United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service Skillem Integrated Resource Restoration Project Environmental Assessment

Tiller Ranger District, Umpqua National Forest, Douglas County, Oregon December 2019

Responsible Official:

Kathleen Minor Tiller Ranger District, Umpqua National Forest 27812 Tiller Trail Highway Tiller, OR 97484 Phone: (541) 825-3100

For More Information Contact:

Elsa Gustavson Umpqua National Forest 18782 North Umpqua Hwy Glide, OR 97443 Phone: (541) 496-4169

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Contents

Introduction ...... 1 Proposed Project Location ...... 1 Need for the Proposal ...... 3 Improve Water Quality and Aquatic Habitat ...... 3 Improve Forest Health...... 4 Reduce Susceptibility to Catastrophic Wildfire ...... 4 Other Goals ...... 5 Public Involvement and Tribal Consultation ...... 5 Agencies and Persons Consulted ...... 5 Issues and Concerns Raised During Scoping ...... 6 Issues that Drove Alternative Development ...... 6 Other Issues ...... 6 Results of the Comment Period ...... 8 Proposed Action and Alternatives ...... 8 Alternative 1 – No Action ...... 8 Alternative 2 – Scoping Proposal ...... 9 Transportation System Changes ...... 9 Thinning and Fuels Treatments ...... 14 Wildlife Habitat Improvement...... 23 Other Project Actions ...... 24 Alternative 3 – Proposed Action ...... 24 Connected Actions ...... 28 Noxious Weed Treatments ...... 28 Quarry Development ...... 28 Project Design Features...... 28 Monitoring ...... 36 Comparison of Alternatives ...... 38 Alternatives Considered but Eliminated from Detailed Analysis ...... 39 Alternative A ...... 39 Alternative B ...... 39 Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action and Alternatives ...... 40 Activities that May Contribute to Cumulative Effects ...... 40 Ongoing Activities, Umpqua National Forest ...... 40 Private Land Activities ...... 42 Future Foreseeable Activities, Umpqua National Forest ...... 42 Vegetation ...... 43 Summary of Effects to Resource ...... 43 Methodology...... 43 Affected Environment ...... 44 Direct and Indirect Effects ...... 49 Cumulative Effects ...... 57 Fire and Fuels ...... 58 Methodology...... 58 Affected Environment ...... 61 Direct and Indirect Effects ...... 64 Cumulative Effects ...... 69 Aquatic Environment ...... 70 Summary of Effects to Resource ...... 70 Beneficial Uses of Water ...... 71 ii

Water Quality ...... 72 Stream Flows ...... 79 Riparian Reserves ...... 82 Stream Channels ...... 92 Fisheries ...... 96 Summary of Effects to Fisheries Resources ...... 96 Forest Plan Standards and Watershed Analysis Recommendations ...... 97 Methodology...... 97 Affected Environment ...... 98 Direct Effects ...... 104 Indirect Effects ...... 104 Cumulative Effects ...... 113 Effects Determinations ...... 114 Wildlife ...... 116 Summary of Effects to Resource ...... 116 Threatened and Endangered Species Accounts and Effects Determinations ...... 122 Forest Service Sensitive Species ...... 132 Survey and Manage Species ...... 138 Migratory Bird and Landbird Analysis ...... 141 Management Indicator Species ...... 145 Coarse Woody Debris Analysis ...... 153 Botany ...... 160 Unique Habitats ...... 160 Invasive Plants ...... 162 Survey and Manage Plant Species ...... 165 Threatened, Endangered, and Sensitive Botany Species - Biological Evaluation ...... 166 Soils ...... 173 Summary of Effects to Resource ...... 173 Methodology...... 173 Affected Environment ...... 174 Direct and Indirect Effects ...... 177 Cumulative Effects ...... 180 Recreation ...... 181 Summary of Effects to Resource ...... 181 Methodology...... 181 Affected Environment ...... 182 Direct and Indirect Effects ...... 183 Cumulative Effects ...... 184 Visual Management Systems ...... 185 Summary of Effects to Resource ...... 185 Methodology...... 185 Affected Environment ...... 186 Direct and Indirect Effects ...... 187 Cumulative Effects ...... 189 Transportation ...... 189 Summary of Effects to Resource ...... 189 Affected Environment ...... 190 Direct, Indirect, and Cumulative Effects ...... 190 Social Environment ...... 193 Economic Background ...... 193 Economic Efficiency Analysis ...... 194 Economic Impact Analysis ...... 196

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Heritage Resources...... 197 Summary of Effects to Resource ...... 197 Methodology...... 197 Affected Environment ...... 198 Direct, Indirect, and Cumulative Effects ...... 198 Forest Plan Consistency ...... 198 References ...... 199 Appendix A – Project Maps ...... 212 Appendix B – Alternative 2 Proposed Changes to Road System in Detail ...... 218 Appendix C - Stream buffer widths in Commercial Thinning Units ...... 223 Appendix D – Compliance with Laws, Regulations, and Executive Orders ...... 225 Appendix E – Aquatic Conservation Strategy Objectives ...... 230

List of Tables Table 1. Other issues raised during scoping and how they were addressed...... 7 Table 2. Summary of proposed changes to roads...... 9 Table 3. Acres of commercial thinning per unit by land allocation...... 15 Table 4. Trees per acre, basal area per acre, and average spacing pre- and post-treatment by proposed unit...... 17 Table 5. Wildlife and sugar pine gaps ...... 18 Table 6. Estimated miles of temporary road construction and reconstruction needed by harvest unit ...... 20 Table 7. Acres of non-commercial thinning proposed by unit ...... 21 Table 8. Project Design Features ...... 29 Table 9. Comparison of project need and issue indicators across alternatives...... 38 Table 10. Gradient nearest neighbor (GNN) cover classes within the watershed...... 45 Table 11. Fire regime by acres within watershed...... 45 Table 12: Fire occurrence by acres since 1998 ...... 46 Table 13. Characteristics of commercial treatment units...... 46 Table 14: Stand characteristics of commercial units...... 47 Table 15. GNN structural classes of proposed shaded fuel break ...... 48 Table 16. GNN structural classes of proposed burn blocks...... 48 Table 17. Post treatment stand conditions...... 53 Table 18: Forest cover type distribution within the watershed under alternatives...... 57 Table 19. High fire weather conditions and other associated weather parameters used to model and evaluate proposed alternatives in the Skillem Project...... 60 Table 20. General descriptions of Scott and Burgan (2005) fuel models used for fire behavior analysis...... 60 Table 21. Natural Fire Regimes in the Skillem Project Area...... 63 Table 22. Comparison of current fuel loads to those recommended by the Standards...... 65 Table 23. Fuel loading recommendations to current conditions and those anticipated to result from treatment according to the FVS-FFE model...... 67 Table 24. Fuels treatment effects summary...... 67 Table 25. Actions that may have indirect effects on fire and fuels...... 69 Table 26. Streams within Skillet Creek watershed listed for water quality impairment...... 73 Table 27. Current canopy removal and resulting increases in peak flow, and that expected as a result of the proposed action...... 82 Table 28. Acres of thinning and logging systems proposed in Riparian Reserves...... 85 Table 29. Temporary road construction and reconstruction proposed within Riparian Reserve...... 86 Table 30. Fuels treatment (in acres) proposed within Riparian Reserves...... 86 Table 31. Other activities proposed within Riparian Reserves...... 86 Table 32. Stream Buffers Proposed for commercial and non-commercial units...... 87 Table 33. Summary of Riparian Reserve and stream channel actions and effects...... 91 iv

Table 34. Proposed Stream Channel Work...... 95 Table 35. Miles of habitat usage within the Skillet Creek-South Umpqua River and Buckeye 6th field watersheds (HUCs) by aquatic species of concern...... 102 Table 36. Comparison of 1937 and 2010 stream habitat data for the Skillet Creek-South Umpqua River 6th-field watershed...... 103 Table 37. Miles of fish habitat blocked by culverts...... 103 Table 38. Summary of effects of proposed activities to habitat indicators...... 112 Table 39. Summary of project effect determinations to aquatic species...... 115 Table 40. Federally listed and Forest Sensitive species considered in the biological evaluation and effects determination...... 116 Table 41. Federally listed species and Regional Forester Sensitive species as of July 21, 2015 for the Umpqua National Forest...... 118 Table 42. Threatened and Sensitive species evaluated and those which are omitted from further analysis...... 120 Table 43. Northern spotted owl activities on 0.2 mile nest patches by habitat acres within the analysis area...... 125 Table 44. Northern spotted owl habitat affected by proposed activities on owl 0.5 mile core use areas by habitat acres within the action area...... 125 Table 45. Northern spotted owl habitat affected by proposed activities on owl 1.2 mile home ranges by habitat acres within the action area...... 126 Table 46. Direct Impacts to Northern Spotted Owl Habitat...... 129 Table 47. Summary of proposed actions by peregrine falcon site and management zone...... 134 Table 48. Summary of seasonal restrictions in peregrine falcon disturbance zones...... 136 Table 49. Proposed treatments and the applicable Pechman Exemptions or Pre-Disturbance Survey Completed according to the Protocol Surveys for Survey and Manage Species...... 138 Table 50. Forest conditions and associated habitat attributes and focal species for landbird conservation in coniferous forests of western Oregon and Washington...... 143 Table 51. Umpqua National Forest’s Management Indicator Species (MIS)...... 145 Table 52. Primary cavity nester trends as determined from monitoring data from local BBS routes (data available through 2013)...... 148 Table 53. Noxious Weed List for the Tiller Ranger District ...... 163 Table 54. Project Effects Assessment for Threatened, Endangered, and Sensitive Plants ...... 168 Table 55. Soil characteristics of treatment units in the Skillem Project...... 175 Table 56. Acres of VQO within the Planning Area and within Treatment Areas. Private land not included...... 187 Table 57. County Employment (not seasonally adjusted)...... 193 Table 58. Economic Efficiency Analysis...... 194 Table 59. Economic Impact Analysis...... 196 Table 60. Alternative 2 Detailed Road System Changes ...... 218 Table 61. Stream Buffers Widths in Commercial Thinning Units ...... 223

List of Figures Figure 1. Vicinity map...... 2 Figure 2. Transportation system changes proposed in Alternative 2...... 10 Figure 3. Map of commercial and non-commercial (or pre-commercial) thinning units...... 16 Figure 4. Proposed locations of temporary roads within commercial thinning units...... 19 Figure 5. Proposed fuel treatment locations...... 22 Figure 6. Proposed Recreation Treatments in Alternative 3...... 25 Figure 7. Proposed partial decommissioning of roads 2800-357 (left) and 2800-356 (right)...... 26 Figure 8. Potential full decommissioning of roads 2800-357 (left) and 2800-356 (right)...... 27 Figure 9. Trees per acre over time...... 50 Figure 10. Percent SDImax...... 51 Figure 11. Quadratic mean diameter over time...... 51 Figure 12. Percentage canopy cover over time...... 52

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Figure 13. Snags per acre over time...... 53 Figure 14. Map of Fire Regimes in Skillem project area (data obtained from LANDFIRE. Refer to Table 21 for severity descriptions)...... 62 Figure 15. Crowning Index in units with no treatment (Alternative 1) and post treatment (Alternative 2 and Alternative 3, labeled here as Alternative 2)...... 66 Figure 16. Proposed activity areas and named streams within the Skillem planning area; Skillem planning area is the Skillet Creek – South Umpqua River HUC12 watershed...... 71 Figure 17. Maximum 7-day average temperatures for the South Umpqua River above South Umpqua Falls, Skillet Creek and Emerson Creek for years monitored...... 74 Figure 18. Analysis Area, Skillet Creek-South Umpqua River 6th-Field subwatershed, proposed activities, and distribution of critical habitat...... 124 Figure 19. Areas of known wolf activity in Oregon...... 131 Figure 20. Peregrine falcon management zones and Skillem project boundary...... 133 Figure 21. North American breeding bird surveys routes on or near the Umpqua NF. The analysis area is located west of the Cinderella route...... 147 Figure 22. Roosevelt elk population estimates (2002 to 2018) on the Dixon WMU. Management Objective for Dixon WMU is 3,750 elk...... 151 Figure 23. Total number of black-tailed deer observed per mile during spring deer surveys (1992-2012) on the Dixon Wildlife Management Unit on the Umpqua National Forest...... 151 Figure 24. Landscape distribution of snags per acre greater than or equal to 10 inches DBH in South West Oregon Mixed Conifer as derived from 2010 GNN Data for Skillem project as compared to unharvested plots in SWOMC habitat type, small or medium structure...... 154 Figure 25. Landscape distribution of snags/acre greater than or equal to 20 inches DBH as derived from 2010 GNN Data for the Skillem Project as compared to unharvested plots in SWOMC Habitat type...... 155 Figure 26. Landscape distribution of down wood percent cover greater than 5 inches DBH as derived from 2010 GNN data for the Skillem Project as compared to unharvested plots in SWOMC Habitat type...... 156 Figure 27. Landscape distribution of snags/acre greater than or equal to10 inches DBH in Montane Mixed Conifer as derived from 2010 GNN data for Skillem project as compared to unharvested plots in MMC Habitat type...... 157 Figure 28. Landscape distribution of snags/acre greater than or equal to20 inches DBH as derived from 2010 GNN data for the Skillem Project as compared to unharvested plots in MMC Habitat type...... 158 Figure 29. Landscape distribution of down wood percent cover greater than 5 inches DBH as derived from 2010 GNN data for the Skillem Project as compared to unharvested plots in MMC Habitat type...... 159 Figure 30. View to the northwest from Acker Rock Lookout. This photo is roughly centered on South Umpqua Campground (circled in black) at an azimuth of 247 degrees...... 186 Figure 31. Umpqua Forest Plan Management Areas and Northwest Forest Plan Late Successional Reserves in the Skillem Project Area...... 212 Figure 32. Transportation System Changes Proposed in Alternative 2...... 213 Figure 33. Thinning Treatments by Logging System with Stream Buffers as Proposed in Alternatives 2 and 3. .214 Figure 34. Thinning Treatments by Logging System with Potential Temporary Road Locations in Alternative 2 and 3...... 215 Figure 35. Fuel Treatments Proposed in Alternatives 2 and 3...... 216 Figure 36. Proposed Recreation Treatments in Alternative 3...... 217 Figure 37. Commercial thinning units, showing thinning in riparian reserves...... 231

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Tiller Ranger District, Umpqua National Forest

Introduction The Tiller Ranger District of the Umpqua National Forest is proposing an integrated restoration project which seeks to improve water quality and aquatic habitat, maintain and improve forest health, lower risk of catastrophic fire, improve wildlife habitat, enhance the view from a fire lookout, and improve public safety. This project would occur in the Skillet Creek-South Umpqua River 6th field watershed within about an 11,400 acre project area. Action proposed to achieve these goals would be implemented on the Tiller Ranger District of the Umpqua National Forest (Forest). The Forest has prepared this environmental assessment (EA) to determine whether implementation of changes to the transportation system, commercial and non-commercial thinning of plantations, shaded roadside fuel break creation, prescribed fire, wildlife habitat improvements, and other project activities may significantly affect the quality of the human environment and thereby require the preparation of an environmental impact statement. By preparing this EA, we are fulfilling agency policy and direction to comply with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). For more details of the proposed action, see the Proposed Action and Alternatives section of this document. Larger format maps are included in Appendix A. Proposed Project Location

The project area is located within the Skillet Creek-South Umpqua River 6th field subwatershed (Hydrologic Unit Code (HUC) 12). A map of this subwatershed and the project area as located within the boundaries of Umpqua National Forest is shown in Figure 1 and additional project maps are provided in Appendix A. The legal description is Township 28 South, Range 1 East, Sections 25 and 34 to 36; Township 28 South, Range 2 East, Sections 19, 20, and 28 to 33; Township 29 South, Range 1 East, Sections 1 to 4 and 9 to 16; Township 29 South, Range 2 East, Sections 4 to 9 and 18.

1 Skillem Integrated Resource Restoration Project

Figure 1. Vicinity map.

2 Tiller Ranger District, Umpqua National Forest

Need for the Proposal The Forest Service’s Watershed Condition Framework provided a national assessment of watershed conditions across all National Forest System lands. The Skillet-South Umpqua River subwatershed is located within the Southern Oregon Coastal Basin and the Forest Service in the Pacific Northwest Region identified it as one of the three high priority basins in Oregon. The South Umpqua River Headwaters watershed (5th field, HUC 10) within the South Umpqua sub-basin has been identified as a focus watershed for restoration in the watershed condition classifications completed in 2011 under the framework. According to the framework analysis, the subwatershed is “functioning at-risk” because of degraded water quality and aquatic habitat. This degraded existing condition is primarily due to habitat fragmentation, lack of large woody debris and disruption of its transport process, poor channel shape and function from excessive peak flows, lack of several key aquatic lifeforms and native species, an at-risk Fire Regime Condition Class, and poor road conditions. This project proposes treatment in this priority subwatershed to address some of these issues and begin realizing the restoration goals, objectives, and opportunities identified in the Watershed Restoration Action Plan (2011) as well as achieve goals established by the Umpqua National Forest’s Land and Resource Management Plan (Forest Plan; 1990). Improve Water Quality and Aquatic Habitat

One contribution to this subwatershed’s classification as “functioning at-risk” is the poor road maintenance and high road density in the subwatershed. This subwatershed has a road density which exceeds 4.4 miles of road per square mile with a high amount of roads near water (24.4 miles). These conditions cause sedimentation which degrades water quality and increased peak flows which alters channel shape and function. Another concern within this subwatershed is the impact of river-adjacent recreational use to water quality and aquatic species including harassment of Chinook salmon, loss of riparian vegetation, and improper human waste and garbage disposal. Based on the Forest Plan’s goals to maintain and enhance water quality and timing of streamflow (Chapter IV, pg.59) and the findings on the Watershed Restoration Action Plan, the desired condition for this subwatershed is decreased sediment input from roads to improve water quality and reduced peak flows to maintain channel shape and function. The project seeks to achieve this desired condition by decommissioning existing roads, maintaining existing roads, and repairing failing culverts and stream crossings. The ability of the proposed action and alternatives to meet this need will be measured by the following indicators: • Miles of roads decommissioned. • Miles of road stabilized. • Miles of road put into storage. • Road density in miles per square-mile. • Count of culverts removed, repaired, or replaced. • Roads removed within Riparian Reserves. • Roaded access to recreation sites in Riparian Reserves reduced.

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Improve Forest Health

Between the 1950s and the late 1990s, extensive timber harvest and road construction occurred within the Skillet Creek-South Umpqua River subwatershed. Over the past 65 years about 40% of the watershed experienced some type of timber harvest treatment including clear-cutting of about 19% of the watershed. The highest proportion of harvest occurred in the 1980s when almost 42% of all harvest related activities occurred. Harvest activities have not occurred on Forest system lands in the watershed since the late 1990s. Many areas that were harvested before the mid-1960s are now well stocked with commercially viable forest stands which have slowing growth due to competition for resources between trees. Some younger stands that are not yet commercially viable are also overstocked. Desired conditions within Matrix land allocation can be derived from the Forest Plan goals and direction for Management Areas 10 and 11 including the production of timber on a cost-efficient and sustainable basis (Chapter IV, pp.129). Maintaining high rates of tree growth and protecting from loss is therefore desired. Whether forests are being grown to become late-successional forest or for continued harvest, maintaining rapid growth and lowering stand susceptibility to loss from insects and disease helps us achieve those goals. To achieve higher rates of individual tree growth, and lower susceptibility to loss from biotic and abiotic agents, a reduction in stand density is desired. The most benefit can be obtained by having fewer small trees interspersed among the larger, more dominant trees. The ability of the proposed action and alternatives to meet this need will be measured by the following indicators: • Acres of forest thinned. • Older plantations (established prior to 1965) thinned in subwatershed. • Residual relative stand density index (RSDI); as defined in the Vegetation Methodology section) in commercially thinned stands. Reduce Susceptibility to Catastrophic Wildfire

In 2002, 6,485 acres of the Skillet Creek-South Umpqua River subwatershed burned in the Tiller Complex Fire. Approximately 57% of the watershed burned with 13% of the watershed burned at medium to high severity. In 2013, 250 acres of the subwatershed burned in the Whiskey Complex Fire with only 9 acres at medium to high severity. Due to the suppression of wildfire, fire history, and timber harvest history, the watershed’s forests are at elevated risk to loss from wildfire. The Watershed Restoration Action Plan (2011) for this subwatershed found a moderate departure of fire frequency and severity and the resulting change in vegetation and fuel loadings from reference conditions (pg. 9). It concluded that watershed function improvement would require improvement of the Fire Regime Condition Class by the objective of treating fuels on 1,620 acres of the watershed (pg. 82). Reducing the susceptibility of the watershed to catastrophic loss from wildfire as a whole is an important goal. The goal is not to eliminate fire, but to try and lower the risk of high severity fire that consumes thousands of acres at a time. For this fire regime, forest stand conditions that reduce their susceptibility to stand replacing fire is desired. Reducing crown density in stands, reducing ladder fuels, reducing fuel loadings, and creating fuel breaks are methods to achieve this condition. The ability of the proposed action and alternatives to meet this need will be measured by the following indicators:

4 Tiller Ranger District, Umpqua National Forest

• Acres of fuels treated (fuel breaks, prescribed fire, and activity fuels removal) to improve Fire Regime Condition Class. • Miles of fuel break established. • Crowning Index, a measure of the propensity of a stand to sustain a crown fire where a higher value represents a lower hazard. • Fuel loading by size class. Other Goals

Other goals of the project include improving the view from Acker Rock Lookout to increase the chances of spotting a wildfire, improving wildlife habitat, reducing conifer encroachment, and improving public safety. Public Involvement and Tribal Consultation Scoping is the process the Forest Service uses to identify issues related to the proposal (40 CFR 1501.7) and determine the extent of environmental analysis necessary for an informed decision. It is used early in the NEPA process to identify 1) the issues to be addressed; 2) the depth of the analysis; 3) alternatives or refinements to the scoping proposal; and 4) potential environmental impacts of the scoping proposal. Scoping is performed not to build consensus or get agreement on a project proposal, but rather to solicit relevant site-specific comments that could aid in the analysis and final design of the proposal. The proposal and a request for scoping comments was sent to interested and affected parties on February 1, 2017. The proposal was revised from the public input received in the first scoping period and then a second scoping period was offered on July 7, 2017 to allow more time for public comment and input. Two public field trips were held including one during the development of the scoping proposal to discuss changes to the transportation system on December 2, 2016 and a second held during the first scoping period on February 14, 2017. Other meetings were held with interested groups as listed below: • Presented scoping proposal to Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians - July 26, 2016 • Field trip with Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians - September 8, 2016 • Discussed Skillem Project with Douglas County Commissioner - October 24, 2016 • Field trip with Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians - August 9, 2018 Agencies and Persons Consulted

The Forest Service consulted the following individuals, Federal, State, tribal, and local agencies during the development of this EA: • Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde Indians • Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians • Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians • Douglas County Commission • NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service

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• U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Issues and Concerns Raised During Scoping

Issues identified during internal (Forest Service) and external (public) scoping were used to guide the effects analysis. Not all issues are analyzed to the same level of detail in this EA. To warrant detailed analysis, an issue must express an unresolved conflict in terms of cause and effect relationships. In an EA, issues can help drive alternative development, be resolved through the addition of project design features, or be carried forward into analysis to better inform the responsible official. Comments that raised concerns but did not provide a cause and effect statement to become an issue or were outside of the scope of this project were considered by the responsible official and a disposition of those comments is available in the project record.

Issues that Drove Alternative Development

Reduced Access by Road Decommissioning In scoping comments received and in subsequent consultation with the Cow Creek Band of the Umpqua Tribe of Indians, there was concern regarding the proposed road decommissioning and its potential effects to public access for cultural and recreational uses as well as for future management activities. In response to this issue the Forest Service developed Alternative 3. This alternative adds two new dispersed campsites to the system, creates a reservation RV campsite capable of hosting multiple RVs, and only partially decommissions two roads leading to riverside dispersed campsites. On these two roads, 2800-356 and 357, users would be able to drive and park close to the dispersed campsites. This would allow easy access to the campsites while still meeting the project’s purpose and need for improving water quality and aquatic habitat by reducing impacts created by motorized traffic.

Winter Operations There was a concern for the effects a restriction on hauling and yarding in winter months would have of the economic viability of the project. In response the Forest completed a detailed review of each commercial harvest unit to consider the costs and feasibility of allowing winter operations as well as the resource impacts that would occur. The scoping proposal was modified to allow an extended period for harvest and hauling where it was economically feasible and would not cause undue harm to resources. The Forest also considered an alternative that would allow for year around logging and hauling from all commercial harvest unit. This alternative was considered but eliminated from detailed analysis as Alternative A (see Alternatives Considered but Eliminated from Detailed Analysis section below).

Other Issues

Several other issues were resolved by clarifying or modifying the scoping proposal, developing project design features, or carrying forward the issue into the analyses. These issues did not drive the development of an alternative to the scoping proposal. These are discussed below by category in Table 1 below.

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Table 1. Other issues raised during scoping and how they were addressed.

Issue Statement How Addressed There was a concern that 1 to 3 acre patch cuts proposed The scoping proposal has been modified to include patch would be contrary to standards and guidelines for Late cuts of one-quarter acre in Late Successional Reserves. Successional Reserves. It was suggested that a quarter- acre opening would provide sufficient space to enhance Sugar Pines. There was a concern that thinning prescriptions within the The scoping proposal has been modified. While gap Matrix allocation should include large patch regeneration creation was already planned for units 10, 30, and 40, this harvests in order to create early seral habitat and increase treatment was expanded to unit 160 and 400. A total of species and structural diversity. about 26 acres would be heavily thinned and planted with sugar pine at wide spacing. These openings would provide early seral wildlife habitat in the short-term and introduce rust-resistant sugar pine to the watershed. There was a concern for the effects of felling hazard trees in The removal of the roadside snag habitat for safety reasons the spring on bird nesting. would be insignificant; the area has had recent wildfires that have created adequate snag habitat across the District. The roadside snag habitat in question should be considered marginal due to its proximity to roadsides and the noise disturbance attributed to those roads (e.g. log hauling, recreational traffic). There was a concern for the water quality impacts that might Most damage caused by ATV use is from off-road use that occur from all-terrain vehicle (ATV) use of maintenance is already prohibited under the Motor Vehicle Use Map. The level 2 roads proposed to be downgraded to maintenance effects of the use of Maintenance Level 1 roads will be level 1. discussed in the aquatic environment analysis in the Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action and Alternatives section of this EA. There is a concern that heavier thinning or a range of An analysis of the effects of proposed thinning treatments to thinning intensities may be required in order to enhance late stand development will be provided in the vegetation successional characteristics within the Late Successional analysis section of this EA. Reserve.

There is a concern that the EA should consider how An analysis of the effects of commercial thinning on stand commercial thinning will reintroduce diversity to managed diversity and structure will be provided in the vegetation stands and enhance the old growth characteristics within the analysis in the Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Late Successional Reserve. Action and Alternatives section of this EA. There is a concern for the effects of spring burning on The effects of prescribed fire on wildlife will be presented in wildlife. the wildlife analysis in the Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action and Alternatives section of this EA. There is a concern that the methods for measuring effects of The research shared by the commenter will be reviewed by treatments to Northern Spotted Owls overstate negative specialists and incorporated into the wildlife analysis in the impacts by assuming any type of forest management activity Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action and will negatively impact owls and their prey. The commenter Alternatives section of this EA. shared a recent study and other supporting evidence for consideration in the analysis. There is a concern that downgrading the maintenance level An analysis of the effects of changes to the transportation of 9 miles of road will not meet the purpose of improving system will be included the aquatic environment analysis in water quality. the Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action and Alternatives section of this EA. There is a concern that non-commercial thinning of stands An analysis of the economic and silvicultural effects of the that are over 25 years old would not be cost-effective. proposed project activities will be included in in the Instead it was suggested that these plantations stands be Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action and allowed to mature to a commercially viable age. Alternatives section of this EA.

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Results of the Comment Period

A public field trip was held in June 2019 as an opportunity for interested people to tour the various types of treatments being proposed within the project. When the analysis of project effects was completed, it was published for public review and comment in July 2019. The Forest received seven comment letters from interested organizations and individuals as a result of this public review (two of which were received outside of the official comment period but were still considered). Comments and concerns regarding the project were identified from these letters and a detailed response is provided in an appendix to the Decision Notice. Minor corrections and clarifications were made to this updated version of the EA in response to comments. Those changes include: • The description of the proposed actions and alternatives as well as the vegetation analysis section were updated to clarify the age of stands that would be treated with non-commercial thinning. • The non-commercial thinning proposed action description was updated to clarify the method of implementation and the average diameter of trees in those stands. • Project Design Feature #44 was updated to allow equipment more passes off of designated skid trails should equipment travel on a mat of slash materials, subject to other limitations. • A clarification was made in Table 9, the comparison of project need and issue indicators across alternatives, that the 611 acres of “forest thinned” includes both commercial and noncommercial harvest. Proposed Action and Alternatives The proposed action and following alternatives were considered: Alternative 1 – No Action

Under Alternative 1, the actions detailed under Alternative 2 and 3 would not take place. The No Action Alternative describes a baseline against which the environmental effects of the action alternatives can be compared. The No Action Alternative discusses the consequences of not taking action. The No Action Alternative assumes the current resource trends would continue into the future. Under the No Action Alternative, no vegetation management would be implemented; there would be no commercial cutting of trees; there would be no fuels treatments; there would be no changes to the road system including road decommissioning, placement into storage, and culvert replacements; there would be no changes to dispersed recreation sites; and the view from the Acker Rock Lookout would not be improved. Normal road maintenance would occur. Other activities authorized by separate NEPA analysis could happen. The analysis of the No Action Alternative answers the question of what would occur to the resources of concern if the Proposed Action or another action alternative does not take place. The decision maker does not need to make a specific decision to select the No Action Alternative. If that is the choice, the action alternatives would simply be dropped and the NEPA process would end. Future harvesting, fuels reduction treatments, other connected actions, and road management in this area would not be precluded and could be analyzed under a subsequent NEPA document.

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Alternative 2 – Scoping Proposal

This alternative was developed by an interdisciplinary team and in consultation with interested parties to meet project goals to improve water quality and aquatic habitat, improve forest health, and reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfire in the Skillet Creek-South Umpqua River 6th field watershed, as well as other goals. In response to comments received during scoping, this proposal was modified after the first scoping period to limit the size of gaps created with commercial thinning in Late Successional Reserves (LSR) to one-quarter acre, to expand the use of gaps within commercial thinning units in Matrix, and to add a new commercial thinning unit. After further internal review, three commercial thinning units were removed from proposed treatment. Also decommissioning and constructing a realignment of road 2838 was removed from the project proposal as this activity is already authorized in the Tiller Aquatic Restoration Project (USDA Forest Service 2013b, pp. 26-27).

Transportation System Changes

The interdisciplinary team conducted project-level travel analysis of the transportation system within the project area. The analysis was conducted in accordance with Forest Service Handbook (FSH) 7709.55 – Travel Planning Handbook, Chapter 20 – Travel Analysis. A range of changes are proposed to the transportation system based on a site specific review that identified routes not likely needed (per 36 CFR Part 212 Subpart A) or that may require changes to designated motorized use on roads, trails, and other areas by class of vehicle and time of year (per 36 CFR Part 212 Subpart B). Many of these proposed changes are administrative in nature and only update the motor vehicle use map (MVUM) to show the current capability and condition of the road. Other changes involve removing culverts that are deteriorated and no longer needed, blocking roads that are currently accessible, decommissioning roads by subsoiling and recontouring the roadbed, or opening roads that are currently blocked. All of the proposed changes are summarized in Table 2 and shown in Figure 2. Larger maps are available in Appendix A and detailed descriptions of each proposed change by route are included in Appendix B. Table 2. Summary of proposed changes to roads.

Proposed Change Total Miles Decommission road 8.0 Decommission motorized trail 1.5* Road placed in storage for future use and closed to all motorized vehicles 6.0* Road placed in storage for future use and designated as a motorized trail (ATVs less than 50 2.7 inches in width); all other motorized vehicles prohibited Road activated and removed from storage 0.1 Road added to the Transportation System 0.3 *Two routes totaling 0.9 miles are counted as both decommission motorized trail and road placed into storage (T2835-090 and T2835-100).

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Figure 2. Transportation system changes proposed in Alternative 2.

10 Tiller Ranger District, Umpqua National Forest

Decommission Road or Motorized Trail Routes were identified for decommissioning in order to improve water quality and aquatic habitat. The rationale for decommissioning each segment is detailed below. In general, routes were selected for decommissioning because they were redundant to other routes, overgrown and unused, blocked, impassable, in an area of high road density, or have altered hydrologic function in the area including poor or failing stream crossings. Some routes are short spurs that provide access to dispersed campsites and are proposed for decommissioning because of the resource damage occurring as a result of this use. Treatment of these decommissioned roads would range from an administrative change to remove the route from the Motor Vehicle Use Map with no on the ground treatment, where the roadway is already revegetating and not causing adverse environmental effects, to fully recontouring the roadway to return ecologic function to the impacted area.

Rationale for Proposed Road and Motorized Trail Decommissioning by Route 2700-990 – 0.2 miles. This short segment was originally built to access a reloading site associated with the Quartz Mountain mine. The segment is a redundant connection between the 27 and 28 road. The reload area is still used for storage but is accessed directly from the 28 road. It has been blocked on the 27 road side for many years. Over half of the road segment is within Riparian Reserve and all is within winter range. 2700-992 – 0.3 miles. This road, built in 1953, has a short end segment which dissects an ash flat area with near surface groundwater and erosive soils. Construction of this road segment has altered hydrology, intercepting water and leading to gullying of the ditch line. This segment (0.3 miles) would be decommissioned and the rest of this road (1.3 miles) would remain on the system but placed in storage for future use and closed to all motorized vehicles. 2800-353 – 1.3 miles. This road, built in 1952, requires crossing the South Umpqua River at a low water ford. Due to resource impacts, this crossing has not been used for many years. The entire road is heavily overgrown, and the upper portion is badly gullied up to 3 feet deep for approximately 700 feet. A 6 foot culvert is no longer functioning properly and water is passing through road fill, putting this crossing at high risk of failure during future floods. Access for future silvicultural treatments in this area would be better accomplished through temporary ridge-top road construction. The short spur which provides access to a dispersed camp and water source on the north side of the river near the beginning of this road would be retained. 2800-354 – 0.9 miles. This road is a spur of the 2800-353 road and would no longer be accessible (see above). 2800-356 – 0.1 miles. This short spur is currently drivable and being used to access a dispersed campsite next to the South Umpqua River. The road is proposed for decommissioning due to resource damage from camp users including harassment of Chinook salmon, loss of riparian vegetation, improper human waste disposal, and trash being left in and along the river. 2800-357 – 0.1 miles. This short spur is currently drivable and being used to access a dispersed campsite next to the South Umpqua River. The road is proposed for decommissioning due to resource damage from camp users including harassment of Chinook salmon, loss of riparian vegetation, improper human waste disposal, and trash being left in and along the river. 2800-358 – 0.2 miles. This short spur is currently drivable and being used to access a dispersed campsite next to the South Umpqua River. The road is proposed for decommissioning due to resource damage from camp users including harassment of Chinook salmon, loss of riparian vegetation, improper human

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waste disposal, and trash being left in and along the river. This site is also located adjacent to Flood Creek, where aquatic habitat has been damage from past logging and road related impacts. The existing dispersed campsite is being proposed for removal as well as one barrier culvert on Flood Creek. 2814-199 – 0.7 miles. This road is currently blocked and heavily overgrown and includes 6 stream crossings. Although culverts were removed previously, 5 of the crossings are in poor condition (down cutting through the fill) causing chronic sedimentation to Skillet Creek, an anadromous fish-bearing stream. A landslide has removed half the road bed for 50 feet. Additionally, this is a redundant road, paralleling the 2814 road (500 feet upslope) its whole length. It is located mostly in Riparian Reserve and entirely within LSR. 2814-205 – 0.5 miles. This short spur is located in LSR. It was blocked many years ago and has many logs currently across it such that it has not been accessed for many years. A small perennial stream crossing is failing and the end of the road has narrowed considerably due to cut slope material falling down onto road and the fill slope shoulder sloughing off. It is proposed for decommissioning due to its low importance for management access, location in the LSR, and the cost of reconstruction. T2814-498 – 0.6 miles. This native surfaced trail is currently blocked and located within LSR and Riparian Reserve. It has 4 stream crossings and is located in the Skillet Creek drainage, an area of very high road density. This trail is proposed for decommissioning to reduce road density in this area to reduce impacts to soil, water, and LSR habitat. 2814-501 – 0.2 miles. This very short spur is impassible by vehicle and no longer discernible. It is located in highly erosive soils in LSR in the upper Skillet Creek drainage, an area of very high road density. 2814-507 – 0.2 miles. This short spur is currently blocked and is only accessible by ATV. It is being proposed for decommissioning because it is located in LSR and important wildlife habitat. There are limited recreational opportunities. 2814-605 – 0.2 miles. This short spur is currently blocked and densely overgrown by trees such that it has not been accessible for many years. It is located within LSR and parallels a perennial stream for its entire length. It is being proposed for decommissioning to reduce impacts to the Riparian Reserve and LSR. Access to this area for future management is provided by the 2814 and 2814-651 roads. 2823-038 – 0.2 miles. This short spur is impassible and no longer discernible. The road spur will also no longer be accessible for motorized use upon completion of activities planned under the Tiller Aquatic Restoration Project (USDA Forest Service, 2011) where the segment of 2823 this road originates from would be decommissioned and converted to a non-motorized trail. 2823-039 – 0.1 miles. This very short spur is impassible and no longer discernible. The road spur will also no longer be accessible for motorized use upon completion of activities planned under the Tiller Aquatic Restoration Project (USDA Forest Service, 2011) where the segment of 2823 this road originates from would be decommissioned and converted to a non-motorized trail. 2823-040—0.1 miles. This short spur is currently drivable and is being used to access a dispersed campsite next to the South Umpqua River. The road is proposed for decommissioning due to resource damage from camp users including harassment of Chinook salmon, loss of riparian vegetation, improper human waste disposal, and trash being left in and along the river. 2823-041 – 0.1 miles. This very short spur has overgrown and is barely discernible. It is located within Riparian Reserve along the South Umpqua River and a substantial portion of it is now wetland. The

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route has little use because it is short and redundant as it runs parallel to the 2823 road. It is proposed for decommissioning to reduce impacts to the Riparian Reserve and wetland habitat. 2823-042 – 0.2 miles. This short spur is currently drivable and is being used to access a dispersed campsite next to the South Umpqua River. The road and the dispersed campsite is proposed for decommissioning due to resource damage from camp users including harassment of Chinook salmon, loss of riparian vegetation, improper human waste disposal, and trash being left in and along the river. T2835-090 – 0.5 miles. There are limited recreational opportunities on this motorized trail and no recent history of motorized use. This route will be retained as a road placed in storage for future use, but closed to all motorized vehicles. T2835-100 – 0.4 miles. There are limited recreational opportunities on this motorized trail and no recent history of motorized use. This route will be retained as a road placed in storage for future use, but closed to all motorized vehicles. 2835-120 – 1.2 miles. This road is currently blocked with many downed logs, tree and shrub overgrowth, and two major slumps or sunken grades which have displaced the road bed for 150 feet. Two smaller slumps are also impacting the road. It is located within LSR and there are 4 stream crossings. This road is proposed for decommissioning because it is located on an active mass wasting slope and because it is redundant, being located parallel to both the 2835-100 road (600 feet upslope) and the 2838-700 road (700 feet downslope). 2838-498 – 0.1 miles. This short spur is completely overgrown and has been inaccessible for many years. The junction where it originates along the 2838 is a low-impact dispersed campsite. Decommissioning this very short spur would allow the continued use of this campsite. 2838-710 – 0.7 miles (from milepost 0.63 to 1.28). The 710 road is currently blocked and somewhat overgrown such that it has been inaccessible for many years. The portion of the road proposed for decommissioning has four stream crossings and is mostly in Riparian Reserve within the upper Emerson Creek drainage where there is a very high road density. This segment is also redundant as it parallels the 2838-700 road. 2838-722 – 0.4 miles. This road connects the 2838-710 and 2838-720 roads in the upper Emerson Creek drainage, which is an area of high road density and high stream density. This road is overgrown and blocked on both ends. The 3 stream crossing pipes have been removed and it appears to have been subsoiled in the past. Despite this past work, gullies have formed across and down the road in several places where water has been diverted. This segment is redundant as it parallels the upslope 2838-700 road.

Road Placed in Storage for Future Use These routes were selected for an administrative change in their maintenance level to reflect the current condition and use of the road. A detailed review of each route’s existing condition is included in Appendix B. Treatments of the roadway would range from no action to blocking with a gate or rocks, removing culverts, or installing cross ditches to prevent erosion. The intent is to minimize, to all practical extent, needed future maintenance and make the road hydrologically self-sustainable. It is expected that the road would be reopened in the future when access is needed for emergency or future planned management activities. These stored routes would either be closed to all motorized vehicles or designated as a motorized trail as described below.

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Road Closed to All Motorized Vehicles Along these routes the road would be retained as a road for anticipated future resource management activities but would be closed to motorized use by the public.

Designated as a Motorized Trail (ATVs less than 50 inches in width); all Other Motorized Vehicles Prohibited These routes would be designated as a motorized trails. This would allow all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) less than 50 inches in width to use the new designated trail that follows the road prism. Maintenance of the trail would be completed as needed.

Road Activated and Removed from Storage One road (2838-827) is proposed to be activated and removed from storage to reflect its current condition and use. The motorized use would be designated by vehicle type and season of use allowed. This route would be designated on the Motor Vehicle Use Map in the future when travel is feasible based on completion of any maintenance that is identified as needed before use is allowed. The Motor Vehicle Use Map would be updated by adding this route at the next annual publishing date after the road is suitable for traffic.

Road Added to the Transportation System This project proposes to add about 0.3 miles of road to Forest transportation system. There is an existing roadbed that is used to access the Frack Quarry that is not currently part of the transportation system. This project would make the administrative change to add a little more than 0.2 miles of this existing road to the system as Road 2700-875. Another less than 0.1 miles of this addition would be new road construction to create a short extension of Road 2700-916 to provide access for current and future management activities including implementation of commercial thinning in Unit 10.

Road Maintenance and Reconstruction Maintenance and reconstruction of system roads in the project area is needed in order to improve watershed conditions and to allow for project related haul. This would include replacing or removing undersized or deteriorated stream culverts and adding culvert armoring at approximately 50 locations; adding and maintaining ditch relief, dips, and water-bars at approximately 20 spot locations; grading, rocking, and reconstructing water-bars, drainage ditches, and improving or filling approximately 7 miles of road.

Thinning and Fuels Treatments

Commercial Thinning of Plantations Thinning from below is proposed on plantations that are less than 80 years old. Relative stand density is used to guide the intensity of thinning. A residual relative stand density index of 35% of maximum density balances maximizing individual tree growth with maintaining stand growth and occupancy (Long, 1985). Within harvest units there are a total of 646 acres where 120 acres would be left in 50 to 170 foot wide ‘no-cut’ riparian buffers, leaving a total of 526 thinned acres. Of these thinned acres, 295 acres are Matrix, 96 acres are LSR, and 135 are Riparian Reserve. Table 3 shows the distribution of these acres by treatment unit and Figure 3 is a map that displays the location of these treatments within the project area (a more detailed map of these treatments is available in Appendix A).

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Table 3. Acres of commercial thinning per unit by land allocation.

Harvest Unit Acres LSR Matrix Riparian Reserve Total Acres Riparian Reserve Total Acres Thinned Thinned Thinned Thinned Not Thinned within Unit 10 0 80 13 93 3 96 30 0 13 4 17 2 19 40 0 18 0 18 1 19 70 9 0 3 12 2 14 80 17 0 7 24 3 27 100 0 3 6 9 9 18 120 0 1 4 5 3 8 140 0 29 10 39 9 48 160 0 25 10 35 8 43 180 0 17 7 24 8 32 210 0 27 15 42 12 54 220 4 15 7 26 5 31 230 0 30 8 38 15 53 240 21 4 0 25 0 25 250 0 0 3 3 14 17 260 21 0 20 41 16 57 300 21 0 11 32 5 37 350 3 0 5 8 2 10 400 0 33 2 35 3 38 Total 96 295 135 526 120 646

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Figure 3. Map of commercial and non-commercial (or pre-commercial) thinning units.

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Leave trees in the residual stand, post-thinning, would be selected based on tree height, diameter, form, species, and health with an average distance between residual trees, or residual basal area per acre (as defined in the Vegetation Methodology section of this EA), determined for each unit (Table 4). As with any sampling regime, estimates are subject to error. At the time of implementation, tree spacing or residual basal areas may be adjusted up or down to account for changed conditions or sampling error. The method of implementation would result in slight differences in the residual stand while still meeting the 35% residual relative density. For example, using average spacing between trees as the target measurement would generally leave a broader range of tree diameters and heights, but would have more uniform spacing. Using residual basal area as the target metric may tend to leave fewer, but larger, trees with less uniform spacing. Table 4. Trees per acre, basal area per acre, and average spacing pre- and post-treatment by proposed unit.

Unit Trees per Acre Basal Area per Acre Average Spacing Post- Pre-Treatment Proposed Post- Pre-Treatment Post- Treatment Removal Treatment Treatment (feet) 10 293 209 84 221 123 23 30 229 171 58 244 129 27 40 125 63 62 200 130 27 70 302 228 74 297 138 24 80 405 299 106 235 124 20 160 426 343 83 251 131 23 180 318 216 102 249 128 21 210 251 165 86 216 136 23 220 259 189 70 249 137 25 230 254 166 88 218 133 22 240 248 165 83 262 135 23 300 175 94 81 185 131 23 350 170 97 73 228 141 24 400 181 128 53 295 145 29 100, 120, and 140 170 114 56 220 149 28 250 and 260 176 114 62 251 147 27

Late Successional Reserve Thinning Prescription Within LSR, skips and gaps would be used to increase diversity within the stand. A skip is an area of forest where no harvesting occurs while a gap is an area where most or all trees are harvested. In each harvest unit about 10% of the area would be left in skips and 5% to 10% would be cleared as gaps of up to one-quarter acre in size each. No trees over 80 years old would be harvested and minor species such as white fir, sugar pine, knob- cone pine, western hemlock, western red-cedar, and all hardwoods would be retained at higher levels than in Matrix lands.

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Matrix Thinning Prescription Within the Matrix land allocation, skips and gaps as described above for LSR would be used in stands 100, 120, 140, 180, 210, 220, and 230. Gaps would not be created in Riparian Reserves. In units 10, 30, 40, 160, and 400, larger gaps would be created to provide wildlife habitat and open space for sugar pine trees to establish and grow (Table 5). Within these gaps, all conifer trees, except trees over 80 years old, would be harvested or felled. Following harvest, rust-resistant sugar pine would be planted at wide spacing. The total area in these wildlife and sugar pine gaps within commercial thinning units is about 26 acres with individual gaps ranging in size from 1 to 5 acres. Within these five stands, approximately 10% of each unit would be left in skips of up to one-quarter acre in size each.

Table 5. Wildlife and sugar pine gaps

Unit Acres 10 11 30 2 40 5 160 4 400 4 Total 26 Harvest operations for all units would require the establishment of approximately 140 landings. Harvesting and haul of merchantable trees would be allowed until November 30th each year on units 10, 40, and 400 within the portions of those units that can be logged using skyline logging unless the purchaser is notified by Forest Service that conditions are prohibitive as described in Project Design Features, Mitigation Measures, and Best Management Practices section below. Roads permitted for this extended season (until November 30) haul include roads 2700-900, 2700-916, and 2700.

Temporary Road Construction or Reconstruction Approximately 2.9 miles of temporary roads, either new temporary road or reconstructed non-system road, would be needed to complete the project (Figure 4, Table 6). Temporary roads are roads authorized by contract, permit, lease, other written authorization, or emergency operation and are not included as part of the forest transportation system and not necessary for long-term resource management (36 CFR 212.1). Temporary roads would be constructed to minimum standards that would facilitate safe and efficient operations. Temporary roads are generally constructed, used and decommissioned in the same season. Temporary and non-system roads used by purchaser that are still needed to complete project implementation would be winterized with all erosion control measures in place, and blocked by October 31 as required according to project design features. All temporary roads and reconstructed non-system roads would be removed and fully decommissioned after use, including subsoiling and covering according to project design features.

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Figure 4. Proposed locations of temporary roads within commercial thinning units.

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Table 6. Estimated miles of temporary road construction and reconstruction needed by harvest unit

Harvest New Temporary Road Existing Temporary Temporary Roads Total Unit Construction Road Reconstruction (approximate miles) (approximate miles) (approximate miles) 10 0.05 0 0.05 30 0.3 0 0.3 40 0.3 0 0.3 100 0.0 0.05 0.05 140 0.4 0.1 0.5 160 0.3 0 0.3 220 0.0 0.1 0.1 230 0.1 0.25 0.4 240 0.2 0.1 0.3 250 0.1 0 0.1 300 0.3 0 0.3 400 0.25 0 0.25 Total for 2.3 0.6 2.9 all units

Haul Routes and Use of System Roads Primary haul routes include FS roads 2700, 2800, 2838, 2700-900, and 2900. Non-paved roads used for forest products hauling would be brought up to standard and maintained during use. Reconstructed Maintenance Level 1 roads would be opened for use in project implementation but would remain closed to public motorized use. When project activities are completed, the roads would be left in a hydrologically stable condition, blocked, and placed back into storage.

Activity Fuels Removal Post-harvest slash treatments to dispose of commercial thinning activity generated fuels would employ the implementation of prescribed fire through pile burning and under-burning. Treatment of activity fuels (slash) generated from commercial thinning would be completed by the following methods: • 111 acres of hand-pile and burn. • 223 acres of grapple pile and burn. • Burning of landing piles from 334 acres of commercially thinned whole tree yarded units. • 211 acres of under-burning. • 4.9 miles of hand-line. Prior to burning the activity fuels, the material would be offered for firewood, biochar, biomass, or other utilization method where appropriate.

Non-commercial Thinning of Plantations Non-commercial thinning is proposed for 95 acres in five plantations that were planted between 1982 and 1993 (about 26-37 years old at the time of publication), totaling 85 acres of treatment as 10 acres of Riparian Reserve would be left in no treatment buffers (Table 7, Figure 3). Of this total treatment area, 20 Tiller Ranger District, Umpqua National Forest

12 acres are within LSR, 48 acres are within Matrix, and 25 are within Riparian Reserve. Residual spacing would average between 11 feet by 11 feet and 15 feet by 15 feet (200 to 350 trees per acre). Thinning would generally leave fewer trees per acre in LSR, to encourage the development of late-seral forested conditions, and more in Matrix. The thinning prescription would include irregular spacing and retention of minor species such as white fir, sugar pine, knob-cone pine, western hemlock, western red- cedar, and hardwoods. Trees would be felled by hand and then piled for burning. Table 7. Acres of non-commercial thinning proposed by unit

Unit Year Quadratic LSR Matrix Riparian Total Riparian Total Established Mean Thinned Thinned Reserve Acres Reserve Acres Diameter* Thinned Thinned Not Thinned 1 1991 4.2 6 0 2 8 1 9 2 1987 3.7 0 11 3 14 1 15 3 1992 4.9 0 2 2 4 2 6 4 1987 5.9 0 35 13 48 3 51 5 1982 4.5 6 0 5 11 3 14 All 1988 4.6 12 48 25 85 10 95 Units (average) (average) *The diameter of the tree of average basal area in a stand at breast height, in inches.

Shaded Roadside Fuel Breaks The construction and maintenance of approximately 445 acres of shaded fuel breaks along major, strategic road systems is proposed in order to support management of future wildfires. These fuel breaks would extend 150 feet on either side of Forest roads 2814, 2838, and the 700 spur of 2838. Within these shaded fuel breaks, brush and trees would be removed to reduce the amount of fuel, break up canopy continuity, and improve ingress and egress for future wildland fire personnel. Treatment would include 434 acres of non-commercial and 11 acres of commercial thinning (Figure 5, larger maps available in Appendix A and on the project website).

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Figure 5. Proposed fuel treatment locations.

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In non-commercial units, brush and trees less than 7 inches in diameter may be felled. The material would first be available for removal by firewood collection or as biomass or biochar. Any remaining material would be hand-piled and burned onsite. Within the Riparian Reserve, no treatment would occur within the primary shade zone. Treatment outside of primary shade zones in Riparian Reserve would be limited to limbing of trees to raise the canopy base height. Within commercial units of the shaded fuel breaks, brush and non-commercially sized trees less than 7 inches in diameter and commercial-sized trees greater than 7 inches in diameter may be harvested. Residual basal area would be 120 to 130 square-feet per acre. This would involve thinning from below, leaving the largest and most fire resilient trees, and felling smaller diameter trees that act as ladder fuels. Estimated canopy cover post thinning would be about 45% after treatment. In both commercial and non-commercial units, trees would be limbed up to 8 feet high taking no more than 50% of the tree. Maintenance within shaded fuel breaks would ideally take place every 7 to 10 years to maintain a 40% to 60% canopy cover in both commercial and non-commercial areas. This would break up canopy continuity, and decrease the likelihood of large canopy dominated fire spread. Maintaining this percent canopy cover would also help maintain a cool-moist microclimate to help suppress the growth of ladder fuels, and encroachment from shade-intolerant invasive species.

Prescribed Fire The project proposes conducting prescribed fire activity on approximately 1,004 acres of natural fuels within the planning area (Figure 5). The objectives of prescribed fire blocks would be to reduce (or maintain) the surface fuel loads, reduce small diameter tree density, increase canopy base height (through scorch), and return the role of fire to the ecosystem processes on a landscape scale. These burns would likely occur during the spring or fall with prescriptions that vary based on current condition of the site. The burn prescription would be designed to minimize detrimental effects to the burn area (e.g. soil damage, mortality of large trees, disturbance to identified wildlife use areas, airshed quality). Areas to be burned would require the construction of approximately five miles of hand-line. Where possible natural barriers or roads would be used as control lines. Vegetation along control lines and around large trees may require additional preparation prior to implementation. Additional preparation would consist of hand thinning of small diameter trees, removal of brush, falling of hazard trees, and hand line construction around features to limit damage or aid in containing the prescribed fire.

Wildlife Habitat Improvement

Conifer Encroachment Non-commercial thinning is proposed for a 3-acre opening adjacent to Unit 30 that is experiencing conifer encroachment. Deciduous shrubs, hardwoods, and conifer trees less than 7 inches in diameter would be removed from this open area which is located in the Matrix land allocation and the winter range management area (MA 11). This treatment is designed to improve big game winter range habitat.

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Other Project Actions

Recreation Several spur roads leading to dispersed campsites would be blocked or decommissioned as described in proposed transportation system changes above. The campsites would remain open as walk-in only sites with the exception of two sites. The dispersed campsites at end of roads 2800-358 and 2823-042 would be closed to camping after being restored to a natural state (Figure 6).

Acker Rock View Improvement The Acker Rock Lookout provides a valuable resource as a fire lookout during fire season and a recreation rental at other times. Its view to the north and east has become restricted because nearby trees have grown tall enough to block the view. The Forest proposes to top or fell trees around the lookout, in an area less than one acre, to restore the view to the east and north for fire detection purposes (Figure 6). Alternative 3 – Proposed Action

Alternative 3 was developed in response to issues identified during scoping and input from the Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians. Actions proposed by this alternative are the same as Alternative 2 except for the following changes (Figure 6). • Two existing, user-created road spurs would be added to the transportation system for dispersed camping (2823-035 and 2838-010). These are short spurs of existing roadbeds that equal about 0.03 miles in total. Adding this small amount of existing roadbed to the total is not enough to change the overall, estimated and rounded, miles of road added to transportation system proposed in Alternative 2. Alternative 3 would still add about 0.3 miles of road to the transportation system. • A reservation RV campsite would be added to system. Site improvements would include the installation of two gates, signage, and planting of ground cover. • Roads 2800-356 and 2800-357 would be partially decommissioned, instead of completely decommissioned as proposed in Alternative 2. A portion of both existing roadbeds would be converted to a footpath to provide continued access to the dispersed camping area along the river (Figure 7). Natural barriers, such as boulders or down trees, would be placed at the end of the road where the decommissioned road is converted to a footpath. Dispersed camping at these two sites would be managed adaptively. If the barriers are breached two or more times in the next 5 years, additional management actions may be initiated including the following: 1. Add additional barriers. 2. Move the parking areas back from the river to pull off areas along Road 28. Spur roads 356 and 357 would then be fully decommissioned and converted to a footpaths (Figure 8). 3. Close the two sites to dispersed camping.

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Figure 6. Proposed Recreation Treatments in Alternative 3.

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Figure 7. Proposed partial decommissioning of roads 2800-357 (left) and 2800-356 (right).

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Figure 8. Potential full decommissioning of roads 2800-357 (left) and 2800-356 (right).

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Connected Actions

Connected actions are those that are closely related to the proposed action and would not occur unless the proposed action or one of its action alternatives is taken. They may be interdependent parts of the larger action and depend on that larger action for their justification (40 CFR 1508.25). The following activities would be necessary should one of the action alternatives be implemented.

Noxious Weed Treatments

Noxious weeds often invade areas of past harvest, burned areas, and areas alongside roads. The Forest proposes to treat approximately 55 acres of noxious weeds which includes current known infestations and new ones that may be caused by treatments proposed in this project. Native revegetation techniques would be used to reestablish native plants on sites where weeds are removed as well as in areas where exposed mineral soil provides optimal conditions for weeds to colonize.

Quarry Development

Alder quarry would be developed within the existing quarry site boundary. The Frack quarry would be an approved site for disposing of waste material (e.g., slide material). Project Design Features

Project Design Features (PDFs) are an integral part of the action alternatives (Alternatives 2 and 3) and are considered in the analysis of project impacts (Table 8). They are developed to avoid or reduce the potential for adverse impacts to resources. PDFs include seasonal restrictions on many activities that help minimize erosion and reduce disturbance to wildlife. PDFs also outline protective buffers for sensitive species, mandate the retention of snags, and delineate many measures for protecting Riparian Reserves throughout the project. Where applicable, PDFs reflect Best Management Practices (BMPs) and Forest Plan standards and guidelines. The PDFs listed below would be carried forward into contracts as required contract specifications. Forest Service contract administrators and inspectors monitor the operations of contractors to ensure that contract specifications are implemented as designed. BMPs are designed to prevent and reduce nonpoint source pollution and maintain water quality at the highest practicable level consistent with the Clean Water Act and State water quality programs (USDA Forest Service 2012). PDF implementation, in addition to establishment of Riparian Reserves, would exceed Oregon State Forest Practices Rules. A review of forest management impacts on water quality concluded that the use of BMPs in forest operations was generally effective in avoiding significant water quality problems; the report noted that proper implementation of BMPs was essential to minimizing non-point source pollution (Kattelmann 1996).

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Table 8. Project Design Features

PDF Project Design Feature Restriction number Date Stream and Wetland Protection 1 Stream course protection will be used on all stream classes and will be shown on Sale Area none Map. 2 Should any unmapped streams or wetlands be found in commercial units during layout or project implementation, the district hydrologist or fish biologist will be consulted to assign none appropriate buffer widths. 3 The following no-treatment stream buffers apply to commercial treatment: 120 feet for Class 1 none and 2 streams, 85 to 170 feet for Class 3 streams, and 50 to 120 feet for Class 4 streams. 4 No thinning within 50 feet of any wetland. none 5 Restrict ground-based equipment entry to beyond 50 feet of streams and wet areas, or outside none the no-harvest buffer, whichever is greater. 6 No logging corridors, roads, or landings will be placed in no-cut buffers (except in unit 70 where an existing non-system road will be reused, which crosses a very discontinuous ephemeral none stream and no cut buffer). 7 Where thinning occurs within riparian reserves, trees will be directionally felled away from stream or wetland. Trees that are in no-harvest buffers and are damaged during timber harvest none or road activities will be left on site. A falling plan will be required for all riparian reserve thinning areas. Erosion Control 8 Erosion control work shall be kept current immediately preceding expected seasonal periods of none precipitation or runoff. 9 After September 15, and as long thereafter as operations continue into the wet season, erosion After control work shall be done as promptly as practicable. Damage resulting from purchaser's September operations due to failure to perform required work shall be repaired by purchaser. 15 10 Between November 1st and April 30, any disturbed area in excess of 1/2 acre will have November 1 effective ground cover provided. Alternate erosion control measures may be substituted for to April 30 effective ground cover if considered equal by the Forest Service. 11 Perform skidding and yarding operations when soil conditions are such that soil compaction, displacement and erosion would be minimized. Suspend skidding and yarding operations when November 1 soil moisture levels could result in unacceptable soil damage as determined by soil scientist or to May 31 hydrologist. There shall be no off-landing ground based equipment operation from November 1 to May 31 without approval by the soil scientist or hydrologist. 12 On slopes greater than 35 percent, erosion control measures will be done with methods other none than mechanized equipment, unless otherwise agreed. 13 Water barring of skid trails may be used only where subsoiling is not practical, upon approval by a soil scientist or sale administrator. Water bars need to be of adequate depth and length none and spacing to effectively disperse surface water runoff without maintenance. 14 Appropriate erosion control measures will be installed or applied on designated soil gouges in skyline corridors and on ground-based equipment skid trails that may reroute or concentrate none runoff in order to spread water and allow for infiltration into the soil. 15 Construction, reconstruction, or maintenance of roads should not be done when soils are none saturated or runoff occurs. General Operations 16 Haul and other project activities, other than erosion control and monitoring, will not occur within December 1 Big Game Winter Range area (MA 11) between December 1 and April 30 unless there is a to April 30 written exemption from a Forest wildlife biologist.

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PDF Project Design Feature Restriction number Date 17 There is a seasonal restriction on all activities within the secondary management zone for January 1 to peregrine falcons from January 1st until July 31st. This seasonal restriction is extended until July 31; September 1st for activities within the Acker Rock primary zone for peregrine falcons. Activities, January 1 to other than blasting, can occur within the tertiary zone during the seasonal restriction. Any September 1 modification or exemptions to this seasonal restriction need to be agree upon in writing by a for Acker Forest wildlife biologist. Rock primary zone 18 If a suspected threatened, endangered, or sensitive species is found during the operating period, activities will cease until a Forest wildlife biologist can be contacted and an identification none and evaluation can be made. 19 If a raptor nest, or suspected raptor nest, is located during the operational period, a Forest none wildlife biologist will be contacted and an identification and evaluation will be made. 20 Retain existing standing snags during all project activities where it is safe and practical to do so. Snags that must be felled for safety reasons should be retained on the forest floor to help none attain coarse woody debris requirements. 21 Whenever possible, avoid cutting Pacific yew, western white pine, knob cone pine, or hardwood none trees. 22 A truck haul warning sign will be placed at appropriate locations along haul routes to warn the none public of oncoming log truck traffic. 23 Landings, temporary roads, and skid trails used by the purchaser shall be subsoiled to a Outside minimum depth of 20 inches unless the Forest agrees to a lesser depth. Equipment used for Normal subsoiling shall be capable of lifting and shattering compacted soil rather than plowing, mixing, Operating or displacing topsoil. Subsoiling shall be kept reasonably current and shall be done during Season normal operating season unless otherwise agreed. 24 Subsoil and cover temporary roads and treated skid trails in a single operational pass. Disturbed areas should be left with eighty percent (80%) of area covered with groundcover none (straw, slash, wood chips, or equivalent approved material). 25 Location of all landings, temporary roads, skid roads and trails, tractor roads, skyline corridors, mechanized harvester trails, forwarder roads, and other log skidding facilities, shall be none approved prior to their use or construction. 26 Temporary and non-system roads used by purchaser that are still needed to complete project Before implementation would be winterized with all erosion control measures in place, and blocked by October 31 October 31. At a minimum erosion control would include water bars. 27 Actions conducted or authorized by written permit by the Forest Service that would operate outside the limits of the road prism (including public works and service contracts), require the none cleaning of all heavy equipment (bulldozers, skidders, graders, backhoes, dump trucks, etc.) prior to entering National Forest System Lands. 28 The Forest Service will flag noxious weed sites to be avoided in the higher priority sites, prior to work commencing. Infested sites to be avoided would be marked with florescent orange flagging and labeled “NOXIOUS WEEDS” with black lettering. Within these flagged or staked none areas avoid ground-disturbing activities, parking, staging, equipment moving, or brushing and ditch cleaning unless otherwise directed by the Forest Service. 29 Use native revegetation techniques to reestablish native plants on sites where weeds are removed as well as in areas where exposed mineral soil provides optimal conditions for weeds none to colonize. 30 A Forest weed specialist will inspect active gravel, fill, sand stockpiles, quarry sites and borrow material for invasive plants before use and transport. Use only gravel, fill, sand, and rock that is none judged to be weed free by District or Forest weed specialists (including material from commercial sites). 31 Use weed-free straw and mulch for project activities. If State certified straw or mulch are not none available, then it must be certified, all states, noxious weed-free.

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PDF Project Design Feature Restriction number Date 32 Require Forest Service to collect funds from purchaser to pay for native seed used for erosion none control and noxious weed prevention in the contract. Landings 33 Minimize the size and number of landings as practicable to accommodate safe, economical, none and efficient operations. 34 Reuse existing landings where their location is compatible with management objectives and none water quality protection. 35 No landings will be located within riparian reserves or no-harvest buffers, except for skyline none landings on existing system roads. 36 Location of Landing Piles: Piles should not be located on road surfaces and ditch lines and shall not or interfere with functioning of drainage structures, ditches, or stream channels. Piles none located within 50 feet of perennial streams must be approved in writing. 37 Landing piles would be built by grapple or shovel to keep dirt and rock debris out. No cat piling none or pushing of piles. 38 Landings after use shall be sloped and ditched to allow water to drain or spread. none Ground-based Operations 39 Mechanized felling equipment will not operate on slopes greater than 35 percent, unless none otherwise agreed to in writing. 40 Exclude areas of unsuitable soils for reasons of slope stability concerns from commercial and none other mechanical treatments. 41 Purchaser and Forest Service shall agree to the skid trail and feller buncher trail locations prior none to felling, unless otherwise agreed to in writing. 42 Use pre-existing skid trails at the discretion of the sale administrator and only create new skid none trails where reuse of existing ones would exacerbate soil and water quality impacts. 43 To protect residual trees and limit soil disturbance, feller buncher and skid trails will be as none narrow as practicable, typically 12-14 feet wide. 44 Feller bunchers will be limited to 1 or 2 passes (1 round trip) off of designated skid trails unless agreed to otherwise with the Forest Service. Should more passes be allowed, the equipment none must travel on a mat of slash material 8 inches deep on less than 5% of the unit such that slash mat trails do not connect to burn piles. 45 All existing coarse woody debris (greater than 16 inches diameter at breast height (DBH) and at least 16 feet in length) and large stumps should be retained and protected from mechanical none disturbance unless removal is required during logging operations to meet safety requirements. Skyline Yarding 46 Purchaser shall submit for Forest Service approval a yarding and skidding plan prior to the start none of felling operations. 47 Skyline yarding equipment shall be capable of lateral yarding at least 75 feet on each side of the skyline and have a carriage capable of maintaining a fixed position on the skyline during none lateral yarding. 48 Skyline corridors will be a maximum of 12 feet wide. Location of all skyline corridors and none landings will be agreed to prior to felling operations. 49 To reduce the number of skyline corridors, the corridors will be no closer than 150 feet (on average) at the outer unit boundary of all units, or as required to protect leave trees, soil none resources, and aquatic resources prior to felling.

