DOCSLIB.ORG

EAFONSI Template

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
EAFONSI Template United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service Wildcat Fuels Reduction and Vegetation Management Project Environmental Assessment Mt. Hough Ranger District, Plumas National Forest, Plumas County, California November 2015 Thompson Peak as seen from Wildcat Ridge with the Wildcat Project in the foreground (photo taken by Kelby Gardiner, 2009). For More Information Contact: Daniel Lovato, Acting Forest Supervisor c/o: Maurice Huynh, Project Leader Plumas National Forest Mt. Hough Ranger District 39696 Highway 70 Quincy, California 95971 Phone: (530) 283-7653 Email: [email protected] Project specific website: http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=43435 USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. To file a complaint of discrimination, write: USDA, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Ave., SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (866) 632-9992 (Toll-free Customer Service), (800) 877-8339 (Local or Federal relay), (866) 377-8642 (Relay voice users). Mt. Hough Ranger District, Plumas National Forest Contents Contents ........................................................................................................................................... 1 Introduction ..................................................................................................................................... 7 Background ................................................................................................................................. 9 Purpose and Need for the Proposal ............................................................................................... 12 Purpose ...................................................................................................................................... 12 Needs ......................................................................................................................................... 12 Reduce hazardous fuel accumulations ................................................................................... 12 Improve Forest Health ........................................................................................................... 13 Control invasive plants .......................................................................................................... 14 Enhance watershed conditions including water quality and habitat for riparian and aquatic species ................................................................................................................................... 15 Principle Laws and Regulations That Influence the Scope of This EA ........................................ 16 Forest Plans ............................................................................................................................... 16 Plumas National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan (PNF LRMP) (USDA 1988a) as amended by the Sierra Nevada Forest Plan Amendment (SNFPA) Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (FSEIS) and Record of Decision (ROD) (USDA 2004a, 2004b). ................................................................................................................................... 16 Travel Management .................................................................................................................. 19 2005 Travel Management Rule (36 CFR 212, 251, 261 and 295) ........................................ 19 Forest Service Manual Chapter 7710 .................................................................................... 19 Other Relevant Assessments ..................................................................................................... 19 Moonlight Fire Restoration Strategy (USDA 2013, version 1.0; August 17, 2013) ............. 19 Diamond Landscape Assessment (USDA 2012) ................................................................... 20 Decision Framework ..................................................................................................................... 20 Public Involvement and Tribal Consultation ................................................................................. 20 Issues ......................................................................................................................................... 21 Alternatives Considered in Detail ................................................................................................. 21 Alternative A - Proposed Action ............................................................................................... 21 Fuels Reduction and Forest Health Treatments ..................................................................... 22 Invasive Plant Species Treatments ........................................................................................ 28 Watershed Enhancement Treatments .................................................................................... 