United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service Monongahela National Forest Greenbrier Ranger District Box 67 Bartow, WV 24920 304-456-3335 CHEAT MOUNTAIN WILDLIFE HABITAT ENHANCEMENT USDA Forest Service, Eastern Region Greenbrier Ranger District, Monongahela National Forest Randolph County, West Virginia I. Decision and Project Description A. Summary Description of Project I have decided to authorize activities to enhance wildlife habitat by increasing the amount of future overstory red spruce and/or black cherry on approximately 419 acres on Cheat Mountain. B. Purpose and Need The entire project is located in Management Prescription (MP) 4.1 - Spruce and Spruce- Hardwood Ecosystem Management. The MP 4.1 area of Cheat Mountain has been identified as one of three priority areas for red spruce ecosystem restoration in West Virginia by the Central Appalachian Spruce Restoration Initiative (CASRI). The primary objective is to use active management in recently timbered areas and a few second-growth northern hardwood stands heavily impacted by beech bark disease to accelerate red spruce restoration. Air photo interpretation and field review show a substantial amount of understory red spruce in a predominately hardwood overstory. The younger stands are over-stocked, with over 5,000 stems per acre of mostly beech, birch, and maple. The two older stands also have inclusions that are over-stocked (over 5,000 stems per acre) with beech brush as a result of beech bark disease. If left untreated, the stands would continue to be overstocked, which would hinder stand development. Additionally, the overstory would end up being predominantly undesirable hardwood species. A primary objective is to accelerate tree growth and achieve a mixed spruce-hardwood overstory with at least 30 percent red spruce overstory in the future. A secondary objective is to favor the growth of black cherry, an important wildlife species. C. Project Location The areas to be treated are within Randolph County, on the Greenbrier Ranger District of the Monongahela National Forest. All treatment areas can be found on the Mill Creek, Wildell, or Snyder Knob quadrangles.
D. Project Description Twenty-four stands totaling 419 acres, and ranging in size from 2.5 to 56.4 acres, will be treated. Eighteen of the hardwood-dominated stands (253.6 acres) are young (less than 30 years old), with an understory component of red spruce. In order to increase the amount of future overstory red spruce and/or black cherry, naturally-regenerating saplings of red spruce and black cherry will be released by cutting the surrounding competing vegetation (e.g., beech brush and striped maple). The goal is to release over 150 red spruce per acre, and over 100 black cherry per acre. Because of the young age of these stands, all competing vegetation to be cut will be less than 5 inches diameter at breast height (dbh). If any trees greater than 5 inches dbh are suppressing the growth of red spruce or black cherry in these stands, they will be girdled. If stands lack red spruce or black cherry regeneration, small openings (less than 0.1 acre in size) will be created to encourage uneven-aged stand structure. Four of the treatment areas (94.1 acres) are 30 to 40 years old and just entering the pole stage. Goals and activities for these stands are the same as described for the young stands, except that more girdling is expected because much of the competing vegetation may be greater than 5 inches dbh. The final two hardwood dominant stands (71.3 acres) are older (70 to 90 years old), but heavily impacted by beech bark disease. Field review showed that these older stands have good spruce regeneration in the understory and midstory. Because of the closed canopy of these two older stands, black cherry regeneration is not expected. In these two older stands, the goal is to encourage uneven-aged stand structure, while releasing red spruce, and creating snags by girdling. Snag creation in the two older stands will not exceed 10 sawlog-size trees per acre, and may create openings up to 0.1 acre in size to mimic natural disturbances while releasing red spruce. Any trees greater than 5 inches dbh needing to be killed will be girdled instead of cut down to protect the West Virginia northern flying squirrel and the Indiana bat. Table 1. Cheat Mountain Wildlife Habitat Enhancement Stands Compartment Stand Acres Year of Origin Site Index * Forest Type 29 16 14.9 1925 68 89 8 16 56.4 1940 56 89 33 34 31.3 1971 68 87 143 11 18 1972 43 89 29 22 19.5 1973 72 81 141 18 25.3 1976 71 89 142 27 9.5 1982 70 13 32 06 2.6 1983 70 87 2 of 8
Compartment Stand Acres Year of Origin Site Index * Forest Type 32 08 3.4 1983 70 87 32 09 3.1 1983 70 86 143 32 5 1984 55 81 143 35 22.3 1984 55 81 32 07 2.5 1985 70 87 29 27 15.3 1986 60 87 29 39 11.3 1986 72 87 29 41 8.6 1986 72 13 29 37 15.7 1987 65 87 29 46 21.1 1987 60 87 32 39 20.5 1988 65 87 32 26 21.8 1989 72 86 32 34 24.4 1989 69 87 32 35 22.5 1989 69 87 32 24 16.7 1990 58 86 32 27 27.3 1990 72 89 Total Acres 419 * Forest types: 13: red spruce-balsam fir (18.1 acres); 81: sugar maple-beech-yellow birch (46.8 acres); 86: beech (41.6 acres); 87: sugar maple-beech-yellow birch-red spruce (170.6 acres); 89: mixed hardwoods (141.9 acres). While the project is designed to avoid perennial or intermittent streams, if intermittent or perennial streams are encountered, the prescription will not deviate. This project is designed to have an immeasurable impact on forest canopy, while improving habitat for TES species, in particular the northern goshawk and the West Virginia northern flying squirrel and others (see Standard SW34 in the Forest Plan). All treatments will be mechanical; there will be no herbicide applications. No road work will be needed or done to access the units. II. Reasons for Categorically Excluding the Project Decisions may be categorically excluded from documentation in an environmental impact statement or environmental assessment when they are within one of the categories identified by the U.S. Department of Agriculture in 7 CFR part 1b.3 or one of the categories identified by the Chief of the Forest Service in Forest Service Handbook (FSH) 1909.15 sections 31.12 or 31.2, and there are no extraordinary circumstances related to 3 of 8
