Level 1 Consultation Project Information Form or No Effect BA Fisheries Resources Klamath National Forest

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1 Level 1 Consultation Project Information Form or No Effect BA Fisheries Resources Klamath National Forest Project Name: Humbug OHV Reroute PIF Date: _3/23/2011 Project Leader: _Kevin Walton Ranger District(s): _Oak Knoll (Project area managed by Salmon-Scott River) Project Fish Biologist: Maija Meneks Brief Description of the Project: (include legal location, elevation, size in acres or miles, all land allocations affected, types of activities and equipment to be used in order to complete the project, estimated project implementation and completion dates) The Humbug OHV Reroute Project will occur within the following 5 th field and 7 th field watersheds: Humbug Creek-Klamath River: o Upper Humbug Creek: Specific subdrainages where Project activities will occur include upper Humbug Creek, Jakes Gulch, and Rider Gulch. Legal location of Project activities includes: T. 45N., R.8W., Section 3, and T.46N., R.8W., Sections 27 and 34 (Mount Diablo Meridian). Project elevation range is approximately 3,160 to 4,280 feet. Proposed Action The Oak Knoll Ranger District of the Klamath National Forest is proposing to reroute an Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) trail within the Humbug Creek drainage. All interrelated and interdependent actions have been identified as part of the Proposed Action. The Project can be split into three primary actions: (1) trail segment decommissioning; (2) trail segment construction; and (3) ford construction (Table 1; Table 2; Map). The routes affected are (~13,820 feet; 2.6 miles) and 7J031.5A (~530 feet; 0.1 miles). The first straddles the ridge between Rider Gulch and Jakes Gulch in the upper Humbug Creek drainage; and the latter serves as a connecting spur to the former from Forest Road 7J031. Total length of the present alignment is ~14,350 feet (2.7 miles). Both are single-track (i.e., motorcycle) trails. Equipment to be used includes trail tractor (SWECO 480 or similar), mini-excavator, walk-behind loader (Toro-Dingo or similar), all-terrain vehicle (ATV), chainsaws, and handtools. Standard attachments used by the trail tractor for ripping and tread construction are up to 50 in width. Implementation is planned to begin in spring or fall. Total Project duration, including rehabilitation of trail segments and new trail construction, is expected to be less than one month. Trail Segment Decommissioning Element Approximately 2,620 feet of existing OHV trail are proposed for decommissioning. The current alignment includes overly steep sections that are prone to rutting and sediment production, resulting in excessive local resource damage. Methods used to close trail segments to motorized use will include: Ripping tread depending upon segment, may only be completed several hundred feet to PIF -- Page 1 of 10 1/30/02 Version

2 discourage use at access point o Where decided necessary by a botanist, reseeding will occur with a native seed mix Disguising of tread with brush, logs, rock, and other native material Construction of erosion control measures Signing and construction of fence, if necessary Trail Segment Construction Element Approximately 3,670 feet of new, native-surface single-track OHV trail is proposed for construction. Depending upon segment, route may either be new or may follow existing, but disused, roadbeds dating to past mining and/or timber activities. The new trail will follow ridge and hillslope contours to bypass steep sections scheduled for decommissioning. Methods used to construct trail include: Vegetation removal by chainsaw and handtool method o Vegetation will primarily be woody brush, such as manzanita, but may also include conifers o Cut vegetation will be scattered within the Project area or used in decommissioning activities Blading tread by the trail tractor o Initial tread width will be 50 (standard blade size), but vegetation will be allowed to regrow along shoulder margins over time until a 24 target width is achieved Construction of rolling dips, cross drainage, and other erosion control structures Ford Construction Element A new crossing armored ford is proposed to be constructed across Rider Gulch (T.45N., R.8W., Section 3) to link the new trail alignment to Forest Road 7J001. Crossing specifications include: New culverts, bridges, and other stream crossings shall be constructed to accommodate at least the 100-year flood, including associated bedload and debris. Crossings will be constructed and maintained to prevent diversion of streamflow out of the channel and down the road in the event of crossing failure Additional Project design features and resource protection measures specific to aquatics include: Decommissioning of segment 7J031.5A will occur after May 15 th to avoid steelhead spawning in upper Humbug Creek. Ford construction across Rider Gulch will occur in a dry channel. See the Project record for water quality related Best Management Practices (BMPs). Table 1. Acres of disturbance by Project activity. Assumption is for 50 of disturbance during both decommissioning and construction activities due to standard width of trail tractor attachments to be utilized. Trail Decommission Trail Construction Total Length (feet) 2,620 3,670 6,290 Acres PIF -- Page 2 of 10 1/30/02 Version

