United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service North Pioneer Fire Salvage and Reforestation Project Environmental Assessment
Lowman Ranger District, Boise National Forest, Boise County, Idaho April 2017
For More Information Contact:
John Kidd, Lowman District Ranger Phone: 208-259-3361 or Clint VanZile, North Pioneer Team Leader Phone: 208-365-7618 7359 Highway 21 Lowman, ID 83637 Email: [email protected] Fax: 208-259-3366
Photo: View of Pioneer Wildfire effects from National Forest System Road 594 in Rock Creek.
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USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender. North Pioneer Fire Salvage and Reforestation Project Environmental Assessment
Contents North Pioneer Fire Salvage and Reforestation Project ...... 1 Contents ...... i Tables ...... vi Figures ...... vii Acronyms Used Within the Document ...... viii Chapter 1—Purpose and Need for the Proposal ...... 1 Introduction ...... 1 What is the Purpose of this Environmental Assessment and How is it Organized? ...... 1 Where is the Proposed Action Located? ...... 2 Why Has the Project Been Proposed (Purpose and Need)? ...... 5 Purpose ...... 5 Need ...... 5 What is the Proposed Action? ...... 6 What was the Planning Process used to develop the Proposed Action? ...... 7 Priority 1: Hazard Tree Removal ...... 7 Priority 2: Other Areas to be Considered for Salvage ...... 8 Determining Location to Remove Hazard and Dead Trees within the Pioneer Fire to Address Priorities 1 and 2 Above...... 8 Hazard Tree and Salvage Treatments ...... 9 Hazard Tree Removal ...... 13 Riparian Conservation Area Hazard Tree Removal ...... 13 Activity Fuels Management ...... 14 Temporary Roads ...... 15 National Forest System Road Management ...... 15 Access and Public Health and Safety ...... 15 Reforestation ...... 15 Project Design Features ...... 19 Monitoring Activities ...... 19 Adaptive Management ...... 20 Emergency Situation Determination ...... 21 Coordination with Research ...... 22 Boise State University and the College of Idaho ...... 22 Pacific Northwest Research Station, Pacific Wildland Fire Science Lab and University of Washington, School of Environmental and Forest Sciences...... 22 Proposal 1: Evaluating the Effects of Salvage Logging and Developing Fire Resilient Forests .... 22
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Proposal 2: Historic Wildfire Effects on Forest Structure and Wildfire Behavior on the 2016 Pioneer Fire ...... 23 What is the Key Forest Plan Management Direction Used to Inform Development of the Proposed Action for this Area? ...... 23 What Decisions are to be Made? ...... 24 Chapter 2—Issues and Alternatives ...... 25 What Public and Tribal Involvement Have Occurred to Date? ...... 25 What Issues/Concerns were Identified through Scoping? ...... 26 Comments Concerning Salvage Logging ...... 26 Issues Carried Forward into Alternative Consideration ...... 27 What Would it Mean to Not Meet the Need? What is the “No Action” Alternative? ...... 29 What Other Actions were Considered? ...... 30 Alternative Considered but Not Analyzed in Detail ...... 30 Alternative 1 ...... 30 Alternative 2 ...... 32 Alternative 3 ...... 33 Alternatives Analyzed in Detail ...... 34 Are Other Federal, State, or Local Approvals Applicable to the Proposed Action? ...... 34 How do the Alternatives Compare to Each Other? ...... 35 Chapter 3—Effects of the Proposed Action and Alternatives ...... 37 What are the Effects of the Proposed Action as Compared to the “No Action” Alternative? ...... 37 Incomplete and Unavailable Information...... 37 Use of Best Available Science ...... 38 Analysis Calculations ...... 39 Resources Assessed in this Chapter ...... 39 Forested Vegetation ...... 40 Indicators...... 41 Background ...... 42 What are the effects to tree composition and the resistance and resilience of the forest vegetation towards future disturbances and stressors? ...... 42 What are the effects to snag numbers, size and species? ...... 45 What are the effects to large tree (mature forest) or old forest habitat within the project area? ..... 50 Cumulative Effects ...... 51 Fire and Fuels ...... 53 Indicators...... 53 Fuel Loading and Wildfire Response Concerns...... 55
