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Final Environmental Impact Statement - Los Padres National Forest Tamarisk Removal Project

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Final Environmental Impact United States Department of Agriculture Statement Forest Service Los Padres National Forest September 2016 Tamarisk Removal Project Los Padres National Forest Kern, Los Angeles, Monterey, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties, California In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity (including gender expression), sexual orientation, disability, age, marital status, family/parental status, income derived from a public assistance program, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity, in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA (not all bases apply to all programs). Remedies and complaint filing deadlines vary by program or incident. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the responsible Agency or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877- 8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English. To file a program discrimination complaint, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, AD- 3027, found online at http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html and at any USDA office or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by: (1) mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; (2) fax: (202) 690-7442; or (3) email: [email protected] . USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender. Final Environmental Impact Statement - Los Padres National Forest Tamarisk Removal Project Los Padres National Forest Tamarisk Removal Project Final Environmental Impact Statement Kern, Los Angeles Monterey, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties, California Lead Agency: USDA Forest Service Responsible Official: Robert Baird, Forest Supervisor Los Padres National Forest 6750 Navigator Way, Suite 150, Goleta, CA 93117 For Information Contact: Lloyd Simpson, Forest Botanist Los Padres National Forest, Ojai Ranger District 1190 E. Ojai Ave, Ojai, CA 93023 (805) 646-4348 ext. 316 Abstract The Los Padres National Forest Tamarisk Removal Project has been developed to improve riparian ecosystems by controlling the invasive species tamarisk in portions of Piru Creek, Lockwood Creek, Cuyama River, Santa Ynez River, Sespe Creek, Sisquoc River, and Arroyo Seco River watersheds. Tamarisk has replaced the native riparian plant community of willows, cottonwoods and other desirable native riparian species, and the water-consuming ability of tamarisk has reduced the surface water available to wildlife. The best management strategy is to enact control measures now before the tamarisk infestations become larger. This statement describes three alternatives in detail: Alternative 1 would result in no treatment allowing tamarisk to persist and continue to negatively impact ecosystem integrity; Alternative 2, the Proposed Action and Preferred Alternative, would effectively treat tamarisk utilizing a combination of methods including hand application of registered herbicides. Alternative 3 was developed in response to concerns about the use of herbicide and would treat tamarisk by hand-pulling methods only. This alternative would not eradicate the mature tamarisk that are responsible for spreading seed and tamarisk further in the watersheds. i Final Environmental Impact Statement - Los Padres National Forest Tamarisk Removal Project Summary The Los Padres National Forest is proposing to control tamarisk (Tamarix sp.) in portions of Piru Creek, Lockwood Creek, Cuyama River, Santa Ynez River, Sisquoc River, Sespe Creek, and Arroyo Seco River watersheds. The project is designed to eradicate current tamarisk infestations and to prevent its further spread. The project area is located along riparian zones of the above-mentioned waterways and proposes to treat approximately 368 linear miles along perennial and intermittent streams for an area of about 4,247 acres. Currently the infestations are composed of scattered tamarisk within riparian habitat conservation areas, congressionally designated Wilderness areas, and Wild and Scenic Rivers. The proposed project is located on all five Ranger Districts of the Los Padres National Forest. Treatments would occur only along identified reaches where it is present. Tamarisk is a nonnative invasive tree-shrub that can grow in dense patches, out-compete native vegetation such as willows (Salix sp.) and cottonwoods (Populus sp.), change soil chemistry by depositing salts from deep ground water on the soil surface, and remove large amounts of water from streams and riparian areas via evapotranspiration through its foliage. The action will result in the improvement of riparian ecosystems that have been impacted by tamarisk invasion. By removing tamarisk before it becomes the dominant vegetation component, native plant communities would be maintained, and in turn will provide a benefit to aquatic resources dependent on healthy, properly functioning riparian areas. Treatments would begin in 2016, and intensive treatment are expected to occur through 2021. Monitoring and maintenance treatments would continue thereafter to retreat existing infestations, and to treat new infestations discovered within the project area. It is anticipated that most of the project would be implemented over the next 10 years, with the most intensive treatments occurring during the first five years. No major issues were raised during scoping beyond analysis already planned for multiple resources by the interdisciplinary team. The proposed action developed by the agency includes hand pulling of tamarisk with hand application of an herbicide. The agency also developed alternatives to the proposed action including a no-action alternative, and a second action alternatives that includes hand pulling only. Major conclusions include: . The no action alternative would allow tamarisk to continue to spread . The hand pulling only alternative would not eradicate the mature tamarisk that are responsible for spreading seed and spreading tamarisk further in the watersheds Based upon the effects of the alternatives, the responsible official will decide whether or not to implement this project, either of the action alternatives, or modify the project based on public input and interdisciplinary analysis. ii Final Environmental Impact Statement - Los Padres National Forest Tamarisk Removal Project Table of Contents Summary ......................................................................................................................................... ii Chapter 1. Purpose of and Need for Action .................................................................................... 1 Document Structure ..................................................................................................................... 1 Background ................................................................................................................................. 1 Purpose and Need for Action ...................................................................................................... 2 Proposed Action .......................................................................................................................... 3 Decision Framework ................................................................................................................... 3 Public Involvement ...................................................................................................................... 3 Issues ........................................................................................................................................... 5 Chapter 2. Alternatives, Including the Proposed Action ................................................................. 5 Introduction ................................................................................................................................. 5 Alternatives Considered in Detail ............................................................................................... 5 Alternatives Considered but Eliminated from Detailed Study .................................................. 15 Comparison of Alternatives ....................................................................................................... 15 Chapter 3. Affected Environment and Environmental Consequences .......................................... 17 Introduction ............................................................................................................................... 17 Hydrology .................................................................................................................................. 17 Heritage Resources .................................................................................................................... 36 Botany ......................................................................................................................................
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