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Decision Notice and Finding of No Significant Impact for the Lower South Fork Mckenzie River Floodplain Enhancement Project

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Decision Notice and Finding of No Significant Impact for the Lower South Fork Mckenzie River Floodplain Enhancement Project Decision Notice and Finding of No Significant Impact for the Lower South Fork McKenzie River Floodplain Enhancement Project USDA Forest Service McKenzie River Ranger District Willamette National Forest Lane County, OR The project area encompasses approximately 784 acres, located off Forest Road 19 below Cougar Dam, approximately 4 miles east of the community of Blue River, Oregon (Figures 1 and 2). About 687 acres of the project area are located within the Cougar Creek-South Fork McKenzie River sub- watershed of the South Fork McKenzie River watershed and 97 acres are located within the Elk Creek-McKenzie River sub-watershed of the Quartz Creek-McKenzie River watershed. The project area is defined as the South Fork McKenzie River from the base of Cougar Dam to the confluence with the McKenzie River (approximately 4.2 miles). This area includes the main stem channel and all current and historic side channels and floodplain as well as some access roads and staging sites. Most of the project area is under Forest Service ownership, except for approximately 31 acres owned by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The legal location is: T16S, R4E, S23 and S24; T16S, R4.5E, S24 and S25; T16S, R5E, S19, S30, and S31; Willamette Meridian, Lane County, Oregon. Introduction The purpose of the project is to: 1. Restore to the extent practicable the physical, chemical, and biological processes that maintain a healthy, diverse, and resilient floodplain ecosystem. 2. Restore a hydrologically connected, well-functioning, complex channel network and floodplain. 3. Increase habitat availability, diversity, and quality for ESA-Threatened spring Chinook salmon and bull trout and other native aquatic and riparian species, including Pacific lamprey, cutthroat trout, rainbow trout, Pacific pond turtle, harlequin duck, and American beaver. There is a need to restore the broad alluvial valleys of the lower South Fork McKenzie River because: (1) existing conditions are severely degraded, as described in the following section, (2) the project area presents the opportunity to restore high value floodplain habitat, (3) and we are guided to restore aquatic and riparian habitat based on the Forest Plan, Northwest Forest Plan, Endangered Species Act Recovery Plans, and other important guiding documents. This project also analyzes the recommendations of the Forest level travel analysis process and the accompanying travel analysis report known as the Willamette National Forest Road Investment Strategy (USDA, 2015). A high-level GIS-based analysis was done at the Forest level to evaluate both risk and need for every road in the project area. This project's interdisciplinary team (IDT) looked at 1 Lower South Fork McKenzie Floodplain Enhancement Project Decision Notice & Finding of No Significant Impact these recommendations as part of analysis for this project. Final recommendations made by the IDT and approved by the decision maker as part of this NEPA process would amend the Forest's long-term sustainable (minimum) road system as required by Travel Management direction (USDA, 2012). See Road Decommissioning and Storage in Section 2.3 Alternative 2 – Proposed Action for description of proposed transportation treatments. The Environmental Assessment (EA) documents the analysis of two alternatives to meet this need. The Environmental Assessment (EA) documents the analysis of two alternatives (action and no action) to meet this need. Decision and Reasons for the Decision Based upon my review of all alternatives, I have decided to implement Alternative 2. Alternative 2 will: Remove up to 54 acres (approximately 400,000-500,000 cubic yards) of artificial levees, fill, and riprap and other natural sediment deposits within the floodplain Redistribute sediment into approximately 49 acres of currently incised channels to raise stream bed elevation Place approximately 4,000-5,000 pieces of large woody material (12-48 inches diameter) throughout the floodplain and multiple channels Obtain approximately 2,000-3,000 pieces of large woody material from up to 94 acres of upland units (approximately 36 acres of thinning and up to 58 acres of 1-3 acre gaps) Obtain approximately 250-500 pieces of large woody material from up to 9 acres of wood staging sites Obtain approximately 1,500-2,500 pieces of large woody material from up to 54 acres of sediment removal areas within the floodplain Obtain up to 31 whole trees from near the banks of the South Fork McKenzie River to serve as key pieces Create up to 2 acres of new pond habitat Replace (upsize) five culverts and install one new culvert on Delta Campground Road