32 Alternative B: No-Action .......................................................................................................... 39 Alternatives Considered but Eliminated from Detailed Study ...................................................... 39 Enhance Outdoor Recreation .................................................................................................... 39 Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action and No-Action Alternative ................................ 40 Past, Present and Reasonably Foreseeable Actions .................................................................. 41 Fire and Fuels ............................................................................................................................ 42 Introduction ........................................................................................................................... 42 Affected Environment ........................................................................................................... 44 Environmental Consequences ............................................................................................... 49 Compliance with the Forest Plan and Other Direction .......................................................... 53 Air Quality ................................................................................................................................ 55 Introduction ........................................................................................................................... 55 Affected Environment ........................................................................................................... 56 Environmental Consequences ............................................................................................... 57 Forest Vegetation ...................................................................................................................... 60 Introduction ........................................................................................................................... 60 Affected Environment ........................................................................................................... 67 1 Wildcat Fuels Reduction and Vegetation Management Project Environmental Consequences ............................................................................................... 76 Compliance with the Forest Plan and Other Direction ........................................................ 103 Economics ............................................................................................................................... 104 Introduction ......................................................................................................................... 104 Effects Analysis Methodology ............................................................................................ 104 Environmental Consequences ............................................................................................. 110 Recreation, Lands and Scenic Resources ................................................................................ 114 Introduction ......................................................................................................................... 114 Affected Environment ......................................................................................................... 115 Environmental Consequences ............................................................................................. 118 Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife Resources ............................................................................ 123 Introduction ......................................................................................................................... 123 Affected Environment ......................................................................................................... 131 Environmental Consequences ............................................................................................. 144 Compliance with the Forest Plan and Other Direction ........................................................ 186 Hydrology and Soils ................................................................................................................ 187 Introduction ......................................................................................................................... 187 Affected Environment ......................................................................................................... 189 Environmental Consequences
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Northeastern California Ethanol Manufacturing Feasibility Study
