Decision Notice and Finding of No Significant Impact Gold Lake Bog Research Natural Area Boundary Adjustment and Nonsignificant Forest Plan Amendment #53 USDA Forest Service Middle Fork Ranger District, Willamette National Forest Lane County, Oregon T22S R6E Sections 20, 21, 28, 29, and 30 of the Willamette Meridian. Decision and Reasons for the Decision Background Gold Lake Bog is located in the Salt Creek drainage of the Willamette River watershed, approximately 20 miles southeast of the City of Oakridge, Oregon. Gold Lake Bog Natural Area, originally estimated at 463 acres, was established in 1965 and incorporated into the 1990 Willamette National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan (LRMP) as a Research Natural Area (RNA). The RNA and surrounding project area are entirely on federal lands within the Willamette National Forest. A review by the Forest determined that the existing RNA did not fully incorporate the key wetlands features, especially the extensive complex of springs that support the bog ecosystem. In 2009 a preliminary proposal was developed by district specialists for a nonsignificant Forest Plan amendment to expand the RNA with minor boundary adjustments to fully include and better protect the wetland system that provides the unique conditions for scientific study. Gold Lake is located immediately downstream of the RNA. The Forest Plan management area designation of semiprimitive motorized use for Gold Lake did not match either the existing Oregon statute that prohibits public use of motors on Gold Lake or the customary use of the lake as a non-motorized recreation area. The proposed project also addressed correcting this discrepancy. An Environmental Assessment (EA) was prepared in 2010 in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) to implement the desired changes in Forest Plan Management Area boundaries and designations. The EA documented the effects of one action alternative that met the purpose and needs discussed below along with a no-action alternative that displays the effects of no changes in management area designations. In response to input from Forest and district specialists, the recommended RNA changes were designed to include the key wetlands supporting the bog ecosystem and Oregon spotted frog breeding and overwintering sites, to include boundaries that are identifiable on the ground, to maintain the ability to remove hazard trees within commercial salvage along Forest Service Road 5897, and to maintain the current recreational uses within the Gold Lake dispersed campground. Documents in the project record are available for review at the Middle Fork Ranger District Office, 46375 Highway 58, Westfir, OR 97492, phone (541) 782-2283.
Purpose and Need Portions of National Forest lands are managed as Research Natural Areas (RNA) to protect representative physical and biological systems in a natural condition for scientific study. The review by the Forest found there is a need to: 1. Modify the current Gold Lake Bog RNA to better incorporate the springs and wetlands that support unique flora and fauna in a natural condition for scientific study. The RNA management area designation protects representative physical and biological systems in a natural condition for scientific study. The desired condition of the RNA is to provide for naturally occurring physical and biological processes without undue human intervention. The goals of the RNAs are to provide protected areas that can be compared to lands influenced by man, provide educational and research areas for ecological and environmental studies, and preserve gene pools typical of rare and endangered plants and animals. The current RNA management area totals about 415 acres. The difference between the original estimate of 463 and the current 415 acres is attributed to more accurate area determination using computerized geographical information. The bog area supports several species of rare plants as well as the largest breeding population of Oregon spotted frog west of the crest of the Cascade Mountains. Oregon spotted frog is a candidate species for listing under the Endangered Species Act. The U. S. Geological Survey (USGS) has conducted long-term research on breeding abundance of the frog population at the Gold Lake site. The RNA boundary was reviewed with respect to how the ecosystem functions at this site. Past recommendations regarding boundary delineation, current knowledge of how the bog system supports dependant native flora and fauna, and field reconnaissance were considered in evaluating the Gold Lake Bog RNA boundary. Middle Fork Ranger District natural resource specialists provided input to the review, which has incorporated information from USGS spotted frog research at Gold Lake and Gold Lake Bog. Several key component of the bog complex are not adequately included in the current RNA. In particular, the current boundary does not include all the key spring systems that feed the bog and upper part of the lake that the unique flora and fauna depend on. Also, the RNA does not contain the unique bog habitat at the edge of Gold Lake and some of the upper wetland meadows are excluded. There is a need to expand the RNA by about 241 acres with boundary adjustments to fully include and better protect the hydrologic wetland system that provides the unique conditions for scientific study. 2. Change the management area prescription of Gold Lake from a 10c Dispersed Recreation Semiprimitive Motorized Use to a 10e Dispersed Recreation Semiprimitive NonMotorized Use. Existing Oregon Revised Statute 830.180 prohibits motors on Gold Lake, other than by Department of State Police and governmental agencies of Oregon and the federal government having jurisdiction on the described waters. Gold Lake is entirely surrounded by federal lands contained in the 2
Willamette National Forest. Currently Gold Lake is in a management prescription of Dispersed Recreation Semiprimitive Motorized Use which is inconsistent with the State Statute and the customary recreational use on that lake. The above change would correct this inconsistency and is compatible with protecting the adjacent Research Natural Area in a natural condition for ecological and environmental study. The existing developed campground on the southwestern end of Gold Lake is in a Management Area 12 Developed Recreation Site Prescription, which allows facilities and improvements, consistent with resource protections that support meaningful recreational experiences. The area surrounding Marilyn Lakes southwest of Gold Lake is in an Old Growth Grove Management Area Prescription 7, which preserves representative old-growth forests and provide opportunities for the public to enjoy the educational, aesthetic and spiritual values associated with such forests. The developed campground and the old growth grove are outside the proposed management changes to Gold Lake and would not be affected by the proposed action. Decision I have decided to implement the Proposed Action (Alternative 2) described in the Gold Lake Bog Research Natural Area Boundary Adjustment EA. This action will implement Nonsignificant Forest Plan Amendment #53 which will add about 241 acres to the Gold Lake Bog Management Area (MA) 4 (Research Natural Area) and change Gold Lake to a MA 10e (Dispersed Recreation Semi-primitive Non-Motorized Use). A detailed description of the management area boundary adjustments and a map showing the adjustments are in the Gold Lake Bog Research Natural Area Boundary Adjustment EA. The above proposal action would increase the existing Gold Lake Bog RNA MA4 from about 415 acres to 656 acres by adding 73 acres of current MA10c and 168 acres of current MA10e. One hundred and twelve acres of MA10c at Gold Lake would be converted to MA10e. Overall the acres of three Forest Plan management areas would change as follows: MA 4 Research Natural Areas (Increase 241 acres) MA 10c Dispersed Recreation, Semi-primitive Motorized Use (Decrease 185 acres) MA 10e Dispersed Recreation, Semi-primitive Non-Motorized Use (Decrease 56 acres) Other Forest Plan management areas would remain unchanged. The proposed action would only change the management area boundaries as described above. No additional activities associated with these adjustments would be implemented under this Decision. 3
