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Environmental Assessment for Tsali Forest Health Project

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Environmental Assessment for Tsali Forest Health Project ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT FOR TSALI FOREST HEALTH PROJECT CHEOAH RANGER DISTRICT ROBBINSVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA 2001 Lead Agency: Department of Agriculture, US Forest Service, National Forests in North Carolina TABLE of CONTENTS Page Chapter I - Purpose and Need for the Action ........................................................................ 1 Introduction ............................................................................................................................................................1 Proposed Action.....................................................................................................................................................1 Need for Proposed Action......................................................................................................................................2 Project Objectives ..................................................................................................................................................3 Management Direction...........................................................................................................................................4 Project Area ............................................................................................................................................................6 Vicinity Map ...........................................................................................................................................................6 Existing Conditions................................................................................................................................................7 Forest Health Threats ...........................................................................................................................................10 History and Scoping .............................................................................................................................................12 Specific Project Objectives and Issues ................................................................................................................12 Issues, Opportunities, Concerns, Considered Outside the Scope of Analysis...................................................14 Chapter II - The Alternatives.................................................................................................15 Introduction ..........................................................................................................................................................15 Alternatives Considered -- Including those Dropped from Detailed Analysis ..................................................17 Mitigation Measures Common to all Action Alternatives .................................................................................22 Treatment Descriptions ........................................................................................................................................25 Features Common to Action Alternatives (III, IV, and V ) ................................................................................33 Summary Comparison Chart of Effects of the Alternatives...............................................................................39 Chapter III - Environmental Impacts and Analysis..............................................................41 Risk and Hazard....................................................................................................................................................41 Summary of Field Data ........................................................................................................................................42 Soil Test Results...................................................................................................................................................44 Silvicultural Systems and Regeneration..............................................................................................................47 Associated Vegetation Management....................................................................................................................49 Soils.......................................................................................................................................................................52 Water Quality and Aquatic Resources.................................................................................................................55 Wildlife Resources...............................................................................................................................................64 Botanical Resources.............................................................................................................................................73 Recreation.............................................................................................................................................................82 Visual Resources..................................................................................................................................................82 Cultural Resources...............................................................................................................................................83 Economics ............................................................................................................................................................84 References Cited......................................................................................................................................................I Agencies and Persons Consulted ........................................................................................................................VII Interdisciplinary Planning Team ........................................................................................................................... X Consultants to the ID Team .................................................................................................................................. X Appendices................................................................................................................................................................ A. Gypsy Moth Impacts ..................................................................................................................................... XI B. SPB Risk/Hazard Rating Model................................................................................................................ XIV C. Financial Analysis....................................................................................................................................... XV D. Definitions, Methodologies, and Terms Common to Alternatives ......................................................... XVI E. Swain and Graham Counties Rare Plant Species ...................................................................................XVIII F. Nantahala National Forest Terrestrial PETS List...................................................................................XXV G. Nantahala National Forest Aquatic PETS List......................................................................................XXIX H. Management Indicator Species Information...........................................................................................XXXI I. Response to Comments ........................................................................................................................XXXIX ii Chapter 1 PURPOSE and NEED for the ACTION Introduction This Environmental Assessment (EA) discloses the direct, indirect, and cumulative effects of a proposed action and alternative actions for timber harvest, road construction, trail construction, and wildlife habitat improvement within and adjacent to the Tsali Recreation Area. This project, known as the Tsali Forest Health Restoration Project is proposed for compartments 152,153,154,155, and 156 across the Tsali Peninsula for the next several years. The District Ranger or Forest Supervisor will use this information to decide whether or not the Forest Service will proceed with this project, and if so, how to proceed. Other government agencies, groups, individuals, and Forest Service personnel interested and concerned about the potential outcome of this project will also use this publication as a basis for critiquing the various courses of action. Finally, this publication will be used by Forest Service personnel for implementation and monitoring if the decision is made to proceed. This document presents: - The proposed action - Why the action is being proposed (Purpose and Need) - Analysis of existing conditions - Project objectives - Public involvement with the analysis - Issues associated with the proposed action - Alternatives considered including the proposed action - Environmental impacts and analysis The Proposed Action The Forest Service is proposing to implement forest management practices on up to 1693 acres in the area known as The Tsali Recreation Area to reduce the impact forest health threats like southern pine beetle, gypsy moth, and the complex disease known as oak decline can and in recent years, have, impacted forest ecosystems at Tsali. The proposed life span of this project is expected to be fiv to seven years and also includes improvements to wildlife habitat and the recreation experience by providing additional habitat for featured wildlife species across the Tsali
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