Headwaters Forest Reserve Proposed Resource Management Plan and Final EIS/EIR VOLUME I United States Department of the Interior
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U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management Arcata Field Office and California Department of Fish and Game September 2003 Headwaters Forest Reserve Proposed Resource Management Plan and Final EIS/EIR VOLUME I United States Department of the Interior BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT Arcata Field Office 1695 Heindon Road Arcata, CA 95221-4573 www.ca.blm.gov/arcata Dear Reader: Enclosed for your review is the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS)/Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the Headwaters Forest Reserve Management Plan (RMP). The Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) and RMP was published in May 2002, and was followed by a 90 day public comment period. Changes based upon public comments and agency reviews have been incorporated into this document and all portions of the Draft RMP have been reprinted in order to portray these changes. Comments and responses are contained in Chapter 7 of the FEIS. The FEIS contains the proposed RMP, which is a refinement of the preferred alternative presented in the draft. The proposed plan is the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) proposed action. All parts of this proposed plan may be protested. Protest should be sent to the following address: Director (210), Bureau of Land Management, Attention: Brenda Williams P.O Box 66538 Washington, D.C. 20035 The overnight address (fedex or usps) for next day delivery: Director (210), Bureau of Land Management, Attention: Brenda Williams 1620 L Street, N.W., Suite 1075 Washington, D.C. 20036 Faxed protests will be considered as potential valid protests provided (1) that a signed faxed letter is received by the Washington Office protest coordinator by the closing date of the protest period and (2) that the protesting party also provides the original letter by either regular or overnight mail postmarked by the close of the protest period. Please direct faxed protests to: BLM Protest Coordinator (202) 452-5112 Protests should be filed with the Director within the official 30-day review period following the publication of this document’s Notice of Availability (NOA) in the Federal Register. It is anticipated that the NOA will appear October 10, 2003 with a protest filing deadline of November 10, 2003. A protest should contain the following information: • The name, mailing address, telephone number, and interest of the person filing the protest. • A statement of the issue or issues being protested. • A Statement of the part or parts being protested. • A copy of all documents addressing the issue or issues that you submitted during the planning process or a reference to the date the issue or issues were discussed by you for the record. • A short concise statement explaining why the BLM State Director decision is believed to be incorrect. At the end of the 30-day protest period, the proposed plan, excluding any portions under protest, shall become the final. Approval shall be withheld on any portion of the plan under protest until final action has been completed on such protest. The Final Resource Management Plan and Record of Decision will be published this fall. Sincerely, Lynda J. Roush Field Manager Headwaters Forest Reserve Proposed Resource Management Plan and Final EIS/EIR Volume I Prepared for: USDI Bureau of Land Management and California Department of Fish and Game 1695 Heindon Road Arcata, CA 95521-4573 Contact: Lynda Roush 707/825-2300 Prepared by: Jones & Stokes 2600 V Street Sacramento, CA 95818-1914 916/737-3000 September 2003 Jones & Stokes. 2003. Headwaters Forest Reserve proposed resource management plan and final EIS/EIR. Volume I. September. (J&S 00090.) Sacramento, CA. Prepared for USDI Bureau of Land Management and California Department of Fish and Game, Arcata, CA. Contents Page VOLUME I Tables.......................................................................................................... vi Figures .......................................................................................................viii Acronyms and Abbreviations .......................................................................x Chapter 1 . Introduction ............................................................................................... 1-1 Background .............................................................................................. 1-1 Purpose of and Need for Management Plan (Project Objective)............ 1-2 Planning Period and Plan Revision ......................................................... 1-2 NEPA/CEQA Provisions .......................................................................... 1-3 General............................................................................................... 1-3 Programmatic Aspects....................................................................... 1-4 Impact Baseline and No-Action Alternative: Interim Management ...................................................................................... 1-4 Process and Required Approvals to Achieve Final Plan and Final EIS/EIR..................................................................................................... 1-4 Organization of This Document............................................................... 1-4 Chapter 2 . Planning Framework................................................................................. 2-1 Existing Direction for Land-Use Planning and Management .................. 2-1 Legal Requirements ........................................................................... 2-1 Management Guidelines .................................................................... 2-5 Planning Issues........................................................................................ 2-7 Issues to Be Addressed..................................................................... 2-7 Issues Dismissed............................................................................... 2-8 Planning Criteria....................................................................................... 2-8 Extent of Analysis .............................................................................. 2-8 Range of Alternatives....................................................................... 2-11 Planning Assumptions ..................................................................... 2-11 i Chapter 3 . Affected Environment (Environmental Setting) and Interim Management of the Reserve................................................................. 3-1 Physical Environment .............................................................................. 3-1 Location.............................................................................................. 3-1 Climate ............................................................................................... 3-1 Geology and Soils .............................................................................. 3-2 Minerals .............................................................................................. 3-3 Social Environment .................................................................................. 3-3 Adjacent Land Use............................................................................. 3-3 Timber Management History ............................................................. 3-3 Biological Resources ............................................................................... 3-4 Watershed and Aquatic Habitat Conditions ...................................... 3-4 Forest Vegetation............................................................................... 3-7 Aquatic Species and Habitat Needs ................................................ 3-13 Wildlife Species and Habitat Needs ................................................ 3-16 Interim Management of Biological Resources................................. 3-22 Fire Regime and Hazard........................................................................ 3-24 Natural Fire Regime......................................................................... 3-24 Fire Risk........................................................................................... 3-24 Visual Resources ................................................................................... 3-28 Cultural Resources ................................................................................ 3-28 Known Resources ............................................................................ 3-28 Resource Condition ......................................................................... 3-29 Interim Management ........................................................................ 3-29 Recreation Activities .............................................................................. 3-29 Access to the Reserve..................................................................... 3-29 Existing Trail Network ...................................................................... 3-30 Interim Access and Use Limitations within the Reserve ................. 3-30 Visitation and Visitor Preferences.................................................... 3-30 Suitability for Special-Area Designations .............................................. 3-31 Socioeconomic Environment ................................................................. 3-32 Locally Affected Communities ......................................................... 3-32 Regional Recreation Opportunities.................................................. 3-32 Management Revenues ........................................................................