Decision Rational The Proposed Action was the only alternative that met the purpose and needs stated above. As shown in the EA, the expanded RNA would incorporate 100% of the springs directly feeding known Oregon spotted frog overwintering and egg-laying sites and would provide better long range protection of wetlands supporting rare plants. It would also make the management prescription for Gold Lake consistent with current recreational boating use on the Lake and Oregon State law prohibiting motors on the lake. All public comments received supported the proposed action. A review of biological, physical, recreational, and cultural resources in the EA did not identify any resources that would be adversely affected by the designation. Use of the non-motorized trail system in the RNA, camping at the dispersed campground on Gold Lake, and use of Gold Lake for non-motorized boating would not be affected by the Forest Plan Amendment. Current use of FS roads near the RNA would also not be affected this decision. Hazard trees could continue to be removed within 200 of Forest Service Road 5897. Because no significant issues were identified during scoping and no adverse effects to resources were identified during the assessment, no mitigation measures are needed for the proposed action. Other Alternatives Considered-No Action In addition to the selected alternative, I considered the No Action alternative of not changing the Forest Plan Management Area boundaries. I did not select this alternative because it a) would only include a portion of the key wetlands in the Research Natural Area (for example, only about 60% and 75% of springs directly feeding spotted frog overwintering and egg-laying areas, respectively, would be in the RNA); b) would not provide as good of long-term protection to the wetlands supporting rare plants as the alternative selected; and c) would continue Gold Lake in a motorized management designation that is not consistent with recreational use on the lake and Oregon State law. Public Involvement Scoping for the proposed action began in April 2010 with letters sent to interested public, elected officials, and Tribes. The proposal was listed in the Willamette National Forest Schedule of Proposed Actions (SOPA) beginning in April 2010. During the initial scoping, comments were received from one group and two individuals. All were supportive of the proposed action. The EA was released for a 30-day public comment period on August 24, 2010. No comments were received during this period in response to the EA. After the 30-day comment period had expired, one individual called representing McKenzie Flyfishers and expressed support for the proposed action. Finding of No Significant Impact After considering the environmental effects described in the EA, I have determined that these actions will not have a significant effect on the quality of the human environment considering the context and intensity of impacts (40 CFR 1508.27). Thus, an environmental impact statement will not be prepared. I base my finding on the following: 4
1. The selected action would only modify Forest Plan Management Area boundaries and would not implement any actions on the ground that would affect any resource. 2. The environmental analysis for this project considered the cultural, biological, physical, and social/economic impacts. No significant adverse impacts were identified in the EA. The analysis considered the direct and indirect effects of the action as well as its contribution to cumulative effects. Past, present, and reasonably foreseeable future Federal actions have been included in the analysis. No significant cumulative or secondary effects were identified. My finding of no significant environmental effects is not biased by the beneficial effects of the action. 3. I find there will be no significant effects to public health and safety. 4. No unique features or characteristics would be adversely affected by my decision. 5. The effects on the quality of the human environment are not likely to be highly controversial. There is no scientific controversy about the impacts associated with the action. 6. The action does not set a precedent for future actions on the National Forest. 7. The action will not adversely affect cultural resources or threatened or endangered species and their habitats. It would provide better protection for the Oregon Spotted Frog, a candidate species for listing under the Endangered Species Act. 8. The action does not violate Federal, State, or local laws and regulations for environmental protection. As required by the National Forest Management Act, this decision is tiered to the Final Environmental Impact Statements for the Willamette National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan (1990); The Amendments to the Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management Planning Documents Within the Range of the Northern Spotted Owl (1994); and Amendments to Survey and Manage, Protection Buffer, and Other Mitigation Measures Standards and Guidelines (2001). Findings Required by Other Laws and Regulations This decision is consistent with all applicable Acts and Regulations such as the National Forest Management Act of 1976, National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, Endangered Species Act of 1973, Clean Water Act (CWA) of 1972 and section 319 of the 1987 CWA, Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title VI and Environmental Justice Executive Orders 11988 and 11990, The Preservation of Antiquities Act of 1906, and the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966. 5
Administrative Review and Implementation Date No comments expressing concerns with the proposed action were received during the 30-day comment period. Therefore this decision is not subject to appeal pursuant to 36 CFR 215.12. This action may be implemented any time following publication of the notice of decision in The Register Guard, Eugene Oregon. Contact For additional information concerning this decision, contact Joe Doerr, Wildlife Biologist, Willamette National Forest Supervisor s Office at 541-225-6433. _/s/ Margaret Mitchell _ MEG MITCHELL Forest Supervisor Willamette National Forest 12/15/10 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 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) 720-2600 (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. 20250-9410, or call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382 (TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. 6