Environmental Assessment United States Department of Agriculture Hurricane Ivan - Red-cockaded Forest Service November Woodpecker Expansion Project 2004 Conecuh Ranger District, Conecuh National Forest Covington and Escambia Counties, Alabama Responsible Official: Gary L. Taylor District Ranger 16375 US Hwy 29 Andalusia, AL 36420 334-222-2555 Hurricane Ivan - RCW Expansion Environmental Assessment Conecuh National Forest INTRODUCTION The Forest Service has prepared this EA (Environmental Assessment) in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act and other relevant Federal and State laws and regulations, including the HFRA (Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003). This EA discloses the reasonably foreseeable environmental impacts of this project to determine whether to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement or a Finding of No Significant Impact. The reports cited in this EA and additional project documentation are available from the Conecuh Ranger Station in Andalusia, Alabama. This authorized hazardous fuel reduction proposal is on the Conecuh National Forest, which is located in Covington and Escambia counties between Andalusia and Brewton, Alabama. The project area is within the habitat management area designated for the endangered red-cockaded woodpecker, an endangered species. The Forest Plan (Revised Land and Resource Management Plan for National Forests in Alabama, 2004) designates the Conecuh National Forest as Management Area 21. The following is a summary of the desired future condition for upland pine communities on the Conecuh2. These areas are dominated by large longleaf pine with grassy, herbaceous understory and sparse midstory. Fire-dependent ecosystems are burned frequently during the growing season to mimic the natural role of fire in these ecosystems. Vegetation patterns are primarily the result of fire (including prescribed fire), hydrology, and timber harvest activities. Water quality meets or exceeds state standards, providing biodiversity and beneficial downstream uses. PURPOSE OF AND NEED FOR ACTION Hurricane Ivan blew down, snapped off, and damaged trees across the Conecuh National Forest on September 16, 2004. Most of the concentrated damage occurred on the western portion of the Conecuh with some scattered damage on the eastern side as well. Damage estimates range from five to 60 trees per acre (averaging about 15 trees per acre). Higher amounts of damaged pine trees in uplands increase hazardous fuel loading, increase residual smoke concerns following prescribed burning, and increase insect threats. This also poses increased safety concerns for forest visitors and workers. Within this area there is also an identified need to strategically expand the RCW (red-cockaded woodpecker) population by improving habitat through thinning, prescribed-burning, artificial cavity construction, and controlling midstory in cluster sites. This RCW Expansion Project builds on our continuing success where we have increased this population by addressing longleaf pine ecosystem management needs along with cavity needs and 1 Hurricane Ivan - RCW Expansion Conecuh National Forest Environmental Assessment translocation efforts. Although hurricanes are natural events and dead and down trees play an important role in ecosystems, part of our proposal is to reduce the concerns created by Hurricane Ivan while retaining many dead and down trees scattered throughout the forest. Prior to Hurricane Ivan impacting the Conecuh, treatments to improve RCW habitat had already been identified, presented to the public, and garnered widespread support; impacts to the RCW population from Hurricane Ivan (direct mortality of three breeding females and two juveniles and loss of many nest/cavity trees) has made this proposed work all the more important. The proposed action is an authorized hazardous fuel reduction project under the HFRA due to windthrow from Hurricane Ivan and the opportunity to enhance threatened and endangered species habitat characterized by a fire-dependant ecosystem. The goal of this project is to reduce concerns caused by Hurricane Ivan while advancing toward Forest Plan desired future condition of restoring the longleaf pine ecosystem and recovering the red-cockaded woodpecker. Although it is not a primary goal of this project, the proposed action along with on-going prescribed-burning and landline maintenance projects would reduce hazardous fuels in the wildland urban interface. ALTERNATIVES, INCLUDING THE PROPOSED ACTION Following Hurricane Ivan, a proposal was collaboratively developed among Covington and Escambia County officials, the Wildlife and Fisheries Division (Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources), the Alabama Forestry