United States Final Environmental Impact Department of Agriculture Statement Forest Service May 20, 2013 AP Loblolly Pine Removal and Restoration Project Andrew Pickens Ranger District, Sumter National Forest Oconee County, South Carolina Final Environmental Impact Statement AP Loblolly Pine Removal and Restoration Project AP Loblolly Pine Removal and Restoration Project Final Environmental Impact Statement Oconee County, South Carolina Lead Agency: USDA Forest Service Responsible Official: MICHAEL B. CRANE, DISTRICT RANGER 112 Andrew Pickens Circle Mountain Rest, SC 29664 For Information Contact: VICTOR WYANT, SILVICULTURIST 112 Andrew Pickens Circle Mountain Rest, SC 29664 864-638-9568 Abstract: The objective of this project is to restore native vegetation typical of the Southern Appalachian Mountains by removing non-native loblolly pine plantations. This would improve ecosystem health and increase habitat diversity. The majority of the project area (77%) falls within the Shortleaf Pine-Oak Ecological Zone, which in the absence of loblolly pine would consist of shortleaf pine and oak dominated forests in the lower elevation Southern Appalachians. Examples of this zone can occur on a variety of topographic and landscape positions, including ridge tops, upper and mid-slopes, as well as low elevation mountain valleys. Pitch pine (and Table Mountain pine) may sometimes be present; Virginia pine and hardwoods are sometimes abundant, especially dry- site oaks such as southern red oak, post oak, blackjack oak, chestnut oak, scarlet oak, but also pignut hickory, red maple, and other associated species. Frequent, low-intensity fires, coupled with severe fires, can influence the occurrence of pines in this zone, particularly shortleaf pine, pitch pine, or Table Mountain pine, rather than hardwood forests or Virginia pine (Natureserve, 2011). Other ecological zones in the project area include dry-mesic oak, dry oak evergreen heath and rich cove/acidic cove. Elevation ranges from 980 to 2300 feet. Emphasis would be placed on improving habitat conditions for a variety of native plants and wildlife species. Commercial and non-commercial treatments would be used to remove loblolly pine trees and native trees would be planted. Emphasis would be place on restoring, enhancing and maintaining habitat conditions for the federally endangered smooth coneflower (Echinacea laevigata) within the species known habitat. Three alternatives were evaluated in detail: Alternative 1 - No Action Alternative 2 - Proposed Action Alternative 3 - An action alternative that meets the purpose and need and also addresses issues that were raised by the public during scoping for this project. 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USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. 2 Final Environmental Impact Statement AP Loblolly Pine Removal and Restoration Project SUMMARY I. Introduction (Underlined words and acronyms are defined in the glossary) The Andrew Pickens Ranger District, Sumter National Forest proposes to remove non-native loblolly pine and restore native pines and hardwoods in their place on approximately 5,542 acres. The district is situated in the Blue Ridge Mountain Physiographic Province, in the mountain foothills. Stands in the project area were converted to loblolly pine plantations 20 to 50 years ago by clear-cutting more diverse native stands. In some locations loblolly pine has seeded in from these planted trees in either adjacent stands or previous stands. Current species composition is outside the natural range of variability (NRV), consisting mostly of non-native loblolly pine with few native hardwoods or native pines growing in the overstory. Hardwood sprouts and saplings are common in the understory. The majority of the project area (77%) falls within the Shortleaf Pine-Oak Ecological Zone, which in the absence of loblolly pine would consist of shortleaf pine and oak dominated forests in the lower elevation Southern Appalachians. Examples of this zone can occur on a variety of topographic and landscape positions, including ridge tops, upper and mid-slopes, as well as low elevation mountain valleys. Pitch pine (and Table Mountain pine) may sometimes be present; Virginia pine and hardwoods are sometimes abundant, especially dry-site oaks such as southern red oak, post oak, blackjack oak, chestnut oak, scarlet oak, but also pignut hickory, red maple, and other associated species. Frequent, low-intensity fires, coupled with severe fires, can influence the occurrence of pines in this zone, particularly shortleaf pine, pitch pine, or Table Mountain pine, rather than hardwood forests or Virginia pine (Natureserve, 2011). Other ecological zones in the project area include dry-mesic oak, dry oak evergreen heath and rich cove/acidic cove. Elevation ranges from 980 to 2300 feet. Other ecological zones in the project area include dry-mesic oak, dry oak evergreen heath and rich cove/acidic cove. II. Purpose and Need for Action The purpose and need for this project is to restore native forest vegetation that is more representative of the ecological zones that occur here. This change in condition would improve ecosystem health and increase the diversity of habitat for native plants and wildlife. Existing Condition The overstory is comprised mostly of loblolly pine. Native hardwood species are common in the understory, but their growth is restricted by the loblolly pine overstory. Shortleaf pine, pitch pine, and Table mountain pine, along with dry-site oaks such but not limited to chestnut oak and scarlet oak, were previously common in these stands prior to loblolly establishment, but are now uncommon. These native pine species have been declining in abundance on the District over the past several decades due to lack of disturbance, primarily fire, that historically created and 3 Final Environmental Impact Statement AP Loblolly Pine Removal and Restoration Project maintained suitable growing conditions for these shade intolerant species in the shortleaf pine- oak ecological zone (Landfire 2010, Van Lear and Waldrop, 1989). Loblolly pine tree density in the overstory of most project stands is high, ranging from 120 to 160 square feet of basal area per acre. The dense loblolly pine-dominated overstory inhibits the growth of other tree species and non-woody understory vegetation, resulting in a forest that is low in native species diversity. These stands are susceptible to insect and disease damage due to declining tree vigor. Loblolly pine in the overstory of some stands is sparse due to past southern pine beetle (SPB) mortality or from poor planting success. SPB-related mortality was widespread across the district in 2002 and 2003 with variable impacts to stands in the project area. The disturbance caused by SPB would normally provide light and space for a variety of native species to regenerate. However, mature loblolly pine surrounding these small-scale disturbed areas seed in to perpetuate itself. Species such as red maple, yellow-poplar and Virginia pine also capture these newly created openings quickly. Although these species are native, they would normally not be the dominant species in these forest types if natural disturbance patterns such as fire were in place. Without fire or some other control to follow establishment of those species, slower growing, more fire-tolerant species such as oaks, hickories, shortleaf pine, pitch pine, and Table mountain pine have not been able to establish in significant amounts. Early successional habitat and woodlands are two of the most limited types of available plant and wildlife habitats on the Andrew Pickens District. The endangered plant, smooth coneflower has been restricted in its distribution as a result of lack of disturbance and growth of shade tolerant species. The species is known to occur in and adjacent to several loblolly stands. Plant surveys have identified current locations of the plant and potential habitat areas have also been identified. The Sumter National Forest proposed, endangered, threatened and sensitive species (PETS) list includes other plant species that require disturbance in order to thrive. These species generally have been restricted to along roadsides and utility right-of-ways (ROWs) because of the disturbance frequency on these sites. Desired Condition Loblolly pine is replaced by new stands of native tree species. Relative abundance of native species is within the natural range of variability. New woodlands have been established and existing ones maintained in order to provide additional habitat diversity for a variety of disturbance-dependent, early successional game and nongame wildlife species in all stages of their lifecycles. Habitat