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Addressing Fire Fighter and Public Safety ...... 58 Cumulative Effects ...... 59 Wildlife ...... 60 Background ...... 61 Indicators...... 63 Summary of Environmental Effects ...... 64 Effects to Low Elevation Old Forest Species ...... 66 Effects to Broad Elevation Old Forest Species ...... 69 Effects to Forest Mosaic Species ...... 80 Effects to Riverine and Riparian Wetland Species ...... 94 Management Indicator Species ...... 96 Transportation System ...... 99 Indicators...... 100 Road Maintenance During Salvage ...... 101 Maintenance Level 1 Road Reopened for Salvage ...... 105 Temporary Road Construction ...... 106 Roads Maintenance for Safety ...... 108 Recreation Resources ...... 109 Indicators...... 110 Disruption/Displacement of Recreation Users ...... 110 Motorized and Nonmotorized Recreational Access ...... 112 Dispersed Recreation ...... 114 Recreation Opportunity Spectrum ...... 115 Hydrology Resources ...... 116 Indicators...... 116 Summary of Effects ...... 117 Stream Temperature ...... 118 Sediment ...... 120 Water Yield ...... 123 Chemical Contaminants ...... 125 Road Density ...... 126 Fisheries ...... 128 Indicators...... 128 What are the effects to fish species and habitat? ...... 129 Affected Environment ...... 129
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Direct and Indirect Effects ...... 129 Cumulative Effects ...... 131 Determination of Effects and Rationale for Bull Trout ...... 131 Soils Resource ...... 138 Indicators...... 138 Would proposed activities cause detrimental soil compaction and increase soil erosion above natural levels? ...... 140 Would temporary road construction, skid trails and log landings cause long term degradation of the physical, biological and chemical soil properties and decrease the amount of area that can support desired vegetation? ...... 144 Would salvage harvest increase the potential for landslides, particularly in areas having inherently moderate or high instability?...... 146 Rare Plants ...... 150 Indicators...... 150 Would proposed activities affect rare plant resources and habitat, including whitebark pine? .... 151 Noxious Weeds/Invasive Plant Species ...... 154 Indicators...... 154 Exposure Risk, and the Ability to Detect, Monitor and Treat Weed Infestations ...... 154 Rangeland Resources ...... 157 Indicators...... 157 Amount or Quality of Forage Available and Livestock Displacement ...... 157 Climate Change ...... 161 Indicators...... 162 Affected Environment ...... 162 Alternative A (No Action) ...... 163 Alternative B (Proposed Action) ...... 164 Mineral Resources ...... 167 Indicators...... 167 Access to Mining Claims and/or Projects ...... 168 Scenic Resource ...... 170 Indicators...... 170 What is the degree of visual dominance and the duration of the effects related to the proposed activities? ...... 171 Will proposed activities be consistent with Forest Plan adopted Visual Quality Objectives (VQOs), standards and guidelines? ...... 176 Socioeconomics ...... 178
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Background ...... 178 Indicators...... 179 Volume in MMBF ...... 180 Net Revenue ...... 180 Jobs Created ...... 183 Inventoried Roadless Areas ...... 184 Indicators...... 185 Background ...... 185 Roadless Characteristics ...... 187 Wilderness Attributes ...... 192 Chapter 4—Agencies and Persons Consulted ...... 199 What Agencies and Persons have been Consulted? ...... 199 Literature Cited ...... 201 Appendices ...... 211 Appendix A: Design Features ...... 211 Cultural Resources ...... 211 Fire/Fuels ...... 211 Fisheries, Hydrology, and Soils ...... 211 Minerals/Geology ...... 215 Noxious Weeds ...... 215 Traffic and Public Safety ...... 215 Recreation ...... 216 Range Management ...... 216 Rare Plants ...... 216 Timber Harvest ...... 218 Engineering/Transportation ...... 219 Wildlife Resources ...... 219 Vegetation Management ...... 221 Visual Quality ...... 222 Appendix B: Cumulative Effects: Present, Ongoing, And Reasonably Foreseeable Activities ...... 223