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PDF Project Design Feature Restriction number Date 50 Selecting guyline anchor, tail, and tailhold trees: Select the smallest diameter of trees if possible. In the event that larger diameter trees are selected as tailhold-anchor or guyline trees, none choose simple structured trees (i.e. trees with no large horizontal branches, nesting structures, abnormal bole deformities) and avoid selecting trees that have complex structural components. 51 Trees needing to be felled for guyline or anchor trees that are greater than 20 inches DBH will none be left on site for coarse woody debris. 52 All tailhold or anchor trees felled outside of unit boundaries will be left onsite. none 53 Maintain one end suspension of logs on incoming turns. none Road Operations and Maintenance 54 The Road Rules in the current Umpqua National Forest Road Rules Document are applicable to all commercial road users. This document titled COMMERCIAL ROAD RULES (Umpqua none National Forest) is available for inspection at the Umpqua National Forest Supervisor’s Offices. 55 Road construction or reconstruction operations (including culvert replacements) will occur Outside during the normal operating season. Normal Operating Season 56 Prior to October 31, all native surface system roads still in use will have appropriate erosion Before control in place and the entrance blocked. October 31 57 Use of temporary roads is prohibited from November 1 through May 31, unless otherwise November 1 agreed upon in writing. If gravelling of temporary road is approved for extended use, gravel to May 31 must be removed prior to obliteration. 58 Temporary and System road construction activities that may expose new soil are prohibited November 1 from November 1 through May 31, unless otherwise agreed upon in writing. to May 31 59 The only roads approved for haul during wet season are FS Roads 2700 and 2700-900 to none access units 10, 40 and 400. 60 Instream culvert replacement will occur between July 1 and September 15 following Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) seasonal restrictions, unless a waiver to work outside July 1 to this window is first approved by the District fisheries biologist or hydrologist. During September construction, stream water would be diverted around the work site and back into the channel. 15 Newly installed culverts will meet 100 year flow (Q100) on perennial streams. 61 Where fish are present during culvert replacement or removal, fish will be relocated to nearby none undisturbed fish habitat before project work begins. 62 During road construction, reconstruction, or maintenance activities, soil and vegetative material none shall be placed only in Forest Service approved sites. 63 All disturbed sites related to road reconstruction or maintenance, such as waste area sites and culvert replacements, will require erosion control methods, including those described in the none Engineering Roads package. 64 Conduct road blading, brushing and ditch cleaning in areas with high concentrations of invasive plants in consultation with a Forest botanist. Whenever possible, roadside brushing should be accomplished prior to seed setting of noxious weed species (approximately late June) in none noxious weed flagged areas. The intent of this is to stop or prevent noxious weed spread and establishment. 65 Avoid blading ditches that are vegetated, functioning, and effectively draining. none 66 Relief culvert locations will be approved by the Forest Service before installation to ensure that none water is routed only onto stable soil or vegetation. 67 Applied erosion control measures associated with road work will be inspected for functionality and maintained during operations as determined by the Sale Administer and Engineering none Representative.

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PDF Project Design Feature Restriction number Date 68 Where water bars are required on Maintenance Level 1 roads, they shall be constructed using Forest Service non-drivable water bar specifications and installed just prior to permanent road closure. Where water bars are required on Maintenance Level 2 roads, they shall be none constructed using Forest Service drivable water bar specifications. All water bar locations shall be approved by the Forest before construction. 69 All new temporary road construction will be done using outslope designs, with drain dips and none grade sags as needed, so that no new ditch lines will be built. Water drafting 70 All water sources and drafting sites will be pre-approved by the Forest. none 71 Pumping of water for use in road maintenance must allow for the retention of at least 90% of none the original stream flow below the pumping site. 72 Aggregate will be placed on access roads into water sources, as needed, to reduce the none potential for sediment to enter stream channels. 73 Hoses used for drafting water from fish-bearing streams must be equipped with a 3/32 inch none mesh screen. Chemical Dust Abatement 74 Application of dust abatement will occur between July 1 and September 30. Dust abatement July 1 to will not be applied when raining and will only be applied if there is a 3-day forecast of clear September weather. 30 75 No chemical dust abatement will be applied within 50 feet of perennial streams or any other stream crossing in which water is flowing during chemical application and will not be applied within 1 foot of the outside edge of road ditch lines. Application of dust abatement chemicals none will occur when favorable weather and roadway moisture content minimize the risk of mobilizing a dust palliative from the roadway. Rock Quarry Use 76 Rock quarry benches, access roads, and work areas should be sloped to drain and disperse none surface water without ponding. Runoff should not flow directly into streams. Equipment Staging and fueling 77 Parking or staging will not occur in areas designated as off limits by the Forest on the sale area none map. 78 From October 31 to June 1 all parking and staging areas shall have sufficient erosion controls October 31 in place to restrict the off-site movement of sediment. to June 1 79 Heavy equipment will have spill prevention and recovery equipment on site during all road none construction and logging operations as agreed to by the Forest Service. 80 Fuel should not be stored or equipment refueled within 150 feet of any stream channel or none surface water feature. Fuel Treatment 81 Burn plan will include water quality objectives. none 82 Where practical, stack tops, non-saw, and cull wood in a manner that it can be used for fuel none wood gathering. 83 Retain 1 to 2 piles per acre to improve prey base for raptor species. none 84 Prescribed fire will be conducted outside the breeding period for northern spotted owls (March March 1 to 1 to September 30). September 30 85 All burning would be planned and conducted to comply with applicable air quality laws and none regulations and coordinated with appropriate air quality regulatory agencies.

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PDF Project Design Feature Restriction number Date 86 Activity fuels burning and prescribed underburning will be carried out when fuel moistures are none sufficient to help retain existing snags and down wood to the extent feasible. 87 To reduce the impacts to nesting landbirds and pollinators, burning of hand piles and machine none piles would occur in the fall and winter months and not in the spring. 88 No non-commercial thinning or fuel reduction treatment within 25 feet of any stream. none 89 No fuel break or non-commercial thinning treatments will occur within Primary Shade Zones on none perennial streams or within 10 feet of intermittent streams. 90 To minimize soil impacts, soil restoration and piling operations would be implemented together in a single pass when feasible with equipment that is suited for the job (i.e. excavator with a none combination subsoiler and brush-rake attachment). 91 Equipment used to machine pile slash would use legacy skid trails, and temporary and none permanent roads on slopes less than 30%, as much as possible. 92 Grapple piles shall be no greater than 12 feet tall and 24 feet wide and placed on designated equipment trails when possible. Piles shall not be located within 100 feet of perennial streams, none or 50 feet of intermittent streams, unless approved in writing. 93 Loader/Grapple: The acceptable machine shall be track-mounted (ground pressure will not exceed seven (7) pounds per square inch), capable of piling logging slash and meet the following specifications: capability of reaching twenty-five (25) feet; climbing ability up to 30% slope; pivot-operator cab, engine, and arm shall be able to swing 360 degrees while tracks none remain stationary; and machine shall be equipped with brush grapple or articulating brush grapple mechanism. Hand piling may be substituted for loader or grapple piling if approved in writing. 94 Outside edge of grapple or loader pile shall be at least 10 feet from base of any residual 24 none inch DBH or greater conifer or adjacent specified leave hardwood tree. 95 Woody material within any stream channel will not be cut or removed from the stream channel none to create grapple or hand piles. 96 Hand piles shall not exceed 6 feet in width and shall not be located within 50 feet of perennial none streams or wetlands, or within 10 feet of intermittent streams, unless approved in writing. 97 A Forest archaeologist would be consulted before hand line is constructed for prescribed none burning. 98 As needed, fire lines will require water bars at slopes greater than 30%. none 99 Repair of fire lines located within 170 feet of streams must include pull-back of displaced soil, none complete covering of slash, and water barring on slopes greater than 30%. Acker Rock Treatments 100 Acker Rock Lookout, access trail 1585, and access to the climbing area shall be closed to the public during implementation of the Acker Rock Lookout view improvement treatment. January 1 to Implementation will occur either between November 16 and December 31 or be determined at November least 6 months in advance of the September 1 to November 15 rental season such that public 15 reservations can be made according to a planned closure for implementation. Signage will be provided at access trails to inform the public of the closure. 101 During the Acker Rock Lookout view improvement treatment, trees shall be directionally felled or topped such that they do not land on nearby vertical rock faces in order to protect sensitive none plant populations. If a tree must be felled into a vertical rock face, a Forest botanist will be consulted.

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PDF Project Design Feature Restriction number Date Wetland Creation and Water Source Improvement 102 Instream work at the water source improvement site will occur between July 1 and September 15 following Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) seasonal restrictions, unless a September waiver to work outside this window is first approved by the District fisheries biologist or 16 to June hydrologist. During construction, stream water would be diverted around the work site and back 30 into the channel. 103 Prepare a planting plan, using only native plants, and implement immediately after construction none to prevent establishment of non-native weeds. All Cultural Resource Sites 104 All cultural resource sites will be fully documented and boundaries flagged by heritage personnel prior to layout or project implementation. Notify heritage personnel if any cultural none resource has been inadvertently impacted by activities. 105 Keep all machinery and vehicle traffic outside of flagged boundaries, unless an approved route has been authorized. This includes staging areas for equipment, foot travel routes, and hand none and dozer lines. Keep activities within designated units. Culturally Modified Trees 106 All culturally modified trees will be identified and an immediate buffer around them flagged for none avoidance. 107 During harvest activities, directional felling will occur away from culturally modified tree(s). Standing dead culturally modified trees will be retained standing and protected if not in conflict none with safety and operational felling. If a standing dead culturally modified tree must be cut for safety reasons, heritage personnel must be notified said action. 108 Prior to any burning events, duff and other debris will be raked at least 5 feet away from the base of all culturally modified trees. Pile slash and scatter woody debris away from flagged none culturally modified tree(s). Historic Artifact Scatter 109 All historic artifact scatters will be identified and flagged for avoidance. All historic artifacts will none remain in place, do not move. 110 During harvest activities, directional hand felling away from flagged site boundaries is required. none Pile slash and scatter woody debris outside and away from flagged site boundaries. 111 During burning prescriptions, protect historic features (e.g., historic structures, milled lumber, donkey sleds, etc.) that could be burned or destroyed by removing excess down/dead woody debris and hand piling or scattering outside of flagged boundary. Only low intensity burning is none allowed within flagged boundary. Hand line or mechanical creation of fire line will be restricted to the outside edge of the flagged site boundary. 112 Planting and other harrowing activities will be avoided within flagged site boundaries. Locations of digging or uprooting invasive plants will be monitored prior to first treatment. New, expanded, none or moved infestations to be monitored before treatment. 113 Post-implementation monitoring will occur by heritage personnel unless personnel are present none during burning activities. Lithic Scatter 114 During harvest activities, no ground disturbance will occur within flagged site boundaries, directional hand felling away from flagged site boundaries is required, and full suspension without dragging is mandatory. Pile slash and scatter woody debris outside and away from none flagged site boundaries. Avoid creating turn arounds, landings, and staging areas within flagged site boundaries.

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PDF Project Design Feature Restriction number Date 115 Road maintenance or reconstruction activities will be confined to the existing road footprint. When sites exist underneath and surrounding native surface roads, use rock to filter water through road base. No water bars will be created at locations with less than 20% slope within none flagged site boundaries. Ditches will be hand cleaned or will use a small backhoe mounted on the back of a pickup when a cultural site exists on both sides of an established road. 116 Fuels treatments will only include low intensity burning within flagged site boundaries. Hand line or mechanical creation of fire line will be restricted to the outside edge of flagged site none boundaries. No digging of stumps or hot spots, dragging of materials, or hosing or concentrated water use is permitted. 117 Planting and other harrowing activities will be avoided within flagged site boundaries. Locations of digging or uprooting invasive plants will be monitored prior to first treatment. New, expanded, none or moved infestations to be monitored before treatment. 118 Post-implementation monitoring will occur by heritage personnel unless personnel are present none during burning activities. Historic Trail Routes 119 During harvest activities wood chips will be employed to protect existing trail tread. Avoid dragging materials perpendicular over the trail tread. Approved foot traffic routes will be none designated by heritage personnel prior to implementation. Notify heritage personnel if tread route becomes inadvertently impacted. Smooth back any impacted treat into shape. 120 Planting and other harrowing activities will be avoided within the existing trail tread. Locations of digging or uprooting invasive plants will be monitored prior to first treatment. New, expanded, none or moved infestations to be monitored before treatment.

Monitoring

Much of implementation monitoring is accomplished in the day-to-day work by Forest employees. Project supervisors, contract inspectors, and timber sale administrators review the work being done and assure compliance with the regulations and stipulations in the applicable administrative documents. The majority of actions described under the alternatives are implemented through a timber sale or service contract. In the case of contracts, implementation monitoring is accomplished through the Forest’s contract administration process. PDFs included in the project description are carried forward into contracts as required contract specifications. Forest contract administrators and inspectors monitor the daily operations of contractors to ensure that contract specifications are implemented as designed. The inspection reports would be shared with the Forest Service Representative (FSR), Contracting Officer (CO), and District Ranger. If work is not being implemented according to contract specifications, contractors are ordered to correct any deficiencies. If unacceptable work continues, suspension of contracts and monetary penalties can be applied. Coordination with resource specialists to develop workable solutions would occur when site-specific difficulties arise. At a broader level, the Forest has an approved implementation monitoring plan outlined in the 1990 Forest Plan (USDA FS 1990, Chapter V) and the Forest will continue to rely on the existing interagency effectiveness monitoring modules to address key questions about whether implementing actions consistent with the Forest Plan is effectively meeting its objectives. The monitoring plan includes a wide range of monitoring to address management direction for land use allocations and resources. The FS would specifically monitor the following to ensure the effects of implementing the Skillem Project are consistent with the analysis in this EA and in relevant consultation documents.

36 Tiller Ranger District, Umpqua National Forest

Sediment Delivery (Consultation with NOAA Fisheries) • Erosion control measures to prevent off-site movement of sediment, regardless of potential for delivery to streams, including sediment movement from road surfaces, drainage ditches, skid trails, and landings, would be monitored when there has been 0.5 inches of rain or more within a 24-hour period according to the Buckeye Remote Automated Weather Station (RAWS), or after substantial rain on consecutive days. If visual observation detects possible impending violation of turbidity standard, turbidity will be measured using National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Stormwater Discharge permit protocol. If found to be in violation or approaching violation, operations would be shut down and erosion control measures would be improved to prevent future violations. The Road Use Rules (USDA FS 2017) call for shutting down operations when 0.5 inches of rain occurs in the previous 24-hour period. • Project implementation areas will be monitored to ensure that all seeding for erosion control and all erosion control measures are in place prior to September 30, except for units identified for winter operations where erosion control measures would need to be in place by November 30. • All roads to be used for haul outside normal operating season would be monitored by a Forest engineer prior to use to ensure that they have been appropriately upgraded to required standards. • Erosion control measures would be monitored by Forest staff to ensure functionality. Disturbed areas would be monitored to ensure that no more than one-half acre of exposed soil occurs in active areas.

Critical Habitat for Listed Wildlife Species (Consultation with USFWS) • A Forest wildlife biologist would monitor a sub-set of units post-treatment to evaluate consistency between implementation, NEPA analysis, and ESA consultation requirements; this includes evaluating canopy cover. The Forest would report the results to USFWS through annual monitoring reporting requirements. Implementation of Project Design Criteria (PDC) is monitored through the Forest sale-contracting program in coordination with Forest wildlife biologists.

Dispersed Recreation Sites (Adaptive Management under Alternative 3) • The dispersed recreation and camping sites on roads 2800-356 and 2800-357 would be monitored regularly throughout the year to ensure natural barriers at the end of the vehicular access are effective. If barriers are breached, the sites would be adaptively managed as described under Alternative 3.

Non-Native Invasive Plants and Noxious Weeds • Areas of high traffic within project units (landings for example) would be monitored for invasive plant introductions the year following the cessation of harvest activities. Species would be treated for three years following the cessation of project activities or until the infestation is eliminated, whichever comes first, as funding and other resource considerations permit.

Heritage and Cultural Resources • Monitoring of effects to cultural resources from project activities is provided for in the project design features outlined in the previous section of this EA.

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Comparison of Alternatives

Table 9 below shows a comparison of alternatives by the indicators of the need for the project. Alternative 2 proposes the greatest amount of treatment towards meeting the need in the project area. Alternative 3 is the same as Alternative 2 for all measures except the amount of road decommissioned, which is one-tenth of a mile less in Alternative 3. Table 9. Comparison of project need and issue indicators across alternatives.

Project Element Unit of Measure Alternative 1 Alternative 2 Alternative 3 Water Quality and Aquatic Habitat Improvement Road decommissioned Miles 0 8.0 7.8 Road put into storage Miles 0 8.7 8.7 Road Density Miles per square mile 4.6 4.1 4.1 Culverts removed, repaired, or replaced Number 0 About 50 About 50 Roads removed within Riparian Reserves Miles 0 4.4 4.2 Roaded access to recreation sites in 3 removed Number of sites 0 5 removed Riparian Reserves reduced 2 reduced Forest Health Improvement Forest thinned (commercial and Acres 0 611 611 noncommercial) Older plantations (established prior to % of older plantations 0 39% 39% 1965) thinned in subwatershed thinned Residual relative Stand Density Index in % of SDImax 68% 35% 35% Commercially Thinned Stands Susceptibility to Catastrophic Wildfire Reduction Fuels treated Acres 0 2,328 2,328 Fuel break establishment Miles 0 12.4 12.4 Crowning Index Higher index value represents a lower 19.01 31.90 31.90 hazard Fuel Loading 0 to 0.25 inch size class Tons per Acre 2.9 0.6 0.6 0.25 to 1 inch size class Tons per Acre 9.7 6.1 6.1 1 to 9 inch size class Tons per Acre 12.99 6.5 6.5 Reduced Access by Road Decommissioning Dispersed campsites with decommissioned 3 Number of Sites 0 5 motorized access 2 partial Campsites added to system Number of Sites 0 0 3 Winter Operations Extended season operations allowed for Number of Units 0 3* 3* skyline harvest and hauling *This issue resulted in a change to the Scoping Proposal (Alternative 2) as well as in the Proposed Action (Alternative 3).

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Alternatives Considered but Eliminated from Detailed Analysis

Alternative A

In response to concerns raised during scoping, the possibility of allowing year around logging and hauling from all commercial harvest units proposed in the action alternatives was considered. The interdisciplinary team completed a unit-specific analysis of the costs involved in making roads capable of sustaining hauling during wet weather compared to the value of the timber likely to be harvested. This assessment also considered impacts that might occur in wet conditions to water quality, fish habitat, and soils. As a result of this analysis, Alternative 2 and 3 were modified to allow harvest on the skyline components of three units and haul on three system roads up until November 30 (Figure 3). However, an alternative which would allow harvest and haul year-round on all units was eliminated from further analysis as it would not be economically feasible.

Alternative B

An alternative method for completing proposed roadside fuel breaks was suggested in scoping comments. Under this alternative the following changes would be made to roadside fuel break treatments. • Retain a canopy coverage of 40% or less after treatment. • Cut and remove all trees within 20 feet of the road. • Clean and prepare a seed-bed, wherever possible, to accommodate the heavy planting of perennial rye-grass in the first fall after the work is complete. This preparation should be done by machine (when possible), during the brush-piling phase. Grapples can be used to “rough up” the soil. Grass should be planted even if the piles have not been burned yet. The areas around the piles can be planted later. Fertilizer may be considered if soil is poor. Straw should be applied if necessary. • Plant native shrub-type plants in the fuel break, such as salal. Consider using non-native, “bear mats.” • On steep ground, widen the fuel break on the lower slope to 200 feet below and narrow the upper slot to 100 feet above the road. These suggestions were considered by the interdisciplinary team but were not carried forward into analysis because they would not meet the purpose and need of the project to reduce the project area’s susceptibility to wildfire. The first two suggestions would greatly decrease the shade structure of the shaded fuel break which would result in greater bush growth response and increase the fuel load over time. The shaded component of the roadside fuel breaks was intentional in order to suppress brush growth response such that frequent maintenance of the fuel break would not be needed. Furthermore, it would be counter-productive to the Forest’s botanical program and the goals of this project to intentionally introduce non-native plant species to the forest ecosystem. Lastly, shifting fuel breaks 50 feet down slope in steep areas would not considerably increase their effectiveness as fuel breaks and is therefore not significantly different than the proposed action.

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Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action and Alternatives This section describes the present condition of each of the affected resources and the impacts of implementing the No Action Alternative (Alternative), the Scoping Proposal (Alternative 2), and the Proposed Action (Alternative 3). The affected environment is described to the level of detail needed to determine the significance of impacts to the environment of implementing the action alternatives. The analysis of the direct, indirect, and cumulative effects vary by resource. Activities that May Contribute to Cumulative Effects

Ongoing and reasonably foreseeable future activities that may contribute to cumulative effects for the Skillem Integrated Resource Restoration Project are described below. Past activities contributed to the existing condition and are considered part of the affected environment for the Project. Part of that affected environment includes recent fire occurrences back as far as 2002. In 2002, the Boulder Fire, Acker Fire, and Buckeye Fire along with other smaller fires burned approximately 6,485 acres of the watershed; in 2013, approximately 250 acres of the watershed burned in the Whiskey Complex Fire; and in 2017, 77 acres of the watershed burned in the Falcon Complex. All of these fires burned at mixed severity with anywhere from 1 to 13% burning at medium to high severity.

Ongoing Activities, Umpqua National Forest

Tiller Aquatic Restoration Project Several activities approved under the Tiller Aquatic Restoration Project (USDA Forest Service, 2013) are ongoing within the same 6th field subwatershed as the Skillem project. Specifically, this project includes decommissioning of 0.5 miles of the Emerson Road (2838), the realignment of about 0.1 miles of road where the Emerson Bridge was replaced, the removal of one culvert, and the replacement of one culvert with a simulated stream bed arch along this road. Other activities proposed by the Tiller Aquatic Restoration Project may be implemented concurrently with the Skillem project as funding becomes available. These activities include: • Restoration of 163 miles of aquatic habitat for spring Chinook, coho salmon, steelhead and cutthroat trout including the construction of large wood structures, rock structures, wood and rock combination structures, new pools, divots or holes needed to seat rock structures or create pool habitat on exposed bedrock and off-channel habitat, maintenance of instream structures, rehabilitation of stream channels, streambanks, construction sites, materials staging areas, and manual and mechanical noxious weed treatments associated with, or resulting from, the implementation of the project. • Collection of large wood from 13 project units containing approximately 209 acres of severely- burned and blow-down trees, as well from danger trees along roads within the project area, and additional future blowdown, and dead trees from burned areas. Trees located in areas near roads (less than 750 feet) and on slopes less than 25% will be removed using ground based equipment. Trees not meeting criteria will be removed by helicopter or skyline within Matrix, LSR, and Riparian Reserve land use allocations. • Relocation and replacement of the aging wooden Emerson and Deep Cut Bridges and reconfiguration of their approaches.

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• Replacement of 19 culverts and removal of one culvert (total 20) allowing access to an additional 19.4 miles of aquatic habitat. • Installation of gates on eight spur roads totaling approximately 0.9 miles of road within Riparian Reserve to seasonally control access to critical salmonid spawning areas and prevent poaching, and convert the Skillet Campground into a group site. • Decommissioning one mile of road within Riparian Reserve to prevent poaching and provide for fish passage. • Authorize a CFR closure to prohibit jumping off the Buckeye Bridge (FS Road 28/29 junction) into the South Umpqua River. • Mechanical removal and humane dispatch of aquatic invasives, such as bull frogs, bass, bullhead catfish, mosquito fish, sunfish, crayfish and mollusks from Ash, Blue Bluffs, Drew, Podunk (Lorien), Shadow and Skookum ponds, as well as at several sites along the South Umpqua River (3C Rock and vicinity) and elsewhere within the project area as populations are located using nets, traps, electrofishing and selective removal. This may include the construction of control structures as needed to drain these ponds for invasive species removal and the mechanical removal of aquatic noxious weeds as needed. • Rehabilitation of six ponds which may include the draining and deepening of Ash, Blue Bluffs, Carmen, Drew, Podunk (Lorien), Shadow and Skookum ponds, placement of “basking” logs and the removal or controlled burning of understory vegetation from the edge of the pond to 1,000 feet, in one-half to one acre blocks, to improve pond turtle nesting habitat for all ponds and to improve habitat conditions for pond turtles and fish. • Improvement of vegetation health within Riparian Reserves through noxious weed treatment, non-commercial thinning of about 1,413 acres of plantations, treatment of the resulting fuels within Riparian Reserve, revegetation of about 1,067 acres with native species, mechanical treatment and controlled burning to remove invasive plant species. • Maintenance and improvement of 41 fire water sources throughout the district to increase firefighting capacity through the brushing and maintenance of access roads; graveling, grading and outsloping of roads; excavation of water sources to maintain storage capacity; leveling of earth surfaces for pump placement; and the construction of rock weirs or log structures within stream channels to create self-maintaining scour pools for water drafting at 40 sites, and consolidation of three sites into one site, for a total of 41 sites. • Expansion and improvement of three quarries as rock sources for instream structures and use of one quarry for storage of excess soil and rock from project activities.

Forest Integrated Weed Management Project Weed management activities included in the Forest Integrated Weed Management Project (USDA Forest Service, 2003) continue across the Forest, including within the Skillem project area. This project included site-specific proposals for treatment of twelve species of noxious weeds (false brome; Italian thistle; diffuse, spotted, and meadow knapweed; yellow starthistle; rush skeletonweed; French broom; yellow toadflax; Japanese and giant knotweed; and gorse) as well as treatments of Scotch broom and tansy ragwort as funding allowed. Treatments methods in this project include manual (mowing, clipping, grubbing), biological, chemical, heated steam, competitive seeding, competitive planting, and solarization controls.

41 Skillem Integrated Resource Restoration Project

Special Use Permits for South Umpqua Falls Pow Wows Each year the Cow Creek Band of the Umpqua Tribe of Indians holds a large recreation event under a special use permit at South Umpqua Falls Campground and Day Use Area. During this event, tribal members camp, swim, socialize, dance, and celebrate their native heritage and traditions. Usually on the third Saturday of July, a large dance is held with numerous other festivities. After the first Pow Wow, a second, Intertribal Pow Wow is held; usually during the last week of July. Similar activities occur during this event as the first Pow Wow, but it is generally a smaller event in terms of attendance.

South Umpqua Falls Fish Ladder, Special Use Permit Umpqua National Forest recurrently issues a Special Use Permit to the Oregon Department of Fish and Game to maintain and operate the fish ladder at South Umpqua Falls. The concrete and fencing is owned by ODFW, while the observation platform and decking is owned and maintained by the Forest Service. Use of this facility by ODFW in certain years, when their Canyonville facility and guide program does not obtain enough adult fish, results in the removal of OC steelhead salmon for use as broodstock for hatchery production. Additionally, during certain flow conditions, access through the fish ladder may be difficult.

Private Land Activities

Emerson Ranch, Private Timber Harvest There is a 90-acre parcel (approximately) of private land within the project area. For the purpose of this project, the Forest assumes the landowner may complete a regeneration harvest of all this parcel within the next 5 years. The timber products removed are expected to be hauled on Forest system roads.

Andraieff Meadows There is a 67-acre parcel (approximately) of private land within the project area which generally receives a low level of use and management but does see occasional small harvest operations. For the purpose of this project, the Forest assumes the landowner may complete a regeneration harvest of all this parcel within the next 5 years. The timber products removed are expected to be hauled on Forest system roads.

Future Foreseeable Activities, Umpqua National Forest

Buckeye Integrated Resource Restoration Project The Forest is currently developing a proposal for an integrated resource restoration project for the 16,086-acre Buckeye Creek subwatershed. The potential project area is adjacent to the Skillem Project and proposed treatments are expected to be largely similar. While the project proposal is still in development, it is anticipated to include commercial and non-commercial thinning, prescribed burning and fuel break construction, and road maintenance and decommissioning. The project’s preliminary purpose is to improve forest health, wildfire resilience, wildlife habitat, and watershed conditions.

Updated Forest Integrated Weed Management Project The Forest is currently developing a proposal to update the treatment areas and methods of the Forest Integrated Weed Management project. This new project would update the treatment options and plans for Forest-wide noxious weeds or invasive botanical species treatments.

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Vegetation

Summary of Effects to Resource

Commercial thinning of plantations, which is the same in both action alternatives, reduces stand density in all of the thinned units. Lower stand density reduces competition for resources such as light, moisture, nutrients, and space. This results in improved growth of individual trees, better resistance to insect and disease, lower rates of mortality, and better resistance and resilience to climate change. Lower density, when coupled with fuels treatments, would also result in lower probability of loss to wildfire. Non-commercial thinning of plantations results in more rapid growth of residual trees. This helps speed up the development of stands so that they may be commercially thinned earlier for stands outside of LSR, or begin to develop late-seral characteristics sooner for stands within LSR. When coupled with treatment of fuels, it can make the stand more resilient to wildfire.

Methodology

Resource Indicators and Measures • Relative Stand Density Index (RSDI) – Relative stand density index is the ratio of current stand density index to the theoretical maximum stand density index. This maximum density (SDImax) is fairly stable across different site qualities (Reineke, 1933). For mixed species stands, such as the stands proposed for treatment, a basal area weighted average of the individual trees species and their individual SDI’s are used to calculate a composite SDImax. When using SDI to guide density management, the goal is to maintain RSDI between 35% and 60% of SDImax if tree vigor, health, and growth are to be maximized and mortality is to be minimized (Long, 1985). At the lower level of 35%, the site is considered to be fully occupied and competition between trees for site resources begins. At the upper level of 60%, inter-tree competition becomes severe enough that mortality begins to occur. That mortality is often related to insects that target trees stressed and weakened by competition. Insect populations that build up in successfully attacked trees can sometimes move on to successfully attack the more vigorous, dominant trees in the stand. • Trees per Acre (TPA) – A measure of stand density which is the average number of trees to be found on an acre of land. Sometimes a lower diameter limit is used when counting or reporting the trees (e.g., trees larger than 5 inches DBH are counted). • Basal Area per Acre (BA/A)—A measure of stand density which is the average of the sum of tree basal area found on an acre of land. The basal area of a tree is the surface area of a cross-section measured at breast height (4.5 feet up from the ground). • Quadratic Mean Diameter (QMD)—The diameter of the tree of average basal area in a stand at breast height. It is determined by squaring the diameter of each tree, summing the squares, dividing that sum by the number of trees, and then taking the square-root of that number. • Percentage Canopy Cover—Stand percent canopy cover is the percentage of the ground area that is directly covered with tree crowns. This figure accounts for overlapping of taller trees over shorter trees. This measure is useful for determining if a stand is useful as wildlife habitat for certain species and for estimating the amount of understory species response to increased light levels reaching the forest floor.

43 Skillem Integrated Resource Restoration Project

Spatial and Temporal Context for Analysis Two spatial scales are used in the following discussion: (1) the landscape scale; and (2) the stand scale. The landscape scale focuses on larger scale conditions, such as forest vegetation patterns, at the Skillet Creek-South Umpqua River 6th field subwatershed level. The stand scale generally refers to areas of approximately 5 to 200 acres in size. Treatment units for the project are often composed of one stand, but for some units several similar stands have been grouped together where conditions are similar and grouping reduces complexity. Temporal scale for analyzing effects is from the time of thinning to 50 years into the future. This allows for the effects of thinning stands to be compared to no treatment.

Affected Environment

Forest age-classes that develop following wildfire or clearcutting are used to characterize forest conditions. Four such age-classes are commonly used: 1. Stand initiation - New stand with an open canopy. Stand age is generally less than 30 years, but can be older, especially in higher, colder elevations. 2. Stem exclusion - Stands where new species do not appear and some present species are dying from competition. Stand age is generally from 30 to 80 years, the average tree diameter is about 10 inches in diameter at breast height (DBH). 3. Mature - Stand where trees reach their maximum height potential. Stand age is generally from 80 to 150 years, the average tree diameter is 10 to 19 inches DBH. It includes the “understory re- initiation stage” where the understory develops in response to small openings in the canopy (Oliver and Larson, 1996) and the “transition stage” defined in the Northwest Forest Plan (NWFP) as transitioning toward old-growth. 4. Old growth - Stand with overstory trees dying in an irregular fashion and understory trees are filling the gaps. Stand age is generally greater than 150 years, the average tree diameter is greater than or equal to 20 inches DBH. This stage includes the “shifting gap” stage as defined in the NWFP (USDA/USDI, 1994). Stands in the mature and old-growth stage are often combined into the “late-successional stage” because natural stands of mixed ages make separation of these older stages difficult with remote sensing. Gradient Nearest Neighbor modeled data was used to characterize the forest cover at the landscape scale (LEMMA, 2014) within the Skillet Creek-South Umpqua River subwatershed (Table 10).

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Table 10. Gradient nearest neighbor (GNN) cover classes within the watershed.

GNN “StrucCond” Stand Development Stage Percent Sparse (Cover less than 10%) Stand Initiation, mature post fire 3% Open (Cover 10%-40%) Stand initiation, mature post fire 12% Sapling (DBH less than 9.8 inches, Cover less than Stem exclusion 7% 40%) Small to Medium (DBH 9.8 to 19.6 inches, Cover Stem exclusion, mature 24% greater than 40%) Large (DBH 19.6 to 29.6 inches, Cover greater than Stem exclusion, mature 22% 40%) Large to Giant (DBH greater than 29.6 inches, Old Growth 31% Cover greater than 40%)

Landscape-Scale Disturbance Mechanisms

Insects and Disease Throughout the watershed, sugar pines and ponderosa pines are being killed by mountain pine beetles due to high stand density and drought. The five needle pine blister rust is affecting the sugar pine throughout the watershed. Five needle pine blister rust is an introduced disease that affects both mature trees and younger trees. Only a small percentage of trees have natural resistance to the disease.

Fire Fire regimes found in the Skillet Creek-South Umpqua River subwatershed are composed primarily of Fire Regime Condition Class I and III, with smaller amounts of II and V (Table 11). Fire regimes are determined mostly by elevation and aspect and in some areas soils play a role. Fire regimes in turn greatly influence the vegetation types found and the successional pathways. Table 11. Fire regime by acres within watershed.

Fire Regime Acres I: Low severity, high frequency 5,525 II: High severity, high frequency, non-forest 72 III: Mixed severity, moderate frequency 2,427 V: High severity, low frequency 558 Fire Regime I is a low severity, high frequency regime with a fire return interval of 0 to 35 years. The natural vegetation types found in the Skillem project area are typically ponderosa pine, pine-oak woodlands, and dry white fir. Stand-replacing fire can occur but are rare events. Fire Regime II is a high-frequency regime dominated by shrubs. Fire Regime III is a mixed-severity fire regime with a fire return interval of 35 to 100 years. Large stand replacing fires can occur but are rare. During lower intensity fire events, patches of high severity occur creating patches within the forest of varying ages (heterogeneity). Common species are ponderosa pine, sugar pine, Douglas-fir, incense cedar. Fire Regime V is a low frequency, high intensity fire regime. Natural fire is very rare, but when it occurs, typically results in stand replacing events. Due to the long periods between natural fires, forest succession may proceed to late seral species such as western hemlock.

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The significance of fire in determining the natural vegetation patterns in the planning area cannot be overstated. Within a watershed of 11,400 acres, fires of various intensities have burned 6,826 of those acres (Table 12) since 1998. Between 1972 and 2016, 68 fire starts were recorded within the watershed. Most of these were quickly extinguished. Table 12: Fire occurrence by acres since 1998

Year Acres Burned 1998 19 2002 6,487 2013 243 2017 77 Total 6,826

Existing Stand Conditions Early in the planning process of this project it was decided to limit silvicultural treatments to thinning plantations and not thinning or harvesting stands of natural origin. Using the FACTS database, possible treatment stands were identified as being plantations established prior to 1965 for commercial units, and after 1985 for non-commercial units. These units were then visited to assess viability for treatment. Those commercial units that were assessed to be viable had stand exams conducted to gain relevant information (Table 13 and Table 14). Table 13. Characteristics of commercial treatment units.

Elevation Established Unit Acres Aspect (feet) (Year)

10 96 SW 2,360 1958

30 19 SE 2,540 1958

40 19 S 2,800 1959

70 14 W 2,340 1959

80 27 SE 3,230 1957

100 18 NW 2,400 1954

120 8 N 2620 1963

140 48 N 2850 1952

160 43 N 2840 1960

180 32 N 3150 1964

210 54 N 3550 1956

220 31 N 3430 1951

230 53 NW 3030 1964

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Elevation Established Unit Acres Aspect (feet) (Year)

240 26 N 3030 1952

250 17 N 2260 1956

260 57 N 2370 1956

300 37 NW 2990 1963

350 10 N 2020 1950

400 38 E 2440 1955

Table 14: Stand characteristics of commercial units.

Basal Percent Trees per Area per Board Feet Unit Cover Acre Acre QMD % SDImax per Acre

10 70 293 221 11.5 71.1 31,796

30 68 229 244 14.0 76.7 32,185

40 56 125 200 17.1 57.0 32,690

70 80 302 297 13.4 85.9 36,928

80 74 405 235 10.3 76.0 28,994

100 66 170 220 15.4 59.7 42,668

120 66 170 220 15.4 59.7 42,668

140 66 170 220 15.4 59.7 42,668

160 75 426 251 10.4 81.5 32,737

180 79 318 249 12.0 74.5 31,340

210 71 251 216 12.5 62.5 37,664

220 78 259 249 13.3 73.1 34,296

230 68 254 218 12.5 64.3 32,441

240 67 248 262 13.9 73.9 49,401

250/260 69 176 251 16.2 66.2 52,522

300 59 175 185 13.9 54.0 32,601

350 65 170 228 15.7 61.0 43,728

400 67 181 295 17.3 78.7 44,826

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The current level of stocking in these stands, as indicated by the RSDI, indicate that inter-tree competition is slowing diameter growth and leading to competition-related mortality in some stands. A stand density of 60% of SDImax is generally considered the relative stocking level at which competition induced mortality begins to occur (Long, 1985). All of the stands to be thinned have exceeded this level or would exceed it within about 10 to 20 years of further growth. A relative stocking level of 30 to 35% SDImax is the lowest level of stocking where the site is considered fully occupied. A thinning regime that maintains stocking between 35% and 60% stocking maximizes individual tree growth while maintaining high levels of stand growth. Additionally, trees are generally less susceptible to insect and disease when kept within these limits. Shaded fuel breaks would cover 445 acres of forested land within the watershed. These would extend approximately 150 feet on either side of the road. According to GNN classified imagery, the structural condition of the proposed fuel breaks are displayed in Table 15. Table 15. GNN structural classes of proposed shaded fuel break

GNN Structural Class % Composition

Sparse (Canopy Cover less than 10%) 1% Open (Canopy Cover 10 to 40%) 10% Sapling (Canopy Cover greater than 40%, DBH less than 9.8 inches) 10% Small to Medium (Canopy Cover greater than 40%, DBH 9.8 to 19.6 33% inches) Large (Canopy Cover greater than 40%, DBH 19.6 to 29.6 inches) 22% Large to Giant (Canopy Cover greater than 40%, DBH greater than 29.6 24% inches) Prescribed burning is planned within 3 burning blocks totaling 1,004 acres within the watershed. According to GNN classified imagery, the structural conditions of the proposed burning blocks are as displayed in Table 16. Table 16. GNN structural classes of proposed burn blocks.

Burn Block GNN Structural Condition Class Total Acres 1 2 3 Unknown 2% 0% 0% 12 Sparse (Canopy Cover less than 10%) 10% 0% 8% 90 Open (Canopy Cover 10 to 40%) 21% 0% 16% 182 Sapling (Canopy Cover greater than 40%, DBH less than 9.8 inches) 2% 1% 10% 46 Small to Medium (Canopy Cover greater than 40%, DBH 9.8– to 19.6 9% 52% 24% 169 inches) Large (Canopy Cover greater than 40%, DBH 19.6 to 29.6 inches) 20% 25% 15% 185 Large to Giant (Canopy Cover greater than 40%, DBH greater than 29.6 36% 22% 28% 321 inches) Grand Total 100% 100% 100% 1004

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Direct and Indirect Effects

Commercial-Sized Plantations

Alternative 1 – No Action Under the No Action Alternative, non-project activities would still take place within the watershed. On private lands, timber harvesting, ranching, agriculture, and other activities would still take place. On federal lands, the Activities that May Contribute to Cumulative Effect section describes expected ongoing and reasonably foreseeable future actions. Additionally, wildfire suppression would still take place along with routine maintenance of roads and recreation areas. The stands analyzed for thinning would continue to develop into mature, dense, closed-canopy forests. Due to the high stand density, remnant sugar pine would continue to die off from a combination of white pine blister rust and mountain pine beetles. High levels of stand density are often associated with increased risk to other forest pests such as bark beetles and flat-headed wood borer. The risk of loss to wildfire, under severe fire-weather conditions, would remain very high.

Alternative 2 and 3 Proposed vegetation treatments are identical for Alternatives 2 and 3. Both Alternatives 2 and 3 propose to thin 611 acres of older (established prior to 1965) or approximately 39% of the older plantations within the subwatershed. Thinning from below removes the smallest, slowest growing trees in a stand. This leaves fewer trees within the stand to use the limited supply of resources, thus providing more resources for each residual tree. This method of thinning retains the trees that are most capable of utilizing these resources because they would typically have more photosynthetic capability, and more expansive root systems for taking up water and nutrients. These large trees are also more fire resistant, and more resistant to wind-throw and stem breakage. Forest growth was modeled for a period of 50 years post-harvest using a computer growth and yield model: Forest Vegetation Simulator (Dixon, 2002). The following are the results of that model for each analysis indicator. Table 17 at the end of this section summarizes the modeled post-treatment stand conditions. Trees per Acre: Thinning would reduce the number of trees per acre from an average of 249 to 76 (Table 17, Figure 9). The prescription calls for a ‘thinning from below’ which removes the smallest trees first and leaves the largest trees. With fewer trees per acre, each retained tree has more growing space and would receive more sunlight, moisture, and nutrients. Trees typically respond to these increased resources and space by increasing diameter growth rates. With increases in tree vigor, resistance to insects and some diseases also increases.

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Figure 9. Trees per acre over time. Over a 50-year period, the trees per acre gradually declines under the No Action Alternative due to density-dependent mortality. Without thinning, the trees that die during this period eventually fall and decay thus recycling their nutrients back into the soil. Any economic value that these trees had is not recovered. Trees under the action alternatives experience very little mortality since inter-tree competition is greatly reduced. The economic value of the trees removed during the thinning is recovered.

Percent of Maximum Stand Density Index: Currently, the average SDI is 70% of SDImax, which is above the desired level where inter-tree competition becomes severe. Not all of the stands proposed for treatment are above 60% SDImax, but within 10 to 20 years, all would have exceeded 60%. Since it is unlikely that another thinning project would occur within that time frame, and since thinning would benefit all stands with increased vigor and health, it is proposed to treat these lower SDI stands now. The proposed treatment would lower SDI down to approximately 35% of SDImax. With this intensity of thinning, the most productive stands would not exceed 60% of SDImax until 30 to 40 years have passed. The average stand would require more than 50 years to exceed desired SDImax (Figure 10).

50 Tiller Ranger District, Umpqua National Forest

Figure 10. Percent SDImax. Quadratic Mean Diameter: Thinning from below immediately raises the QMD because the smallest diameter trees are harvested leaving the larger trees (with bigger basal area) in the stand. Typically, the largest diameter trees are also the tallest trees in the stand although differences in growth rates between species can mean that a larger diameter tree of one species may be shorter than a competing, smaller diameter tree of another species.

Figure 11. Quadratic mean diameter over time. Over the 50-year planning period, QMD increases at a faster rate under Alternative 2 and 3 than the No Action Alternative because of the reduced RSDI as mentioned above. The average QMD under the No Action Alternative increases by 5.6 inches compared to 7.8 inches under Alternative 2 and 3. With less competition between trees for site resources (light, moisture, nutrients) the trees increase in diameter faster.

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Canopy Cover: Canopy cover is an indirect measure of forest density that measures the percentage of ground that is covered by tree canopy when viewed from directly above. It is important for both wildlife habitat and forest fuels. High levels of canopy cover provide more thermal cover for some species and can make it more suitable for birds such as the northern spotted owl. It also reduces understory development of brush, herbs, grasses, and shade intolerant trees. High levels of canopy cover also increase the chances that an active crown fire can burn through the stand. Lower levels of canopy cover increase understory development making stands more suitable for browsing and grazing by ungulates and other wildlife species. It is usually less suitable for species such as the northern spotted owl which require high levels of canopy cover. Fire is less likely to spread from crown to crown but understory development can increase the probability of a fire taking off or torching. Under the No Action Alternative, average canopy cover remains steady at approximately 70% for the 50-year planning period (Figure 12). Under Alternative 2 and 3, average canopy cover is reduced down to 43%. Three stands are predicted to have slightly less than 40% canopy cover, the generally accepted threshold to be considered ‘dispersal’ habitat for the northern spotted owl. It should be noted that the Forest Vegetation Simulator which is used to estimate residual canopy cover after thinning, tends to underestimate canopy cover as measured using field sampling techniques (Fiala, 2006). Within 10 years, all stands are modeled to have greater than 40% canopy cover due to canopy expansion following thinning.

Figure 12. Percentage canopy cover over time. Snags per Acre: Snags are standing dead trees. Small snags, between 10 and 20 inches DBH have some wildlife habitat value but those greater than 20 inches DBH are considered more valuable. Snags can also be considered hazards since they eventually fall and can also create ready fuel ladders during wildfires. The Alternative 2 and 3 reduces the number of small (10 to 20 inch DBH) snags per acre in the future when you compare it to the No Action Alternative (Figure 13). This is a result of reduced mortality that would occur in thinned stands. For the larger classes of snags over 20 inches DBH, the number of snags per acre is very similar. This is probably because very little of the mortality in young stand such as these is within the larger diameter classes, it is almost entirely confined to the smaller trees.

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Figure 13. Snags per acre over time. Average Tree Spacing: The use of skips and gaps within commercial plantations would increase horizontal heterogeneity, or variation in tree spacing at several scales, within each thinning unit. Horizontal heterogeneity refers to how non-uniform the spacing between trees is, measured at a variety of scales. Skips are portions of the unit where no treatment takes place. Gaps are portions of the unit where most or all of the trees are removed. These are generally small (1/4 acre or less) except where noted in the Proposed Action. Gaps essentially set that portion of the forest back to an early successional stage for 10 to 20 years until natural regeneration has established and begins to shade out herbaceous species and brush. Due to the small size of most of these openings, shade tolerant species such as white fir would have the ability to compete better with shade intolerant species such as Douglas-fir (York, 2004). Within units 10, 30, 40, 160, and 400, a total of 26 acres of gaps would be created ranging in size from 1 to 5 acres. These gaps would be planted with rust resistant sugar pine at low density. Based on the relatively small size of these gaps, abundant natural regeneration would occur to supplement the planted sugar pine (Urgenson, 2013). The introduction of rust resistant sugar pine would provide a seed source in the future for natural regeneration of sugar pine that are resistant to the five-needle blister rust that is affecting sugar pine across the western states. Table 17. Post treatment stand conditions.

% Canopy Basal Area Average Cover Trees per Acre per Acre QMD % of SDImax Unit Harvest spacing Pre- Post- Pre- Remo Post- Pre- Post- Pre- Post- Pre- Post- Board Feet post-treat treat treat treat ved Treat treat treat treat treat treat. treat per Acre (feet) 10 70 41 293 209 84 221 123 11.8 16.5 71.7% 34.4% 11,712 23 30 68 37 229 171 58 244 129 14.0 20.1 76.7% 34.8% 13,131 27 40 56 39 125 63 62 200 130 17.1 19.6 57.0% 34.2% 10,966 27 70 79 44 302 228 74 297 138 13.4 18.6 85.9% 34.7% 18,745 24 80 74 46 405 299 106 235 124 10.3 14.6 76.0% 35.0% 11,929 20 160 75 41 426 343 83 251 131 10.4 17.0 81.5% 36.3% 12,051 23 180 80 50 318 216 102 249 128 12.0 15.2 74.5% 35.0% 15,205 21

53 Skillem Integrated Resource Restoration Project

% Canopy Basal Area Average Cover Trees per Acre per Acre QMD % of SDImax Unit Harvest spacing Pre- Post- Pre- Remo Post- Pre- Post- Pre- Post- Pre- Post- Board Feet post-treat treat treat treat ved Treat treat treat treat treat treat. treat per Acre (feet) 210 72 50 251 165 86 216 136 12.5 17.0 62.5% 34.8% 11,486 23 220 78 46 259 189 70 249 137 13.3 18.9 73.1% 35.2% 14,161 25 230 68 44 254 166 88 218 133 12.5 16.7 64.3% 35.3% 11,026 22 240 67 41 248 165 83 262 135 13.9 17.2 73.9% 35.0% 22,526 23

300 60 43 175 94 81 185 131 13.9 17.2 54.0% 35.9% 8,384 23 350 65 44 170 97 73 228 141 15.7 18.9 61.0% 34.9% 14,938 24 400 68 39 181 128 53 295 145 17.3 22.3 78.7% 34.9% 19,634 29 100/ 120/ 140 66 47 170 114 56 220 149 15.4 22.0 59.7% 35.0% 11,344 28 250/ 260 69 43 176 114 62 251 147 16.2 20.8 66.2% 35.2% 21,884 27

Young Plantations The majority of the young plantation stands to be thinned were planted with Douglas-fir or ponderosa pine between 1982 and 1993. Due to high planting densities and natural regeneration, these stands are currently overstocked. Thinning young stands can promote more rapid growth of the residual trees and establishment of an understory adding complexity to these stands and shortening the time needed to develop into late-successional habitat (Davis, 2007). Thinning, when coupled with fuel reduction treatments, can lower wildfire severity within plantations. Under Alternatives 2 and 3, young stands would be thinned from current average stocking levels of approximately 325 to 1,000 trees per acre down to a residual stocking of 200 to 350, depending on the current level of stocking. The unit level prescriptions would emphasize variable spacing, small openings, and retention of non-planted trees. Thinning would reduce canopy cover from about 50% to 70% down to about 35 to 50% depending on the age of the stand. Diameter growth rates for co-dominate and intermediate class trees should increase following thinning. Growth rates for dominate trees would not increase appreciably since they are already growing near their maximum potential (Davis, 2007). Except for the younger stands less than 30 years of age, most of the young stands in this planning area have missed their conventional thinning ‘window’ where density control would be most effective. Past this point, crown ratios shrink, diameter growth slows, and height-to-diameter ratios increases. Some research has shown that height-to-diameter ratios are not reduced substantially by thinning (Wilson & Oliver, 2000) and the reduction in physical support by adjacent trees could lead to increased stem breakage and wind-throw. Some wind damage should, therefore, be expected to residual trees. Since one of the goals of thinning is to create small openings for horizontal heterogeneity, small pockets of blowdown may be beneficial for meeting ecological goals. The primary purpose of the young stand thinning, however, would be to reduce fuels. Due to high crown densities and low canopy base heights, plantations of this age are often severely damaged by wildfire. By implementing these treatments, the risk to loss by wildfire is substantially lowered.

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Shaded Fuel Breaks Shaded fuel break treatments take place in a variety of forest cover classes (Table 15) and are comprised of both commercial and non-commercial treatments. The portions termed ‘commercial’ are portions of the fuel break passing through plantations that we are otherwise not proposing to treat. Within these units, trees larger than 7 inches may be harvested. Direct and indirect effects of this treatment are similar to those of the commercial units described above. The benefits of thinning include increased radial growth, increased resistance to insect and disease, and lower fire severity. Residual canopy cover is targeted to be 45% by thinning from below to a residual basal area of 120 to 130 square feet per acre. In non-commercial portions of the fuel break, where average tree size is small, effects would be similar to non-commercial thinning in young plantations. The main differences between the two treatments is that more uniform spacing of trees is desired within fuel breaks to maintain more uniform shading to prevent concentrations of brush and herbaceous growth emerging. Pruning of residual trees of live branches up to 8-feet high would normally not have much effect on growth as long as less than 50% of the live crown is removed as is specified. Non-commercial portions of this fuel break would also extend into mature stands of trees. Within these areas, only small diameter trees (less than 7 inches DBH) are removed as these trees can act as fuel ladders carrying fire into the crowns of larger trees. Trees larger than 7 inches DBH would be limbed to 8 feet in height to lower the chance of fire carrying from the forest floor into the crown. Depending on the percentage of live stand basal area represented by the trees to be removed, the effect on the residual trees would range from no effect, to an increase in diameter growth. The principle desired effect from the shaded fuel breaks is to reduce the intensity of wildfire behavior to allow for control or management opportunities.

Burn Blocks Within burn blocks, prescribed fire would be used to consume fuels thus lowering risk of future fire. Prescribed fires effects on individual trees can range from beneficial to damaging depending on the size and species of the tree and the intensity of the fire. Generally, the benefits from prescribed fire can include thinning of the stand by fire induced mortality which tends to affect the smallest trees the most, consumption of fuels, increasing the spatial heterogeneity of the burned area, and recycling of nutrients. If fire does not cause significant cambial damage or crown scorch, surviving trees usually exhibit greater diameter growth for at least a decade following fire (Reinhardt, 1988). Several of the burn blocks contain plantations that were established after the 2002 fire. These plantations would need to be assessed prior to implementation to determine if they can withstand under-burning without excessive mortality. If they cannot, they would be excluded from burning until they are more mature.

Other Proposed Actions

Permanent Road Construction Road construction would permanently remove about 1 acre of timberland from timber production. Additionally, road construction activities can damage residual trees that border the road by physically damaging root systems or causing stem damage. Both of these injuries can become paths of infection for various root and stem decay fungi. Stem and root decay fungi can in turn cause tree mortality or instability eventually causing it to be removed as a danger tree. Beneficial effects include increased growth rates for trees near the edge of tree removal due to decreased competition for resources. Given the 11,400 acres scale of the watershed, these effects are relatively minor effect. 55 Skillem Integrated Resource Restoration Project

Temporary Road Construction and Reconstruction Approximately 2.3 miles of new temporary road construction is proposed. Assuming a 16 foot tree removal swath for construction, this would result in approximately 4.5 acres of forest clearing. Given the 11,400 acres scale of the watershed, this is a relatively minor effect. Post-harvesting, these roads would slowly reforest. For existing temporary roads, very minor direct or indirect effects are associated with reconstruction. Although some of these roads have trees growing in the old road bed, they are generally not of commercial size. Based on 0.6 miles of reconstruction, and a 16 foot average width, the land area only totals 1.2 acres.

Road Decommissioning The direct and indirect effects of road decommissioning range from none to moderately beneficial. In many cases, road decommissioning would result in no ground disturbing activities where only an administrative change is made. This would have no effect to trees as no tree cutting or ground disturbing activities would occur. In other cases, where culverts are pulled, it should result in more natural drainage pattern to eventually occur. Full decommissioning, which recontours the roadway, would result in the loss of any trees which have established on the roadway since its last use. However, recontouring would provide a long-term benefit of decompacting the soil and restoring natural drainage to the site. With no future use of these roads, the land would be returned for timber production. In some cases, some small trees that may be currently growing in the road bed may need to be felled to allow heavy equipment access to culverts that are being removed.

All other Road Changes There should be little to no effect from other changes in maintenance level or use on vegetation as these changes are generally administrative only so that the Motor Vehicle Use Map reflects the actual condition and use of the road.

Road Maintenance and Other Associated Activities There should be little or no effect from road maintenance activities. If trees have encroached on the existing roadway since the last maintenance project, they are removed. If danger trees are identified that pose a risk to the public or road maintenance crews, they are felled with the tree left on the ground but outside of the road prism.

Pond and Wetland Creation This would have the effect of removing less than an acre from forest production.

Recreation The blocking of roads to prevent motorized traffic to recreation areas, and the addition of several new dispersed camp sites with associated roads would have negligible effects on vegetation.

Acker Rock View Improvement Several trees would be topped or felled adjacent to Acker Lookout. This is a very minor effect due to its very limited scope. The beneficial effects of improving the view to the east from the lookout for fire detection would potentially reduce the affects from wildfire to vegetation through early detection.

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Cumulative Effects

Commercial-Sized Plantations GNN classified imagery was used to assess the current forest cover structural conditions on the subwatershed (Alternative 1). These current conditions mostly reflect past clear-cutting and other harvesting as well as fire (Table 18). Alternatives 2 and 3 create wildlife openings which take about 26 acres of land that is now classified as “small to medium timber with greater than 40% canopy cover or ‘large timber’, and convert them into “sparse” with canopy cover less than 10%. This results in very minor shifts in the distribution of structural conditions within the watershed. Within 20 to 30 years after harvesting and planting, these gaps would have closed due to growth of the planted trees augmented by natural conifer regeneration. A shift of 211 acres from “small to medium’ timber to ‘large’ timber takes place immediately because the thinning from below in the action alternatives raises the average diameter of the stand above 19.6 inches for several stands. Larger changes take place over time due to changes in QMD of thinned stands compared to the No Action Alternative. Changes in QMD due to thinning and more rapid growth would put all of the thinned stands into the ‘large timber’ category within the next few decades. Table 18: Forest cover type distribution within the watershed under alternatives.

GNN Structural Condition Alternative 1 Alternatives 2 and 3 Sparse (Canopy Cover less than 10%) 3% 3% Open (Canopy Cover from 10 to 40%) 12% 12% Sapling (Canopy Cover greater than 40%, DBH less than 9.8 inches) 7% 7% Small to Medium (Canopy Cover greater than 40%, DBH 9.8 to 19.6 inches) 24% 23% Large (Canopy Cover GT 40%, DBH 19.6 to 29.6 inches) 22% 24% Large/Giant (Canopy Cover greater than 40%, DBH less than 29.6 inches) 31% 31% There are 153 acres of privately owned land within the watershed with approximately 85% of this with forests in the closed canopy sapling stage or larger. It is possible that some or all of this could be thinned or harvested in the next 100 years. Since this private land amounts to just over 1% of the total land area within the watershed, the effects would be very limited. Young Plantations Young plantations to be thinned under Alternatives 2 and 3 are old enough to be past the establishment phase and are in the stem exclusion phase. Non-commercial thinning of these stands would not alter this. They would generally remain within this phase for the next 40 to 60 years, depending on their current age. The only possible effect is that these stands would support larger trees faster and may resemble mature stands somewhat sooner than without treatment.

Shaded Fuel Breaks The action alternatives propose non-commercial and commercial fuel breaks covering 434 acres and 11 acres, respectively. In stands with large mature trees (46% of shaded fuel break area), there should be little to no change in GNN cover class (Table 15) since trees removed would generally be very small in

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comparison to the residual stand. In the 33% of the area in the small to medium sized tree GNN cover class, there may be some shift into larger GNN classes since removing small trees raises the average diameter of the residual stand. In all of the remaining GNN classes, there should be no appreciable change.

Burn Blocks Alternatives 2 and 3 include 1,004 acres of prescribed burning blocks, 675 acres (67%) is within medium to large tree GNN cover classes (Table 16). Prescribed fire is not likely to shift any significant amount of these acres into a different cover class. The 46 acres classified as ‘sapling’ has the greatest chance of being affected by prescribed fire. In a worse-case scenario, all of this could be shifted to sparse classification if fire killed all of the small trees within the burn block. This would increase the percentage of acres within the ‘sparse’ GNN class from 9 to 14%.

Other Proposed Actions Proposed actions, other than mentioned above, have the potential to incrementally add or subtract the number of acres in various vegetation stages throughout the watershed; in some cases permanently, and in some case temporarily. These changes, as previously described above are very small when compared to the scale of the watershed. Fire and Fuels

Methodology

Surface Fuels consist of grasses, shrubs, brush, litter, and woody debris lying on the ground. Surface fuels are measured in tons per acre. These fuels are categorized in terms of size class and time lag to reach relative fuel moisture equilibrium with the surrounding environment’s relative humidity (0 to 0.25 inch material (1 hour), 0.25 to 1.0 inch material (10 hour), 1.0 to 3.0 inch material (100 hour), and greater than 3.0 inch material (1,000 hour)). “Fine” surface fuels consist of small diameter surface fuels (less than 3 inches in diameter), litter, grass, and shrubs, and will ignite easily and burn rapidly, at times producing high rates of spread and moderate flame lengths. The continuity of these fuels can modify fire spread across the landscape. Wildfires in light surface fuels have the ability to react quickly to diurnal changes in relative humidity and wind. In addition, the compactness of the surface fuels can influence fire behavior by limiting the amount of available oxygen required for active combustion. “Heavy” surface fuels consist of larger (greater than 3 inches in diameter) limbs, down woody debris, logs, and stumps that ignite and burn more slowly. Wildfires in heavy surface fuels are influenced more by seasonality and less by daily wind and moisture changes, but present a higher resistance to control as they burn longer and with greater fire intensity. Ladder and Canopy Fuels - Vertical arrangement of fuels refers to the continuity of fuels from the ground up through the overstory canopy. Low vertical separation between surface and canopy fuels is the most common avenue for surface fire to transition into crown fire and is commonly identified as the ladder fuel component of the wildland fuel profile. Increasing vertical separation between surface fuel and canopy fuel results in an increase of the average crown base height and subsequent crowning index within the stand. Canopy fuels consist of live and dead tree branches and crowns, and tall shrubs above the ground. Patchy canopy fuels have barriers to fire spread such as rock, bare ground, or lack of canopy fuels present. Uniform canopy fuels are arranged throughout an area, providing a continuous path for fire

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spread. The patchiness or uniformity of canopy fuels influences the crowning index wind speed needed to sustain crown fire activity, which can result in scorch-related mortality of overstory trees. Vertical separation of the surface and crown fuels is referred to as canopy base height. Increasing vertical separation between surface fuel and canopy fuel results in an increase of the average crown base height and subsequent torching index within the stand.

Specific Assumptions There are basic assumptions associated with any type of fire modeling used for planning purposes. It is important to note that parameters describing potential fire behavior are outcomes of an empirical fire behavior model. As such, they should be interpreted with a local real world understanding of reported fire behavior in treated and untreated areas under actual wildfire conditions. Output data reflect fire modeling assumptions (i.e., weather, fuel model characteristics, and spatial variability). Assumption 1: The modeling of potential fire behavior was done under “high fire weather conditions,” which are weather conditions from 1989-2018 that are concurrent with fires that start easily from most causes. This is a common threshold used by the fire management community to identify severe fire- weather conditions. These conditions were calculated using Fire Family Plus (FFP) (Main, Paananen, and Burgan, 1998). Control of these fires can become difficult, especially in heavy fuels; large and rapid fire growth can be expected. Assumption 2: Treatments would move existing conditions from one fuel model to another, but remain within the same fuel group (e.g., shrub types would remain shrub types, conifer types would remain conifer types). Fuel models represent a general or “average” fuel condition; actual fuel loading on the ground may be higher or lower in places than the average condition represented by the fuel model. Actual fire behavior may vary from modeled fire behavior depending on “real time” weather conditions and suppression tactics. Assumption 3: This is a geographic analysis for the Skillem project area. Specific results of this analysis are not intended for use or application beyond the Skillem project area.

Specific Methodology

Data Sources Fuel models used in the model are based on LANDFIRE data within the Skillem project area.

Fire and Fuels Modeling High fire weather conditions were computed using Fire Family Plus (Main, Paananen, and Burgan, 1998) based on a Remote Automated Weather Stations (RAWS): Buckeye RAWS (Station ID 353040). Computed high fire weather conditions and other associated weather parameters are shown in Table 19. Buckeye RAWS is located approximately two miles southeast of the project area and best predicts local historical and current weather patterns in the analysis area. Fire behavior was modeled using Forest Vegetation Simulator- Fire and Fuels Extension (FVS-FFE) using stand exam fuel loading data.

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Table 19. High fire weather conditions and other associated weather parameters used to model and evaluate proposed alternatives in the Skillem Project.

Variable Description Value Weather Station ID Buckeye (353040) Years of weather data 1989-2018 1 hour fuel moisture (%) 4 10 hour fuel moisture (%) 6 100 hour fuel moisture (%) 8 Herbaceous fuel moisture (%) 35 Woody fuel moisture (%) 68 Temperature (F) 85 20 foot wind speed (miles per hour) 9 Modeled slope (%) 30 Fuel models within the Skillem project Area were determined using LANDFIRE data along with the Standard Fire Behavior Fuel Models: A Comprehensive Set for use with Rothermel’s Surface Fire Spread Model guide (Scott and Burgan, 2005). These fuel models were chosen to represent the average pre- and post-treatment conditions by fuel group (i.e., shrubs and conifers) being treated. Fuel models are widely used to quantify predicted surface fuel characteristics and corresponding fire behavior (Andrews and Rothermel, 1982). Established fuel models (Scott and Burgan, 2005) were chosen to reflect dominant carriers of fire (Andrews and Rothermel, 1982) within the treated areas. Fuel models are generally selected by determining the dominant carrier of fire (i.e., grass, brush, needles, and slash) (Rothermel, 1983). The most prevalent fuel types in the areas proposed for treatment in the Skillem Project vary over the project area but are best represented by fuel models: TU5 (165), TL5 (185) (Scott and Burgan, 2005) (Table 20). Fuel model 165 represents a high load timber-shrub, 185 represents a high load conifer litter with an understory. Table 20. General descriptions of Scott and Burgan (2005) fuel models used for fire behavior analysis.

Fuel Model (acres) Description High Load Conifer Litter With Understory TU5 (165) (326) Primary carrier of fire is heavy forest litter with a small tree understory. Spread rate is moderate; flame length moderate. High Load Conifer Litter TL5 (185) (1473) Primary carrier of fire is high load conifer litter; light slash or mortality fuel. Spread rate is low; flame length low. Proposed treatment units under all alternatives were modeled using the above-mentioned fuel models TU5 (165) and TL5 (185). It can be expected that the No Action Alternative would produce increased accumulations of surface fuels and deadfall due to density-dependent, insect-related, or other mortality as the stand progresses over time and that treatments areas would have reduced surface fuel loading, moving the landscape towards a more historic and desired fire regime while reducing the chance of catastrophic wildfire.

