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Environmental Assessment Rangeland Management Plan for the Pagoda Analysis Area

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Environmental Assessment Rangeland Management Plan for the Pagoda Analysis Area Environmental United States Assessment Department of Agriculture Forest Service Rangeland Management in the Pagoda Analysis Area August, 2017 Yampa Ranger District, Medicine Bow – Routt National Forests & Thunder Basin National Grassland Routt and Rio Blanco counties, Colorado For more information contact: Doug Myhre Rangeland Management Specialist Yampa Ranger District Telephone: 970-638-4516 Email: [email protected] Environmental Assessment Rangeland Management Plan for the Pagoda Analysis Area Disclaimer: The Forest Service uses the most current and complete data it has available. GIS data and product accuracy may vary. They may be: developed from sources of differing accuracy, accurate only at certain scales, based on modeling or interpretation, incomplete while being created or revised, have represented features not in accurate geographic locations, etc. The Forest Service makes no expressed or implied warranty, including warranty of merchantability and fitness, with respect to the character, function, or capabilities of the data or their appropriateness for any user's purposes. The Forest Service reserves the right to correct, update, modify, or replace this geospatial information based on new inventories, new or revised information, and if necessary in conjunction with other federal, state or local public agencies or the public in general as required by policy or regulation. Previous recipients of the products may not be notified unless required by policy or regulation. For more information, contact the Medicine Bow - Routt National Forests and Thunder Basin National Grassland Supervisor's Office (2468 Jackson Street, Laramie, WY 82070, 307- 745-2300). In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity (including gender expression), sexual orientation, disability, age, marital status, family/parental status, income derived from a public assistance program, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity, in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA (not all bases apply to all programs). Remedies and complaint filing deadlines vary by program or incident. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the responsible Agency or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English. To file a program discrimination complaint, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, AD- 3027, found online at http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html and at any USDA office or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by: (1) mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights 1400 Independence Avenue, SW Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; (2) fax: (202) 690-7442; or (3) email: [email protected] 2 Environmental Assessment Rangeland Management Plan for the Pagoda Analysis Area Table of Contents Summary .................................................................................................. 6 Chapter 1: Purpose and Need .................................................................. 9 1.0 Document Structure .............................................................................................................. 9 1.1 Background ............................................................................................................................ 9 1.2 Purpose of Action ................................................................................................................ 11 1.3 Need for Action ................................................................................................................... 12 1.4 Proposed Action .................................................................................................................. 12 1.5 Decision Framework ............................................................................................................ 12 1.6 Public Involvement .............................................................................................................. 13 1.7 Project Area ......................................................................................................................... 13 1.8 Proposed Action Factors ..................................................................................................... 14 Chapter 2: Alternatives, Including the Proposed Action ........................ 16 2.0 Alternatives ......................................................................................................................... 16 2.1 Process Used to Develop the Alternatives .......................................................................... 16 2.2 Alternatives Considered ...................................................................................................... 16 2.3 Alternative 1 – No Grazing (no permitted livestock grazing) .............................................. 16 2.4 Alternative 2 – Current Livestock Grazing Management (numbers and season of livestock use based on the existing term grazing permits and existing allotment management plans) . 17 2.5 Alternative 3 – Adaptive Livestock Grazing Management (Forest Service Proposed Action) ................................................................................................................................................... 22 2.6 Actions Common to Alternatives 2 and 3 ........................................................................... 32 2.7 Project Design Criteria for Alternatives 2 and 3 .................................................................. 32 2.8 Capable and Suitable Acres for Allotments under Alternatives 2 and 3 ............................. 39 2.9 Monitoring Measures for Aternatives 2 and 3 .................................................................... 39 2.10 Comparison of Alternatives ............................................................................................... 43 Chapter 3: Affected Environment and Environmental Consequences .. 44 3.0 Introduction ......................................................................................................................... 44 3 Environmental Assessment Rangeland Management Plan for the Pagoda Analysis Area 3.1 Alternatives and their Response to Factors ........................................................................ 44 3.2 Past, Present and Possible Future Actions .......................................................................... 48 3.3 Rangeland Vegetation ......................................................................................................... 48 3.3 Watershed ........................................................................................................................... 69 3.4 Recreation ........................................................................................................................... 72 3.5 Soils ...................................................................................................................................... 73 3.6 Heritage ............................................................................................................................... 76 3.7 Fisheries ............................................................................................................................... 76 3.8 Wildlife ................................................................................................................................ 83 3.9 Social and Economic Resources .......................................................................................... 92 3.10 Botany ............................................................................................................................... 94 Chapter 4—Consultation and Coordination ......................................... 102 4.0 Consultation and Coordination ......................................................................................... 102 4.1 Response to Comments .................................................................................................... 103 4.2 References ......................................................................................................................... 106 4.2 Glossary ............................................................................................................................. 120 Appendices Appendix A—List of Analysis Maps under Alternative 2 (Current Management) Map 1—Beaver Creek S&G Allotment (Alt. 2) Map 2—Beaver Flattops C&G Allotment (Alt. 2) Map 3—Berry Lake S&G Allotment (Alt. 2) Map 4—Indian Run S&G Allotment (Alt. 2) Map 5—Indian Run Wildlife Allotment (Alt. 2) Map 6—Pagoda/Slide S&G Allotment (Alt. 2) Map 7—Pine Creek S&G Allotment (Alt. 2) Map 8— South Fork/Williams Allotment (Alt. 2) Map 9— Wet Park S&G (Alt. 2) 4 Environmental Assessment Rangeland Management Plan for
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