Decommission approximately 0.6 miles of existing system roads and approximately 0.2 miles of non-system roads and store approximately 0.1 miles of existing system roads Construct approximately 3.6 miles of temporary road for equipment access and decommission after use Conduct up to 17 miles of post-project road maintenance Utilize approximately 9 acres of existing disturbed areas for equipment staging sites Rehabilitate and/or replant (with native species) up to 214 acres of disturbed area following project implementation 2 Lower South Fork McKenzie Floodplain Enhancement Project Decision Notice & Finding of No Significant Impact Control noxious weeds within project area both prior to and after implementation Decision Rationale I have decided to implement Alternative 2 because it fully addresses the purpose and need. Compared to the no-action alternative, Alternative 2 will best help in restoring river function, habitat, and fish and wildlife productivity in the South Fork McKenzie River of the two alternatives. Alternative 2 will increase large woody material levels, restore hydrologic connectivity to approximately 189 acres of floodplain, decrease average substrate size, and increase the diversity and complexity of available habitat throughout the project area. Alternative 2 will improve the condition of key riverine ecosystem processes in the project area, and place the lower South Fork McKenzie River on a path towards sustainable recovery. In the long-term, Alternative 2 will be beneficial to water quality, and will increase aquatic habitat complexity, suitability, and availability. While concerns were raised during the 30-day EA comment period, scoping, and field trips, they are not considered key issues for the purpose of formulating fully developed alternatives. Additionally, project design elements were incorporated to reduce effects to resources (see Design Features for the Action Alternative, attached to this Decision Notice). Another action alternative was considered but not developed because it will be very similar to Alternative 2 and will not provide enough contrast to be discernable from the impacts of the proposed action; contrast will be provided by the no action alternative. Alternatives Considered but Eliminated (Chapter 2.1 of the EA) address points raised by commenters. Alternatives Considered are also discussed on page 6 and in the Response to Comments section of this Decision Notice (DN). Concerns regarding navigability by boaters and rafters following implementation, suggested an Alternative that allowed for a navigable channel. The line officer with input from the IDT determined that such a design will not satisfy the Purpose and Need of the project. Alternative 2 meets concerns raised by the public regarding recreation and other input and meets environmental standards and guidelines. For a complete discussion see the EA, Chapter 3, Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action and the No Action Alternative. Alternative 2 Best Management Practices, Design Features and Monitoring This decision also includes implementation of Design Features and Best Management Practices as required by the Clean Water Act and as disclosed in the EA Design Features table (Chapter 2.4) or the attachment to this EA Design Features table (which is the same). The monitoring items that will be implemented include: Operations: Contract administrators will monitor treatments during implementation to ensure contractors are in compliance with their contract. Contract elements monitored will include harvest specifications, bole damage to residual trees, down wood and snag retention, skid trail spacing and use of designated skid trails. Road Management: McKenzie River Ranger District engineering personnel will monitor road management through contract administration and routine road maintenance inspections. National Aquatic Best Management Practice Monitoring: The National Best Management Practices Program provides a standard set of core best management practices for the protection of water quality and consistent documentation of the use and effectiveness of the practices. 3 Lower South Fork McKenzie Floodplain Enhancement Project Decision Notice & Finding of No Significant Impact Post-implementation best management practices monitoring may include review of aquatic management zones, erosion prevention and control measures, ground-based yarding operation effects, and site treatment. Forest Plan Implementation Monitoring: The Forest Supervisor’s Staff performs annual project monitoring at each Ranger District and compiles the results in the bi-yearly Forest Monitoring Report. Implementation of treatments from this project will be subject to Forest Plan Implementation monitoring. Other implementation monitoring elements may include temporary road decommissioning, snag and large down wood abundance, and any seeding or planting of vegetation. Reforestation: Ensure stand
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