the decision that may result in a significant individual or cumulative effect on the quality of the human environment. This project is appropriately categorically excluded from documentation in an environmental impact statement or environmental assessment as it is a routine activity within a category of exclusion, and there are no extraordinary circumstances related to the project that may result in a significant individual or cumulative effect on the quality of the human environment. This conclusion is based on information presented in this document and the entirety of the project file. A. Category of Exclusion This project can be categorically excluded because it is within the category of exclusion identified in Forest Service Handbook (FSH) 1909.15, Chapter 30, Section 31.2(6), and in 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 one mile of low-standard road construction. B. Relationship to Extraordinary Circumstances The extraordinary circumstances have been reviewed and are summarized below. Additional details are contained within the project file. There are no extraordinary circumstances, as defined in FSH 1909.15, Chapter 30, Section 31.2, which would warrant further analysis and documentation in an EA or an EIS. 1. Federally listed threatened or endangered species or designated critical habitat, species proposed for Federal listing or proposed critical habitat, or Forest Service sensitive species. a. Aquatics The project is low impact on the land and aquatic resources issues are minimal. The one issue would be protecting channel buffers during implementation on the few channels that will be encountered in the project area. b. Wildlife The stands have been evaluated for potentially occurring threatened, endangered, or sensitive (TES) species. The LOO (Likelihood of Occurrence Table) is in the project file. Habitat and potential for presence of TES species was also reviewed from District and Forest occurrence records. It has been determined that the project area either does not provide TES habitat, or the activities will have a negligible (or beneficial) effect on any TES species. 4 of 8
Additionally, the project is designed to improve and enhance habitat for the federally-listed West Virginia northern flying squirrel. The MP 4.1 area of Cheat Mountain has been identified as one of three priority areas for red spruce ecosystem restoration in West Virginia by the Central Appalachian Spruce Restoration Initiative. c. Botany Many of the stands to be treated are young sapling stands that were impacted by timber harvest less than 40 years ago. Therefore, TES plants associated with late successional habitats will not be affected. Due to the dense sapling canopy, TES plants associated with early successional habitats are unlikely to occur. If any do occur, they could experience a temporary benefit from the partial canopy openings created by the project. TES plants associated with mid-successional, closedcanopy forests could occur, but likely will not be harmed by the activity. A partial tree canopy will remain, and the trees that are left, along with the released seedlings and saplings, likely will form a closed canopy again after several years. Herbicides will not be used, which eliminates the chance of direct impacts to non-target plants. In the two older stands, spruce release will be accomplished by girdling up to 10 scattered canopy trees per acre. The small canopy gaps created by this activity will mimic the natural disturbance regime and will have only a minor effect on the light regime. This minor effect will not be large enough to stimulate a response by shade-intolerant plants that might out-compete any TES plant species that may be present. The minor increase in light availability could be beneficial to any TES plant species that may be present. Work will not involve log skidders or other off-road vehicles. Therefore, the project will have a very low risk of spreading non-native invasive plants. 2. Flood plains, wetlands, or municipal watersheds. Activities will not affect flood plains, wetlands, or municipal watersheds. 3. Congressionally designated areas, such as wilderness, wilderness study areas, or national recreation areas. Inventoried roadless areas. Research natural areas. Activities will not occur in or adjacent to any congressionally designated areas, inventoried roadless areas (including Roadless Area Conservation Rule areas), or research natural areas on the Forest. Because of the limited scope of the activities and their locations shown on the map provided, there should be no discernable effects to the special areas noted above. 4. American Indians and Alaska Native religious or cultural sites. Archaeological sites, or historic properties or areas. 5 of 8
