4—Affected Environment 171

4 — Affected Environment This chapter describes the characteristics and re- dismissed from further consideration because there sources of the refuge and how existing or past man- would be no effects, or effects would be negligible or agement or influences have affected these resources. not detectable, as discussed below. It specifically addresses the physical environment, biological environment, special land designations, MOOSE recreational opportunities, cultural and paleontolog- Moose have occasionally been observed on the ref- ical resources including a history of human use on uge, often young dispersing bulls from central Mon- the site, and the socioeconomic environment. Ser- tana mountain ranges or southern Canada. Although vice data and other information, both published and there are substantial willow communities in the Mis- unpublished, was used to quantify what is known souri River floodplain, the area is generally not con- about refuge resources. Additionally, other sources sidered suitable moose habitat. Nonetheless, in were used including data and information from other recent years moose appear to be expanding their agencies or other scientific studies. range in parts of eastern Montana and in many places in the North Dakota prairies, and could potentially extend their range onto the refuge, but currently 4.1 TOPICS not ANALYZED they are not a common species on the refuge. FURTHER BLACK BEAR The affected environment describes those parts of A few black bear sightings have been reported on the natural and human environment that could be the refuge over the years, but none have become affected by implementing any of the management established residents and the Missouri River Breaks alternatives. The following topics or species were are not considered suitable black bear habitat. USFWS The elk-viewing area is popular, particularly during the fall months. 170 Final CCP and EIS, Charles M. Russell and UL Bend National Wildlife Refuges, Montana The increase of carbon dioxide (CO2) within the earth’s atmosphere has been linked to the grad- 4.2 PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT ual rise in surface temperature commonly referred The following sections discuss the physical envi- to as “global warming.” In relation to comprehen- ronmental resources that could be affected by the sive conservation planning for Refuge System units, implementation of the CCP. Physical characteristics carbon sequestration constitutes the primary cli- include climate, air, visual resources, soundscapes, mate-related effect to be considered in planning. geography, soils, and water resources. Vegetated land such as what occurs on the refuge is a tremendous factor in carbon sequestration. Large, CLIMATE naturally occurring communities of plants and ani- The climate of the refuge region is typical of the high mals that occupy major habitats—grasslands, for- plains in North America with moderately cold win- ests, wetlands, tundra, and desert—are effective ters (average January lows are near 0 °F) and occa- both in preventing carbon emission and in acting as sional cold periods exceeding –20 °F. Summers are biological “scrubbers” of atmospheric CO2. generally pleasant (averaging in the 80s during after- Recently, the U.S. Global Change Research Pro- noon hours) with occasional hot periods exceeding gram released a comprehensive report (Karl et al. 100 °F. Low humidity, high temperatures, and mod- 2009) synthesizing information from a wide variety erate to strong winds cause rapid loss of soil mois- of scientific assessments about what is known about ture. Mean annual precipitation is 12–13 inches with the observed and projected consequences of cli- about 70 percent occurring from April–September. mate change in the United States. Average temper- Due to the dominantly heavy-textured soils, run- atures in the United States have increased by more off is rapid, often exceeding 50 percent of the total than 2 °F over the past 50 years. Global tempera- precipitation. The average frost-free period is about tures are expected to rise at least 1 °F over the life 120 days. The refuge is also subject to intense light- of the CCP. In the Great Plains, temperatures could ning storms from late July to early September, often increase more by 2–4 °F. Additionally, there could be resulting in wildfires. increases in both evaporation and drought stress- ing limited water supplies. Invasive weeds would Climate Change likely increasingly compete with native vegetation In 2001, the Secretary for the Department of the on rangelands (Karl et al. 2009). Precise estimates Interior issued Secretarial Order 3226 (DOI 2001) of how climate change would affect the refuge are requiring Federal agencies under its direction that not known. have land management responsibilities to