Cochetopa Hills Vegetation Management Project Environmental Assessment
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United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service March 2014 Cochetopa Hills Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Vegetation Management Forests Gunnison Ranger District Project Environmental Assessment Saguache County, Colorado Lead Agency: USDA Forest Service Responsible Official: John Murphy, District Ranger, Gunnison Ranger District, GMUG NF Contact: Arthur Haines, District Silviculturist Gunnison Ranger District, GMUG NF Phone: 970 642-4423 Email: [email protected] The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, or marital or family status. (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, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 14 th and Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or call (202) 720-5964 (voice and TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. Cochetopa Hills Vegetation Management Project Environmental Assessment Table of Contents 1. PROPOSED ACTION/PURPOSE OF AND NEED FOR ACTION........................................................1 1.1. Introduction .................................................................................................................................. 1 1.2. Background ................................................................................................................................... 2 1.3. Proposed Action ........................................................................................................................... 3 1.4. Planning Area ................................................................................................................................ 4 1.5. Purpose of and Need for Action ................................................................................................... 6 1.6. Forest Plan Management - Area Prescriptions ............................................................................. 7 1.7. Forest Plan Management – Direction ......................................................................................... 10 1.7.1. Forest Level Goals and Objectives .......................................................................................... 10 1.8. Relationship of the Proposed Action to the Forest Plan and the Purpose and Need ................ 12 1.8.1. Activities to Create/Maintain Forest Age Class and Species Diversity within the Landscape 12 1.8.2. Activities to Protect Forests from Insects, Diseases, and Wildfire ......................................... 13 1.8.3. Activities to Provide Wood Products Now and in the Future ................................................. 14 1.8.4. Activities to Protect and Enhance Range Resources ............................................................... 15 1.9. Decision Framework ................................................................................................................... 15 1.10. Key Issues Associated with the Proposed Action ....................................................................... 16 1.10.1. Key Issue 1- Forest Condition .................................................................................................. 16 1.10.2. Key Issue 2 – Economic Viability of Proposed Treatments ..................................................... 17 1.11. Other Issues ................................................................................................................................ 17 1.12. Public Involvement and Scoping ................................................................................................. 18 2. ALTERNATIVES ...................................................................................................................... 19 2.1. Description of Alternatives ......................................................................................................... 19 2.1.1. Alternative 1 – Proposed Action ............................................................................................. 20 2.1.2. Alternative 2 –Economic Viability ........................................................................................... 30 2.1.3. Alternative 3 – No Action ........................................................................................................ 35 2.1.4. Treatment Timing (All Action Alternatives) ............................................................................ 35 2.1.5. Comparison of Alternatives .................................................................................................... 35 2.1.6. Alternatives Considered, but Eliminated from Detailed Study ............................................... 39 3. AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES ....................................... 40 3.1. Introduction ................................................................................................................................ 40 ii Cochetopa Hills Vegetation Management Project Environmental Assessment 3.2. Summary of Analysis ................................................................................................................... 40 3.3. Past, Present and Reasonably Foreseeable Future Activities ..................................................... 45 3.3.1. Past Activities .......................................................................................................................... 45 3.3.2. Ongoing Activities ................................................................................................................... 49 3.3.3. Foreseeable Future Activities.................................................................................................. 50 3.4. Forest Resources......................................................................................................................... 50 3.4.1. Existing Conditions – Forest Resources................................................................................... 50 3.4.2. Direct and Indirect Effects, Forest Resources – No Action and Alternatives 1 and 2 ............. 61 3.4.3. Cumulative Effects, Forest Resources – Alternatives 1 and 2 ................................................ 69 3.5. Range Resources ......................................................................................................................... 70 3.5.1. Existing Conditions – Range Resources ................................................................................... 70 3.5.2. Direct and Indirect Effects, Range Resources – Alternatives 1 and 2 ..................................... 72 3.5.3. Cumulative Effects, Range Resources – Alternatives 1 and 2 ................................................. 77 3.6. Soil Resources ............................................................................................................................. 78 3.6.1. Existing Conditions – Soil ........................................................................................................ 78 3.6.2. Direct and Indirect Effects, Soil – Alternatives 1 and 2 ........................................................... 81 3.6.3. Cumulative Effects, Soil – Alternatives 1 and 2....................................................................... 84 3.7. Watershed Resources ................................................................................................................. 85 3.7.1. Existing Conditions – Watershed Resources ........................................................................... 85 3.7.2. Direct and Indirect Effects, Watershed Resources – Alternatives 1 and 2 ............................. 89 3.7.3. Cumulative Effects, Watershed Resources – Alternatives 1 and 2 ......................................... 97 3.8. Wildlife ........................................................................................................................................ 98 3.8.1. Existing Conditions – Wildlife .................................................................................................. 98 3.8.2. Direct and Indirect Effects, Wildlife – Alternatives 1 and 2 .................................................. 102 3.8.3. Cumulative Effects, Wildlife – Alternatives 1 and 2 .............................................................. 122 3.9. Fisheries .................................................................................................................................... 123 3.9.1. Existing Conditions - Fisheries ............................................................................................... 123 3.9.2. Direct and Indirect Effects, Fisheries – Alternatives 1 and 2 ................................................ 123 3.9.3. Cumulative Effects, Fisheries – Alternatives 1 and 2 ........................................................... 127 3.10. Botany ....................................................................................................................................... 127 3.10.1. Existing Conditions – Botany ................................................................................................. 127 iii Cochetopa Hills Vegetation Management Project Environmental Assessment 3.10.2. Direct and