Mount Avery Spur Road Special Use Permit Request Environmental Assessment
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United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service Mount Avery Spur Road Special Use Permit Request Environmental Assessment Powers Ranger District, Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest, Curry County, Oregon Responsible Official: Rob MacWhorter, Forest Supervisor August 2014 Site of proposed road construction. For More Information Contact: Jessie Berner, District Ranger Powers Ranger District 42861 Highway 242 Powers, OR 97466 Phone: (541) 439-6200 Email: [email protected] Fax: (541) 439-7704 OR Donald Kay Phone: (541) 439-6223 Email: [email protected] Project website : http://www.fs.fed.us/nepa/fs-usda-pop.php/?project=36342 Prepared by Zion Natural Resources Consulting for the USDA Forest Service. 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Table of Contents Table of Contents.......................................................................................................................................... 1 Executive Summary...................................................................................................................................... 6 Chapter 1 - Purpose and Need ...................................................................................................................... 7 1.1 Introduction......................................................................................................................... 7 1.2 Background, Landscape Setting, and Land Use ................................................................. 8 1.3 Purpose and Need for Action.............................................................................................. 9 1.4 Proposed Action.................................................................................................................. 9 1.5 Decision Framework........................................................................................................... 9 1.6 Management Direction ..................................................................................................... 10 1.7 Public Involvement (Scoping) .......................................................................................... 14 1.8 Issues................................................................................................................................. 14 Chapter 2 - Alternatives.............................................................................................................................. 15 2.1 Introduction....................................................................................................................... 15 2.2 Alternatives Considered in Detail..................................................................................... 15 2.2.1 Alternative 1 (No Action).....................................................................................15 2.2.2 Alternative 2 (Proposed Action)...........................................................................16 2.3 Alternatives Not Considered in Detail.............................................................................. 16 2.3.1 Re-build Existing Roads.......................................................................................17 2.4 Mitigation Measures ......................................................................................................... 17 Chapter 3 - Affected Environment and Environmental Consequences....................................................... 21 3.1 Introduction....................................................................................................................... 21 3.2 Hydrology ......................................................................................................................... 21 3.3 Soils .................................................................................................................................. 26 3.4 Snags and Down Wood..................................................................................................... 30 3.5 Fish ................................................................................................................................... 31 3.6 ESA Listed Wildlife Species ............................................................................................ 34 3.7 R-6 Sensitive Wildlife Species ......................................................................................... 39 3.8 Management Indicator Species......................................................................................... 50 3.9 Northwest Forest Plan Wildlife Species ........................................................................... 56 3.10 Neo-Tropical Migratory Birds/Landbirds (NTMB).......................................................... 59 3.11 Botanical Species of Concern........................................................................................... 62 3.12 Invasive Botanical Species ............................................................................................... 65 3.13 Recreation......................................................................................................................... 66 3.14 Cultural Resources............................................................................................................ 67 3.15 Other Effects..................................................................................................................... 70 3.16 Other Required Disclosures .............................................................................................. 71 3.17 Finding of No Significant Impact ..................................................................................... 72 Chapter 4 - Consultation with Others ......................................................................................................... 77 Chapter 5 - References, Literature, and Data Sources ................................................................................ 79 EA – Mount Avery Spur Road SUP 1 Tables Table 1. Acronyms and Abbreviations .........................................................................................................5 Table 2. Sources of Relevant Mitigation Measures ....................................................................................18 Table 3. Soils Identified Within the Project Area.......................................................................................27 Table 4. Estimated Deleterious Soil Impacts..............................................................................................30 Table 5. LWM and WRT Guidelines..........................................................................................................31 Table 6. List of Aquatic Species .................................................................................................................33 Table 7. R-6 Sensitive Species....................................................................................................................40 Table 8. Management Indicator Species and Determination Effects..........................................................51 Table 9. NWFP Survey and Manage Species Determination Effects.........................................................57 Table 10. Protection Buffer Species Determination Effects .......................................................................58 Table 11. Focal Migrant Bird Species ........................................................................................................60 Table 12. Interdisciplinary Team Members................................................................................................77 Table 13. People, Organizations, and Agencies Consulted ........................................................................78 Figures Figure 1. Vicinity Map Overview.................................................................................................................3 Figure 2. Proposed Action and Haul Route ..................................................................................................4 Figure 3. Sixes River Watershed Map ........................................................................................................91 Figure 4. Alternative Routes Map...............................................................................................................92 Figure 5. Topography Map .........................................................................................................................93 Figure 6. Tax Lot Map................................................................................................................................94 Figure 7. Curry County Soils Survey Map..................................................................................................95