Lost Horse Project Cascade Ranger District 09/06/2019

Introduction The Cascade Ranger District, of the Boise National Forest is proposing the Lost Horse Project, which is a vegetation restoration project, being analyzed under an Environmental Assessment (EA). The purpose is to restore species composition and stand structure while reducing undesirable tree densities, favoring the retention of the larger diameter, more fire-resistant trees, to Improve wildlife habitat, visuals, and water qualities throughout the project area. Project Area The Lost Horse Project is located entirely on National Forest System lands on the Cascade Ranger District, Boise National Forest located approximately 21 miles east/southeast of Cascade ID. Stony Meadows and Peace Rock Inventoried Roadless Areas (IRA) are adjacent to the project area, and portions of the IRAs are being proposed for treatment (mechanical fuel break and prescribe burning). The project covers approximately 10,600 acres of which 970 acres are within the IRAs. The project is located in Management Area 17 of the North Fork , Upper Clear Creek subwatershed 5th hydrologic unit code (HUC) and within the Olson Creek watershed 6th HUC (46454111) within the Boise Meridian, Valley County, . Proposed Action: The proposed project would implement a suite of vegetation management treatments (commercial, noncommercial thinning, prescribed burning, machine piling, and aspen enhancement) along with associated road management activities (temp road construction, reconstruction, road decommissioning, culvert improvements).

Peace Rock and Stony Meadows IRA Treatments within the within the IRAs would consist of the following: Peace Rock IRA- Treatments would include constructing a fuel break along the East Mountain trail 099. The fuel break would be constructed using mechanical equipment (feller-buncher), to remove overhead hazards (snags), followed by hand thinning to reduce trees less than 8 inches in diameter. All material generated from these activities would be piled and left on site to be burned in the fall. To access the East Mtn. trail, equipment would be transported to Clear Creek Summit trail head, off loaded and begin working along the eastern port of the East Mtn. trail proceeding west until intersecting with FS road 405C. The constructed fuel break would be approximately 100 feet in width (50 feet on either side of the trail) and would be approximately three miles in length. Prescribed fire would be applied across approximately 665 acres within the Peace Rock IRA. Stony Meadows IRA- Treatments would consist of felling hazard trees, thinning (<8” DBH) by hand, and pruning of trees along southern portion of FS trail 106. Prescribed fire would be applied across approximately 227 acres within the Stony Meadows IRA. Noncommercial thin encroaching conifers (<8” DBH) within the Lost Basin and would include prescribed fire on approximately 58 acres to restore the meadow attributes.

Pre-scoping information sent to BFC and VCFWG 09-06-2019 1 Pre-scoping information sent to BFC and VCFWG 09-06-2019 2 Pre-scoping information sent to BFC and VCFWG 09-06-2019 3 Pre-scoping information sent to BFC and VCFWG 09-06-2019 4 Pre-scoping information sent to BFC and VCFWG 09-06-2019 5 Pre-scoping information sent to BFC and VCFWG 09-06-2019 6 Pre-scoping information sent to BFC and VCFWG 09-06-2019 7 Pre-scoping information sent to BFC and VCFWG 09-06-2019 8

These photos were taken in various location throughout the project area.

Pre-scoping information sent to BFC and VCFWG 09-06-2019 9