3 Table 2. Summary of project activities by 7 th and 5 th field watershed scales. 7 th and 5 th Field Watersheds Watershed Area (Acres) Trail Decommission (Acres) 7th Field Watershed(s) Trail Construction (Acres) Total Acres Disturbed % Area Disturbed By Proposed Action Upper Humbug Creek TOTALS for 7 th field Humbug Creek-Klamath River 5th Field Watershed(s) TOTALS for 5 th field Is this a fuels reduction project? Yes No_X_ Land Allocation(s): X RR LSR X Matrix Key Watershed AMA Activity Type: (Indicate each type of activity for which consultation is being requested) Fire: Timber harvest: Trails: Roads: (motorized trail) Silviculture: Other: Ignition type: Season of work: Size of units/% of area affected: Logging systems used: Season of work: Equipment used: Season of work: Activity type/equipment used: See Project description Season of work: Spring (after March 15 th ) or Fall Activity type/equipment used: Season of work: PIF -- Page 3 of 10 1/30/02 Version

4 Project Map Map 1. Aquatic resources present within and nearby the Humbug OHV Reroute Project area. PIF -- Page 4 of 10 1/30/02 Version

5 Project Information Form - Anadromous FISH Activity proposed within Riparian Reserve? No X Yes Type(s): Humbug Creek steelhead decomissioning activities (segment A) Rider Gulch non-fish-bearing ford and reroute construction Fish species present/suspected: Distance to anadromous fish-bearing stream(s): Name of stream(s): Name of 7 th Field Watershed: Watershed Stream Name Distance to Habitat occupied by Coho (miles) Distance to Coho CH (miles) Distance to Habitat occupied by Steelhead Trout (miles) Distance to Habitat occupied by Chinook (miles) 7th Field Watershed(s) Upper Humbug Creek Humbug Creek N/A - no coho present in upper Humbug Creek N/A - no coho CH in upper Humbug Creek decommission A ford construction N/A - no Chinook in upper Humbug Creek 5 th Field Watershed(s) Humbug Creek- Klamath River Humbug Creek (below Middle Fork confluence) trail construction and decommission ford construction trail construction and decommission ford construction trail construction and decommission ford construction trail construction and decommission ford construction In areas of AWWC: NO Aquatic Period of Operation: YES Dates: After May 15th For which activities: Decomissioning activities associated with segment A Comments and ESA Cumulative Effects: Direct Effects There will be no direct impacts to anadromous fish because no instream work in planned in occupied habitat. Specifically, the proposed ford crosses Rider Gulch, a non-fish-bearing intermittent tributary to upper Humbug Creek. Other trail construction/decommissioning activities include an instream component. Indirect Effects There will be no indirect effects to aquatic resources from ford construction and use for the following reasons: The Facility Maintenance and Watershed Restoration BA analyzed mobilization of fine sediment due to instream actions, including those commonly associated with road/trail crossing construction (USFS 2004). For perennial systems, it was concluded that instream activities PIF -- Page 5 of 10 1/30/02 Version