    Northeastern California Ethanol Manufacturing Feasibility Study Prepared by: Quincy Library Group California Energy Commission -f California Institute of Food and Agricultural Research Plumas Corporation TSS Consultants National Renewable Energy Laboratory November 1997 'tt NREIJTP-580-24676 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The State of California is facedwith severalcritical issues relatedto how its biomassresources are used and managed.In particular,due to suppressionof forestfires, large quantitiesof dead/diseased treesand underbrush have accumulatedin the forest,creating dangerousfuel loadingwhich threatens human life and property. Resultingfires are so intensethat they destroythe forest ecosystem.In addition,the unnaturalecosystem producedby fire suppressionis endangeringforest health. To deal with theseissues, the Quincy Library Group has put forth a plan to strategicallythin the forestsso as to reducefire danger,improve forest health, and restoreecosystem balance. However, a key questionis what will be donewith the smallertrees (both live and dead)once they are removed from the forests. This reportpresents the resultsof onepotential use of the biomass- conversion to fuel ethanol and cogenerated electricity.This option has appeal in that the technologyfor ethanol productionfrom biomass is readyfor demonstrationand the demandfor fuel oxygenates,such as ethanol and ETBE, is growing in California. In addition, thereare synergistic benefits to the existing biomass-electricity industry.Finally, the technologyis ecologicallysound. The Quincy Library
    [Show full text]
  • 2020 Calfire Kng M150 Statewide Channel Plan Zone # Ch Zone Name Description Zone # Ch Zone Name Decription
    2020 CALFIRE KNG M150 STATEWIDE CHANNEL PLAN ZONE # CH ZONE NAME DESCRIPTION ZONE # CH ZONE NAME DECRIPTION 1 ZONE 1- CMD or Other AGENCY SPECIFIC ZONE 29 ZONE 29-FOOTHILL 2 ZONE 2- CMD or Other AGENCY SPECIFIC ZONE 30 ZONE 30-SUSANA 3 ZONE 3- CMD or Other AGENCY SPECIFIC ZONE 31 ZONE 31-RRU Riverside Unit 4 ZONE 4- CMD or Other AGENCY SPECIFIC ZONE 32 ZONE 32-ORC Orange Co (SOLAR) 5 ZONE 5- CMD or Other AGENCY SPECIFIC ZONE 33 ZONE 33-MVU San Diego Unit 6 ZONE 6- CMD or Other AGENCY SPECIFIC ZONE 34 ZONE 34-SLU San Luis Obispo Unit 7 ZONE 7- CMD or Other AGENCY SPECIFIC ZONE 35 ZONE 35-BDU San Bernardino Unit 8 ZONE 8- CMD or Other AGENCY SPECIFIC ZONE 36 ZONE 36-LAC Los Angeles CO (CC) 9 ZONE 9- CMD or Other AGENCY SPECIFIC ZONE 37 ZONE 37-SBC Santa Barbara CO (CC) 10 ZONE 10-CMD/TAC CDF CMD/TAC 38 ZONE 38-VNC Ventura CO (CC) 11 ZONE 11-MEU Mendocino Unit 39 ZONE 39-PROS PROS PLAN 12 ZONE 12-HUU Humboldt-Del Norte Unit 40 ZONE 40 13 ZONE 13 Weather National Weather Service RX 41 ZONE 41-TUU Tulare Unit 14 ZONE 14-LNU Sonoma-Lake-Napa Unit 42 ZONE 42-MMU Madera-Mariposa-Merced 15 ZONE 15-MRN Marin County (CC) 43 ZONE 43-FKU Fresno Kings 16 ZONE 16-SCU Santa Clara Unit 44 ZONE 44-TCU Tuolumne-Calaveras Unit 17 ZONE 17-CZU San Mateo-Santa Cruz Unit 45 ZONE 45 18 ZONE 18-FED/IOP NIFC/Inter Op/USFS 46 ZONE 46-BEU San Benito-Monterey Unit 19 ZONE 19 - AIR AVIATION 47 ZONE 47-KRN Kern CO (CC) 20 ZONE 20 48 ZONE 48 21 ZONE 21-BTU Butte Unit 49 ZONE 49 22 ZONE 22-LMU Lassen Modoc Unit 50 ZONE 50-NTPAD 23 ZONE 23-NEU Nevada-Yuba-Placer Unit 51 ZONE 51-INC 1 INCIDENT CLONE ZONE 1 24 ZONE 24-SHU Shasta-Trinity Unit 52 ZONE 52-INC 2 INCIDENT CLONE ZONE 2 25 ZONE 25-TGU Tehama-Glenn Unit 53 ZONE 53-INC 3 INCIDENT CLONE ZONE 3 26 ZONE 26-SKU Siskiyou Unit 54 ZONE 54-INC 4 INCIDENT CLONE ZONE 4 27 ZONE 27-AEU Amador-Eldorado Unit 55 ZONE 55- CFA CFA ACADEMY 28 ZONE 28 NOTE: Zones 51,52,53, & 54 are the ONLY Zones you can modify by keypad programming.
    [Show full text]
  • California Water Plan Update 2009. Volume 1, Chapter 2. Imperative To
    Forest Management A Resource Management Strategy of the California Water Plan California Department of Water Resources July 29, 2016 Forest Management Table of Contents Forest Management ...................................................................................................................................................1 Forest Ownership and Management in California ..................................................................................... 1 Effects of Forest Management on Water Supply ....................................................................................... 4 Vegetation Management for Water Supply ........................................................................................... 5 Fuels/Fire Management ......................................................................................................................... 6 Wildfire Impacts on Watershed Resources ....................................................................................... 6 Fuel Treatments to Reduce Wildfire Impacts on Watershed Resources ........................................... 8 Management Strategies to Reduce Adverse Impacts Associated with Wildfire ............................... 9 Recommendations ........................................................................................................................... 10 Road Management ............................................................................................................................... 10 Riparian Forests ..................................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Bulletin 2020-11 Mandatory Moratorium on Cancellations
