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Final Environmental Impact Statement Land and Resource Management Plan

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Final Environmental Impact Statement Land and Resource Management Plan The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, 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, 14th and Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (202) 720-5964 (voice and TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. Shawnee National Forest Final Environmental Impact Statement Land and Resource Management Plan Alexander, Gallatin, Hardin, Jackson, Johnson, Massac, Pope, Saline, Union and Williamson Counties, Illinois Lead Agency USDA Forest Service Responsible Official Randy Moore, Eastern Regional Forester 626 East Wisconsin Avenue Milwaukee, WI 53202 For Information, Contact Stephen Hupe 50 Highway 145 South Harrisburg, IL 62946 (618) 253-7114 or (800) MY WOODS Abstract This final environmental impact statement (FEIS) documents the analysis of four alternatives, each offering a different programmatic framework within which to manage the 285,000 acres administered by the Shawnee National Forest. The selected alternative was the basis for the revised Forest Plan that will guide all natural resource management on the Forest. The Forest Service developed the alternatives with advice from the public and other federal and state agencies. The Regional Forester explains in the Record of Decision his rationale for selecting one of the alternatives. Alternative 1 would continue to use the management direction of the 1992 Amended Forest Plan, with uneven-aged forest management and group-selection harvest, minimally restricted equestrian use and proposed ATV/OHM trail corridors. Alternative 2, the selected alternative, emphasizes maintenance or enhancement of biodiversity on the Forest, with even-aged forest management to restore and maintain oak-hickory forest-type, prescribed fire and other vegetation management, restriction to trails of equestrian use and continuation of the closure of the Forest to ATV/OHM use. Alternative 3 emphasizes custodial management of the Forest, with no forest management, minimal prescribed fire, restricted equestrian use and no ATV/OHM use. Emphasis of Alternative 4 is similar to Alternative 1, with more equestrian and ATV/OHM use possible, and to Alternative 2, with even-aged forest management to restore and maintain oak-hickory forest-type, prescribed fire and other vegetation management. LOCATION OF THE SHAWNEE NATIONAL FOREST STATE OF ILLINOIS TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER 1. PURPOSE OF AND NEED FOR ACTION.............................................................................................. 1 I. DOCUMENT STRUCTURE.................................................................................................................................1 II. BACKGROUND ..................................................................................................................................................1 III. PURPOSE OF AND NEED FOR ACTION....................................................................................................... 2 IV. PROPOSED ACTION ....................................................................................................................................... 3 V. DECISION FRAMEWORK................................................................................................................................ 3 VI. PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT ................................................................................................................................ 5 VII. ISSUES ............................................................................................................................................................ 5 A. WATERSHED RESOURCES........................................................................................................................ 5 B. BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY, WILDLIFE AND AQUATIC HABITAT .......................................................... 6 C. RECREATION MANAGEMENT .................................................................................................................. 7 D. FOREST ECOSYSTEM HEALTH AND SUSTAINABILITY ....................................................................... 7 E. MINERAL RESOURCES .............................................................................................................................. 8 F. WILDERNESS, ROADLESS, WILD AND SCENIC RIVERS....................................................................... 9 G. LAND-OWNERSHIP ADJUSTMENT ......................................................................................................... 9 CHAPTER 2. ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED..........................................................................................................11 I. INTRODUCTION............................................................................................................................................... 11 II. ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED IN DETAIL................................................................................................. 11 A. ALTERNATIVE 1 – NO ACTION ................................................................................................................ 11 B. ALTERNATIVE 2 – SELECTED ALTERNATIVE ......................................................................................12 C. ALTERNATIVE 3 .........................................................................................................................................14 D. ALTERNATIVE 4.........................................................................................................................................14 E. MITIGATION COMMON TO ALL ALTERNATIVES.................................................................................15 III. ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED BUT ELIMINATED FROM DETAILED STUDY ....................................17 A. WILDERNESS STUDY FOR RIPPLE HOLLOW, BURKE BRANCH, CAMP HUTCHINS ......................17 B. USE OF ONLY PRESCRIBED FIRE TO CONTROL MAPLE-BEECH ..................................................... 18 C. NO TIMBER REMOVAL DURING NESTING SEASON OF MIGRATORY BIRDS................................. 18 D. BENCHMARK ALTERNATIVES ................................................................................................................19 IV. COMPARISON OF ALTERNATIVES .............................................................................................................19 A. MANAGEMENT PRESCRIPTIONS............................................................................................................19 B. SUMMARY OF EFFECTS OF ALTERNATIVES........................................................................................ 32 CHAPTER 3. AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES ...................................45 I. INTRODUCTION.............................................................................................................................................. 45 A. DIRECT AND INDIRECT EFFECTS ANALYSIS....................................................................................... 45 B. CUMULATIVE EFFECTS ANALYSIS........................................................................................................ 46 II. ENVIRONMENTAL SETTING ....................................................................................................................... 47 III. PHYSICAL AND BIOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS .................................................................................48 A. SOIL AND WATER.....................................................................................................................................48 B. AIR............................................................................................................................................................... 85 C. FOREST ECOSYSTEM HEALTH AND SUSTAINABILITY......................................................................88 D. BIODIVERSITY ........................................................................................................................................ 124 E. FOREST-INTERIOR HABITAT ................................................................................................................231 F. NATURAL AREAS .................................................................................................................................... 243 G. CANDIDATE WILD AND SCENIC RIVERS ...........................................................................................249 H. WILDERNESS..........................................................................................................................................250 I. RECREATION............................................................................................................................................264 J. HERITAGE RESOURCES.........................................................................................................................284 K. VISUAL QUALITY ....................................................................................................................................289 L.
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