, the rights reserved under treaties may possess an inherent measure of resource protection. 4

5 The Forest's Ethnographic Overview was consulted; no known areas of traditional cultural use are identified for the project area. No site-types that are identified as 'sensitive' to Tribes are known to exist in the area. The proposed work on existing routes has a low potential to affect sites of this type. There are existing reserved rights (e.g. treaty rights) and the general project area is inside a large prehistoric district (24GL 1 153) listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Tribes within the sphere of influence for this part of the Rocky Mountains include the Blackfeet, Salish and Kootenai, and protohistoric Shoshone and Metis. These groups should be included in project scoping; any concerns brought forward need to be addressed through NHPA Section 106 or Government to Government consultation, depending on the nature of the comment or concern. The proposed conversion of low standard roads into trails is not thought to affect reserved rights or important characteristics of the prehistoric district. The qualities of the district were considered relative to this proposal and it was determined that implementation will not cause direct or indirect effects. f. Archaeological sites, or historic properties or areas. Historic maps and the heritage GIS atlas were checked for this project. The routes were surveyed (projects and 06-55) and recorded as Trails 24GL0932, 24PN0143, and 24PN0136. No other sites are recorded in the Areas of Potential Effect (APEs) identified as part of this project. No additional heritage resource survey is required prior to the route conversions. Findings Required by Other Laws and Regulations National Historic Preservation Act: As indicated above, impacts to known archaeological and cultural resources have been considered and a strategy for completing the Section 106 review is in place. The proposed action meets the requirements of the NHPA. Findings Required by Other Laws and Regulations. Endangered Species Act: Grizzly Bears - May Affect, Not Likely to Adversely Affect, (See mitigations below) Canada Lynx - No effect. Federal Land and Resource Management Plan: The project follows the Lewis and Clark Forest Plan direction. The project is consistent with Forest Plan Standards. Environmental Justice: This decision is in accordance with Executive Order No impacts to minority or low-income populations were identified. Project Mitigation My decision includes the following required mitigation measures. 1. Grizzly Bear All personnel (FS, contractor, or other) associated with project implementation are required to follow the NCDE Special Food Storage Order. Failure to comply may result in removal from the project, and may result in issuance of a citation. 5

6 Project activities may not commence until after July 1. to provide security to emerging grizzly bears in mapped spring habitat. Western Toad Toads have occasionally been found to breed in seeps and small waterbodies created by and on road beds. If any tadpoles or metamorphosing frogs are toads are detected in those habitats during the course of project implementation, those ponds/pools will be avoided until consultation with the District or Forest Wildlife Biologist occurs. Northern Goshawk If personnel implementing the project become aware of goshawks acting aggressively or defensively during the course of project implementation, work in the immediate area of this occurrence will cease until consultation with the District or Forest Wildlife Biologist occurs. Minimize the extent and duration of disturbance. If possible, schedule operations during periods when soil conditions are dry (as determined by the Forest Service). As much as reasonable, erosion control measures shall be installed concurrent with obliteration activities. Effective erosion control measures (ie drainage features limiting flows directed toward streams, wood mulch) must be in place if an over-wintering period in the obliteration process cannot be avoided Monitor drainage features and revegetation efforts. Apply additional rehabilitation measures where needed. Monitor noxious weed spread, and revegetation efforts. Integrate weed prevention and management in project. Mitigate and reduce weed spread during all activity. If any sensitive plant populations are located within treatment areas prior to or during implementation of the project, the population will be evaluated, delineated and avoided during all ground disturbing activities. Administrative Review (Appeal) Opportunities: No comments expressing concern or only supportive comments were received during the official 30-day public comment period; therefore, this decision is not subject to appeal pursuant to 36 CFR (1). Implementation: Implementation may begin immediately following publication of our legal notice in the newspaper of record per 36 CFR 215.9(c)(I). 6

7 Contact Person Additional information about this decision may be obtained from Gary Allison, IDT Leader, Lewis and Clark Supervisor's Office, th Street North, Great Falls, Montana 59401, (406) MICHAEL A. MUNOZ District Ranger aba 0)C Date 7