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Tables Table 1. Salvage operations summary ...... 9 Table 2. Reforestation/restoration summary ...... 16 Table 3. Suggestions for ecologically based post-fire management from three major reviews ...... 27 Table 4. Summary of other permits and approvals that may be necessary ...... 34 Table 5. Comparison of alternatives by how well they address the purpose and need of the North Pioneer Project following implementation of all proposed treatments ...... 35 Table 6. Projected average snags per acre for the project area under the No Action Alternative ...... 46 Table 7. Projected average snags per acre for the project area under the Proposed Action ...... 46 Table 8. Projected average snags per acre within hazard tree and salvage treatment areas under the Proposed Action ...... 47 Table 9. Average snags per acre by Potential Vegetation Group (PVG) and size class in 2017 in the salvage units for Alternatives A and B compared to the desired condition ...... 48 Table 10. Fuel size classes ...... 54 Table 11. Modeled woody fuel accumulations in a middle-to-high elevation, subalpine fir forest type for the No Action Alternative, the Proposed Action (proposed dead roadside hazard tree fell and remove) and the Proposed Action (proposed felling but no removal) ...... 57 Table 12. Modeled woody fuel accumulations in a middle-to-high elevation, Douglas-fir/ponderosa pine forest type for the No Action Alternative and the Proposed Action (proposed dead tree salvage) ...... 57 Table 13. Wildlife species and status considered by source habitat family and family number, with focal species identified, and effects determinations for the North Pioneer Project Proposed Action ...... 65 Table 14. Summary of lynx habitat by Lynx Analysis Unit (LAU) for the North Pioneer Project ...... 81 Table 15. miles of National Forest System roads in the project area and those to be used during salvage operations under the Proposed Action ...... 102 Table 16. miles of road maintenance proposed under the Proposed Action ...... 103 Table 17. Watershed resource indicators, concerns, and measures used in this analysis ...... 117 Table 18. Summary of the effects of the Proposed Action to each of the watershed resource indicators ...... 117 Table 19. Proposed activities within Riparian Conservation Areas (RCAs) near Designated Critical Bull Trout Habitat ...... 130 Table 20. Summary of effects to watershed condition indicators (WCIs) by timeframe for the Proposed Action Alternative ...... 132 Table 21. Summary of detrimental disturbance (DD) by alternative ...... 141 Table 22. Total Soil Resource Commitment (TSRC) by alternative (values in percent) ...... 146 Table 23. SINMAP landslide hazard ratings (Pack et al. 1998) ...... 147 Table 24. Summary of proposed salvage harvest on “Moderate” and “High” landslide prone lands ... 149
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Table 25. Allotment, and proposed salvage and reforestation acres and percentages in the project area ...... 159 Table 26. Resource indicators and measures for assessing effects ...... 162 Table 27. Projected average snags per acre, coarse woody debris (CWD), and removals for the project area under the No Action Alternative ...... 163 Table 28. Projected average snags per acre, coarse woody debris (CWD), and removals for the project area under the Proposed Action ...... 165 Table 29. Salvage acres visible from National Forest System (NFS) roads and State Highway 21 within the project area ...... 174 Table 30. Visible salvage acres from designated National Forest System (NFS) trails ...... 174 Table 31. Visible salvage acres from designated yurts ...... 174 Table 32. Estimated volume removed for the three salvage sales analyzed ...... 180 Table 33. Estimated potential net value for the three salvage sales analyzed ...... 182 Table 34. Financial assessment, appraised value (PNV), and other project costs and associated supplemental funding needs by alternative ...... 182 Table 35. Summary of jobs supported by alternative for commercial treatment and restoration activities ...... 184 Table 36. Inventoried Roadless Areas (IRAs) contained within the project area ...... 185 Table 37. Crosswalk of Wilderness Qualities to Wilderness Attributes ...... 192 Table 38. Native American Tribes, collaborative groups, agencies, elected officials, and organizations and businesses consulted during the planning process for the North Pioneer Project ...... 199 Figures Figure 1. Vicinity map for the North Pioneer Fire Salvage and Reforestation Project, location within watershed basins and Pioneer Fire perimeter ...... 3 Figure 2. Proposed hazard tree fell and leave onsite, hazard tree salvage areas, and other salvage units, as well as temporary road locations for the North Pioneer Fire Salvage and Reforestation Project ...... 