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Affected Environment

Within the watershed, past practices that have contributed to current conditions with regard to fire and fuels include fire suppression, timber harvest, fuels treatments, reforestation, and wildfire. Some of these past activities, such as regeneration harvest, reforestation, and fire suppression, have increased stand densities and fuel loading, thus increasing fire risk across the landscape. Other activities such as commercial thinning, non-commercial thinning, and fuels treatments have contributed to a reduction in fire risk and hazard in the watershed. Many of the stands that were regeneration harvested and reforested have in the past, or would under the action alternatives, be commercially thinned or non-commercially thinned, reducing fuel loadings, stand densities, and fire risk.

Fire History Fire history of the area was reviewed for the South Umpqua Watershed Analysis in 2004. The average fire return interval (FRI) for the Headwaters South Umpqua River watershed had been calculated at 42 years, with a range spanning 11 to 126 years. The warm and dry (southerly) slopes tend to have more frequent FRI; the average on southerly slopes is 25 years, with a range of 10 to 42 years. Northerly slopes and higher elevation areas showed FRIs that would have been less frequent with higher severity (USDA Forest Service, 2004b). During the Whiskey Fire (2013), which occurred in the Beaver Creek drainage (a tributary to Jackson Creek, south of Skillet Creek), a large Douglas-fir that fell during suppression efforts in Pipestone Creek was dated back to 1686. The fire return interval between the years 1753 and 1948 averaged 21 years and ranged between 19 and 24 years (p=0.2). This is a short return interval (either through anthropomorphic or natural ignition) that would have resulted in lower-severity fires over the landscape. To the south of the project area, Cow Creek fire scar observations have shown fire return intervals on an average of 15 years. Fires in the watershed, including historic fires in the Skillet Creek-South Umpqua River subwatershed and Headwaters South Umpqua River watershed, would have been caused by both lightning and anthropogenic burning. These patterns persisted up into the 1800s, when Native American burning diminished, and culminated in the 1930s, when the Civilian Conservation Corp brought effective fire suppression efforts to the area (Beckham, 1986). Fire has not been allowed to burn as a natural ignition (resource benefit fire) within the project area, nor has it been re-introduced to the watershed as a planned ignition (prescribed fire), except for burning activity-generated fuels after logging. This project area has not experienced a large-scale fire event since the fire season of 2002. During this season, 6,485 acres of the subwatershed burned. This was roughly half of the subwatershed, and of that, 13% burned at medium to high intensity. Moderate intensity burning occurred in the upper slopes surrounding Skillet Creek and in the upper half of Emerson Creek with high intensity burning occurring in the ridge system separating Quartz and Skillet Creeks (Upper South Umpqua Watershed Analysis, 2004). In 2013, 250 acres of the watershed burned in the Whiskey Complex Fire with only 9 acres at medium to high severity. In 2017, 77 acres burned in the Falcon Complex. The last 15 years of fire history on the Umpqua National Forest and in Southwest Oregon have shown a dramatic increase in fire size and severity. Some of the fires within the subwatershed or adjacent have been the Tiller Complex (2002; 68,862 acres), Timbered Rock Fire (2002; 27,118 acres), Boze and Rainbow Fires (2009; 16,461 acres), Whiskey Complex (2013; 17,878 acres), Stouts Creek Fire (2015; 26,452), and South Umpqua Complex (2018; 54,334). This trend of larger, more severe fires in high

61 Skillem Integrated Resource Restoration Project frequency, low severity fire regimes is indicative of a departure from historic conditions that is leading to high levels of ecological degradation and economic loss. Fire Regimes refer to a general classification of the role fire would play across a landscape naturally, meaning in the absence of modern human intervention such as fire suppression efforts. A fire return interval is the average period of time between successive fire events on a landscape. Fire regimes (Table 21) are determined by how often fires historically occurred (frequency, fire interval, fire rotation) and some assessment of their impact on the ecosystem (mortality of the overstory or surface vegetation). Fire exclusion, fuel accumulation, and climate change have played a part in shifting historically high frequency, low intensity fire regimes towards low frequency, high intensity regimes. Spatial data for fire regimes was obtained from LANDFIRE (www.landfire.gov) for the project area. Figure 14 shows the fire regimes in the Skillet Creek-South Umpqua River subwatershed. Table 21 shows the natural fire regimes occurring within the project area. The dominant fire regimes are fire regime I (low severity, includes mixed severity) and fire regime III (mixed severity, includes low severity). Fire regime I is seen on the higher elevations of the project area. Fire regime III follows the South Umpqua River corridor and can be found in the south eastern corner of the project area.

Figure 14. Map of Fire Regimes in Skillem project area (data obtained from LANDFIRE. Refer to Table 21 for severity descriptions). 62 Tiller Ranger District, Umpqua National Forest

Table 21. Natural Fire Regimes in the Skillem Project Area.

Fire Fire Return Interval Fire Severity Percent of the Regime (in years) Skillem Project Area I Less than 35 Generally low-severity fires replacing less than 25% of the 48% dominant overstory vegetation; can include mixed-severity fires that replace up to 75% of the overstory II Less than 35 High severity fires replacing greater than 75% of the dominant Greater than 1% overstory vegetation III 35 -to200 Generally mixed-severity; can also include low-severity fires 46% IV 35 to 200 High severity fires 0 V 200 or more Generally replacement-severity; can include any severity type in 5% this frequency range.

Need for Action Due to roughly a century of wildfire suppression and a loss of Native American burning practices, vegetative conditions in the Skillet Creek-South Umpqua River subwatershed have become dense stands of dry forest at risk of uncharacteristic wildfire. Many of the roadsides in the watershed are overgrown with vegetation due to the edge effect, often with ladder fuels extending from the ground to the canopy of the overstory vegetation. Roads required for managing large wildfires, as well as those providing ingress and egress by residents, recreationists, and firefighters have accumulated ladder fuels, excess surface fuels and high concentrations of understory fuels that can contribute to hazardous fire conditions creating ineffective ingress and egress routes. Strategically located shaded fuel breaks can provide opportunities to manage fire on the landscape while increasing the chances of protecting valuable resources.

Existing Condition Fuel conditions across this landscape have reached loadings that, when coupled with high fire indices, can create uncharacteristic fire behavior that put natural and anthropogenic values at risk (e.g., timber stands, structures and private property, wildlife, and aquatic habitat). Vegetation within the watershed is primarily composed of dry mixed conifer forest with Douglas-fir and Ponderosa-pine as the dominant species. Fire was historically a frequent visitor to the landscape and helped shape the diverse mix of species and habitats that make up the Skillet Creek-South Umpqua River watershed. Fire history information taken from the adjacent watersheds to the north and south show a frequent fire return interval of around 15 years. The two dominant fire regimes in the project area are fire regime I and III. In the Western United States, alteration of fire regimes by fire exclusion has been greatest in dry forest, primarily those dominated by Ponderosa-pine, Douglas-fir or both (Graham et al., 2004). Over the last century, Douglas-fir and other relatively shade-tolerant species have encroached at much higher density into historically open stands, altering tree species composition, and creating conditions that favor high-severity fire effects like those seen on the Boulder Fire, Acker Fire, and Buckeye Fire of 2002.

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Direct and Indirect Effects

For fire and fuels, direct effects are those that would occur in the short-term within the units. Indirect effects are those that would occur at a larger scale and later in time.

Alternative 1 (No Action) The No Action Alternative would not treat 2,328 acres of fuels within the watershed. Risk of uncharacteristic fire behavior outside of the historic norms would not be reduced, leaving a landscape vulnerable to loss of habitat, private property, private and public timber resources, and ecological function. No action would continue a trend toward increasingly crowded continuous canopy stand conditions that increase the risk of sustained crown fire across the project area. Both canopy and surface fuel loadings are such that increases in fire severity can be anticipated and both riparian and upland areas could be negatively affected. Surface fuel loadings would remain high and continue to grow at a slow, steady rate. Varying size classes would be added to the forest floor from needle cast, falling branches, wind throw and dead or diseased trees. Smaller trees and undergrowth in the project area would continue to provide ladder fuels for fires to torch into crowns and contribute to crown fire conditions; many of the trees currently have branches extending to the ground. The brush layer would also continue to provide a means for fire to transition from the ground to the canopy. Fire starts may also spread to or from the adjacent private lands with relative ease. A wildfire in an untreated area would be relatively difficult to contain and control. The structure of the stands would continue to change in terms of an increase in understory and ladder fuels. Surface fuel loadings would continue to accumulate, increasing the risk to the stands as they continue to build faster than decay. Mortality that does not occur as a result of fire moving through the ladder fuels may instead occur due to the prolonged residence time of fire in the surface fuels, especially as those fuels accumulate around the bases of trees. The risk of a fire starting in the project area and spreading into private land would still be high for the longer term. If mortality occurs (due to fire, insects, drought, or disease), the resulting increase in fuel loadings could become a threat for both upland and riparian areas in the vicinity, and could extend fire risk another five to ten years or more. Under the No Action Alternative, this area would remain at a high risk for loss to key ecosystem processes from wildfire.

Fuels Measurement Indicators The Umpqua’s Hazard Fuels Reduction Standards were developed as a tool to use when determining the level of fuels treatment needed to protect Forest resources in any given area from the threat of wildfire. The majority of the project area is within the high-risk zone as defined in the Standards. This risk zone takes into account critical habitat, special management areas, and public protection areas. Weather, topography, fuels, historical fire occurrence, and predicted fire behavior are also factored into these fuel standards. Table 22 below shows a comparison between the fuel loadings recommended by the Standards compared to current fuel loadings in the project area, where current conditions exceed those recommended.

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Table 22. Comparison of current fuel loads to those recommended by the Standards.

Fuel size class Recommended Standard Current Fuel Loading (tons per acre) (tons per acre) 0 to 0.25 inch Less than 1 2.9 0.25 to 1 inch 4 to 8 9.7 1 to 9 inches 7 to 12 12.99

Alternatives 2 and 3 Proposed fuels management activities are the same for Alternatives 2 and 3 and would include the same activity fuels treatments in commercial harvest units (i.e., underburn, hand pile and burn, and grapple pile and burn) and non-commercial treatments (i.e., shaded fuel breaks, non-commercial thinning, and natural fuels underburning). The action alternatives affect the stand structure and forest structure across the landscape. Reduction in surface fuel loadings would aid in the management of future fires by reducing intensity and duration. Changes to the canopy at the stand and landscape scale would reduce the potential of a surface fire reaching tree crowns and spreading through the canopy as crown fire. Crown fires are undesirable as they result in higher intensity fires that put resources and property at risk. Treatments would reduce horizontal and vertical continuity of fuels across the watershed. Crowning Index, a measure of the propensity of a stand to sustain a crown fire (defined as the 20-foot wind speed necessary to sustain and initiate a crown fire) was assessed using FVS-FFE for commercial treatments where a higher value represents a lower hazard. Commercial treatments would reduce stand density, break up canopy continuity, and reduce ladder fuels, raising the Crowning Index and reducing the hazardous fuels. Most commercially-thinned stands would generally have a reduction in ladder fuels and an increase in the height to live crown (crown base height). This would reduce the potential for ground fires to spread into the crowns. Based on these changes to stand structure, treated areas would better withstand potential crown fire conditions. Figure 15 shows stand Crown Index pre- and post-harvest (or No-Action and action alternatives). All stands show improvement in crowning index with the average pre-treatment Crowning Index of 19.01 and a post-treatment average Crowning Index of 31.90.

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Figure 15. Crowning Index in units with no treatment (Alternative 1) and post treatment (Alternative 2 and Alternative 3, labeled here as Alternative 2). Average Crowning Index was also assessed by generalized treatment types over a period of 50 years post-treatment. The action alternative was set to harvest followed by prescribed fire and natural regeneration following prescribed fire. Treatments show improvement over time to a period of around 20 years (roughly the desired fire return interval for the Skillem project area). The changes in Crowning Index at roughly 20 years suggest a period of maintenance at this time would not only restore the natural fire regime to the watershed, but maintain the effectiveness of the original treatments over time. It also should be noted that under the No Action Alternative, Crowning Index slowly improves over time. This is likely the assumption of the model that as the canopy closes; trees would self-prune and shade out the understory reducing growth of brush and small trees. This assumption may sometimes be true, however it does not take into account the already stressed Douglas-fir growing in dry sites once dominated by pine and oak. Over time, stressors such as insects, disease, drought and changing climatic conditions may have a greater decrease on Crowning Index rather than an increase. Under the action alternatives, stands would be more resilient and better able to resist some of these stressors. Harvest treatments typically generate higher surface fuels from slash accumulation until treated. These increased surface fuel loads elevate some metrics of fire behavior in the short-term. The action alternatives would treat surface fuels within all of the treatment units, largely mitigating this trend. Treatment of surface fuels also reduces the intensity and residence time of ground fires, thus reducing the potential to kill residual trees, consume large fuels, or spread to crowns. More open stands allow for higher surface wind speeds and increased drying of surface fuels, increasing some metrics of fire behavior such as rate of spread. However, fire behavior flame lengths would be reduced and would be relatively benign and easy to manage. Furthermore, this forest structure historically played an important role in maintaining fire-dependent forest types, such as Ponderosa pine (Graham et al., 2004). Treatments outside of commercial units or non-commercial treatments would aid in returning fuels structure to historic norms. Natural fuels prescribed fire would reduce small diameter surface fuels, ladder fuels, and vertical continuity, while increasing heterogeneity and resiliency of the landscape.

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Non-commercial thinning treatments would reduce small diameter tree density, reduce encroachment into historic meadows and reduce the impacts of future wildfires to desired features on the landscape. Shaded fuel breaks could help in the future fire management of the area. Creating a network of shaded fuel breaks would reduce ladder fuels, reduce surface fuel loading, reduce fire intensity and create a safer working environment to aid in fire management. By creating and maintaining fuel breaks managers can work towards reestablishing a natural fire regime in the area, while having a safer place from which work. Table 23 shows a comparison of fuel loading recommendations to current conditions (No Action Alternative) and those anticipated to result from treatment (Alternatives 2 and 3) according to the FVS- FFE model. As shows, the action alternatives would bring average fuel loads within or below the recommended levels. Table 23. Fuel loading recommendations to current conditions and those anticipated to result from treatment according to the FVS-FFE model.

Fuel size class Recommended Current Fuel Loading Post-treatment modeled Standard (tons per acre) (tons per acre) (tons per acre) (derived from FVS-FFE modeling) 0 to 0.25 inch Less than 1 2.9 0.6 0.25 to 1 inch 4 to 8 9.7 6.1 1 to 9 inches 7 to 12 12.99 6.5 The effects of treating fuels under Alternatives 2 and 3 is summarized in Table 24. Table 24. Fuels treatment effects summary.

Treatment Effects Natural Fuels Prescribed Fire Beneficial: The proposed fuels treatments would restore many of the processes associated with the natural disturbance regime. Nutrient cycling, vegetative shade, competition and oak and pine reproduction would all be managed through the proposed activities to promote the health and propagation of these desired species. Understory fuel loading would be reduced, canopy base heights raised and fuel continuity reduced so that in the event of a natural wildfire, the stands would be more resilient, as they would have been in the past. Adverse: Fire is a less precise thinning agent than mechanical means. This may lead to the occasional loss of large trees or desired landscape features. While the project is designed to protect these features, this is also part of the natural fire process and cycle. Smoke from prescribed fires may also impact local communities. Natural Fuels Prescribed Fire Beneficial: Prescribed fire preparation in natural stands would help mitigate the likelihood Prep of losing desired features on the landscapes. Duff raking and reducing fuels that have built up through decades of fire suppression around legacy trees, large oaks, and other desired features would help limit the negative impacts of prescribed fire. Adverse: Exposing surface roots of large ponderosa pine by raking duff can have detrimental effects. This would be alleviated by timing seasonally and with relation to the prescribed fire.

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Treatment Effects Commercial Harvest Beneficial: Commercial harvest would have effects on fire and fuels as well as the effects of the prescription specific to the unit. Treatments would decrease canopy bulk density, crown closure, and crown continuity to lessen the potential of fire carrying through the crowns. Crowning index, which is the 20-foot wind speed needed to support an active or running crown fire, depends in part on canopy bulk density. As a stand becomes denser, active crowning occurs at lower wind speeds, and the stand is more vulnerable to crown fire. A decrease in canopy bulk density would cause an increase in Crowning Index. Stands would have a reduction of ladder fuels that would otherwise facilitate tree torching into the crowns by raising the canopy base height. Stands would have less horizontal continuity as well more structural diversity, making them more resilient to fire. Adverse: Harvest would contribute to higher surface fuel loading which would lead to higher fire intensity. Activity fuels treatments are planned to avoid this higher fuel loading. Activity Fuels (Mechanical Beneficial: Underburning combined with mechanical treatment can be the most effective Treatment) Prescribed Fire combination of restoring historic conditions to the Skillet Creek-South Umpqua River Creek subwatershed. By reducing stand densities to near historic norms and reintroducing fire to the ecosystem, conditions would be returned to near historic norms much faster than without thinning. Future fire resiliency would be increased, with the likelihood of uncharacteristic wildfire decreased. Adverse: Underburning can cause loss of snags, coarse wood, and remaining live trees. Prescriptions would limit the consumption of these fuels and decrease the likelihood of mortality in the remaining stands. Smoke from prescribed fire may also impact local communities. Activity Fuels (Hand Pile) Beneficial: Burning activity fuels in hand piles allows for the reduction in surface fuels Prescribed Fire associated with commercial treatments and provides a broader opportunity for the treatment to take place. Underburning is often limited to short windows outside of fire season. Pile burning can happen throughout the fall and winter, allowing for less impact from smoke and less risk associated with escaped fires. Adverse: Hand pile sites can be damaging to the soil. Generally pile size, material size, and prescription help limit adverse soil impacts. Smoke from prescribed fire may also impact local communities. Activity Fuels (Grapple Pile) Beneficial: Similar to hand piles, grapple piles would take place in units that would be Prescribed logged with ground-based equipment. This provides a more efficient opportunity to deal with activity fuel from both an operator and prescribed fire standpoint. Piles can be burned during the wet season to help limit impacts from smoke or to soil. Adverse: Piles are generally larger creating more of opportunity for soil damage; however they are often spaced more widely than hand piles and on ripped skid trails. This limits the scope of the damage created by heat. Smoke from prescribed fire may also impact local communities. Roadside Fuel Break Thinning Beneficial: Creating a network of shaded fuel breaks would reduce ladder fuels, reduce surface fuel loading and create a safer working environment to aid in fire management. By creating and maintaining fuel breaks managers can work towards reestablishing a natural fire regime in the area, while having a safer place from which to work. Adverse: Roadsides often host noxious weeds. Opening space in the understory may allow sites where noxious weeds can establish. Prescriptions and monitoring for noxious weeds to determine future treatments would limit this impact. Smoke from prescribed fire may also impact local communities. Non-Commercial Thinning, Pile Beneficial: Thinning in non-commercial fuels would reduce surface fuel loads, ladder Burning, and Prescribed Fire fuels and encroaching conifers from the site, lowering the risk of uncharacteristic wildfire. Treatments would maintain open areas and desired species on the landscape. This would in turn increase heterogeneity throughout the watershed. These treatments may also serve as a precursor to underburning by reducing hazardous fuels to a level that would meet prescribed fire parameters and historic norms. Adverse: Smoke from prescribed fire may impact local communities.

68 Tiller Ranger District, Umpqua National Forest

Treatment Effects Non-Commercial Thinning Beneficial: Though primarily a silvicultural treatment, the reduction of stand densities and fuel loading would reduce the impacts of future wildfire to the stand of young trees and the surrounding stands of more mature vegetation. Adverse: Smoke from prescribed fire may impact local communities. Hand Line Construction Beneficial: Hand lines allow for the prescribed fires to be implemented where natural barriers do not exist, reducing the potential impacts to private land and other values at risk. Hand lines are generally small in size (12 to 18 inches) and have limited lasting effects on the landscape. Adverse: Vegetation is cleared from the scraped portion of the hand line, exposing mineral soil. Erosional effects would be minimized through water bars and rehabilitation of lines after completion of prescribed fires. Other proposed activities in the Skillem project not discussed above have been determined to not have direct effects on fire and fuels, but may have indirect effects over time. These effects are discussed below (Table 25). Table 25. Actions that may have indirect effects on fire and fuels.

Activity Effect Noxious weed treatment Removing noxious weeds would allow for communities of native fire adapted plant species to increase in the watershed, restoring historic species composition. Storm proof roads No Effect Temporary Roads No Effect Road closure May not have an effect on fire management. These roads are of marginal quality currently and do not provide current access for fire management in the watershed. Wildlife pond creation No effect Lookout view improvement Would reduce fuels and conifer encroachment around a structure. Would improve detection and response time to wildfires. Quarry development No effect

Cumulative Effects

For this analysis the project area will be used as the geographic extent for cumulative effects. Based on projected output for Crowning Index in treated stands (Figure 15) in the proposed action, effectiveness would start to decrease in 20 years, roughly the historic fire return interval in the watershed. Treatments may be effective in reducing fire behavior beyond 20 years, but this is when a shift begins to return toward pre-treatment conditions. However, fuels treatments that have taken place since the 1990s will be considered still effective and contributing to a positive effect on fire behavior and the desired future condition of the watershed. Under the action alternatives, 2,328 acres of fuels related treatment would take place in the subwatershed. These treatments would have an increase on Crowning Index, in many places restoring fire to the landscape and returning vegetation to historic condition and structure. Under the No Action Alternative, stands would continue to grow eventually showing marginal improvement in Crowning Index (Figure 15) through self-pruning and shading out of the understory. However these stands would lack structural diversity and continue to depart from historic condition and function in the watershed. Overall fire risk in the watershed would continue to increase due to vegetation becoming denser and as competition for resources begins to take its toll on these overgrown Douglas-fir stands.

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Firefighting Operations and Public Safety The proposed modifications under Alternatives 2 and 3 to the surface, ladder, and canopy fuel portions of the Skillem Project fuel profile would enhance the ability of firefighting personnel to safely manage and engage in fire suppression actions in the event of a wildfire. This is particularly true of fires that start in areas receiving fuel treatment or in areas where fires have the potential to initiate in fuel treatments. Due to the strategic placement of the treatment units and National Forest system roads, conditions would allow for ingress and egress for fire personnel, equipment, and the public should a wildfire impact these areas. Greater amounts of aerial retardant would penetrate the dominant overstory canopy and reach the surface fuels, slowing the forward combustion of fuels in the treatment areas. The proposed underburning units would result in a marked improvement to potential fire behavior and effects related to firefighting operations and public safety.

Climate Change Considerations Forests play a major role in the carbon cycle. The carbon stored in live biomass, dead plant material, and soil represents the balance between carbon dioxide absorbed from the atmosphere and its release through respiration, decomposition, and burning. Over longer time periods forests will continue to absorb carbon dioxide. Complete quantifiable information about project effects on global climate change is not currently possible and is not essential to a reasoned choice among alternatives. However, based on climate change science, the relative effects of these treatments on the ecosystem carbon cycle are recognized. The positive long-term effects on the carbon cycle of proposed fuel reduction treatments are a good example of this. The action alternatives propose beneficial fuel reduction treatments which could contribute to reducing or limiting emissions, size, and intensity of potential future wildfires. In addition, the action alternative that implements treatment which meets desired conditions for forest health would enhance growth of large residual trees, reduce stand densities, and improve stand and landscape resiliency to forest disturbances such as insect outbreaks greater than endemic levels and large scale high severity fire, thereby enhancing the potential for carbon sequestration within the project area. These treatments would have long-term beneficial indirect effects which would contribute to beneficial cumulative effects on air quality. Aquatic Environment

Summary of Effects to Resource

The proposed activities and their relationship to the aquatic environment were addressed during the scoping process. Concerns related to aquatics were raised over the need for patch cuts within riparian reserve, reduction in stream buffer widths, potential ATV impacts to water quality, and impacts to soil and vegetation from road decommissioning. These concerns were considered during the development of the PDFs and BMPs. The aquatic effects related to this these issues are disclosed in this section. The results of watershed analyses are presented, a description of the existing condition and the important physical and biological components of the Aquatic Conservation Strategy (ACS) are discussed, and conclusions are presented regarding how Alternatives 2 and 3 move conditions toward desired conditions in terms of the nine ACS objectives (Appendix E). The Skillem planning area is the 11,460 acre Skillet Creek-South Umpqua River 6th field (HUC12) subwatershed which lies within the Headwaters South Umpqua River 5th field (HUC10) Watershed. Three named tributaries within the planning area are Emerson Creek, Flood Creek, and Skillet Creek (Figure 16). Approximately 123 miles of stream are found in the planning area, including 16 miles of

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fish-bearing stream, 28 miles of non-fish perennial stream, and 79 miles of intermittent and ephemeral stream. In 2011, overall watershed condition was rated on all National Forests throughout the nation under the Watershed Condition Framework (USDA Forest Service, 2011). Under this framework, many different attributes were assessed, then information was combined into an overall score of 1 to 3, with 1 indicating a properly functioning watershed, 3 indicating a poorly functioning one, and 2 indicating moderate function. Scoring was done at the 6th field (HUC12) scale, with Skillet Creek receiving a score of 2. Attributes rated as a 3 were water quality (high summer stream temperature), aquatic habitat (coarse wood deficit and channel widening) and roads (high road density). Attributes that were rated 2 were aquatic biota (threatened status for Coho salmon), impacts to soil from past timber harvest, and departure from reference fire condition.

Beneficial Uses of Water

To meet the Clean Water Act and the Standards and Guidelines in the Umpqua Land and Resource Management Plan (LRMP) (USDA Forest Service, 1990), the beneficial uses of waters must be identified and management activities planned so they will not interfere with or be injurious to the beneficial uses of adjacent and downstream waters. The relevant beneficial uses of the South Umpqua River and its tributaries as determined by Oregon Department of Environmental Quality are: 1) public and private domestic water supply; 2) industrial water supply; 3) irrigation; 4) livestock watering; 5) fish and aquatic life; 6) wildlife and hunting; 7) fishing; 8) boating; 9) water contact recreation; 10) aesthetic quality; and 11) Hydro power (ODEQ, 2003).

Figure 16. Proposed activity areas and named streams within the Skillem planning area; Skillem planning area is the Skillet Creek – South Umpqua River HUC12 watershed. 71 Skillem Integrated Resource Restoration Project

Water Quality

Summary of Effects Under Alternative 1, there would be no risk of short-term increased sedimentation from logging, fuels treatments, or road work. However, there would also be no long-term reduction in sedimentation from road treatments designed to improve drainage and reduce erosion, or from fuels and silvicultural treatments that would lower the risk of fire severity. The risk of contamination of waterways from human recreationists would remain at current levels Under Alternatives 2 and 3, there would be short-term increase in sedimentation from culvert replacements and removals, and other ground-disturbing road maintenance and decommissioning work, and from prescribed burning. Long-term benefits to water quality would be decreased sedimentation from improved road drainage and road removal. Sedimentation from high severity fire may be reduced where silvicultural and fuels treatments would occur. There would be a slight decrease in contamination of waterways from human recreationists where dispersed camps would be obliterated or use reduced.

Relevant Standards and Guidelines The relevant Standards and Guidelines from the Umpqua Forest Plan related to water quality are listed below. These standards and guidelines would be met by the application of stream buffers and by implementation of PDFs. In addition, the Northwest Forest Plan Temperature TMDL Implementation Strategies (USDA Forest Service/USDI Bureau of Land Management, 2010) that provides guidelines for protecting stream temperature would be followed. • Water quality and riparian area standard and guideline 1, p. IV-60: All effective shading vegetation would be maintained on perennial streams unless a site-specific assessment shows that shade removal will not result in water temperature increase or degrade aquatic habitat. • Water quality and riparian area standard and guideline 5, p. IV-60: Streams would be designated for protection on timber sale maps. • Water quality and riparian area standard and guideline 12, p. IV-61: The application of best management practices (BMPs) for the protection of water quality and beneficial uses (e.g., fish habitat or potable water) would be monitored where ground-disturbing activities occur. • Watershed cumulative effects and water quality standard and guideline 1, p. IV-64: The beneficial uses of water must be identified and management activities planned so they would not interfere with or be injurious to the beneficial uses of adjacent and downstream waters. • Watershed cumulative effects and water quality standard and guideline 2, p. IV-64: Beneficial uses of water and aquatic habitats would not be degraded by turbidity, sediment, or scoured stream channels caused by timber harvest, road construction, and related activities. • Turbidity: No more than a 10% cumulative increase in natural stream turbidities may be allowed, as measured relative to a control point immediately upstream of the turbidity causing activity (OAR 340-041-0036, Oregon Department of Environmental Quality 2008).

Affected Environment – Water Quality A combination of naturally occurring hydrologic conditions and past management practices have resulted in elevated summer stream temperatures in many streams in the planning area. Removal of stream shade during timber harvesting was a common practice from initial entry into the watershed in the 1950s through the early 1980s on Forest Service land. Flooding and debris torrents also contributed

72 Tiller Ranger District, Umpqua National Forest to the loss of stream shade and wider channels. In the early 1980s, riparian buffers were used; however these buffers were not always adequate for maintaining stream shade. Only after the Northwest Forest Plan (USDA Forest Service/USDI Bureau of Land Management, 1994) was implemented in 1994 were shade and other riparian-dependent functions consistently addressed through retaining stream buffers along all streams. The 2002 Tiller Complex Fire removed scattered areas of effective shade along planning area streams, especially in upper Skillem Creek, which has likely resulted in some elevation of stream temperature in those streams. Low base flows typical of the Western Cascades also contribute to conditions which result in relatively high, naturally occurring summer stream temperatures within the planning area. The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (ODEQ) water quality standards are applied to protect the most sensitive beneficial uses in a waterbody. Cold water salmon and trout are considered the beneficial uses most sensitive to changes in stream temperature. Numeric criteria in the temperature standard were developed to protect different aspects of the life histories of salmon and trout, such as spawning and rearing. This biologically-based criterion requires that the seven-day moving average of the daily maximum temperature shall not exceed 60.8°F (16°C) year-round for the protection of salmonid and resident fisheries in core cold-water habitat and pertains to the entire Skillet Creek subwatershed. ODEQ has identified water quality limited streams throughout the State of Oregon as required by the Clean Water Act, Section 303(d) (Table 26). The South Umpqua River was 303(d) listed for exceeding stream temperature and pH criteria prior to the 2006 Umpqua Basin Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL), which addressed these parameters. Modeling for the TMDL showed that within the planning area, current stream temperature is very close to the natural thermal potential of the river. In December 2018, EPA issued final approval of Oregons 2012 Integrated Report and 303(d) list , which re- categorized South Umpqua River as Category 5 (“303d listed”) for pH and temperature after it was determined that ODEQ did not use all available data for evaluation. Summer stream temperature has been monitored near South Umpqua Falls for 23 years between 1993 and 2017. Summer temperatures exceeded the core cold water criteria every year monitored. (Figure 17). Maximum 7-day average temperature measured in Skillet Creek during the three years monitored (1997, 1998 and 2009) was 70.4 degrees F, and in Emerson Creek during the two years monitored (1997 and 1998) was 64.7. Table 26. Streams within Skillet Creek watershed listed for water quality impairment.

Segment Length Waterbody Name River Mile Parameter Season (Miles) Temperature South Umpqua River 68.8 to 102.1 33.3 All Year Core Cold Water South Umpqua River 80 to 102 22 Sedimentation All Year South Umpqua River 57.7 to 102.2 44.5 pH Summer

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Figure 17. Maximum 7-day average temperatures for the South Umpqua River above South Umpqua Falls, Skillet Creek and Emerson Creek for years monitored. The NWFP provides for long-term maintenance of water quality in conjunction with allowing vegetative treatment necessary or desirable to restore ecological health in riparian areas that have been previously harvested or affected by fire exclusion or other disturbance. The Forest Service and BLM sought concurrence with ODEQ that the practices and Standards and Guidelines identified in the NWFP are sufficient for protecting and restoring stream temperatures. Working cooperatively, these agencies developed a streamlined approach that meets ODEQ’s expectations for stream temperature compliance under the Clean Water Act. This methodology recognizes that thinning prescriptions that protect the primary shade zone and that limit the loss of secondary shade zone trees, can benefit effective shade over the long-term within overstocked stands by accelerating tree growth. The desired condition is the maintenance of water quality in keeping with ACS Objective 4, while moving forest stands toward the desired range of natural variability. South Umpqua River within the Skillem planning area was 303d listed for pH after water quality testing showed pH exceeding 8.5 in summer (ODEQ criteria 6.5 to 8.5). The growth and respiration of attached algae cause daily cyclical swings in DO and pH concentrations. Algae growth can be increased by both natural and human-causes; within the planning area, influences have likely been warm water temperatures, good growing substrate, and phosphorus inputs which have come from natural rock weathering, and road sediment. Protecting streams from temperature and sediment increases would prevent impacts to pH from those sources. South Umpqua River in the planning area is also 303(d) listed for sedimentation, but the 2006 TMDL discusses these listings in its Overview and Background section:

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“DEQ is considering revising the criteria for determination of water quality parameter impairment related to sedimentation. Currently, sedimentation lacks quantitative listing criteria. A quantitative approach using relative bed stability will probably be proposed. To evaluate the fine sediment impacts on stream biota/spawning potential for the remaining three listed reaches of Jackson Creek, Beaver Creek and South Umpqua River additional data would have to be collected if using the relative bed stability approach. Until such data is collected it is suggested to place the remaining listings in a status of “concern” or insufficient data and the work to develop TMDLs for the remaining three listings will be placed on hold until criteria are selected and additional data is collected.” (ODEQ, 2006) The historic sediment regime was defined by the occasional episodic sediment delivery from large scale fires followed by years of recovery with little or no disturbance. Most sediment delivery came from fluvial erosion, especially in earthflow areas, as a result of large post-fire rainstorms rather than from surface erosion. Debris flows have also played a role in the planning area sediment regime. The current sediment regime is also influenced by on-going, chronic sediment delivery at lower levels occurring every winter due to the road system. Both nutrient enrichment and sedimentation can increase substantially after wildfires from storm events, especially in high fire severity areas in steep terrain due to consumption of vegetative matter which releases nutrients to the soil, and leads to reduced groundcover protection from erosion (Rhoades et al., 2011). Water repellency can also increase in high severity areas, leading to increased runoff. During the Whiskey Complex Fire, approximately 19% of the planning area burned with moderate or high soil severity. The remaining 81% were in the unburned, very low or low soil severity category, which would be unlikely to affect infiltration or water repellency. Therefore, increases in nutrient release and sedimentation would likely only be substantial in a few pockets of the fire where high severity fire removed most of the vegetation and increased water repellency, and only during substantial storms. The South Umpqua River corridor within the Skillem planning area, gets much use by recreationists who come to camp and swim along the river. Many of the recreation sites used are “dispersed” camp sites which do not provide waste disposal for trash or human bodily waste. While some recreationists properly dispose of waste themselves, many do not; as a result, abandoned trash and human waste cause fouling of riparian areas where most camps are located, and likely some contamination of water where waste gets into the river. There are two primary concerns with the disposal of human waste in the backcountry: human health problems as a consequence of either direct contact or contamination of drinking water, and aesthetic concerns of visitors who find improperly disposed human waste. Moreover, the transmission of disease-causing pathogens (bacteria, viruses, and protozoans) from human feces is a serious health concern (Cilimburg et.al, 2000). The extent of transmission of these pathogens in the Skillem area is unknown, but may be impacting humans or wildlife.

Direct and Indirect Effects – Water Quality Direct effects in the context of water quality are those that would occur in planning area streams within a unit and are triggered immediately as a result of activities. Indirect effects are those that could either occur later in time or downstream of a unit at the drainage or watershed scale. Ground disturbance from road work and logging that have the potential to affect water quality include system road maintenance, including culvert removals and replacements, road decommissioning, road construction, landing construction, temporary road construction and reconstruction, skidding, haul, and wetland creation. Alternative 1 would result in no new adverse direct or indirect effects to water quality, since no riparian trees would be cut along any perennial streams that could affect stream shade and influence stream temperature or pH and no activities would take place that could alter water chemistry. Since thinning

75 Skillem Integrated Resource Restoration Project and fuels treatments would not be implemented, the risk of adverse impacts to water quality, including elevated temperature, nutrients, and turbidity from wildfire would be greater than under Alternatives 2 and 3. Since road decommissioning would not occur, chronic erosion and sedimentation on these roads would continue. Also, since undersized and damaged culverts would not be removed or replaced, the risk of increased turbidity from dysfunctional culverts would be greater. Thinning trees under Alternatives 2 and 3 would not have a direct or indirect effect on stream temperature or pH since no trees from the primary shade zone would be removed along any perennial stream. Project design features require the retention of a minimum 85-foot no-harvest buffer in commercial units which protects the primary shade zone on all perennial streams, thus no measurable increase in stream temperature or impacts to pH due to riparian shade removal is anticipated (USDA Forest Service/USDI Bureau of Land Management, 2010) under these alternatives. No new temporary roads would cross any stream or be located within any no-harvest buffer, and all temporary roads would be sub-soiled and covered with slash following harvest. No ground-based landings would be constructed within Riparian Reserve; approximately 11 skyline landings would be located within outer Riparian Reserves on existing road prism and none would be within 50 feet of any stream, and all would be sub- soiled and covered with slash after use. Skid trails would not be located within 50 feet of any stream. Some shade removal would occur during prescribed burning, but burning guidelines call for only burning under conditions that would reduce overstory mortality. The PDF of igniting outside of riparian areas and allowing fire to back into them, and burning during moist conditions reduce the risk of removing stream shade. Since the response is anticipated to be localized and likely immeasurable even at the site-scale, effects to downstream beneficial uses would not occur. While clear-cut harvesting can release nitrogen that can leach to adjacent surface waters during runoff periods (Brown et al., 1973; Sollins et al., 1980; Beschta et al., 1995), thinning treatments typically do not result in nitrogen delivery to streams. Nitrogen leaching to surface water is directly proportional to the size (clear-cut versus thinning and small gaps) of created openings (Prescott, 2002; Lindo & Visser, 2003). Harvesting trees as selected single trees reduces the likelihood of nitrogen losses to the soil and potentially to the local streams. This is because of the limited amount of released nitrogen would be used on-site in the soil by microbial activity or taken up and used by the residual trees (MacDonald et al., 1991). Therefore, nutrient levels in the streams near harvest units and further downstream would likely remain the same as before thinning except in the five units where gaps are being incorporated. Where gaps are being incorporated, some increase in soil nitrogen could occur, but since gaps would be located at least 170 feet from streams, and the response is anticipated to be localized and very small even at the site-scale, effects to downstream beneficial uses would not occur. The fuels treatments for Alternatives 2 and 3 that would have the most potential to affect water quality are hand and grapple pile burning, prescribed burning and underburning. The burning of concentrated fuels tends to remove the soil’s duff layer exposing soil to erosion and would potentially release nitrogen to the soil and increase turbidity. The project design features of burning during moist conditions to retain effective ground cover, and limits on pile size and proximity to streams, would reduce the risk of killing overstory trees or impacting water quality. Mobile nitrogen would remain local and be used on-site by microbial activity and vegetation. Approximately 40 miles of system road maintenance including ditch cleaning, blading, water barring, and dip construction would be done under Alternatives 2 and 3. Construction of a very short segment of new permanent road would occur to extend the 2700-916 spur to allow skyline logging access. This segment is not located in the vicinity of any stream or wetland. Fourteen damaged and undersized stream culverts would be replaced with bigger pipes and two stream culverts would be removed on roads

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put into storage. Two streams with failing Humbolt crossings (buried logs) would be temporarily crossed with culverts or bridges to allow thinning, then the crossings would be removed after logging. In 2011, The Skillet subwatershed was identified through the Watershed Condition Framework as a “priority watershed” for its impaired conditions, and opportunities for improvement. One impaired condition identified in this process was the high road density. All roads cause adverse watershed impacts including soil compaction and loss of vegetation, hydrologic impacts from reduced infiltration and rerouting of water, erosion, fragmented habitat, and increased likelihood of invasive species. Some roads may also cause increased turbidity and sedimentation, loss of stream shade, groundwater interception, increased mass wasting, reduced connectivity of riparian and aquatic habitats, reduction in coarse wood, and channel modification. As part of the Skillem Project, the entire road system was assessed to determine which roads were having the most egregious impacts on the watershed. The roads proposed for decommissioning are those determined by the team to have substantial watershed impacts and are not necessary for future management. Of the 8.5 miles of road proposed for decommissioning under Alternative 2, all but 2 segments (0.3 miles) are having substantial impacts on aquatic and riparian conditions. The rehabilitation of these road segments would reduce chronic sedimentation from erosion, culvert failure and road-related mass wasting, and allow for recovery of stream shade and coarse wood levels to pre-roaded conditions, which would improve water quality in impacted streams and wetlands. During scoping, concerns were raised about impacts from the decommissioning process. Active decommissioning causes loss of vegetation, soil disturbance, erosion, and sedimentation from subsoiling, re-contouring, culvert removal and equipment moving. Under Alternative 2, 0.8 miles out of 8.5 would be “passively decommissioned” where action would be administrative only, with no work on the ground. Another 1.0 mile would be fully obliterated, which would include subsoiling, re-contouring and covering with slash. The rest (6.7 miles) would include varying degrees of decommissioning which could include culvert removal (approximately 20), subsoiling, re-contouring and covering with slash. Work would be done as funding allows, and would be prioritized by severity of impact. Under Alternative 3, full obliteration would occur on 0.7 miles, with the other 0.3 miles being left open. Adverse impacts to water quality from active decommissioning would be localized and short term in locations where culverts are removed or stream banks are re-contoured, and would occur primarily within the first rainy season before vegetation recovers. Beneficial impacts would be long term in perpetuity as these crossings would no longer cause elevated turbidity or sedimentation. Activities on roads proposed for storage under both action alternatives would also cause short term turbidity and sedimentation when 2 culverts are removed, gullying would be repaired, and 100 feet of subsoiling would be done. This short-term impact would remedy one site where groundwater movement is disrupted on the 2838-710 road, a gullied segment of the 2814-502 road, and would prevent a very high risk culvert from failing on the 2700-992 road. A concern was raised during scoping that downgrading of roads would not improve water quality and therefore should not be done. The roads proposed for downgrading were determined to be needed for future use, and are not causing serious water quality problems except for the three sites mentioned above; repairing these three sites would improve long-term water quality in adjacent streams, and put these roads in a more hydrologically stable condition while maintaining the road on the system for future management use. Another concern raised during scoping was that the down-grading of roads could lead to increased ATV use which could impact water quality; this is very unlikely given the locations of these roads. Of the seven roads changed to trails, all but one are ridgetop roads with no stream crossings or adjacent wetlands. The 2700-915 road has no stream crossings, but does have some small wet areas just off the road; these spots are probably not open or big enough to tempt users to leave the road bed and disturb them.

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Sedimentation and contamination of water from human waste and chemicals caused by camping and driving within close proximity to streams would be reduced under the action alternatives. Under Alternative 2, camping impacts would be reduced at 5 dispersed campsites adjacent to the South Umpqua River, since driving access would be eliminated. Under Alternative 3, use may be somewhat reduced at two sites where short walk-ins would be required, and use would be greatly reduced at 3 sites where driving access would be eliminated. Under Alternative 1, all five sites would continue to contribute waste and sediment to the South Umpqua River, degrading water quality and potentially impacting human health. Road work, road decommissioning, and logging disturbance can result in short-term increased turbidity and a direct effect to water quality due to the removal of vegetation and the loosening of soil surfaces making more material subject to erosion and water transport. However, by following BMP’s and PDFs, the road maintenance and logging activities associated with the Alternatives 2 and 3 would limit turbidity inputs to short-term, site-scale effects that would not degrade the beneficial uses of water for downstream. The use of BMPs and PDFs for the reconstruction or removal of the crossings, including timing of in- stream work and erosion control measures, would minimize effects at the immediate work site and downstream through the first winter season. Alternatives 2 and 3 would cause turbidity from culvert replacements, with the potential for nutrient release. Direct and indirect effects (turbid water and nutrient release) in response to rain and runoff would be short-term (one season) during the wet season and difficult to discern from background runoff turbidity. These effects would not be expected as mitigation measures (erosion control) become effective with time (by the second season). Sediment delivery from ditch-cleaning and water bar construction are expected to be minimal. Log haul can deliver sediment to streams when sediment from roads is allowed to enter ditches and stream crossings during rainy periods. Oregon Department of Environmental Quality has set criteria of no more than a 10% increase in turbidity above background for any activity to protect water quality under the Clean Water Act. Concerns were raised during scoping that there was not enough opportunity for wet season logging. Many of the roads within the planning area are in poor condition, and past experience has shown that meeting the ODEQ criteria while hauling during wet season on poor roads is unlikely, even with erosion control efforts. Bringing roads up to standard for wet season haul often requires much more expense than use during dry season. BMP’s and restrictions on haul under Alternatives 2 and 3 would call for preemptive erosions control measures, and mitigation or suspension of haul any time if there is road distress or off-site sediment movement. Only those roads preapproved by Engineering for haul, and that have been brought up to Forest Service standards, would be considered suitable for haul during the wet season. After considering conditions of every haul road and cost of bringing them up to wet season standards, and considering how much timber volume could be hauled during wet season given other restrictions during the wet season due to soil impacts, approximately 3.6 total miles of FS Roads 2700 and 27-900 have been approved wet season haul. The Skillem Project is in compliance with the Clean Water Act and the Water Quality Management Plans derived from the Umpqua Basin TMDL (ODEQ, 2006), including the South Umpqua Sub-basin Water Quality Restoration Plan (USDA, 2008). By implementing and monitoring water quality related best management practices the probability of degrading waters within the planning area or downstream is minimized and should result in no direct effects to public health relating to water quality.

Cumulative Effects – Water Quality Alternative 1 would result in no direct or indirect effects to water temperature, pH, or turbidity that would incrementally add to possible downstream heating, or stream turbidity due to past, present, or

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reasonably foreseeable future disturbance. However, since fuels and thinning treatments proposed under Alternatives 2 and 3 would not be implemented, there would be a greater risk of adverse effects to water quality from wildfire and wildfire suppression, compared to Alternatives 2 and 3. Also, since roads proposed for decommissioning would not be treated, chronic sedimentation from stream crossings on these roads would continue. And, since undersized and damaged culverts would not be replaced, the risk of increased turbidity from plugged culverts would be greater, adding to increased turbidity caused by plugged culverts and other activities within the watershed. Alternatives 2 and 3 would protect the effective shade along all perennial streams. Therefore, no cumulative temperature effect would occur that would affect downstream beneficial uses. Alternatives 2 and 3 would cause short-term direct and indirect turbidity and sediment bearing nutrient release effects from in-stream road work and fuels treatments. Since the spatial extent of the effect would be for the immediate stream, only similar activities on the same stream would influence a cumulative effect. Log haul, especially during wet weather, can increase turbidity levels for short periods of time. Seasonal restrictions, road maintenance, proactively implementing erosion control measures, and active BMP implementation and effectiveness monitoring would help to prevent increase in sediment delivery from haul roads to a minimum over a minimal period of time and within state turbidity standards. Beneficial uses of water and aquatic habitats would not be degraded by pH or turbidity effects caused by timber harvest, fuel treatments, road work, and related activities. Therefore, no cumulative water quality effect would result from the Alternatives 2 and 3. Proposed activities determined not to have an effect on water quality due to absence of a relationship between the activity and the resource include: administrative changes to designated road use, quarry development, conifer encroachment treatment, noxious weed treatment, and Acker Rock view improvement. As such direct, indirect, and cumulative effects from these activities are not anticipated.

Stream Flows

Summary of Effects Under Alternative 1, no effect to baseline stream flow would occur. No restoration of hydrologic flowpaths would occur from road decommissioning or improvements in road drainage. Under Alternatives 2 and 3, a very small short-term reduction in stream flow may occur if water from South Umpqua River is used as dust abatement. This effect would be intermittent, and not reduce water level more than 10% of flow at any time. There would also be long-term reduction in road-related streamflow impacts where drainage work would improve infiltration and disconnect streams from roads.

Relevant Standards and Guidelines The relevant standards and guidelines from the Umpqua Forest Plan related to streamflow are included below. These standards and guidelines would be met by the design of proposed activities and project design features. • Watershed cumulative effects and water quality, standard and guideline 2, p. IV-64: Beneficial uses of water and aquatic habitats would not be degraded by turbidity, sediment, or scoured stream channels caused by timber harvest, road construction, and related activities. • Watershed cumulative effects and water quality, standard and guideline 4, p. IV-64: Beneficial uses of water and aquatic habitat (water quality) would not be degraded by increased peak flows caused by canopy removal from timber harvest, road construction, and related activities.

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• Watershed cumulative effects and water quality standard and guideline 4, p. IV-64: Beneficial uses of water and aquatic habitats will not be degraded by increased peak flows and resulting channel scour, caused by timber harvest, road construction and related activities. Project scoping will identify peak flows as an issue if more than 25 percent of watershed analysis areas (generally 1,000 to 5,000 acres affecting fishery streams) will have been harvested when activities are completed. Peak flow increases will be estimated only from lands in the transient snow zone, between 2,000 and 5,000 feet in elevation. If scoping identifies peak flows as an issue, the Hydrologic Recovery Percentage (HRP) or similar procedure will be used to calculate hydrologic condition of project planning drainages. When activities are planned which will reduce hydrologic condition below 75 percent recovery (using HRP or equivalent measure), the potential cumulative effect of increased peak flows will be displayed and evaluated. Evaluation of potential cumulative effects will consider landslide risk, stream channel stability and beneficial uses affected. The HRP procedure is described in the document Umpqua National Forest Standard and Guideline Procedures for Watershed Cumulative Effects and Water Quality (USDA Forest Service, 1990). This document is stored in the Umpqua National Forest Planning Record.

Affected Environment – Stream Flows The streamflow regime of the Skillem planning area is influenced by the western Cascades geology and the transient snow hydrologic zone. The streamflow regime has large seasonal flow fluctuations between summer low flow and winter high flow; high winter flows respond rapidly and often intensely during rain-on-snow events, while summer flows lack substantial snow pack or rain to sustain them. A substantial part of the watershed is made up of earthflow terrain where soils high in clay, and often flatter in slope, have a higher density of wetlands, sag ponds, and seeps. Some channels in the planning area do not flow continuously on the surface, but rather become subsurface in some segments. These discontinuous channels are typically very small. The timing and quantity of stream flows can be altered by land management activities. Increases in small peak flows are likely occurring in the Skillet Creek subwatershed from road effects. Removal of tree canopy within the transient snow zone (approximately 2,000 to 5,000 feet in the Skillet Creek subwatershed) can lead to increased snow accumulation due to decreased interception of snow by the canopy, and faster snow melt during rain-on-snow events due to increased wind in the openings (Grant et al., 2008; Harr, 1979; Christner, 1981). The Umpqua Forest Plan requires an analysis of forest canopy conditions when any canopy-removing activity is proposed (Standard and Guideline 4, listed above). An area is considered hydrologically fully recovered from peak flow impacts when the canopy cover is 70% (USDA Forest Service, 1990). An overall hydrologic recovery of 75% or greater within a drainage would maintain current peak flows and avoid adverse change to physical channel condition and associated factors such as water quality and fish habitat. Statistically discernible increases in peak flows have occurred when greater than 25% of smaller drainages have been clear-cut harvested and included roads; that is, the hydrologic recovery was less than 75% (Jones and Grant, 1996; Thomas and Megahan, 1998). Conditions below the 75% hydrologic recovery value (i.e., lower levels of hydrologic recovery) need further evaluation for potential peak flow cumulative effects from rapid snowmelt during rain-on-snow storms (following S&G 4). Additional data was compiled in a report by Grant et al. (2008) showing that canopy removal over 19% of a watershed can lead to measureable increases in peak flow. The largest peak flow increases reported were for small storms with recurrence interval much less than 1 year (Grant et al., 2008), but data indicates that measureable increases could occur during flows of up to at least 6 year return intervals in some cases.

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The magnitude of increase in flows due to land management has been highly variable in the studies available. Analysis was done at the HUC12 subwatershed and HUC14 catchment (from 4,778 and 6,682 acres) scales to assess the current conditions of canopy removal and possible impacts. There are no industrial forestry parcels within the Skillet subwatershed. Most of the past regeneration harvested stands on Forest Service land within the subwatershed have recovered enough canopy that they are likely no longer substantially affecting peak flow. Canopy removal by the 2002 and 2013 fires was also factored in. Results of this analysis show that no measureable increases in peak flows are currently occurring due to canopy removal. Some studies have shown that forest roads on steep slopes intercept subsurface flow and hasten its arrival as surface flow to stream channels through the road ditch network, either directly when ditches connect to streams, or by gully formation from ditch relief culverts. This effect is greater on mid-slope roads, and roads with greater distance between ditch relief drainage, as more water is concentrated. This concentration is more likely to form a gully which can carry surface water directly to a stream rather than infiltrating into soil and becoming subsurface flow again (Montgomery, 1994; Wemple et al., 1996). The planning area has a high density of existing roads on steep terrain capable of changing flow paths and the timing of peak flows. Low flows can also be impacted by land management. Perry and Jones (2016) found that the conversion of old forest to dense plantation in nearby South Umpqua Experimental Forest, has reduced low flows by 50% in a small headwater stream. This resulted from higher transpiration of the young, dense, vigorous stand compared to the old-growth stand it replaced. Similar plantations occur within the Skillet subwatershed, however, because of their dispersal over a larger area made up of a patchwork of stand ages and spacings, such reduction in base flow is not likely to be occurring at such a substantial rate except in localized areas, but could be cumulatively causing measureable impacts elsewhere. Given the past heavy clearcut logging, especially between 1950’s and 1980’s, a reduction in summer low flows is likely to be occurring in the Skillet subwatershed as a direct result of this conversion, but the magnitude of this reduction is unknown.

Direct, Indirect, and Cumulative Effects – Stream Flows An activity that would have direct effect on streamflow is the removal of water from designated perennial streams for use as dust abatement where needed. Under Alternatives 2 and 3, water may be used as dust abatement if dust creates a safety hazard where the 2700 haul route meets the 2800 road, a high traffic road. Water would only be needed during dry summer haul, and only on a short segment of gravel road, so the quantity needed to be removed from the nearby South Umpqua River water source would be low relative to the amount flowing even during summer low flow. BMPs call for not lowering any water source below 90% of flow during use. Therefore, water use for this purpose would not be injurious to the beneficial uses of the South Umpqua River. Peak flows represent an indirect effect rather than a direct effect. The Forest Plan identified an analysis area of at least 1,000 acres to evaluate potential peak flow responses. The hydrologic recovery analysis of snow accumulation and melt within thinning units is based on research completed on the Umpqua and Gifford Pinchot National Forests. This research indicated that a shelterwood canopy, which provides about 15% canopy cover, can allow about 60% greater snowpack runoff than mature forest (Storck et al., 1999) at the site scale. The proposed silvicultural treatments (which are identical in both action alternatives) would increase the potential for snow accumulation within the thinned areas; however, except in the gaps, the leave trees

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would provide snow interception and break up the flow of warm wind across the snow pack, substantially mitigating the rapid melt process. Most of the thinning prescriptions for Alternatives 2 and 3 provide for post-harvest canopy covers ranging from 37% to 50% which is much greater than the shelterwood canopy in the research study. Expected clearcut equivalent from the proposed action and resulting additional peak flow increase is shown in Table 27. The new permanent road segments would not likely contribute to stream extension that would increase peak flows. No increase would occur even at the catchment level if the proposed activities were implemented. Proposed road treatments that disconnect streams from roads, or decommission roads, would result in small reductions in peak flow effects from roads. Canopy removal has also been shown to increase summer low flows as evapotranspiration is reduced (Jones and Post, 2004; Harr et al., 1982; Hicks et al., 1991). This effect is likely to be small and of short duration under Alternatives 2 and 3 since thinning leaves many trees, and plant growth would be stimulated by more open conditions, leading to increased transpiration of remaining trees. Activities within the action alternatives determined not to have an effect on stream flow due to absence of a relationship between the activity and the resource include: administrative changes to designated road use, quarry development, conifer encroachment treatment, noxious weed treatment, and Acker Rock view improvement. As such direct, indirect, and cumulative effects from these activities are not anticipated. Table 27. Current canopy removal and resulting increases in peak flow, and that expected as a result of the proposed action.

Current Expected Expected Expected Clearcut Current Increase in Increase in Clearcut Area Equivalent Increase in Peak Flow Peak Flow Catchment Equivalent (acres) (including Wild Peak Flow from Proposed from from Proposed Fire) Action Alone Cumulative (%) Treatment (%) (%) (%) Effects (%) Skillet Creek 6,682 13 0 3 0 0 South Umpqua Falls 4,778 4 0 2 0 0

Riparian Reserves

Summary of Effects Under Alternative 1, no short-term ground disturbance and loss of vegetation would occur from logging, burning, or roadwork within Riparian Reserves; there would also be no long-term beneficial improvements in Riparian Reserve conditions from road and campsite decommissioning, road drainage improvements, silvicultural treatments, or prescribed burning. Under Alternatives 2 and 3, there would be short-term ground disturbance and loss of vegetation where thinning, burning, road work and decommissioning would occur, but there would also be long-term improvements in vegetation, soil productivity, riparian and aquatic connectivity, and reduced risk of high severity fire and road-related landslides.

Relevant Standards and Guidelines The Umpqua Forest Plan Standards and Guidelines for riparian areas Northwest Forest Plan Standards and Guidelines for Riparian Reserves specifically related to the Skillem project are listed below. These standards and guidelines would be met by project design features.

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• Umpqua LRMP C-2-VIII, IX, X, p. IV-186: Prohibit timber harvest and site preparation…except to meet riparian objectives. Yarding corridors are permitted at designated locations with full log suspension over the streambank and protected vegetation. Corridors must minimize disturbance to riparian vegetation and meet riparian objectives. Incorporate activities that minimize both prescribed fire and wildfire damage to riparian vegetation. • Northwest Forest Plan Timber Management-1, p. C-31: Prohibit timber harvest except where silvicultural practices are applied to control stocking, to acquire desired vegetation characteristics needed to attain Aquatic Conservation Strategy objectives. • Northwest Forest Plan Fire/Fuels Management-1, p. C-35: Design fuel treatments to meet Aquatic Conservation Strategy objectives, and to minimize disturbance of riparian ground cover and vegetation. Strategies should recognize the role of fire in ecosystem function and identify those instances where fire suppression could be damaging to long-term ecosystem function. • Northwest Forest Plan Fire/Fuels Management -4, p. C-36: Design prescribed burning and prescriptions to contribute to attainment of Aquatic Conservation Strategy objectives. • Northwest Forest Plan Roads Management-2a, p.C-32: For each existing or planned road, meet Aquatic Conservation Strategy objectives by minimizing road and landing locations in riparian reserves. • Northwest Forest Plan Recreation Management-2, p. C-34: Adjust dispersed and developed recreation practices that retard or prevent attainment of Aquatic Conservation Strategy objectives. Where adjustment measures such as education, use limitations, traffic control devices, increased maintenance, relocation of facilities, and/or specific site closures are not effective, eliminate the practice or occupancy.

Watershed Analysis Recommendations The Project is consistent with the following recommendations of the 2004 Upper South Umpqua Watershed Analysis through the design of its proposed activities and PDFs: • Discourage swimming in selected spring Chinook resting pools by controlling access or restricting camping in Riparian Reserves. • Reduce the road densities (decrease stream network extensions caused by roads). High priority areas for road density reduction are: o Unique Habitats o Late Successional Reserves o Riparian Reserves o Landscape Area 2 (unique hydrology) • Upgrade and maintain roads to prevent sediment delivery to streams. Upgrade culverts to 100- year stream event sizing. Upgrade culvert to enable fish and amphibian crossing wherever appropriate. • Limit any new road construction within Riparian Reserves. • Promote the development of vegetation with late-seral characteristics along the Riparian Reserves throughout the watershed. Thin the vegetation to develop the late seral characteristics. • Protect spring Chinook holding pools. • Reduce road density. In addition to the effects caused by too many miles of road per square mile of land, there is little money currently available to maintain the existing road system. Improper

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road maintenance adds to the sediment delivery to streams reducing the water quality, and poses a safety risk to forest road users. • Reduce channel extensions. Add more drainage and reduce the ditch line distances to streams to reduce channel extensions. • Remove public access points to spring chinook holding pools along Forest Road 2800. • Maintain roads to standard. This may necessitate reducing the miles of road retained on the system in order to have adequate funding to properly maintain roads. • Reduce road densities, particularly in Riparian Reserves.

Affected Environment – Riparian Reserves The Riparian Reserve land use allocation was established in the Northwest Forest Plan as part of the Aquatic Conservation Strategy. Riparian Reserve width, based on guidance in the Northwest Forest Plan, is one site potential tree height on non-fish bearing streams (either perennial, intermittent, or ephemeral) and two site potential tree heights on fish bearing streams. Wetlands over one acre in size have a one site potential tree height Riparian Reserve; for smaller wetlands, Riparian Reserves include all riparian vegetation. Unstable areas are also included in the Riparian Reserve land use allocation. A site potential tree height is the average maximum height of the tallest dominant tree at 200 years or older for a given area. The height of site potential trees in the planning area has been established at 170 feet. The Aquatic Conservation Strategy was developed to restore and maintain the ecological health of aquatic ecosystems at the watershed and landscape scale. This strategy is in part based on natural disturbance processes. Proposed riparian actions are assessed in relation to the watershed’s existing condition and any short or long-term effects to such conditions. The 4,700 acres of riparian reserve makes up about 41% of the Skillem planning area. Annual precipitation in the Skillet Creek subwatershed averages about 41 inches at the nearby Buckeye Remote Automatic Weather Station, while elevation ranges from 1,600 to 4,160 feet. In many of the Riparian Reserves within Skillet Creek subwatershed the historical fire regime before fire suppression was a high frequency, low severity or mixed-severity fire regime. Since the suppression of this natural disturbance process, these areas have become more dense and closed, with shade-tolerant species replacing the pines and more widely scattered open-grown Douglas-fir and incense-cedar, which were so prevalent in these areas, and are now succumbing to competition and stress-related pest and disease. In moister, higher, and more north aspects, fire regime was a low frequency, high severity regime. Approximately 22% of Riparian Reserves in the Skillem planning area have been previously clear-cut. Many of these Riparian Reserves are primarily Douglas-fir plantations presently in the stem-exclusion stage. These stem- exclusion stands are very dense and lack diversity due to the selection of Douglas-fir over other species during planting. If left untreated many such stands are on a track to develop as closed, homogeneous stands that do not represent desired conditions for the Riparian Reserve land allocation. Roads in riparian areas have the potential to reduce vegetation, increase the risk of vectoring invasive species, reduce infiltration, change flow paths, increase sedimentation, and impede connectivity to streams and riparian areas over long time periods since these are long-term features. Approximately 31 miles of system roads currently exist within the Skillet Creek Riparian Reserves, with about 213 stream crossings. Also in the planning area there are many miles of abandoned roads within or leading to historical logging units. These dead-end roads were built in the 1950s and 1960s to haul logs out of the original clear cuts. These roads are referred to as “unclassified roads” by the Forest Service because they were built and left after logging and never evaluated as part of the long-term road system. Under today’s practices, many of the abandoned roads in the Skillem project units would have qualified as temporary

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roads that would have been obliterated following logging use. Some of the abandoned roads located on slopes, and lacking surface rock, have had long-term erosion problems that continue today. During the 2002 Tiller Complex and 2013 Whiskey Complex fires, approximately 536 acres of Riparian Reserve burned. Of this, 205 acres burned at a low or very low intensity, 217 acres burned at moderate intensity, and 114 acres burned at high intensity. These fires likely had an ecologically beneficial effect over many of the Riparian Reserves within the Skillet Creek subwatershed, as a natural disturbance process was restored. However, since fuel densities were higher than natural levels due to past management including fire suppression, other Riparian Reserves likely experienced a more severe burn as a result.

Proposed Riparian Reserve Treatments All Riparian Reserves within commercial thinning units were assessed for the need for thinning to meet ACS objectives. Of the approximately 4,700 acres of Riparian Reserve within the planning area, 97% of these Riparian Reserves would not be thinned under the action alternatives. Of those thinned, 25 acres would be thinned under a non-commercial treatment, and 140 acres would be treated by commercial harvest (commercial thinning in plantations and commercially harvest shaded fuel breaks). Alternatives 2 and 3 would thin Riparian Reserves using logging methods as described Table 28. The Riparian Reserve thinning prescriptions would be the same as in the adjacent uplands, except would exclude gaps. Canopy cover within thinned Riparian Reserves after treatment would range from 37% to 50%. Table 28. Acres of thinning and logging systems proposed in Riparian Reserves.

Actions Alternative 1 Alternative 2 Alternative 3 Thinning in Riparian Reserves Commercial Thinning 0 140 140 Non-commercial Thinning 0 25 25 Logging Systems in Riparian Reserves Skyline and Yoader 0 80 80 Mechanized 0 55 55 Skyline Landings 0 10 10 Mechanized Landings 0 0 0 Road work in the Riparian Reserve related to thinning would be necessary in order to access the units for thinning and log haul (Table 29). Approximately 0.1 mile (0.2 acres) of temporary roads would be constructed or reconstructed within Riparian Reserve in 3 units: • Unit 30 – 250 feet of new temporary road would be constructed in outer Riparian Reserve of a discontinuous intermittent stream and a small non-fish perennial stream • Unit 70 – 200 feet of existing non-system road would be used. This road crosses a very discontinuous ephemeral stream and no cut buffer. The stream is subsurface at the crossing. • Unit 100 – 150 feet of new temporary road would be constructed in the outer Riparian Reserve of a non-fish perennial stream. All temporary roads would be obliterated by sub-soiling and covered with slash after use.

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Table 29. Temporary road construction and reconstruction proposed within Riparian Reserve.

Actions Alternative 1 Alternative 2 Alternative 3 New permanent logging roads 0 0 0 New temporary logging roads 0 0.1 acres* (less than 0.1 miles) 0.1 acres* (less than 0.1 miles) (obliterated following use)

Reconstruct legacy logging road Less than 0.1 acres* (less than Less than 0.1* acres (less than 0 (obliterated following use) 0.1 miles) 0.1 miles) *A 12-foot road width was used to calculate the road acreage figures displayed in this table. Fuel treatments proposed in Riparian Reserves are shown in Table 30. Activity fuels generated from commercial thinning that are too dense to leave untreated, would be used as biomass if feasible, otherwise would be underburned or piled and burned. Three large blocks would be burned under prescribed conditions to restore fire to overly dense areas where the natural fire cycle has been disrupted. Table 30. Fuels treatment (in acres) proposed within Riparian Reserves.

