Environmental Assessment
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United States Environmental Department of Agriculture Assessment Forest Service Cascade Crest Fuel Break 2010 Clackamas River Ranger District, Mt. Hood National Forest Clackamas and Marion Counties, Oregon The project is located in T.7S., R.8E.; T.8S., R.8E.; T.7S., R.8½ E.; T.9S., R.8E.; Willamette Meridian. For Information Contact: James Roden 595 NW Industrial Way, Estacada, OR 97023 503.630.6861 [email protected] Dead lodgepole pine trees along Forest Road 4220 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 program. (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 to USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410, or call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382 (TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. Cascade Crest Fuel Break Environmental Assessment 1.0 Summary .................................................................................................................. 2 2.0 Introduction ............................................................................................................. 3 2.1 Document Structure ....................................................................................................... 3 2.2 Purpose and Need for Action ......................................................................................... 4 2.3 Proposed Action ............................................................................................................. 9 2.4 Public Involvement ...................................................................................................... 15 3.0 Alternatives ............................................................................................................ 15 3.1 Alternative A - No Action............................................................................. 16 3.2 Alternative C ................................................................................................. 16 3.3 Other Alternatives Considered ...................................................................... 16 3.4 Comparison of Alternatives .......................................................................... 21 4.0 Environmental Consequences ............................................................................. 22 4.1 Fire Hazard and Risk .................................................................................... 23 4.2 Recreation and Scenery................................................................................. 37 4.3 Fisheries and Water Quality.......................................................................... 58 4.4 Northern Spotted Owl (Threatened) ............................................................. 76 4.5 Other Wildlife ............................................................................................... 89 4.6 Soil Productivity ......................................................................................... 108 4.7 Botany ......................................................................................................... 117 4.8 Management Of Competing And Unwanted Vegetation ............................ 120 4.9 Air Quality .................................................................................................. 124 4.10 Climate Change ........................................................................................... 126 4.11 Economics – Financial Analysis ................................................................. 128 4.12 Transportation ............................................................................................. 129 4.13 Heritage Resources ..................................................................................... 129 4.14 Environmental Justice – Civil Rights ......................................................... 130 4.15 Other ........................................................................................................... 131 5.0 Consultation and Coordination .......................................................................... 131 Appendix A – Maps Appendix B – Response to Comments 1 Cascade Crest Fuel Break Environmental Assessment 1.0 SUMMARY This document discusses the creation of a shaded fuel break in the area north of Olallie Lake on the Mt. Hood National Forest. A shaded fuel break is a strip of land where woody debris and other fuels have been reduced and trees spaced out so that fire suppression forces can work safely in the event of a wildfire. The project area has high fire hazard due to a continuing mountain pine beetle infestation that is killing lodgepole pine trees. 2 Cascade Crest Fuel Break Environmental Assessment 2.0 INTRODUCTION 2.1 Document Structure ______________________________ The Forest Service has prepared this document in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and other relevant Federal and State laws and regulations. This document discloses the direct, indirect, and cumulative environmental impacts that would result from the proposed action and alternatives. The document is organized into the following parts: Summary Introduction: This section includes the purpose of and need for the project, and the agency‟s proposal for achieving that purpose and need. This discussion also includes design criteria and Best Management Practices. This section also details how the Forest Service informed the public of the proposal and how the public responded. Alternatives: This section provides a description of alternative methods for achieving the stated purpose. These alternatives were developed based on issues raised by the public and other agencies. Finally, this section provides a comparison of the environmental consequences associated with each alternative. Environmental Consequences: This section describes the environmental effects of implementing the proposed action and other alternatives. This analysis is organized by resource. Within each section, the existing situation is described first, followed by the effects of the alternatives. The No-action Alternative provides a baseline for evaluation and comparison of the other alternatives. Consultation and Coordination: This section provides a list of preparers and agencies consulted during the development of the environmental assessment. References and Appendices: The appendices provide more detailed information to support the analyses presented in the environmental assessment. Additional documentation, including more detailed analyses of project-area resources, may be found in the project planning record located at the Estacada Ranger Station in Estacada, Oregon. 3 Cascade Crest Fuel Break Environmental Assessment 2.2 Purpose and Need for Action _______________________ 2.2.1 The purpose of this project is to aid in the suppression of wildfires. The goal is to keep small fires from becoming large. 2.2.1.1 Background Over the past decade, Central Oregon and the Inland West have experienced large wildfires that have put many assets at risk, including people‟s lives and homes, sensitive or protected fish and wildlife habitat, culturally and tribally significant resources, critical infrastructure, soil productivity, scenery, clean air and other valued components of forests and communities. In recent years, federal land management agencies have been focusing efforts to minimize the potential impacts of large scale wildfires. Currently, an ongoing infestation of mountain pine beetle killing lodgepole pine in the project area has created large quantities of standing dead and down wood, creating a significant build-up of hazardous fuels. There is the potential for lightning or human caused fires to grow large threatening resources. The project would create a shaded fuel break by cutting some trees and brush and cleaning up fuels on the ground along roads 4220 and 4230 to aid in the safe suppression of wildfires. This project has been developed in cooperation with the Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation. Section 2.3 has greater detail on the proposed action. If no action is taken, a large scale wildfire could impact resources on the Forest and tribal historic properties, first foods, medicinal plants and other resources. Large wildfires on the Forest/Reservation boundary have happened in past and are likely to happen again. The tribes have concerns about the risk to resources on the reservation but they also have concerns about resources in the vicinity of the fuel break on the National Forest. The fuel break would occur on their usual and accustomed lands. It would provide protection for usual and accustomed lands, as well as the adjacent reservation and ceded lands. The tribes have treaty rights in this area for hunting and the gathering of medicinal plants and first foods such as roots and huckleberries. The fuel break would also protect spiritual values. If no action is taken, a severe wildfire in this area would result in the loss of