Draft South Nestucca Restoration Project Environmental Analysis
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United States Department of Agriculture South Nestucca Restoration Project Environmental Assessment Consider using a photo of the project area or proposed activities. Remove box and insert graphic. 508 Compliance: Right-click Photo > Format Picture > Alt Text > Type Title and description of photo Photo goes here Siuslaw Hebo Forest Service National Forest Ranger District January 2015 Responsible Official: Jeremiah C. Ingersoll, Forest Supervisor Siuslaw National Forest 3200 SW Jefferson Way Corvallis, OR 97331 541-750-7000 For More Information Contact: Lorena Wisehart, NEPA Planner Hebo Ranger District P.O. Box 235 31525 Hwy 22 503-392-5119 [email protected] 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. Hebo Ranger District, Siuslaw National Forest Document Structure The Forest Service has prepared this Environmental Assessment (EA) in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and other relevant Federal and State laws and regulations. The document is organized into the following parts: Introduction: This section includes a summary of the proposed project, the management framework, the need for the project, and potential issues. Comparison of Alternatives, including the Proposed Action: This section provides a more detailed description of the proposed action as well as any alternative methods for achieving the stated purpose. Environmental Consequences: This section describes the environmental effects of implementing the proposed action and other alternatives. This analysis is organized by resource area. Within each section, effects of the No Action Alternative provide a baseline for evaluation and comparison of the other alternatives that follow. Agencies and Persons Consulted: This section details how the Forest Service informed the public of the proposal and identifies the agencies and governments consulted during preparation of the EA. This EA is the product of an interdisciplinary analysis. Forest Service employees that assisted with preparation of the EA are identified along with their area of expertise. Appendices: The appendices provide more detailed information to support the analyses presented in the EA. Additional documentation, including more detailed analyses of project-area resources, may be found in the project planning record located at the Hebo Ranger District Office in Hebo, Oregon. i South Nestucca Restoration Project EA Contents Chapter 1. Introduction ........................................................................................................... 1 1.1. Summary of Proposed Project ......................................................................................... 1 1.2. Project Area ..................................................................................................................... 1 1.3. Management Framework ................................................................................................. 2 1.3.1. Siuslaw Forest Plan ............................................................................................... 3 1.3.2. Forest Plan Amendments....................................................................................... 3 1.3.3. Additional Guidance.............................................................................................. 3 1.3.4. Land Allocations in the Project Area .................................................................... 6 1.4. Need for the Proposal .................................................................................................... 10 1.4.1. Evidence Used by the District Ranger in Deciding to Address These Needs ..... 11 1.5. Issues ............................................................................................................................. 15 1.6. Additional Considerations ............................................................................................. 16 1.7. Decision Framework ..................................................................................................... 16 Chapter 2. Proposed Action and Alternatives ....................................................................... 17 2.1. Alternatives Considered in Detail ................................................................................. 17 2.1.1. Alternative 1: No Action ..................................................................................... 17 2.1.2. Alternative 2: Proposed Action ........................................................................... 17 2.1.3. Comparison of Alternatives 1 and 2. ................................................................... 23 2.2. Alternatives Considered But Eliminated From Detailed Analysis ................................ 23 2.2.1. Treat all of the managed stands within the project area ...................................... 23 2.2.2. Maximize carbon sequestration ........................................................................... 23 2.2.3. No new temporary roads ..................................................................................... 23 2.2.4. Treat alder dominated stands ............................................................................... 24 Chapter 3. Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action and Alternatives ...................... 24 3.1. Forest Stands ................................................................................................................. 25 3.1.1. Introduction ......................................................................................................... 25 3.1.2. Direct and Indirect Effects .................................................................................. 29 3.2. Wildlife .......................................................................................................................... 34 3.2.1. Threatened, endangered or proposed ESA listed species .................................... 35 3.2.2. Regional Forester’s Sensitive and Survey and Manage Species ......................... 48 3.2.3. Wildlife Management Indicator Species (MIS) .................................................. 54 3.2.4. Landbird Assessment .......................................................................................... 58 3.2.5. Deadwood Assessment ........................................................................................ 66 3.3. Fisheries and Aquatic Resources ................................................................................... 84 3.3.1. Direct and Indirect Effects .................................................................................. 85 3.3.2. ESA Effect Determination and Critical Habitat .................................................. 99 3.3.3. Aggregated Federal Effects ............................................................................... 100 3.3.4. Endangered Species Act Cumulative Effects .................................................... 100 3.3.5. EFH and Special Status Species Assessment .................................................... 100 3.3.6. Management Indicator Species and Other Fish Species .................................... 101 3.3.7. Cumulative Effects ............................................................................................ 101 3.4. Botanical Resources .................................................................................................... 101 3.4.1. Botanical Species .............................................................................................. 101 3.4.2. Invasive Plants ................................................................................................... 110 3.5. Hydrology .................................................................................................................... 112 3.5.1. Introduction and Description of Existing Condition ......................................... 112 3.5.2. Desired Future Condition .................................................................................. 115 3.5.3. Direct and Indirect Effects ................................................................................ 116 ii Hebo Ranger District, Siuslaw National Forest 3.5.4. Cumulative Effects ............................................................................................ 118 3.6. Soils & Geology .......................................................................................................... 118 3.6.1. Introduction ....................................................................................................... 119 3.6.2. Direct and Indirect Effects ................................................................................ 119 3.6.3. Cumulative Effects ...........................................................................................