Actions Alternative 1 Alternative 2 Alternative 3 Activity Fuels Underburning 0 32 32 Activity Fuels Hand Pile Burning 0 15 15 Activity Fuels Grapple Pile Burning 0 40 40 Shaded Fuel break Construction – Commercial 0 5 5 Shaded Fuel break Construction – Non-commercial 0 122 122 Prescribed Burn 0 400 400 Other activities proposed in Riparian Reserves are shown in Table 31. More than four miles of road within riparian reserve are proposed for removal from the system, with varying degrees of decommissioning. Some would be passively decommissioned (administratively removed from the system and from maps, and not used again so that it would rehabilitate on its own), others would be actively decommissioned by removing culverts, subsoiling and re-contouring, and covering with slash. Subsoiling would be done either over the entire road or in localized segments. Most of these roads are currently not drivable by truck or by ATV. Hand line (1.1 miles) fire breaks would be constructed to facilitate prescribed burning. Table 31. Other activities proposed within Riparian Reserves.

Actions Alternative 1 Alternative 2 Alternative 3 Decommission System 0 4.4 miles (7.5 acres) 4.2 miles (7.1 acres) Road Hand Line Fire Breaks 0 1.1 miles 1.1 miles

Direct Effects – Riparian Reserves The direct effects to Riparian Reserve conditions are defined as those occurring within the confines of the Riparian Reserve over the course of one to two decades. A summary of Riparian Reserve effects is found in Table 33. Under Alternative 1, no soil disturbance or vegetation removal from logging or activity fuel burning would occur, thus no organisms would be killed, no bare soil would be exposed, and no productivity losses would occur in Riparian Reserves. Riparian Reserves proposed for thinning would remain in high

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density conditions, with undesirable species composition and structure for decades and be at higher risk of stand-replacing fire. Restorative road, meadow, riparian and fuel treatments would not move the watershed towards a more desirable condition by reducing adverse impacts of past and present management. The commercial thinning under Alternatives 2 and 3 would lower the existing canopy cover down to approximately 37% to 50%, depending on the thinning intensity. Stream buffer widths are variable under the proposed project and are based on slope, stability, and whether the riparian reserve needs thinning to meet ACS objectives. Wetlands less than 1 acre, including seeps and springs, would be buffered 50 feet, while wetlands bigger than 1 acre would be buffered 50 to 150 feet. Stream buffers are shown in Table 32. Table 32. Stream Buffers Proposed for commercial and non-commercial units.

Buffer Width (feet) Unit Type Stream Class Distance is on each side of stream channel. Commercial Units 1 - perennial, used by anadromous fish 120 2 - perennial, resident fish only 120 3 - perennial, no fish 85 to 170 4 - intermittent or ephemeral 50 to 120 Non-commercial Units 1 - perennial, used by anadromous fish none 2 - perennial, resident fish only none 3 - perennial, no fish 60 4- intermittent or ephemeral 50 All Riparian Reserves proposed for thinning are in an unnaturally dense condition due to fire suppression and past regeneration harvest; thinning these areas would move these stands towards conditions more like those that existed before the last 100 years of land management. Prescriptions are designed to improve species diversity, structural complexity, and stand resilience to fire, insects and disease. The 140 acres of proposed commercial thinning within Riparian Reserves makes up about 3% of the total Riparian Reserve in the planning area. Prescriptions are designed to remove species and size classes that are over represented in these stands, and bring species composition and stand structure to conditions more representative of areas under the influence of natural disturbance regimes for the watershed. Approximately 55 acres of ground-based logging are proposed in Riparian Reserve under this project. The ground-based logging would exert the most direct impact to Riparian Reserves due to soil and vegetation disturbance compared to skyline logging. Post-treatment monitoring of timber sales has revealed that the amount of disturbed soil varies by logging system with skyline logging typically disturbing less than 4% of the surface of a given harvest unit and ground-based logging disturbing about 10% of the surface of a harvest unit (USDA Forest Service, 1997). Soil disturbance results in a loss of site productivity, and vegetation clearing results in habitat modification. The actual amount of disturbance expected with the ground-based logging would be about one-tenth of the total ground-based logging acres because skid trails typically affect approximately 10% of the area logged. Mitigation measures to minimize impacts from ground-based logging include limiting the density of skid trails, restricting equipment entry to no closer than 50 feet from stream channels or wetlands, or beyond the no-harvest buffer, whichever is greater, and subsoiling skid trails after use. Near all streams and wetlands, directional falling would be used to prevent damage to these areas from tree-falling. These

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measures and others, detailed in the Proposed Action and Alternatives section of this EA, function to lower the extent and intensity of the impacts disclosed above. No skyline corridors would cross any stream. The reconstruction of approximately 0.1 acres of legacy temporary roads within Riparian Reserve would cause soil disturbance in these areas. This segment would cross a small discontinuous ephemeral stream which is subsurface at the crossing area. Another 0.1 acre of new temporary road would be constructed in the outer parts of two Riparian Reserves along a small perennial non-fish bearing stream, and a small intermittent stream. After project completion, all sites would be sub-soiled to a minimum depth of 20 inches to improve infiltration capacity caused by compaction, and covered with slash to prevent erosion and surface sealing. Although subsoiling decreases the effect of compaction on infiltration, this effect would likely last for several decades (Foltz et al., 2009; Luce, 1997). The new and existing temporary road disturbance would cover far less than 1% of Riparian Reserve within the subwatershed. Most runoff generated by temporary spur road compaction would infiltrate upon leaving the road surface. Subsoiling and slashing would also lessen the risk of invasive weed growth and ATV use as these areas recover. No ground-based landings would be constructed within Riparian Reserve, but approximately 10 skyline landings would be placed in outer Riparian Reserves on existing system roads, so ground disturbance would be minimal, and erosion control would be used as needed. Non-commercial thinning within Riparian Reserves would include thinning plantations to release young trees and lower density, and thinning to reduce fuels within fuel breaks where commercial thinning is not possible or desired. Young plantation thinning would reduce stress-related mortality and allow leave trees to grow faster. More open conditions can also allow more understory development increasing species diversity and stand structure in these dense monocultures. This treatment type would use hand treatments only (no equipment), and stream buffers would protect bank rooted and near stream trees. Materials would be hand-piled and burned where it creates excessive fuel loading. Adverse impacts from this treatment would be minimized due to PDFs. The fuel treatments that apply fire to concentrated slash piles would also result in direct effects to Riparian Reserves in terms of site productivity and bare soil exposure. Such concentrated pile burning typically removes the soil duff, exposing mineral soil and killing small, low mobility organisms. Approximately 40 acres of grapple piles would be built within Riparian Reserve. To reduce adverse soil damage, piles would be located at least 50 to 100 feet away from streams or wetlands or outside no-cut buffers, whichever is greater. Hand piles can be expected to affect only about 3% of the area treated. None would be located within 50 feet of any stream. Disturbance of ground cover, vegetation, and small organisms associated with the fuel treatments are somewhat minimized because the concentrated slash piles would be burned during wet weather when site impacts are minimized since large down wood and duff are less likely to be completely consumed, thus lessening impacts. Under-burning of activity fuels and prescribed burning of natural fuels would also cause disturbance of ground cover, vegetation, and small organisms, as well as some canopy loss. This canopy loss would be minimal due to burning during moist conditions, and would likely occur in a clumpy discontinuous pattern. The re-introduction of fire into these areas would have the beneficial effect of restoring this natural disturbance process which has been excluded for decades in these areas; conditions after burning are expected to help move these areas towards the vegetation structure and species composition found before fire suppression. The above direct effects from thinning and burning would occur on a small scale in terms of the riparian reserve network in the watershed. Moreover, no-harvest buffers on all streams would help moderate these effects providing a cooler, denser forest paralleling all channels.

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Approximately 1.1 miles of hand line fire breaks would be constructed within Riparian Reserve. Vegetation removal and soil disturbance would occur, but this disturbance would be minimized by PDFs directing placement and rehabilitation of hand line. Hand line construction is necessary for the re- introduction of fire into the landscape on the 1,004 acres of natural fuels burning proposed under this project. Approximately 400 acres of this burning would be within Riparian Reserve. Additionally, approximately 122 acres of non-commercial shaded fuel break would be constructed within Riparian Reserve. Within these areas, no vegetation would be manipulated within primary shade zones. Outside primary shade zones, small diameter vegetation would be removed and scattered or hand- piled. During project development, dispersed camp sites along the South Umpqua River corridor were assessed for impacts to riparian and aquatic conditions, and five were identified as having substantial adverse impacts, that would be mitigated by the original proposed action. Under Alternative 2, spur roads to these sites were proposed for decommissioning in order to reduce damage to the river environment from recreational use. Impacts from all 5 sites include severe soil compaction and loss of vegetation, tree mortality due to soil compaction and recreational cutting, contamination of water and soil from human waste, trash and chemicals from vehicles and other activities in close proximity to the river, sedimentation and bank erosion from user created trails to river, and harassment and poaching of Spring Chinook salmon and other fish. After issues were raised during scoping about the loss of access to traditionally used dispersed campsites from this decommissioning, Alternative 3 was developed. Alternative 3 would completely decommission 2 of the 5 spur roads, and one site would become a long walk-in after the decommissioning of a segment of the 2823 road (under the Tiller Aquatic Restoration Project). The end segments of two other spurs would be converted to trail, but the rest left open; however, if users breach the barriers and continue to drive to the river, these spurs would be fully converted to trail back to a small parking area at the 28 road. Also under Alternative 3, spur roads to 2 existing dispersed campsites that are currently not on the FS system would be added to the system for continued use. These 2 sites have less impact on the river environment due to their locations farther back from the river, and due to their bedrock stream banks. Another new site would be added to the system as an RV reservation site under Alternative 3; this site is adjacent to the river, but is an existing paved parking area where the old Emerson Bridge used to be. This site would likely have relatively low impact to aquatic and riparian conditions since it is paved and is highly visible from the main road. Overall, both action alternatives would benefit Riparian Reserve conditions by reducing adverse impacts from recreational use; those benefits would be somewhat greater under Alternative 2 than Alternative 3. Approximately 4 miles of system road within Riparian Reserve, besides the dispersed camp spurs mentioned above, are also proposed for decommissioning under both action alternatives. Adverse impacts to Riparian Reserve from these road segments include soil compaction and loss of vegetation including stream shade, hydrologic impacts from groundwater interception and rerouting, increased erosion and sedimentation, reduced connectivity of aquatic and riparian habitat, and increased likelihood of invasive species with future use. During scoping, concerns were raised regarding ground disturbance and loss of vegetation during decommissioning. Impacts from the decommissioning process depends on the level of work needed to arrest drainage problems that are causing erosion and sedimentation, and attain recovery of the road prism. Within Riparian Reserves, under Alternatives 2 and 3, approximately 0.7 miles out of the 4 miles would be administrative removals from the system, but no work would be done on the ground since they are already recovering and have no culverts or drainage problems at present. Approximately 0.3 miles would be fully obliterated by subsoiling and re-contouring. The remaining 3.1 miles would require removal of stream crossing culverts, and may also be subsoiled and

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re-contoured. Slash would be used to cover disturbed soils. Culvert removal, subsoiling and equipment moving to work sites would cause soil disturbance and removal of vegetation. This would set back vegetation recovery and cause increased sedimentation in the short term, but in the long term, this work would prevent additional on-going sedimentation from erosion, prevent large sedimentation events when the culverts fail or when road-related mass failures occur, and would provide improved growing conditions for tree roots once soil compaction is reduced. Many of the trees that would be removed during decommissioning are likely not attaining deep healthy root structure needed to support long-term healthy growth since they are growing on highly compacted road beds. Implementation of proposed subsoiling, re-contouring and culvert removal would be dependent on availability of funding, and would be prioritized according to severity of impacts. The removal of culverts, subsoiling and re-contouring where needed and making sure these decommissioned roads would not be used in the future, would improve aquatic and riparian conditions under Alternatives 2 and 3. In summary, several types of direct adverse effects to Riparian Reserve conditions can be expected to occur under Alternatives 2 and 3. The magnitude of these effects at the planning area scale are small due to the small percentage of Riparian Reserve treated; effects at the site scale are more pronounced, but would be minimized by PDFs. Multiple beneficial effects as mentioned previously would be long-term.

Indirect Effects – Riparian Reserves The indirect effects to riparian area forests are those that would occur within the Riparian Reserves over the long-term (continue for more than two decades), or that would occur beyond the immediate treatment areas. Under Alternative 1, higher quantities of small diameter trees would be available for snag and down wood recruitment in areas outside no-harvest buffers as compared to Alternatives 2 and 3. However, it would take longer for larger diameter trees to become available for snags and down wood. More legacy trees would succumb to stress related to competition with dense young trees nearby. Risk of high severity fire within Riparian Reserves within these stands would remain higher than under Alternatives 2 and 3. Thinning under Alternatives 2 and 3 would lower snag and down wood recruitment rates compared to Alternative 1, by removing trees that would die from suppression mortality. The majority of the snag recruitment loss would be from smaller-sized trees as suppression mortality typically kills smaller trees rather than the larger dominant trees, and since the largest trees would not be removed. The large wood recruitment loss to perennial stream channels would be largely mitigated by the 85 foot no-harvest buffers, since most of the wood that naturally recruits to streams comes from within the first 90 feet of the stream (Murphy and Koski, 1989; McDade et al., 1990; Johnston et al., 2011). Although channel and riparian habitat quality would be somewhat diminished by the loss of smaller-sized trees, the extent of the proposed thinning is not expected to result in riparian species population declines. There would be some acceleration of larger wood available to channels, especially intermittent ones, due to release of remaining trees. Although small wood plays an important role in structure and function of small streams, large wood can accumulate more sediment, last longer and is more likely to remain stable during floods, than smaller wood (Bilby and Ward, 1989; Montgomery et al., 2003). Larger diameter wood is also necessary for meeting requirements of many wildlife species (Keisker, 2000). Alternatives 2 and 3 would result in long-term beneficial effects to Riparian Reserve forest structure and composition with the development of more desired riparian conditions than under Alternative 1. As such, under Alternative 2, Northwest Forest Plan Standard and Guide TM-1 (c) would be met because the

90 Tiller Ranger District, Umpqua National Forest silvicultural practices applied to control stocking in the selected Riparian Reserves contribute to meeting the desired vegetation characteristics needed to attain Aquatic Conservation Strategy objectives. The magnitude of these beneficial effects from Alternatives 2 and 3 are small since only a small portion of the Riparian Reserve land use allocation in the planning area would be treated and the rate at which these effects would accrue over time is gradual. Table 33. Summary of Riparian Reserve and stream channel actions and effects.

Riparian or Stream Primary Effect (Beneficial or Duration Alternative Alternative Alternative Change Adverse) 1 2 3 Commercial Thinning Beneficial—restoration of species More than 0 acres 140 acres 140 acres and structural diversity/late 30 years Lower tree density and successional characteristics, less crown closure lower risk of severe fire effects Adverse— dryer microclimate, 10 to 20 0 acres 140 acres 140 acres increased risk of weed infestation years Change in snag and down Beneficial—accelerated growth of up to 60 or 0 acres 140 acres 140 acres wood recruitment process leave trees for future recruitment more years Adverse—loss of suppression 30 years 0 acres 140 acres 140 acres mortality in smaller-sized trees Ground disturbance Adverse – loss of groundcover, 2 to 5 years 0 acres 140 acres 140 acres soil compaction Non-Commercial Thinning Lower tree density and Beneficial—improved species and 30 or more 0 acres 25 acres 25 acres less crown closure structural diversity/late years successional characteristics, lower risk of severe fire effects Adverse—dryer microclimate, 10 to 20 0 acres 25 acres 25 acres increased risk of weed infestation years Change in snag and down Beneficial—accelerated growth of Up to 60 0 acres 25 acres 25 acres wood recruitment process leave trees for future recruitment years Adverse—loss of suppression 30 years 0 acres 25 acres 25 acres mortality in smaller-sized trees Fuels Treatments Shaded fuel break Adverse – slight alteration of construction (non- 5 to 10 years 0 acres 122 acres 122 acres vegetation commercial) Adverse – soil disturbance, loss of Hand piling of activity site productivity, risk of weed 5 to 20 years 0 acres 15 acres 15 acres fuels infestations Adverse – soil disturbance, loss of Grapple piling of activity 10 to 30 site productivity, risk of weed 0 acres 40 acres 40 acres fuels years infestations Adverse – soil disturbance, loss of Underburning of activity site productivity, risk of weed 5 to 20 years 0 acres 32 acres 32 acres fuels infestations Beneficial – restoration of natural 20 to 30 0 acres 400 acres 400 acres Prescribed burn – change disturbance process years of vegetation structure Adverse – consumption of some 5 to 20 years 0 acres 400 acres 400 acres plants, canopy removal

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Riparian or Stream Primary Effect (Beneficial or Duration Alternative Alternative Alternative Change Adverse) 1 2 3 Hand line construction Adverse – vegetation removal 5 years 0 mile 1.1 miles 1.1 miles Road Work

Adverse – vegetation removal, 0 miles 4.4 miles 4.4 miles 1 to 15 years increased sedimentation (0 acres) (7.5 acres) (7.5 acres) Decommission of existing system roads Beneficial—improved connectivity, infiltration and vegetation; 0 miles 4.4 miles 4.4 miles perpetuity reduction in erosion and (0 acres) (7.5 acres) (7.5 acres) sedimentation About 50 About 50 Beneficial – Small scale erosion 20 or more 0 sites (32 known (32 known risk reduction years Replacement or removal sites) sites) of culverts Adverse – small scale About 50 About 50 modifications to stream channel 2 years 0 sites (32 known and sedimentation at site and (32 known sites) downstream sites) Construction, reconstruction and Adverse – temporary loss of 20 or more Less than Less than 0 acres obliteration of temporary vegetation, compaction. years 0.2 acres 0.2 acres roads

Cumulative Effects – Riparian Reserves The potential of Alternatives 2 and 3 to result in either adverse or beneficial cumulative effects to Riparian Reserve conditions is addressed at the scale of the planning area. Since the direct and indirect effects to riparian forests result in low magnitude effects it is reasonable to assume that these effects would only overlap with the effects of other past, present, and foreseeable future activities at the scale of the planning area. The current road system within Riparian Reserve causes many negative impacts including loss of wood recruitment, habitat, shade, and reduced connectivity. The beneficial cumulative effects of Alternatives 2 and 3 are long term in terms of improved stand vigor, restoration of historical stand structure, and permanent reduction in adverse road impacts. In comparison, the adverse cumulative effects are minor and short term. Activities within the action alternatives determined not to have an effect on Riparian Reserves due to absence of a relationship between the activity and the resource include: administrative changes to designated road use, quarry development, conifer encroachment treatment, and Acker Rock view improvement. As such direct, indirect, and cumulative effects from these activities are not anticipated.

Stream Channels

Summary of Effects Under Alternative 1, there would be no short-term adverse impacts to any stream channels related to this project as there would be no action taken. There would be an increased risk of culvert failure and associated channel damage from culverts that would not be replaced or removed. No beneficial effects of improved aquatic connectivity and stream bank restoration would result as there would be no removal of culverts on decommissioned roads.

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Under Alternatives 2 and 3, there would be short-term disturbance to stream banks where culverts would be replaced or removed, but also long-term benefits where stream banks would be restored after road decommissioning. The risk of adverse channel effects from culvert failure would be reduced where culverts would be replaced or removed.

Forest Plan Standards and Guidelines The Standards and Guidelines for stream channels from the Umpqua Forest Plan and the Northwest Forest Plan specifically related to the Skillem project are listed below. These standards and guidelines would be met by project design features. • LRMP Watershed cumulative effects and water quality standard and guideline 2, p.IV-64: Beneficial uses of water and aquatic habitats would not be degraded by scoured stream channels caused by timber harvest, road construction, and related activities. • Northwest Forest Plan Road Management-2e, p. C-32: For each existing or planned road, meet Aquatic Conservation Strategy objectives by minimizing disruption of natural hydrologic flow paths, including diversion of stream flow and interception of surface and subsurface flow. • Northwest Forest Plan Road Management-3a, p. C-32: Meet ACS objectives by reconstructing roads and associated drainage features that pose a substantial risk. • Northwest Forest Plan Road Management-3c, C-32: Meet ACS objectives by closing and stabilizing, or obliterating and stabilizing roads based on the ongoing and potential effects considering short-term and long-term transportation needs. • Northwest Forest Plan Road Management-4, p. C-33: Existing stream crossings determined to pose a substantial risk to riparian conditions would be improved to accommodate at least a 100- year flood. Crossings would be maintained to prevent diversion of streamflow out of the channel and down the road in the event of crossing failure.

Affected Environment – Stream Channels Streams in the planning area are primarily affected by roads that cross them or that exist near them, by the past management of the adjacent forest that provides bank stability and large wood input, and by the effects of disturbance such as floods and fire which in turn are influenced by management. Erosion and sedimentation are natural geomorphic processes that shape the physical appearance of the landscape and strongly influence aquatic ecosystems. The range of natural variability for sediment delivery to streams and wetlands within the planning area is considered to be very large because erosion processes are influenced by infrequent natural disturbance events such as floods and wildfire. Sedimentation rates to streams are typically inconsequential on a year-to-year basis but can spike several orders of magnitude during large storm events, especially after fire. Land management has the potential to accelerate erosion rates and the volume of sediment entering streams and wetlands. Fluvial erosion is the erosion of stream banks and stream beds from the forces of water. Stream channels change both spatially and temporally under the fundamental influences of climate, geology, and topography. These factors help determine the streamflow and sediment regimes, as well as riparian vegetation which provides in-stream wood. Disturbances can affect stream channel form and the equilibrium between sediment input and output. The historic sediment regime was defined by the occasional episodic sediment delivery from large scale fires or floods followed by years of recovery with little or no disturbance. Most sediment delivery came from mass wasting and fluvial erosion as a result of large post fire rainstorms, rather than from surface

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erosion. The sediment regime is now also influenced by chronic low-level sediment delivery occurring every winter, due to the road system and clear-cut influenced landslides and slumps on private lands. The most sensitive channels in the planning area are associated with earthflow terrain. Earthflow channels often lack the complex geology structure in the form of various sized substrates (cobbles and small to large boulders) and are dependent on external input, specifically large wood recruitment, for channel complexity and stability. The erosional processes associated with these channels produce a high proportion of fine sediments and little armoring of the bed and banks. As a result they often have little resistance to down-cutting and bank erosion during winter storm flow where channel wood is lacking. The intermittent and small perennial non-fish bearing stream channels in the earthflow terrain have been the most impacted from historical timber management and road building. The past clearcutting of riparian vegetation, especially along the banks of these stream channels, has contributed to root strength loss, which otherwise helps to bind the fine-textured soil in-place and provides physical resistance to fluvial erosion, thereby controlling sediment delivery. Past logging disturbances from yarding old- growth logs near and through these sensitive channels without suspension or mitigation measures has also influenced potential delivery of sediment to these stream channels. Many of the streams in the Skillem planning area have experienced impacts from stream cleanout (removal of wood from the channel), ground-based equipment within channels, road crossings, and riparian forest harvest with little or no buffers during the early decades of timber harvesting. Removal of wood and bank vegetation, along with past increased peak flows from canopy removal during decades when clear cutting was common and road effects (see Streamflow section), have resulted in channel down-cutting rates higher than under natural conditions, especially in streams with fine substrate (earthflow). This down-cutting has led to further bank destabilization and reduced floodplain and hyporheic zone connectivity. The high density of roads and approximately 213 road and stream crossings within the watershed reduces movement of wood, bedload, and aquatic organisms. Also, because many culverts are undersized or damaged, sediment delivery and channel scour is often increased from chronic scouring or from acute and sometimes very large inputs when culverts plug and wash out during floods.

Proposed Activities in Stream Channels Proposed activities impacting stream channels are identical in Alternatives 2 and 3 (Table 34). Both action alternatives would improve road drainage along 8 miles of road to reduce the effects of stream extension by adding water bars, dips, and ditch relief culverts. In addition to that work, about 50 culverts are proposed to be replaced or removed as shown in Table 34 (where 32 sites are known at this time and additional culverts may be identified during implementation). A culvert on the 2814-100 road, which is severely undersized and a barrier to anadromous fish, would be replaced to restore passage of Coho, Steelhead, and Lamprey. Other culverts would be replaced because they are damaged or undersized, or would be removed to reduce plugging risk, improve connectivity and restore channel configuration on roads that would be put into storage or decommissioned.

Direct Effects – Stream Channels The direct effects to stream channels are defined as those short-term effects at the immediate location of instream project activities over a period of up to five years. This is based on observations of the recovery time for in-channel and bank disturbances associated with road reconstruction, obliteration, and instream restoration projects.

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Under Alternative 1, no adverse direct effects to stream channels or aquatic organisms would occur since no instream work would be implemented. No beneficial effects from culvert replacements and removals, road drainage improvement, or road decommissioning would be realized. The direct adverse effects to stream channels from culvert replacement and removal would be increased sediment input from implementing, with bare soil exposure throughout the area of the stream crossing work. Channel banks and beds would also be modified during these activities with equipment working on banks and within channels to excavate existing fill material surrounding the existing culverts and backfill around the new culverts. Sediment delivery to streams from culvert replacements and removals generally ranges from 3 to 9 cubic yards per site depending on depth of fill. Most culvert sites are dispersed across the watershed, and sediment delivery would be minimal with respect to the overall sediment regime; some sedimentation in these streams could occur during the first winter, but this would be short term and would be minimized by the implementation of PDFs and BMPs to reduce erosion. Any increase in sedimentation as a result of this culvert work would likely be much less than what would occur if and when these high risk culverts failed if not treated. Fish would not be present at the stream crossings proposed for work, except at the Flood Creek site on 2814-100. At this site, fish would be removed and relocated to a nearby stream before work commences. Overall, there would be some adverse short-term impacts to channels during road decommissioning related to disturbance as culverts are removed and stream banks are re-contoured. There would also be beneficial long term recovery of all the stream crossings on these roads, as they would no longer be subject to the effects of road and stream interactions in the future. Table 34. Proposed Stream Channel Work.

Road Number Stream Class Proposed Modification 2700-903 4 Humboldt crossing has failed; culvert or bridge would be temporarily added for project implementation, then removed and stream banks restored on road put into storage 2700-990 3 Permanently remove 1 culvert and restore stream banks on decommissioned road 2700-992 3 Temporarily remove 1 undersized, rusted out, dysfunctional culvert on road put into storage 2800-353 3 and 4 Permanently remove 3 culverts by blasting or excavator, on decommissioned road 2814 3 Replace 1 damaged and undersized culvert on open road 2814-100 1 Replace severely undersized, fish barrier culvert to restore access for Coho Salmon and Steelhead 2814-205 3 Permanently remove 1 culvert and restore stream banks on decommissioned road 2814-498 3 Permanently remove 3 culverts and restore stream banks on decommissioned road 2835-120 3 and 4 Permanently remove 5 culverts and restore stream banks on decommissioned road 2838 3 and 4 Replace 10 damaged and undersized culverts on open road 2838-700 4 Replace 1 culvert at high risk of failure on open road 2838-710 3 Temporarily remove 2 culverts on road put into storage 2838-710 4 Permanently remove 1 culvert on decommissioned road 2838-722 4 Permanently remove 1 culvert on decommissioned road 2838-800 4 Replace 1 undersized, damaged culvert on open road 2838-826 4 Humboldt crossing is failing; a culvert would be temporarily added for project implementation, then removed and stream banks restored on road put into storage

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Prescribed burning under Alternatives 2 and 3 is likely to temporarily remove bank vegetation where fire burns to stream edges, and create snags that would provide wood to channels when they fall. These impacts are likely to be minimal since prescribed burning is done under conditions where fire severity is low. Since fire is a natural disturbance process, the overall effects of prescribed burning on stream channels is likely to be beneficial.

Indirect Effects – Stream Channels The indirect effects to stream channels are defined as the long-term effects of the instream work that would last longer than five years, plus any downstream effects in perennial streams or fish bearing streams in the planning area. Connectivity would be improved by replacing or removing damaged and undersized culverts under Alternatives 2 and 3. Improved connectivity equates to improved movement of organisms up and downstream and improved flow of water, sediment, and wood (to varying degrees) compared to these same sites under Alternative 1 where no work would occur.

Cumulative Effects - Streams Channels The potential of Alternatives 2 and 3 to result in either adverse or beneficial cumulative effects to stream conditions is addressed at the scale of the planning area. Since the direct and indirect effects to stream channels result in low magnitude effects it is reasonable to assume that these effects would only overlap with the effects of other past, present, and foreseeable future activities at the scale of the planning area. Activities within the action alternatives determined not to have an effect on stream channels due to absence of a relationship between the activity and the resource include: commercial and non-commercial thinning and fuels reduction, temporary road construction and removal, quarry expansion, noxious weed treatment, lookout view improvement, and wildlife openings. As such direct, indirect and cumulative effects from these activities are not anticipated. Fisheries

Summary of Effects to Fisheries Resources

Alternative 1 (No Action) would result in the continuation of poor aquatic habitat conditions within the Skillet Creek-South Umpqua River subwatershed and the continued poaching and harassment of spring Chinook salmon. Alternatives 2 and 3 would have short-term negative effects to aquatic habitat from fine sediment generated from prescribed fire, culvert replacements and log haul, and long-term positive effects to aquatic habitat from road decommissioning, culvert removal and reduction in pre-spawn mortality from poaching and harassment. Cumulative effects of Alternative 2 and 3 are short-term negative from fine sediment generated from both the proposed activities and ongoing instream habitat restoration. However, long-term positive cumulative effects are anticipated, particularly for spring Chinook, from a slight reduction in peak flow, a decrease in pre-spawn mortality and an improvement in aquatic habitat. The effects determination for Endangered Species Act (ESA) listed Oregon Coast (OC) coho salmon (Threatened) and critical habitat is Not Likely to Adversely Affect (NLAA), while the determination for Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) under the Magnuson–Stevens Act is no adverse modification. For Region 6 sensitive species OC steelhead, Pacific lamprey, and Denning agapetus caddisfly, Alternatives 2 and 3 May Impact Individuals or Habitat (MIIH) but would not likely contribute to a trend towards federal

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listing or cause a loss of viability to the population. There is No Impact to any other sensitive species (Table 39).

Forest Plan Standards and Watershed Analysis Recommendations

Project Design Features and Best Management Practices were created and included in this project to ensure compliance with relevant Forest Plan Standards and Guidelines related to Fisheries and recommendations of the 2004 Upper South Umpqua Watershed Analysis, including: • Fisheries S&G 1: Maintain all effective shading vegetation on perennial streams. • Fisheries S&G 3: Retain all existing instream large woody material, streamside snags and downed material within riparian areas of perennial streams. • Fisheries S&G 9. Keep total fine sediment (less than 1.0 mm) to less than 20% by weight in spawning gravels. • Fisheries S&G 12: Locate new roads outside riparian areas; except where a stream crossing is necessary. Road reconstruction should not further degrade riparian areas. • Watershed Analysis Recommendation: Discourage swimming in selected spring Chinook resting pools by controlling access or restricting camping in Riparian Reserves. • Watershed Analysis Recommendation: Protect spring Chinook holding pools.

Methodology

Resource Indicators and Measures Effects of the proposed activities were analyzed using habitat indicators from the “Analytical Process for Developing Biological Assessments for Federal Actions Affecting Fish Within the Northwest Forest Plan Area” (USDA, USDC, USDI BLM and USDI USFWS, 2004) to evaluate the potential effects of the Project on environmental parameters important to Pacific salmon and other species, including: ESA- listed Oregon Coast (OC) coho salmon and their critical habitat; OC Chinook salmon, regulated by the Magnuson-Stevens Act (MSA); OC steelhead, Region 6 sensitive species; and Pacific lamprey, Region 6 Sensitive Species. The habitat indicators include: 1) Temperature; 2) Suspended sediment and substrate character and embeddedness; 3) Chemical contamination and nutrients; 4) Physical barriers; 5) Large woody debris; 6) Pool frequency, quality and depth; 7) Off channel habitat, width to depth ratio, streambank condition, floodplain connectivity and refugia; 8) Drainage network and peak and base flows; and 9) Watershed condition indicators including disturbance history, riparian reserves, disturbance regime, road density, and road location. Additionally, population viability for spring Chinook salmon is used to evaluate the effects the Alternatives.

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Proposed project activities were evaluated for a causal mechanism to affect the aforementioned watershed indicators. For example, the cutting of trees adjacent to stream channel has a casual mechanism that may affect the stream temperature indicator, but this action does not have a causal mechanism of affect the physical barriers indicator. Project activities including quarry operation, tree planting, mechanical weed treatment, meadow restoration and timber haul on paved roads were found to have no causal mechanism to affect any habitat indicators and were not evaluated further in the analysis.

Analysis Assumptions Proximity of a project activity to aquatic habitat was determined by presence of that activity within the Riparian Reserves. If an activity did not occur within Riparian Reserves, the activity was considered to not have proximity. As such, there was no causal mechanism to affect aquatic habitat or species and the effect of the activity is neutral. If an activity was identified as taking place within a Riparian Reserve, that activity was determined to have proximity and was analyzed to the conclusion as per the Analytical Process (AP; USDA, USDC, USDI BLM and USDI USFWS, 2004). If an activity occurred within the outer Riparian Reserve (typically greater than 50 feet) and was separated from the stream channel by an effective buffer with no connectivity to a stream channel, the activity was determined to lack a causal mechanism to affect the indicator despite having proximity, resulting in a neutral effect. If a project activity may improve an indicator in the short-term or long-term it is considered a positive effect and conversely an activity that may degrade the indicator is conserved to be a negative effect.

Spatial and Temporal Context for Analysis The Skillem project area occurs within the 87,000 acre Headwaters South Umpqua River 5th field watershed (17100302) in the 11,400 acre Skillet-South Umpqua River 6th field subwatershed, with timber haul occurring in the Middle South Umpqua 5th-field watershed (17100302) and Buckeye Creek 6th-field Watershed (17100302). The ESA effects area is limited to the boundary of the Skillet Creek- South Umpqua River 6th-field and the Buckeye Creek 6th-field subwatersheds. The ESA action area contains both Oregon Coast (OC) coho Salmon and approximately 4 miles of its designated Critical Habitat (CH). In addition, the action area contains an MSA species, the OC spring Chinook and several Region 6 sensitive fish and aquatic species. The temporal context for this analysis includes short-term effects which occur immediately after an activity and up to two years following that activity, and long-term effects which are effects lasting greater than two years and typically up to 10 years or longer.

Affected Environment

The South Umpqua River is the longest undammed river in the western United States (214.8 miles) with unimpeded access to the Pacific Ocean. The upper South Umpqua River, a fifth order stream and 5th- field watershed, flows west from Rhododendron Ridge and the Rogue-Umpqua Divide in two large tributaries, Black Rock Fork and Castle Rock Fork, respectively. The confluence of these two tributaries gives rise to the South Umpqua River and is the upstream boundary of the Skillet Creek-South Umpqua River 6th-Field subwatershed. The South Umpqua River then flows for approximately 8.1 miles before leaving the watershed just below South Umpqua Falls at Buckeye Creek.

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Anadromous Fish Occurrence OC Coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch; ESA Listed Threatened) The Skillet Creek-South Umpqua River subwatershed contains approximately 4.0 miles of OC coho salmon habitat primarily in the lowest reach of Buckeye Creek and the lower South Umpqua River below South Umpqua Falls. Coho surveys conducted in 1986 reported four redds and six adults in the lower 0.25 miles of Buckeye Creek. In 1987 an average of 3.3 adults per mile were reported and 2 redds were observed, and in 1989, 3 redds were observed. On the South Umpqua River in 1986, 12 adults and 6 redds were observed below South Umpqua Falls, with no fish observed moving through the fish ladder. Oregon Coast coho salmon Critical Habitat (CHU) was designated by NOAA, National Marine Fisheries Service up to the South Umpqua Falls, however, coho have been observed up to the mouth of Quartz Creek which is approximately 3 miles upstream from the falls. In 1972 the Oregon State Game Commission estimated that upwards of 4,000 coho spawned in the South Umpqua basin, mostly in Cow Creek. Between 1991 and 1996 the estimated age-0 coho salmon smolt production averaged 2,900 fish per year. Coho in the South Umpqua basin have declined over the years due to a number of factors including over-fishing, habitat degradation, and hatchery releases. Coho populations have suffered from loss of headwater holding, spawning and rearing habitat, loss of side channel overwintering habitat, habitat simplification, loss of large woody debris (LWD) and elevated water temperatures in the mainstem due to over-widened stream channels, valley bottom roads, and water withdrawals (USDA Forest Service, 2004b). OC Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha; MSA Species) The upper South Umpqua River contains one of two remaining wild Oregon Coast (OC) spring Chinook populations. The population size for the entire Oregon Coast spring Chinook ESU over the past 30 years has averaged 4,968 fish, with an average of approximately 200 fish returning to the South Umpqua River. The Umpqua basin contains two spring Chinook stocks, with the North Umpqua River stock exhibiting a stream-type life history where juveniles migrate as yearlings, and the South Umpqua River stock exhibiting an ocean- type life history where the majority of juveniles migrate within six months of emergence. The South Umpqua River stock is considered “depressed” by Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) with summer adult resting counts ranging from 22 to 643 fish between 1961 and 2010 (ODFW 2005). Between 1995 and 2010 the estimated wild smolt production averaged 13,284 fish per year, ranging from a low of 2,297 fish in 1997 to a high of 44,439 fish in 2004 (USDA Forest Service 2011). There are approximately 8.1 miles of OC spring Chinook habitat within the Skillet Creek-South Umpqua River subwatershed containing approximately 95 percent of the OC spring Chinook found in the South Umpqua River. OC spring Chinook are present at some life history stage throughout the year. Normally, adults begin their return to the river in March and migrate to deep, summer holding pools and wait until late September or early October when spawning begins, usually just prior to the onset of fall rains. Spawning continues throughout mid-October. The highest spawning densities are found along the South Umpqua River between Buckeye and Skillet Creeks, although spawning occurs throughout the upper mainstem and into the lower reaches of Black Rock and Castle Rock Forks. Redd surveys have found that most redds are built in pool tailouts, glides, side channels or in the lateral margins of riffles. Juveniles typically occur in low gradient reaches of the mainstem and juvenile densities in pools have been found to increase with increasing amounts of cover (e.g., banks, over hanging vegetation, larger substrates, or large woody debris). Humans directly impact OC spring Chinook numbers in the South Umpqua River through the poaching and harassment of over-summering adults. During their spawning migration, adults oversummer from late May and June until they spawn in September and October. Over-summering occurs in a number of

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deep pools along the South Umpqua River from the confluence of Black Rock and Castle Rock Forks to below South Umpqua Falls. These are the exact same pools that attract recreationists. Spring Chinook are highly susceptible to harassment and poaching by virtue of their being trapped in holding pools by low flows and are therefore easily agitated and are unable to escape poaching efforts. OC Steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss; Sensitive Species) Steelhead habitat is fairly ubiquitous throughout the project area, totaling 21 miles within the analysis area. Streams used within the project area include Skillet Creek, lower Flood Creek up to FS Road 28, and the mainstem South Umpqua River. Habitat on Emerson Creek is currently blocked by a culvert 100 feet upstream from the confluence of the South Umpqua River. Pacific Lamprey (Entosphenus tridentatus; Sensitive Species) Pacific lamprey have been documented in the South Umpqua River up to the confluence with Quartz Creek (River Mile 211). In general, Pacific lamprey are a mainstem species which also inhabit tributary junctions and stream segments with deposits of gravel and fine sediments. Long-term stability of gravels is important to this species and its decline is likely in part due to the destabilization of mainstem and tributary gravel deposits. Pacific Green Sturgeon (Acipenser medirostris; ESA Listed Threatened) are not known to occur in the South Umpqua sub-basin. Green sturgeon are located approximately 200 miles downstream of the planning area. Eulachon (Thaleichthys pacificus; ESA Listed Threatened) are not known to occur in the South Umpqua sub-basin. Eulachon are located approximately 200 miles downstream of the planning area.

Resident Fish Occurrence Umpqua chub (Oregonichthys kalawatseti; Sensitive Species) and Oregon chub (Oregonichthys crameri; Sensitive Species) A study detailing the abundance and distribution of the endemic Umpqua chub (Oregonichthys kalawatseti) during the past 20 years was conducted in 2006 and 2007 by David Simon and Douglas Markel of Oregon State University (Unpublished report, 2008). Results from this study reveal a precipitous decline in the distribution of Umpqua chub, particularly in the mainstem of the Umpqua, and a corresponding increase in smallmouth bass. Currently, Umpqua chub are restricted to six refugia in the Umpqua basin, including one in the upper South Umpqua River around 3C Rock Picnic Area. Snorkel surveys of the area indicate that the upstream distribution for this species is blocked by a waterfall approximately 13 miles downstream from the project area. Oregon chub (Oregonichthys crameri) is a species endemic to the Willamette River Basin and does not occur within the Umpqua Basin or the project area.

Bivalve Occurrence Only one occurrence of western ridged mussel (Gonidea angulate) has been documented on the Tiller Ranger District on the South Umpqua River five miles above Tiller (Duncan, 2006). There are no known occurrences of western ridged mussel within the project area, but based upon habitat preferences there may be up to approximately 15 miles of habitat within Upper South Umpqua Basin (USDA Forest Service, 2013). The California Floater (Anodonta californiensis) has not been documented in the project area, nor the limpet Rotund Lanx (Lanx subrotunda) and based upon habitat preferences these species are not anticipated to be within the project area (USDA Forest Service, 2013).

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Macroinvertebrate Occurrence The caddisfly Agapetus denningi (Denning's agapetus caddisfly) is only definitively known from one type locality; Rogue River National Forest, Oregon. An additional record for one male pupae of this species is known from Douglas County, Umpqua National Forest, Castle Rock Creek, 1999. Due to differences between the male genitalia and the original diagrams, this record should be considered tentative until an additional series is collected from the site, or comparisons are made with the type specimen (Xerces, 2010). A subsequent survey in 2014 found no specimens of this species (Fallon and Blackburn, 2014). Habitat information from the type locality is not known, but the closely related A. taho is common in mid-order streams of moderate gradient in forested areas over a wide elevation range. These streams often have an open mixed deciduous-coniferous canopy, with substrates dominated by cobble-boulder and bedrock that are free of fine sediment (Xerces, 2010). Given the unconfirmed sighting and habitat description this species may or may not occur within the project area. However, there appears to be approximately 8.1 miles of suitable habitat. The caddisfly Moselyana comosa has been found to be locally abundant during June from Lane, Klamath, Jackson, Hood River, Douglas, and Clackamas counties between 3,000 and 6,000 feet, with most records documenting populations as being exceedingly localized in forested seeps, particularly subalpine forest seeps (USDA Forest Service Species Fact Sheet, 2010a). There are no documented occurrences on the Tiller RD and the project area is below 3,000 feet and does not contain subalpine forested seeps. This species is not anticipated to occur within the project area. The caddisfly Namamyia plutonis occurs in the Coastal and Cascade Ranges of Oregon and California and is known from Benton, Curry, Douglas, Jackson, Josephine, Lane, and Marion counties. Populations tend to be extremely localized and are patchily distributed. Currently, fewer than 30 locations are known to contain this caddisfly, which occurs in low numbers. On Forest Service and BLM lands documented occurrences are from the Rogue River-Siskiyou, Siuslaw, and Willamette National Forests, including a recent (1999) occurrence in Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest. The majority of the documented occurrences are between 30 and 50 years old. Namamyia plutonis tend to be found associated with small streams in densely forested old growth or mature forest watersheds (USDA Forest Service Species Fact Sheet, 2010b). There are no documented occurrences on the Tiller RD and this species is not anticipated to occur within the project area as most of the smaller streams in the project area with old growth forests have been severely burned (Flood Creek and Skillet Creek). The caddisfly Rhacophilia chandleri occurs in running waters of the Cascade Mountains of Oregon, and is associated with very cold, larger spring-fed streams with ultra-oligotrophic water from 4,000 to 5,600 feet in elevation (USDA Forest Service Species Fact Sheet, 2010). Currently there are no known occurrences on the Tiller RD and there is no suitable habitat within the project area.

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Table 35. Miles of habitat usage within the Skillet Creek-South Umpqua River and Buckeye 6th field watersheds (HUCs) by aquatic species of concern.

Aquatic Species Buckeye Skillet Creek-South Total Miles Umpqua River OC coho 2.0 3.7 5.7 OC coho Critical Habitat 2.3 0.0 2.3 Spring Chinook 1.0 8.1 9.1 OC steelhead 5.0 16.0 21.0 Pacific lamprey 0.0 3.7 3.7 Umpqua chub 0.0 0.0 0.0 Western ridged mussel 0.0 0.0 0.0 California floater 0.0 0.0 0.0 Rotund lanx 0.0 8.1 8.1 Denning's agapetus caddisfly 0.0 0.0 0.0 Moselyana comosa caddisfly 0.0 0.0 0.0 Namamyia plutonis caddisfly 0.0 0.0 0.0 Rhyacophila chandleri caddisfly 0.0 0.0 0.0

Aquatic Habitat

Upper South Umpqua (HUC 171000302) The baseline for historical fish habitat conditions in the upper South Umpqua watershed is 1937, when A. R. Roth conducted an assessment of the waters within the South Umpqua [Tiller] Ranger District for the U. S. Forest Service. Road densities at this time were very low and the only access into the basin was via a primitive road and trail system. The average stream width on the mainstem within the upper South Umpqua watershed was 9.9 feet, with an average depth of 1.4 feet. Mainstem pool size was typically two times the width of the channel, somewhat shallow and open with huge rocks. Pool frequency was considered fair, with pools in close succession to each other and varying in frequency from 20 to 100 pools per mile. The dominant substrate was gravel with cobble or “rubble” and boulders, with some bedrock present. The most notable changes from 1937 to present include: 1) Change in substrate composition from gravel dominated stream with bedrock to a bedrock and boulder dominate stream system with gravel; 2) Increase in stream channel widths and a decrease in average stream depth (Dose and Roper, 1994; Table 36); 3) Decrease in large woody material from an unknown but presumably high number of pieces per mile, to a river system with less than one piece per mile; and 4) An increase from zero fish passage barriers to six man made barriers blocking 4.5 miles of fish habitat and 34 barriers blocking 10.5 miles of aquatic organism habitat (Table 37). A comparison of wetted channel widths indicates that the current channel width in the mainstem of the South Umpqua River is approximately 183% of the historic width, increasing from 10.5 feet in 1937 to 19.2 feet. The increase in width to depth ratio can be attributed to previous or historical management practices, including removal of LWD, road building and timber harvest (Dose and Roper, 1994).

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Table 36. Comparison of 1937 and 2010 stream habitat data for the Skillet Creek-South Umpqua River 6th-field watershed.

1937 2010 1937 2010

Average Average Average Average Width Depth Width Depth Reach: Description (feet) (feet) (feet) (feet) Substrate Substrate Bedrock 42%, Gravel, Cobble 25%, Bedrock, Boulder 8%, 5: Buckeye to South Umpqua Falls 34 1.5 69 1 Boulders Gravel 20% Cobble 35%, Gravel, Boulder22%, bedrock, Gravel 20%, 6: South Umpqua Falls to Quartz 33 1.6 62 0.9 rubble Bedrock 20% Cobble 20%, Boulder 15%, Rubble, Bedrock 45%, 7: Quartz to confluence 30 1.1 50 0.9 gravel Gravel 15%

Aquatic Organism Passage Six culverts have been identified that are currently barriers to 4.45 miles of fish habitat (Table 37). The longest blocked reach is Skillet Creek at 1.75 miles which is a partial barrier to juvenile fish on FS Road 28. Emerson Creek has two complete fish passage barriers that block primarily steelhead, cutthroat trout, and possibly coho salmon, one of which is scheduled for removal in 2019. The unnamed tributary downstream from Emerson Creek is a complete barrier to fish, including steelhead, cutthroat trout, and possibly coho salmon. The two barriers on Flood Creek currently block 0.4 miles of cutthroat trout habitat. Flood Creek may actually be anadromous fish habitat, however the lowest barrier is so close to South Umpqua River that anadromous fish use is not possible at this time. The 2011 road survey of the watershed revealed that 10.5 miles of aquatic organism passage on perennial streams are blocked by 34 perched or improperly constructed culverts. The amount of blocked habitat ranges from 0.8 to 1.5 miles in length. Table 37. Miles of fish habitat blocked by culverts.

Stream Miles of Habitat FS Road Species Skillet Creek 1.75 28 steelhead, coho salmon, cutthroat trout Emerson Creek,- Lower 0.9 2823 steelhead, coho salmon, cutthroat trout Emerson Creek, Upper 0.7 2838 steelhead, coho salmon, cutthroat trout Emerson Total 1.6 Unnamed Tributary 0.7 28-353 steelhead, coho salmon, cutthroat trout Flood Creek, Lower 0.05 28 coho salmon, cutthroat trout Flood Creek, Upper 0.39 2814-100 coho salmon, cutthroat trout Flood Creek Total 0.4 Total 4.45 The fish ladder at South Umpqua Falls needs to be evaluated for fish passage effectiveness. In 1937 the South Umpqua Falls were not considered to be a barrier to anadromous fish passage, as evidenced in the 1937 fisheries assessment that states: “From the preceding data, it is concluded that the construction of a fish ladder or the blasting out of part of the falls is unnecessary and totally unwarranted inasmuch as the 103 Skillem Integrated Resource Restoration Project

numbers of salmon and steelhead seen spawning above the falls. Since the falls also act as a barrier to chubs and suckers, it seems inadvisable to make changes which would enable these coarse fish to migrate to the upper sections of the stream” (Roth 1937). An engineering report from the 1970s indicates that there currently may be fish passage issues associated with jump height and attraction flows.

Skillet Creek-South Umpqua River 6th-Field Subwatershed A Forest Service Region 6 Level II Stream Survey was conducted on 8.1 miles the South Umpqua River within the Skillet Creek-South Umpqua River subwatershed in August of 2010 (USDA Forest Service 2010), beginning at the confluence of Buckeye Creek (T29S, R01E, Section 16) and ending at the confluence Black Rock Fork and Castle Rock Forks (T28S, R02E, Section 28). The survey was broken into three reaches; 1) Reach 5 Buckeye Creek to South Umpqua Falls; 2) Reach 6 South Umpqua Falls to Quartz Creek and; 3) Reach 7 Quartz Creek to confluence. Reach 5 and the upper portions of Reach 7 are located in a flat-bottomed moderately sloped V-shaped canyon, while Reach 6 is located in a wide flat-bottomed alluviated canyon containing long side channels, floodplains, and elevated terraces. However, within each reach there are inclusions of different canyon morphologies. Bedrock substrate is dominant in Reach 5 and Reach 7, while cobble is dominant in Reach 6. Suitable spawning habitat for anadromous fish provided by appropriate sized substrate is infrequent. The large amount of bedrock substrate in this low gradient mainstem river system indicates a channel scoured to bedrock during high stream flows as a result of altered hydrologic and riparian functions, typically provided by large woody material, floodplains, and channel sinuosity. Bank instability was found as small landslides and cut banks. Reach 6 contains the greatest amount of bank instability (4.7% of total reach length). Large mid- channel scour pools, large deep bedrock trench pools, and low gradient and non-turbulent riffles are the most common aquatic habitats found in the South Umpqua. Instream large woody debris (LWD) is lacking, averaging zero to one piece per mile.

Direct Effects

Evaluation of Alternatives 1, 2, and 3 indicates that there are no project activities having a causal mechanism to directly affect Pacific salmon, or any other aquatic species and as such there are no direct effects.

Indirect Effects

Alternative 1 – No Action This Alternative would allow for the continuance of degraded aquatic habitat conditions within the subwatershed, as well as continued poaching and harassment of over-summering adult spring Chinook. The Watershed Condition Framework Analysis conducted in the Skillet Creek-South Umpqua subwatershed (USDA Forest Service, 2011) revealed degraded water quality, aquatic habitat fragmentation, lack of large wood and disruption of LWD transport processes, poor channel shape and function due to excessive peak flows, lack of several key aquatic life forms and native species, poor road conditions including road densities in excess of 4.4 miles per square-mile, poor road maintenance, excessive amounts of roads (24.4 miles) near streams, and an at-risk Fire Regime Condition Class are the primary causal factors in rating the watershed as “ Functioning-At-Risk.” The analytical process concluded the habitat indicators including temperature, physical barriers, large woody debris, off channel habitat, width to depth ratio, streambank condition, floodplain connectivity, and refugia are rated as “Not Properly Functioning.” Indicators including suspended sediment (turbidity) and substrate character or embeddedness; pool frequency, quality, large pools; drainage network, peak

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and base flows; and watershed condition indicators: disturbance history, riparian reserves, disturbance regime, road density and location are rated as Functioning At-Risk. Additionally, the South Umpqua River, including the project area, is 303(d) listed for chemical contaminant and nutrients. Poaching of spring Chinook in the South Umpqua River is a criminal activity that is extremely hard to quantify due to the nature of the activity. Over the years evidence of poaching includes finding fish carcasses that have been shot from a bridge, fish bones and tails found in campfire rings, and an array of fishing gear (lures with line, spears, barbeque forks) taped to branches and weighted treble hooks found in holding pools. This alternative would continue to allow poaching and harassment of spring Chinook to occur within the project area. While the effect of this activity cannot be directly measured, each fish lost to pre-spawn mortality (including poaching, harassment, excessive stress, fungal disease and excessive water temperature) represents approximately 0.5% of the population in an average year, and in poor years such as 2018 represents approximately 3.5% of the population.

Alternatives 2 and 3 Because Alternative 3 is a slight modification of the Scoping Proposal (Alternative 2) which is centered on differing road treatments for Forest Roads 28-356 and 28-357, these alternatives will be discussed together and any differing effects between the two alternatives will be described. Table 38 at the end of this section summarizes the effects of implementing the proposed activities in Alternatives 2 and 3 on the habitat indicators.

Temperature The temperature indicator is Not Properly Functioning in the Headwaters South Umpqua River 5th-field watershed, which includes the Skillet Creek-South Umpqua River 6th-field watershed and the Buckeye Creek 6th-field watershed. Riparian Reserve silvicultural prescriptions in the project have been designed to include no change in shade over perennial stream reaches. Research has shown that stream temperatures can increase in response to forest harvest. Harvest impacts on stream temperature are influenced by the amount of shade retained within the buffers, site-specific attributes such as variability in stream size, depth, and water volume, geographic aspect, inputs of groundwater, and geographic location (Wilkerson et al. 2006). The Northwest Forest Plan Temperature Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) Implementation Strategies (USDA Forest Service and USDI Bureau of Land Management, 2005), commonly referred to as the Sufficiency Analysis, states for the effects of thinning on shade that: “However, the only vegetation providing shade to the stream channel is limited to that vegetation between the stream and the sun. Vegetation in Riparian Reserves could be thinned and continue to provide shade to the stream if the critical shading vegetation of the primary shade zone is protected.” The riparian buffer component of a BLM density management study reveals that under warm and dry summer conditions, the largest change in relatively humidity from streamside to the upland typically occurs within 46 feet of the stream channel. This pattern is consistent for both un-thinned and thinned stream reaches having riparian buffers of various widths (Chan et al., 2004). The buffer analysis determined the width of no-harvest buffers that would protect the stream, primary shade zones, and water temperature for various tree heights and hillslope angles. The primary shade zone for commercial stands in the project was calculated to be 85 feet. The project uses a no harvest buffer in excess of primary shade zones for all stands with perennial stream channels. All project activities except for culvert replacements, prescribed burning, and shaded fuel breaks have no causal mechanism to affect canopy and stream cover resulting in a neutral effect on water

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temperature. Culvert replacements on perennial non-fish bearing stream channels would have a short- term negative effect on water temperature by removing canopy cover, which is typically a 20 by 20 foot canopy opening. This very small loss of canopy cover is anticipated to have very minor effects on stream shade and water temperature. Prescribed burning is anticipated to have a small, negative short-term effect on water temperature. Fires would be ignited in the upslope terrestrial areas and allowed to back down the hill slope eventually into Riparian Reserves. Burning would be done during fall following the initial onset of rains. The burn prescription under which fires are ignited would result in a slow creeping burn, which is much slower and with less complete combustion than natural wildfires because fuel moistures would be high compared to summer wildfire conditions. The fire prescription and fire modeling runs confirm that ignitions would be conducted when duff layers have sufficient moisture to ignite but would be low intensity and, as a result, thousand hour fuels (logs) would not be fully consumed and the tree bark collars would burn lightly. These conditions are conducive to low intensity fires which extinguish themselves when they slowly back down into Riparian Reserves. Upslope burn conditions are dramatically different than riparian conditions. A slow backing fire in the upslope, terrestrial environment would decrease significantly and be a creeping, low intensity fire in the riparian, eventually going out when the “moisture of extinction” is reached in the inner Riparian Reserve. There may be mortality of individual trees near down wood concentrations associated with prescribed burning, but it is expected to be infrequent and isolated to single trees or small groups. The backing prescription would be implemented such that the probability of killing trees by scorching, consuming the canopy, or by killing the root system is low. Shaded fuel breaks would prune branches within the primary shade zone, however a reduction in the effective canopy cover is not anticipated given the limited number of branches that would be removed and the limited scale of the treatment. Resulting in a neutral effect of this activity on water temperature

Suspended Sediment (Turbidity) and Substrate Character or Embeddedness The 5th field conditions of upper South Umpqua are Functional At-Risk for suspended sediment and substrate character and embeddedness. Tree falling, log yarding, temporary road construction and decommissioning, landing construction and decommissioning, existing road decommissioning, dust abatement, activity fuels treatment, shaded fuel breaks, and non-commercial thinning have neutral effects since buffering prevents sediment from reaching the stream. Project activities including road treatments (maintenance, storm proofing, and culvert replacement), log haul, road decommissioning, and transportation system changes including culvert replacements would introduce sediment to intermittent and perennial, non-fish bearing stream channels resulting in a minor, short-term negative effect. Prescribed burning would introduce small amounts of fine sediment into streams, resulting in a minor, short-term negative effect to the indicator. Approximately 50 culverts would be replaced and each culvert removal or replacement would introduce several cubic feet to a yard of fine sediment to the stream channel as the channel re-establishes itself. Sediment liberated by the replacement of culverts would be stored within stream channels for the first several hundred feet downstream from the crossings and would likely mobilize slowly over several years resulting in a short-term negative effect. The BMPs on perennial streams call for using a coffer dam and pumping water around so water would not run through site during construction. Work site isolation dramatically reduces the amount of fine sediment liberated during construction. Replacement or removal of culverts is very important to long-term watershed restoration since most have rusted out bottoms, are undersized, and prone to failure. Replacing or removing the culverts makes the site much less likely to

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plug or undercut and fail catastrophically. Culvert failures typically occur in mid-winter during storm events which roughly corresponds to spawning season for OC coho salmon. Road treatments would take place during the dry season, be conducted following the aquatic BMPs, and are intended to reduce the risk of road failures and chronic erosion. Addition of new cross drains and the replacement of existing cross drains would not contribute sediment to stream channels. The short term pulse of sediment associated with cross drain culvert replacement or installation would be diverted to the forest floor where it would be effectively contained and not enter stream channels. These cross drains would reduce the sediment baseline associated with ditch line erosion as well as potential sediment sources from haul. The road work proposed would reduce the background sedimentation mobilized in nearly every precipitation event and reduce the risk of catastrophic culvert failure. Background sedimentation would be reduced by placing additional ditch relief culverts which divert sediment containing water out of ditch lines and onto the forest floor improving this indicator for the long-term. Timber (log) haul would occur primarily during in the dry season, except for haul on several roads which were determined to be appropriate for an extended season haul (November 1 to November 30). These roads are largely unconnected to water, have short haul distances to blacktop, and are connected to harvest units with a ridgetop orientation. Hauling on native or aggregate-surfaced roads during the dry season typically results in less sediment production, when compared with fall or winter season use, as fines are more likely to remain on the road surface in the absence of rainfall. Light precipitation may help bind the fines to the road bed, resulting in a lower potential sediment liberation rate than dry season haul. The amount of sediment eroded from the road surface depends on the amount of traffic, the durability and depth of the aggregate, the level of maintenance, the condition of the ditch lines and the amount of precipitation. Runoff from the road surface may transport fine sediments to the road ditches. Any fine sediment created by hauling traffic during the dry season would most likely be washed from the road surface in the first few precipitation events of the fall, diverted via ditch relief culverts, and be trapped in forest vegetation rather than conveyed to stream channels. Haul would adhere to the project haul BMPs and would have a minor negative short-term effect to this indicator. Prescribed burns would be ignited beginning in the upslope terrestrial areas and allowed to back slowly downhill eventually into Riparian Reserves. Fire modeling, based upon the most likely burning conditions, has shown that 13% of the burn areas would have exposed mineral soil post fire and a reduction of 0.2 inches of duff. Based upon the very small scale of impact to the duff layer in the Riparian Reserve and the small amount of mineral soil exposed, the negative effect to the indicator would be a minor and short-term.

Chemical Contaminant and Nutrients The upper South Umpqua is 303(d) listed for water quality. Summer pH, likely driven by long expanses of bedrock and sunlight exposure in the summer, was one of the items the river was listed for, the other was temperature. Project activities including tree falling, log yarding, temporary road construction and decommissioning, landing construction and decommissioning, existing road decommissioning, and dust abatement include equipment which contain petroleum products and hydraulic fluid which may be used in the outer Riparian Reserves. Since these activities are physically separated from the stream channels by a no entry buffer, an accident would have to take place to deliver chemicals to the stream channel. Ground skidding equipment is limited to slopes of 35% or less, so the likelihood of a skidder roll over or skyline carriage failure that would deliver chemicals to streams is a low and consistent with a discountable risk. Road

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treatments, including culvert replacements, entail using equipment that also have petroleum products and hydraulic fluid. The risk of a discharge associated with an accident is extremely unlikely. Nutrients liberated from prescribed burns have the potential to affect this indicator. Activity fuels treatment, and non-commercial thinning occur within Riparian Reserves and have buffers separating the activity from streams. Fueling of saws associated with pruning would occur outside Riparian Reserves. Project activities including tree falling and log yarding have neutral effects since buffering averts connectivity to the stream channel, denying a pathway for nutrients from slash disposal to reach the stream. Temporary road construction and decommissioning, landing construction and decommissioning, existing road decommissioning, and dust abatement all use no entry buffers. All temporary roads would be no closer than 150 feet to a stream, resulting in a neutral effect to this habitat indicator. Road treatments (maintenance, storm proofing, and culvert replacement), log haul, road decommissioning, and transportation system changes including culvert replacement, only would introduce chemicals to streams if there were an accident, where the risk of a discharge associated with an accident is extremely unlikely. Prescribed burns have potential to introduce small amounts of nutrients to the South Umpqua River, however this is not anticipated (see Direct and Indirect Effects for Water Quality). Activity fuels treatment, and non-commercial thinning all have buffering to prevent connectivity and sediment from reaching the stream and the effects are neutral. Shaded fuel breaks do not treat slash within inner Riparian Reserves and the effect is neutral.

Physical Barriers The Headwaters South Umpqua River 5th-Field watershed is Not Properly Functioning for this indicator. Several barriers to fish and aquatic life exist in the upper basin. Analysis for the removal and replacement of these barrier culverts was covered under previous NEPA efforts. Because this project does not create or remove physical barriers to fish, there is no causal mechanism to affect, either positively or negatively this indicator for Pacific salmon and therefore the effect to this indicator is neutral.

Large Woody Debris The Headwaters South Umpqua River 5th-field watershed is Not Properly Functioning for this indicator. Large wood is severely deficit in the upper South Umpqua, as well as the Skillet Creek-South Umpqua River 6th-field watershed. The width-to-depth ratio, flashy nature of stream flows within the watershed, and the history of stream large wood clean out has left this stream with effectively no wood in the mainstem South Umpqua with minimal wood in tributaries. Given the existing condition of the stream channel and adjacent forest stands, effects of all actions taken are likely to restore the channel over the long-term, however short-term positive effects are not anticipated. Project activities such as tree falling and log yarding, temporary road construction and decommissioning, landing construction and decommissioning, existing road decommissioning, dust abatement, activity fuels treatment, shaded fuel breaks, and non-commercial thinning have neutral effects since buffering physically separates the activity from stream channels. Temporary roads would be no closer than 150 feet to a stream, resulting in a neutral effect as well. Culvert replacement is the only activity which has any potential effect on instream wood recruitment because trees would be removed at the culvert installation sites to allow equipment access. This effect is spread across the project area and is a small, one time effect at each site. This level of effect is negative and minor. Prescribed burning has limited potential to kill riparian trees. For prescribed burns, ignition would begin in the upslope terrestrial areas and allowed to back into Riparian Reserves. Burning would be done

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during the fall following the initial onset of rain. The burn prescription under which fires are ignited would burn much slower and have less complete combustion than wildfires because live and dead fuel moistures would be relatively high compared to summer wildfire conditions. Prescriptions are written such that ignitions would be conducted when duff layers have moisture and thousand hour fuels (logs) would not be fully consumed. Fires ignited under these conditions extinguish themselves when they slowly back down into Riparian Reserves. There may be mortality of individual trees that have down wood concentrations near the boles but it is expected to be infrequent and isolated to single trees or small groups of trees. The level of risk and effect associated with prescribed burns on this indicator is negative but minor.

Pool Frequency, Quality, Large Pools The Headwaters South Umpqua River 5th-field watershed is Functional At-Risk for these indicators (USDA Forest Service 2004b, 2011). Large pools are present in the project area, providing over- summering habitat for spring Chinook salmon, but likely have less cover, depth, and complexity than were historically present. Road treatments include the removal and replacement of multiple culverts on perennial non-fish bearing, ephemeral streams and placement of multiple ditch relief culverts. Standard procedures involve upsizing the culverts to the calculated 100-year flood flow and adding cross drain culverts to reduce channel network extension. Undersized culverts can also create a “firehose effect” on stream drainages, creating a down-cutting stream channel by focusing flows and channel network extension from too few ditch relief culverts. Upsizing culverts and adding additional cross drain culverts would add some fine sediment to stream channels, having a negative short-term effect. However, these road treatments are one of the most important actions to take to restore the aquatic ecosystem, as these actions would have a positive long-term effect on these indicators by reducing the risk of culvert failure, reducing the velocity of water coming out of the pipe (hydro-mining effect), and reducing the channel network extension of the watershed. Moving the flow regime that creates pool frequency, pool quality, and large pools towards more normal values. Prescribed burns also have the potential to affect stream banks and sediment. As mentioned in previous indicator analysis, fire intensity would be low intensity by the time fire gets into the inner riparian areas and the resultant burn would be discontinuous and patchy. Burning in this manner is likely to produce small areas of mineral soil separated by unburned vegetation patches. Effects would be negative but short-term in nature. Project activities including tree falling, yarding, temporary road construction and decommissioning, landing construction and decommissioning, existing road decommissioning, activity fuels treatment, shaded fuel breaks, non-commercial thinning, and dust abatement have neutral effects since buffering physically separates these activities from stream channels. Road treatments (maintenance, storm proofing, and culvert replacement), road decommissioning, and transportation system changes are likely to have a long-term positive effect on these indicators. Log haul is limited mostly to the dry season (summer) with some potential wet-weather haul for three units. The effects of haul are anticipated to be negative in the short-term from the potential introduction of sediment into the stream channel, ending shortly after haul is completed. Additionally, prescribed burning has a limited potential to affect sediment levels and therefore the effect is a short-term negative.

