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Lower Imnaha Rangeland Analysis

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Lower Imnaha Rangeland Analysis Lower Imnaha Rangeland Analysis Lower Imnaha Rangeland Analysis Wildlife Biological Evaluation and Assessment Wallowa-Whitman National Forest Hells Canyon National Recreation Area Prepared by: Patricia L. Johnson Date: _11 March 2014___ Patricia L. Johnson Zone Wildlife Biologist Wallowa-Whitman National Forest – Hells Canyon National Recreation Area Wildlife Biological Evaluation and Assessment Page 1 Lower Imnaha Rangeland Analysis Table of Contents Wildlife Resource Section ......................................................................................................................... 4 Introduction .................................................................................................................................... 4 Alternative Comparison and Summary........................................................................................ 10 Alternative A: No Grazing............................................................................................................... 11 Alternative B: Current Management ............................................................................................... 11 Alternative C: Proposed Action ...................................................................................................... 11 Alternative D: .................................................................................................................................. 11 Alternative E: .................................................................................................................................. 11 Analysis Framework: Statute, Regulatory Environment, Forest Plan and Other Direction ......... 12 Regulatory Environment ................................................................................................................. 12 Wallowa-Whitman Land and Resource Management Plan ........................................................... 13 Hells Canyon National Recreation Area Comprehensive Management Plan FEIS ....................... 15 HCNRA Act, Section 7 ................................................................................................................... 16 Other Required Disclosures ........................................................................................................... 16 Effects Analysis Methodology ..................................................................................................... 16 Specific Methodology ..................................................................................................................... 16 Data Sources ................................................................................................................................. 16 Incomplete and Unavailable Information ........................................................................................ 17 Spatial and Temporal Context for Effects Analysis ........................................................................ 17 Past, Present, and Foreseeable Activities Relevant to Cumulative Effects ................................... 17 Affected Environment/Environmental Consequences ................................................................. 17 Affected Environment .................................................................................................................. 17 Wild and Scenic River .................................................................................................................... 17 Management Indicator Species ..................................................................................................... 18 Old Growth ..................................................................................................................................... 19 Snags and Down Wood ................................................................................................................. 21 Neotropical Migratory Birds ............................................................................................................ 23 Rocky Mountain Elk ....................................................................................................................... 24 Tribal Treaty Rights ........................................................................................................................ 28 HCNRA CMP Species of Interest Existing Conditions ................................................................... 29 Proposed, Endangered, Threatened and Sensitive Species ...................................................... 31 ESA and Sensitive Species ........................................................................................................... 31 Canada Lynx .................................................................................................................................. 31 North American Wolverine ............................................................................................................. 32 Gray Wolf ....................................................................................................................................... 32 Environmental Consequences .................................................................................................... 33 Past, Present and Foreseeable Future Effects .............................................................................. 33 Wild and Scenic River .................................................................................................................... 36 Imnaha Wild and Scenic River ....................................................................................................... 36 Snake River Wild and Scenic River ............................................................................................... 37 Old Growth/LOS Associated Wildlife Species ............................................................................... 39 American Marten ............................................................................................................................ 39 Northern Goshawk ......................................................................................................................... 39 Snag and Down Wood ................................................................................................................... 40 Pileated Woodpecker ..................................................................................................................... 40 Neotropical Migratory Birds ............................................................................................................ 41 Rocky Mountain Elk ....................................................................................................................... 41 HCNRA CMP Species of Interest .................................................................................................. 43 Bighorn Sheep ............................................................................................................................... 43 Townsend’s big-eared bat .............................................................................................................. 44 Bald Eagle ...................................................................................................................................... 44 ESA and Sensitive Species ........................................................................................................... 45 Summary of Effects Analysis across Alternatives ....................................................................... 46 Wildlife Biological Evaluation and Assessment Page 2 Lower Imnaha Rangeland Analysis Direct and Indirect Effects Summary ............................................................................................. 46 Cumulative Effects Summary ......................................................................................................... 47 Compliance with the Forest Plan and Other Direction ................................................................ 47 Literature Cited ............................................................................................................................ 48 List of Tables Table 1 ESA listed and sensitive species.. .................................................................................................. 4 Table 2. Management indicator species documented, suspected or not suspected in the analysis area.9 Table 3. Lower Imnaha Rangeland Analysis Area (Including Forest service and Private Land Acres) at current usage..11 Table 4. Acres and percent of total area of habitat of Management Indicator Species within; total watershed acres of the three watersheds associated with LIRA area, total acres on the Wallowa- Whitman National Forest within the three watersheds, and total acres of the LIRA area within the three watersheds.20 Table 5. Watershed information for old growth and snag and down wood MIS species.20 Table 6. Forest conditions and associated habitat attributes and focal species1 for landbird conservation in the LIRA area (Rich et al 2004).........................................25 Table 7. LIRA Non-forested acres and Elk Foraging and Cover acres.......................................................27 Table 8. LIRA comparison of key indicators for big game security habitat.................................................28 Table 9. Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife estimated elk counts for the Snake River WMU for 2008- 2013.29 Table 10. Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
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