11 Figure 3. Photo of open National Forest System road 594 within the fire perimeter. The fire-killed trees are expected to fall over during the next few years, impeding public safety on roads and trails...... 13 Figure 4. Riparian hazard tree removal guideline depiction...... 14 Figure 5. Proposed reforestation and location of unauthorized routes proposed for decommissioning 17 Figure 6. Soil disturbance by activity ...... 139 Figure 7. Viewshed analysis ...... 173 Figure 8. Map of Inventoried Roadless Areas relative to the North Pioneer Fire Salvage Project Area ...... 186 Figure 9. Reforestation and roadside hazard treatments in the Grimes Pass Inventoried Roadless Area ...... 191
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Acronyms Used Within the Document Below you will find acronyms used in this document. For further information on these acronyms or definitions of technical terms used in this document, please reference the 2010 Boise National Forest Amended Forest Plan Glossary, Acronyms and Scientific Names located at: http://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprdb5394056.pdf (Forest Service 2010b). AOP Aquatic Organism Passage BAER Burned Area Emergency Rehabilitation BFC Boise Forest Coalition CO Carbon Monoxide CWD Coarse woody debris DBH Diameter at breast height DD Detrimental Soil Disturbance EA Environmental Assessment ESA Endangered Species Act ESD Emergency Situation Determination FONSI Finding of Non-Significant Impacts FR Functioning at Risk FUR Functioning at Unacceptable Risk FVS Forest Vegetation Simulator FSH Forest Service Handbook GFA General Forest Camping GIS Geographic Information System HRV Historical range of variability HU Hydrologic Units HUC Hydrologic Unit Code Idaho CWCS Idaho Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy IDT Interdisciplinary team ITD Idaho Department of Transportation LAU Lynx Analysis Unit LWD Large woody debris MA Management Area MIS Management Indicator Species ML Maintenance Level MMBF Millions Of Board Feet MPC Management Prescription Category MVUM Motor Vehicle Use Map NFMA National Forest Management Act
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NEPA National Environmental Policy Act NFS National Forest System NMFS National Marine Fisheries Service NPDES National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System OHV Off-Highway Vehicle OM Organic Matter OSV Oversnow Vehicle PAR Proposed Action Report PFA Post-Fledging Areas PIBO Pacfish and InFish Biological Opinion PNV Potential Net Value PCT Pre-Commercial Thinning PVG Potential Vegetation Group RCAs Riparian Conservation Areas RNA Research Natural Area ROS Recreation Opportunity Spectrum ROW Right-of-Way SOPA Schedule of Proposed Actions SOI Species of Interest SPTH Site potential tree height SDI Stand Density Index SDImax Stand density index, measured as a percent of maximum SHPO Idaho State Historic Preservation Office SWRA Soil, Water, Riparian, and Aquatic TEA Transaction Evidence Appraisal TEPC Threatened, endangered, proposed, and candidate species TES Threatened and endangered species TSRC Total Soil Resource Commitment USDA U.S. Department of Agriculture USFWS U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service VQO Visual Quality Objective WCI Watershed condition indicator WUI Wildland-urban interface WSR Wild and Scenic Rivers
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Chapter 1—Purpose and Need for the Proposal Introduction The Lowman Ranger District of the Boise National Forest (Forest) is proposing to mitigate threats from In Chapter 1, hazard trees, salvage merchantable dead trees, you will find: decommission unauthorized routes causing resource damage, and plant tree seedlings in portions of the • The purpose of this area burned during the 2016 Pioneer Fire. The Environmental Assessment proposal has been identified as the North Pioneer Fire and how it is organized Salvage and Reforestation Project (North Pioneer • A description of the North Project). Pioneer Fire Salvage and Reforestation Project Area The Pioneer Fire began on July 18, 2016, when hot temperatures, strong winds, and dry conditions • Why we are proposing actions exacerbated by a lack of late-summer monsoonal (the purpose and need for moisture fueled the fire’s growth