BLM US Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management
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BLM Boise U.S. Department of the Interior D i Bureau of Land Management str i ct Environmental Assessment - Bruneau Hoof Butte Wetland and Riddle Reservoir Improvements Field Office PREPARING OFFICE U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management Boise District Bruneau Field Office 3948 Development Avenue Boise, ID 83705 May 2017 DOI-BLM-ID-B020-2015-0002-EA Contract No. GS-10F-0129L It is the mission of the Bureau of Land Management to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of the public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations. TABLE OF CONTENTS Chapter 1 Introduction .............................................................................................................. 1-1 1.1 Purpose and Need for Action ....................................................................................... 1-1 1.2 Conformance with Applicable Land Use Plan(s) ........................................................ 1-3 1.3 Relationship to Statutes, Regulations, or Other Plans ................................................. 1-3 1.4 Scoping, Public Involvement, and Issues .................................................................... 1-4 Chapter 2 Proposed Action and Alternatives ........................................................................... 2-1 2.1 Alternative A––No Action ........................................................................................... 2-1 2.2 Alternative B––Proposed Action ................................................................................. 2-1 2.2.1 Design Features, Stipulations, and Requirements.................................................. 2-12 Chapter 3 Affected Environment and Environmental Consequences ...................................... 3-1 3.1 Vegetation (Including Noxious Weeds)....................................................................... 3-1 3.1.1 Impacts from Alternative A ..................................................................................... 3-1 3.1.2 Impacts from Alternative B ..................................................................................... 3-2 3.2 Wildlife Including Migratory Birds ............................................................................. 3-3 3.2.1 Impacts from Alternative A ..................................................................................... 3-4 3.2.2 Impacts from Alternative B ..................................................................................... 3-5 3.3 Special Status Species .................................................................................................. 3-7 3.3.1 Impacts from Alternative A ................................................................................... 3-11 3.3.2 Impacts from Alternative B ................................................................................... 3-11 3.4 Cultural Resources ..................................................................................................... 3-13 3.4.1 Impacts from Alternative A ................................................................................... 3-14 3.4.1 Impacts from Alternative B ................................................................................... 3-14 3.5 Livestock Grazing ...................................................................................................... 3-14 3.5.1 Impacts from Alternative A ................................................................................... 3-15 3.5.2 Impacts from Alternative B ................................................................................... 3-16 3.6 Cumulative Impacts ................................................................................................... 3-16 3.6.1 Vegetation (Including Noxious Weeds)................................................................. 3-17 3.6.2 Wildlife .................................................................................................................. 3-18 3.6.3 Special Status Species ............................................................................................ 3-19 3.6.4 Cultural Resources ................................................................................................. 3-20 3.6.5 Livestock Grazing .................................................................................................. 3-21 Chapter 4 Consultation and Coordination ................................................................................ 4-1 4.1 Tribes, Individuals, Organizations, or Agencies Consulted ........................................ 4-1 4.2 List of Preparers and Reviewers .................................................................................. 4-1 Chapter 5 References ................................................................................................................ 5-1 List of Appendices Appendix A: Idaho Greater Sage-Grouse Implementation Plan Conformance Reviews ........... A-1 i List of Figures Figure 1.1. General Location Map of the Proposed Wetland and Reservoir Improvements Project ...................................................................................................................................................... 1-2 Figure 2.1. Proposed Reservoir Improvement Projects and Access Route .................................. 2-2 Figure 2.2. Proposed Yatahoney No. 1 Reservoir Improvements ............................................... 2-3 Figure 2.3. Proposed Little Shoofly Reservoir Improvements .................................................... 2-4 Figure 2.4. Examples of Fence Designs that Would Be Constructed Under Phase II ................. 2-5 Figure 2.5. Proposed Wetland Improvements and Access Route ................................................ 2-7 Figure 2.6. Proposed Hoof Butte Wetland Construction ............................................................. 2-8 Figure 2.7. Proposed Chicken Spring Wetland Construction .................................................... 2-10 Figure 2.8. Wetland Construction Concept................................................................................ 2-11 List of Tables Table 1. BLM Special Status Species with potential to occur in the project area ....................... 3-7 ii Chapter 1 Introduction The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Bruneau Field Office, is proposing improvement for two livestock water reservoirs (Little Shoofly and Yatahoney No. 1) and two wetland areas (Hoof Butte and Chicken Spring). All four proposed projects are located in the Riddle grazing allotment near Riddle, ID and the Idaho and Nevada border (Figure 1.1). The reservoir improvement projects would include redesigning the existing Little Shoofly and Yatahoney No. 1 reservoirs to increase water availability for livestock and wildlife during the late summer when surface water becomes scarce. The Little Shoofly Reservoir is not functioning to its potential due to a breached dam. The Yatahoney No.1 Reservoir functions below its potential due to a decrease in elevation of the surface water supply relative to the reservoir’s inlet elevation. The proposed wetland improvement projects would include restoring the Chicken Spring wetland and constructing the Hoof Butte wetland to increase water availability for wildlife during the late summer, while also expanding and improving wetland habitat. This environmental assessment (EA) addresses the site-specific resources and effects of the proposed reservoir and wetland improvements as required by the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), as amended (Public Law 91-90, 42 United States Code [USC] 4321 et. seq.). 1.1 Purpose and Need for Action The purpose and need of the proposed action is to facilitate better livestock management in the Riddle allotment by providing more options for late-season surface water while expanding and protecting wetland habitats for wildlife. The objective of both the livestock reservoir re-designs and wetland improvements is to increase the amount and duration of surface water available for animals, especially during the late summer season. The two re-designed livestock reservoirs and two wetland projects are intended to serve livestock and wildlife, respectively, but all the projects share similar construction elements, habitat types, regions, and presumably environmental effects. Decision to Be Made Based on the results of the EA analysis, the Field Office Manager will determine whether or not to improve the reservoirs and wetlands and what mitigation measures to implement. DOI-BLM-ID-B020-2015-0002-EA 1-1 Figure 1.1. General Location Map of the Proposed Wetland and Reservoir Improvements Project DOI-BLM-ID-B020-2015-0002-EA 1-2 1.2 Conformance with Applicable Land Use Plan(s) The proposed action is in conformance with the 1983 Bruneau Field Office Management Framework Plan (MFP) and specifically supports: RM-1.4: Develop livestock management facilities to implement allotment management plans or grazing systems that are designed to meet all MFP objectives. Constraints include: o No livestock water sources will be developed within 1 mile of existing or potential bighorn habitat unless adverse impacts can be avoided. o Do not develop springs that will not reasonably provide water for both livestock and wildlife. Springs developed in riparian zones will be fenced and water piped, where reasonable and economical. o Visual contrast ratings will be made on all improvements. WL-2: Manage sensitive species habitat in the Bruneau Planning Unit (BPU) to maintain or increase