6 greater than 300 feet from fish-occupied would have no or insignificant effect to fish and their habitat. For intermittent or ephemeral systems, potential impacts at the same distance would be negligible, unable to be discerned over background values. Ford location ford construction will occur across Rider Gulch, an intermittent, non-fish-bearing stream. Location is 0.75 stream-miles (~3950 feet) distant from fish-occupied waters (upper Humbug Creek steelhead/rainbow trout), and 2.4 miles from ESA listed species (mainstem Humbug Creek - coho and CH). Chinook are 7.9 miles from the ford. These distances are well beyond that considered to impact fish. There will be no measurable indirect effects to anadromous fish. Following a summary, those Indicators (bolded) that may be affected by planned Project actions will be discussed. Temperature No Effect/Maintain Stream shading in RR will be maintained. Turbidity No Effect/Maintain No sediment input into upper Humbug Creek. Chemical Contamination and Nutrients No Effect/Maintain Neither chemical contamination nor nutrient enrichment is expected in area streams, and no point sources are known. The appropriate BMPs will be utilized for activities such as refueling. Physical Barriers No Effect/Maintain No barriers will be removed or constructed. Substrate No Effect/Maintain No sediment input to upper Humbug Creek. Large Woody Debris No Effect/Maintain Coarse wood will not be removed from RR areas or stream courses. Pool Frequency and Quality No Effect/Maintain No change in sediment input and stream flows to upper Humbug Creek, and therefore no effect to pools. Off-Channel Habitat No Effect/Maintain No off-channel habitat is present. Refugia No Effect/Maintain There will be no change in the ability of riparian or instream habitat elements to maintain present fish populations, and nor will connectivity between local and distal populations be altered. Width/Depth Ratio No Effect/Maintain No sediment input to upper Humbug Creek, and, thus, no change in channel morphology. Streambank Condition No Effect/Maintain No sediment input to upper Humbug Creek and no bankside work will occur in fish-occupied stream reaches. Floodplain Connectivity No Effect/Maintain Higher gradient A and B systems tend to support limited floodplain development, and local channels have been moderately entrenched due to historic and current dredging. As peak/base flows are expected to maintain present level of functionality, flow access to the upper banks will continue to occur at current rates. Peak/Base Flows No Effect/Maintain Although there will be a net increase in ERA, the risk level will remain below 1 on analyzed watersheds and change will be too small to impart measurable impact to flows (G. Bousfield, pers. comm.). Drainage Network and Road Density/Location Effect/Maintain There will be a very slight net increase in trail mileage. However, the ERA risk level will remain below 1 for analyzed watersheds, the threshold interference point at which flow impacts may start to occur (G. Bousfield, pers. comm.). Disturbance History/Regime Effect/Maintain Disturbance indices are expected to very slightly increase short-term due to this Project. However, there will be no measurable elevation to erosion or sediment input to waterways, and long-term erosion rates associated with the trail will decrease (USFS 2011). Riparian Reserves No Effect/Maintain Resource protection measures will ensure Riparian Reserve character will not change as a result of this Project. PIF -- Page 6 of 10 1/30/02 Version

