Botanical Resources And
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United States Department of Agriculture Botanical Resources and Forest Service September 2019 Rare Communities Report Foothills Landscape Project Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests Dawson, Fannin, Gilmer, Habersham, Lumpkin, Murray, Rabun, and White Counties, Georgia For Information Contact: James Rickard, Forest Ecologist and Botanist Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest, 1755 Cleveland Hwy, Gainesville Georgia, 30501 (706) 297-3070 InIn accordance accordance with with Fed Federaleral civil civil rights rights law law and and U.S. U.S . DepartmentDepartment of of Agri Agricultureculture (USDA) (USDA) civil civil rights rights regulationsregulations and and policies, policies, the the USDA, USDA, its its Agencies, Agencies, offices,offices, and and employees, employees, and and institutions institutions participating in participatingor administering in or USDAadministering programs USDA are prohibitedprograms fromare discriminatingprohibited from based discriminating on race, color, based national on race, origin,color, religion, national sex, origin, gender religion, identity sex, (including gender identity gender expression),(including gender sexual expression),orientation, disability, sexual orientation, age, maritaldisability, status, age, family/parental marital status, status, family income/parental derived fromstatus, a public income assistance derived program,from a public political assistance beliefs, or reprisalprogram, or retaliation political beliefs, for prior or civilreprisal rights or activity, retaliation in anyfor program prior civil or rights activity activity, conducted in any or program funded byor USDAactivity (not conducted all bases orapply funded to all by programs) USDA (not. all Remediesbases apply and to complaint all programs) filing .deadlines Remedies vary and by programcomplaint or incidentfiling deadlines. vary by program or incident. Persons with disabilities who require alternative meansPersons of communication with disabilities for who program require informati alternativeon (e.g.,means Braille, of communication large print, audiotape, for program American information Sign Language,(e.g., Braille, etc.) large should print, contact audiotape, the responsible American Sign AgencyLanguage, or USDA’s etc.) should TARGET contact Center the atresponsible (202) 720 - 2600Agency (voice or andUSDA’s TTY) TARGET or contact Center USDA at through (202) 720 the- Federal2600 (voice Relay andService TTY) at or (800) contact 877 USDA-8339. through the Additionally,Federal Relay pro gramService information at (800) 877may-8339 be made. availableAdditionally, in languages program other information than English may be. made available in languages other than English. To file a program discrimination complaint, complete theTo USDA file a programProgram discriminationDiscrimination complaint, Complaint Form, ADcomplete-3027, found the USDA online Program at Discrimination http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.htmlComplaint Form, AD-3027, found online at andhttp://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.htm at any USDA office or write a letter addressed to USDAl and andat any provide USDA in office the letter or write all of a theletter information requestedaddressed in tothe USDA form. and To requestprovide ain copy the letter of the all of complaintthe information form, call requested (866) 632 in- the9992 form. Submit. To request your completeda copy of formthe complaint or letter to form, USDA call by: (866) (1) mail:632- 9992U.S. DepartmentSubmit your of completedAgriculture, form Office or letterof the to Assistant USDA by: Secretary(1) mail: forU.S Civil. Department Rights, 1400 of Agriculture,Independence Office of Avenue,the Assistant SW, Washington, Secretary for D.C Civil. 20250 Rights,-9410; 1400 (2) fax: (202)Independence 690-7442; orAvenue, (3) email: SW, Washington, D.C. [email protected]; (2) fax: (202). 690-7442; or (3) email: [email protected]. USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, andUSDA lender. is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender. Table of Contents Botanical Resources and Rare Communities Report ........................................................................ 1 Introduction .................................................................................................................................... 1 Management Direction .................................................................................................................. 1 Methodology ................................................................................................................................... 2 Species Identified for Analysis ...................................................................................................... 3 Endangered Species Act (ESA) – Threatened, Endangered, or Proposed Species ................................ 3 Regional Forester Sensitive Species (RFSS) ......................................................................................... 3 Management Indicator Species (MIS) ................................................................................................... 4 Locally Rare Species ............................................................................................................................. 4 Sources of Information .......................................................................................................................... 4 Species Analyzed in Detail .................................................................................................................... 4 Habitat Elements .................................................................................................................................... 5 Rare Communities ................................................................................................................................. 5 Species Evaluation and Determination .................................................................................................. 6 Analysis Indicators and Measures ................................................................................................ 6 Endangered Species Act (ESA) – Threatened, Endangered, or Proposed Species and Management Indicator Species (MIS) ................................................................................................................. 7 Regional Forester Sensitive Species (RFSS) ......................................................................................... 7 Locally Rare Species ........................................................................................................................... 10 Spatial and Temporal Bounding of Analysis Area ................................................................... 10 Affected Environment ................................................................................................................. 10 Rare Communities, Habitat Elements, and Associated Species, ......................................................... 11 Appalachian Highlands Riverine Vegetation................................................................................... 12 Bogs, Fens, Seeps, and Seasonal Ponds........................................................................................... 12 River Channels................................................................................................................................. 16 Late-Successional Riparian ............................................................................................................. 17 Canebrakes ....................................................................................................................................... 19 Basic Mesic Forest ........................................................................................................................... 20 Rock Outcrops and Cliffs ................................................................................................................ 21 Mature Mesic Hardwood Forests ..................................................................................................... 23 i Mature Hemlock Forests .................................................................................................................. 26 Mature Oak Forest ........................................................................................................................... 27 Early Successional Forest ................................................................................................................ 28 Canopy Gaps .................................................................................................................................... 29 Glades, Barrens, and Associated Woodlands .................................................................................. 29 Table Mountain Pine Forest ............................................................................................................. 33 Caves and Mines .............................................................................................................................. 33 Environmental Consequences ..................................................................................................... 34 Alternative 1 – No Action .................................................................................................................... 38 Direct Effects and Indirect Effects..................................................................................................