    RICARDO LARA CALIFORNIA INSURANCE COMMISSIONER BULLETIN 2020-11 TO: All Admitted and Non-Admitted Insurers Writing Residential Property Insurance in California FROM: Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara DATE: November 5, 2020 RE: Mandatory Moratorium on Cancellations and Non-Renewals of Policies of Residential Property Insurance After the Declaration of a State of Emergency As enacted by Senate Bill 824 (Lara, Chapter 616, Statutes of 2018) Insurance Code section 675.1, subdivision (b)(1) provides: “An insurer shall not cancel or refuse to renew a policy of residential property insurance for a property located in any ZIP Code within or adjacent to the fire perimeter, for one year after the declaration of a state of emergency as defined in Section 8558 of the Government Code, based solely on the fact that the insured structure is located in an area in which a wildfire has occurred. This prohibition applies to all policies of residential property insurance in effect at the time of the declared emergency.” (Emphasis added.) Section 675.1, subdivision (d) defines “policy of residential property insurance” as follows: “…policy residential property insurance” has the meaning described in subdivision (a) of Section 10087.” (Emphasis added.) Section 10087, subdivision (a) provides: “…’policy of residential property insurance’ shall mean a policy insuring individually owned residential structures of not more than four dwelling units, individually owned condominium units, or individually owned mobilehomes, and their contents, located in this state
    [Show full text]
  • Dixie Fire Incident Update
    DIXIE FIRE INCIDENT UPDATE Date: 08/07/2021 Time: 7:00 a.m. @CALFIRE_ButteCo @CALFIREButteCo West Zone Information Line: (530) 538-7826 @USFSPlumas @USFSPlumas @LassenNF @LassenNF East Zone Information Line: (530) 289-6735 @LassenNPS @LassenNPS Media Line: (530) 588-0845 Incident Website: www.fire.ca.gov INCIDENT FACTS Incident Start Date: 7/13/2021 Incident Start Time: 5:15 p.m. Incident Type: Vegetation Cause: Under Investigation Incident Location: Feather River Canyon near Cresta Powerhouse CAL FIRE Unit: Butte Unified Command Agencies: CAL FIRE, United States Forest Service Size: 446,723 acres Containment: 21% Expected Full Containment: 8/20/2021 Civilian Injuries/Fatalities: 0 Firefighter Injuries/Fatalities: 0 Structures Destroyed: 184 Structures Damaged: 11 Structures Threatened: 13,871 Other Minor Structures: 84 Other Minor Structures: 9 CURRENT SITUATION Incident Update Dixie Fire West Zone –Fire activity overnight was minimal due to smoke inversion and better overnight relative humidity recovery; however, fuel moisture remains historically low and has caused difficulty in suppressing the fire spread. Fire crews continue to provide structure defense throughout communities, constructing and reinforcing control lines, establishing new lines and improving old control lines. Damage assessment is ongoing. Dixie Fire East Zone –The weather inversion continued overnight bringing cooler temperatures, better relative humidity recovery and calmer winds that significantly reduced fire behavior. Firefighters took advantage of the opportunity to safely engage directly along the fire perimeter. The fire slowed its advance northeast, as it is now burning in more sparse fuels within the 2007 Moonlight Fire scar. Crews finished priority strategic firing operations overnight to keep the fire west of Crescent Mills.
    [Show full text]
  • Smoke Still Hurting Northern California Air Quality, but LNU Fire Isn't Main
    Smoke still hurting Northern California air quality, but LNU Fire isn’t main culprit By Michael McGough Sacramento Bee, Monday, Aug. 31, 2020 The air remained unhealthy in the Sacramento area Monday morning as wildfires continue to burn across Northern California, and some of the morning relief that helped out last week is absent. Monitors from local air quality districts showed AQI readings in the “unhealthy” classification, from 151 to 200, in the early morning hours across the capital region, according to SpareTheAir.com. Pollutant levels are expected to stay in that range most of the day, with the sky already hazy and the smell of smoke apparent outdoors as of 6:30 a.m. A couple of days last week, an overnight Delta breeze helped clear some smoke away from Sacramento and kept AQI readings significantly lower until pollutants rolled in around midday. The weather hasn’t been quite as cooperative this week. The Spare The Air forecast page says that a “strong temperature inversion” combined with onshore winds Sunday increased wildfire pollutant buildup for Sacramento. Poor air quality will persist as northerly winds continue. Smoke has sullied the skies in Northern California for two weeks, ever since dozens of large fires and hundreds of smaller ones sparked during a powerful thunderstorm that brought down thousands of lightning strikes. For much of that stretch, Sacramento’s air pollution has come primarily from the LNU Lightning Complex, which as of Sunday evening had scorched more than 375,000 acres in parts of Napa, Sonoma, Solano, Yolo and Lake counties west of the capital.