Commission, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Longleaf Alliance, WildLaw, and the Gulf Coastal Plain Ecosystem Partnership where both the Hurricane Ivan damage and red-cockaded woodpecker expansion needs would be considered in an environmental analysis. Notice of and opportunity to comment on the proposed action was provided by: (1) Legal notice on October 16, 2004 in the Andalusia Star News (paper of record) with opportunity to comment to conclude 30 days following publication. (2) Scoping packages mailed on October 15, 2004 to individuals, groups, and agencies who have expressed interest in project planning for the Conecuh National Forest, which also explained the official public comment period. (3) Open House at the Conecuh Ranger Station on October 28, 2004 from 4-7:00 p.m. One person attended the Open House and no written comments were received during the official comment period. Using comments from the public and other agencies, the interdisciplinary team identified several issues regarding the effects of the proposed action. Main issues of concern included reducing hazardous fuels, reducing insect threats, enhancing red-cockaded woodpecker habitat, old growth management, soil and water protection, and safety of the public and forest workers. No other alternatives were proposed during the collaboration process or the public comment period. Therefore, as directed by the HFRA, only the Proposed Action and No Action alternatives were considered in this analysis. No Action: Under the No Action Alternative, current management plans would continue to guide management of the project area. No removal of trees damaged from Hurricane Ivan and no red-cockaded woodpecker enhancement work would be implemented to accomplish project goals. The areas proposed for work would remain as described in 2 Hurricane Ivan - RCW Expansion Environmental Assessment Conecuh National Forest the Need for the Proposal. If no action is taken, hazardous fuel loadings would remain and increase, insect damage would increase and spread to surrounding healthy trees and habitat for the RCW would be further reduced. Hazardous conditions would persist and worsen for workers engaged in fire suppression and prescribed burning. Due to the heavy fuel loads, some areas would not be safe for wildfire suppression or prescribed burning. Residual smoke concerns on public roads and nearby residents would continue due to the heavy fuels that will smolder for several days following prescribed burns. Areas with higher tree densities that were only slightly or not damaged by the hurricane would not be thinned and made more suitable for the RCW. The Proposed Action: Treatments proposed by the Forest Service to meet the purpose of and need for action are to: (1) Remove upland pine trees that were damaged from Hurricane Ivan (up to about 8,000 acres). Reference Sale Areas & Proposed Salvage maps (Project Record). (2) Thin stands of dense young longleaf pine trees to promote longleaf pine ecosystem restoration and to provide future red-cockaded woodpecker habitat (approximately 1,100 acres). Reference Proposed RCW Thinning map (Project Record). (3) Thin foraging and nesting habitat needed to increase the red-cockaded woodpecker population toward recovery goals (approximately 7,000 acres). Reference Proposed RCW Thinning map (Project Record). Connected actions that are not a part of the decision to be made, but are part of the overall strategy to address Hurricane Ivan concerns and expand suitable RCW habitat in this planning period are: a continued prescribed burning regime (3-year rotation that includes both dormant and growing season burns) to mimic historic fires, artificial cavity construction and midstory control in RCW nest areas as needed, and translocation of RCW from other populations to augment the resident population. The effects of these connected actions, as well as our strategic conversion of off-site stands to meet our long-term longleaf ecosystem restoration goals3, were considered in this analysis. Proposed Action Design Criteria 1. No mechanical operations will be allowed within 200 feet of active red-cockaded woodpecker cavity trees during nesting season. 2. Cavity trees will be identified and protected during operations. 3. Logging operations will be conducted with rubber-tired equipment in a manner that will minimize damage to the soil by carefully locating log decks and skid trails and by the using low PSI equipment when needed. 4. Streamside management zones will be implemented as directed in the Forest Plan. If operations are conducted in these areas, Forest Watershed personnel will be consulted. 5. Heritage resource sites designated with painted boundaries will be avoided during salvage and thinning operations. The District Archaeologist will monitor compliance. Upon completion