7 For this Project, segment 7J031.5A is of specific interest because it is the only trail section within a RR directly associated with steelhead/rainbow trout occupied upper Humbug Creek. The Facility Maintenance and Watershed Restoration BA analyzed standard decommissioning activities. When ground disturbance occurred within the RR, but included no instream actions, the BA made the determination of No Effect or May Affect, Not Likely To Adversely Affect to anadromous fish, depending upon the specific circumstances. In this case, no effect to steelhead/rainbow trout for ground disturbance activities because 1. Segment 7J031.5A is buffered from upper Humbug Creek by Forest Road 7J031, a primary access road within the Humbug Creek drainage. 2. No direct conveyance (i.e., scoured intermittent or ephemeral channel) of mobilized fine sediment to waterway. 3. Use of low impact equipment such as handtools and trail tractor. 4. Trail segment excluded from decommissioning activities until after May 15 th to avoid steelhead spawning --Drainage Network, Road Density, and Disturbance Regime-- This Project will result in the net addition of 1,050 feet of new single-track motorized trail to the landscape, most of it on a ridge away from water. The ERA, USLE, and GEO models track various aspects of human and natural impacts upon the landscape and geologic environment. While the proposed action technically increases these models, the result is well beneath the threshold (hundredth place 0.01) which would alter the current baseline (G. Bousfield, pers. comm.). Therefore, the indirect effect of the net increase of motorized trail will not be measurable to fisheries. Roads and trails impact all three models used in cumulative watershed effects modeling. ERA provides an accounting system for tracking disturbances that affect watershed processes, in particular changes in peak runoff flows influenced by ground disturbing activities; USLE tracks surface erosion and sediment delivery in the first year following project completion; and GEO estimates sediment delivery from mass wasting (i.e., landslide events) for the first decade after project completion. A threshold of 1 generally indicates an elevated risk of impact from a given model. The reroute mileage is greater than existing segments because the former are designed to contour the landscape and thereby decrease the trail grade. Steep, straight roads and trails tend to be more heavily rutted, thusly mobilizing fine sediment, affecting local hydrology, and causing resource damage. Therefore, although the reroutes create a net increase in the trail length, impact to the landscape will be less. In all cases, the increase to existing risk due to Project activities is negligible; and the change to landscape and hydrologic processes will not be measurable (Table 3; G. Bousfield, pers. comm.). The ERA and USLE models will remain below the threshold; and the GEO model, already elevated due to basin roading and background geology, will not be exasperated. As there will be no detectable alteration to landscape or hydrologic processes such as erosion or water flow, aquatic resources will not be affected. Overall, erosion hazard and erosion rates associated with the Project trails are expected to decrease due to proposed rerouting (USFS 2011). Cumulative Effects Because neither direct nor indirect effects are expected, there will be no cumulative impacts to anadromous fish as a result of this Project. PIF -- Page 7 of 10 1/30/02 Version

8 Table 3. Baseline cumulative watershed effects. While Project activities will slightly affect the baseline, the result will not be measurable over existing background conditions. Baseline Post -Project Watershed Acres ERA %ERA TOC Risk ERA %ERA Risk 7th Field Watershed(s) Upper Humbug Creek % 9.5% 0.29 No measurable change 5 th Field Watershed(s) Humbug Creek- Klamath River % 10.7% 0.30 No measurable change Watershed Baseline Post-Project Acres USLE Risk GEO Risk USLE Risk GEO Risk 7th Field Watershed(s) Upper Humbug Creek No measurable change 5 th Field Watershed(s) Humbug Creek-Klamath River No measurable change References USDA Forest Service (USFS) Soil specialist report Humbug OHV project. Unpub. report. 9 pp. USDA Forest Service (USFS) Biological Assessment/Evaluation for Threatened, Endangered, Proposed, Petitioned and Sensitive Species that may be affected by Facility Maintenance and Watershed Restoration. Klamath National Forest, Yreka, CA. 45 pp + appendices. Personal Communications Gregg Bousfield Hydrologist, Klamath National Forest Determination by species: Coho (Threatened) No effect Chinook (Sensitive) No effect Steelhead (Sensitive/MIS) No effect Determination for COHO critical habitat: Coho (Critical Habitat) No effect Determination for Essential Fish Habitat: Chinook/Coho (Essential Fish Habitat) No effect PIF -- Page 8 of 10 1/30/02 Version

9 Timeline for Completion of ESA Consultation with NMFS: N/A This document serves as a No Effect record in regards to anadromous fish consultation (see following page) Date PIF Submitted to Level 1: N/A Submitted By: N/A (At least 2 weeks prior to Level 1 Team meeting) First Project Review Level 1 Team meeting: N/A Anticipated Draft BA submission date to NMFS Level 1 Team: N/A PIF -- Page 9 of 10 1/30/02 Version

10 SIGNATURE PAGE For use as No Effect Biological Assessment The purpose of this document is to evaluate the effects of the proposed project on the habitat and continued existence of Endangered, Threatened, Candidate, or Sensitive species that may be in the Project area. The description of the proposed action and documentation of No Effect is provided above in the PIF. This short-form Biological Assessment (BA) is prepared in accordance with legal requirements set forth under section 7 of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) [19 U.S.C (c)], and follows the standards established in the Forest Service Manual direction (FSM ) (USDA 1991). _/s/ Maija Meneks Maija Meneks District Fish Biologist _3/23/2011 Date PIF -- Page 10 of 10 1/30/02 Version