Motorized Travel Management Project Draft Wildlife Report Prepared by Ann Glidden, Wildlife Biologist For Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest March15, 2016 Travel management proposed actions include: • Road closures- (Maintenance level 1 roads (ML1) closed to all motorized use, unauthorized closed): Forest roads considered in this document are generally narrower, lower traffic volume roads compared to the highways and large roads in the literature, thus road effects will be less intense. Also, no new roads are proposed as a result of the travel management alternative. The proposed action closes the forest to cross-country travel and closes maintenance level 1 (ML1) roads and unauthorized roads to all motorized traffic. Therefore, the proposed action will result in improved conditions for wildlife compared to the current condition. • Closure of areas to cross-country travel: Another action being analyzed is the closure to cross-country motorized use across the Forest. The only exceptions are the two existing motorized use areas- Moon Rocks and Fun Rocks on the Naches District, where off-road motorized use would be allowed to continue. • Corridors to access dispersed camping: Designating motorized access to dispersed camping is another action being analyzed. Currently, public motor vehicle travel is not prohibited off designated routes, except where prohibited by temporary restrictions or by the Okanogan National Forest Travel Plan Map (April, 2005), which identifies the current road, trail and area management for motor vehicles, identifies specific areas where seasonal and other restrictions for motorized use are in place for resource protection. However, on the Okanogan portion of the Forest, direct access to temporary campsites within 300’ of designated routes is permitted, even where off-route travel is prohibited. In the alternatives, access for dispersed camping will be by designation of corridors for motorized access to dispersed camping along open system roads, using existing non- system routes only. • Authorization of WATV use on 350 miles of National Forest System Roads that are currently open to motorized use. These actions do not involve any ground disturbance or vegetation management Overall, the effects of the travel management proposals are beneficial to wildlife, because they result in a reduction in access. Assumptions • Enforcement will occur, and recreationists will generally be law-abiding. • Removal of snags as hazard trees would not occur within corridors. • Corridors for access to dispersed camping are already in use, and would not receive significant additional use. Mitigation measures would be implemented if monitoring finds this assumption is incorrect. • Maintenance level 1 roads are managed as open to motorized use on the Methow Valley and Tonasket Ranger Districts, and managed as closed on the rest of the forest. This analysis assumes that all ML 1 roads receive some level of motorized use, which overstates the effects of closing them. • Seasonal restrictions would be in place as designated in the Okanogan Forest Plan (1989) and the Wenatchee Forest Plan (1990). • Authorizing WATV use on 350 miles of NFS roads would not change the traffic volume measurably, and therefore would not change animal response to the roads. Additional disturbance, displacement, avoidance of suitable habitat, hunting, trapping, poaching, mortality from collisions, firewood gathering or other negative effects due to road use is not expected to occur as a result of authorization of WATV use. This component of the project will not be discussed further. Mitigation • Presence of a listed species may require mitigation such as timing restrictions or corridor closure, and possibly reinitiation of consultation with USFWS. 2 Regulatory Framework General Guidelines- (see individual sections below in this report for guidelines applicable to single species). National Forest Management Act (NFMA) NFMA requires the Forest Service to manage fish and wildlife habitat to maintain viable populations of all native and desirable non-native wildlife species and conserve all listed threatened or endangered species populations (36CFR219.19). Sensitive species and Management Indicator Species (MIS) are identified to meet requirements of this act. The Wenatchee Forest Plan requires that sensitive species be identified and managed in cooperation with the Washington Department of Wildlife (now Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife) and that inventories be completed where proposed projects may disturb habitat. The Okanogan Forest Plan directs the forest to protect sensitive species. Endangered Species Act (ESA) ESA requires the Forest Service to manage for the recovery of threatened and endangered species and the ecosystems upon which they depend. Forests are required to consult with the US Fish and Wildlife Service if a proposed activity may affect the population or habitat of a listed species. This includes any activities funded, authorized or carried out by the agency. Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA) MBTA established an international framework for the protection and conservation of migratory birds. This Act makes it illegal, unless permitted by regulations, to pursue, hunt, take, capture, purchase, deliver for shipment, ship, cause to be carried by any means whatever, receive for shipment, transportation or carriage, or export, at any time, or in any manner, any migratory bird . Under the provisions of the MBTA, the unauthorized take of migratory birds is a criminal offense, even if it is unintentional. Okanogan and Wenatchee National Forest Land and Resource Management Plans establish standards, guidelines and priorities for each forest and for individual management areas. Dead and Defective Tree Habitat Forest-wide guidance for dead and defective tree habitat is included in both plans. The Okanogan Forest Land and Resource Management Plan requires that dead tree habitat be managed to maintain primary excavator population to at least 60%-100% of biological potential, depending on management area. The Wenatchee Land and Resource Management Plan requires that all decay classes of dead and down trees are provided for (an average of not less than two dead and down tree segments per acre well distributed over the area) and that the same level of soft dead trees and large down trees as would be naturally created by the population goal for dead trees be maintained. In Management Area SI-2 (classified areas, other), the Plan requires that primary cavity excavators be managed at 100 percent of the potential population level where snags do not pose threats to historical structures, features, facilities, or visitors. Wenatchee Forest Plan Standards and Guidelines that apply to this project and wildlife species include: • maintain or enhance limited habitats to provide the habitat characteristics for dependent species and • road related activities need to be sensitive to changes in the aquatic environment; The current Wenatchee and Okanogan Land and Resource Management Plans were amended to include additional direction to maintain the quality of aquatic and riparian habitats. The Aquatic Conservation Strategy (ACS), as part of the Northwest Forest Plan (NWFP; USDA 1994) was applied to the Wenatchee and a portion of the Okanogan National 3 Forests. The Pacific Salmon Fisheries Strategy (PACFISH; USDA 1994) was added to the portion of the Okanogan that supports anadromous fisheries. The remainder of the Okanogan Forest was amended by the Inland Native Fish Strategy (INFISH; USDA 1995), which provided similar direction for native non-anadromous fisheries. These are discussed below. Raptor Nests 6-11 The Okanogan National Forest and the Wenatchee National Forest Land and Resource Management Plans protect raptor nests from some site-disturbing activities. Special and Unique Habitats Wenatchee Forest Plan recognizes the need to protect special habitats including, cliffs and rims, ponds, marshes, caves, and springs. Threatened and Endangered Species For the Okanogan National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan: 6-17: Threatened and endangered species shall be managed according to recovery plans and coordinated with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife. 6-18: Consultation with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will occur when threatened and endangered species may be affected by resource proposals. The Wenatchee National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan direction is to manage critical wildlife habitat to improve status of threatened and endangered species. Where a species or suitable habitat is present, the Biological Assessment Process and Consultation Procedures must be followed. Species shall be managed to achieve recovery plan objectives. Old Growth Habitats Objectives of the Wenatchee National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan are to conserve enough old growth habitat to provide adequate distribution for biological diversity, plant and animal habitats and aesthetic values. Non- compatible activities should be relocated outside the old growth prescription. The goal for management prescription OG-2 (mature habitats) is to manage for mature to old growth habitat for wildlife and plant species dependent on this habitat. Indicator species for this habitat are martens, northern three-toed woodpeckers, and pileated woodpeckers. The Northwest Forest Plan amended both these documents, and established Late-Successional Reserves in areas of areas of late/old forest. Northwest Forest Plan Record of