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Off Channel Habitat, Width-to-Depth, Streambank Condition, Floodplain Connectivity and Refugia Off channel habitat, width-to-depth, stream bank condition, floodplain connectivity and refugia are important components of aquatic habitat and most are in a damaged state, or are at least not in good condition, in the South Umpqua. Within the Skillet Creek-South Umpqua River subwatershed, all three of these are Not Properly Functioning (USDA Forest Service, 2004b, 2011). In the upper South Umpqua River these habitat indicators are mostly affected by valley bottom roads, historic large wood removal, channel network extension, and flow regime. Project activities including tree falling, log yarding, log haul, temporary road construction and decommissioning, landing construction and decommissioning, existing road decommissioning, dust abatement, activity fuels treatment, shaded fuel breaks, and non-commercial thinning are physically separated from the stream channel by buffers or do not occur in the stream channel. As such, the effects to this indicator are neutral. Project activities including road treatments (maintenance, storm proofing, and culvert replacement), road decommissioning, and transportation system changes are likely to have a long-term positive effect on the indicator via flow regime restoration.

Drainage Network, Peak and Base Flows Drainage network (channel network extension) and peak and base flows brought on by large road networks and extensive harvest in transient rain on snow zone can have negative effects on aquatic habitat and fish. An increased drainage network can increase peak volume discharge and cause peak flows to occur earlier. Wemple et al. (1996) studied the effect of channel network extension on two basins in the western Cascades of Oregon and found that 57% of the road network was connected to the stream, resulting in an increased drainage density of 21 to 50%. They concluded that this increase in road drainage density and enhanced water routing efficiency was a possible cause of the changes in hydrograph shape (i.e. earlier peak, higher volume discharge) as presented in Jones and Grant (1996). The elevated road networks in the upper South Umpqua result in a Functional At-Risk rating for peak or base flows and drainage network. To a certain extent, stream bank conditions and width-to-depth ratios, pools, can also be affected by peak flow increases brought on by clearcut harvest and roading in transient rain-on-snow watersheds. Project activities including tree falling, log yarding, temporary road construction and decommissioning, landing construction and decommissioning, existing road decommissioning, and dust abatement do not create enough hydrologically immature vegetation to negatively affect this habitat indicator and the effect is neutral. Road treatments may have a positive effect on multiple indicators over time by reducing channel network extension, culvert failure risk, and the “fire hose” type stream channel effects of undersized culverts. Prescribed burns may affect individual and small groups of trees with a discontinuous, patchy burn within the riparian reserve. The minimal loss of canopy associated with the prescribed burn would not add to the flashy nature of stream flows in the transient rain on snow zone. Other project activities including activity fuels treatment, shaded fuel breaks, and non-commercial thinning would probably not have an effect because canopy is not reduced to values that trigger a hydrologic effect.

Watershed Condition Indicators (WCI): Disturbance History, Riparian Reserves, Disturbance Regime, Road Density -Location The upper South Umpqua is Functional At-Risk for the watershed condition indicator. A properly functioning watershed is one capable of supporting strong and significant populations, which are well distributed and connected for all life stages and forms of aquatic species. Isolated high quality stream

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reaches (such as the headwaters of the upper South Umpqua) may provide an important local refugia area for fish, but watershed scale networks of connected refugia habitat may be necessary for the recovery of depressed fish stocks (Moyle and Sato, 1991). Naiman et al. (1992) and Sheldon (1998) noted that past attempts to recover fish populations were unsuccessful because the problem was not approached from a watershed perspective. Sharma and Hilborn (2001) compared watershed road density in western Washington and found that road density is negatively correlated with coho salmon smolt abundance. Their study suggests a decrease of 500 smolts per stream kilometer for each 1 kilometer per square-kilometer increase in road density, with the acknowledgement that there was a 50% chance of increased road density resulting in no effect to smolt levels. This is likely related to road location and quality within the examined watersheds. Road density is not always a good indicator of watershed or fish health. Instead, the location and condition of even a few poorly constructed road segments may offset overall low road densities. Similarly, high road densities with high quality, well located roads may result in low sediment delivery rates. Lyons and Beschta (1983) found that landslides occurred more frequently in roaded areas which may result in an increase in sediment delivered to streams. Higher road densities have the effect of changing the magnitude and timing of flow events. The natural drainage network of a watershed, combined with other parameters, affects the water storage capacity and regulates the timing of peak flows. Land management can affect these features and affect the timing or volume of flow which can affect fish spawning, migration, and juvenile survival, as well as physical habitat structures. Humans can alter the drainage network through changes in surface infiltration (compaction) which increases surface water flows and increases peak flows. Increased surface runoff can accelerate soil erosion and potentially increase sediment delivery to streams. The action alternatives are likely to improve the majority of watershed condition indicators and results in a positive effect. Thinning previously cut Riparian Reserves and fire suppression ingrowth may help to reestablish refugia and riparian resources; burning would likely restore a more natural disturbance regime and disturbance history. The road treatments proposed would reduce channel network extension which helping to reduce the flashiness of the watershed. Since this project treats previously harvested lands, many of which were harvested using ground based equipment, there is also potential to reduce the amount of compaction in the watershed by reusing historic skid trails and then subsoiling them to restore the natural soil infiltration capability. Since only minimal new permanent roads (0.1 miles on road 2700- 916) would be constructed on a ridge top by this action and road obliteration is planned, including long standing riparian roads and associated camp spots, there would also be a reduction in road density and reduction of poor road locations. As a result, effects of the action on these indicators are long-term positive.

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Table 38. Summary of effects of proposed activities to habitat indicators.

Project Activities Effects to Habitat Indicators Temperature Sediment Chemicals Physical LWD Pools Off WCI and Barriers Channel Nutrients Habitat Tree falling; log Neutral Neutral Discountable Neutral Neutral Neutral Neutral Neutral yarding Temporary road Neutral Neutral Discountable Neutral Neutral Neutral Neutral Neutral construction and decommissioning; landing construction and decommissioning; existing road decommissioning; dust abatement Road treatments Short-term Short- Short-term Neutral Short- Short- Positive Positive (maintenance, Negative term Negative with term term storm proofing, Negative Long-term Negative Negative culvert Positive with replacement) log Long- haul; road term decommissioning Positive and transportation system changes Prescribed Fire Short-term Short- Short-term Neutral Short- Short- Short- Positive Negative term Negative term term term Negative Negative Negative negative and positive Activity fuels, Discountable Neutral Neutral Neutral Neutral Neutral Neutral Neutral shaded fuel breaks, non- commercial thinning Rock quarry; tree Neutral Neutral Neutral Neutral Neutral Neutral Neutral Neutral planting; noxious weed treatments

Population Viability The Upper South Umpqua Basin and project area contain several life history stages of spring Chinook, including egg, alevin, fry, parr, smolt, and adult. In looking at a population these can put into two groups: juvenile fish (egg, alevin, fry, parr, and smolt) and adult fish (holding, and spawning). An analysis of factors affecting juvenile fish production was conducted for spring Chinook (USDA Forest Service, 2011) within the upper South Umpqua River using four datasets: 1964-2009 resting pool counts, 1991-2009 smolt trapping data, USGS stream gauge data from the South Umpqua at Tiller (USGS Gauge 14308000), and Region 6 Level II Stream Surveys for the South Umpqua River. In this analysis out-migrating spring Chinook juvenile estimates, from a rotary screw trap located on the South Umpqua River at road mile 194, were standardized against the number of spawners for that cohort counted within twenty five index pools from the previous year. Assumptions made include: 1) All juvenile Chinook passing the rotary screw trap are out-migrating, which is consistent with the ocean type life history;

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2) Total adult spawning population size is the same as the number of adult fish counted in holding pools, which is consistent with a 2009 total spring Chinook census of the South Umpqua River where 95% of the run was located in the holding pools (ODFW and USDA Forest Service, 2009, unpublished data). A regression of the standardized smolt production (dependent variable) and the highest single peak flow event of that year (October to June) from the Tiller USGS stream gage (independent variable) was conducted, which indicated that there is a strong relationship between peak flow and smolt production (result in r2 of 0.61). In general, when peak flows exceed 15,000 cubic feet per, second lower spring Chinook smolt production can be expected. When flows exceed 20,000 cubic feet per second, smolt production per spawner drops below 50 while with flows below 15,000 cubic feet per second, smolt production varies from 50 to 325 juveniles per adult. A 1997 population viability analysis for South Umpqua spring Chinook concluded that this fisheries stock is at moderate risk of extinction (Ratner et al., 1997) over the next 100 years. This analysis identified partial or complete decommissioning of valley bottom roads that alter stream flows or limit the input of large wood as an appropriate first step in restoration. Further, for an at-risk population such as South Umpqua spring Chinook having additional spawning adults should help to improve the population viability, provided that sufficient spawning areas are available. Both Alternatives 2 and 3 address factors limiting spring Chinook production and viability by slightly decreasing peak flow, decommissioning roads, and decreasing pre-spawn mortality for spring Chinook from poaching and harassment. While the effect of poaching cannot be directly measured, each fish poached represents approximately 0.5% of the population in an average year (200 fish), and in poor years such as 2018 (28 fish) represents approximately 3.5% of the population. Alternative 3 may have a smaller decrease in the reduction of pre-spawn mortality from poaching and harassment because it would still allow access along the South Umpqua River at two dispersed campsites on Forest Roads 28-356 and 28-357. Given the criminal nature of poaching and lack of data on summer use at these two sites, it is not possible to quantify this decrease. Further, given the adaptive management of these roads based upon user behavior, there could be no long-term difference between these two alternatives.

Cumulative Effects

Activities considered in cumulative effects analysis include FS Road 2823 road decommissioning, two Emerson aquatic organism passage projects, instream aquatic habitat improvement as funded, special use permits issued for two yearly tribal Pow Wows at South Umpqua Falls, Special use permit issued for operation of South Umpqua Falls fish ladder, and potential timber harvest on private lands at Andraieff Meadows and Emerson Ranch.

Alternative 1 – No Action No activities are proposed under this alternative and as such there are no cumulative effects for this alternative.

Alternative 2 and 3 Considered cumulatively, the short-term negative effects to fish and aquatic habitat from project generated fine sediment through activities such as road decommissioning, culvert replacement, and prescribed burning combined with sediment generated from instream aquatic habitat restoration activities may overlap in time and space. Additional sediment generated via timber harvest and log haul 113 Skillem Integrated Resource Restoration Project on private property may also occur. The magnitude is anticipated to be low, but is variable depending on when and if these activities overlap. Long-term negative cumulative effects are not anticipated. Considered cumulatively the long-term positive effects of Alternative 2 on aquatic habitat from road decommissioning, slight decrease in peak flows, the long-term reduction in poaching and harassment of spring Chinook, and ongoing aquatic habitat restoration should have a positive impact on aquatic habitat and fish, in particular the South Umpqua spring Chinook population. Considered cumulatively the long-term positive effects of Alternative 3 on aquatic habitat and fish are almost identical. However, a slight but unquantifiable increase in harassment and poaching may be anticipated by not fully decommissioning the road and dispersed campsites on the 2800-356 and 2800- 357 roads. Given the adaptive management component of Alternative 3 at these sites (full road removal if barriers are breached more than twice in five years), it is possible that would be no difference between Alternatives 2 and 3, depending on the behavior of the public.

Effects Determinations

Sensitive Species Steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss) has very similar life history characteristics and habitat needs as compared to coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch). As such, the project May Impact Individuals or Habitat but would not likely contribute to a trend towards federal listing or cause a loss of viability to the population (MIIH) from the short-term effects of fine sediment generated and delivered to the stream channel by project activities. Pacific lamprey (Entosphenus tridentatus) ammocoetes, the juvenile life history stage of this species, are filter feeders that may occur within the project area. The effects of fine sediment to this species may occur during the egg phase in the redd through reduced oxygenation and to ammocoetes through gill abrasion. Because a limited amount of sediment would be delivered to the stream channel and this delivery is anticipated to be short-term in nature, the project May Impact Individuals or Habitat but would not likely contribute to a trend towards federal listing or cause a loss of viability to the population (MIIH). Dennings agapetus caddisfly ( Agapetus denningi) has not been confirmed in the South Umpqua River (Fallon and Blackburn, 2014), but may be present. A short-term increase in fine sediment May Impact Individuals or Habitat but would not likely contribute to a trend towards federal listing or cause a loss of viability to the population (MIIH). This is based upon the lack of documented individuals within the project area and the reported preference of bedrock habitat which is resistant to retaining fine sediment. For the remainder of sensitive species suspected or documented on the Umpqua National Forest (Table 39) the effects of Alternatives 2 and 3 were determined to be No Impact (NI) because there was no habitat present (3 species), district-wide surveys did not locate any individuals (1 species), the species does not occur within the Umpqua basin (2 species), or the species distribution ends well below the project area (2 species).

Magnuson-Stevens Act The Skillem Project addresses a number of existing problems on the landscape and to initiate recovery of aquatic habitat through activities detailed in the proposed action. The habitat effects associated with the project would result in no adverse effect to Pacific salmon or their habitat (Essential Fish Habitat).

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Endangered Species Act The Skillem Project is designed to address a large number of problems on the landscape and to initiate recovery through activities detailed in the effects analysis. The effects of the action May Affect, and is Not Likely to Adversely Affect (NLAA) for the Oregon Coast coho salmon and its critical habitat. Table 39. Summary of project effect determinations to aquatic species.

Effects Scientific Name Common Name Status Rationale Determination Fish Oncorhynchus Not Likely to Limited inputs of sediment short-term, kisutch OC coho salmon Documented Adversely Affect long-term positive. Oncorhynchus No adverse Limited inputs of sediment short-term, tshawytscha OC spring Chinook Documented modification of EFH long-term positive. Effects anticipated to be similar to OC Oncorhynchus May Impact coho salmon based upon similar life mykiss Steelhead Documented Individuals or Habitat* histories and habitat requirements. Oregonichthys Occurs only in Willamette River crameri Oregon chub Suspected No Impact Basin. Oregonichthys Distribution ends 13 miles from kalawatseti Umpqua chub Documented No Impact downstream end of analysis area. Entosphenus May Impact Effects of turbidity on ammocoetes is tridentatus Pacific lamprey Documented Individuals or Habitat* unknown, project limited in scale. Aquatic Mollusks Anodonta California floater Suspected No Impact Not documented in Umpqua River. californiensis Western ridged Suspected No Impact Only documented site 17 miles from Gonidea angulata mussel downstream end of analysis area. Rotund lanx Documented No Impact District-wide survey in 2006 did not Lanx subrotunda result in location of this species. Aquatic Invertebrates Denning's Documented May Impact Unconfirmed 1999 collection in agapetus caddisfly Individuals or Habitat* watershed upstream, subsequent 2014 survey did not locate species. If present any fine sediment would easily be washed off the preferred Agapetus denningi bedrock substrate habitat. Moselyana comosa A caddisfly Suspected No Impact No habitat (greater than 3,000 feet). A caddisfly Suspected No Impact Project does not occur within described species habitat (Old Namamyia plutonis growth). Rhyacophila A caddisfly Documented No Impact No habitat, Alpine areas. chandleri *but would not likely contribute to a trend towards federal listing or cause a loss of viability to the population.

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Wildlife

Summary of Effects to Resource

The following determinations have been made for federally listed species (listed as endangered or threatened under the Endangered Species Act), candidate, or proposed species in addition to those which are identified on the Regional Forester’s Sensitive Species List for Region 6, July 21, 2015, or as Management Indicator Species (MIS). This information is displayed in Table 40. Species accounts for Forest Sensitive Species, effects analysis, cumulative effects analysis and effect determinations are within the Biological Evaluation. Table 40. Federally listed and Forest Sensitive species considered in the biological evaluation and effects determination.

Common Name Scientific Name Species Alternative 1 Alternative 2 Alternative 3 Status No Action Northern Spotted Strix occidentalis Threatened, No Impact May Affect, Not Likely May Affect, Not Likely Owl caurina MIS to Adversely Affect to Adversely Affect Gray Wolf Canis lupis Threatened No Impact No Impact No Impact Sensitive, No Impact May Impact May Impact American Peregrine Falco peregrinus MIS Individuals or Individuals or Habitat* Falcon anatum Habitat* Sensitive, No Impact May Impact May Impact Haliaeetus Bald Eagle MIS Individuals or Individuals or Habitat* leucocephalus Habitat* Cypseloides Sensitive No Impact No Impact No Impact Black Swift niger Bucephala Sensitive No Impact No Impact No Impact Bufflehead albeola Sensitive No Impact May Impact May Impact Foothill Yellow- Rana boylii Individuals or Individuals or Habitat* Legged Frog Habitat* Sensitive No Impact May Impact May Impact Myotis Fringed Myotis Individuals or Individuals or Habitat* thysanodes Habitat* Sensitive No Impact May Impact May Impact Histrionicus Harlequin Duck Individuals or Individuals or Habitat* histrionicus Habitat* Horned Grebe Podiceps auritus Sensitive No Impact No Impact No Impact Sensitive, No Impact May Impact May Impact Lewis' Woodpecker Melanerpes lewis MIS Individuals or Individuals or Habitat* Habitat* Sensitive No Impact May Impact May Impact Falco Merlin Individuals or Individuals or Habitat* columbarius Habitat* Sensitive No Impact May Impact May Impact Actinemys Pacific Pond Turtle Individuals or Individuals or Habitat* marmorata Habitat* Sensitive No Impact May Impact May Impact Antrozous Pallid Bat Individuals or Individuals or Habitat* pallidus Habitat*

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Common Name Scientific Name Species Alternative 1 Alternative 2 Alternative 3 Status No Action Sensitive No Impact May Impact May Impact Purple Martin Progne subis Individuals or Individuals or Habitat* Habitat* Podiceps Sensitive No Impact No Impact No Impact Red-Necked Grebe grisegena Sensitive No Impact May Impact May Impact Townsend's Big- Corynorhinus Individuals or Individuals or Habitat* Eared Bat townsendii Habitat* Sierra nevada red Sensitive No Impact No Impact No Impact Vulpes necator fox Sensitive, No Impact May Impact May Impact White-Headed Picoides MIS Individuals or Individuals or Habitat* Woodpecker albolarvatus Habitat* Wolverine Gulo Sensitive No Impact No Impact No Impact Coturnicops Sensitive No Impact No Impact No Impact Yellow Rail noveboracensis Pristiloma Sensitive No Impact No Impact No Impact Broadwhorl tightcoil johnsoni Sensitive No Impact May Impact May Impact California shield- Vespericola Individuals or Individuals or Habitat* backed bug sierranus Habitat* Sensitive No Impact May Impact May Impact Carinacauda Cascade axetail slug Individuals or Individuals or Habitat* stormi Habitat* Mondadenia Sensitive No Impact No Impact No Impact Chace Sideband chaceana Pristiloma Sensitive No Impact No Impact No Impact Crater Lake Tightcoil arcticum crateris Sensitive No Impact May Impact May Impact Coronis Fritillary Speyeria coronis Individuals or Individuals or Habitat* Habitat* Plebejus podarce Sensitive No Impact No Impact No Impact Gray-Blue Butterfly klamathensis Callophrys Sensitive No Impact No Impact No Impact Johnson's Hairstreak johnsoni Sensitive No Impact May Impact May Impact Klamath Tail-dropper Prophysaon sp. Individuals or Individuals or Habitat* Habitat* Sensitive No Impact May Impact May Impact Mardon Skipper Polites mardon Individuals or Individuals or Habitat* Habitat* Oregon cave Stygobromus Sensitive No Impact No Impact No Impact amphipod oregonensis Sensitive No Impact May Impact May Impact Oregon Helminthoglypta Individuals or Individuals or Habitat* Shoulderband hertleini Habitat* Vespericola Sensitive No Impact No Impact No Impact Siskiyou hesperian sierranus

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Common Name Scientific Name Species Alternative 1 Alternative 2 Alternative 3 Status No Action Sensitive No Impact May Impact May Impact Siskiyou Short- Chloealtis Individuals or Individuals or Habitat* Horned Grasshopper aspasma Habitat* Sensitive No Impact May Impact May Impact Monadenia fidelis Travelling sideband Individuals or Individuals or Habitat* celeuthia Habitat* Sensitive No Impact May Impact May Impact Bombus Western Bumblebee Individuals or Individuals or Habitat* occidentalis Habitat* *action does not contribute towards loss of population viability or trend species towards federal listing The Skillet Creek-South Umpqua River 6th-field subwatershed entirely contains proposed treatments described within the Proposed Action and Alternatives section of this document and is referred to as the analysis area herein. The following section is a summary which covers species recognized under the federal Endangered Species Act, and species recognized as sensitive by the Forest Service. Federally listed species require consultation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) if a determination is made that the project may have affects to the listed species. No such requirement exists for sensitive species. A Biological Assessment is being prepared and the Forest will received the Biological Opinion from the USFWS completing Section 7 consultation for this project before a decision is made. A pre-field review was performed to determine which sensitive species are most likely to be impacted by the proposed alternatives. A list of threatened and sensitive wildlife on the Umpqua National Forest, Tiller Ranger District was compiled from the Regional Forester’s Sensitive Species List which was finalized July 15, 2015. Table 41 states general habitat requirements and also displays the occurrence of each species on the Forest. Table 42 summarizes the presence or absence of habitat and potential impacts on these species and/or their habitat within or adjacent to the proposed actions and discloses which species are omitted from further analysis because suitable habitat does not occur within the analysis area, or habitat/species would not be affected by the action alternative. It is based on the latest documented survey and occurrence data, scientific literature review, and GIS analysis. Effect (impact) determinations are made on each species based on this review. If an effect is anticipated, further analysis and discussion of the direct, indirect and cumulative effects is provided in the following sections. Table 41. Federally listed species and Regional Forester Sensitive species as of July 21, 2015 for the Umpqua National Forest.

Common Name Scientific Name Habitat Description and Information Threatened Species Old growth conifer forests or younger forests with old growth remnant Strix occidentalis Northern spotted owl structures such as large trees, snags and down wood. Documented on all caurina districts of the Umpqua NF. Habitat generalists and wide ranging species. Typically prey on ungulates but also scavenge and use small mammals, birds and fish. Confirmed on Gray Wolf Canis lupis the Umpqua NF, Diamond Lake Ranger District and North Umpqua Ranger District Region 6 Forester’s Sensitive Species List Open, arid habitats, oak and ponderosa pine forests. Roosts in caves, Antrozous pallidus mines, man-made structures, trees and snags. Ground feeder. There are no Pacific pallid bat pacificus records for this species on the Forest; however it is documented in Douglas County.

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Common Name Scientific Name Habitat Description and Information Uses caves, mines, buildings, bridges, trees and snags. Aerial feeder, but Pacific fringed Myotis thysanodes can glean from foliage and ground. Critical habitat is maternal roosts. myotis vespertinus Documented on North Umpqua Ranger District and Tiller Ranger District. Uses caves for breeding and hibernaculum. Documented nursery colony on Townsend’s big- Corynorhinus the North Umpqua Ranger District, individuals documented on Tiller Ranger eared bat townsendii District. Late-successional forests. Associated with riparian areas. Large dead wood Pacific fisher Pekania pennanti important, dens usually within cavities of large trees and snags. Documented on Diamond Lake Ranger District and Tiller Ranger District Remote, high elevation subalpine and alpine forests to above timberline. Wolverine Gulo Found in a variety of habitats. Suspected on the Umpqua NF Sierra Nevada Red High elevation, open conifer woodlands and mountain meadows near tree Vulpes necator Fox line. Documented on Diamond Lake Ranger District Winters on the Pacific and Atlantic oceans, breeds on freshwater lakes. Red-Necked Grebe Podiceps grisegena Consistently breeds only at Klamath Lake, extremely rare in winter away from the coast. Documented on Diamond Lake Ranger District. Freshwater lakes and ponds larger than 18 acres, with shallow margins and Horned Grebe Podiceps auritus emergent vegetation. Strongest Oregon nesting habitat association along lake and pond shorelines and islands. Documented on the Umpqua NF. Nest in tree or snag cavities near high Cascade lakes and ponds. Uncommon spring migrant and common fall migrant. Nesting has been Bufflehead Bucephala albeola documented on Diamond Lake Ranger District, Winters on Tiller Ranger District. Aerial; forages over forests and open areas. Nests behind waterfalls in wet cliffs. Forages over several square kilometers, and larger. Documented Black swift Cypseloides niger occurrence on North Umpqua Ranger District and Diamond Lake Ranger District. Vertical rock cliffs with ledges or potholes. Often nests near prominent American peregrine Falco peregrinus riparian habitat such as rivers or wetlands. Documented eyries on North falcon anatum Umpqua Ranger District, Diamond Lake Ranger District, and Tiller Ranger Districts*. Wet meadows and freshwater marshes. Considered a very local summer Coturnicops Yellow Rail resident of the Klamath Basin and a vagrant elsewhere. Suspected on the noveboracensis Umpqua NF Open pine forests and oak woodlands near water; Primary cavity excavator; Lewis’s Woodpecker Melanerpes lewis Migrant in Douglas county; documented on Diamond Lake Ranger District and Tiller Ranger District. Open ponderosa pine stands or mixed conifer forests dominated by White-headed Picoides ponderosa pine; primary cavity excavator; Permanent resident in upper Woodpecker albolarvatus reaches of Umpqua River basin. Documented on the Umpqua NF Aerial feeding habitat generalist, found in open areas and prefer open water Purple Martin Progne subis source nearby foraging habitat; Rare breeder in Douglas county (Sutherlin, Canyonville); suspected on the Umpqua NF Nest on cliff face ledges or large trees in close proximity to large bodies of Haliaeetus Bald eagle water. Documented nesting on Diamond Lake Ranger District, winters on leucocephalus Tiller Ranger District and North Umpqua Ranger District. Swift, rocky, large streams or rivers. Nest under rock overhangs, vegetation Harlequin duck Histrionicus or streamside debris. Late spring migrant or summer visitor. Documented on North Umpqua Ranger District, Diamond Lake Ranger District.

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Common Name Scientific Name Habitat Description and Information Ranges from northwest Oregon to Baja California. Found near streams and Foothill yellow- rivers. Low gradient reaches with sun-exposed bedrock and gravel/cobble Rana boylii legged frog substrates. Documented on North Umpqua Ranger District and Tiller Ranger District. Inhabits marshes, ponds, lakes or slow-moving portions of rivers and Actinemys Western Pond Turtle streams. Large amounts of emergent logs, vegetation or rock are needed marmorata for basking and cover. Documented on all districts on the Umpqua NF. Late successional conifer forests; larvae feeds on dwarf mistletoe Johnson’s hairstreak Callophrys johnsoni (Arceuthobium) growing on pine and other conifers; documented on the North Umpqua Ranger District Wide-ranging in many habitats; larvae feed on violet; suspected on Umpqua Coronis fritillary Speyeria coronis NF The species is noted as being tied closely to suitable meadow habitat, with Plbejus podarce Gray Blue Butterfly little straying from these wet, herbaceous conditions; documented on North klamthensis Umpqua Ranger District. Isolated populations in grassy lowlands or subalpine meadows; rocky Mardon skipper Polites mardon serpentine meadows; larvae feed on grasses; suspected on the Umpqua NF Open grassy areas, urban parks and gardens, chaparral and shrub areas, Bombus Western Bumblebee mountain meadows. Documented on the Tiller Ranger District and Diamond occidentalis Lake Ranger District Siskiyou short- Chloealtis aspasma Grasslands; Siskiyou mountains; suspected on the Umpqua NF horned Grasshopper Rocky areas with deciduous leaf litter and/or woody debris, generally Oregon Helminthoglypta adjacent to areas with grass or herbaceous vegetation. Documented on Shoulderband hertleini Tiller Ranger District. Low elevation, somewhat dry and open forest terrain. It can be found in Monadenia fidelis Travelling Sideband basal talus and rock outcrops with oak and maple overstory component. celeuthia Documented on Tiller Ranger District Can be found in very moist and diverse forest sites. Sites include abundant Broadwhorl tightcoil Prisiloma johnsoni ground cover, conifer or hardwood overstory. Documented on Roseburg BLM district. Riparian associated species, found in perennially moist habitat. Spring Vespericola Siskiyou Hesperian seeps and deep leaf litter along streambanks and under debris and rocks. sierranus Documented on Tiller Ranger District Perennially wet areas in mature conifer forests within 33 feet of open water. Pristiloma arcticum Crater lake tightcoil Generally in areas that remain under snow for long periods in the winter. crateris Documented on the Diamond Lake Ranger District.

Table 42. Threatened and Sensitive species evaluated and those which are omitted from further analysis.

Common Name Habitat present Rationale for Is impact expected? Loss of viability or adjacent? omission or trend? Federally Threatened, Endangered, and Proposed Northern Spotted Owl Yes N/A Yes No (Threatened) Gray Wolf Yes N/A No No Sensitive Species Evaluated May Impact American Peregrine Falcon Yes N/A No Individuals or Habitat

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Common Name Habitat present Rationale for Is impact expected? Loss of viability or adjacent? omission or trend? May Impact Bald Eagle Yes N/A No Individuals or Habitat May Impact Coronis Fritillary Yes N/A No Individuals or Habitat May Impact Fisher Yes N/A No Individuals or Habitat May Impact Foothill Yellow –Legged Frog Yes N/A No Individuals or Habitat May Impact Fringed Myotis Yes N/A No Individuals or Habitat May Impact Harlequin Duck Yes N/A No Individuals or Habitat May Impact Lewis' Woodpecker Yes N/A No Individuals or Habitat May Impact Mardon Skipper Yes N/A No Individuals or Habitat May Impact Oregon shoulderband Yes N/A No Individuals or Habitat May Impact Pacific Pond Turtle Yes N/A No Individuals or Habitat May Impact Pallid Bat Yes N/A No Individuals or Habitat May Impact Purple Martin Yes N/A No Individuals or Habitat Siskiyou Short-Horned May Impact Yes N/A No Grasshopper Individuals or Habitat May Impact Townsend's Big-Eared Bat Yes N/A No Individuals or Habitat May Impact Travelling sideband Yes N/A No Individuals or Habitat May Impact Western Bumblebee Yes N/A No Individuals or Habitat May Impact White-Headed Woodpecker Yes N/A No Individuals or Habitat Species Omitted from Further Analysis Black Swift No No Habitat No Impacts No No impact to habitat, No Impacts Broadwhorl tightcoil Yes No buffers prevent impacts Bufflehead No No habitat No Impacts No No impact to habitat, No Impacts Crater Lake Tightcoil Yes No buffers prevent impacts No species occurrence No Impacts Chace Sideband No No in project area Gray-Blue Butterfly No No Habitat No Impacts No Horned Grebe No No Habitat No Impacts No

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Common Name Habitat present Rationale for Is impact expected? Loss of viability or adjacent? omission or trend? Johnson's Hairstreak Yes No impacts to habitat No Impacts No North American Wolverine Yes No impacts to habitat No Impacts No Red-Necked Grebe No No impacts to habitat No Impacts No Sierra Nevada red fox No No Habitat No Impacts No No impact to habitat, No Impacts Siskiyou hesperian Yes No buffers prevent impacts No impact to habitat, No Impacts Yellow Rail Yes No buffers prevent impacts Effects are classified as direct, indirect, or cumulative. Direct effects are defined as those effects that would occur immediately as a result of implementation. Indirect effects are those that would typically occur over longer time periods. Cumulative effects are the effects of the alternatives that would incrementally add to other past, present, or reasonably foreseeable activities that may result in additive effects to the various species. Direct, indirect and cumulative analysis for Forest Sensitive Species can be found within the Biological Evaluation for this project. Short term refers to a time period of 2 to 10 years and long term refers to time periods over 10 years. Acreage estimates are based on ArcMap 10.5.1. Unless identified otherwise, the analysis area for wildlife species is the extent of 6th-field subwatershed within which activities are proposed.

Threatened and Endangered Species Accounts and Effects Determinations

Northern Spotted Owl – Strix occidentalis caurina

Affected Environment For the purpose of this analysis, the “Project Area” refers to the Skillem Project boundary, and “Analysis Area” refers to the area that has been delineated using one provincial median home range around the proposed actions. This project falls within the Oregon Cascades Physiographic Province which has a survey radius of 1.2 miles. The northern spotted owl (NSO) was listed in 1990 as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. Critical habitat was designated in 1992, and re-designated in 2008 and 2012. A recovery plan for the species was revised in 2011. The NSO is closely associated with mature and old-growth coniferous and mixed conifer-hardwood forests that contain habitat characteristics that provide nesting, roosting, and foraging habitat (NRF) (USDI 2008). NRF habitat is strongly associated with late-successional forests containing large trees with broken tops, cavities for nesting, multiple canopy layers (thermal regulation and protection from predators) and adequate amounts of large down wood on the forest floor to support populations of prey base (Thomas et al., 1990). Common NSO prey includes flying squirrels and wood rats (Glaucomys spp., Neotoma spp.), but can include other rodents in addition to prey items like bats and birds (Ward et al., 1995). For more information regarding northern spotted owls refer to the following website which will provide the revised recovery plan for the species, past recovery documents, federal register documents discussing critical habitat re-designations, and a species profile. Http://www.fws.gov/oregonfwo/species/data/northernspottedowl/Recovery.asp The analysis area covers 32,779 acres, of which approximately 18,407 acres (56%) are NRF habitat and 9,872 (30%) are dispersal (Figure 18). There are 15 NSO known activity centers within the analysis area. Two known activity centers will not be further analyzed because the nest patch, core and home

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ranges are not affected by the proposed activities. There are 13 NSO home ranges within the analysis area, all home ranges are above the 40% NRF threshold and all but 2 core use areas are above the 50% threshold for NRF. Past habitat modification within these owl cores was largely due to wildfire. These historic sites comprise 4% of the total NSO sites on the Umpqua National Forest. The project area is also within the 2012 critical habitat unit (CHU) Klamath East Sub Unit 1, approximately 32,464 acres, or 99% of the project area. Surveys were conducted using the Revised Northern Spotted Owl survey protocol (2012), within the project boundary in proximity to historic nest sites as well as proposed treatment units. A single NSO was detected, however a follow-up survey failed to locate that owl and the nesting/breeding status was undetermined. Further surveys did not illicit a response from any additional spotted owls following this incidental response. Although surveys did not locate any nesting or resident spotted owls with the project area, surveys did illicit responses from barred owls (Strix varia). A total of 18 responses were heard throughout the surveys, additional surveys to determine nesting location and breeding status of those barred owls were not conducted. The stands proposed for commercial treatment are even-aged plantations ranging from 54 to 68 years old. These stands currently function as dispersal habitat, largely due to the lack the species diversity and structural complexity required for nesting, roosting and foraging. Additional activities occurring within dispersal habitat include: non-commercial thinning in young plantations, shaded fuel break with commercial timber harvest, temporary road construction, and prescribed fire. Activities that would occur within NRF include portions of the shaded fuel break along roads (non-commercial) and prescribed fire. These overstocked plantations can increase the risk of fire and pose a threat to adjacent owl habitat. These types of stand, which are remnants of previous harvest management activities, can also increase the intensity and frequency of fire across the landscape. This area, along with adjacent watersheds, have experienced numerous fires both small and largescale. For each of the 13 NSO known activity centers affected by the proposed activities within the analysis area, Table 43 summarizes the effects on the nest patches, Table 44 summarizes the effects on the core areas, and Table 45 summarizes the effects on the home ranges.

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Figure 18. Analysis Area, Skillet Creek-South Umpqua River 6th-Field subwatershed, proposed activities, and distribution of critical habitat.

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Table 43. Northern spotted owl activities on 0.2 mile nest patches by habitat acres within the analysis area.

NSO Nesting, Roosting, and Foraging Dispersal-only Pre- Post- Site ID habitat Treatment Treatment Number NRF (%) NRF (%) Removed Downgraded Treat and Treat and Removed or Maintain Maintain Downgraded 0206 0 0 0 0 0 59 59 0209 0 0 0 0 0 72 72 0221 0 0 0 0 0 80 80 0222 0 0 0 0 0 87 87 0235 0 0 0 0 0 71 71 0236 0 0 0 0 0 76 76 0237 0 0 0 0 0 81 81 0240 0 0 0 0 0 53 53 0244 0 0 0 0 0 66 66 0245 0 0 0 0 0 69 69 0249 0 0 0 0 0 51 51 0250 0 0 0 0 0 80 80 0251 0 0 4 2 0 66 66 Totals 0 0 4 2 0 0 0

Table 44. Northern spotted owl habitat affected by proposed activities on owl 0.5 mile core use areas by habitat acres within the action area.

NSO Nesting, Roosting, and Foraging Dispersal-only Pre- Post- Site ID habitat Treatment Treatment Number NRF (%) NRF (%) Removed Downgraded Treat and Treat and Removed or Maintain Maintain Downgraded 0206 0 0 0 0 0 50 50 0209 0 0 0 0 0 72 72 0221 0 0 26 64 4 59 59 0222 0 0 0 0 0 68 68 0235 0 0 0 0 0 67 67 0236 0 0 0 0 0 57 57 0237 0 0 0 0 0 59 59 0240 0 0 0 0 0 40 40 0244 0 0 0 29 11 53 53 0245 0 0 3 180 0 64 64 0249 0 0 0 0 0 48 48 0250 0 0 0 6 0 70 70 0251 0 0 26 24 0 66 66 Totals 0 0 55 303 15 0 0

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Table 45. Northern spotted owl habitat affected by proposed activities on owl 1.2 mile home ranges by habitat acres within the action area.

NSO Site Nesting, Roosting, and Foraging habitat Dispersal-only Pre-Treatment Post- ID NRF (%) Treatment number Removed Downgraded Treat and Treat and Removed or NRF (%) Maintain Maintain Downgraded 0206 0 0 0 8 0 50 50 0209 0 0 19 13 0 61 61 0221 0 0 172 428 4 56 56 0222 0 0 224 75 0 57 57 0235 0 0 12 13 0 55 55 0236 0 0 160 143 4 60 60 0237 0 0 1 18 0 54 54 0240 0 0 0 0 0 46 46 0244 0 0 2 131 20 48 48 0245 0 0 90 185 0 64 64 0249 0 0 9 41 0 62 62 0250 0 0 120 70 0.15 61 61 0251 0 0 152 234 0.85 61 61 Totals 0 0 961 1,359 29 0 0

Consistency with the Recovery Plan In July 2011, the Revised Recovery Plan for the Northern Spotted Owl was finalized (USDI, 2011). This Revised Recovery Plan recommends achieving recovery of the spotted owl through recovery actions, such as conserving spotted owl sites and retaining high quality habitat. The Recovery Plan is not a regulatory document; it provides guidance to bring about recovery through prescribed management actions and supplies criteria to determine when recovery has been achieved. The Forest Service continues to work with the USFWS to incorporate Recovery Goals and Actions consistent with Forest Service laws and regulations. The Revised Recovery Plan included four Recovery Criteria and 33 Recovery Actions. The Forest Service is a participant in the inter-organizational spotted owl working group (Recovery Action 1). The Skillem Project also follows the intent of the other Recovery Actions listed in the Revised Recovery Plan, such as Recovery Actions 5 and 6. Recovery Action 5: Consistent with Executive Order 3226, as amended, the [US Fish and Wildlife] Service will consider, analyze and incorporate as appropriate potential climate change impacts in long-range planning, setting priorities for scientific research and investigations, and/or when making major decisions affecting the spotted owl (USDI, 2011, p. III-11). The Recovery Plan recognized the threat wildfire presented to the recovery of spotted owls. Specifically that wildfire “size and frequency have been increasing in dry, fire prone forests…. as a result of changing climatic conditions and past management activities” (Westerling et al., 2006; Heyerdahl et al.,2008; Reinhardt et al., 2008; Wiedinmyer and Hurteau, 2010; Spies et al., 2010). The recurrence of fire within the action area indicates that fire will be the largest contributor of habitat modification into the foreseeable future. Previous management activities in this watershed have left young stands over 126 Tiller Ranger District, Umpqua National Forest

stocked and more prone to high intensity fire. The proposed vegetation management activities are intended to improve the health and function of the watershed and improve stand resiliency, and therefore, are consistent with this Recovery Action and the Revised Recovery Plan. Recovery Action 6: In moist forests managed for spotted owl habitat, land managers should implement silvicultural techniques to plantations, overstocked stands, and modified younger stands to accelerate the development of structural complexity and biological diversity that will benefit spotted owl recovery (USDI, 2011, p. III-19). The Skillem project is comprised of 5,970 acres (56%) LSR. Silvicultural prescriptions are designed to accelerate the development of structural complexity and biological diversity within the treated plantations. Therefore, this project is consistent with this Recovery Action.

Direct and Indirect Effects - Northern Spotted Owl and Critical Habitat

No Action Alternative The No Action Alternative would result in plantations within LSR and CHU remaining overly dense and more susceptible to wildfire. A large portion of the project area has experienced wildfire in the previous decades, indicating a reoccurring disturbance pattern. The effects to spotted owls in the No Action Alternative would be a continued loss and degradation of habitat due to wildfire. This alternative also does not put these stands on a more desirable stand development trajectory to create multiple canopy, multi-age stands for the future and would not accelerate the development of forest stand conditions that meet long-term management objectives for NSO habitat.

Alternatives 2 and 3 Timber Harvest Direct and indirect effects from implementation of the action alternatives are largely the same between the two alternatives and would affect approximately 542 acres of dispersal habitat due to commercial harvest and 85 acres due to non-commercial thinning. Commercial harvest would include thinning from below and would maintain a canopy cover of approximately 40 to 45%. Of these thins, 26 acres of gap treatments in matrix plantation units would result in canopy closure dropping below the 40% level which would constitute dispersal habitat loss. However, these gaps do not exceed 10% of the total stand and would not change owl utilization of these stands as dispersal habitat. These gaps are created for the purpose of sugar pine establishment, a shade intolerant species, as well as providing short-term habitat for early seral species such as deer and elk. Overall functionality of these stands would be maintained as dispersal habitat for spotted owls. Additionally, these gaps would contribute to an increase in foraging opportunities for owls by increasing available forage for some prey species. Non-commercial thinning of plantations is proposed on 85 acres. Currently, these stands are dispersal or unsuitable habitat. Proposed thinning would reduce overall density and improve stand quality and health as they mature. Fire and Fuels In addition to the proposed thinning, this project also proposes 1,004 acres of prescribed fire. Of the acres identified 594 of these acres are NRF habitat, and the other 410 acres are dispersal habitat. Within the identified NRF habitat there are small inclusions of Recovery Action 32 stands (the highest quality habitat). These patches were not negatively impacted by natural wildfires in the recent past (2002) suggesting that conducting prescribed fire operations, with the necessary mitigation measures, would

127 Skillem Integrated Resource Restoration Project have minimal affects to those stands. The purpose of these burn blocks is to reduce surface fuel loads, including small diameter tree density. By returning fire into the ecosystem process, naturally occurring wildfire would have a more natural mosaic burn with varying intensity. Although these burn blocks do not occur within any known or historic nest patches, project design features have been identified to decrease impacts to northern spotted owls in suitable habitat, including protection and preservation of dead and down wood (see Wildlife Project Design Features). Prescribed fire would be conducted when conditions favor a low intensity underburn outside the breeding period (March 1 – September 30). A low intensity burn would not remove or reduce the function of suitable spotted owl habitat. Activity fuels would also be conducted in the same conditions and would only occur within harvest units. The project also proposes 445 acres of shaded fuel breaks along roads within the project area. Fuel breaks would consist of both commercial and non-commercial treatments 150 feet on either side of the road. Commercial treatments would only occur in dispersal habitat (11 acres) and would provide a minimum of 40% canopy cover necessary to maintain dispersal habitat. Non-commercial treatment within NRF (434 acres) would remove brush and trees less than 7 inches DBH, and limb trees up to 8 feet high. The purpose of these treatments is to reduce ladder fuels, fuel loadings, and provide infrastructure for future management of wildfires. Shaded fuel breaks would not reduce function or remove habitat and would help maintain existing habitat. Recreation Included in the action alternatives is the improvement of the Acker Rock Lookout viewshed. This includes felling or topping of trees around the Acker Rock Lookout. This facility is a historic and current fire lookout. Activities would occur within mapped NRF, however field verification of the area indicated the area is low quality habitat. Activities would occur on less than a one-quarter acre and would not change the functionality of the stand. Temporary Roads This project also includes temporary road construction for access to harvest units. Although many roads would be constructed on road surfaces from old roads and previous entry to harvest units, there would be an additional 2.1 miles of temporary road construction in previously undisturbed stands of dispersal habitat (the additional 0.2 miles of new temporary road construction planned is not in NSO habitat). Additional proposed activities not addressed here are not likely to affect spotted owls through habitat removal or modification and noise disturbing activities are not likely to occur within critical breeding period.

Effects to Northern Spotted Owl Critical Habitat In December of 2012, the USFWS released a final rule designating critical habitat for the northern spotted owl (USFWS 2012). The analysis area for Skillem Project contains 32,464 acres of revised critical habitat, all of which falls within the Klamath East Sub Unit 1. The final rule states: “In general, prescriptions (e.g., vegetation management, prescribed fire, etc.) that apply ecological forestry principles to address the restoration and conservation of broader ecological processes in areas where this is needed, while minimizing impacts to structurally diverse or mature and old forest that does not require such management can be compatible with maintaining the critical habitats essential features in the long term at the landscape scale” (USFWS, 2012, p. 71882). “This rule is different from previous designations of spotted owl critical habitat in that we are recommending a “hands-on” approach to forest management within critical habitat.

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We encourage land managers to consider active management of forests that balance short-term impacts with long-term beneficial effects, which ultimately supports long term conservation of the northern spotted owl” (USFWS 2012, p 72014). Removal of dispersal habitat could impact spotted owl critical habitat by delaying the development of NRF habitat at the stand level. However, thinning treatments in even aged stands and reducing tree density within these stands may be beneficial over time by increasing stand diversity and complexity. Proposed harvest would occur within dispersal habitat and maintain a 40% to 45% canopy cover, which would not reduce the function of the stand as dispersal habitat. Additionally, activities that would occur within NRF are minimal and would have relatively short-term impacts. The action alternative proposes treatment that would result in 29 acres of downgraded dispersal habitat through gap creation in identified commercial units and wildlife meadow openings (Table 46). However, these gaps would not exceed 10% of the total stand and therefore would not reduce the functionality of the stand as dispersal habitat. Although gap creation may have short-term impacts to critical habitat, these impacts would not be significant. There would be long-term beneficial impacts through improved structural diversity and heterogeneity in stands that are treated. Table 46. Direct Impacts to Northern Spotted Owl Habitat.

Habitat Alternative 1 Alternative 2 Alternative 3 Existing acres of NRF in Action Area 18,407 18,407 18,407 Acres NRF Removed 0 0 0 Acres of Wildlife Meadow Openings created* 0 0 0 Acres of NRF Remaining in Action Area 18,407 18,407 18,407 % NRF remaining in analysis area 100% 100% 100% % of Analysis Area in NRF 56% 56% 56% Acres NRF Downgraded 0 0 0 Acres of Existing Dispersal Only Habitat 9,872 9,872 9,872 Acres Dispersal Only Habitat Removed 0 3 3 Acres of Wildlife Meadow Openings created* 0 26 26 Acres of Dispersal Only Habitat Remaining 9,872 9,843 9,843 % Dispersal Only Habitat remaining in analysis area 100% 99% 99% % of Analysis Area in Dispersal Only Habitat 30% 30% 30% * Wildlife meadow openings are designed around existing meadow mosaic and low canopy areas that would be harvested or thinned to remove conifer encroachment from meadows while retaining pine and hard wood species. Acres shown are higher than actual acres removed to encompass the existing meadow as well.

Cumulative Effects- Northern Spotted Owl and Critical Habitat The No Action Alternative would have no immediate cumulative effects to this species because no actions would take place. With no action, however, forest stands would continue to be densely stocked with young trees and continue to exhibit a higher risk of habitat loss from wildfire. Additionally, forest thinning treatments needed to accelerate the development of forest stand conditions that meet long-term management objectives for NSO habitat would not occur and stand trajectories would not shift to encourage key habitat components for the future. Desired future conditions for NSO habitat include encouraging tree growth; promoting species diversity; increasing heterogeneity; enhancing and creating horizontal and vertical structure; and reducing the risk of habitat loss from wildfire, disease and insects (USDI FWS 2011, p. III-33 to III-34).

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When combined with ongoing and future foreseeable projects (see Activities that May Contribute to Cumulative Effects section above), the low percentage of NRF treated (non-commercially) under Alternatives 2 and 3 would not preclude spotted owls or other late-successional forest species from nesting or dispersing within the action area. Even though up to13 NSO sites could be affected by this project and future foreseeable treatments, untreated late-successional forest habitat would be retained throughout action area. Additionally, project design features are in place to limit the amount of broken top or structurally complex snags felled during this project. Areas with accumulations of snags or down wood would be avoided or used as skips during project implementation to retain potential nest trees and prey habitat. There are reasonably foreseeable future actions on federal land within the action area for northern spotted owls. The Buckeye project area is located in the Buckeye 5th field watershed, the adjacent watershed to the south of the Skillem project area. The Buckeye project is still in the developmental stages and would be expected to contribute to long-term benefits to northern spotted owls with the action area.

Effects Determination- Northern Spotted Owl and Critical Habitat The No Action Alternative would have no impact to this species or its habitat because no action would take place. The implementation of Alternatives 2 or 3 May Effect, but is Not Likely to Adversely Affect (NLAA) northern spotted owls or their habitat. Even when the treatments proposed in the Skillem project are added to the ongoing and foreseeable actions, it is unlikely the actions proposed would appreciably reduce or diminish the survival or recovery of the northern spotted owl due to the small percentage of habitat this would impact compared to the untreated habitat at the provincial and range-wide levels. Activities proposed in the Skillem project would address stand conditions in dispersal habitat. Proposed gap treatments in thinning units would not exceed 10 percent of the units, thus retaining the functionality of the stands and resulting in increased diversity within the stands and overall quality of habitat for spotted owls. In addition to the proposed commercial harvest, the proposed non-commercial activities are intended to reduce fuel loading in younger stands adjacent to quality spotted owl habitat, as well as addressing fuels concerns in NRF habitat. Even aged, overstocked stands can pose a risk to adjacent older stands by creating intense fire conditions that lead to crown fires and consumption of large woody debris. These effects can reduce the quality of owl habitat and contribute to the reduction of structural complexity in older stands or loss from stand replacing fires.

Gray Wolf – Canis lupis

Affected Environment There are currently no known wolves or areas of known wolf activity (AKWA) within the Skillem project area. Area of known wolf activity is defined by ODFW as an area where resident wolves or packs have become established, based on actual wolf data or verified information depicting repeated use over a period of time (ODFW, 2015). The Rogue Pack occupies the closest AKWA to the project area, the area is located approximately 14.5 miles to the west (Figure 19). The denning area for the Rogue Pack AKWA is south on the Rogue-River Siskiyou National Forest and the Klamath Ranger District of the Fremont-Winema National Forest. In late 2018, wolves were discovered on the Willamette and Umpqua National Forests (both Diamond Lake and North Umpqua Ranger Districts). It is probable that individual wolves may disperse through the project area. The Skillem project area provides deer and elk, as well as other prey species for wolves year-round.

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Effects Determination - Gray Wolf The No Action Alternative would have no direct or indirect effects to wolves if proposed actions were not implemented. Existing habitat conditions, prey base, and potential for wolf and human conflict would not change. Natural processes over the long term such as growth in vegetation would not affect wolf behavior or ability to survive. Therefore, taking no action would have no effect to gray wolf. Alternatives 2 and 3 would modify deer and elk habitat in the short term, however, this project would not affect deer or elk habitat substantially enough to influence changes in prey populations. Thus, prey availability in the area is not expected to change as a result of the proposed activities. No den or rendezvous sites have been identified to date within or near the project area; therefore, there would be no direct disturbance to wolves. Public access would not increase as a result of this project. The proposed vegetation management activities would not affect potential denning or other habitat because wolves are considered a generalist habitat species. Therefore, the determination of effects for the Skillem project would be no affect to wolves.

Figure 19. Areas of known wolf activity in Oregon.

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Forest Service Sensitive Species

American Peregrine Falcon – Falco peregrinus anatum

Affected Environment Described as the fastest bird on the planet, the American peregrine falcon is known to reach speeds over 200 miles per hour during aerial dives for prey. These medium sized raptors can use a variety of habitats for foraging and are known in Oregon to nest on cliffs (ledges or potholes) within one mile of a water source (Henny and Pagel, 2003). Peregrine falcons feed on a variety of prey including: birds of various sizes, bats, rodents, insects, and fish. Clutch size can vary from 2 to 4 eggs and fledging typically occurs from mid-May to late-August but is dependent on elevation and weather patterns. There are four known peregrine falcon sites located within or adjacent to the project area (Acker Rock, Buckeye, Keyhole and Times Square Rock; Figure 20). Peregrine falcon sites have three management zones which have different restrictions to human activities and each can vary in size depending on the structure of the site’s use. The primary zone averages 0.5 miles from the scrape or nesting area, the Secondary zone averages 1.5 miles, and the Tertiary zone can be up to 3 miles from the nesting area. The Acker Rock site is within the analysis area and this sites’ primary, secondary and tertiary zones would be affected by the action alternatives. This site has been active in the past and was confirmed active in 2016 with successful breeding confirmed. The Buckeye site is adjacent to the analysis area and this sites’ secondary and tertiary zones would be affected by the action alternatives. This site has been active in the past and was confirmed active in 2013 with successful breeding confirmed. The Keyhole site is adjacent to the analysis area and this sites’ tertiary zone would be affected by the action alternatives. This site has been active in the past and was confirmed active in 2013 with successful breeding confirmed. The Times Square site is adjacent to the analysis area and this sites’ secondary and tertiary zones would be affected by the action alternatives. This site has been active in the past and was confirmed active in 2013 with successful breeding confirmed.

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Figure 20. Peregrine falcon management zones and Skillem project boundary.

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Direct and Indirect Effects – American Peregrine Falcon The No Action Alternative would have no direct or indirect impacts on this species as no actions would occur. Alternatives 2 and 3 would affect approximately one acre of the primary management zone (Acker Rock), 194 acres of the secondary management zones (Acker Rock, Buckeye, and Times Square), and 4,576 acres of the tertiary management zones (Acker Rock, Buckeye, Keyhole, and Times Square). Refer to Table 47 for specific acreages affected in each zone at each site. Disturbance - Seasonal restrictions for this project would follow direction contained within the Umpqua National Forest Peregrine Falcon Site Management Plan (USDA draft, 2014). All activities within any management zone will require seasonal restrictions and adherence to the management plan, minimizing any effects to pre-courtship through fledging stage. The project is, therefore, unlikely to have negative impacts on reproductive success (Table 48). To further reduce potential effects to falcons, seasonal restrictions for viewshed treatment within the Acker primary zone will be extended to September 1 and all prescribed burning and brush disposal treatments within in the primary and secondary management zones will be restricted from January 1st to July 31st. Resident falcons, however, may still be effected by noise disturbance from project activities outside of seasonal restrictions. Table 47. Summary of proposed actions by peregrine falcon site and management zone.

Activity Site Name Management Zone Acres Secondary 74 Acker Tertiary 503 Buckeye Tertiary 438 Keyhole Tertiary 36 Commercial Thin Secondary 57 Times Square Tertiary 556 Secondary 131 Total Tertiary 1,533 Acker Tertiary 86 Buckeye Tertiary 65 Keyhole Tertiary 8 Non-Commercial Thin Secondary 21 Times Square Tertiary 51 Secondary 21 Total Tertiary 210 Acker Secondary 6 Tertiary 65 Buckeye Tertiary 65 Prescribed Burning Keyhole Tertiary 324 Times Square Tertiary 830 Secondary 6 Total Tertiary 1,284

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Activity Site Name Management Zone Acres Viewshed Improvement Acker Primary 1 Primary 19 Acker Secondary 414 Secondary 1 Buckeye Tertiary 543 Shaded Fuel Break Keyhole Tertiary 90 Secondary 16 Times Square Tertiary 502 Secondary 110 Total Tertiary 1,549 Acker Tertiary 5.1 mi. Buckeye Tertiary 2.9 mi. Keyhole Tertiary 2.6 mi. Road Decommissioning Times Square Secondary 2.9 mi. Tertiary 4.2 mi. Secondary 2.9 mi. Total Tertiary 14.8 mi. Habitat – A variety of effects to habitat, mostly long-term positive, are anticipated from the action alternatives and are discussed below by Peregrine Falcon Management Zone. Primary – The action alternatives would treat one acre of habitat to improve the viewshed for the lookout. This activity is non-commercial and would include the felling and topping of trees 10 inches DBH to 16 inches DBH and all trees/tops would be left on site. This action may improve habitat by opening up ledges and providing roosting or perching opportunities (USDA draft, 2014, p. 15). While this activity was not designed with peregrine habitat improvement as the focus, it is allowed by the site management plan (USDA draft, 2014, p. 25; Other Activities) provided that the activity is reviewed and coordinated with the district wildlife biologist. Given the administrative use of the site for fire detection and communications (Delack, pers. comm.) this activity is considered to be in compliance with the Peregrine Falcon Site Management Plan. Secondary and Tertiary – The action alternatives within the secondary and tertiary management zones include thinning (commercial and non-commercial), prescribed fire, wildlife gap creation, shaded fuel break construction, and road decommissioning. Each of these activities are consistent with the management of foraging habitat within the site management plan. The proposed actions would result in a higher diversity of habitats (e.g., hardwoods, brush, early seral, and late seral) through thinning, prescribed fire, road decommissioning, and planting, providing for an abundance of prey species for peregrine falcon. Specific habitat recommendations for foraging habitat include: 1. Manage for high densities of snags and down wood – Project prescriptions and design features would retain all existing snags and down wood. Use of prescribed fire is anticipated to increase snag component. 2. Retain hardwood species and mature berry producing shrubs – Project prescriptions and design features would retain all hardwoods and shrubs. Native fruit-bearing shrubs would be planted in wildlife openings.

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3. Retain brush piles and woody material – Project design features would retain 1 to 2 piles per acre to improve prey habitat. 4. Manage for long-term diversity of stand structures, seral stages, and foraging habitats – Project prescriptions and actions would provide for a variety of habitats through thinning to promote late seral habitat, wildlife gap creation to promote early seral habitat, and the use of prescribed fire provide a habitat mosaic. Summary – The most likely impact to this species is from noise disturbance in all three management zones after the breeding season. In several cases, the disturbance season has been extended to ensure that fledging is complete prior to commencement of activities within or potentially impacting the primary management zone. As such, the project is unlikely to produce any measurable impact to the species. Management of habitat within all three management zones is likely to improve foraging opportunities by creating a variety of stand structures, seral stages, and foraging habitats. Table 48. Summary of seasonal restrictions in peregrine falcon disturbance zones.

Activity Unit Disturbance Zone Seasonal Restriction Viewshed Improvement Acker Rock Lookout Primary January 1 – August 31 Blasting Alder Quarry Tertiary Commercial Thinning 70 100 120 Secondary 160 180 400 January 1 – July 31 Non-commercial Thinning 2 Secondary 3 Road Decommissioning* 27-992 28-353, 354, 356, 357, 358 Secondary 2823-498 Shaded Fuel break 2838 800 to 950 Secondary 2838 498 to 500 Prescribed Burning and 70, 160, 180, 210, 400 and Secondary and Tertiary January 1 – August 31 Activity Fuels Work South Umpqua Falls Burn Block *Assumes use of heavy equipment and chainsaws.

Cumulative Effects- American Peregrine Falcon The No Action Alternative would have no cumulative impact to this species or its habitat because no action would take place. Activities proposed under Alternatives 2 and 3 in conjunction with reasonably foreseeable future actions on federal land within the action area would not affect this species at the landscape scale. Creation of wildlife gaps in conjunction with planting to increase passerine bird habitat for peregrine foraging may have a long-term positive effect. There are reasonably foreseeable future actions on federal land within the action area for peregrine falcons. The Buckeye project area is located in the Buckeye 5th field watershed, the adjacent watershed to the south of the Skillem project area. The Buckeye project is

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currently in the development stage and would likely contribute to long-term benefits to peregrine falcons.

Effects Determination – American Peregrine Falcon The No Action Alternative would have no impact to this species or its habitat because no action would take place. The implementation of Alternatives 2 or 3 May Impact Individuals or Habitat but is Not Likely to Contribute towards Federal Listing or Cause a loss of Viability to the Population or Species (MIIH) because the project follows the site specific guidelines contained in the Umpqua National Forest Peregrine Falcon Site Management Plan that limits the impacts to breeding bird and promotes habitat enhancement. Proposed actions occur in primary, secondary, and tertiary management zones, with disruptive activities occurring in the each management zone. These disturbances are short-term in nature and occur after reproductive cycle has concluded.

Bald Eagle – Haliaeetus leucocephalus

Affected Environment The bald eagle is one of the most distinctive raptors in North America and known for its large size, wide wingspan (6 to 8 feet), and contrasting white head and tail against a dark brown body. This raptor is generally associated with large waterbodies and river corridors and typically nests near these water features and is known to nest in a variety of different tree species (mostly live) including large Douglas- fir, incense cedar, cottonwood, white fir, red fir, and Oregon white-oak trees, among others (Isaacs and Anthony, 2003). Bald eagles are known to have high nest site fidelity and have been observed foraging on fish, waterfowl, other birds, small mammals and carrion. Diet varies during breeding season and non- breeding season, depending on habitat types. Bald eagles occur in the analysis area and have been observed as recently as March, April, and May of 2019 within the analysis area. These observations are typically along major riparian and stream systems as the primary food source for these raptors is fish. Observations of bald eagles have been documented along the South Umpqua River around South Umpqua Falls. No known nesting sites have been documented on the Tiller Ranger District, but they are suspected.

Direct and Indirect Effects – Bald Eagle The No Action Alternative would have no direct or indirect effects on this species as no actions would occur. Alternative 2 would include noise disturbance from log haul, shaded fuel break construction and harvest activities in Unit 350. Disturbance from harvest and fuel breaks would be localized, while haul may disturb birds along the South Umpqua River for approximately 26 miles. However, disturbances is highly unlikely as there usually only one to two sightings of bald eagles along the South Umpqua River each year, primarily during the winter months when proposed activities would not be occurring. Other aspects of the action alternatives do not have the potential to disturb or harm bald eagles. Alternative 3 would have the same effects as Alternative 2, with the possible addition of more noise disturbance from the two dispersal camp sites that would be added to the system and the RV reservation site. This is not expected to be more than is usual for the area during summer.

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Cumulative Effects- Bald Eagle The No Action Alternative would have no cumulative effects to this species or its habitat because no action would take place. Alternatives 2 and 3 would not result in any cumulative impacts to bald eagles. There are no known bald eagle nest trees located in the planning area. The only potential effect to individual bald eagles is noise disturbance from log haul and the commercial harvest in Unit 350. This potential impact is unlikely to produce any measurable cumulative impact to the species or its habitat because the species is already habituated (in this area) to noise disturbance from road traffic and maintenance.

Effects Determination – Bald Eagle The No Action Alternative would have no impact to this species or its habitat because no action would take place. The implementation of Alternatives 2 or 3 May Impact Individuals or Habitat but is Not Likely to Contribute towards Federal Listing or Cause a loss of Viability to the Population or Species (MIIH) because noise disturbance resulting from logging activities in Unit 350 could potentially flush a perched bird or cause it to temporarily leave the area.

Survey and Manage Species

The action alternatives comply with the Northwest Forest Plan as amended by the 2001 Record of Decision and Standards and Guidelines for Amendments to the Survey and Manage, Protection Buffer, and other Mitigation Measures Standards and Guidelines (USDA and USDI, 2001). Additionally, the action alternatives comply with the most current direction for survey and manage standards and guidelines and use the species lists (2014 remedy species list) provided by the Region 5 and 6 letter dated May 13th, 2014. Portions of the Skillem project are exempt from Survey and Manage requirements of the Northwest Forest Plan (1994) based on the Pechman Exemptions (Northwest Ecosystem Alliance v. Rey, No. 04- 844-MJP (W.E. Wash. Oct 10, 2006)). The following Survey and Manage species were considered and evaluated for this project. The following information serves as disclosure of the existing condition of Survey and Manage species in the analysis area and also identifies which areas (units) this standard and guideline is applied throughout the analysis area. Table 49 shows proposed commercial units, survey and manage exemptions available, and discloses which surveys were conducted. Table 49. Proposed treatments and the applicable Pechman Exemptions or Pre-Disturbance Survey Completed according to the Protocol Surveys for Survey and Manage Species.

Proposed Treatment Rationale for Omission or Need for Surveys Commercial Thinning Unit Acres Stand Age 2006 Pechman Exemption for thinning projects in stands less than 80 years old. 10 96 56 30 19 56 40 19 55 70 14 55 80 27 57 100 18 60 120 8 51

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Proposed Treatment Rationale for Omission or Need for Surveys 140 48 62 160 43 54 180 48 50 210 54 58 220 31 63 230 53 50 240 26 62 250 17 58 260 57 58 300 37 51 350 10 64 400 38 62 Total 663 57, average Temporary Road Construction New or Unit Miles reconstruct 30 0.25 New 2006 Pechman Exemption for thinning projects in stands less than 80 years old. 40 0.3 New 160 0.1 New 250 0.1 New 300 0.3 New 400 0.25 New 0.15 New and New road is 2006 Pechman Exemption for thinning projects in stands less than 80 years and Reconstruct old. Reconstruction of existing road-habitat not present. 140 0.15

0.25 New and 240 and 0.1 Reconstruct 100 0.1 Reconstruct Habitat not present. 230 0.25 Reconstruct Total 2.3 Prescribed Fire 2006 Pechman Exemption for hazardous fuels treatment with prescribed fire. Great grey owl surveys conducted in burn block near Acker Rock due to possibility of igniting potential nest trees. Shaded Fuel Break 2006 Pechman Exemption for hazardous fuels treatment with prescribed fire. Great grey owl surveys conducted near FSR 2814/605 spur to possibility of disturbance during breeding season. Road Storage and Habitat not present within road prism. Decommissioning Wildlife Enhancements 2006 Pechman Exemption for thinning projects in stands less than 80 years old. Noxious Weed Treatment Habitat not present. Quarry Development Habitat not present.

