PROJECT INFORMATION Manchester Ranger District Apple Tree Release and Maintenance Project The USDA Forest Service is proposing to release and prune living apple trees in the Manchester Ranger District, Green Mountain National Forest (GMNF). Many of these trees are over-topped by other trees, living in deep shade, and producing few or no apples. These trees will eventually die due to the lack of sunlight. Feral apples can provide excellent food for wildlife when released and pruned. Project activities are proposed in the towns of Somerset, Searsburg, Readsboro, and Wilmington, Windham County, and Dorset, Bennington County, Vermont (refer to Table 1 and Figures 1 through 3 below). PURPOSE AND NEED Apple trees are located on Forest Service lands across the Manchester Ranger District. These apple trees typically are remnants of long-abandoned farmsteads and orchards. Many of these apple trees are overtopped by other trees, living in deep shade, and producing few or no apples. In the short term, these trees are losing fruit production due to the lack of sunlight. In the long term, these trees will die as they lose continued access to sunlight. Feral apple trees provide excellent food for wildlife when released and pruned. The purpose of this Project is to release apple trees by removing trees that over-top and shade them, and to prune excess vegetative growth from these apple trees to restore their fruit production and overall vigor. Without release, shaded apple trees decline in condition and will eventually die. Pruning removes dead limbs and excessive vegetative growth from trees, which improves fruit production. Release and maintenance of apple trees is a continuing component of the management activities of the Wildlife Program on the GMNF, consistent with Goals, Objectives, Standards, and Guidelines contained in the Forest Plan. Apple tree release and management for other stands on the Manchester Ranger District has been authorized by prior NEPA decision documents either 1) in conjunction with management of permanent upland openings in 2004, 2006, and 2012, or 2) as stands authorized for apple tree release and management under separate NEPA decisions in 2004, 2006, 2008, 2009, and 2012. PROPOSED ACTION This Project proposes release and management of apple trees on 18 separate stands in 9 compartments on the Manchester Ranger District of the GMNF. The proposed action will remove encroaching, overtopping trees and other vegetation from around apple trees located in the listed stands. Apple trees typically are located in small portions of stands along roads or near former home and farm sites. Field activities will follow General Guidelines for Releasing and Pruning Apple Trees on the GMNF (prepared by Jay Klink, Forester, Manchester Ranger District, 20 January 2009), which is included in the project file. Apple trees would be pruned using hand tools to remove dead wood, suckers, and water sprouts, and to improve the overall health of the trees. Depending on site conditions and visual concerns, slash would either be pulled back 25 feet from any recreation trails and roads and scattered and lopped to 3-foot lengths beyond the 25-foot no-slash zone, or it will be piled to further enhance and create wildlife habitat. In general, piles will be 3 to 5 feet high and 8 to 10 feet in diameter. No ground disturbance will occur, nor will any cultural resources be disturbed. Work would be accomplished by GMNF staff, by trained and certified volunteers, and/or by partners. Manchester Ranger District Apple Tree Release and Maintenance Project Page 1
Table 1. Compartments and stands proposed for apple tree release and pruning, Manchester District. Comp. Stand Management Area Stand acres Eligible Rivers? 108 104 Diverse Forest Use 3.2 Scenic 112 24 Diverse Forest Use 4.7 No 112 102 Diverse Forest Use 0.7 No 113 11 Diverse Forest Use 24.5 No 113 28 Diverse Forest Use 9.0 No 116 14 Diverse Forest Use 34.2 No 118 102 Diverse Forest Use 1.6 No 122 41 Diverse Forest Use 54.2 No 122 102 Diverse Backcountry 0.5 No 122 109 Diverse Backcountry 22.6 No 124 2 Diverse Forest Use 48.1 No 124 3 Diverse Forest Use 7.4 No 124 4 Diverse Forest Use 39.6 No 124 5 Diverse Forest Use 26.2 No 124 6 Diverse Forest Use 44.6 No 124 28 Diverse Forest Use & Remote Backcountry 24.3 No 149 7 Remote Wildlife Habitat 8.6 No 196 28 Remote Backcountry 135 No FOREST PLAN CONSISTENCY This Project contributes toward accomplishment of the 2006 Forest Plan desired conditions of Goal 2 by maintaining and restoring quality, amount, and distribution of habitats to produce viable and sustainable populations of native and desirable non-native plants and animals (2006 GMNF Forest Plan: pp.10-13). This Goal includes an objective to manage mast-producing species (including apples) where practical (2006 GMNF Forest Plan: p.12). G-3 under Mast Trees (p. 29) states that apple trees should be retained and released whenever possible. ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS This proposed action potentially falls in a category of actions excluded from analysis in an Environmental Assessment or Environmental Impact Statement, as proposals of this type individually and cumulatively do not have a significant effect on the human environment. This proposal falls under category 36 CFR 220.6(e)(6): Timber stand and/or wildlife habitat improvement activities that do not include the use of herbicides or do not require more than 1 mile of low standard road construction. The environmental effects from the proposed action will be analyzed following NEPA regulations and guidance. The environmental analysis will identify any extraordinary circumstances that exist and could result in significant effects to the environment. At a minimum, the following specific resource conditions will be considered in accordance with 36 CFR 220.6(b): 1. Federally listed threatened or endangered species or designated critical habitat, species proposed for Federal listing or proposed critical habitat, or Regional Forester s sensitive species Manchester Ranger District Apple Tree Release and Maintenance Project Page 2
2. Floodplains, wetlands, or municipal watersheds 3. Congressionally designated areas (Wilderness or National Recreation Areas) 4. Inventoried Roadless Areas 5. Research Natural Areas 6. American Indians and Alaska Native Religious or Cultural Sites 7. Archaeological Sites, or Historic Properties or Areas Other resources anticipated to be included in the environmental analysis include soil, water quality and aquatic habitat. PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT Public comments received for the project proposal will help focus the environmental analysis on the resource issues of concern. The analysis will be the basis for the final decision. DECISIONS TO BE MADE After conducting and reviewing the environmental analysis, including public involvement and interdisciplinary resource specialist input, the Responsible Official will make the following decisions: 1. Whether the proposed project will proceed as proposed, as modified to address issues, or not at all; 2. What specific resource protection or mitigation measures should be implemented as part of the project; 3. Whether the project would have environmental impacts at levels that may require an EA or EIS; and 4. What monitoring requirements should be applied to the project. RESPONSIBLE OFFICIAL David Francomb, Manchester District Ranger, Green Mountain National Forest, is the Responsible Official for the decision on this proposal. 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 for program information (e.g. Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) please contact USDA s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination, write to USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250-9410, or call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382 (TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. Manchester Ranger District Apple Tree Release and Maintenance Project Page 3
Figure 1: Map showing apple tree release sites covered under this project across the Manchester Ranger District. Manchester Ranger District Apple Tree Release and Maintenance Project Page 4
Figure 2: Map showing apple tree release sites covered under this project in Windham County. Manchester Ranger District Apple Tree Release and Maintenance Project Page 5
Figure 3: Map showing the one apple tree release site covered under this project in Bennington County. Manchester Ranger District Apple Tree Release and Maintenance Project Page 6