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FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT Mt FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest Land and Resource Management P1 an Whatcom, Skagit, Snohomish, King, and Pierce Counties, Washington Lead Agency: USDA - Forest Service Responsible Official: John F. Butruille Regional Forester Pacific Northwest Region USDA Forest Service P.O. Box 3623 Port1 and, Oregon 97208-3623 For Further Information: Robert Dunbl azier Planning Staff Officer Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest 1022~ ~~ First Avenue Seattle, Washington 98104 (206) 442-4888 Abstract: This final Environmental Impact Statement describes and analyzes eight alternatives for managing 1,724,229 aces of land administered by the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest. Pub1 ic comment on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement resulted in modification of Alternative G and formation of two new alternatives: I and J. Draft EIS Alternatives D, E, E-Departure, F, and H-Departure were dropped because of lack of public support in response to the DEIS; they were not needed to provide a full range of alternatives. Each of the alternatives responds differently to the major issues and concerns identified. Alternative NC (No Change) continues management of the Forest under existing plans, including the 1963 Timber Management Plans (as amended) without compliance with all the provisions of the National Forest Management Act of 1976 (NFMA) implementing regulations. Alternative A (No Action) continues the management of the Forest under current plans, policies, and direction, updated to comply with new legislation, including NFMA. Alternative B (RPA) responds to the 1980 Resource Planning Act Program. Alternative C emphasizes primi ti ve/semi -primiti ve dispersed recreation, scenery, fish and wildlife. Alternative G-Modified, developed to be responsive to the goals and objectives of the Conservation Liaison Group, emphasizes natural ecosystems, diversity of native plants and animals, providing uses not found on private land, an extensive trails system, and timber production consistent with other goals. Alternative H emphasizes unroaded recreation, scenic values, wildlife, and timber production. Alternative I, developed to be responsive to the goals and objectives of the Public Land Users’ Society, emphasizes marketable resources (timber, developed recreation, minerals), enhancement of big game habitat, and an extensive trails system. Alternative J is the Forest Service preferred alternative, and was developed in response to public comments received on the draft EIS. The goal is similar to Alternative H, but the Preferred Alternative provides a considerable increase in trail mileage, an increase in the number of rivers recommended for addition to the National Wild and Scenic River System, three Special Areas, increased emphasis on unroaded recreation, greater protection of scenic values on travel corridors, and timber production on suitable acres assigned to a harvest prescription. Other resources are managed at levels commensurate with the objectives of the alternative. This document presents the results of an environmental analysis of alternative ways of managing the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest for the next 10 to 15 years. Long-term estimates of Forest resources and environmental conditions are considered; however, the alternative adopted as the basis for the Forest Plan would apply for 15 years or less. The Forest Land and Resource Management Plan outlines the treatment of issues and concerns, analyzes the current management situation, and sets forth the proposed standards and guide1 ines for managing the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest under Alternative J. Table of Contents List of Tables ......................................................... v List of Figures ........................................ ............... x Summary ................................................ ............... 5-1 Chapter I . Purpose and Need Changes Between Draft and Final ............... inside divider page) A . Introduction .................................... ............... 1-1 B . Planning. Process ................................ ............... 1-3 .. C . Forest Overview ................................. ............... 1-6 D . Issues. Concerns. and Opportunities ............................. 1-9 E . Major Issues. Concerns. Opportunities ........................... 1-12 Chapter I1 . Alternatives. Including the Proposed Action A . Introduction .................................................... 11-1 Changes Between Draft and Final ............... (inside divider page) B . Analysis Prior to Formulation of Alternatives ................... 11-2 Outline of Analysis Process ................................... 11-3 Information Collection and Data Base .......................... 11-4 Analysis Areas. Allocation Zones. Management Strategies. Management Areas. and Management Prescriptions................ 11-4 FORPLAN ....................................................... 11-8 Use of FORPLAN in Alternative Analysis ........................ 11-9 Development of Management Requirements ........................ 11-11 Benchmarks .................................................... 11-13 Opportunity Cost Analysis ..................................... 11-15 Sensitivity Analysis .......................................... 11-17 C . Formulation of Alternatives..................................... 11-18 Existing Constraints .......................................... 11-18 Required Alternatives ......................................... 11-18 Additional A1 ternatives....................................... 119I- The Preferred A1 ternative..................................... 11-20 D . Alternatives Considered but Eliminated from Detailed Study ...... 11-21 E . Alternatives Considered In Detail ............................... 11-25 Elements Common to All Alternatives ........................... 11-25 Alternative NC (No Change) .................................... 11-26 Alternative A (No Action) ..................................... 11-28 Relationship of No Change Alternative to Alternative A ........ 11-29 Alternative B (RPA) ........................................... 11-32 Alternative C ................................................. 11-33 Alternative G.Modified ........................................ 11-35 Alternative H ................................................. 11-36 Alternative I ................................................. 11-38 Alternative J (Preferred) ..................................... 11-39 Mitigation Measures Common to All Alternatives ................ 11-41 F . Comparison of Alternatives ...................................... 11-52 1 . Management Areas ........................................... 11-52 2 . Alternatives At A Glance ................................... 11-71 Chapter I1 (continued) 3 . Comparison of Resource Outputs. Inputs. and Environmental Effects ...................................... 11-75 Timber. Water. Sediment Inputs and Yields ................ 11-75 Past. Present. Alternative Timber Outputs ................ 11-78 Timber Resource Management Data. By Alternative .......... 11-84 Comparison of ASQ and LTSYC .............................. 11-95 Disposition of Tentatively Suitable Acres ................ 11-97 Effects of Alternatives on Aggregated Timber Supply ...... 11-101 Recreation. Wilderness. and Related Inputs and Outputs ... 11-102 Roadless Area Disposition. By Alternative ................ 11-109 Wild and Scenic River Eligibility and Suitability ........ 11-112 Research Natural Areas ................................... 11-114 Fish and Wildlife Inputs and Outputs ..................... 11-116 Old Growth Forest ........................................ 11-120 Grazing. Minerals and Energy Yields ...................... 11-122 Budget. Costs. Social and Economic Outputs and Effects ... 11-124 Inventoried American Indian Religious and Cultural Use ... 11-126 Qualitative Resource Outputs. Environmental Effects ...... 11-128 4 . Economic Tradeoffs Among Alternatives ...................... 11-135 G . Major Tradeoffs Among Alternatives .............................. 11-142 1 . National. Regional. and Local Overview ..................... 11-142 2 . Economic Values and Responses to Major KO’s ............... 11-144 3 . Economic Benefits and Issue Response Tradeoffs Among Alternatives ......................................... 11-149 Chapter I11 .Affected Environment Introduction ....................................................... 111I- Changes Between Draft and Final .................. ...( inside divider page) Land Ownership ..................................................... 111-1 Climate ............................................................ 111-3 Geology and Topography ............................................. 111-4 Soils .............................................................. 111-5 Water .............................................................. 111-11 Diversity .......................................................... 111-21 Biological Processes and Long-term Productivity ............... 111-21 Vegetation and Diversity of Plant Communities ................. 111-23 Riparian Zones ................................................ 111-29 Old Growth .................................................... 111-31 Threatened. Endangered. Sensitive Plant Species ............... 111-34 Commercial Timber .................................................. 111-38 The Forest Timber Sale Program ................................ 111-43 Timber Supply and Demand .....................................
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