Hiawatha National Forest Non-Native Invasive Plant Control Project
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Hiawatha National Forest Non-native Invasive Plant Control Project Environmental Assessment Hiawatha National Forest Alger, Chippewa, Delta, Mackinac, Marquette, and Schoolcraft counties, Michigan April 2007 Spotted knapweed (Centaurea biebersteinii ) Responsible Official: Thomas A. Schmidt Forest Supervisor Hiawatha National Forest 2727 North Lincoln Road Escanaba, MI 49829 For Further Information Contact: Kirk Piehler Forest Wildlife Biologist Hiawatha National Forest 2727 North Lincoln Road Escanaba, MI 49829 (906) 789-3374 HNF Non-native Invasive Plant Control Project Environmental Assessment The 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 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 to USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, DC 20250-9410, or call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382 (TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. Cover Photograph Credits: John M. Randall, The Nature Conservancy Inset: USDA APHIS Archives Both are spotted knapweed ( Centaurea biebersteinii ) This document was printed on recycled paper. 2 HNF Non-native Invasive Plant Control Project Environmental Assessment TABLE OF CONTENTS TABLE OF CONTENTS .................................................................................................. 2 Vicinity Map – Hiawatha National Forest (HNF) .............................................................. 4 CHAPTER 1 – PURPOSE AND NEED FOR ACTION .................................................... 5 1.1 PROJECT AREA .......................................................................................................... 5 1.2 PURPOSE AND NEED FOR ACTION ..................................................................... 5 1.3 PROPOSED ACTION (Alternative 2) ........................................................................ 6 1.3.1 Treatment Methods .............................................................................................. 8 1.3.2 Treatment Protocol ............................................................................................. 11 1.3.3 Design Criteria .................................................................................................... 12 1.4 DECISIONS TO BE MADE ....................................................................................... 14 1.5 PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT .......................................................................................... 15 1.6 ISSUE IDENTIFICATION .......................................................................................... 15 CHAPTER 2 - ALTERNATIVES .................................................................................... 15 2.1 ALTERNATIVES ......................................................................................................... 15 2.1.1 Alternatives Considered But Eliminated From Detailed Study .................... 15 2.1.2 Alternative 1 – No Change ................................................................................ 16 2.1.3 Alternative 2 – Proposed Action ...................................................................... 16 2.2 COMPARISON OF ALTERNATIVES ..................................................................... 16 CHAPTER 3 – AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT and ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS........ 17 3.1 LAND USE, RECREATION, AND AESTHETICS ................................................. 18 3.2 CLIMATE AND AIR .................................................................................................... 20 3.3 SOILS AND GEOLOGY ............................................................................................ 22 3.4 MINERALS .................................................................................................................. 25 3.5 HYDROLOGY AND WATER QUALITY .................................................................. 27 3.6 BIOLOGICAL ENVIRONMENT ................................................................................ 30 3.7 HERITAGE .................................................................................................................. 59 3.8 HUMAN HEALTH AND SAFETY ............................................................................. 60 3.9 SOCIO-ECONOMIC RESOURCES ........................................................................ 64 3.10 MONITORING ............................................................................................................. 66 APPENDIX A – TABLES............................................................................................... 68 APPENDIX B – LIST OF CONTRIBUTORS TO PROJECT ANALYSIS........................ 82 APPENDIX C – REFERENCES .................................................................................... 83 3 HNF Non-native Invasive Plant (NNIP) Control Project Environmental Assessment Vicinity Map – Hiawatha National Forest (HNF) C A N A D A vk e2upe ri or Duluth Ottawa Marquette Hiawatha Minnesota Ironwood Minneapolis Escanaba Wisconsin Huron vk e2 Green Bay ruron Manistee Madison Saginaw vk e2w i hign Grand Rapids Milwaukee Lansing Iowa Illinois Michigan Detroit Chicago vk e2i rie Indiana Toledo Ohio 4 HNF Non-native Invasive Plant (NNIP) Control Project Environmental Assessment CHAPTER 1 – PURPOSE AND NEED FOR ACTION INTRODUCTION Since European settlement, non-native invasive plants (NNIP) have been intentionally and unintentionally introduced within the proclamation boundary of the Hiawatha National Forest (HNF). Over time, these species have spread by various means. Most NNIP have a competitive advantage over native plants that allows them to reproduce and spread rapidly. Because these plants have no natural pathogens and predators, some have become persistent, aggressive invaders of disturbed habitats and native plant communities. A species is considered invasive if it is not native to the ecosystem under consideration, and its introduction causes or is likely to cause economic or environmental harm or harm to human health (Executive Order 13112 issued 1999). Next to habitat destruction, invasive species are the greatest threat to native biodiversity (USDA 2005, p. 231). Non-native invasive species spread was identified by the Chief of the Forest Service as one of the four threats affecting the health of our nation’s forests and grasslands. The invasion of new areas and subsequent spread of NNIP is associated with humans, as well as natural processes. The introduction and spread of NNIP can be caused by roads and trails, timber harvests, recreation activities (OHVs, hiking, etc.), and natural events. Roads provide a means for weeds to be transported by vehicles. The construction of roads can result in the alteration of tree canopy structure and disturbance of soils along the right-of- way (Trombulak and Frissell 1999). The resulting disturbed, sunny locations are sites where NNIP can thrive and spread. Construction and maintenance equipment provide a source for transport of invasive weeds as they travel between sites. Timber harvests can cause the introduction and spread of NNIP through ground disturbance and canopy openings (Buckley et al. 2003, USDA 2005, p.231). Natural events can be associated with invasive plant movement through processes, such as wind, moving water and wildlife. When left untreated, some NNIP may become the dominant component of the vegetative community, thus reducing native plant diversity and affecting wildlife habitat, visual resources, overstory tree growth and future management of infested sites. 1.1 PROJECT AREA The HNF is located in the central and eastern Upper Peninsula of Michigan, including portions of Alger, Chippewa, Delta, Mackinac, Marquette, and Schoolcraft counties (see Vicinity Map). The HNF proclamation boundary encompasses approximately 1.3 million acres and includes tracts of National Forest System land totaling approximately 895,000 acres (USDA FS 2006b, p. 3-5). A diversity of vegetation types, soils, and landforms are found on the HNF. The uplands are forested by various stands of northern hardwoods, hemlock, pine, aspen, spruce, and fir. Most other lands comprise a mixture of forested and non-forested upland openings and wetland habitats, including numerous streams and lakes. The HNF is home to a variety of animals and plants, ranging from common to rare. 1.2 PURPOSE AND NEED FOR ACTION The HNF has identified 28 NNIP that are now or are expected soon to be impacting ecosystem function and integrity and degrading habitat for native plants and animals, including threatened and endangered species. Non-native invasive plants can affect ecosystems on the Forest by altering communities, nutrient cycling, hydrology and natural fire regimes. They can compete directly for light, water, nutrients, growing space, and by allelopathic interactions (USDA 2005, p. 231). Recent research has shown that non-native understory shrubs, such as honeysuckle, can significantly affect the growth