    [Show full text]
  • 2021 California Mobilization Guide
    2021 2021 California Mobilization Guide Table of Contents Chapter 10 – Objectives, Policy, Scope of Operations and Administration ....................................................1 Mission Statement ..................................................................................................................................................................................... 1 Geographic Area Coordination Center ............................................................................................................................................... 1 Unit Level .......................................................................................................................................................................................... 2 Incident Priorities ............................................................................................................................................................................... 2 Initial Attack ...................................................................................................................................................................................... 2 Immediate Need ................................................................................................................................................................................. 2 Drawdown for Initial Attack (IA) ...................................................................................................................................................... 3 Mobilization/
    [Show full text]
  • Lights Creek and Indian Creek Plumas National Forest, California
    Moonlight Fire GRAIP Watershed Roads Assessment Lights Creek and Indian Creek Plumas National Forest, California July, 2015 Natalie Cabrera1, Richard Cissel2, Tom Black2, and Charlie Luce3 1Hydrologic Technician 2Hydrologist 3Research Hydrologist U.S. Forest Service Rocky Mountain Research Station 322 E. Front St, Suite 401 Boise, ID 83702 Moonlight Fire GRAIP Watershed Roads Assessment Lights Creek and Indian Creek, Plumas National Forest, California Table of Contents Acknowledgments........................................................................................................................... 5 Executive Summary ......................................................................................................................... 6 1.0 Background ........................................................................................................................ 10 2.0 Objectives and Methods .................................................................................................... 12 3.0 Study Area .......................................................................................................................... 15 4.0 Results ................................................................................................................................ 26 4.1 Road-Stream Hydrologic Connectivity ........................................................................... 26 4.2 Fine Sediment Production and Delivery ......................................................................... 30 4.3 Downstream
    [Show full text]
  • GACC Detailed Situation Report - by Protection
    GACC Detailed Situation Report - by Protection Report Date: 09/25/2021 Geographic Area: Northern California Area Coordination Center Preparedness Level: IV 0 Wildfire Activity: Agency Unit Name Unit ID Fire P/ New New Uncntrld Human Human Lightning Lightning Total Total Acres Danger L Fires Acres Fires Fires Acres Fires Acres Fires (YTD) (YTD) (YTD) (YTD) BIA Hoopa Valley Tribe CA-HIA H 5 0 0 0 61 70 0 216 61 286 BIA 0 0 0 61 70 0 216 61 286 BLM Northern California District (CA-LNF) CA-NOD L 1 0 0 0 16 146.6 22 149.6 38 296.2 BLM 0 0 0 16 146.6 22 149.6 38 296.2 C&L Auburn Volunteer Fire Department CA-ABR N/R American Canyon Fire Protection District CA-ACY N/R Adin Fire Protection District CA-ADI N/R Anderson Fire Protection District CA-AFD N/R Alta Fire Protection District CA-AFP N/R Albion/Little River Volunteer Fire Department CA-ALR N/R Alturas City Fire Department CA-ALV N/R Annapolis Volunteer Fire Department CA-ANN N/R Arbuckle/College City Fire Protection District CA-ARB N/R Arcata Fire Protection District CA-ARF N/R Artois Fire Protection District CA-ART N/R Anderson Valley Fire Department CA-AVY N/R Bayliss Fire Protection District CA-BAY N/R Brooktrails Community Service District Fire Department CA-BCS N/R Bodega Bay Fire Protection District CA-BDB N/R Beckwourth Fire Protection District CA-BEC N/R Ben Lomond Fire Protection District CA-BEN N/R Sep 25, 2021 1 7:04:29 PM GACC Detailed Situation Report - by Protection Report Date: 09/25/2021 Geographic Area: Northern California Area Coordination Center Preparedness Level: IV
    [Show full text]
  • The Knightly Times 1St Edition December, 2020
    The Knightly Times 1st Edition December, 2020 Staff: Chief Editor: Simran Bhasin Editors: Jiya Kohli Yukti Malik Rachael Rakhara Reporters/Photographers: Jiya Ashar Nilani Bharathvajan Simran Bhasin Saara Dash Afsheen Fathima Evelyn Fu Sana Gupta Praveen Hariharan Mahreen Hydari Jiya Kohli Ananya Mahidhara Yukti Malik Sreehaas Mannepalli Khushee Matani Akshita Mohapatra Trisha Ojha Rachael Rakhara Deepsikha Sahu Diya Senthil Emma Shrivastava Vihaan Singh Dhriti Vohra Manas Yedia Advisors: Mrs. Coscarelli Mr. Cherence Digital Dilemma in Virtual Classroom ​ By: Mahreen Hydari As we know, the Coronavirus pandemic started in 2019 and has stayed with us. Coronavirus is a very deadly virus and has caused a lot of death and suffering throughout the world. Coronavirus can spread by air so it is important for everyone to keep their distance from those who are not part of their family or their household. This resulted in schools closing throughout the world including New Jersey. As in-person schools closed, the classes had to go virtual. Students had to learn a new way of studying and how to deal with studying from home. The schools went virtual initially in March so the end of last year was spent from home for many teachers and students. Since no one was ready for a big change like that, it was very hard for everyone to adjust. Everyone needed to have a computer and internet at home. This is not the case for every student so it may have taken a while for everyone to get going. Once students were able to get online, they had to learn a new learning platform which was different from anything they may have been used to.