No other extraordinary circumstances related to this project were identified. There are no soil disturbing activities associated with this project and previous analyses of similar TSI and wild life enhancement activities have shown no adverse effects to the archeology resources. III. Public Involvement This project was scoped, beginning with the interdisciplinary team process. On June 25, 2009 the scoping began with the identification of internal issues. This initial notice was used to identify interested publics in addition to those already known and on an established mailing list. This project was first included in the October 1, 2010 SOPA (Schedule of Proposed Actions). It has been included in every quarterly issue since then. The scoping letter, containing the project description and direction on how to get additional directions and provide comments, was mailed to over 70 individuals, organizations, and other agencies on June 7, 2011. This same letter was e-mailed to over 50 addresses. This list is in the project file at the Cheat Potomac office in Petersburg, WV. Four responses were received from the public. Most comments were supportive of the project. Three also asked questions or made recommendations, which are summarized below, along with our responses. o Marquette Crockett of the FWS asked about Cheat Mountain salamanders (CMS) and their habitat. o CMS surveys have been conducted at over 50 sites in proximity to the treatment areas, including one area in a treatment area. No CMS have been found. Although the CMS could occur in the treatment areas, over 50 surveys have been negative and proposed activities would not have an adverse effect on the CMS or its habitat (LOO, project file). o Janette Cross of WV DNR made the following recommendations: that merchantable timber not be girdled for the sake of red spruce release; that the openings planned (up to 0.1 acre in size) be increased in size to 0.5 acre or larger; and that surveys be conducted for suitable habitat and the presence of CMS). o The number of merchantable trees to be girdled will be minimal, and snags provide valuable wildlife habitat. Commercial logging in this area would involve road work and would result in soil disturbance by harvest equipment. Opening sizes of 0.1 acre and less are designed to mimic natural openings, while accelerating red spruce and black cherry regeneration. See previous bullet for information on CMS. o Amy Cimarolli of The Nature Conservancy expressed concern about nonnative invasive plant species and recommended the incorporation of integrated pest management activities into this project. 6 of 8
o Because work will not involve log skidders or other off-road vehicles, the project will have a very low risk of spreading non-native invasive (NNIS) plants. The MNF prioritizes NNIS treatment areas. Funding does not allow treatment of all NNIS infestations. IV. Findings Required By And/Or Related To Other Laws and Regulations This project will comply with all applicable laws and regulations. This project is consistent with the goals and management direction, including the standards and guidelines in the Land and Resource Management Plan for the Monongahela National Forest (Forest Plan) (2006). Specifically, the following Forest Plan goals and objectives will be achieved through this project: 4102; VE (02, 07); TE (01, 03, 04); and WF01. This project is not in a visually sensitive area and there will be no change in visual quality as a result of this project. Civil rights impact analysis is an integrated requirement for projects falling under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), including those projects that qualify for categorical exclusion. This project is located solely on National Forest System land. During internal scoping, the interdisciplinary team could not identify any affected private property, or any direct effects that single out individuals or groups, including those defined as minorities or other identified categories. The project will be done by force account (Forest Service employees) or be contracted out through a bidding process that provides equal opportunity to all individuals, organizations, and businesses authorized to live, work, and/or operate in the United States. No social issues of any type were identified during public scoping. There is no record of an environmental justice issue being identified on any Monongahela National Forest vegetation management projects prepared under the current Forest Plan. The absence of effects or issues leads to the conclusion that civil rights and environmental justice impacts will not occur as a result of this project, and that additional analysis of these issues is unnecessary. V. Appeal Opportunities This decision is not subject to administrative review or appeal pursuant to 36 CFR 215.12. VI. Implementation Date Implementation may begin immediately. VII. Contact Person Further information about this decision may be obtained during normal office hours (weekdays, 8:00a.m. to 4:30 p.m.) from Shane C. Jones, Greenbrier Ranger District 7 of 8
Wildlife Biologist, at the district office, Bartow, WV 24920; Phone 304-456-3335 Extension 114; Fax 304-456-3441; or e-mail scjones@fs.fed.us. VIII. Signature of Responsible Official and Date /s/ Jack Tribble July 18, 2011 JACK TRIBBLE Monongahela National Forest District Ranger Greenbrier Ranger District Responsible Official Date The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, and marital or family status. (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 USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 1400 Independence Ave. SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call 202-720-5964 (voice or TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. 8 of 8