consider potential climate change effects as part of long- AIR QUALITY range planning endeavors. Recently, this order was The UL Bend Wilderness is a class I air quality area, replaced by Secretarial Order 3289 (DOI 2009). It and receives special protections against air pollu- left intact many of the planning requirements of tion under the Federal Clean Air Act. The refuge Secretarial Order 3226, reiterating the need to ana- is a member of the Interagency Monitoring of Pro- lyze climate change effects but made organizational tected Visual Environments (IMPROVE) network, changes to enable the bureaus and agencies to ful- a cooperative program of Federal and State agen- fill the planning requirements (refer to “Chapter 1— cies whose primary purpose is to protect visibility in Introduction”). In 2009, President Obama signed class I areas and to characterize regional haze. This Executive Order 13514) requiring Federal agen- program was established to aid in the implementa- cies to establish an integrated strategy toward sus- tion of the 1977 Clean Air Act goal of preventing tainability in the Federal Government and to make future and remedying existing visibility impairment reduction of greenhouse gas emissions a priority for in class I areas (national parks, wilderness, and wild- Federal agencies. In 2010, the Service completed its life refuges). At the UL Bend Refuge, a monitor- strategic plan for managing climate change (FWS ing station filters the air every third day, collecting 2010c). fine particles in three modules and larger particles The U.S. Department of Energy report, “Car- in one of the modules. The filters are changed on a bon Sequestration Research and Development,” weekly basis and sent to a laboratory in Davis Cal- concluded that ecosystem protection is important ifornia where the data is analyzed. The lab looks at to carbon sequestration and may reduce or prevent visual obscurity due to particulate matter and long- loss of carbon currently stored in the terrestrial term trends of 50 years or more. The laboratory was biosphere (U.S. Department of Energy 1999). The not able to provide information as to whether the UL report defines carbon sequestration as “the capture Bend monitoring site had ever exceeded class I stan- and secure storage of carbon that would otherwise dards (Jose Mojica, Crocker Nuclear Laboratory; be emitted to or remain in the atmosphere.” personal communication, December 2, 2009). Chapter 4—Affected Environment 171 The Service conforms with the interim air qual- VISUAL RESOURCES ity policy on wildland and prescribed fires (Envi- The National Environmental Policy Act requires that ronmental Protection Agency 1998). The policy was measures be taken to “assure for all Americans … aes- prepared in an effort to integrate the public policy thetically pleasing surroundings.” Visual resources goals of allowing fire to function in its natural role are those qualities of the resource that often inspire in maintaining healthy ecosystems and protecting people and contribute to their overall experience. public health and welfare by mitigating the nega- There are several land designations found on the ref- tive effects of air pollutant emissions on air quality uge that are intended to preserve or even capital- and visibility. Prescribed fires are conducted under ize on the refuge’s scenic values. These include the strict smoke and air regulations as established by Wild and Scenic River designation along the west- the Montana/Idaho Airshed Group. The purpose of ern boundary, the Lewis and Clark National Historic this group is to reduce the effect of particulate mat- Trail along the entire Missouri River, and the desig- ter within specific air sheds throughout the two nated and proposed wilderness designations. There States. The group was formed in 1978 and all pre- are sweeping views of the prairie, forested coulees, scribed fires conducted on the refuge have met per- deep river canyons, broad mesas, badlands, and river mitted requirements. The refuge is assessed a fee bottoms. Throughout its human history explorers, based on tons of particulate matter produced by pre- writers, photographers, and visitors have penned, scribed fires. photographed, or painted vibrant descriptions of the Critical smoke concerns are addressed in each refuge’s abundant wildlife resources and its rugged individual prescribed burn plan. These plans are very and picturesque scenery. thorough and discuss specific smoke issues, mea- Three categories were used to address potential sures to reduce negative effects, downwind recep- effects on visual resources: (1) facilities and struc- tors, and smoke vector maps. The Service obtains tures such as roads, buildings, fencing, and developed clearance from the Montana/Idaho Airshed

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