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Chace Sideband – Monodenia chaceana Chase sideband habitat is found on the Tiller Ranger District and suitable habitat occurs within the analysis area. Numerous voucher specimens were evaluated by a taxon expert to confirm the species. None of the voucher specimens collected from the recent survey efforts for other recent projects have been described as M. chaceana. Instead, these specimens have been noted as M. fidelis celeuthia (a Forest Service Sensitive Species). Buffers for these sensitive mollusk species locations would be avoided during implementation of Alternatives 2 or 3.

Crater Lake Tightcoil – Pristiloma arcticum crateris Potential habitat is found on the Tiller Ranger District and suitable habitat could be found at some perennial wet locations with mature mixed-conifer forests, riparian vegetation, rushes, sedges, mosses, and rocks where microsite conditions are retained. There are no known records for this species on the District and the nearest known location for the species is 30 miles northeast of the analysis area. The action alternatives would not disturb habitat potentially associated with the Crater Lake tight coil because buffers for ponds, wetted areas, unique habitats, and riparian reserves would prevent impacts to this species. They are known to occur within 10 meters of habitat described above and all riparian and pond buffers greatly exceed that distance. Additionally, all commercial stands being treated are less than 80 years old, and all shaded fuel breaks in mature forest would be treated by thinning from below, with an upper size limit of 7 inches to maintain canopy coverage above, retaining microsite conditions. Alternatives 2 or 3 would not disturb habitat potentially associated with the Crater Lake tightcoil because these limitations, as well as buffers to wetted areas and riparian reserves, would prevent impacts to this species.

Evening Field Slug – Deroceras hesperium According to the Natural Resources Inventory System (NRIS), this species has been found on the Tiller Ranger District. The NRIS record indicates this species was documented on the southern portion of the District outside of the analysis area north of Richter Mountain. Suitable habitat for this species includes perennially wet areas, where riparian vegetation persists, retained microsite conditions, especially where skunk cabbage occurs. Alternatives 2 or 3 would not disturb habitat potentially associated with the evening field slug because buffers for ponds, wetted areas, unique habitats, and riparian reserves would prevent impacts to this species.

Great Gray Owl – Strix nebulosi Habitat is found on the Tiller Ranger District and suitable habitat is found adjacent to the analysis area on public lands. Surveys were conducted in 2018 for this species at the shaded fuel breaks near Forest Road 2814-605 and near the prescribed burn block east of Acker Rock to determine disturbance during breeding season. No responses were heard during survey efforts. Alternatives 2 or 3 could potentially disturb habitat associated with great gray owls in the analysis area, but larger diameter trees and snags located along meadow edges and within proposed prescribed burn blocks (structurally complex, open grown, nesting or roosting) would be retained and left on the landscape due to the prescriptions for the action and because of their wildlife and ecological values. Thinning understory and mid-story trees in stands adjacent to meadows (legacy tree prescriptions) would likely lead to increases in understory shrub, grass, and herbaceous growth overtime and is likely to increase the presence of small forest-floor mammals in treated areas. Prey species may become more susceptible to predation once thick understory tree components are removed as large perching structures would remain on the landscape, thereby improving habitat for great gray owls in treated areas.

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Red Tree Vole – Arborimus longicaudus Red tree vole is documented on the Tiller Ranger District and suitable habitat is found within the analysis area. In Alternatives 2 and 3, all commercial and non-commercial stands treated are under 80 years old, and thus fall under Pechman Exemptions for survey and manage species because red tree voles typically use more mature stands that have more developed canopy connectivity. Shaded fuel breaks in more developed stands would be treated from below, removing trees up to 7 inches and leaving the upper canopy intact. Prescribed burn blocks would be designed so that fire intensity is kept low to moderate, keeping canopy from scorching and minimizing effects to red tree vole nests in those areas.

Migratory Bird and Landbird Analysis

Population declines of some landbirds resulted in a Landbird Strategic Plan (USDA, 2000) that set management goals and actions for providing sustainable landbird habitat. A conservation strategy for landbirds in coniferous forests of western Oregon and Washington was developed by Partners in Flight to guide land management analysis efforts to help ensure functional ecosystems with healthy populations of landbirds (Altman, 1999). These plans and strategy documents are not regulatory, but provide management recommendations for reversing declining population trends and achieving stable or increasing trends within the next couple of decades. In addition, Executive Order 13186, signed January 10, 2001, lists several responsibilities of federal agencies to protect migratory birds, among them to support the conservation intent of the migratory bird conventions by integrating bird conservation principles, measures, and practices into agency activities and by avoiding or minimizing, to the extent practicable, adverse impacts on migratory bird resources when conducting agency actions. Additional direction comes from the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between USDA Forest Service and USDI Fish and Wildlife Service, signed January 17, 2001. The purpose of this MOU was to strengthen migratory bird conservation through enhanced collaboration between the Forest Service and Fish and Wildlife Service, in coordination with state, tribal, and local governments. The MOU identified specific activities for bird conservation, pursuant to Executive Order 13186 including: strive to protect, restore, enhance, and manage habitat of migratory birds, and prevent the further loss or degradation of remaining habitats on National Forest System lands. This includes identifying management practices that impact populations of high priority migratory bird species including nesting, migration, or over- wintering habitats on National Forest System lands and developing management objectives or recommendations that avoid or minimize these impacts. Although the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has expired, the Forest Service continues to implement the spirit of the MOU through the adherence to the Presidential Executive Order 13186 and implementing the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 (MBTA) to improve migratory bird habitat on Forest Service lands. In addition to the authorities list above, projects continue to address the conservation of migratory bird habitat and populations when developing, amending, or revising management plans for national forests and grasslands, consistent with National Forest Management Act and the Endangered Species Act. When developing the list of species to be considered for this analysis, the current (updated every 5 years) USFWS Birds of Conservation Concern (BCC), 2008, State lists, and the appropriate Partners in Flight (PIF) management plan for the species of concern for the project area were consulted.

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Relevant Standards and Guidelines The Northwest Forest Plan has no specific standards and guidelines for landbirds, other than for cavity nesters (discussed in the Management Indicator Species section), raptors (protected from human disturbance until nesting and fledging is complete), and Endangered Species Act listed species (e.g., northern spotted owl).

Existing and Desired Conditions The analysis area is located on the west-slopes of the Cascade Mountains in Oregon. There are no Cascade Mountain breeding bird survey (BBS) routes in the analysis area. There are six routes within approximately 25 miles of the action area. These routes are part of a large-scale survey of North American breeding birds and have been used to monitor landbirds on an annual basis for many years (Sauer et al., 2014). The conservation strategy for the coniferous forests of western Oregon and Washington describes five conditions found within the analysis area. These conditions are described below (Altman, 1999): 1. Mature Forest: Multi-layered Many landbird species reach maximum abundance in multi-layered mature forests. Some of these are associated with a single habitat element or attribute of mature forest conditions such as large trees or snags. Other species are associated with the complexity of the forest such as multi- layered canopies or diverse vegetative composition and structure below the canopy. Structural and compositional habitat attributes that appear to be most important for landbirds in multi- layered, mature forests are large snags, large trees, closed canopy, deciduous canopy trees, open mid-story, mid-story tree layers, deciduous understory, and forest floor complexity. 2. Young Forest: Understory Re-initiating All focal species and habitat attributes for this forest condition also occur in the multi-layered, mature forest. 3. Pole Forest: Stem Exclusion These forest conditions are structurally simple and characterized by an even-aged, single- layered, closed-canopy forest with little or no understory development. Where understory vegetation exists, it is generally low growing and dominated by one or two shade-tolerant species. Stands may range from sapling trees with high foliage ratios that have attained canopy closure, to large pole trees that are densely stocked and have low foliage ratios and a high degree of canopy lift. These forest conditions are relatively scarce in landbird species composition and richness. 4. Early-Seral Forest: Stand Initiation These natural or human-induced forest openings are characterized by grasses and forbs for the first 23 years, followed by a shrub layer of tall herbaceous vegetation and woody vegetation such as deciduous shrubs and trees and conifer saplings. This condition exists until conifer trees approach crown closure and understory vegetation is reduced due to competition and shading. Many landbird species reach maximum abundance in the stand initiation stage of early- successional forests. Species highly associated with this forest condition are often dependent upon some habitat attribute(s) that is either naturally occurring or can be managed for.

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5. Forest Inclusions: Unique Habitats These unique habitats include mineral springs, waterfalls, high elevation wet meadows and alpine habitat. The conservation strategy identified focal bird species for each of these forest types; hermit warbler, Pacific-slope flycatcher, Hammond’s flycatcher, black-throated gray warbler, Wilson’s warbler, winter wren (now called Pacific wren), Hutton’s vireo, olive-sided flycatcher, western bluebird, orange- crowned warbler, rufous hummingbird, American pipit, black swift, Lincoln’s sparrow, red crossbill, and band-tailed pigeon. The forest conditions these birds are associated with are shown in Table 50. Table 50. Forest conditions and associated habitat attributes and focal species for landbird conservation in coniferous forests of western Oregon and Washington.

FOREST CONDITION HABITAT ATTRIBUTE FOCAL SPECIES Old-Growth Forest Large snags Vaux's swift Large trees Brown creeper Conifer cones Red crossbill Mature Forest: Multi-Layered Large snags Pileated woodpecker Large trees Brown creeper Conifer cones Red crossbill Closed canopy Hermit warbler Deciduous canopy trees Pacific-slope flycatcher Mid-story tree layers Varied thrush Open mid-story Hammond's flycatcher Deciduous understory Wilson's warbler Forest floor complexity Winter wren Young Forest: Understory Reinitiating Closed canopy Hermit warbler Deciduous canopy trees Pacific-slope flycatcher Deciduous canopy trees Black-throated gray warbler Open mid-story Hammond's flycatcher Deciduous understory Wilson's warbler Forest floor complexity Winter wren Pole Forest: Stem Exclusion Deciduous canopy trees Black-throated gray warbler Deciduous subcanopy Hutton's vireo Early-Seral Forest: Stand Initiation Residual canopy trees Olive-sided flycatcher Snags Western bluebird Deciduous vegetation Orange-crowned warbler Nectar-producing plants Rufous hummingbird Forest Inclusions: Unique Habitats Mineral springs* Band-tailed pigeon Alpine* American pipit Waterfalls* Black swift High elevation wet meadows Lincoln's sparrow * Habitat not available in the action area.

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Species from the list above that were observed during field visits: pileated woodpecker, winter wren, rufous hummingbird, Pacific slope flycatcher, Wilson’s warbler, varied thrush, band-tailed pigeon, orange-crowned warbler, and hermit warbler.

Direct and Indirect Effects The No Action Alternative would have no impact to landbirds or their habitat because no actions would take place. Direct and indirect effects to landbirds from the action alternatives may include temporary noise and habitat disturbance (implementation of commercial and non-commercial treatments), modification of habitats through commercial and non-commercial treatments, (i.e., removal or disturbance of understory trees and shrubs) and possible movement of species in subsequent years due to habitat changes. Similarly, positive impacts are expected from the implementation of the action alternatives. For example, while removing understory components (mid-upper story trees) may negatively impact some individuals, direct benefits to some species (i.e., early seral, young forest, and mature forest conditions) would presumably occur because larger diameter fire-resistant trees and hardwoods would be retained through implementation of the action alternatives. The creation of gaps in many treatment units would increase forest edges and provide for heterogeneous forest conditions which could benefit a multitude of species due to the various successional stages available post implementation. Plantation thinning may negatively impact those species which use pole forest (Table 50). However, there are many areas in this watershed which would not be treated and would continue to provide plantation forest condition. Implementation of the action alternatives would temporarily affect some landbirds and their habitat in a relatively small area when compared to the watershed size. Several project design features are in place to reduce the potential impacts associated with the action alternatives like burning of piles in fall and winter months as opposed to spring or summer, retention of snags during all project activities (if felled for safety, trees would be left as coarse wood), designing prescribed fire to limit amount of downed wood from being consumed, and maintaining structurally complex trees on the landscape and limiting their use as anchors, tailholds, or guyline trees. Riparian areas are buffered from treatment and these areas would provide intact riparian habitat which would limit the potential for impacts to species which use riparian areas.

Cumulative Effects Cumulative effects would not result from the No Action Alternative to this species or its habitat because no actions would occur. Due to the variety of habitat requirements, any action that changes or removes vegetation used by one species may benefit another. Therefore, analyzing the total acres treated best describes the impacts to landbirds. Species that require dense cover and forage have benefitted from lack of fire and dense understories could be negatively affected by density management and thinning treatments designed to reduce vegetation density. Implementation of Alternatives 2 or 3 may displace some individual landbirds; however, untreated areas adjacent to the treatment areas would provide refuge and habitat, which would help minimize the short-term effects. While some impacts to individuals may occur, cumulative impacts are small in scale and the cumulative impact to landbirds and their habitat is predominately positive. The action alternatives are intended to treat Douglas-fir dominated stands with pine and hardwood components, restore meadows from encroaching conifers, reduce understory fuels, and generally increase resiliency in treated areas providing future landbird habitat some protection from wildfire in the analysis area.

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Management Indicator Species

The Umpqua National Forest Land Management Plan (USDA, 1990) designated seven species and one group of species (cavity nesters) as Management Indicator Species (MIS, Table 51). They were selected to track and evaluate the effects of forest management activities on all wildlife species that occur on the Forest. The northern spotted owl and pileated woodpecker represent mature and old growth conifer habitats. Pine marten represents high elevation lodgepole pine and mountain hemlock habitat. Primary cavity excavators represent dead and defective tree habitat (snag habitats). Big game winter range is represented by Roosevelt elk and black-tailed deer. Bald eagle and peregrine falcon are sensitive species that require special management around known nest sites. During fieldwork black-tailed deer, pileated woodpecker, other cavity nesters, peregrine falcon, and bald eagle were observed within the analysis area. Table 51. Umpqua National Forest’s Management Indicator Species (MIS).

Common Name Scientific Name Habitat Indicator Habitat Present Species Present in the in the analysis analysis Area Area Northern Spotted Owl Strix occidentalis caurina Mature and Old Yes Yes Growth Habitat Pileated Woodpecker Dryocopus pileatus Mature and Old Yes Yes Growth Habitat Pine Marten Martes americana High Elevation No No Mountain Hemlock and Lodgepole Pine Bald Eagle Haliaeetus leucocephalus None. Special Foraging habitat Yes, but no nesting Management present with no habitat would be known nest sites impacted by this project Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus anatum None. Special Yes Yes Management Roosevelt Elk Cervus elaphus roosevelti Big Game Winter Yes Yes Range Blacktail Deer Odocoileus hemionus Big Game Winter Yes Yes Range Cavity Nesters various Snag Habitat Yes Yes

Primary Cavity Excavators including Pileated Woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus)

Affected Environment Primary cavity nesters are birds who excavate cavities in both live and dead trees for foraging and nesting purposes. Five species of woodpecker are common residents on the district and include pileated, hairy and downy woodpeckers, northern flicker, and red-breasted sapsucker. Other species detected on the District are migratory or incidental. These species are Lewis’ woodpecker (migratory) and Williamson’s sapsucker (incidental). The black-backed woodpecker prefers burned stands for foraging and nesting and was documented on the District in 2013 during field reconnaissance for a different project. The white-headed woodpecker has been documented on the Tiller Ranger District in the same area in which the black-back woodpecker was observed, but is generally found on the eastside of the Cascades in pine forests. This species has also been found on the Diamond Lake Ranger District.

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The Forest Plan has standard and guidelines that pertain to primary cavity nesters and snag habitat, which are addressed in coarse woody debris section. In addition to snag and downed wood standards, the Forest contains a standard and guideline requiring the Forest to provide for adequate snag habitat. This standard and guideline threshold is set at 60 percent potential population capability for cavity nesters (USDA, 1990a). The potential population capacity provides an indicator of the number of cavity-nesting species likely to be present on the Forest in comparison to the Forest’s total potential. Primary cavity nesters require habitat with adequate levels of dead and dying trees of sufficient size and densities to support nesting and foraging opportunities to maintain self-sustaining breeding populations. DecAID, which contains a summary of the best available information on snag and coarse wood requirements for a host of wildlife species (including primary cavity nesters) documents that much higher levels of snag retention are required to maintain individual species than what was originally required by the Forest’s Plan (USDA 1990b; Mellen et al., 2012). Snag requirements vary for individual species. Pileated woodpeckers are the largest species found in Oregon and nest and forage on larger diameter (hence older) trees. They are usually found in mature and old growth stands. They occasionally forage in younger stands and open oak woodlands. Flickers are birds of more open country and often forage on the ground. Hairy woodpeckers inhabit mixed conifer stands and prefer mature stands. Downy woodpeckers are small and tend to prefer mixed hardwoods with conifers especially in riparian areas.

U.S. Geological Survey Breeding Bird Surveys (BBS) Annual breeding bird survey data is an important source of information regarding population trends for cavity nesters and landbirds within the Forest and within regions. These BBS routes are part of a large- scale survey of North American birds, which started in 1966. Each BBS route is surveyed once annually in June by experienced birders and the results of these surveys are available to the public http://www.mbr-pwrc.usgs.gov/bbs/. There are two BBS routes located entirely on the Forest (Figure 21), while another four routes are within 10 air miles of the forest boundary. Names and locations of these six routes are as follows: • Clearwater – within the Umpqua NF • Cinderella – within the Umpqua NF • Days Creek – 10 miles west of the Tiller RD • Sams Valley – adjacent and south of the Tiller RD • Warner Mountain - 3 miles east of the North Umpqua RD • Winberry – 7 miles north of the Cottage Grove RD

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Figure 21. North American breeding bird surveys routes on or near the Umpqua NF. The analysis area is located west of the Cinderella route. Populations of primary cavity nesters on the Umpqua National Forest likely spend portions of their life on adjacent forested lands; therefore, population trends for these species would be discussed at the statewide level where sufficient long-term population monitoring data is available to estimate population trends. The Breeding Bird Survey consists of 136 routes in Oregon, and three are relatively representative of the habitat types found in the analysis area. These are the Cinderella route 69244 which is about 35 miles northeast of the analysis area, Sam’s Valley route 69127 on the southern edge of analysis area, and Days Creek route 69026 which is about 26 miles due west of the analysis area (Sauer et al. 2014). Population trends for primary cavity nesters are shown in Table 52. Primary cavity nesters detected during field work in the analysis area were: northern flicker, hairy woodpecker, pileated woodpecker, red-breasted sapsucker, and downy woodpecker.

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Table 52. Primary cavity nester trends as determined from monitoring data from local BBS routes (data available through 2013).

Primary Clearwater Cinderella Days Creek Sams Valley Warner Winberry Cavity (1991-2013) (1993-2013) (1971-2013) (1993-2013) Mountain (1968-2013) Nesters (1992-2013) Acorn Not Detected Not Detected Decreasing Increasing Not Detected Not Detected Woodpecker trend trend* Red-breasted Decreasing Decreasing Decreasing Decreasing Increasing Decreasing Sapsucker trend trend trend trend trend trend Downy Not Detected Not Detected Increasing Decreasing Not Detected Increasing Woodpecker trend trend trend Hairy Decreasing Stable trend Decreasing Stable trend Decreasing Increasing Woodpecker trend* trend trend trend Northern Stable trend Stable trend Stable trend Increasing Stable trend Increasing Flicker trend trend Pileated Stable trend Decreasing Increasing Stable trend Decreasing Increasing Woodpecker trend trend trend trend Stable trend is less than or equal to 2% change per year. Increasing trend is greater than 2% positive change per year. Decreasing trend is greater than 2% negative change per year. *Statistically significant (p<0.05) Based upon the BBS data available, current trends for the six routes within or adjacent to the Forest appear variable but not generally statistically significant. Habitat for the acorn woodpecker is lacking on the District in general with the exception of the analysis area. Routes on the Forest do not include large portions of acorn woodpecker habitat and the result is no detections of the species. The red-breasted sapsucker shows a decreasing trend on all routes except the Warner Mountain BBS route, however, none of the data indicate that these decreases are statistically significant. Hairy woodpeckers are decreasing on the Clearwater, Days Creek, and Warner Mountain routes and only the Clearwater route’s trend is statistically significant. Northern flicker populations appear to be stable, however, this species was not detected on any of these routes in 2013. The lack of detections for northern flicker in 2013 is likely a fluke especially when considering the data shown in Table 52 and that within the analysis area this species is ubiquitous. The pileated woodpecker is stable on two routes and decreasing on the Cinderella and Warner Mountain routes and increasing on the Days Creek route. According to the data available these decreases are not statistically significant.

Additional Cavity Nester and Bird Monitoring Apple Fire Area on North Umpqua Ranger District In 2003, an additional BBS route was established within the area of the Apple Fire with surveys conducted along the 21.7 mile route. This BBS route has been surveyed post-fire and pre- and post- salvage logging (eight consecutive years from 2003-2010) and was surveyed again in 2014. The route was surveyed two years before logging, two years post-logging, and again four years post-logging. This route is located to the north and adjacent to the Cinderella BBS Route 69244, a route that has been surveyed for much of its 21 year history (1993-2014). Monitoring Results: Baked Apple Fire Area To date, a total of 82 different bird species have been detected within the Baked Apple fire area. Annual species richness has remained relatively stable, ranging from between 27 and 53 species detected from 2003 to 2014. The June BBS annual species totals for the Baked Apple monitoring route have fluctuated

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over the years. In 2010, the number of species detected increased by 35. In 2014, the total species detected increased to 46. Four primary cavity nesters have been detected on the Baked Apple BBS route: • Red-breasted sapsucker numbers declined within the Baked Apple Fire area in 2010. For two years the species was not detected and then was heard again in 2007. The number detected increased in 2008 and 2009 before declining again in 2010. • Hairy woodpecker initially responded positively to the fire and the pulse of snags created by it. Their numbers then declined and overall continue to do so, although there was an increase in their numbers in 2010. • Northern flicker levels continue to remain relatively stable, although recent detections increased after initially declining for several years after the fire. • Pileated woodpecker numbers have fluctuated. There were no detections for a three-year period, followed by another three-year period where the species was detected. In each of these three years the number detected has declined.

Direct and Indirect Effects The No Action Alternative would have no effect on these MIS species or their habitat. Direct or indirect effects to cavity nesters from Alternative 2 or 3 may include felling of snags which pose a hazard to forest workers during implementation and indirect displacement due to noise and habitat disturbance generated from implementation of the action alternatives. The action alternatives could cause some cavity nesters to avoid treatment areas during implementation but those areas are expected to have larger diameter trees remaining and the eventual death of trees would create larger snags on the landscape overtime. Several project design features would reduce the potential impacts to cavity nesters associated with the action alternatives such as burning of piles in fall and winter months as opposed to spring or summer; retaining snags during all project activities (if felled for safety, snags would be left as coarse wood); designing prescribed fire to limit amount of downed wood from being consumed; and maintaining structurally complex trees on the landscape and limiting their use as anchors, tailholds, or guyline trees. Riparian areas are buffered from treatments and these areas would provide intact riparian habitat which would limit the potential for impacts to species which use riparian areas.

Cumulative Effects Cumulative effects would not result from the No Action Alternative to this species or its habitat because no actions would take place. Under Alternative 2 or 3, additional cumulative effects to these species and habitat in addition to ongoing and reasonably foreseeable actions may include felling of snag habitat which could provide nesting or foraging opportunities for cavity nesters. While some impacts to individuals may occur, cumulative impacts are small in scale and the cumulative impact to cavity nesters and their habitat is predominately positive. The action alternatives are intended to treat Douglas-fir dominated stands with pine and hardwood components, restore meadows, reduce understory, and would generally increase resiliency in treated areas and provide future cavity nester habitat in the form of larger future snags (long-term) and offer some protection from wildfire in the analysis area.

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Effects Determination - Primary Cavity Excavators Alternatives 2 and 3 would not have significant impacts to the existing snag levels within the proposed treatment units. Changes in forest management that emphasize snag and down wood as well as recent wildfires have contributed to higher levels of these components in the project area and watershed. The proposed action alternatives may impact individual snags, however these activities will be limited in scale and are not expected to result in downward trends in primary cavity excavator populations within the project area. All Forest Plan standards and guidelines for these species would be met through the implementation of the Skillem project.

Big Game Winter Range – Roosevelt Elk (Cervus canadensis roosevelti) and Black-tailed Deer (Odocoileus hemionus columbianus)

Affected Environment Roosevelt elk and black-tailed deer were selected as Management Indicator Species as they are an important socio-economic species (USDA, 1990a). Elk and black-tailed deer were chosen as MIS to ensure emphasis of winter range habitat management, achieved through forage and cover production on land used or suitable for occupancy by deer and elk. Certain areas of the forest were identified as big game winter range under the Umpqua’s Forest Plan. Designated as Management Area 11, these areas were designed to provide for big game winter range habitat and timber production consistent with other resource objectives. These areas are generally south-facing slopes, below 3,500 feet in elevation and less than 70 percent slope. Foraging habitat is identified in the Forest Plan, as well as the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) management plan, as the limiting factor in the Cascades. The Forest Plan has several standards and guidelines that apply to elk and deer (big game) winter range. Relevant standards and guidelines that apply to this project include the use of a habitat effectiveness model (“A Model to Evaluate Elk Habitat in Western Oregon” or similar model) to compare the impact of various alternatives on big game habitat (USDA, 1990a, p, IV-38) and direction for management of deer and elk winter range areas described in Forest Plan Prescription C4-I. The current model, which is recommended for use, does not cover (data has not been verified but exists) the analysis area; however, this analysis will use current designated winter range to assess the potential impact to big game habitat from implementation of the action alternatives. The analysis area is entirely within the Dixon Wildlife Management Unit (WMU). The analysis area is located within the central portion of the 1,009,697-acre Dixon WMU. The Dixon WMU contains about 626,622 acres of National Forest Land, 131,286 acres of BLM-managed forest, and private and state lands that make up 251,286 acres, located in the western Cascades. The forage to cover ratio in the Dixon WMU is 20:80 and could be a limiting factor in parts of this WMU. The elk population trend in the Dixon WMU is estimated to be stable but below current management objectives. This could partially be due to poor forage habitat within winter range. Elk population estimates within the Dixon WMU are displayed in Figure 22.

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Figure 22. Roosevelt elk population estimates (2002 to 2018) on the Dixon WMU. Management Objective for Dixon WMU is 3,750 elk. The Tiller Ranger District has had over 100,000 acres of fire from 1982 to 2018, with the majority burned in 2002 (68,515 acres in the Tiller Complex) and 2009 (10,553 acres of the Boze and Rainbow Fires) which likely provided an increase in available forage in the burn areas. Recently, the Upper Ash (2017) fire burned in the central portion of the Dixon WMU, and the Broken Lookout (2017) and South Umpqua Complex (2018) have burned the south east portion of the Dixon WMU. These fires likely contributed to the increase in forage over the past couple of decades. The numbers for black-tailed deer have stayed relatively stable over those years but showed a decrease in numbers between 2009 and 2014. The total number of deer observed within the Dixon WMU is displayed in Figure 23.

Figure 23. Total number of black-tailed deer observed per mile during spring deer surveys (1992-2012) on the Dixon Wildlife Management Unit on the Umpqua National Forest. 151 Skillem Integrated Resource Restoration Project

Direct and Indirect Effects The No Action Alternative would have no effects to big game or habitat. Direct and indirect effects to big game and their habitat from Alternatives 2 or 3 may include short-term noise disturbance from commercial and non-commercial treatments which could temporarily displace animals and temporarily disrupt foraging use patterns. The proposed project would affect 949 acres (18%) of winter range out of a total of 5,422 acres of winter range in the analysis area. Implementation of the proposed actions for both action alternatives would allow more light penetration within treatment areas, reduce conifer encroachment in meadows, and available forage is likely to increase in treated areas resulting in generally positive impacts. This expected increase in forage availability should occur in the long term as some of the areas are to be maintained as open habitat condition by utilizing prescribed fire in addition to treating other areas with prescribed fires outside of commercial or non- commercial units. Shaded fuel breaks would allow more light penetration along roadways thereby increasing forage production but could temporarily disturb animals through noise disturbance. However, these fuel breaks are unlikely to prevent movement of big game. High road densities likely have a larger effect on big game movement rather than shaded fuel break creation as Elk are known to avoid habitats near roads open to traffic (Wisdom et al., 2004). Fuel breaks are proposed along existing, previously disturbed, and highly traveled roads. The proposed actions for both action alternatives would have some effect on open road density in the analysis area as roads would be temporarily constructed or reconstructed and would be deactivated post-project. No haul within big game winter range would occur from December 1 to April 30 according to project design features to comply with the Forest Plan (Prescription C4-I). When compared with past timber harvest and associated road construction and use, the potential effects from proposed actions are small in scale and effect and are unlikely to be an impediment to movement of big game.

Cumulative Effects The cumulative effects of these species are analyzed at the WMU-scales, for that portion that is National Forest Land. The No Action Alternative would result in less forage habitat for big game, slightly lowering the forage to cover ratio. In addition, the continued buildup of fuels in the landscape increase the watersheds susceptibility to increased fire intensity. At the landscape level, fires would create more openings, however, the increased intensity would result in more bare earth openings, making those meadows more vulnerable to colonization of non-native and invasive vegetation. Alternatives 2 and 3 would slightly add to cumulative impacts to this management indicator species and its habitat. Impacts are generally beneficial because commercial and non-commercial treatments should result in more forage production in treated areas while increasing fire resiliency in the treated stands. Although animals may be forced to move to other areas due to noise and disturbance from the action alternatives, the amount disturbance would be considered insignificant.

Effects Determination – Big Game Winter Range Alternatives 2 and 3 would have some beneficial effects to habitat conditions for Roosevelt elk and black-tailed deer in the project area by creating gaps and with meadow restoration. The project would not contribute to a negative trend in viability on the Umpqua National Forest for either Roosevelt elk or black-tailed deer. All Forest Plan standards and guidelines for these species would be met through the implementation of the Skillem project.

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Coarse Woody Debris Analysis

Standing snags and down wood are important habitat components for a variety of wildlife species. These habitat components are evaluated with a coarse wood analysis at the Upper South Umpqua River 5th- field watershed for the proposed activities.

Affected Environment Coarse woody debris is defined here as standing dead trees (snags) and large down woody debris (greater than or equal to 6 inches in diameter at the small end). These physical structures provide essential habitat components for many species of terrestrial wildlife. There is only one relevant Forest Plan standard that addresses snag or down wood retention for the proposed project. This is Wildlife Habitat/Threatened, Endangered or Sensitive Species Standard 18: “When possible, wildlife trees (snags and green culls) would be left standing in areas of timber harvest. This habitat would be in addition to that provided by implementing the snag habitat prescriptions” (p. IV-38). The Forest Plan also includes two other standards (1 and 2, p. IV-36) that speak to down woody material, but these standards apply to regeneration harvest prescriptions. None of the alternatives propose regeneration harvest. Although there are few relevant standards or guidelines in the Forest Plan and Northwest Forest Plan land allocations, it is recognized that management of coarse wood debris components is an important aspect of vegetative treatments. An additional source of information on coarse woody debris management is DecAID (Marcot, et al., 2002). Treatment areas fall within the South West Oregon Mixed Conifer (SWOMC) and Montane Mixed Conifer (MMC) Forest habitat types and small-medium tree structural condition. The DecAID planning tool also allows land managers to establish snag and down wood management objectives based upon statistical analysis of the reference data. The tool includes preset tolerance levels of 30%, 50%, and 70%. These preset tolerance levels may be thought of as low, medium, and high abundance ratings with the 50% tolerance level being the statistic mean or average of the reference data. DecAID benchmarks at the 50% tolerance level for this habitat type and structural stage are outlined in the table below. The 50% tolerance level was identified as the analysis benchmark considering the high degree of recent regeneration timber harvest in the analysis area.

Coarse Woody Debris and the Action Alternatives The action alternatives are intended to increase fire resiliency, reduce fuel loads adjacent to existing roads, restore pine and hardwood components, reduce conifer encroachment into meadows, introduce structural heterogeneity into plantations, culture legacy pine and other fire-tolerant trees, and introduce rust-resistant sugar pine within the analysis area. Removing understory components would facilitate the future use of prescribed fire. In the event of a wildfire, the proposed actions may reduce the chance that stand replacing fire would occur in treated areas. Comparison of snag and down wood at the landscape level was conducted for this project. The analyses compared the Upper South Umpqua River 5th field watershed to conditions described in DecAID for unharvested landscapes in the Southwest Oregon Mixed Conifer-Hardwood and Montane Mixed Conifer Forest wildlife habitat types, Large Tree Vegetation Conditions. Vegetation conditions from DecAID (small or medium tree) were referenced for this analysis because the project proposes to treat managed stands (plantations). Existing condition of snags per acre (≥ 10”dbh and those which are ≥ 20”dbh) and down wood percent cover are disclosed below for each watershed habitat type and the analysis of the potential impacts to these resources are within the Direct and Indirect Effects section below.

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Southwest Oregon Mixed Conifer-Hardwood

Figure 24. Landscape distribution of snags per acre greater than or equal to 10 inches DBH in South West Oregon Mixed Conifer as derived from 2010 GNN Data for Skillem project as compared to unharvested plots in SWOMC habitat type, small or medium structure. The Upper South Umpqua River 5th-field watershed (analysis area) contains a greater proportion of the landscape with 12 to 24 snags per acre category, (greater than or equal to 10 inches DBH) and a slightly lower proportion of snags per acre (greater than or equal to 10 inches DBH) in the greater than 24 stands per acre category (Figure 24). These higher proportions of more snags per acre (greater than or equal to 10 inches DBH) in the analysis area are likely due to past wildfire and the stem exclusion phase of many of the areas within the watershed.

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Figure 25. Landscape distribution of snags/acre greater than or equal to 20 inches DBH as derived from 2010 GNN Data for the Skillem Project as compared to unharvested plots in SWOMC Habitat type. The Upper South Umpqua River 5th-field watershed (analysis area) contains a much greater proportion of the landscape with zero snags per acre, (greater than or equal to 20 inches DBH) and a slightly lower proportion of snags per acre (greater than or equal to 20 inches DBH) in all other snag per acre categories (Figure 25) when compared to SWOMC Forest, unharvested plot landscape distribution data (Mellen et al., 2012). There is a much higher percentage of greater than or equal to18 snags per acre than the reference condition. Again, this is likely due to wildfire creating an influx of large and small diameter snags in the analysis area.

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Figure 26. Landscape distribution of down wood percent cover greater than 5 inches DBH as derived from 2010 GNN data for the Skillem Project as compared to unharvested plots in SWOMC Habitat type. Figure 26 shows the percent down wood cover by proportion within the Upper South Umpqua River 5th- field watershed (analysis area). This watershed contains much less proportion of the landscape with zero percent cover of downed wood and a much higher proportion of downed wood in the 4 to 6, 6 to 8, and greater than 8 categories when compared to SWOMC Forest reference conditions of unharvested plot landscape distribution data (Mellen et al., 2012). The lower proportion of the watershed with zero percent downed wood greater than 5 inches could be due to a reduction in meadow systems as the have been encroached by conifers. These higher proportions of down wood cover in the analysis area are likely due to past fire exclusion.

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Mixed Montane Conifer

Figure 27. Landscape distribution of snags/acre greater than or equal to10 inches DBH in Montane Mixed Conifer as derived from 2010 GNN data for Skillem project as compared to unharvested plots in MMC Habitat type. The Upper South Umpqua River 5th-field watershed (analysis area) contains a greater proportion of the landscape in the greater than 36 snags per acre category, (greater than or equal to 10 inches DBH) but lower proportions in the 0 to 6, the 6 to 12, and the 12 to 24 reference categories (Figure 27). These higher proportions of more snags per acre (greater than or equal to 10 inches DBH) in the analysis area are likely due to past wildfire recruitment of snags and the stem exclusion phase of many of the areas within the watershed.

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Figure 28. Landscape distribution of snags/acre greater than or equal to20 inches DBH as derived from 2010 GNN data for the Skillem Project as compared to unharvested plots in MMC Habitat type. The Upper South Umpqua River 5th-field watershed (analysis area) contains a much greater proportion of the landscape with more snags per acre, (greater than or equal to 20 inches DBH) (Figure 28) when compared to MMC Forest, unharvested plot landscape distribution reference data (Mellen et al., 2012). This could be a result of fire management and stem exclusion over the past several decades. The difference in the percentage of acres with zero snags in the WHT of the upper South Umpqua Watershed could be due to continued encroachment of meadow systems by conifers, and the exclusion of fire that would normally help these systems remain open.

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Figure 29. Landscape distribution of down wood percent cover greater than 5 inches DBH as derived from 2010 GNN data for the Skillem Project as compared to unharvested plots in MMC Habitat type. Figure 29 shows the percent down wood cover by proportion within the Upper South Umpqua River 5th- field watershed (analysis area). The watershed in Mixed Montane Conifer WHT contains a greater percentage of snags in the median categories than the MMC Forest reference condition, unharvested plot landscape distribution data (Mellen et al., 2012). The lower proportion of the watershed with zero percent downed wood could be due to a reduction in meadow systems as the have been encroached by conifers. There is a need to recruit a greater percentage of the watershed with a higher percentage of quality downed wood.

Direct and Indirect Effects The No Action Alternative would result in maintaining existing levels of snags and downed wood cover in the area in the short- to mid-term. Since no proposed activities would be implemented, there would be no creation or loss of existing snags or downed wood from implementation activities. Barring large- scale, high-intensity fire, the number of snags per acre and downed wood cover would be expected to increase over time. Direct effects to coarse woody debris from Alternatives 2 or 3 may include felling of some standing snags if they pose a hazard to personnel near units or along roadways. Snags would only be felled if they cannot safely be avoided and would be left onsite to contribute towards down wood percent cover. The removal of the roadside snag habitat would be insignificant, the Tiller Ranger District has had recent

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wildfires that have created adequate snag habitat. The roadside snag habitat could be considered marginal due to its proximity to roadsides and the noise disturbance attributed to those roads. Down wood and snag components may be partially consumed by prescribed fire and may be moved or disturbed in limited situations. For example, if there was no way to work around downed wood cover in a given treatment unit, machinery may move some downed wood pieces to get around the obstruction. However, project design features are in place to protect, limit, and avoid the mechanical movement and disturbance to these components and this situation would be highly unlikely but possible. Additionally, the project design features encourage the use of these areas as skips rather than moving and disturbing the wood and a separate design feature would retain structurally complex snags and live trees. Eventually, these complex trees would become optimal snag habitat. Based upon the current levels of snags and downed wood percent cover, the action alternatives are unlikely to affect stand level or landscape tolerances for snag densities or downed wood percent cover. The effect at the landscape scale in terms of snags and downed wood removal and impacts from the action alternatives is insignificant and discountable when considering the size and scale of proposed treatments when compared to the landscape. Based upon the analysis above, except for Montane Mixed Conifer WHT, levels of larger snags and downed wood percent cover would be well above the 30% tolerance levels for wildlife (SWOMC and MMC, small and medium structures, snag density levels and downed wood percent cover). With the inclusion of the project design features, the Montane Mixed Conifer WHT would also be expected to reach the 30% tolerance level in the long term.

Cumulative Effects The No Action Alternative would not add any cumulative effects to coarse woody debris as no action would take place. Alternatives 2 and 3 have the remote potential to reduce some amounts of coarse woody debris (standing snags and downed wood) in the analysis area and add to cumulative impacts associated with fire exclusion and past harvest activities. These past events have contributed to the current condition for snags and down wood at the landscape level. The amount of cumulative impact added is insignificant and negligible given the small area proposed for treatment when compared to the watershed, the amount of snags and down wood recruited after recent wildfires, and project design features that are in place to limit or prevent impacts to this resource from the implementation of the action alternatives. Botany

Unique Habitats

Unique habitats are non-forested openings that vary in size from one to 75 acres and include meadows, hardwood stands, wetlands, ponds, caves, cliffs, and rock outcrops (USDA Forest Service, 1990a). They are important due to their high value for wildlife and plants and their scarcity in the forest environment (USDA Forest Service et al., 1993; USDA Forest Service, 1990a, USDA, 1995). Approximately 85% of the plant species diversity of the Western Cascades is found in non-forested habitats (Hickman, 1976) which make up about 3% of the Umpqua National Forest. Similarly, these unique habitats are used by 87% of the local wildlife for primary breeding and feeding purposes (USDA, 1995).

Existing Conditions - Unique Habitats The Upper South Umpqua Watershed Analysis (USDA Forest Service, 2004b) identified that unique habitats in the upper South Umpqua watershed represent a small percentage of the total area (4%) yet represents approximately 80% of the biological diversity. These habitats, particularly the drier habitats, 160 Tiller Ranger District, Umpqua National Forest

have historically been shaped by fire. Fire suppression activities over the last century have resulted in changes to many of these areas. More recently activities such as cattle grazing, road building, and timber harvest have likely altered the microclimate, hydrological processes, soil composition, and vegetation characteristics of some unique habitats and the adjoining forested stands. Finally, invasive weeds have altered the vegetative composition and ecological processes of many unique habitats. This is particularly evident in the dry meadows where invasive annual grasses have displaced much of the native bunchgrasses and forbs. This has also resulted in a more continuous fuel layer which would likely cause altered fire behavior in these meadows. The majority of the unique habitats in the Skillet Creek-South Umpqua River Subwatershed are dry rocky openings and balds but there are also wet and seasonally moist meadows, rock outcrops, shrub fields, ponds, and some hardwood stands. Unique habitats currently account for approximately 1% (approx. 124 acres mapped) of the 11,460-acre Skillem planning area.

Direct and Indirect Effects - Unique Habitats Alternative 1 would result in no direct or indirect effects to unique habitats because no activities would occur in or near them. Under Alternatives 2 and 3 there would be no direct or indirect effects to unique habitats within proposed timber harvest areas, non-commercial thinning units, road activities, fuel breaks, recreation improvements or wildlife enhancement projects because none of these proposed activities have unique habitat in or immediately near them. Areas within proposed harvest units containing unique habitats which were visited during field surveys were removed from the proposed action during the planning process. As such, there are no unique habitats present within any proposed harvest units in Alternatives 2 and 3. None of the proposed non-commercial thinning areas have unique habitats in them. There are no unique habitats within the proposed shaded fuel breaks, however, the large prescribed burn block in the southwest part of the planning area does have some rocky openings within it. The proposed conifer encroachment clearing are not within unique habitats and it is in a brushy area that was created by the wildfires of 2002. The rocky opening where the Acker Rock lookout resides is a unique habitat, therefore the proposed view improvement activities would occur along its perimeter. None of the proposed changes to the transportation system under either action alternative occur across or appear to directly impact any unique habitats. The proposed dispersed camps and RV site under Alternative 3 do not occur on or near unique habitats. The proposed prescribed burn would be anticipated to have a direct short-term beneficial impact to native forbs by reducing the buildup of duff generated by the non-native annual grasses. There is typically a very short-term reduction in annual grasses and consequent increase in native forbs immediately following burning, but the benefit tends to disappear within two to four years. Moss and liverwort cover on the exposed rock outcrops would be reduced and recovery can be very slow; however, allowing fire to burn up to the exposed bedrock should have limited impact. Burning would have an indirect long-term beneficial effect on oaks and other hardwoods in or along the edge of these shallow-soiled openings by reducing encroachment of conifers. Some hardwoods may be burned in the process but all would re-sprout as long as they are not too weakened. The proposed Acker Rock view improvement activities would have no direct impacts to the unique habitat as trees would be directionally felled away from the openings. There would be the indirect impact of slightly changing the microclimate along the edge of the rock opening due to the reduction in shade but this is not anticipated to have much effect on the habitat since this area is predominately north- to northeast-facing.

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Cumulative Effects - Unique Habitats The scope of analysis for cumulative effects to unique habitats is the planning area. Because there would be no direct or indirect effect anticipated from most proposed activities upon unique habitats there would be no cumulative effect under any alternative. There are no other ongoing or reasonably foreseeable activities occurring at the Acker Rock lookout other than its use as a recreation site and occasional use as a lookout during fires. Neither of these uses appears to have much impact on the unique habitat owing to it being very steep and rocky. There is active use of Acker Rock as a rock climbing site, but this activity occurs on the south-facing slope outside of the planning area. Use of this area for rock climbing is limited because use is restricted to after peregrine falcons have finished nesting at the end of July and the rock is too hot to climb until after August. Because the impact from other activities are very minor, there are only very minor cumulative impacts to unique habitats. The large prescribed burn block in Alternatives 2 and 3 would potentially extend into the adjacent Buckeye Integrated Resource Restoration Project where there are additional rocky openings. Impacts to unique habitats in the Buckeye project area would be anticipated to be similar to those in Skillem. Since the anticipated direct and indirect impacts would be largely beneficial, the cumulative effect of both areas would be likewise beneficial. There would be some negative short-term impacts to mosses and liverworts but the amount of planned burning in unique habitats would impact only a small percentage of the total habitat and the impacts of prescribed burning are typically much less than that of wildfire.

Aquatic Conservation Strategy - Unique Habitats As disclosed above in this Unique Habitat section, no measurable impacts to wetlands are expected from any of the proposed activities in Alternatives 2 or 3 including road work, thinning, burning, or yarding activities. As such, there would be no measurable effect upon water tables associated with the planning area. Wet areas would remain unaltered and wet, consistent with Aquatic Conservation Strategy Objective 7.

Invasive Plants

Existing Conditions - Invasive Plants The health of native plant communities throughout the Pacific Northwest is at risk because of noxious weeds and other invasive plants. Introduced plant species thrive in their new ecosystems for various reasons including a lack of natural predators, change in disturbance regime, adaptations for growing on nutrient-poor soils, and allelopathic abilities (plants that produce biochemical that influence the growth, survival, or reproduction of other species). As a result, many weeds are capable of out-competing native plants, ultimately altering the structure and lowering the diversity of native plant communities. The frequency of fire can also be altered by noxious weeds in ways that are detrimental to natural ecosystems (Brooks et al., 2004; Harrod and Reichard, 2001; Keely, 2001). Further, different soil organisms predominate under different kinds of vegetation. Replacement of native plant communities with invasive species can be expected to change soil microbial populations and nutrient cycling processes. Most weeds take advantage of disturbed areas such as roadsides, trails, logged units, burns, rock quarries, mined sites and areas around human structures. Established populations serve as sources for further dispersal, especially along roads, power lines, and trail corridors. Roads are considered the first point of entry for invasive species into a landscape, and roads serve as corridors along which invasive

162 Tiller Ranger District, Umpqua National Forest plants move farther into the landscape. Logging, construction equipment, and off-road vehicles have the potential to transport weed seed beyond roadsides to the disturbed soil that they concurrently generate. Invasive plant seed can also be moved by wind, water, animals, and humans. The increase of invasive plant introductions on the Umpqua National Forest is directly related to expanding weed populations on nearby federal, state, and private lands. Populations of extremely aggressive species such as spotted knapweed, meadow knapweed, and rush skeletonweed have become roadside weeds on frequently traveled highways in Oregon and along arterial roads in the Umpqua National Forest and adjacent national forests. The greatest risk of human-caused noxious invasive plant introduction into the proposed units is from seed-contaminated vehicles and equipment traveling through the planning area. The noxious weeds known to occur on the Tiller Ranger District of the Umpqua National Forest are presented, by category, in Table 53. Table 53. Noxious Weed List for the Tiller Ranger District

Species Common Name Carduus pycnocephalus Italian plumeless thistle Centaurea diffusa diffuse knapweed Centaurea melitensis Maltese star-thistle, tocalote Centaurea solstitialis yellow star-thistle Centaurea stoebe ssp. micranthos spotted knapweed Chondrilla juncea rush skeletonweed Cytisus scoparius Scotch broom Linaria vulgaris butter and eggs Potentilla recta sulphur cinquefoil Centaurea x pratensis meadow knapweed Cirsium arvense Canada thistle Cirsium vulgare bull thistle Hypericum perforatum common St. Johnswort Rubus armeniacus Himalayan blackberry Senecio jacobaea tansy ragwort, stinking willie Taeniatherum caput-medusae medusahead Arctium minus common burdock, lesser burdock Cichorium intybus chicory Conium maculatum poison hemlock Daucus carota Queen Anne's lace Dipsacus fullonum Fuller's teasel Leucanthemum vulgare oxeye daisy Phalaris arundinacea reed canarygrass Invasive plant surveys for the Skillem Project were conducted in 2015 and 2018. There are about 73 acres of priority noxious weeds known from the 11,460-acre planning area (less than 0.1%), 0.4 acres of which are located in or adjacent to planned units, and 70 acres being located along major haul routes.

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Scotch broom is the most common priority weed species. Major seed sources within the planning area are being actively managed. Lower-priority invasive species are nearly ubiquitous in the planning area along roads and disturbed openings. Of particular concern in the Skillet Creek-South Umpqua River Subwatershed is the presence of 242 acres of meadow knapweed throughout the project area and concentrated on Forest Road 28, which is a major recreation and transportation corridor. Meadow knapweed is a lower rated species on the Umpqua National Forest because it is so common, although isolated occurrences are a high priority for management and mitigations would typically be put in place to limit the spread outside of the major infestation areas.

Direct, Indirect, and Cumulative Effects - Invasive Plants Alternative 1, the No Action Alternative, would not result in any direct or indirect effects because ground disturbing activities with the potential to encourage new noxious weed invasions would not occur. Invasive plant management would take place subject to district priorities and funding. Roads create habitat for invasive weeds and provide corridors for movement of weeds. The absence of any road work under Alternative 1 would result in no road-related direct effects upon invasive plants. Under Alternatives 2 and 3, the direct impact of bringing in or moving invasive weed seed through equipment or personnel engaged in the proposed activities is minimized through the prevention measures included in project design features. The Scotch broom in and adjacent to the planning area would be targeted for removal and subsequent control, if needed and as funded. All ground disturbing activities have the potential to indirectly exacerbate invasive weed impacts by creating a favorable seedbed for weed invasion or expansion of existing weed infestations. None of the roads proposed for change have known high priority weed infestations, therefore reducing access to these roads and allowing native vegetation to occupy these tracks would result in a much reduced risk of invasive weed spread. Road systems designated as motorized trail would continue to be at risk of weed seed movement and invasion; that risk being commiserate with the amount of use the road actually receives. There are no high priority weeds identified where short additions to the road system are proposed, therefore adding these to the road system would not exacerbate existing weed issues although these areas access dispersed recreation use areas where there is potential for weed spread. Alternatives 2 and 3 proposes approximately 2.3 miles of temporary road construction and re- construction, with subsequent obliteration. The areas where temporary spur roads would be constructed currently have only scattered low-priority weeds present. Under the action alternatives these temporary roads would be seeded with native species as part of the obliteration process, therefore the risk of priority weeds invading these weeds prior to vegetative recovery is minimal. The road system accessing the proposed timber harvest acres and non-commercial thin units have several low priority weeds in the vicinity including: Scotch broom, meadow knapweed, blackberry, St. Johnswort, and ox-eye daisy. By implementing project design features the risk to movement of weeds into the proposed treatment units is limited. The proposed shaded fuel breaks would create areas of disturbed ground along several miles of roads with existing weed infestations. In general, because only small diameter trees and shrubs would be cut, the overstory canopy should not be very much affected. Since none of the invasive weeds currently in the planning area are shade tolerant, this would limit the potential spread of weeds away from the road. Even so, there is the potential for limited expansion of the Scotch broom and blackberry so these areas would be prioritized for treatment.

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The proposed prescribed burn blocks may create pockets of disturbed openings that would favor weeds but most of these acres are well away from roads and existing infestations. The main area of concern would be infestations along roads used for control lines. The northern burn block has meadow knapweed and Scotch broom as does the southernmost block which also contains two small infestations of sulphur cinquefoil. These areas would be a high priority for treatment prior to burning and for the next few years following burning. The sulphur cinquefoil sites and Scotch broom would normally be a high priority anyway. The proposed conifer encroachment and Acker Rock view improvement projects do not currently have any priority weeds and of are of limited size and scope, therefore the ground disturbance that might indirectly facilitate weed invasion is very limited. Cumulative impacts for this project are analyzed at the planning area scale. Other ground-disturbing activities would contribute to potential weed spread. Ongoing traffic along Forest Road 28, in particular, would continue to provide a major route for movement of weeds through the planning area. Activities to be proposed in the adjacent Buckeye Integrated Resource Restoration Project planning area would have similar effects to those proposed for this project. The Umpqua forest-wide integrated weed management environmental analysis (2003) will continue to guide ongoing management of priority weeds as funding allows. Because temporary spur roads would be subsoiled and revegetated, there would be no cumulative impact of additional roads in the planning area under Alternatives 2 and 3. The proposed project design features and ongoing weed management activities are anticipated to reduce the potential for weed colonization and proliferation. Sites of other low-priority species of particular concern, such as meadow knapweed, are proposed to be treated. All high-priority species would be managed so the cumulative effect of the proposed actions in conjunction with past, ongoing, or anticipated activities should be minimal.

Survey and Manage Plant Species

The Skillem Project is consistent with the Umpqua National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan as amended by the 2001 Record of Decision and Standards and Guidelines for Amendments to the Survey and Manage, Protection Buffer, and other Mitigation Measures Standards and Guidelines (2001 ROD), as modified by the 2011 Settlement Agreement. The Skillem Project applies a 2006 Exemption from a stipulation entered by the court in litigation regarding Survey and Manage species and the 2004 Record of Decision related to Survey and Manage Mitigation Measure in Northwest Ecosystem Alliance v. Rey, No. 04-844-MJP (W.D. Wash., Oct. 10, 2006). Previously, in 2006, the District Court (Judge Pechman) invalidated the agencies’ 2004 RODs eliminating Survey and Manage due to NEPA violations. Following the District Court’s 2006 ruling, parties to the litigation entered into a stipulation exempting certain categories of activities from the Survey and Manage standards and guidelines, including both pre-disturbance surveys and known site management. Also known as the Pechman Exemptions, the Court’s Order from October 11, 2006 directs: “Defendants shall not authorize, allow, or permit to continue any logging or other ground-disturbing activities on projects to which the 2004 ROD applied unless such activities are in compliance with the 2001 ROD (as the 2001 ROD was amended or modified as of March 21, 2004), except that this order will not apply to: a. Thinning projects in stands younger than 80 years old:

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b. Replacing culverts on roads that are in use and part of the road system, and removing culverts if the road is temporary or to be decommissioned; c. Riparian and stream improvement projects where the riparian work is riparian planting, obtaining material for placing in-stream, and road or trail decommissioning; and where the stream improvement work is the placement large wood, channel and floodplain reconstruction, or removal of channel diversions; and d. The portions of project involving hazardous fuel treatments where prescribed fire is applied. Any portion of a hazardous fuel treatment project involving commercial logging will remain subject to the survey and management requirements except for thinning of stands younger than 80 years old under subparagraph a. of this paragraph.” Per the 2011 Settlement Agreement, the 2006 Pechman Exemptions remain in force. The Skillem Project meets Exemption (a) because it entails no regeneration harvest and entails thinning only in stands less than 80 years old, as was determined through records of past management activities and tree coring.

Threatened, Endangered, and Sensitive Botany Species - Biological Evaluation

This Biological Evaluation assesses potential impacts to Threatened, Endangered, or Sensitive (TES) vascular plants, lichens, and bryophytes from the Skillem Project. It is Forest Service policy to “ensure that Forest Service actions do not contribute to loss of viability of any native or desired plant or contribute…trends toward Federal listing of any species” (FSM 2672.41). There are currently 36 vascular plant species, 11 fungi, 3 lichens, and 25 bryophytes listed as Sensitive on the Umpqua National Forest. There are two species known or suspected to occur on the Forest that are listed under the Endangered Species Act. Lupinus sulphureus ssp. kincaidii (Kincaid’s lupine) is listed as Threatened and has been documented along the western edge of the Tiller Ranger District along the edge of a small oak opening on granitic soils. Plagiobothrys hirtus (rough popcorn flower) is listed as Endangered and occurs in wetlands primarily in the vicinity of Sutherlin in northern Douglas County but has not been documented on the Forest to date.

Pre-field Review - Sensitive Plant Species Closed-canopy plantations proposed for commercial thinning under Alternatives 2 and 3 represent generally poor suitable habitat for most rare plant species. Unique habitat features within units such as wetlands and rock outcrops along with old-growth relicts such as large, well-decayed logs and large trees represent the best potential habitat for numerous species. There are three documented occurrences of Romanzoffia thompsonii (Thompson’s mistmaiden) within the planning area, one of which occurs just along the perimeter of one of the proposed shaded fuel breaks. No other proposed activities under either action alternative is in or near any populations of R. thompsonii. Romanzoffia thompsonii is a small annual plant in the waterleaf family that grows in vernal seeps in open rocky areas. There is one small occurrence of Kalmiopsis fragrans (North Umpqua kalmiopsis) that is just outside the planning area boundary. The northernmost prescribed burn block borders this population. All of the known populations of K. fragrans on the planet occur on the Umpqua National Forest (Meinke and Kaye, 2007). In fact, the genus Kalmiopsis occurs entirely within Southern Oregon. This beautiful, low- statured shrub is in the heath family and is related to azaleas and kalmia, which it resembles. It occurs on hydrothermally altered breccia and tuft formations.

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The world’s only known occurrence of the recently described Eriogonum villosissimum (Acker Rock buckwheat) grows on the rock faces of Acker Rock (Reveal et al., 2009). Most of the population is on the south side of the rock cliff below the lookout although there are a few scattered plants in the opening adjacent to where trees are proposed to be fell to improve the view from the lookout. This perennial plant is confined to small crevices and ledges on vertical, or nearly vertical, rock cliffs under open sun. Potential habitat was noted for several additional species (Table 54). Illiamna latibracteata, (California globe-mallow) in particular should have a high likelihood of occurring. It is an early seral species that is known to occupy moist areas within old clearcuts and has seeds that require heat in the form of fire to scarify them for germination.

Field Reconnaissance - Threatened, Endangered, and Sensitive Botany Species Intuitive controlled surveys were conducted throughout the 2015 field season by Forest Service botanists but no new sensitive plant occurrences were encountered. Because of the unique biology of fungi, pre-project surveys are not considered to be a reliable conservation tool. The vegetative component of fungi is composed of a network of thread-like, underground cells called hyphae, which collectively are referred to as the mycelium. The mushroom is the fruiting body of the organism, somewhat like an apple on an apple tree. Mushrooms for most species occur unpredictably and may go years without fruiting. To reliably determine species presence on a given site would require multiple surveys in the fall and spring over several years. Conservation of sensitive fungi species on Forest Service lands entails management of known sites, targeted surveys based on regional priorities and consideration of habitat elements for fungi during project planning.

Project Effects

Threatened or Endangered Plants There is no suitable habitat for either species that are listed under the Endangered Species Act. Kincaid’s lupine occurs in low-elevation upland prairies and is primarily known from Willamette Valley grasslands although there are isolated occurrences documented throughout the Umpqua basin. Rough popcorn flower is confined to low-elevation wetlands in the vicinity of Sutherlin in northern Douglas County. There are no known sites of either species near the planning area. Because there is no suitable habitat in or near any of the proposed activities under Alternatives 2 or 3 there would no direct, indirect or cumulative effects to either species. Therefore there would be “No Effect” to either listed species resulting from either alternative.

Sensitive Species Trees dropped on top of the E. villosissimum plants near Acker Rock lookout or dragged across them would obviously be a direct negative impact. However, felling of trees around the rocky opening with E. villosissimum would have a neutral to beneficial impact to the population because trees would be directionally felled away from the opening (project design feature #101). This species prefers full sun and trees lining the opening could potentially be slightly limiting the amount of habitat for the population. Removal of the trees could provide a very slight beneficial indirect benefit which would be temporary as the trees grow back over time. Since there is no real direct or indirect impact to the species there would be no cumulative impact from recreation or fire-related activities associated with the lookout. Trees would be directionally fell away from the opening and there would be “no impact” to the species or its habitat.

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The proposed shaded fuel break along Forest System Road 2838-779 has a population of R. thompsonii in a small rocky opening that appears to be just beyond the width of the fuel break. Since it is outside the area proposed for treatment, there should be no direct impacts from thinning, brushing, or limbing of trees and shrubs or piling and burning of material. The fuel break is about 15 meters from of the edge of the opening with R. thompsonii which should be sufficient to buffer the population from any indirect microclimatic or hydrologic impacts, particularly since the population is on the south side of the proposed treatment area. Since there would be no direct or indirect effects to the population or its habitat there are no cumulative effects. Therefore, there should be no impact to this species or its habitat. The K. fragrans site is mapped as occurring slightly inside the project boundary based on the original site report from 1990. Subsequent survey has determined that the current population extent is limited to small rock outcrops to the west of Forest System Road 2814-611, which is outside the project area and the proposed burn block. Since this road would be used as a control line for the fire, there would be no direct impact to the population from the proposed burning. This area burned in 2002 as part of the Tiller Complex fire where fire impacts at the K. fragrans site were not too severe. However, part of the plantation immediately to the south of this site burned hot without any apparent indirect impacts to this population. Therefore, no adverse indirect impacts from the proposed prescribed burn would be anticipated. Since there are no direct or indirect impacts to this population or the habitat there would be no cumulative impacts, therefore, there should be no impact to K. fragrans or its habitat from the proposed activities. No additional sensitive species were found during field surveys of the project area. Since no known occurrences of sensitive species were discovered during field surveys, there would be “no impact” from any proposed activities under the action alternatives to any other species. Table 54. Project Effects Assessment for Threatened, Endangered, and Sensitive Plants

Potential Species Project Effects Taxa Group and Species Habitat Present Alternative 1 Alternatives 2 and 3 Threatened or Endangered Plants Lupinus sulphureus ssp. kincaidii No No No Effect* No Effect* Plagiobothrys hirtus No No No Effect* No Effect* Bryophytes Anastrophyllum minutum No No No Impact** No Impact** Andreaea schofieldiana No No No Impact** No Impact** Blepharostoma arachnoideum Yes No No Impact** No Impact** Bryum calobryoides Yes No No Impact** No Impact** Calypogeia sphagnicola No No No Impact** No Impact** Cephaloziella spinigera No No No Impact** No Impact** Codriophorus depressus Yes No No Impact** No Impact** Encalypta brevicollis Yes No No Impact** No Impact** Encalypta brevipes Yes No No Impact** No Impact** Entosthodon fascicularis No No No Impact** No Impact** Gymnomitrion concinnatum No No No Impact** No Impact** Harpanthus flotovianus No No No Impact** No Impact** Helodium blandowii No No No Impact** No Impact**

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Potential Species Project Effects Taxa Group and Species Habitat Present Alternative 1 Alternatives 2 and 3 Lophozia gillmanii No No No Impact** No Impact** Marsupella emarginata var. aquatica No No No Impact** No Impact** Meesia uliginosa No No No Impact** No Impact** Polytrichastrum sphaerothecium No No No Impact** No Impact** Porella bolanderi Yes No No Impact** No Impact** Schistostega pennata No No No Impact** No Impact** Schofieldia monticola No No No Impact** No Impact** Splachnum ampullaceum No No No Impact** No Impact** Tetraphis geniculata No No No Impact** No Impact** Tomenthypnum nitens No No No Impact** No Impact** Trematodon asanoi No No No Impact** No Impact** Tritomaria exsectiformis No No No Impact** No Impact** Lichens Lobaria linita Yes No No Impact** No Impact** Pseudocyphellaria mallota Yes No No Impact** No Impact** Ramalina pollinaria No No No Impact** No Impact** Fungi No Impact** May Impact Individuals or Habitat but will not likely contribute towards Federal Boletus pulcherrimus Yes N/A listing or cause a loss of viability to the population or species No Impact** May Impact Individuals or Habitat but will not likely contribute towards Federal Cortinarius barlowensis Yes N/A listing or cause a loss of viability to the population or species No Impact** May Impact Individuals or Habitat but will not likely contribute towards Federal Dermocybe humboldtensis No N/A listing or cause a loss of viability to the population or species No Impact** May Impact Individuals or Habitat but will not likely contribute towards Federal Gastroboletus vividus Yes N/A listing or cause a loss of viability to the population or species No Impact** May Impact Individuals or Habitat but will not likely contribute towards Federal Gymnomyces fragrans Yes N/A listing or cause a loss of viability to the population or species No Impact** May Impact Individuals or Habitat but will not likely contribute towards Federal Pseudorhizina californica Yes N/A listing or cause a loss of viability to the population or species Ramaria amyloidea No N/A No Impact** No Impact**

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Potential Species Project Effects Taxa Group and Species Habitat Present Alternative 1 Alternatives 2 and 3 No Impact** May Impact Individuals or Habitat but will not likely contribute towards Federal Ramaria spinulosa var. diminutiva Yes N/A listing or cause a loss of viability to the population or species No Impact** May Impact Individuals or Habitat but will not likely contribute towards Federal Rhizopogon exiguous Yes N/A listing or cause a loss of viability to the population or species No Impact** May Impact Individuals or Habitat but will not likely contribute towards Federal Rhizopogon inquinatus Yes N/A listing or cause a loss of viability to the population or species No Impact** May Impact Individuals or Habitat but will not likely contribute towards Federal Stagnicola perplexa Yes N/A listing or cause a loss of viability to the population or species Vascular Plants Adiantum jordanii No No No Impact** No Impact** Arabis suffrutescens var. horizontalis No No No Impact** No Impact** Arnica viscosa No No No Impact** No Impact** Asplenium septentrionale Yes No No Impact** No Impact** Botrychium pumicola No No No Impact** No Impact** Calamagrostis breweri No No No Impact** No Impact** Calochortus umpquaensis No No No Impact** No Impact** Carex crawfordii No No No Impact** No Impact** Carex diandra No No No Impact** No Impact** Carex lasiocarpa var. americana No No No Impact** No Impact** Carex nardina No No No Impact** No Impact** Carex vernacula No No No Impact** No Impact** Collomia mazama No No No Impact** No Impact** Cypripedium fasciculatum Yes No No Impact** No Impact** Elatine brachysperma No No No Impact** No Impact** Eucephalus vialis No No No Impact** No Impact** Frasera umpquaensis No No No Impact** No Impact** Gentiana newberryi var. newberryi No No No Impact** No Impact** Iliamna latibracteata Yes No No Impact** No Impact** Kalmiopsis fragrans Yes Yes No Impact** No Impact** Lewisia columbiana var. columbiana Yes No No Impact** No Impact** Lewisia leana No No No Impact** No Impact** Ophioglossum pusillum No No No Impact** No Impact** Pellaea andromedifolia No No No Impact** No Impact** Perideridia erythrorhiza No No No Impact** No Impact**

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Potential Species Project Effects Taxa Group and Species Habitat Present Alternative 1 Alternatives 2 and 3 Pinus albicaulis No No No Impact** No Impact** Poa rhizomata Yes No No Impact** No Impact** Polystichum californicum Yes No No Impact** No Impact** Romanzoffia thompsonii Yes Yes No Impact** No Impact** Rotala ramosior No No No Impact** No Impact** Scheuchzeria palustris var. americana No No No Impact** No Impact** Schoenoplectus subterminalis No No No Impact** No Impact** Utricularia minor No No No Impact** No Impact** Utricularia ochroleuca No No No Impact** No Impact** Wolffia borealis No No No Impact** No Impact** Wolffia columbiana No No No Impact** No Impact** *Only applies to Threatened and Endangered Species. **Only applies to Forest Service Sensitive Species.