    [Show full text]
  • Unit Identifier Guide: Data Report
    A Publication of the National Wildfire Coordinating Group Unit Identifier Guide: Data Report PMS 931 - Published Date: Wednesday, June 17, 2020 Sponsored for NWCG publication by the NWCG Data Management Committee. Prepared and maintained by the Unit Identifier Unit. Questions regarding the content of this product should be directed to the NWCG Unit Identifier Unit (UIU), National Interagency Fire Center, 3833 S Development Avenue, Boise ID 83705, or to the UIU members listed on the NWCG Web site at http://www.nwcg.gov. Questions and comments may also be emailed to [email protected]. This product is available electronically on the NWCG Web site at http://www.nwcg.gov. Previous editions: none. The National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) has approved the contents of this product for the guidance of its member agencies and is not responsible for the interpretation or use of this information by anyone else. NWCG’s intent is to specifically identify all copyrighted content used in NWCG products. All other NWCG information is in the public domain. Use of public domain information, including copying, is permitted. Use of NWCG information within another document is permitted, if NWCG information is accurately credited to the NWCG. The NWCG logo may not be used except on NWCG authorized information. “National Wildfire Coordinating Group”, “NWCG”, and the NWCG logo are trademarks of the National Wildfire Coordinating Group. The use of trade, firm, or corporation names or trademarks in this product is for the information and convenience of the reader and does not constitute an endorsement by the National Wildfire Coordinating Group or its member agencies of any product or service to the exclusion of others that may be suitable.
    [Show full text]
  • August 10, 2021
    Fueled by winds, Dixie Fire grows by nearly 6,000 acres overnight By Omar Shaikh Rashad San Francisco Chronicle, Tuesday, Aug. 10, 2021 Fanned by gusting winds and low humidity, the Dixie Fire — now the second largest wildfire in California’s history — grew by nearly 6,000 acres overnight Monday. By Tuesday morning, the blaze was reported at 487,764 acres and was 25% contained. The Dixie Fire’s growth Monday was a significant uptick compared to a day earlier, when more favorable conditions prevented the fire’s growth overnight Sunday, according to Cal Fire measurements. Cal Fire reported that thick smoke reduced visibility considerably on the eastern and western sides of the blaze, making firefighting conditions more difficult. The prospect of warming temperatures could aid the fire’s growth in the coming days. So far, the Dixie Fire has destroyed 893 structures and damaged 61 others. More than 16,000 structures remain threatened by the blaze. The fire has no fatalities or injuries among civilians but it has injured three firefighters. Progress made but hot weather could spur California wildfire By Christopher Weber and Jonathan J. Cooper, Associated Press Bakersfield Californian, Tuesday, Aug. 10, 2021 California's largest single wildfire in recorded history kept pushing through forestlands as fire crews tried to protect rural communities from flames that have destroyed hundreds of homes. Thick smoke cleared for several hours along one edge of the Dixie Fire on Monday, allowing aircraft to join nearly 6,000 firefighters in the attack. Many were battling to protect more than a dozen small mountain and rural communities in the northern Sierra Nevada.
    [Show full text]