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Restoration of Fire Adapted Ecosystems

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Restoration of Fire Adapted Ecosystems United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service Restoration of Fire Adapted Ecosystems Environmental Assessment Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit Pacific Southwest Region El Dorado County, California January 2016 Baldwin Meadow (T13N, R17E, Sec 26, Emerald Bay Quad) Benwood Meadow (T11N, R18E, Sec 18, Echo Lake Quad) Freel Meadow (T11N, R18E, Sec 11 and 12, Freel Peak Quad) Hellhole Meadow (T11N, R18E, Sec 1, Freel Peak Quad) Meiss Meadow (T10N, R17E, Sec 9, Caples Lake Quad) Star Meadow (T12N, R19E, Sec 30, South Lake Tahoe Quad) For Information Contact: Shana Gross/Stephanie Coppeto/ Matt Dickinson USDA Forest Service 35 College Drive South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150 530-543-2752/530-543-2679/530-543-2769 http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/ltbmu/ 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. (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 USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call toll free (866) 632-9992 (voice). TDD users can contact USDA through local relay or the Federal relay at (800) 877-8339 (TDD) or (866) 377-8642 (relay voice). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. i Restoration of Fire Adapted Ecosystems – Environmental Assessment Table of Contents Table of Contents .......................................................................................................................................... i List of Tables .......................................................................................................................................... iv List of Figures ...........................................................................................................................................v Chapter 1: Introduction .................................................................................................................................1 Background ...............................................................................................................................................1 Existing Condition ....................................................................................................................................3 Baldwin Meadow...................................................................................................................................6 Benwood Meadow .................................................................................................................................9 Freel Meadow ......................................................................................................................................12 Hell Hole Meadow ..............................................................................................................................15 Meiss Meadow ....................................................................................................................................18 Star Meadow ........................................................................................................................................23 Desired condition ....................................................................................................................................26 Purpose of and Need for Action ..............................................................................................................27 Decision Framework ...............................................................................................................................28 Public Involvement .................................................................................................................................28 Issues .......................................................................................................................................................28 Applicable Laws, Regulations, and Policies ...........................................................................................29 National Forest Management Act ........................................................................................................29 Endangered Species Act ......................................................................................................................29 National Historic Preservation Act ......................................................................................................29 Clean Water Act (Public Law 92–500) ...............................................................................................29 Clean Air Act (Public Law 84-159) ....................................................................................................30 California Environmental Quality Act [CEQA] (Public Resources Code, § 21080) ..........................30 Environmental Justice (Executive Order 12898) .................................................................................30 Invasive Species, Executive Order 13112 of February 3, 1999 ..........................................................31 Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 as amended (16 USC 703-712) ...................................................31 Special Area Designations ...................................................................................................................31 Inventoried Roadless Area Direction .............................................................................................31 Recommended Wild River Direction .............................................................................................32 Tahoe Regional Planning Agency .......................................................................................................32 Local Agency Permitting Requirements and Coordination .................................................................32 Chapter 2: Alternatives, including the Proposed Action .............................................................................33 Alternatives .............................................................................................................................................33 Alternative 1 – No Action ...................................................................................................................33 Alternative 2 – The Proposed Action ..................................................................................................33 Resource Protection Measures .......................................................................................................36 General ........................................................................................................................................37 Aquatic Resources .......................................................................................................................37 Soil, Water, & Riparian Resources ..............................................................................................38 Scenic / Recreation ......................................................................................................................40 Terrestrial Wildlife Resource Protection Measures .....................................................................41 Botanical Resource Protection Measures ....................................................................................43 Invasive Plant Prevention Measures ............................................................................................44 Cultural Resources.......................................................................................................................45 Vegetative Resources ..................................................................................................................46 Air Quality ...................................................................................................................................46 ii Restoration of Fire Adapted Ecosystems – Environmental Assessment Comparison of Alternatives ....................................................................................................................47 Chapter 3: Affected Environment and Environmental Consequences ........................................................53 Introduction .............................................................................................................................................53 Organization of Chapter 3 ...................................................................................................................53 Projects Considered for Cumulative Effects .......................................................................................54 Aquatic Wildlife Habitat and Species .....................................................................................................56 Introduction .........................................................................................................................................56 Methodology .......................................................................................................................................56
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