Fungi There are no known sensitive fungi sites within the Skillem planning area. In general, plantations are not thought to be particularly good habitat for rare species of fungi, however, the described suitable habitat for most rare fungi species is very general and not yet well understood. Although data published on the habitat requirements for rare fungi is only broadly described (Aurora, 1986. Castellano et al., 1999. Castellano et al., 2003. Exeter et al., 2006), modeling performed by York and Helliwell (2007) indicates that there would not be suitable habitat for Ramaria amyloidea, which mostly favors cooler, higher elevation sites. Nine of the eleven Sensitive fungi belong to the ectomycorrhizal (ECM) functional guild. ECM fungi are most abundant and diverse in areas with well-developed surface litter and organic material and a higher density of large-diameter trees with greater canopy closure (Amaranthus et al.,1996. Meyer et al., 2008; Smith et al., 2005). The two remaining Sensitive fungi are saprobic, meaning their mycelia reside in the litter and downed wood which they feed on, and therefore are also more likely to occur in areas with well-developed surface litter and organic debris. Sensitive fungi are less likely to occur in the managed stands because this is not considered to be suitable habitat for these species.

Direct, Indirect, and Cumulative Effects - Fungi Under Alternative 1, there would be no direct effects to Sensitive fungi due to the lack of ground disturbing activities. Under Alternatives 2 and 3, reduction of basal area within treatment units is not expected to drop below 46% in any of the units, with the average being closer to 57% of basal area being retained. Recent research has demonstrated that thinning stands, rather than clearcutting, can preserve much or most of the fungal biomass and diversity. Luoma et al. (2004) evaluated the effect of various patch and dispersed retention timber harvest patterns on ectomycorrhizal fungi in Western Oregon (including the Umpqua National Forest). They determined that leaving only 15% basal area in harvest units (in either an aggregated or dispersed pattern) reduced mushroom and truffle production during the three years

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following the treatments. However, the retention of 40% of the green trees in a dispersed pattern led to no consequential drop in the fall mushroom or truffle standing crop. This is consistent with Luoma et al. (2006) that report that ectomycorrhizal species richness drops sharply outside the dripline of individual trees following harvest but was largely retained within the dripline. Norvell and Exeter (2004) also determined that light and moderate thinning had little effect on ectomycorrhizal fungi diversity. However, Gomez et al. (2003) did find that thinning substantially reduced sporocarp frequency in the Northern Oregon Coast Range and that retention of coarse woody debris was important in maintenance of some hypogeous species. In this study, approximately 33 to 50% of the trees were retained in the harvest units. Under Alternatives 2 and 3, the stands in this project would be reduced to an average of about 30% of the pre-harvest TPA with an average of about 76 TPA and a range of 53-106 TPA. DecAid standards for downed woody debris would be maintained which would ameliorate the much of the harvest impact. Similarly, Carey et al. (1999) reported a short-term reduction of epigeous fungi but suggest that the small-scale of their study and retention of native understory shrubs effectively mimics natural processes. Each of these studies evaluated only the short-term response of timber harvest on fungi and most studies only considered sporocarp production as an indicator of fungal abundance and diversity. The proposed shaded fuel breaks would reduce small trees and shrubs but retain the larger trees and large woody debris, therefore there should be minimal direct impacts to any of sensitive species that could be present. Opening the understory would indirectly alter the microclimate in these stands, although, since these fuel breaks are all along roads, the road edge would already be allowing greater solar insolation and wind with reduced relative humidity compared to locations further back from the road. The prescribed burn blocks could have direct short-term adverse impacts to sensitive fungi species if one was present and immediately associated with a tree that is killed or a log that burns. However, fire similar to what is proposed under the action alternatives would have historically occurred on a regular basis throughout the planning area. Therefore species should be adapted to this kind of fire on a landscape scale. Moreover, these prescribed burn units should result in an overall reduction in risk of uncharacteristic fire behavior that can dramatically change the fungi functional guilds occupying the area until the stands recover. There would be an indirect impact expected due to some microclimate alteration throughout the burn blocks from the reduction in understory structure. This change would decline as a new understory develops unless maintenance burns occur in a timely manner. Based on the above cited literature, the relatively light thinning prescription and retention of down wood in the units would likely retain most or all of the pre-harvest fungal diversity. Therefore, the potential for one of the sensitive species being present and being directly or indirectly impacted by timber harvest is low while the potential for rapid recovery to pre-harvest diversity and abundance is good. For these reasons, activities proposed under Alternatives 2 and 3 “may impact individuals or habitat but will not likely contribute to a trend toward Federal listing or cause a loss of viability to the population or species” for those sensitive species of fungi with potential habitat within the project area. There would be “no impact” to the remainder of the fungal species.

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Soils

Summary of Effects to Resource

This assessment centers on past and predicted soil disturbances and maintenance of ground cover for preventing or mitigating unacceptable soil disturbance and soil loss. Alternative 1 would have no direct effect on the soils, as soil disturbing project activities would not take place. Legacy soil displacement and compaction would remain unchanged at approximately six percent of treatment units. The indirect effects of Alternative 1 would be the increased accumulation of organic matter in terms of surface and ladder fuels, with a corresponding continual increase in severe wildfire hazard. In contrast to prescribed burning, wildfire often has a major effect on soil and watershed processes, leading to increased sensitivity of the burned site to vegetative loss, increased runoff, erosion, reduced land stability, and adverse aquatic ecosystem impacts. The effects of Alternatives 2 and 3 are exactly the same for the soil resource, therefore will be considered together in this report. Ground-based yarding, cable yarding, machine piling and burning, temporary road construction, and road decommissioning are proposed activities that are likely to impact soil productivity through detrimental soil compaction, displacement, erosion, and soil heating. The combined effects of harvest, landings, road, and fuels treatment have the potential to detrimentally disturb about 12 percent of tractor harvest units and 3 to 5 percent of skyline units. The amount of potential disturbance anticipated to occur under the Alternatives 2 and 3, when added to levels of existing detrimental disturbance, would be considered acceptable for maintaining long-term soil productivity and would be less than 20 percent of any treatment unit. Alternatives 2 and 3 also have the potential to improve soil conditions on roads proposed for decommissioning as well as skid trails and landings from previous timber harvests within treatment units. De-compacting damaged soil through subsoiling decommissioned roads, temporary roads, landings, and skid trails would increase the soil’s permeability, and help to disperse surface water runoff to decrease erosion delivery potential. The proposed actions are consistent with Forest Plan Forest-wide Standards and Guidelines for Soil Productivity 1 through 16 (pp. 67-72).

Methodology

Resource Indicators and Measures The maintenance of soil productivity during forest management activities is critical to maintaining a healthy forest. Consequently, soil productivity is addressed in the Umpqua Land and Resource Management Plan (USDA, 1990a) with sixteen standards and guidelines (S&G). The overarching objective of these standards and guidelines is provide for the protection of soil productivity, water quality, and riparian habitats by controlling soil compaction, displacement, puddling, severe burning, loss of organic matter, surface erosion, and mass wasting. Two resource indicators were chosen in this analysis which best represent the objectives for protecting soil productivity as outlined in the Forest Plan: Resource Indicators for soil productivity and erosion:

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• The combined total amount of unacceptable soil disturbance (detrimentally compacted, displaced, or severely burned) is less than 20% of the treatment area including roads and landings within the activity area (Forest Plan Soil Productivity S&G 1 pp. IV-67). • The action alternatives would maintain a minimum amount of effective ground cover within the first year following ground disturbing activities. Minimum effective ground cover varies according to erosion hazard class and ranges from 25% for low erosion hazard class to 85% for very high erosion hazard class (Forest Plan S&G 2 pp. IV-68).

Spatial and Temporal Context for Analysis The spatial context of soil productivity and erosion includes the footprint of proposed project activities including timber harvest, fuels reduction, and road maintenance and decommissioning, as this is the limit of where disturbing activities would occur. The temporal context to evaluate impacts to productivity and erosion is 30 years. Soil nutrients moved through displacement and erosion can take decades to accumulate. Soil compaction from ground-based equipment can also persist for decades (Powers et al., 2005). In some locations, compaction can recover quickly through natural processes and by subsoiling, but in other areas the effects of compaction, displacement, and erosion can last longer than 30 years.

Data Sources and Field Review Soil mapping and interpretation in this report is derived from the Umpqua National Forest soil resource inventory (Radtke and Edwards, 1976), along with field verification by the project soil scientist. Geology, geomorphic landform, and landslide mapping was taken from the Upper South Umpqua Watershed Analysis (USDA Forest Service, 2004b). Bare earth LiDAR mapping of the project area was used to locate landslides, cliffs, rock outcrops, old roads, and stream locations for further review in the field. A subset of treatment units were selected for field review based on proposed treatment type, soil characteristics, and results of the LiDAR mapping review. Units proposed for ground-based tractor logging were prioritized over skyline units because ground-based units have a higher likelihood of exceeding limits for detrimental soil disturbance. Units for field review were stratified by soil and geology mapping so that a representative sample of soils and lithologies were visited. Additionally, areas identified as potentially unstable in the LiDAR mappings were prioritized for field review.

Calculation of Resource Indicators Current levels of detrimental soil disturbance as determined from field review using the Forest Soil Disturbance Monitoring Protocol (USDA, 2009) were added to expected levels of disturbance from proposed activities including ground-based harvest, skyline harvest, temporary road construction, road decommissioning, and fuel treatments. Expected levels of disturbance from proposed activities were determined by monitoring previous projects on the Forest with similar types of activities.

Affected Environment

Geology and Geomorphic Landforms The project area lies within the deeply incised western flank of the Cascade Range and is predominantly underlain by a crudely layered succession of variably altered lava flows and related volcaniclastic (fragmental volcanic) rocks that are correlated with two regionally widespread volcanic assemblages

174 Tiller Ranger District, Umpqua National Forest within western Oregon: the Little Butte group and overlying middle-Miocene volcanic sequence (also known as the Sardine Formation). Approximately one-third of the project area is delineated as landslide – earth flow complex, however the vast majority of these mass movement features are largely inactive (dormant). Landslide – earth flow complex, or “earth flow terrain,” represents slow-moving, deeper-seated (greater than 5 meters deep) forms of mass movement that include rotational slumps, earth flows, and related soil creep. These mass movement landforms tend to coalesce into complexes involving thousands of acres, and exhibit varying levels of activity ranging from dormant (inactive) to variably mobile (active). The deep, clay-rich soils in earth flow landforms are generally favorable for timber production due to their moisture-retentive capacity and abundance of inorganic nutrients that stimulate vegetative growth. A minor component of the project area is composed of alluvial deposits which includes present day floodplains, terraces, and debris fans, formed by fluvial (river or stream) processes. Unconsolidated materials forming the valley floor include poorly- to well-stratified mixtures of sand, gravel, cobbles, and boulders. Alluvial valley floor landforms merge into toe slopes that form the adjacent valley side slopes. Alluvial valley landforms are highly desirable for recreational use due to their proximity to water and flat topography. Locations in the project area that are not identified as landslide – earth flow or alluvial valley floor landforms are categorized as undifferentiated geomorphic landforms. Undifferentiated geomorphic landforms are broadly grouped into a steep, well-dissected terrain and a gentle- to moderate-gradient, weakly dissected terrain. The steep, well-dissected terrain is characterized by valley walls having slope gradients in excess of 65 percent, well-developed fan-shaped headwall basins, sharp-crest drainage divides, and ‘V-shaped’ valley wall profiles. Soils are generally skeletal, granular, and relatively permeable. Rapid-moving, shallow-seated landslides (debris avalanches and channelized debris flows) are the dominant process of mass wasting and typically initiate from highly concave slope forms above first order streams called colluvial swales or topographic hollows.

Soil Characteristics Soils in the project area vary widely in surface texture, lithology, subsurface rock fragments, and surface erosion potential. Table 55 describes the dominant soil characteristics for each unit. However, minor soil components can exist within these units with varied characteristics. Surface soil textures range from course textured loamy sand to fine textured clay loam. Course textured loamy sand is commonly found in soil formed from alluvial deposits while finer textured clay loams associated with earth flow complexes. Generally, coarse textured soils are more susceptible to surface erosion than finer textured soils, while finer textured soils can be more susceptible to soil compaction from ground-based equipment. Percentage of subsurface rock fragments and soil depth also vary widely in the project area. Deep soils with very little subsurface rock fragments are more productive than shallow rocky soils. Subsoiling to reduce soil compaction is also less effective in shallow and rocky soil types. Table 55. Soil characteristics of treatment units in the Skillem Project.

Unit Surface Texture Lithology Subsurface Rock Min Soil Surface Fragments (%) Depth (in) Erosion Potential 10 sandy loam to Undifferentiated sedimentary and 0 to 10 20 to 30 Moderate clay loam volcaniclastic rocks 30 loam to clay Undifferentiated sedimentary and 0 to 10 60 to 70 Moderate loam volcaniclastic rocks

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Unit Surface Texture Lithology Subsurface Rock Min Soil Surface Fragments (%) Depth (in) Erosion Potential 40 loam to clay Undifferentiated sedimentary and 0 to 10 20 to 30 Moderate loam volcaniclastic rocks 70 sandy loam to Undifferentiated sedimentary and 0 to 10 20 to 30 Moderate clay loam volcaniclastic rocks 80 sandy loam Undifferentiated sedimentary and 50 to60 20 to 30 Moderate volcaniclastic rocks 100 loamy sand Alluvial deposits 20 to 30 50 to 60 High 120 loamy sand Alluvial deposits 0 to 10 60 to 70 Low 140 loam to sandy Alluvial deposits 20 to 30 30 to 40 Moderate loam 160 loamy sand Silicic vent complexes 20 to 30 50 to 60 High 180 loamy sand Undifferentiated sedimentary and 20 to 30 50 to 60 High volcaniclastic rocks 210 loamy sand Undifferentiated sedimentary and 20 to 30 20 to 30 High volcaniclastic rocks 220 sandy loam to Undifferentiated sedimentary and 40 to 50 20 to 30 High silt loam volcaniclastic rocks 230 loam to clay Undifferentiated sedimentary and 0 to 10 60 to 70 Moderate loam volcaniclastic rocks 240 loam to clay Undifferentiated tuff 20 to 30 30 to 40 Moderate loam 250 loam to sandy Undifferentiated sedimentary and 20 to 30 40 to 50 Low loam volcaniclastic rocks 260 loam to clay Undifferentiated sedimentary and 20 to 30 30 to 40 Moderate loam volcaniclastic rocks 300 loam to clay Undifferentiated sedimentary and 0 to 10 60 to 70 Moderate loam volcaniclastic rocks 350 loamy sand Undifferentiated tuff 0 to 10 60 to 70 Low 400 loam to clay Undifferentiated sedimentary and 20 to 30 60 to 70 Moderate loam volcaniclastic rocks

Past Land Use Practices and Field Review Extensive road construction and timber harvesting using regeneration methods took place in the project area from the 1950s through 1980s. These intensive management-related practices appear to have accelerated erosional processes and sediment delivery into the aquatic environment both spatially and temporally in the upper South Umpqua watershed. There appears to be a discernible shift in the timing of sediment delivery from a natural episodic mode to a more chronic condition due to the widespread occurrence of management-related landslides and alteration of stream channel morphology (USDA, 2003). A chronological landslide inventory was prepared to characterize and assess the current conditions and trends for mass wasting erosional processes within the Upper South Umpqua Watershed. Between 1946 and 1998, more than half of the management-related landslide occurred during the period between 1967 and 1989 which coincides with the intensive period of road construction and logging. The high rate of

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natural landslides during the period prior to 1967 tends to reflect the severe flood events of 1955 and 1964 that affected the region (USDA, 2003). Construction methods through the mid-1980s consisted of side-casting excess material and installing culverts at a rate of about 10 culverts per mile. Stream crossing culverts were sized for a 50-year flood. Little attention was paid to erosion, road location in relation to streams, meadows, channel extensions, type of soils, fish passage, and culvert inlet or outlet erosion. A field review of units in the project revealed obvious signs of previous disturbance as a result of logging and road building. Soil disturbance in the form of old wheel tracks or depressions, compaction, displacement of the forest floor or mineral soil, erosion, and burning were noted. The majority of disturbance was slight to moderate in severity, not detrimental to productivity, and on a trajectory of recovering naturally. Approximately six percent of the surveyed units showed signs of detrimental soil disturbance in the form of severe compaction deeper than 12 inches on old roads, landings, and skid trails as well as the removal forest floor and topsoil from windrowing.

Direct and Indirect Effects

Alternative 1 – No Action There would be no direct effects of the No Action Alternative on the soils, as soil disturbing project activities would not take place. Surface and soil organic matter would continue to increase slowly with the accumulation of needles, twigs and small branches, and decomposing larger woody material, absent a fire of sufficient intensity to consume the material. The compacted soils in the skid trails from past disturbance would continue to recover very slowly, especially at depths greater than six inches. These compacted soils would recover as the processes of freezing and thawing, the penetration of plant roots, and the burrowing of small animals break up the compaction and incorporate organic matter into the soil. The indirect effects of the No Action Alternative would be the increased accumulation of organic matter in terms of surface and ladder fuels, with a corresponding continual increase in severe wildfire. In contrast to prescribed burning, wildfire often has a major effect on soil and watershed processes, leading to increased sensitivity of the burned site to vegetative loss, increased runoff, erosion, reduced land stability, and adverse aquatic ecosystem impacts

Alternatives 2 and 3 The direct, indirect, and cumulative effects of Alternatives 2 and 3 are exactly the same for the soil resource, therefore will be considered together in this report. Ground-based yarding, cable yarding, machine piling and burning, temporary road construction, and road decommissioning are proposed activities that are likely to impact soil productivity through detrimental soil compaction, displacement, erosion, and soil heating. Together, harvest, fuel treatments, temporary road construction and road maintenance and decommissioning would maintain 65% or more effective ground cover, the minimum requirement in the Forest Plan. Effective ground cover is defined as all herbaceous or stable dead woody materials, synthetic materials and rock fragments greater than 0.75 inches in diameter that cover the surface of the ground and prevent soil surface erosion. Minimum ground cover recommendations have been prescribed to address both the risk of soil erosion (LRMP IV-68 S&Gs 2 and 3) and the need to maintain soil organic matter for long-term site productivity.

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The combined effects of harvest, landings, road, and fuels treatment have the potential to detrimentally disturb about 12 percent of tractor harvest units and 3 to 5 percent of skyline units. The amount of potential disturbance anticipated to occur under the Alternatives 2 and 3, when added to levels of existing detrimental disturbance, would be considered acceptable for maintaining long-term soil productivity and would be less than 20 percent of any treatment unit (USDA, 1990a, p. IV-68).

Ground-based Tractor Logging and Landing Operations A combination of increased compaction, reduced soil cover, and soil displacement would lead to a loss of nutrients on the skid trails and landings in stands where ground based tractor logging takes place. Effects would include soil compaction deeper than four inches and soil displacement deeper than the organic enriched surface soil layer. The result of these effects would be a local reduction in productivity that could persist for as long as 30 years. The effects of ground-based yarding varies by the type of equipment used, number of equipment passes over the trails, terrain, access routes, climatic conditions, and operator skill. Project design features including placement of water bars, slope restrictions on ground-based equipment, and soil cover guidelines were designed to minimize the loss of soil organic matter from the stand. The high amounts of soil cover in non-skid trail areas would act as sediment filters and prevent skid trail derived sediment from reaching a drainage channel. Best Management Practice (BMP) monitoring of skid trails and landings show that water bars and slash are effective at preventing surface erosion on disturbed areas within timber sales on the Forest (USDA, 2018). Subsoiling would have the direct effect of reducing disturbance by improving water infiltration, and decreasing the risk of erosion. Alternatives 2 and 3 would subsoil temporary roads, landings, and skid trails used by the purchaser as a normal operating procedure. Compaction within the units could be reduced by as much as 50% to 70% of the know legacy compaction. De-compacting damaged soil through subsoiling temporary roads, landings, and skid trails would increase the soil’s permeability, and help to disperse surface water runoff to decrease erosion delivery potential. The project design features which restrict ground-based yarding to designated trails and slopes less than 35 percent, would limit soil displacement and the extent of affected area. The extent of disturbance would also be limited by reusing pre-existing skid trails, limiting equipment to 1 to 2 passes off designated skid trails, and limiting the width of skid trails to 12 to 14 feet. Soil compaction would be minimized by suspending the use of ground-based equipment during periods of wet weather and when soil moisture levels are high. A combination of new and pre-existing landings would be used during timber harvest operations. Where feasible, pre-existing landings would be used instead of creating new landings. The minimum size and number of landings would be used to accommodate safe and efficient timber harvest operations. After operations are complete, landings not located on system roads would be subsoiled and covered with slash which would promote the recovery of soil productivity in the long-term. Following ground-based harvest and subsoiling, all units in Alternatives 2 and 3 would meet soil standards and guidelines for acceptable levels of soil disturbance (less than 20% unacceptable soil conditions) for both compaction and effective ground cover, thus complying with soils S&G 1 and erosion risk S&G 2 (USDA, 1990a, p. IV-68).

Skyline Yarding Soil disturbance from cable yarding would vary by topography (e.g., convex vs. concave slope, slope steepness, and the presence or absence of pronounced slope breaks) and by the volume of logs yarded.

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Skyline yarding, either uphill or downhill, would produce localized areas of disturbance, such as duff removal or displacement of the top one to six inches of soil, along the yarding corridors. The most soil disturbance would be within 100 to 150 feet of landings. Low to moderate soil compaction would be concentrated in the center of the corridors at depths of three to four inches. High soil compaction up to six inches deep would occur in small pockets. Some units would be whole-tree yarded, yarding logs with tops and branches attached, which may reduce the depth of concentrated displacement and compaction in the corridors because the tree weight would be dispersed over a wider area when compared to logs that are limbed and bucked prior to yarding. In those units with whole tree yarding, soil displacement would be limited primarily to the duff and topsoil layer. Whole-tree yarding removes nutrients contained in tree branches and tree tops from the units. However, needles, twigs and small branches generally fall off during felling and yarding, so some nutrients from these sources would remain in the units. The project design features included in this project would limit detrimental soil disturbance from skyline yarding. The project design feature to obtain a minimum of one-end suspension would reduce the degree of soil displacement and compaction in skyline yarding corridors. If gouging does occur in the skyline corridors, erosion control measures would be applied to prevent soil loss in skyline units.

Prescribed Fire The impacts of pile burning on soil productivity can vary considerably depending on fuel characteristics and loading, soil climatic conditions at the time of burning, and soil burn severity. Large landing piles and grapple piles create enough heat to alter soil structure, volatilize soil nutrients, and alter soil microbial communities. Soil heating directly below the burn pile would result in a short-term loss of microbial biomass or a shift in community structure (Busse et al., 2014). These impacts would not affect the long-term productivity of the project area because the grapple piles within units would occupy a minor component of each stand. Machine piling at the landings would occur on ground that is already disturbed from logging activities, therefore no additional acres would be impacted from this action. Implementing the fuels management project design features would reduce impacts to soil productivity by limiting the size and location of hand piles and grapple piles. The requirement to use low ground- pressure equipment for grapple piling would minimize compaction with harvest units as a result of fuels treatment. Burning when the soil and fuel moistures are sufficient to help retain existing down wood would limit detrimental effect of severe heating as a result of prescribed fire. Broadcast burning conditions are typically characterized by lower air temperature, higher relative humidity, and higher soil moisture burning conditions, where fuel loading is low and fuel moisture can be high. These conditions produce lower fire intensities and, as a consequence, lower fire severity leading to reduced potential for subsequent damage to soil and water resources. Studies show that low to moderate severity broadcast burning results in nominal damage from soil heating, nitrogen loss, exposed mineral soil and erosion potential, or root and soil microbial mortality (Busse et al., 2014). Fire at the other end of the severity spectrum more nearly represents conditions that are present during a wildfire, where temperatures, wind speeds, and fuel loadings are high, and humidity and fuel moisture are low. In contrast to prescribed burning, wildfire often has a major effect on soil and watershed processes, leading to increased sensitivity of the burned site to vegetative loss, increased runoff, erosion, reduced land stability, and adverse aquatic ecosystem impacts (Agee, 1993; Nearly et al., 2005).

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Temporary Road Construction, Road Maintenance, and Road Decommissioning The construction of temporary roads would displace and compact soil, thereby decreasing soil productivity. Subsequent subsoiling and covering these temporary roads with slash would speed the recovery of compacted and displaced soils, however, a short-term reduction in soil productivity and function can be expected. By reusing and subsequently subsoiling legacy temporary roads, harvest activities in Alternatives 2 and 3 can reduce existing levels of compaction in treatment units. The maintenance of existing roads would be confined to areas that are currently non-productive and therefore would not have a direct effect on soil productivity. The indirect benefit of proposed road maintenance activities would be a reduction in chronic sediment from the aging road infrastructure in the project area. Road decommissioning would have positive effects on soil productivity by reducing soil erosion and improving soil productivity in the long-term. During, and shortly after, road decommissioning activities, disturbed areas could have elevated risk of soil erosion. Covering disturbed areas with slash and installing water bars would reduce this short term risk.

Cumulative Effects

Alternative 1 – No Action Past actions from timber harvesting are evident on the landscape within the project and are reflected in the discussion of the affected environment. There are no reasonably foreseeable future actions that would have an effect on soils within the project area, therefore there would be no cumulative effects for Alternative 1.

Alternatives 2 and 3 The spatial scope of cumulative effects for soil productivity is confined to timber harvest units and roads where disturbing activities would occur; there is no casual mechanism for soil productivity impacts to combine with impacts from outside of these areas. The past effects of forest management on soil productivity are documented in the Affected Environment section. There are no ongoing actions occurring in the project area that impact soil productivity and there are no projects proposed in the foreseeable future that would overlap Skillem harvest units, therefore no significant cumulative effects to soil productivity would occur.

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Recreation

Summary of Effects to Resource

Under Alternative 1, the No Action Alternative, there would be no direct or indirect effects to recreation opportunities. However, existing conditions, such as fuel loading along roads and within stands of timber, would remain untreated and could contribute to extreme fire behavior in the future which would impact visitor experiences. Alternative 2 would have short-term direct and indirect effects on visitor experience from commercial thinning, non-commercial thinning, and fuels treatments. These include traffic delays, observation of heavy equipment, and noise from planned activities. There would also be minor long-term direct and indirect effects on some recreation opportunities by restricting motorized access at specific dispersed campsites, roads, and motorized trails and from the closure of two dispersed campsites. The proposed transportation system changes would have minor direct and indirect long-term effects on motorized access opportunities, by removing small segments from the overall high road density within the planning area. However, the majority of these roads are already inaccessible due to being overgrown and revegetated, show little sign of current or expected use, or pose resources concerns. Alternative 3 would have similar direct and indirect effects as Alternative 2 except that it would minimize effects to public access for recreational use by adding two new dispersed campsites and an RV campsite to the system and only partially decommissioning the motorized access to two dispersed campsites. Cumulative effects to recreation opportunities are minor under both Alternatives 2 and 3. There are dozens of established, popular dispersed campsites and hundreds of other potential sites along roads or short spurs in the adjacent watersheds; the removal or reduction of motorized access to three dispersed campsites and the decommissioning and closure of two dispersed campsites would have limited cumulative effects considering the number of opportunities available for recreation in the area.

Methodology

Resource Indicators and Measures Management of recreation opportunities on the Forest is based on the direction provided by the Umpqua National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan (USDA, 1990a), which uses the Recreation Opportunity Spectrum (ROS) Management Areas. The ROS describes recreational settings in terms of the, “combination of physical, biological, social, and managerial conditions that give value to a place.” (Clark and Stankey, 1979). The Recreation Opportunity Spectrum (ROS) classifications range from Primitive, Semi-primitive, Non- motorized, Semi-primitive Motorized, Roaded Natural, Roaded Modified, and Rural. Recreation Opportunity Spectrum designations within the planning area include Roaded Modified for the majority of the planning area and Roaded Natural along the South Umpqua Road/Forest Road 28 (USDA, 1990a, pp. IV 11-15). Further, the ROS User’s Guide (1982) describes a buffer of one-half mile for remoteness on either side of Roaded Natural road prisms, so unless changes occur outside of the one-half mile buffer, there is no change to ROS classification. Monitoring is measured within these established classes. A full description of each ROS category can be seen in the ROS Handbook (USDA, 1986).

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Spatial and Temporal Context for Analysis The scale at which effects are analyzed is the project area and includes all past, present, and reasonably foreseeable actions.

Affected Environment

The primary recreational activities that occur within the planning area boundary include developed day use sites, developed site camping, dispersed camping, hunting, sightseeing, wildlife watching, hiking, swimming, OHV use, and biking. The majority of activities such as swimming, biking, and hiking occur from Memorial Day through Labor Day. Developed and dispersed camping, sightseeing, wildlife watching, and OHV use are most frequent from Memorial Day through the end of the fall hunting seasons. Very limited use of all types occurs in the project area during the winter, with a small increase in use during the spring. The South Umpqua Road (Forest Road 28) bisects the Skillet Creek-South Umpqua River Subwatershed from roughly southwest to northeast and provides the central access for recreation activities within the planning area. Forest Road 2823 provides access off Forest Road 2800 to dispersed camping opportunities and numerous trailheads that primarily lead into the Rogue-Umpqua Divide Wilderness. The South Umpqua Road 28 corridor and the section of Forest Road 2823 from its intersection with Forest Road 2838 northeast to its intersection with Forest Road 2830 is designated Roaded Natural in the ROS. The rest of the planning area is designated Roaded Modified under the ROS. Use of Forest Road 28 for sightseeing, wildlife watching, and pleasure driving is very high during summer and fall months, with moderate to high use in the spring, and low to moderate use during the winter. Forest Road 2823 has slightly lower usage for these purposes, but both corridors are used frequently to access other areas and opportunities such as wilderness trails and shorter trips to waterfalls trails such as Deer Lick Falls trail number 1568 (1.5 miles north of the project area). This road also part of a pass through route to North Umpqua and Diamond Lake Ranger District opportunities when the French Junction pass is free of snow. There are four developed recreation sites within the project area. South Umpqua Falls Campground and the adjacent South Umpqua Falls Day Use Area fee sites are the most popular recreation sites on the Tiller Ranger District due to the swimming opportunities at South Umpqua Falls, picnic and sightseeing opportunities, and easy accessibility of the site. During the middle of July each year, the Cow Creek Band of the Umpqua Tribe of Indians holds an annual PowWow that can draw upwards of 1,000 participants and spectators. An Intertribal PowWow is usually held after the first PowWow and can draw upwards of 600 participants and spectators. Skillet Creek Campground is a developed campsite with no fee that is used primarily as a dispersed campsite, and generally receives moderate to high use during the summer and fall hunting seasons. It generally gets low use other times of year and is rarely used during winter months. Camp Comfort is a five-site campground that offers picnic tables, fire rings, garbage service, one vault toilet, and direct access to the short Camp Comfort Trail number 1586 which leads to the headwaters of the South Umpqua River. This campground experiences moderate to high use in the summer, low to moderate use during fall hunting season, and low use during other times of the year. Acker Rock Lookout is accessed by hiking trail 1585 and is the second most popular recreation rental on the Tiller Ranger District. It is also used intermittently by fire staff as a fire lookout. Acker Rock Lookout currently has a significant overgrowth of trees around it which reduces the viewshed of the lookout.

182 Tiller Ranger District, Umpqua National Forest

There are numerous camping and hiking opportunities adjacent to the planning area, but Camp Comfort Trail 1586 is currently the only designated system trail in the planning area; it allows for hiking, bicycling, equestrian, and Class III OHVs (motorcycles) use. According to the Motor Vehicle Use Map, there are also several short motorized trails within the planning area; these also present hiking opportunities (particularly during hunting season) including T2814107, T2814498, and T2814100. There are also several motorized trails that are either short, currently blocked by barriers, or very overgrown and provide few recreational opportunities. These motorized trails include T2814498, T2835090, and T2835100. There are several regularly used dispersed recreation sites within the planning area. Most of these camp sites are used by recreational campers during the summer and also serve as traditional hunting camps during the fall hunting season (see Transportation System Changes section under Alternative 2). These sites are primarily spur roads off Forest Roads 28 and 2823 where the Forest Service has tried repeatedly to move the sites away from sensitive riparian zones, and in some places protect anadromous fish habitat with the installation of barriers. However, these barriers have been repeatedly breached and the user- created roads that result present a sanitation and safety hazard for the public and patrol personnel, especially because there is no turn around on the user-created sections. Off Forest Road 28 and 2823 corridors there are numerous dispersed camping opportunities as well as many opportunities on other roads and spur roads within the planning area where visitors can park on road shoulders and down dead end spur roads. Dispersed vehicle camping, according the Umpqua National Forest Motor Vehicle Use Map (MVUM) is allowed within one vehicle length of most roads. Within the planning area, visitors may also camp within 300 feet of either side of Forest Road 27. Outside the planning area is also a high density of well-used dispersed campsites at places such as Carmine Lake, several quarries, areas along Forest Road 28 and 29, and near trail heads such as Fish Lake, Skimmerhorn, and Beaver Swamp. Hiking that occurs off forest system trails is generally on unimproved paths and Maintenance Level 1 roads. Much of this hiking is during hunting season and pre-hunting season scouting, especially as there are seasonal restriction on many of the roads within the planning area. Around Camp Comfort and Lower Flood Creek there is 55 acres of area designated as Recreation old growth groves within MA 10, which fall under the prescription C1-I (Forest Plan IV-14, Table IV-3). These old growth groves enhance visitor experience, and should be managed to provide for their high interpretive value.

Direct and Indirect Effects

Alternative 1 – No Action There would be no direct or indirect effects under Alternative 1 (no action) as no actions would occur that would impact recreationists or recreational opportunities.

Alternative 2 Thinning and prescribed burning activities may have minor direct and indirect effects in the short term, but over 1 to 2 years would enhance Roaded Natural and Roaded Modified areas by opening up viewing opportunities for wildlife and into mature stands of timber and more distant vistas. Alternative 2 would have direct and indirect effects from the decommissioning of Forest Road 2800 spurs 356, 357, and 358, and Forest Road 2823 spurs 040 and 042. These actions would result in a minor impact on the ROS as there are abundant dispersed camping opportunities elsewhere within the 183 Skillem Integrated Resource Restoration Project

watershed and in adjacent watersheds. There are approximately 14 popular dispersed campsites inventoried within the watershed, of which two are proposed for decommission (2800-358 and 2823- 042) and three would be converted to walk-in sites as their motorized access would be decommissioned (2800-356, 357, and 2823-040). Since the terminus of the spur roads are less than one-half mile from their parent travel route, there would be no effect on ROS class, which would remain Roaded Natural. There are also dozens of established, popular dispersed campsites and hundreds of other potential sites along roads or short spurs in the adjacent watersheds; thus the removal of motorized access to three dispersed campsites and the closure of two sites would have only minor direct and indirect effects on ROS and accessibility of dispersed camping opportunities Treatment of Commercial Unit 350 and the formation of shaded fuel breaks along Forest Roads 2830 and 2814 would have short-term direct and indirect effects on travel ways due to logging operations which may create minor traffic delays during work periods. Other commercial and non-commercial units may have the same short-term effects, but are expected to be of even lower concern due to their distance from frequented areas. The two planned prescribed burn blocks may have similarly minor direct and indirect effects with the addition of some smoke from units but would be of very short duration. Hunters would experience direct and indirect effects from the net closure of 14.2 miles of road due to road decommissioning, closure of roads to motorized vehicles, or roads placed in storage (detailed in Appendix B). However, many of these roads were evaluated based on their current conditions as being hydrologically unstable, currently un-drivable, were showing little to no signs of current use, or are within winter range and thus already under seasonal closure during the times that a large number of hunter would want to drive them. Additionally, roads closed to motor vehicles can present opportunities for hunters to go into deeper sections with lower road density on foot which adds diversity to the ROS. Recreationists may also experience short-term, direct and indirect effects from noise, logging traffic, and heavy equipment work from timber operations and road alterations.

Alternative 3 Alternative 3 would have many of the same direct and indirect effects mentioned above for Alternative 2. However, this alternative was developed to minimize effects to public vehicular access for recreational use in response to concerns raised during scoping, while still protecting and meeting management objectives for aquatic resources. Two new dispersed campsites along Forest Road 2823 and one reservation RV campsite at the old Emerson Bridge location would be added to the system, partially offsetting the minor impacts recreationists may experience under Alternative 2. These new sites are in areas that allow for low impact camping along the South Umpqua River. Additionally, the partial decommission and partial conversion to footpath of Forest Road 2800-356 and 357 (see Figure 7 and Figure 8) would allow for some continued motorized access to these two opportunities for dispersed vehicle camping. If the entirety of these spurs are converted to footpaths through adaptive management, resulting from continued visitor unauthorized use of the areas, the hike-in distance would be extended a few hundred feet.

Cumulative Effects

Alternative 1 – No Action There would be no direct or indirect effects under Alternative 1 (no action) and therefore no cumulative effects as no actions would occur that would impact recreationists or recreational opportunities.

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Alternative 2 and 3 No projects are proposed within or adjacent to the project area which would affect recreational opportunities and therefore would not contribute to cumulative effects. Visual Management Systems

Summary of Effects to Resource

The action alternatives of the Skillem Project would result in short-term direct and indirect effects on visual qualities from commercial thinning, non-commercial thinning, prescribed burning, wildlife and sugar pine restoration gap creation, and prescribed fire. However, none of these planned activities would cause Visual Quality Objectives (VQO) to decrease below the visual integrity levels outlined in the Forest Plan. In the long term, treatments are expected to improve VQOs by opening up views into mature timber and into the middleground and background sight distances where views were previously occluded by overgrown thickets of timber. Minor cumulative effects would occur in the Partial Retention VQO area of Acker Rock Lookout from treatments that may occur in the Buckeye Integrated Resource Restoration Project. However, these activities are not expected to cause assigned VQO to decrease below visual integrity levels outlined in the Forest Plan.

Methodology

Resource Indicators and Measures Visual Quality Objectives are defined and established under the Visual Management System (VMS; USDA, 1995) and the Umpqua Forest Plan. The VMS evaluates the visual impact of activities on their existing and desired conditions. The VQO is described along a range of naturalness or degree of acceptable alteration to a landscape, and the VQO can vary dependent on where one is located on a particular road. VQOs are defined as follows: Retention is where humans’ activities are not evident to the forest visitor; Partial Retention is where humans’ activities may be evident, but are subordinate to the characteristic landscape; Modification is where humans’ activities may dominate the characteristic landscape, but use naturally established form, line, color, and texture; and Maximum Modification is where human activity may dominate the characteristic landscape, but it should appear as a natural occurrence when viewed from a distance. According to the Forest Plan, these VQOs, or visual resources, are evaluated and designated as an aggregate of three inventory components: 1. Distance zone: foreground (0 feet to 500 feet), middleground (500 feet to 4 miles), and background (4 miles and beyond). 2. Sensitivity level: highest sensitivity, average sensitivity, and low sensitivity. 3. Variety class: distinctive, common, and minimal. The applicable VQOs in the planning area are Retention, Partial Retention, and Maximum Modification. Due to topography and vegetation types, the majority of the planning area is along average or low sensitivity travel routes, and areas of concern occur primarily within the foreground and middleground distance zones. The variety class of the planning area is mostly common, with a distinctive area around South Umpqua Falls Campground and Day Use Area.

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Spatial and Temporal Context for Analysis The scale at which effects are analyzed is the planning area and includes all past, present, and reasonably foreseeable actions.

Affected Environment

The planning area is located on Forest System lands, with two small patches of private land. About 2 miles of South Umpqua, Forest Road 28, around South Umpqua Falls is classified under the VQO of Retention, and is thus a high sensitivity area for visuals. The rest of Forest Road 28 within the planning area is Partial Retention with shoulders of Modification in the middleground zones. There is also a small area of Partial Retention around Acker Rock Lookout. From Acker Rock Lookout the evidence of past activities is most evident as shown below in Figure 30.

Figure 30. View to the northwest from Acker Rock Lookout. This photo is roughly centered on South Umpqua Campground (circled in black) at an azimuth of 247 degrees. Acker Rock Lookout is a popular recreation rental during the summer, and the rock itself provides ample rock climbing opportunities. From the Acker Rock Lookout vantage point, past modification of the landform is evident from the texture, color, and form of past clear-cuts and roads. Natural regenerating burn scars are also evident, primarily from the 2002 Tiller Complex and the 2013 Whisky Complex fires. The planning area has experienced heavy modification and logging activity in the past.

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The areas of Retention and Partial Retention around South Umpqua Falls are densely vegetated on the west side of the river with mature timber. On the east side of the river there is a large area of regenerating brush, burned snags, and some retained mature trees from the 2002 Tiller Complex. Visitors spend anywhere from a few hours to several weeks in and around the site. Most of the east side of the river is within the foreground of where most visitors spend the bulk of their time swimming at the falls, and in the middleground from the campground is a visible old fire scar.

Direct and Indirect Effects

Alternative 1 – No Action There would be no direct effects to the visual quality of the area under Alternative 1 (No Action) because no ground disturbing activities would occur. With no action, however, existing dense stands would continue to accumulate ladder fuels. These areas are susceptible to stand replacement wildfire, which would visually alter the area for decades, until new seedlings grew to a height sufficient to become the prominent feature in the viewshed (versus the blackened snags). This would detract from the visual quality of the area at the stand and the landscape level.

Alternatives 2 and 3 Alternative 3 would have no additional effects on VMS than Alternative 2 and so they are analyzed here together. Roughly two-thirds of the project area is under the VQO of Maximum Modification. In these areas none of the planned treatments would have measureable direct or indirect effects on this VMS category. The rest of this section deals with the direct and indirect effects on the remaining one-third of the project area. Table 56. Acres of VQO within the Planning Area and within Treatment Areas. Private land not included.

Visual Quality Objective Planning Area Acres Proposed Treatment Acres (Alternative 1) (Alternative 2 and 3) Non-Commercial Commercial Prescribed Fire Retention 580 0 0 255 Partial Retention 1,681 0 10 8 Modification 257 0 21 339 Maximum Modification 3,426 0 615 402 Totals 5,944 0 646 1,004 Commercial thinning Unit 350 is along a section of VMS sensitivity level 2 (average sensitivity) Road 2823, which is under the VQO of Partial Retention. This 10 acre unit would have a mixture of thinning treatments that would reduce canopy cover down to no more than 44%. There would be 2 acres of untreated riparian reserve, with 8 acres thinned according to its land allocation prescription outlined under Alternative 2. Short-term direct effects would occur with a change to texture and color. The texture of the stand would become much more open in comparison to the surrounding forest environment. Color would go from a combination of green canopy vegetation and grey tree bark to a mixture of brown from some visible soil and tree bark and brown and grey from the boles of limbed trees. The two acres of LSR within the unit would have skips and gaps built in that would help the treated stands blend in with the surrounding, untreated timber stands. None of these direct effects to color or texture, even in the short term, would cause the treated unit to fall below its VQO designation of Partial Retention. In the long term, however, treatment of Unit 350 would enhance visual qualities over time by increasing site distances into the foreground and opening up short duration views into the 187 Skillem Integrated Resource Restoration Project

middleground. Treatments would also allow for views of larger, more characteristic trees, and open up views of the surrounding forest. Slash piles and stumps would also be visible in the short term, but slash piles would be burned, and stumps would eventually blend into the regenerating forest within 1 to 3 years as brush regenerates quickly in the area. See Landscape Aesthetics Handbook, Partial Removal Timber Harvest, pg. H-29, for a similar example of what Unit 350 is expected to look like after harvest. Most of commercial Unit 100 and part of commercial Unit 120 is along the 2830 travel route, which is under the VQO of Modification with the rest of both units located within the VQO of Maximum Modification. Effects on texture and color would occur from thinning treatments, but would decrease below VQO category thresholds. The remainder of planned commercial units would occur in the VQO of Maximum Modification. Effects on texture and color would occur from thinning treatments, but would not exceed the Maximum Modification category threshold. The wildlife skips and gaps and sugar pine restoration areas planned in Units 10, 30, 40, 160, and 400 would only have minor direct and indirect effects on the Partial Retention viewshed around Acker Rock Lookout to the north west (Figure 30). From other viewing areas these treatments would mostly be visible from Maximum Modification areas, and possibly for short durations on low frequency travel routes. At Acker Rock, wildlife skips and gaps and sugar pine restoration units would have minor direct effects on the middleground of the Partial Retention viewshed to color, shape and texture, but due to their distribution, the shape, size, and color should only improve the natural appearance of the viewshed by diversifying the landforms and creating natural-appearing meadows. Additional direct and indirect effects on VQOs would occur from the Acker Rock viewshed improvement treatment, which would have short term direct effects from directional falling or topping of trees and the creation of stumps, but would immediately open up views into the foreground, middleground, and background; dramatically improving landscape visibility at the site. South Umpqua Falls Campground and Day Use Area are the main recreation attraction in this watershed and on the district. Visitors may spend a few hours to several weeks in the area. The two activities within the project area might be visible at this popular site are the Acker Rock viewshed improvements, which would be in the middleground of the viewing area and should have no effects on the scenic integrity level of Retention, and the 615 acre South Umpqua Falls burn block. The South Umpqua Falls burn block was last burned during the 2002 Tiller Complex Fires. There would be direct and indirect visual effects on the Retention and Modification VQO areas in the foreground and middleground from burning activity. Since the objective of these burn blocks is to consume small diameter trees and brush, while minimizing the mortality of more mature trees, there would be short term effects on visuals, especially in the Retention area. The direct effect on color would mostly change from the grey black of burned snags, green of small saplings, and yellow of thick brush and grass to a larger amount of black and smaller amount of yellow, grey, and green in the short term when ladder fuels are consumed. In the long term, color would shift to more grey from timber, and green from regenerating vegetation in a more shaded stand. More mature stands of trees would develop, changing the texture to a mixture of mature trees and less brush within a more open stand. Since the area would look natural, and the appearance of human activities would be mostly indiscernible from the opposite side of the river and swimming areas even in the foreground after the burn, the burn block would continue to meet Retention. Shaded fuel break creation along travel routes for Forest Roads 2838 and 27 would have direct short term impacts from thinning activities in the foreground. Approximately 0.8 miles of shaded fuel break treatment are planned in the VQO of Partial Retention, and 1.5 miles are planned in Modification; the

188 Tiller Ranger District, Umpqua National Forest remaining miles are under Maximum Modification. Short term direct effects would occur on visible texture and color, and the stand would become much more open on both sides of these roads, but none of the planned activities would cause their respective VQO category to drop below Forest Plan thresholds. In the long term, once brush regenerates in 2 to 4 growing seasons, and slash piles are burned, visual qualities would be enhanced by increasing site distances into the foreground and in some areas views into the middleground would become available. Non-commercial thinning would occur in four units within the Maximum Modification VQO, and one unit in the Modification VQO. Since these units are regenerating clear cuts they would have no direct or indirect effects on VMS. Decommissioning and closure of the roads and motorized trails have some direct and indirect effects, but these would be minor and eventually restore continuity to landforms which would only improve their VQO qualities towards higher levels.

Cumulative Effects

Alternative 1 – No Action There would be no cumulative effects under Alternative 1.

Alternative 2 and 3 The Buckeye Integrated Resource Restoration Project is set to take place in the next decade. Since very little of the Buckeye project area is viewable from Retention or Partial Retention VQO areas, and would be within middleground and background sight distance from higher sensitivity viewing areas, the only cumulative effects on the planning area would occur from the Partial Retention area of Acker Rock where both the Skillem and Buckeye project areas are visible. However, expected treatments would not exceed the Forest Plan guidelines of Partial Retention or Modification for these areas. Transportation

Summary of Effects to Resource

Approximately 82 miles of road exist within the Skillem planning area boundary. Several other roads were analyzed for haul route analysis as well, taking into account main arterial routes used by commercial interests. Haul routes were identified for all season haul where structural strength is sufficient or can be restored with maintenance or reconstruction. Currently road density within the project area is approximately 4.6 miles of road per square mile. Alternatives 2 and 3 propose decommissioning roughly 8 miles of road, decommissioning approximately 1.5 miles of motorized trail, placing approximately 8.7 miles of road into storage (allowing ATV use on 2.7 of these miles), and performing maintenance activities, including culvert installation or replacement, surfacing, and other improvements, on approximately 45 miles of designated haul routes. Alternative 3 differs from Alternative 2 in that, rather than complete decommissioning, two short unauthorized routes would be converted to dispersed campsites, with the routes partially decommissioned and partially converted to a footpath. This results in a negligible decrease in the total amount of decommissioning proposed under Alternative 3 compared to Alternative 2. Approximately 0.25 miles of road would be constructed and/or added to the system for future use as a function of both alternatives as well. The resulting road density within the planning area from actions described under both alternatives is roughly 4.1 miles of road per square mile, an overall decrease of 0.5 miles of road per square mile.

189 Skillem Integrated Resource Restoration Project

Affected Environment

Prior to 1990, road maintenance in the planning area was accomplished using several sources of funds and parties. Timber sale purchasers performed most of the maintenance on Level 1, 2 and 3 roads (low standard), along with contributing funds towards maintaining the paved and high use roads. The Forest Service funded a road maintenance crew through appropriations and collections to perform the maintenance on multiple use roads. When timber harvest declined in the 1990’s, purchaser road maintenance and contributed funds also declined sharply. At the same time, appropriated road maintenance funds declined, forcing shrinkage of the district road crew size and capability. Currently, the Tiller Ranger District shares the road crew with the forest, and all maintenance activities are rotated among all districts on the forest. Annual road maintenance is limited primarily to Level 3, 4, and 5 roads (higher standard), which are part of the primary road system identified in the Forests Access and Travel Management Plan. Throughout the project area, as timber-harvest related road use has declined, so have the funds to maintain them, resulting in poor and deteriorating conditions. The roads in this planning area have a wide range of needs to maintain user safety and structural resilience and to prevent negative impacts to other resources. There has been limited commercial activity within this planning area for the past several years, which has provided insufficient road maintenance or reconstruction on the transportation network. Roads in the planning area are becoming overgrown with brush, have nonfunctioning ditches, and have surface irregularities. In addition, many culverts are near the end of their design life (25 to 30 years) and are in need of replacement. Primary access roads throughout the planning area have asphalt or aggregate surfacing. All other non- key roads tributary to these major access roads are single lane aggregate or native surfaced roads with turnouts which have been built and maintained primarily for timber harvest activities. These roads are either termed collector or local roads. Many local roads have been closed seasonally or year-round for wildlife or administrative purpose. Most system roads designated for haul in the Skillem planning area have had some surface and drainage maintenance over their history from past activities. There are two large private parcels in the planning area, the Emerson Ranch and a parcel in Andraieff Meadows. Road use permits have been issued in the past to these interests, requiring maintenance for private timber management activities. A travel analysis was completed on the road systems within the Skillem planning area to determine the intended purpose, design elements, and operation and maintenance criteria for each road segment using an interdisciplinary process. The recommendations of this effort were used, along with input and recommendations from Resource Specialists, to write a Road Management Objective (RMO) for each road within the planning area. The RMO’s will guide future travel management decisions throughout the planning area.

Direct, Indirect, and Cumulative Effects

Alternative 1 – No Action Alternative 1 – No action would result in the following effects: • The current road management objectives to keep the existing key forest roads open in the project area would continue. The ability to effectively implement these road management objectives would be reduced due to no additional road maintenance or reconstruction from timber harvest.

190 Tiller Ranger District, Umpqua National Forest

• While currently suitable for non-commercial traffic, with no immediate threat of failure from non- commercial use, forest roads would continue to deteriorate because funding is lacking to properly maintain the roads. • Road maintenance and repair would continue on a prioritization basis within existing budgets, addressing some of the more critical maintenance items. • At some point, all or portions of forest roads would become unsuitable for administrative and public uses, resulting in reduced access, loss of capital investments, and adverse impacts to aquatic resources from road failures. • Non-key roads would continue to become less accessible for vehicle use, including high-clearance vehicles. • No roads would be decommissioned, increasing the potential for damage to resources and roads due to lack of maintenance. • No culverts in stream channels would be replaced or upgraded, outside of those selected to meet the regional AOP target annually. • Driving conditions would continue to decline, increasing safety hazards; drivers would not be able to clearly locate road turnouts or safe-stopping areas when dealing with oncoming traffic on single-lane roads.

Alternative 2 and 3 Given the beneficial effects from road maintenance and reconstruction, Alternatives 2 and 3 would result in a cumulative beneficial effect to user safety. All action alternatives would provide road maintenance or reconstruction on all haul routes. The incremental cumulative effect of all action alternatives would be to reduce the miles of roads available for motorized access and decrease the impact to aquatic resources. There would be a reduction in motorized vehicle access, but minimal impact to recreational use. Following consideration of the incremental impacts of the project, when added to past, present, and reasonably foreseeable future actions in the planning area, it is determined that there are primarily minor beneficial and no meaningful adverse cumulative impacts to the transportation system associated with any of the action alternatives. The Forest Service does not anticipate any future timber sale or public works projects to be conducted within the Skillem planning area that could result in adverse conditions to timber sale haul or other activities associated with this planning effort. Road repair and maintenance under Alternatives 2 and 3 would result in the following effects: • About 45 miles of forest roads would be maintained to improve structural strength and road surfaces to a level that would support commercial timber haul, safely accommodate mixed commercial and non-commercial use, and meet the desired condition. • About 6.2 miles of road would be designated suitable for winter haul. These roads would receive a greater amount of structural improvement to ensure minimal negative effects to the surround environment, including surfacing, culvert installation/replacement, and subgrade improvement. • Safer driving conditions would be achieved through roadside clearing, which improves sight distances on key roads associated with commercial haul, through road repair. • Replacement of live stream culverts and failing ditch relief culverts would protect resources and capital investment in the road. Live stream culverts identified for replacement or removal have been identified and documented in the plan. Placement of additional ditch relief culverts would be designed to disconnect ditch line water from live stream channels by diverting runoff onto vegetated natural ground. Run off would also be diverted away from fill slopes to improve fill stability and

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reduce risks of fill failure. This would benefit water quality and potential fish habitat for the duration of the improvement. Decommissioning non-key forest roads, as proposed under Alternatives 2 and 3 would result in the following effects: • 8 miles of existing non-key forest roads would be decommissioned. These roads are determined to be no longer needed for management activities, closed to all vehicle traffic, and taken off the Forest’s road inventory. • Road treatments may include removing stream crossings, water barring road surfaces, removing unstable side-cast material, and closing entrances with barricades, such as earthen berms, boulders, or guardrails or some combination thereof. These actions would improve stability of the road prism. • Decommissioned roads are barricaded and motorized vehicle traffic is prohibited. Stabilizing the road reduces the risk of road failure, reduces risks to water quality and allows the area once occupied by the road bed to return to a more natural state. Storing non-key forest roads, as proposed under Alternative 2 and 3, would result in the following effects: • About 7.2 miles of non-key roads would be stored. These stored roads are further broken down by proposed Motor Vehicle Use: o About 2.7 miles would be designated as a Motorized Trail and Open to Vehicles less than 50 inches wide, both year round and seasonally. o About 4.5 miles would be designated as Closed to All Motorized Traffic. • Storing these roads would reduce the backlog of maintenance needs within the analysis area. Stored roads would be maintained during times when they are reopened to implement future projects. • Road storage could add to the cost of post-harvest stand treatments and monitoring, depending on the timing of storages. Where possible, road storage would be timed to minimize these effects. • Stored roads are water barred and if necessary have culverts removed. These activities stabilize the road prism until the road is needed. Prohibiting motorized vehicle traffic would contribute to protection of resources and preserving the road for future use. Public motorized vehicle access is reduced under Alternatives 2 and 3, with 4.5 miles of road currently designated as Open to All Vehicles Year Round having a proposed designation of Closed completely to all traffic. Alternatives 2 and 3 both respond to the national roads policy identified in the introduction of this document directing forest to identify and implement a minimum road system. Alternatives 2 and 3 meet the proposed minimum road system in the Skillem planning area. With the implementation of roads storage and decommissioning work, the road density for the planning area would ultimately decrease based on the alternative selected. Alternatives 2 and 3 require construction and reconstruction of temporary spur roads. Both alternatives would have approximately 2.9 miles of temporary roads built within the project area. The following effects are expected from building temporary roads: • Temporary roads would generally be for commercial use; these roads may provide opportunities for limited, short-term public use, such as firewood gathering and special forest products. • Temporary road locations do not typically connect with streams, minimizing effects to hydrology. These criteria serve to minimize the disturbance of riparian areas. Stream crossings would be avoided where possible during the construction of all temporary roads.

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Social Environment

Economic Background

The economic analysis focuses on the direct, indirect, and induced costs and benefits of the alternatives and the connected actions described in Chapter 2. Net present value and benefit to cost ratio are the primary criteria used to compare the direct effects of the alternatives to the Federal Government, termed economic efficiency analysis. Impacts to the general economy of the analysis area are modeled using Apheleia, a Public Land Economic Analysis Front End Tool (version 02.06.2015). Apheleia uses new Timber Mill Survey Data from 2014 imported from IMPLAN output data. IMPLAN is a modeling program developed by the Forest Service, but now managed privately (IMPLAN 2009). Assumptions regarding the economic analysis are footnoted where appropriate. Most timber sales from the Tiller Ranger District are purchased and operated by individuals and companies based in Douglas and Jackson Counties, Oregon. Merchantable saw timber is also generally marketed to and processed by facilities in Douglas and Jackson Counties; therefore, the economic effects of the alternatives will be assessed at the scale of Douglas and Jackson Counties. Final demand is assumed to be wood products ready for shipment at the mill yards.

Douglas and Jackson Counties Economic Situation Total employment per county is difficult to quantify exactly, as the State of Oregon Employment Department, Census Bureau, and IMPLAN or Apheleia use different criteria to measure employment. The State of Oregon Employment Department has the most current information. The 2008 to 2009 recession impacted the timber industry in the region especially hard. Unemployment in Douglas County rose from 8.3% in January of 2008 to its highest point in May, 2009 at 16.5%. Current unemployment (March 2019) stands at 5.8% in Douglas County (State of Oregon, 2019). Unemployment in Jackson County rose from 6.3% in January of 2008 to its highest point in May, 2009 at 13.7%. Current unemployment (March 2019) stands at 5.8% in Jackson County (State of Oregon, 2019). According to the State of Oregon, as shown in Table 57, Douglas and Jackson Counties lost 3,725 forestry, logging and wood products manufacturing jobs from a recent high in 2005 to the low in 2010. Since then, 1,742 jobs have been added back as log and lumber markets have improved (State of Oregon, 2019). Table 57. County Employment (not seasonally adjusted).

Highest Point Lowest Point Current County Sector 2005 2010 September 2018 Douglas Forestry and Logging 1,073 705 929 Douglas Wood Products Manufacturing 4,396 2,678 3189 Jackson Forestry and Logging 818 185 416 Jackson Wood Products Manufacturing 2,404 1,398 2,174 Total 8,691 4,966 6,708 In September 2018, the logging, forestry and wood products manufacturing sectors provided about 11% of Douglas County’s non-governmental employment and 4% of Jackson County’s (State of Oregon, 2019). For private industry the average annual wage paid in the Douglas County area in 2018 was $38,744, compared to the forestry, logging, and wood products manufacturing average wage of $45,804 193 Skillem Integrated Resource Restoration Project

based on the State of Oregon Employment Department data. In Jackson County the 2018 average annual wage was $40,452, compared to the forestry, logging, and wood products manufacturing average wage of $51,696 based on the State of Oregon Employment Department data. The forest products industry continues to be a key part of both economies.

Economic Efficiency Analysis

The direct economic effects of the alternatives are displayed in Table 58. The standard criterion for deciding whether a government program can be justified on economic principles is net present value (NPV) – the discounted1, monetized2 value of expected net benefits (OMB A-94). Forest Service planning costs are not included in the economic efficiency analysis since they are considered sunk (OMB A-94). It is estimated that this project has cost about $130,000 to plan over the past three fiscal years. Alternative 1 is considered below-cost since there would be no return to the U.S. Treasury with expenditures for planning. Based on the expected return to the federal government plus the value of restoration activities potentially funded by stumpage3 shown in Table 58, Alternatives 2 and 3 would be below-cost, including all Forest Service planning, sale preparation, and administration costs. The Skillem Project includes several restoration activities which are considered to provide ecosystem services. Due to the difficulty to quantify these ecosystem services, it was not included in the economic analysis. The qualitative benefits of the restoration activities are described in their associated resource areas in this EA. The action alternatives would be marketed as at least one individual timber sale. This sale would be offered in a public auction to achieve the highest return possible. It is anticipated that all post-sale mitigation requirements would be paid for by stumpage from the timber sale. The action alternatives shows a negative net present value. This alternative would require other sources of funds, other than the timber sale, to completely fund fuels treatment work. However, it is anticipated that the timber sale marketed from this alternative would be viable and would attract competitive bids. Table 58. Economic Efficiency Analysis.

Alt 2 Alt 3 Timber Volume (MBF)4 9,065 9,065 Acres by Harvest Method Skyline 236 236 Ground-based 292 292 Helicopter 0 0 Total Acres 528 528

1 Discounting is the process of calculating the present value of a future amount of money. 4% is the standard discount rate for long-term projects (OMB A-94). 2 Lit. “to give the character of money to.” A cost or benefit is monetized when it is expressed in terms of money. 3 Stumpage is the value of the timber “on the stump.” It is the timber sale contract minimum value and is determined by subtracting logging, road work, and slash disposal costs from the delivered log price. Timber sale purchasers may bid more in a competitive auction. The actual monetary return to the U.S. Treasury is determined by subtracting all post sale costs from the stumpage. 4 MBF is thousand board feet. The Forest Service estimates MBF using east-side Scribner rules, therefore the volume as shown, is higher than if west-side, long log Scribner rules would be applied.

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Alt 2 Alt 3 Volume (MBF) per Acre 17.17 17.17 Total Present Value Benefits Gross Benefits $4,629,753 $4,629,753 Value per MBF5 $574.50 $574.50 Value per Acre $8768 $8768 Total Present Value Costs FS Prep and Admin $372,290 $372,290 Logging $2,555,753 $2,555,753 Slash Disposal $337,228 $337,228 Road Work (Reconstruction and Maintenance) $527,446 $527,446 Reforestation $25,585 $25,585 Restoration Activities potentially funded by stumpage $947,523 $947,523 Restoration Activities not funded from stumpage $218,857 $216,357 Total Cost $4,886,698 $4,884,643 Cost per MBF $539.07 $538.85 Cost per Acre $9,255 $9,251 Net Present Value ($144,053.68) ($141,998.86) Stumpage (2019 dollars) $1,349,865 $1,349,865 Predicted Stumpage Price per MBF $148.91 $148.91 Potential Return to the Treasury6 $152,356 $154,856 Benefit to Cost Ratio7 0.97 0.97 The economic efficiency analysis displayed in Table 58 uses average delivered8 log prices from the Forest Service Product Quality Adjustment (PQA) spreadsheet for the last 6 months. Log prices fluctuate due to a variety of market forces, many of which are external to Western Oregon. It would be speculative to predict the local markets at the time of sale offer or operation. At current log prices and logging costs, this alternative would likely result in a positive timber sale, indicating the sale(s) would receive bids in a competitive market. The action alternative would be marketed as one or more individual timber sales. These sales would be offered in a public auction to achieve the highest return possible9. The estimated stumpage price is $148.91 per MBF. Alternatives 2 and 3 have a positive predicted stumpage price with potential returns to the Federal Treasury of $152,356 and $154,856, respectively. This amount would cover the 25% fund payments to counties.

5 West side delivered log prices derived from ODF log price surveys have been adjusted to reflect equivalent east side values due to the differences in scaling rules. 6 This is calculated to at least cover the requirement for 25% Payments to Counties and 10% Road & Trail Fund. 7 B/C Ratio is the benefit/cost ratio, another standard criterion for economic efficiency. It is the product of the present value of benefits divided by the present value of costs. 8 Delivered log price is the amount paid per MBF at the mill location. 9 Individual timber sales would be appraised and offered at fair market value, or the minimum to cover reforestation costs and a $0.50/ccf return to the Treasury, whichever is higher. The minimum advertised rate for Douglas-fir is $6.00 per MBF. 195 Skillem Integrated Resource Restoration Project

Economic Impact Analysis

The economic impact analysis using Apheleia considers changes in employment and income due to changes in the economic activity of the county from the project. An individual timber sale may not substantially change the overall economic activity of the county, since the amount of timber volume represents a small percentage of the total demand. Timber sales from the National Forest are viewed as raw material available for the local industry, allowing production and support for jobs in the local economy to be sustained. Local National Forest timber would offset logs imported to the area, potentially reducing overall costs and increasing production. Table 59 displays the results of the economic impact analysis by alternative. In general, the sale of timber from the National Forest would result in sustained or increased employment in the logging and wood products manufacturing sectors, in the forestry services (slash treatment, planting, etc.) and indirect and induced employment in many other sectors. Payments in lieu of taxes due to Douglas County from timber receipts are not included in these figures, as they are accounted for in the return to the Federal Treasury shown in Table 58. Table 58 does not include impacts to the local economies from federal salaries paid to produce and administer the timber sales, or taxes paid to state and local governments as a result of harvesting timber. Other direct, indirect, and induced benefits are derived from road reconstruction and other restoration activities that may be funded by revenue from the timber sales or other funding sources. These work activities are treated as costs in the benefit to cost analysis since they reduce the revenue to the Federal Treasury, but they have economic benefits to the local community since most are contracted services. These benefits are included in the economic impact analysis and in the numbers reported in Table 59. The numbers in Table 59 are not intended to be absolute. The analysis should be used to compare the relative differences among alternatives. The percentage of value assigned to saw log and veneer production is 90% and 10%, respectively, based on the estimated average diameter of harvested trees and the milling capacity in the analysis area. Table 59. Economic Impact Analysis.

Impact Alt 2 Alt 3 Change in Total Industrial Output $12,780,000 $12,780,000 Change in Employment 218 218 (number of jobs) Change in Labor Income $9,324,000 $9,324,000

Direct, Indirect, and Cumulative Effects Alternative 1 would not change the conditions or level of economic activity in the analysis area as no actions would be taken. This alternative may, however, contribute to a decline in the local timber industry, since it would keep federal timber from the market, at least in the short-term. Other sources of logs would be used to meet the needs in local mills, or total production would decline. No attempt was made to quantify the impacts, as it is beyond the scope of this analysis to speculate on the reasonably foreseeable timber supply changes in the local area. Alternatives 2 and 3 would have a beneficial direct effect to the local economy, as it is likely the timber sales would sell and most of the restoration activities would be accomplished. The Skillem Project is anticipated to add $12,780,000 total industrial output through direct and indirect jobs. Of the 218 total jobs contributed, 51% are direct jobs in the forestry, restoration, logging and milling sectors, and 49%

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are indirect and induced jobs in many sectors of the local economy. The direct jobs contribute 43% of the increased labor income. This project, when combined with other federal timber sales from the Umpqua National Forest, would contribute to a beneficial cumulative effect of sustaining the wood products infrastructure in Douglas and Jackson Counties. Heritage Resources

Summary of Effects to Resource

Based on the results of the current heritage inventory, review of known resources, mitigation of undiscovered sites, and consultation with Tribes, there are no direct, indirect, or cumulative effects on known heritage resources as the result of implementing any of the proposed Skillem Project planning area alternatives.

Methodology

Resource Indicators and Measures The potential exists for unidentified heritage resources to be present in the Skillem Project implementation areas. This is especially true in areas that are currently covered by dense down wood and thick ground vegetation such as poison oak, salal, rhododendron, and ferns. Mitigation measures described in the project design features would aid in protecting undiscovered heritage resources. Following a Cultural Resource Inventory, the proposed project activities have met the criteria of No Historic Properties Affected. A report documenting these findings shall be sent to the Oregon State Historic Preservation Office. Standard contract provisions and mandatory project monitoring provide for protection of heritage resources discovered during project implementation.

Spatial and Temporal Context for Analysis In southwestern Oregon, ethnographic data regarding American Indian habitation of the region is sparse. The upper South Umpqua River region is ethnographically ascribed to the Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians and the Southern Molalla. The Cow Creek tribal homeland consisted of three identifiable activity areas: Lowlands, Uplands, and the High Mountains. The first two areas represented year-round residency areas, whereas the third was used primarily in the late summer and early fall. The Lowlands ranged in elevation from 400 to 800 feet and included meadows and oak groves along river terraces. The Uplands ranged between 800 to 1,800 feet consisting of forested areas used in hunting and gathering. The High Mountains area, 1,800 to 5,500 feet above sea level, was used for hunting, gathering, and collecting huckleberries where extensive patches are located. Archaeological research is limited to the documentation of sites and isolated discoveries found during previous cultural resource inventories. These consist of village sites, rock shelters, lithic scatters, rock cairns, and culturally peeled trees or “medicine” trees. Historic sites can be characterized by four main economic components that largely shaped the Umpqua region: 1) Subsistence farming and agriculture, 2) Mining, 3) Logging, and 4) Tourism. Farming began on a limited scale in the 1850s and expanded rapidly with Euro-American settlement in 1851. Subsistence farming and stock raising impacted forest lands with the passage of the Forest Homestead Act in 1906. The harvesting and processing of forest products through logging played a key role in western Oregon’s economic history and is evident within the project area. In 1872, with the construction

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of the Oregon and California Railroad, the logging industry was expanded and the potential for exporting materials began. Most of the Umpqua National Forest remained out of reach due to the mountainous locations and the accessibility of timber to the north. The development of tourism as an industry dates from the 1920s and the construction of the Pacific Highway. With the onset of the Great Depression followed by World War II, large scale tourism faded. The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) constructed hundreds of miles of trails and roads and built picnic areas and campgrounds between the years of 1933 to 1941.

Affected Environment

The affected environment for heritage resources fall within the areas of proposed activities that have the potential to permanently affect and degrade those resources (for example timber harvest through commercial and non-commercial thinning, logging systems, road construction, reconstruction, and decommissioning, subsoiling, and landing construction).

Direct, Indirect, and Cumulative Effects

Based on the results of the heritage inventories, review of known resources, mitigation of undiscovered sites, and consultation with Tribes, there are no direct, indirect, or cumulative effects on the known heritage resources as the result of implementing any of the proposed Skillem Project alternatives. All known sites, unevaluated, or eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places, will be excluded from implementation actions that would affect their eligibility. Mitigation measures and monitoring have been established to protect the historic properties’ integrity to assure they’re not affected by the project.

Forest Plan Consistency

Forest Plan goals and objectives and Cultural Resource (Heritage) Standards and Guidelines are listed in Chapter IV, pages 28-30 of the Umpqua National Forest Plan. All applicable Standards and Guidelines have been met through the inventory and evaluation of significant historic properties as required under the National Historic Preservation Act. All significant aspects of potentially eligible sites shall be protected through mitigation measures.

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Holland, D.C. 1994. The western pond turtle: Habitat and history. Final report prepared for the United States Department of Energy; Bonneville Power Administration; Environment, Fish and Wildlife. Holloway, G.L., Smith, W.P., Halpern, C.B., Gitzen, R.A., Maguire, C.C., and West, S.D., 2012. Influence of forest structure and experimental green-tree retention on northern flying squirrels (Glaucomys sabrinus) abundance. Forest Ecology and Management. 264:115-124 Howell A.B. 1926. Voles of the genus Phenacomys II. Life history of the red tree mouse Phenacomys lon- gicaudus. North American Fauna 48:39-64. Huff, Mark H.; Holthausen, Richard S.; Aubry, Keith B. 1992. Habitat management for red tree voles in Douglas-fir forests. Gen. Tech. Rep.PNW-GTR-302. Portland, OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station. 16 p. (Huff, Mark. H.; Holthausen, Richard. S.; Aubry, Keith. B., tech. coords. Biology and management of old-growth forests). Issacs F.B. and Anthony R.G., 2003. Bald Eagle. Pp140-143. In Birds of Oregon: A General Reference. D.B. Marshall, M.G. Hunter, and A.L. Contreras, Eds. Oregon State University Press, Corvallis, OR. Jespen, S. 2013. Species Fact Sheet for the Western Bumble Bee Bombus occidentalis. Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation. Interagency Special Status/Sensitive Species Program, Interagency - Oregon / Washington State. DOI Bureau of Land Management / USDA Forest Service. Johnston, N.T., S.A. Bird, D.L. Hogan, and E.A. MacIsaac. Mechanisms and Source Distances for the Input of Large Woody Debris to Forested Streams in British Columbia, Canada, Canadian Journal of Forestry Resources Vol. 41, 2231-2246, 2011. Jones, J. A., and D. A. Post. 2004. Seasonal and Successional Streamflow Response to Forest Cutting and Regrowth in the Northwest and Eastern United States, Water Resources Research Vol. 40, No. 5, 19. Jones, J.A., and G.E. Grant. 1996. Peak flow responses to clear-cutting and roads in small and large basins, western Cascades, Oregon. Water Resource Research. 32(4): pgs. 959-974. Jones, M.D., D.M. Durall and J.W.G. Cairney. 2003. Ectomycorrhizal fungal communities in young forest stands regenerating after clearcut logging. New Phytologist 157: 399-422 Jordan, S.F., 2011. Species Fact Sheet for the Coronis Fritillary Speyeria coronis. Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation. Interagency Special Status/Sensitive Species Program, Interagency - Oregon / Washington State. DOI Bureau of Land Management / USDA Forest Service. Kattelmann, Richard. 1996. “Chapter 30: Hydrology and Water Resources,” in Sierra Nevada Ecosystem Project: Final report to Congress, vol. II, Assessments and scientific basis for management options. University of California, Davis, Centers for Water and Wildland Resources. Keeley, J.E. 2001. Fire and invasive species in Mediterranean-climate ecosystems of California. Pages 81-94 in K.E.M. Galley and T.P. Wilson (Eds.). Proceedings of the Invasive Species Workshop: the Role of Fire in the Control and Spread of Invasive Species. Fire Conference 2000: The First National Congress on Fire Ecology, Prevention, and Management. Miscellaneous Publication No. 11, Tall Timbers Research Station, Tallahassee, FL. Keisker, D.G., 2000. Types of Wildlife Trees and Coarse Woody Debris required by Wildlife of North- Central British Columbia. Research Branch, BC Ministry of Forests, Victoria, BC.

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LANDFIRE (http://www.landfire.gov/landfire_citation.php) Landscape Ecology, Modeling, Mapping & Analysis 2006 and 2010. Greatest Nearest Neighbor Modeling Data (GNN dataset download). Utilized for down wood and snag analysis. http://lemma.forestry.oregonstate.edu/projects/nwfp Lattin, J.D. 1964. The Scutellerinae of America North of Mexico (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Pentatomidae). Ph.D. Dissertation, Zoology. University of California, Berkeley. University Microfilms, Inc. Ann Arbor, Michigan. LEMMA, 2014. https://lemma.forestry.oregonstate.edu/data/structure-maps Leonard, W.P., L. Chichester, C.H. Richart, and T.A. Young. 2011. Securicauda hermani and Carinacauda stormi, two new genera and species of slug from the Pacific Northwest of the United States (Gastropoda: Stylommatophora: Arionidae), with notes on Gliabates oregonius Webb 1959. Zootaxa 2746:53-56. Lindo, Zoë and Suzanne Visser. 2003. Microbial biomass, nitrogen and phosphorus mineralization, and mesofauna in boreal conifer and deciduous forest floors following partial and clear-cut harvesting. Can. J. For. Res. Vol. 33, pp 1610-1620. Long, J.N. 1985. A practical approach to density management. Forest Chronicle 61(1): 23-27 Luce, Charles H. 1997 Effectiveness of Road Ripping in Restoring Infiltration Capacity of Forest Roads, Restoration Ecology Vol. 5, No. 3, 265 -270. Luoma, D.L., C.A. Stockdale, R. Molina and J.L. Eberhart. 2006. The spatial influence of Pseudotsuga menziesii retention trees on ectomycorrhiza diversity. Can. J. For. 36; 2561-2573 Luoma, D.L., J.L. Eberhart, R. Molina and M.P. Amaranthus. 2004. Response of ectomycorrhizal fungus sporocarp production to varying levels and patterns of green-tree retention. Forest Ecology and Management 202: 337-354 Lyons, J.K. and R.L. Beschta. 1983. Land Use, Floods, and Channel Changes: Upper Middle Fork Willamette River, Oregon (1936-1980). Water Resources Research 19:2: 463-471. MacDonald, L.H., A.W. Smart, and R.C. Wissmar. 1991. Monitoring Guidelines to Evaluate Effects of Forestry Activities on Streams in the Pacific Northwest and Alaska, EPA/910 -9-91-001, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 10. Main, W., Paananen, D. M., & Burgan, R. E. (1998). Fire Family 1998. St. Paul, Minnesota, USA. Manning, T., J. C. Hagar, and B. C. McComb. 2012. Thinning of young Douglas-fir forests decreases density of northern flying squirrels in the Oregon Cascades. Forest Ecology and Management 264:115-124. Marshall, D., B., M. G. Hunter, and A. L. Contreras. 2003. Birds of Oregon: A general reference. Oregon State University Press, Corvallis. 752 pp. McDade, M. H., F. J. Swanson, W. A. Mckee, J. F. Franklin, and J. Van Sickle. 1990. Source distances for coarse woody debris entering small streams in western Oregon and Washington. Canadian Journal of Forest Research 20: 326-330. Montgomery, D.R. 1994. Road surface drainage, channel initiation, and slope instability. Water Resources Research, 30(6): 1925-1932. Meinke, R.J. and T.N. Kaye. 2007. Kalmiopsis fragrans (Ericaceae), a new distylous species from the Southern Cascades Mountains of Oregon. J. Bot. Res. Inst. Texas 1: 9-19.

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Mellen-McLean K., Marcot B.G, Ohmann J.L., Waddell K., Livingston S.A., Willhite E.A., Hostetler B.B., Ogden C., and Dreisbach T. 2012. DecAID, the decayed wood advisor for managing snags, partially dead trees, and down wood for biodiversity in forests of Washington and Oregon. Version 2.20. USDA Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Region and Pacific Northwest Research Station; USDI Fish and Wildlife Service, Oregon State Office; Portland, Oregon. http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/nr/wildlife/decaid/index.shtml Meyer, M.D., M.P. North and S.L. Roberts. 2008. Truffle abundance in recently prescribed burned and unburned forests in Yosemite National Park: implications for mycophagous mammals. Fire Ecology Special Issue 4: 105-114. Montgomery, D.R. 1994. Road surface drainage, channel initiation, and slope instability. Water Resources Research, 30(6): 1925-1932. Montgomery, D.R., B.D. Collins, J.M. Buffington, and T.B. Abbe. 2003. Geomorphic Effects of Wood in Rivers. American Fisheries Society Symposium. Moyle, P. B., and G. M. Sato. 1991. On the design of preserves to protect native fishes. Pages 155-169 in W. L. Minckley and J. E. Deacon, editors. Battle against extinction: native fish management in the American west. University of Arizona Press, Tucson. Murphy, M. L., and K. V. Koski. 1989. Input and depletion of woody debris in Alaska streams and implications for streamside management. North American Journal of Fisheries Management 9: 427-436. Naiman. R. J., et al. 1992. Fundamental elements of ecologically healthy watersheds in the Pacific Northwest coastal ecoregion. Pages 127-188 in R. J. Naiman, editor. Watershed management: balancing sustainability and environmental change. Springer-Verlag, New York. Natural Resource Information System. 2010. NRIS. Observation data (GIS) used for development of chapter 3 and biological assessment. Umpqua National Forest corporate records, Roseburg Oregon. Neary, Daniel G.; Ryan, Kevin C.; DeBano, Leonard F., eds. 2005 (revised 2008). Wildland fire in ecosystems: effects of fire on soils and water. Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS-GTR-42-vol.4. Ogden, UT: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. 250 p. Northwest Ecosystem Alliance v. Rey, No. 04-844-MJP (W.D. Wash Oct. 10, 2006). Norvell, L.L., and R.L. Exeter. 2004. Ectomycorrhizal epigeous basidiomycete diversity in Oregon Coast Range Pseudotsuga menziesii forests – preliminary observations. pp.159-189 in C. L. Cripps, editor. Fungi in forest ecosystems: Systematics, diversity, and ecology. The New York Botanical Garden. New York. Oliver, C.D., and B.C. Larson. 1996. Forest Stand Dynamics, 2nd ed. Wiley, New York. Olson D. H., and Davis, R.J. 2009. Conservation Assessment for the Foothill Yellow-Legged Frog (Rana boylii) in Oregon Version 2.0. U.S.D.A. Forest Service Region 6 and U.S.D.I. Bureau of Land Management. Interagency Special Status Species Program. Olson, D.H. (coord. Ed.). 2009. Herpetological conservation in northwestern North America. Northwestern Naturalist 90: 61-96. OMB A-94. Office of Management and Budget Circular No. A-94. October 29, 1992, revised 1999. Guidelines and Discount Rates for Benefit-Cost Analysis of Federal Programs.

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Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (ODEQ). 2003. Designated beneficial uses – Umpqua Basin. Oregon Administrated Rules 340-41-0320, Table 320A. Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (ODEQ). 2006. Umpqua basin total maximum daily load (TMDL) and water quality management plan (WQMP). Ed. O.D.o.E. Quality. Medford, Oregon. Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (ODEQ). 2008. Water Quality Standards for Oregon. Oregon Administrated Rules 340-41-0036. Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. 2005. Oregon Native Fish Status Report. Salem, OR. P 162. Perry TD, Jones JA. 2016. Summer streamflow deficits from regenerating Douglas‐fir forest in the Pacific Northwest, USA. Ecohydrology.10:e1790. Pilliod, David S., Justin L. Welty, and Robert Stafford. 2013. Terrestrial Movement Patterns of Western Pond Turtles (Actinemys marmorata) in Central California. Herpetological Conservation and Biology 8(1): pp 207–221. Powers, R., Scott, D., Sanchez, F., Voldseth, R., Page-Dumroese, D., Elioff, J., and Stone, D. 2005. The North American long-term soil productivity experiment: findings from the first decade of research. Forest Ecology and Management, 220: 31-50. Prescott, C.E., 2002. The Influence of the Forest Canopy on Nutrient Cycling, Tree Physiology Vol. 22, 1193-1200. Radtke, S. and Edwards R. V. Jr., 1976. Soil Resource Inventory, Umpqua National Forest. USDA Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Region. Rathbun, Galen B., Norman J. Scott Jr., and Thomas G. Murphy. 2002. Terrestrial Habitat use by Pacific Pond Turtles in a Mediterranean Climate. The Southwestern Naturalist. 47(2): pp 225-235. Ratner, S., R. Lande, and B. B. Roper. 1997. Population Viability Analysis of Spring Chinook Salmon in the South Umpqua River, Oregon. Conservation Biology. 11: 879-889. RAWS https://raws.dri.edu/wraws/orF.html Reese, Devin A. and Hartwell H. Welsh. 1997. Use of Terrestrial Habitat by Western Pond Turtles, Clemmys marmorata: Implications for Management. In: Van Abbema, J. (ed). Reineke, L.H., 1933. Perfecting a stand-density index for even-aged forests. Journal of Agricultural Research 46:627-638. Reinhardt, E.D., R.E. Keane, D.E. Calkin and J.D. Cohen. 2008. Objectives and considerations for wildland fuel treatment in forested ecosystems of the interior western United States. Forest Ecology and Management 256:1997-2006. Reinhardt, E.D.; Ryan, K.C. 1988. Eight year Tree Growth Following Prescribed Underburning in a Western Montana Douglas-fir/Western Larch Stand. USDA Forester Service, Intermountain Research Station. Research Note: INT-387. 6 p. Reveal, J.L., D. York and R. Helliwell. 2009. Eriogonum villosissimum (Polygonaceae), a new species endemic to Acker Rock, Oregon. J. Bot. Res. Inst. Texas 3: 639-643. Rhoades, C.C., Entwistle, D., Butler, D., 2011. The influence of wildfire extent and severity on streamwater chemistry, sediment and temperature following the Hayman Fire, Colorado. Int. J. Wildland Fire 20, 430–442.

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Roth A R. Unpublished report dated 1937. A survey of the waters of the South Umpqua Ranger District Umpqua National Forest. USDA Forest Service, Portland, OR. Rothermel, R. C., 1983. Charts for interpreting wildland fire behavior characteristics. Sauer, J. R., J. E. Hines, J. E. Fallon, K. L. Pardieck, D. J. Ziolkowski, Jr., and W. A. Link. 2014. The North American Breeding Bird Survey, Results and Analysis 1966 - 2013. Version 01.30.2015 USGS Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, Laurel, MD Scott & Burgan, 2005. United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service Rocky Mountain Research Station General Technical Report RMRS-GTR-153. Standard Fire Behavior Fuel Models: A Comprehensive Set for Use with Rothermel’s Surface Fire Spread Model Sharma R. and R. Hilborn. 2001. Empirical relationships between watershed characteristics and coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) smolt abundance in 14 western Washington streams. Can. J. Fish. Aquatic. Science. 58: 1453–1463. Sheldon, A. I. 1988. Conservation of stream fishes: patterns of diversity, rarity, and risk. Conservation Biology 2:149-156. Smith, J.E., D. McKay, G. Brenner, J. McIver and J.W. Spatafora. 2005. Early impacts of forest restoration treatments on the ectomycorrhizal fungal community and fine root biomass in a mixed conifer forest. Journal of Applied Ecology 42: 526-535. Sollins, P., C.C. Grier, F.M. McCorison, K. Cromack, Jr., R. Fogel, and R.L. Fredriksen, 1980. The internal element cycles of an old-growth Douglas-fir ecosystem in Western Oregon. Ecological Monographs 50:261-285. Spies, T.A., T.W. Geisen, F.J. Swanson, J.F. Franklin, D. Lach and K.N. Johnson. 2010. Climate change adaptation strategies for federal forests of the Pacific Northwest, USA: ecological, policy, and socio-economic perspectives. Landscape Ecology 25:1185–1199. State of Oregon Employment Department, Workforce and Economic Research Division. Employment by Industry Retrieved from: https://www.qualityinfo.org/ed on March 25, 2019. State of Oregon Employment Department, Workforce and Economic Research Division. Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS). Retrieved from: https://www.qualityinfo.org/ed on March 25, 2019. Stohlgren, T.J., D. Binkley, G.W. Chong, M.A. Kalkhan, L.D. Schell, K.A. Bull, Y. Otsuki, G. Newman, M. Bashkin and Y. Son. 1999. Exotic species invade hot spots of native plant diversity. Ecological Monographs 69(1): 25-46 Stohlgren, T.J., G.W. Chong, L.D. Schell, K.A. Rimar, Y. Otsuki, M. Lee, M.A. Kalkhan and C.A Villa. 2002. Assessing vulnerability to invasive nonnative plant species at multiple spatial scales. Environmental Management 29(4): 566-577 Stone, T. 2010. Species Fact Sheet for the Traveling Sideband (Monadenia fidelis celeuthia). Interagency Special Status/Sensitive Species Program, Interagency - Oregon / Washington State. DOI Bureau of Land Management / USDA Forest Service. Storck, P., T. Kern, and S. Bolton. 1999. Measurement of differences in Snow accumulation, melt, and micrometeorology due to forest harvesting. Northwest Science 73:87-101. Storm, R.M., W.P. Leonard, editors. 1995. Reptiles of Washington and Oregon. Seattle Audubon Society, Seattle, Washington.

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Swingle, J.K., Forsman E.D., 2009. Home range areas and activity patterns of red tree voles (Arborimus longicaudus) in western Oregon. Northwest Science 83:273–286. Swingle, J.K., Forsman, E.D., and Anthony, R.G., 2010. Survival, Mortality, and Predators of Red Tree Voles (Arborimus longicaudus). Northwest Science, 84(3):255-265. Northwest Science Association. Thomas, J. W., Forsman, E. D., Lint, J. B., Meslow, E.C., Noon, B.R., and Verner, J. 1990. A conservation strategy for the Northern spotted owl. Interagency Scientific Committee to Address the Conservation of the Northern Spotted Owl, Portland, OR. 427pp. Thomas, R.B., and W.F. Megahan, 1998. Peak flow responses to clear-cutting and roads in small and large basins, western Cascades, Oregon: A second opinion. Water Resources Research 34(12): 3393-3403. Thompson, J.L., and L.V. Diller. 2002. Relative abundance, nest site characteristics, and nest 29 dynamics of Sonoma tree vole on managed timberlands in coastal northwest California. Northwestern Naturalist 83:91–100. Trappe, M.J. 2008. Effects of disturbance modes on mycorrhizal fungus communities at Crater Lake National Park. PhD dissertation. Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR. 218 p. United States Department of the Interior (USDI). 2008. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, “Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; 90 Day Finding on a Petition To List the Dusky Tree Vole (Arborimus longicaudus silvicola) as Threatened or Endangered” United States Department of the Interior (USDI). 2011. Revised Recovery Plan for the Northern Spotted Owl (Strix occidentalis caurina). U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Portland, Oregon. xvi +258pp.http://www.fws.gov/oregonfwo/Species/Data/NorthernSpottedOwl/Recovery/Library/Do cuments/RevisedNSORecPlan2011.pdf United States Department of the Interior (USDI). 2011. Species Profile for the Mardon Skipper Polites mardon. http://www.fws.gov/arcata/es/inverts/mardonSkipper/mardonSkipper.html United States Department of the Interior (USDI). 2012. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Designation of Revised Critical Habitat for the Northern Spotted Owl. Final Rule. 50 CFR Part 17. United States Department of the Interior (USDI). 2014. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, “Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Threatened Species Status for West Coast Distinct Population Segment of Fisher. Proposed Rule. 50 CRF Part 17. Urgenson, L.S.; Halpern, C.B.; Anderson, P.D. 2013. Twelve-year responses of planted and naturally regenerating conifers to variable-retention harvest in the Pacific Northwest, USA. Canadian Journal of Forest Research. 43: 46-55 USDA Forest Service and USDI Bureau of Land Management, 1994. Final supplemental environmental impact statement on management of habitat for late-successional and old-growth forest related species within the range of the northern spotted owl. Portland, Oregon. USDA Forest Service and USDI Bureau of Land Management, 1994. Record of Decision for Amendments to Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management Planning Documents within the Range of the Northern Spotted Owl: Standards and Guidelines for Management of Habitat for Late-Successional and Old-growth Forest Related Species within the Range of the Northern Spotted Owl.

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USDA Forest Service and USDI Bureau of Land Management, 2000. Management Recommendations for the Oregon Red Tree Vole (Arborimus Longicaudus). Pacific Northwest Region, Portland Oregon. Pp. 27 USDA Forest Service and USDI Bureau of Land Management, 2001. Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement for Amendment to the Survey & Manage, Protection Buffer, and other Mitigation Measures, Standards and Guidelines. USDA Forest Service, Portland, Oregon. USDA Forest Service and USDI Bureau of Land Management, 2001. Record of Decision and Standards and Guidelines for amendments to the survey and manage, protection buffer, and other mitigation measures standards and guidelines. Portland, Oregon USDA Forest Service and USDI Bureau of Land Management, 2004. Survey Protocol for the Great Grey Owl Within The Range of The Northwest Forest Plan. Pacific Northwest Region, Portland, Oregon USDA Forest Service and USDI Bureau of Land Management, 2005. Northwest Forest Plan Temperature TMDL Implementation Strategies: Evaluation of the Northwest Forest Plan Aquatic Conservation Strategy and Associated Tools to achieve and maintain stream temperature water quality standards. Portland, OR. USDA Forest Service and USDI Bureau of Land Management, 2008. Endangered and threatened wildlife and plants; revised designation of critical habitat for the northern spotted owl; final rule. 50 CFR Part 17, Federal Register, August 13, 2008. Pages 47326- 47522. USDA Forest Service and USDI Bureau of Land Management, 2010. Northwest Forest Plan Temperature TMDL Implementation Strategy. Evaluation of the Northwest Forest Plan Aquatic Conservation Strategy and Associated tools to achieve and maintain stream temperature water quality standards. USDA Forest Service, 1986. ROS Handbook. USDA Forest Service Agriculture Handbook. Washington, D.C. USDA Forest Service, 1990a. Umpqua National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan and FEIS., ed. P. N. R. USDA Forest Service. Roseburg, OR: Umpqua National Forest. USDA Forest Service, 1990b. Umpqua National Forest Standard and Guideline Procedures for Watershed Cumulative Effects and Water Quality USDA Forest Service, 1995. Landscape Aesthetics: A Handbook for Scenery Management. USDA Forest Service Agriculture Handbook 701. Washington, D.C. USDA Forest Service, 1997. Forest Vegetation Simulator 4.0.100.1190 WESSIN variant, Forest Mgmt. Service Center. Retrieved from http://www.fs.fed.us/fmsc/fvs USDA Forest Service, 1997. Monitoring records (1993-1997) for unacceptable soil conditions, effective ground cover, and large woody material following skyline and tractor harvest, and broadcast burning in clearcut, thinned and unmanaged stands. USDA Forest Service, 1998. South Cascades Late Successional Reserve Assessment. LSR #RO222. 194 pp. USDA Forest Service, 1999. Roads Analysis - Informing Decisions About Managing the National Forest Transportation System. USDA Forest Service, Washington Office. USDA Forest Service, 2000. Landbird Strategic Plan. Washington DC.

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USDA Forest Service, 2003. Umpqua National Forest integrated weed management project environmental assessment. Umpqua National Forest, Roseburg, OR. 80 p. USDA Forest Service, 2004a. Monitoring of Sensitive Mollusk Populations Following Low-intensity Wildfire in Old Growth Coniferous Forest, Report to Interagency Special Status Program, Portland, OR. USDA Forest Service, 2004b. Upper South Umpqua Watershed Analysis. Tiller Ranger District, Umpqua National Forest. Tiller, OR. USDA Forest Service, 2005. Pacific Northwest Region Invasive Plant Program: Preventing and Managing Invasive Plants, Final Environmental Impact Statement, Record of Decision. R6-NR- FHP-PR-02-05. Portland, Oregon USDA Forest Service, 2008. South Umpqua Sub-basin Water Quality Restoration Plan. Tiller, OR: Umpqua National Forest, Tiller Ranger District. USDA Forest Service, 2009. Forest Soil Disturbance Monitoring Protocol. Gen. Tech Report WO-82a. USDA Forest Service, 2010a. Species Fact Sheet Moselyana comosa. https://www.fs.fed.us/.../planning- docs/sfs-iitr-moselyana-comosa.doc. Accessed 04/03/2019. USDA Forest Service, 2010b. Species Fact Sheet Namamyia plutonis. https://www.fs.fed.us/.../sfs-iitr- namamyia-plutonis-2010-10.docx. Accessed 04/03/2019. USDA Forest Service, 2010c. Species Fact Sheet Rhyacophila chandleri. https://www.fs.fed.us/.../sfs- iitr-rhyacophila-chandleri-2012-01.doc. Accessed 04/03/2019. USDA Forest Service, 2010d. South Umpqua River 2010 Level II Stream Survey Report. Prepared by Siskiyou Research Group, Cave Junction, OR. USDA Forest Service, 2011. Skillet Emerson Watershed Condition Framework FY 2011 Transition Watershed Restoration Action Plan. Tiller Ranger District, Umpqua National Forest. USDA Forest Service, 2011. Watershed Condition Framework: A Framework for Assessing and Tracking Changes to Watershed Condition, FS-917. USDA Forest Service, 2012. Commercial Road Use Rules and Road Use Permit Requirements. May. USDA Forest Service, 2012. National Best Management Practices Program: Nonpoint Source Pollution Control for Water Quality Management on National Forest System Lands, Volume 1: National Core BMP Technical Guide. FS-990a. USDA Forest Service, 2013. Tiller Aquatic Restoration Project Environmental Assessment. Tiller Ranger District, Umpqua National Forest. USDA Forest Service, 2018. Umpqua National Forest Best Management Practices Report 207-2018. Umpqua National Forest Supervisors Office. USDA Forest Service, U.S. Department of Commerce (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration), U.S. Department of Interior (Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service, and Fish and Wildlife Service), and the Environmental Protection Agency. 1993. Forest ecosystem management: An ecological, economic, and social assessment. Report of the Forest Ecosystem Management Assessment Team [FEMAT]. U.S. GPO 1993-793-071. Available at: Regional Ecosystem Office, P.O. Box 3623, Portland, Oregon 97208.

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USDA Forest Service, USDC National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries, USDI Bureau of Land Management, and USDI Fish and Wildlife Service. 2004. Analytical Process for Developing Biological Assessments for Federal Actions Affecting Fish within the Northwest Forest Plan Area. pp 53. USDI U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 2003. Estimates of distances at which incidental take of murrelets and spotted owls due to harassment are anticipated from sound-generating, forest-management activities in Olympia National Forest. Lacey, WA. Ward, J. W. Jr., R.J. Gutiérrez, and B.R. Noon. 1998. Habitat selection by northern spotted owls: the consequences of prey selection and distribution. The Condor 100:79-92. Wemple, B. C., J. A. Jones, and G. E. Grant. 1996 Channel network extension by logging roads in two basins, Western Cascades, Oregon, Water Resource. Bull., 32, 1195– 1207. Westerling, A.L., H.G. Hidalgo, D.R. Cayan and T.W. Swetnam. 2006. Warming and earlier spring increase western U.S. forest wildfire activity. Science 313:940-943 Wiedinmyer, C., and M.D. Hurteau. 2010. Prescribed fire as a means of reducing forest carbon emissions in the western United States. Environmental Science and Technology 44:1926–1932. Wilke, T. and N. Duncan, 2004. Phylogeographical patterns in the American Pacific Northwest: lessons from the arionid slug Prophysaon coeruleum, Molecular Ecology (2004) 13: 2303-2315. Wilkerson, E., J.M. Hagan, D. Seigel, and A.A. Whitman. 2006. The effectiveness of different buffer widths for protecting headwater stream temperature in Maine. Forest Science 52(3):221-231. Wilson, J.S., Oliver, C.D., 2000. Stability and density management in Douglas-fir plantations. Canadian Journal of Forest Research, 30(6), 910-920. Wilson, Todd M.; Forsman, Eric D., 2013. Thinning effects on spotted owl prey and other forest- dwelling small mammals. In: Anderson, Paul D.; Ronnenberg, Kathryn L., editors. Density management for the 21st Century: west side story. General Technical Report PNW-GTR-880. Portland, OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station. Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation. 2009. Species Fact Sheet Vanduzeeina borealis californica (Van Duzee 1925). Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation. 2010. Species Fact Sheet Agapetus denningi Dennings agapetus caddisfly. www.xerces.org/.../uploads/2009/09/sfs-iitr-agapetus-denningi.pdf. Accessed 04/03/2019. York, D. and R. Helliwell. 2006. A habitat suitability model for six rare Pacific Northwest fungi using ecological niche factor analysis – draft. Umpqua National Forest, Roseburg, OR. 28 p. York, R.A., Heald, R.C., Battles, J.J., York, J.D., 2004. Group selection management in conifer forests: relationships between opening size and tree growth. Canadian Journal of Forest Research, 34: 630-641

211 Skillem Integrated Resource Restoration Project Appendix A – Project Maps

Figure 31. Umpqua Forest Plan Management Areas and Northwest Forest Plan Late Successional Reserves in the Skillem Project Area. 212 Tiller Ranger District, Umpqua National Forest

Figure 32. Transportation System Changes Proposed in Alternative 2. 213 Skillem Integrated Resource Restoration Project

Figure 33. Thinning Treatments by Logging System with Stream Buffers as Proposed in Alternatives 2 and 3. 214 Tiller Ranger District, Umpqua National Forest

Figure 34. Thinning Treatments by Logging System with Potential Temporary Road Locations in Alternative 2 and 3. 215 Skillem Integrated Resource Restoration Project

Figure 35. Fuel Treatments Proposed in Alternatives 2 and 3. 216 Tiller Ranger District, Umpqua National Forest

Figure 36. Proposed Recreation Treatments in Alternative 3. 217 Skillem Integrated Resource Restoration Project Appendix B – Alternative 2 Proposed Changes to Road System in Detail For a description of proposed treatments and a more detailed rationale for routes proposed to be decommissioned, please refer to the description of transportation system changes included in Alternative 2 Table 60. Alternative 2 Detailed Road System Changes

Retained as a Road for Current Proposed Length Reasoning for Future Route Existing Conditions Authorized Motor Authorized Motor Proposed Treatment (miles) proposed change Management Vehicle Use Vehicle Use Needs (Yes/No) Designation of Route as Trail Open to Motorized Trail (ATVs less Inaccessible, overgrown Open to All Change reflects current 2700-913 0.3 Vehicles less than than 50 inches in width); all Yes with vegetation Vehicles road condition 50 inches wide Other Motorized Vehicles Prohibited Designation of Route as Previously blocked, now Trail Open to Motorized Trail (ATVs less Open to All Change reflects current 2700-915 0.5 breached. Accessible with Vehicles less than than 50 inches in width); all Yes Vehicles road condition high clearance vehicles 50 inches wide Other Motorized Vehicles Prohibited Designation of Route as Trail Open to Motorized Trail (ATVs less Inaccessible, overgrown Open to All Change reflects current 2700-918 0.9 Vehicles less than than 50 inches in width); all Yes with vegetation Vehicles road condition 50 inches wide Other Motorized Vehicles Prohibited Road Placed in Storage for Inaccessible, blocked and Open to All Closed to All Change reflects current 2700-930 0.4 Future Use, Road Closed Yes overgrown with vegetation Vehicles Vehicles road condition to All Motorized Vehicles 2700-990 Inaccessible, blocked and Open to All Closed to All Redundant and located 0.2 Decommission Road No MP. 0.37- overgrown with vegetation Vehicles Vehicles in Riparian Reserve 0.57

2700-992 Road Placed in Storage for Inaccessible, blocked and Open to All Closed to All Change reflects current 1.4 Future Use, Road Closed Yes MP. 0 to overgrown with vegetation Vehicles Vehicles road condition 1.37 to All Motorized Vehicles 2700-992 Inaccessible, blocked and Open to All Closed to All Altering hydrologic 0.3 Decommission Road No MP. 1.37- overgrown with vegetation Vehicles Vehicles function of ash flat 1.67

218 Tiller Ranger District, Umpqua National Forest

Retained as a Road for Current Proposed Length Reasoning for Future Route Existing Conditions Authorized Motor Authorized Motor Proposed Treatment (miles) proposed change Management Vehicle Use Vehicle Use Needs (Yes/No) Road Placed in Storage for 2800-347 Inaccessible, blocked and Open to All Closed to All Change reflects current 0.3 Future Use, Road Closed Yes overgrown with vegetation Vehicles Vehicles road condition MP. 0.3-0.6 to All Motorized Vehicles Inaccessible, overgrown, Closed to All Unused with gullying and 2800-353 1.3 and requires river crossing None Decommission Road No Vehicles failing stream crossings that no longer exists Inaccessible, overgrown, Closed to All Inaccessible, spur of 2800-354 0.9 and requires river crossing None Decommission Road No Vehicles closed road that no longer exists

Accessible with high Open to All Closed to All Resource damage from 2800-356 0.1 Decommission Road No clearance vehicles Vehicles Vehicles dispersed camping

Drivable; blocked but Open to All Closed to All Resource damage from 2800-357 0.1 Decommission Road No breached Vehicles Vehicles dispersed camping

Open to All Closed to All Resource damage from 2800-358 0.2 Drivable Decommission Road No Vehicles Vehicles dispersed camping

Inaccessible – overgrown, In Riparian Reserve with Closed to All 2814-199 0.7 landslide, failing stream None Decommission Road failing stream crossings No Vehicles crossings and displaced roadbed

Inaccessible, blocked and Open to All Closed to All Unused with failing 2814-205 0.5 Decommission Road No overgrown with vegetation Vehicles Vehicles stream crossings

Trail Open to Inaccessible and in Inaccessible, overgrown Closed to All Decommission Motorized T2814-498 0.6 Vehicles less than Riparian Reserve with No with vegetation Vehicles Trail 50 inches wide multiple stream crossings

Inaccessible, overgrown Closed to All Impassable and in highly 2814-501 0.2 None Decommission Road No with vegetation Vehicles erosive soils

Designation of Route as Trail Open to Motorized Trail (ATVs less Open to All Change reflects current 2814-503 0.4 inaccessible - blocked Vehicles less than than 50 inches in width); all Yes Vehicles road condition 50 inches wide Other Motorized Vehicles Prohibited

219 Skillem Integrated Resource Restoration Project

Retained as a Road for Current Proposed Length Reasoning for Future Route Existing Conditions Authorized Motor Authorized Motor Proposed Treatment (miles) proposed change Management Vehicle Use Vehicle Use Needs (Yes/No) Designation of Route as Change reflects current Trail Open to Motorized Trail (ATVs less road condition Blocked but accessible by Open to All 2814-504 0.1 Vehicles less than than 50 inches in width); all Yes ATVs Vehicles 50 inches wide Other Motorized Vehicles Prohibited Change reflects current road condition Trail Open to Designation of Route as Inaccessible, blocked and Open to All 2814-505 0.3 Vehicles less than Motorized Trail (ATVs less Yes overgrown with vegetation Vehicles 50 inches wide than 50 inches in width); all Other Motorized Vehicles Prohibited Designation of Route as Trail Open to Motorized Trail (ATVs less Blocked but accessible by Open to All Change reflects current 2814-506 0.2 Vehicles less than than 50 inches in width); all Yes ATVs Vehicles road condition 50 inches wide Other Motorized Vehicles Prohibited Wildlife habitat and has Blocked but accessible by Open to All Closed to All 2814-507 0.2 Decommission Road limited recreational No ATVs Vehicles Vehicles opportunities

Inaccessible, overgrown Closed to All Redundant, unused, and 2814-605 0.2 None Decommission Road No with vegetation Vehicles in Riparian Reserve

Inaccessible, overgrown Closed to All Inaccessible, spur of a 2823-038 0.2 None Decommission Road No with vegetation Vehicles non-motorized trail

Inaccessible, overgrown Closed to All Inaccessible, spur of a 2823-039 0.1 None Decommission Road No with vegetation Vehicles non-motorized trail

Open to All Closed to All Resource damage from 2823-040 0.1 Open and accessible Decommission Road No Vehicles Vehicles dispersed camping

Unused and located in a Inaccessible, overgrown Open to All Closed to All 2823-041 0.1 Decommission Road wetland and Riparian No with vegetation Vehicles Vehicles Reserve

Accessible with high Open to All Closed to All Resource damage from 2823-042 0.2 Decommission Road No clearance vehicles Vehicles Vehicles dispersed camping

220 Tiller Ranger District, Umpqua National Forest

Retained as a Road for Current Proposed Length Reasoning for Future Route Existing Conditions Authorized Motor Authorized Motor Proposed Treatment (miles) proposed change Management Vehicle Use Vehicle Use Needs (Yes/No) Road Placed in Storage for Trail Open to Future Use, Road Closed Inaccessible, overgrown Closed to All Change reflects current T2835-090 0.5 Vehicles less than to All Motorized Vehicles Yes with vegetation Vehicles road condition 50 inches wide Decommission Motorized Trail Road Placed in Storage for T2835-100 Trail Open to Future Use, Road Closed Inaccessible, overgrown Closed to All Change reflects current 0.4 Vehicles less than to All Motorized Vehicles Yes MP. 1.47- with vegetation Vehicles road condition 1.87 50 inches wide Decommission Motorized Trail Redundant and on an active mass wasting Inaccessible, blocked and Open to All Closed to All 2835-120 1.2 Decommission Road slope with displaced No overgrown with vegetation Vehicles Vehicles roadbed and multiple stream crossing Road Placed in Storage for Inaccessible, blocked and Open to All Closed to All Change reflects current 2838-400 0.8 Future Use, Road Closed Yes overgrown with vegetation Vehicles Vehicles road condition to All Motorized Vehicles Road Placed in Storage for Inaccessible, blocked and Open to All Closed to All Change reflects current 2838-402 0.2 Future Use, Road Closed Yes overgrown with vegetation Vehicles Vehicles road condition to All Motorized Vehicles

Inaccessible, blocked and Closed to All 2838-498 0.1 None Decommission Road Inaccessible and unused No overgrown with vegetation Vehicles

Road Placed in Storage for 2838-710 Inaccessible, blocked and Open to All Closed to All Change reflects current 0.6 Future Use, Road Closed Yes overgrown with vegetation Vehicles Vehicles road condition MP. 0.0-0.6 to All Motorized Vehicles Redundant, inaccessible 2838-710 Inaccessible, blocked and Open to All Closed to All and in Riparian Reserve 0.7 Decommission Road No MP. 0.6-1.3 overgrown with vegetation Vehicles Vehicles with multiple stream crossings Redundant with gullying Inaccessible, blocked and Closed to All and stream crossings 2838-722 0.4 None Decommission Road No overgrown with vegetation Vehicles removed and possibly subsoiled

221 Skillem Integrated Resource Restoration Project

Retained as a Road for Current Proposed Length Reasoning for Future Route Existing Conditions Authorized Motor Authorized Motor Proposed Treatment (miles) proposed change Management Vehicle Use Vehicle Use Needs (Yes/No) Road Placed in Storage for Inaccessible, blocked and Open to All Closed to All Change reflects current 2838-799 0.2 Future Use, Road Closed Yes overgrown with vegetation Vehicles Vehicles road condition to All Motorized Vehicles

Accessible with high Closed to All Open to All Road Activated and Change reflects current 2838-827 0.1 Yes clearance vehicles Vehicles Vehicles Removed from Storage road condition

Road Placed in Storage for Inaccessible, blocked and Open to All Closed to All Change reflects current 2838-828 0.4 Future Use, Road Closed Yes overgrown with vegetation Vehicles Vehicles road condition to All Motorized Vehicles Road Placed in Storage for Inaccessible, overgrown Open to All Closed to All Change reflects current 2900-913 0.8 Future Use, Road Closed Yes with vegetation Vehicles Vehicles road condition to All Motorized Vehicles

222 Tiller Ranger District, Umpqua National Forest

Appendix C - Stream buffer widths in Commercial Thinning Units

Table 61. Stream Buffers Widths in Commercial Thinning Units

Unit Stream Class Buffer Width (feet) Distance on each side of the stream 10 3 - perennial, no fish 85 4 - intermittent or ephemeral 50 30 4 - intermittent or ephemeral 50 to 170* 4 - intermittent or ephemeral 50 70 3 - perennial, no fish 170 3 - perennial, no fish 85 4 - intermittent or ephemeral 50 80 4 - intermittent or ephemeral 50 100 1 – perennial, accessible to anadromous fish 120 3 - perennial, no fish 85 4 - intermittent or ephemeral 120 120 3 - perennial, no fish 100 4 - intermittent or ephemeral 50 140 3 - perennial, no fish 100 3 - perennial, no fish 85 4 - intermittent or ephemeral 50 160 3 - perennial, no fish 85 4 - intermittent or ephemeral 50 180 4 - intermittent or ephemeral 50 4 - intermittent or ephemeral 120 210 3 - perennial, no fish 85 4 - intermittent or ephemeral 50 220 4 - intermittent or ephemeral 50 4 - intermittent or ephemeral 75 230 3 - perennial, no fish 85 4 - intermittent or ephemeral 50 250 1 – perennial, accessible to anadromous fish 120 3 - perennial, no fish 85 4 - intermittent or ephemeral 50 260 1 – perennial, accessible to anadromous fish 120 3 - perennial, no fish 85 4 - intermittent or ephemeral 50

223 Skillem Integrated Resource Restoration Project

Unit Stream Class Buffer Width (feet) Distance on each side of the stream 300 4 - intermittent or ephemeral 50 4 - intermittent or ephemeral 100 350 1 – perennial, accessible to anadromous fish 120 4 - intermittent or ephemeral 50 400 3 - perennial, no fish 85 4 - intermittent or ephemeral 100 4 - intermittent or ephemeral 50 to 170* *Buffer is 50 feet except where expanded to exclude wildlife opening.

224 Tiller Ranger District, Umpqua National Forest

Appendix D – Compliance with Laws, Regulations, and Executive Orders Clean Air Act

The alternatives are designed to meet the National Ambient Air Quality Standards through avoidance of practices that degrade air quality below health and visibility standards. This project is consistent with by the 1990 Clean Air Act and the 1977 Clean Air Act and its amendments. Air quality can be impacted by the presence of particulate matter and other pollutants produced by both prescribed burning and wildfire. Although smoke from wildfire is considered a natural event and air quality standards do not apply, smoke generated from prescribed burning must meet federal and state air quality standards set forth in the Clean Air Act (section 160). All activities associated with this project will be implemented to meet these standards. The Forest Service is required to file a burn plan with Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (ODEQ) and would comply with the strict standards for air quality. Clean Water Act

The alternatives all meet and conform to the Clean Water Act, Amended 1982. This Act establishes a non-degradation policy for all federally proposed projects. The project was designed to improve aquatic habitat, including water quality, in the long term and project design features and the application and monitoring of Best Management Practices are included to minimize the short term effects of project activities. This project is in compliance with the Umpqua Basin Total Maximum Daily Load and Water Quality Management Plan (ODEQ, 2006) as described in the Water Quality section of the analysis presented in this EA. Endangered Species Act

There are four threatened and one botanical endangered species listed under the Endangered Species Act that occur or use habitat within or adjacent to the project area. Discussion of the effects of project activities to these species can be found in the Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action and Alternatives section of this EA. The names of those species and the determinations made for each are as follows: • Northern Spotted Owl (threatened), May Affect, Not Likely to Adversely Affect • Gray Wolf (threatened), No Effect • Oregon Coast coho salmon (Threatened), May Affect, Not Likely to Adversely Affect • Kincaid’s lupine (Lupinus sulphureus ssp. Kincaidii, Threatened), No Effect • Rough popcorn flower (Plagiobothrys hirtus, Endangered), No Effect More in depth discussions of habitat conditions, survey techniques, and project effects for the terrestrial wildlife and aquatic species listed under the Endangered Species Act have been documented in the Biological Assessments prepared for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and National Marine Fisheries Service.

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A Biological Assessment was submitted to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for Northern Spotted Owl on July 17, 2019. Formal consultation was completed with receipt of a Biological Opinion from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on September 13, 2019 (reference number 01EOFW00-2019-F-0661). A Biological Assessment for Oregon Coast coho salmon was prepared and submitted to the National Marine Fisheries Service on July 26, 2017. A letter of concurrence dated August 23, 2017 (WCR-2017- 7456) was received from the National Marine Fisheries Service concurring that project activities are not likely to adversely affect Oregon Coast coho salmon. Environmental Justice – Executive Order 12898

Executive Order 12898 requires that federal agencies adopt strategies to address environmental justice concerns within the context of agency operations. With implementation of either action alternatives, there would be no disproportionately high and adverse human health or environmental effects on minority or low-income populations. Nearby communities would mainly be affected by economic impacts connected with contractors implementing project activities as described in the social environment analysis presented in the EA. Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977, Public Law 91-173, as amended by Public Law 95-164

Development of Rock Quarries would conform to the requirements of the act, which sets forth mandatory safety and health standards for each surface metal or nonmetal mine. The purpose for the standards is to protect life by preventing accidents and promoting health and safety. Floodplain Management and Protection of Wetlands – Executive Orders 11988 and 11990

These orders direct Federal Agencies to avoid, to the extent possible, both short-term and long-term adverse impacts associated with the modification of floodplains and wetlands. None of the alternatives presented above have specific actions that adversely affect floodplains. Streamside riparian areas, seeps, springs, and other wet habitats exist in the project area. These areas would be either avoided, or managed according to the Umpqua and Northwest Forest Plan Standards and Guidelines. Riparian Reserves would also be protected with design features. As a result, proposed treatments would be consistent with Executive Orders 11988 and 11990. Invasive Species – Executive Order 13112

This Order requires Federal Agencies whose actions may affect the status of invasive species to prevent the introduction of invasive species, detect and respond rapidly to and control populations of such species, and provide for restoration of native species and habitat conditions in ecosystems that have been invaded, as well as other requirements. The proposed action includes treatment of currently known or new infestations of noxious weeds as well as project design feature to minimize their spread within the project area and monitoring of their presence. The proposed actions and project design features are consistent with current management guidelines and this executive order.

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Inventoried Roadless Areas and Wilderness

There are no wilderness areas or roadless areas within the project area. On January 30, 2015 the USFS released new direction clearly stating that inventory, evaluation, and recommendation of areas that may be suitable for inclusion in the National Wilderness Preservation System shall occur during Forest Plan development or revision (FSH 1909.12). Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act

The Project complies with the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation Management Act. Section 305(b) of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation Management Act directs Federal agencies to consult with National Marine Fisheries Service on all actions or proposed actions that may adversely affect essential fish habitat. The Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation Management Act (section 3) defines essential fish habitat as “those waters and substrate necessary to fish for spawning, breeding, feeding, or growth to maturity.” Section 305(b) also requires the National Marine Fisheries Service to recommend measures that can be taken by the action agency to conserve essential fish habitat. A Biological Assessment was be prepared that discloses project effects on essential fish habitat for Pacific Salmon, including the Oregon Coast coho salmon and Oregon Coast Chinook salmon, as required by the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. Consultation with the National Marine Fisheries Service has been conducted with the determination that there would be no adverse modification to Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) from project activities. Migratory Bird Treaty Act and Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act

This project complies with the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act. It is highly unlikely to disturb eagles and would not affect eagle habitat as discussed in the analysis of effects to Wildlife presented in this EA. Migratory birds are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 (16 U. S.C. 703-704). The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is the lead federal agency for managing and conserving migratory birds in the United States. However, under Executive Order (EO) 13186, all federal agencies are charged with the conservation and protection of migratory birds. A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU, 2008) between the Forest Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service requires, during NEPA planning, that the Forest, to the extent practical, evaluate and balance long term benefits of projects to migratory birds against any short or long term adverse effects. It also requires Forests to consider approaches, to the extent practical, for identifying and minimizing take of migratory birds that is incidental to otherwise lawful activities. The Wildlife effects section of this EA considers the effects of project activities to migratory birds. While there may be some impacts to individual birds, these effects are small in scale and the overall outcome for these landbirds and their habitat is predominately positive. National Environmental Policy Act

The National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) requires that all major federal actions significantly affecting the human environment be analyzed to determine the magnitude and intensity of those impacts and that the results be shared with the public and the public given opportunity to comment. This project is consistent with NEPA through the preparation of this environmental analysis and the Finding of No Significant Impact that will be presented with the completion of the Decision Notice.

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National Forest Management Act

The National Forest Management Act of 1976 amends the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974 and sets forth the requirements for Land and Resource Management Plans for the National Forest System. Through consistency with the Umpqua National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan (Forest Plan, as amended) and the Northwest Forest Plan this project is consistent with the National Forest Management Act.

Forest Plan Consistency

The need for the Project was motivated by the Umpqua and Northwest Forest Plans’ goals and project activities were developed to move the project area towards their desired future conditions. Proposed activities and project design features included in the Project were designed to ensure compliance with these Forest Plans’ standards and guidelines. Discussion and disclosure of consistency with the Forest Plans’ standards and guidelines are included throughout the analysis presented in this EA.

Forest Service Sensitive Species The Project complies with Forest Service Policy and the Forest Plan for sensitive aquatic, botanical, and wildlife species by managing populations for viability. A consideration and determination of the effects of project activities on Forest Service Sensitive Species is presented in the Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action and Alternatives section of this EA and the Wildlife Biological Evaluation included in the project record.

Management Indicator Species The Project complies with the Forest Plan for management indicator wildlife species as described in the Wildlife portion of the Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action and Alternatives section of this EA and Wildlife Biological Evaluation included in the project record. The proposed action would not limit the availability of habitat associations present within the project area. Forest-wide standards and guidelines would be met for all habitat associations.

Survey and Manage The action alternatives comply with the Northwest Forest Plan as amended by the 2001 Record of Decision and Standards and Guidelines for Amendments to the Survey and Manage, Protection Buffer, and other Mitigation Measures Standards and Guidelines. Survey and manage wildlife and botanical species and how the project complies with these standards and guidelines are discussed their respective sections of Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action and Alternatives section of this EA and in the Wildlife Biological Evaluation included in the project record.

Aquatic Conservation Strategy The Aquatic Conservation Strategy (ACS) is an integral part of the Northwest Forest Plan and was developed to maintain and restore the ecological health of watersheds and aquatic ecosystems on public lands through implementation of four components: 1) riparian reserves 2) key watersheds 3) watershed analysis 4) watershed restoration. Based on the analysis presented in this EA and Appendix E, the ACS Objectives would be met in each alternative.

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National Historic Preservation Act

A heritage resource inventory was conducted to comply with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966. The Skillem project inventory report has been completed and submitted to the Oregon State Historic Preservation Office (OSHPO) as required. The Skillem project cultural resources inventory and monitoring meets the criteria for Case-by Case Review required by the Programmatic Agreement among the United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Region (Region 6), the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, and the Oregon State Historic Preservation Officer Regarding Cultural Resources Management in the State of Oregon (PA).

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Appendix E – Aquatic Conservation Strategy Objectives The Aquatic Conservation Strategy (ACS) was developed as part of the Northwest Forest Plan to restore and maintain the ecological health of watersheds and aquatic ecosystems (USDA/USDI 1994). There are four primary components of the ACS: Riparian Reserves, Key Watersheds, Watershed Analysis, and Watershed Restoration. Management activities must comply with nine objectives that are included in the strategy, which is based, in part, on natural disturbance processes. Riparian Reserves widths for this project, are 170 feet on non-fish bearing streams and 340 feet on fish bearing streams (USDA/USDI 1999). Proposed Riparian Reserve actions are assessed in relation to the watershed’s existing condition and any short or long-term effects to such conditions. The Skillem project would manage approximately 15% (Alternatives 2 and 3) of the Riparian Reserves in the Skillet Creek watershed, including 2.7% of commercial thinning at the stand scale to support and move ACS objectives on a trajectory toward restoration at the landscape scale. Alternatives 2 and 3 are designed to accomplish the intent of the Aquatic Conservation Strategy, whereas Alternative 1 would not proactively implement this conservation strategy. The harvest in outer portions of Riparian Reserves would occur for the purpose of restoration of species composition and structural diversity of plant communities to achieve the intent of the ACS objectives. Commercial thinning treatment is proposed within 17 of the 19 units, for a total of 135 acres (Figure 37). Road reconstruction, maintenance, and inactivation within the Riparian Reserves would occur for the purpose of reducing the risk of potential impacts to riparian areas. Prescribed burning within riparian reserves would return this important natural disturbance process to areas where it has been excluded by past management.

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Figure 37. Commercial thinning units, showing thinning in riparian reserves. The effects of Riparian Reserve management cross many discipline boundaries, and are discussed as they pertain to the nine ACS objectives below. 1. Maintain and restore the distribution, diversity, and complexity of watershed and landscape- scale features to ensure protection of the aquatic systems to which species, populations and communities are uniquely adapted. Alternatives 2 and 3 would not adversely affect the distribution, diversity, and complexity of watershed and landscape-scale features. The proposed activities would involve some site scale ground disturbance but would have no measurable adverse effects to the system at the watershed scale. The proposed activities would maintain and restore aquatic systems at the site and watershed scale by simulating or encouraging the development of stand structures and species compositions consistent with the natural disturbance regime. Harvest in outer portions of Riparian Reserves would occur for the purpose of restoration of stand complexity and species diversity, including large tree and snag development. Accelerating the development of larger trees would help continue to provide effective shading for maintenance and restoration of water and air temperature within and between Riparian Reserve corridors. Prescribed burning would restore natural disturbance processes and resulting forest structure needed for fully functioning riparian reserves in this fire prone area.

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2. Maintain and restore spatial and temporal connectivity within and between watersheds. Lateral, longitudinal, and drainage network connections include floodplains, wetlands, upslope areas, headwater tributaries, and intact refugia. These network connections must provide chemically and physically unobstructed routes to areas critical for fulfilling life history requirements of aquatic and riparian-dependent species. There are no activities in Alternatives 2 and 3 that would adversely interrupt drainage network connections. All wetlands, flood plains, and functional riparian areas would be adequately protected with no-cut buffers. There would be no measurable adverse effects from the activities, as proposed, at the watershed or landscape scale. Road decommissioning and culvert removal associated with road inactivation will restore unobstructed routes for aquatic species movement and associated drainage networks. 3. Maintain and restore the physical integrity of the aquatic system, including shorelines, banks, and bottom configurations. Alternatives 2 and 3 would maintain the physical integrity of the aquatic system through no-cut buffers and retention of woody material. The proposed activities would work to restore the aquatic system, at the site-scale, by implementing prescriptions that are designed to restore the activity units to more natural condition. Additionally, stands would be made more resilient to disturbances and would be better suited to host frequent low-intensity fires, thus minimizing the potential for the aquatic system to be impacted by a high severity fire. Road decommissioning and culvert removal associated with road inactivation will include restoration of the physical integrity of stream shorelines, banks and bottom configurations. 4. Maintain and restore water quality necessary to support healthy riparian, aquatic, and wetland ecosystems. Water quality must remain within the range that maintains the biological, physical, and chemical integrity of the system and benefits survival, growth, reproduction, and migration of individuals composing aquatic and riparian communities. Alternatives 2 and 3 would maintain and restore water quality and the associated integrity of aquatic and riparian communities through no-cut buffers, retention of woody material, and road treatments. These proposed activities would work to maintain and restore water quality, at the site-scale, by implementing prescriptions that are designed in support of the natural disturbance regime. No-cut buffers and thinning to accelerate the development of larger trees would help continue to provide effective shading for maintenance and restoration of water and air temperature within and between Riparian Reserve corridors. Additionally, stands would be made more resilient to disturbances and would be better suited to host frequent low-intensity fires, thus minimizing the potential for water quality to be impacted by a high severity fire. Road decommissioning and culvert removal associated with road inactivation will reduce the risk of road-related sediment delivery and associated water quality impacts. 5. Maintain and restore the sediment regime under which aquatic ecosystems evolved. Elements of the sediment regime include the timing, volume, rate, and character of sediment input, storage, and transport. Alternatives 2 and 3 would maintain and restore the sediment regime under which aquatic ecosystems evolved through no-cut buffers, retention of woody material, and road treatments. These proposed activities would work to maintain and restore the sediment regime at the site-scale, by implementing prescriptions that are designed in support of the natural disturbance regime. Additionally, stands would be made more resilient to disturbances and would be better suited to host frequent low-intensity fires, thus minimizing the potential for the sediment regime to be impacted by

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a high severity fire. Road decommissioning and culvert removal associated with road inactivation will reduce the risk of road-related disturbance impacts to the natural timing, volume, rate, and character of sediment input, storage, and transport. 6. Maintain and restore in-stream flows sufficient to create and sustain riparian, aquatic, and wetland habitats and to retain patterns of sediment, nutrient, and wood routing. The timing, magnitude, duration, and spatial distribution of peak, high, and low flows must be protected. Alternatives 2 and 3 would maintain and restore in-stream flows sufficient to create and sustain riparian, aquatic, and wetland habitats and to retain patterns of sediment, nutrient, and wood routing, through no-cut buffers, retention of woody material, and road treatments. These proposed activities would work to maintain and restore in-stream flows at the site-scale, by implementing prescriptions that are designed in support of the natural disturbance regime. Additionally, stands would be made more resilient to disturbances and would be better suited to host frequent low-intensity fires, thus minimizing the potential for the in-stream flow regime to be impacted by a high severity fire. Road decommissioning and culvert removal associated with road inactivation will reduce the risk of road- related disturbance impacts to the timing, magnitude, duration, and spatial distribution of in-stream flows and associated patterns of sediment, nutrient, and wood routing. 7. Maintain and restore the timing, variability, and duration of floodplain inundation and water table elevation in meadows and wetlands. Alternatives 2 and 3 would maintain and restore the timing, variability, and duration of floodplain inundation and water table elevation in meadows and wetlands through no-cut buffers, retention of woody material, and road treatments. These proposed activities would work to maintain and restore floodplain inundation and water table elevations at the site-scale, by implementing prescriptions that are designed in support of the natural disturbance regime. Additionally, stands would be made more resilient to disturbances and would be better suited to host frequent low-intensity fires, thus minimizing the potential for floodplain inundation and water table elevations to be impacted by a high severity fire. Road decommissioning and culvert removal associated with road inactivation will reduce the risk of road-related disturbance impacts to drainage patterns and associated timing, variability, and duration of floodplain inundation and water table elevation in meadows and wetlands. 8. Maintain and restore the species composition and structural diversity of plant communities in riparian areas and wetlands to provide adequate summer and winter thermal regulation, nutrient filtering, appropriate rates of surface erosion, bank erosion, and channel migration and to supply amounts and distributions of coarse woody debris sufficient to sustain physical complexity and stability. Alternatives 2 and 3 would maintain and restore the species composition and structural diversity of plant communities in riparian areas and wetlands through thinning with no-cut buffers, retention of woody material, and road treatments. The proposed activities would work to restore aquatic systems at the site and watershed scale by simulating or encouraging the development of stand structures and species compositions consistent with the natural disturbance regime. Harvest in outer portions of Riparian Reserves would occur for the purpose of restoration of stand complexity and species diversity, including large tree and snag development. Accelerating the development of larger trees would help continue to provide effective shading for maintenance and restoration of water and air temperature within and between Riparian Reserve corridors. Road decommissioning and culvert removal associated with road inactivation will facilitate revegetation of former roadbeds, benefitting adjacent and downslope riparian processes, including nutrient filtering, thermal regulation, natural

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erosion and channel migration rates, and coarse woody debris supply and distribution. Additionally, stands would be made more resilient to disturbances and would be better suited to host frequent low- intensity fires, thus minimizing the risk to adjacent and downslope riparian and wetland processes from a high severity fire. 9. Maintain and restore habitat to support well-distributed populations of native plant, invertebrate and vertebrate riparian-dependent species. Alternatives 2 and 3 would maintain and restore habitat to support well-distributed populations of native plant, invertebrate, and vertebrate riparian-dependent species through thinning with no-cut buffers, retention of woody material, and road treatments. The proposed activities would maintain and restore riparian habitats at the site and watershed scale by simulating or encouraging the development of stand structures and species compositions consistent with the natural disturbance regime. Harvest in outer portions of Riparian Reserves would occur for the purpose of restoration of stand complexity and species diversity, in support of native plant, invertebrate and vertebrate riparian-dependent species. Road decommissioning and culvert removal associated with road inactivation will facilitate revegetation of former roadbeds and channel connectivity and function, benefitting riparian-dependent species. Additionally, stands would be made more resilient to disturbances and would be better suited to host frequent low-intensity fires, thus minimizing the risk to riparian-dependent species from a high severity fire. Wetlands and Floodplains

Floodplains are associated with streams and vary from only a few feet to much larger areas depending on the size of the stream and the topography of the stream banks and surrounding area. Alternatives 2 and 3 propose thinning and fuel treatments in riparian areas. Alternatives 2 and 3 would also include general road maintenance activities, and reconstruction of stream crossings. Most of these actions would be improvements over the existing condition by reducing erosional risks, and, in some cases, restoring stream banks and wetlands to their pre-roaded conditions. No effects to floodplains associated with timber harvest under Alternatives 2 and 3 would occur since streams and wetlands would receive no-harvest buffers adequate to protect hydrologic function. Prescribed burning may back into riparian areas, including floodplains, in order to reduce fuel loads and return this natural disturbance process to these areas. Most streams that exist within areas proposed for burning, have little floodplain development. Those that do exist, generally have little vegetation, or have herbaceous vegetation that does not burn very hot. Some large wood on floodplains could burn, but often have higher moisture than upland wood, and is less likely to burn intensely. Since the effects of prescribed burning on floodplain areas is likely to be very localized and of minimal impact, and will be similar to those found under natural fire disturbance regimes historically found along these streams, no adverse direct, indirect, or cumulative effects to floodplains are expected to occur. A small area of new occupancy of project floodplain would occur when 500 feet of new permanent road segment is constructed across a small perennial non-fish stream. A very similar segment of existing road crossing this same stream would be removed and returned to a pre-roaded condition, so there would be no net increase in floodplain occupation for this project. Road reconstruction work will not cause any additional area of impact to floodplains or wetlands, except of the road segment mentioned above, since no new roads would be built in these areas; all road work at stream crossings will be done within existing footprints of previous road work, and would all be done to improve conditions of stream channels, banks and floodplains.

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Alternatives 2 and 3 are consistent with objective 7 of the ACS, which calls for the maintenance of water table elevations in meadows and wetlands. Given the no-cut buffers, project design features and mitigations incorporated into the proposed alternatives, no adverse direct, indirect, or cumulative effects to wetlands are anticipated under the Skillem project action alternatives.

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