to more than action) 64,000 acres by August 9, 2016, and 190,000 acres by • A description of our proposed September 15, 2016. The fire affected 27 drainages action within the Idaho City, Lowman, and Emmett Ranger • What Forest Service Districts on the Forest. The Pioneer Fire burned with Management direction applies varying intensity and left a mosaic of burn patterns on • Criteria for making a decision the landscape, ranging from unburned islands to areas where tree crowns were completely consumed. The North Pioneer Project is being proposed in conjunction with the South Pioneer Fire Salvage and Reforestation Project (South Pioneer Project). Both projects have a similar purpose and similar need. The Forest’s objective in separating the northern portion of the fire area from the southern portion was to create a more straightforward environmental analysis based on differences related to ecological and management complexities. Ecologically, the project areas have been separated based on the watershed basin, with the southern project area flowing into the Boise River and this project, the northern project area, flowing into the Payette River (Figure 1). From a management perspective, the northern area includes a different mix of recreational, social, and economic needs than the southern area. The supporting National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) documents, including this environmental assessment (EA), will discuss the cumulative effects resulting from implementing both actions.
What is the Purpose of this Environmental Assessment and How is it Organized? The Forest Service has prepared this EA in compliance with NEPA and other relevant federal and State laws and regulations. This EA discloses the direct, indirect, and cumulative environmental effects that would result from the Proposed Action and No Action alternatives for the North Pioneer Project on the Lowman Ranger District of the Forest. Chapter 1 identifies the purpose and need for the Proposed Action, the scope of the Proposed Action, and the decisions to be made. Chapter 2 identifies the public involvement leading to the
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issues and alternatives of the project, Chapter 3 discloses the environmental effects of each alternative, and Chapter 4 shows with whom we consulted during our project’s development. This document is tiered to the final environmental impact statement (FEIS) (USDA Forest Service 2010b) and planning record supporting the 2003 revised Boise National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan (Forest Plan), as amended in 2010 (Forest Service 2010a), including monitoring reports. Detailed information supporting the analyses presented in this document is incorporated by reference, including specialist reports for each resource, and unless specifically noted otherwise, is contained in the project planning record.
Where is the Proposed Action Located? The North Pioneer Project is located immediately north and south of Lowman, Idaho, and about 74 miles northeast of Boise, Idaho, in Boise County. The Project Area covers approximately 28,007 acres in the Payette River watershed (Figure 1). The Project Area is located entirely on National Forest System (NFS) lands that fall within Boise County, Idaho.
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Figure 1. Vicinity map for the North Pioneer Fire Salvage and Reforestation Project, location within watershed basins and Pioneer Fire perimeter
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Why Has the Project Been Proposed (Purpose and Need)?
Purpose Consistent with the goals and objectives identified in the Forest Plan, the purpose of the North Pioneer Project is to remove hazard trees affecting public health and safety along travel routes and within developed sites; restore portions of the landscape burned by the wildfire by initiating reforestation; reduce watershed impacts resulting from unauthorized routes; and recover forest economic value and benefits through salvage, generating revenues to support the accomplishment of project objectives.
Need The following specific needs exist: 1. Mitigate the risks of hazard trees resulting from the Pioneer Fire along roads and trails open to public motorized and non-motorized use, and within developed sites. Areas adjacent to many of the roads and trails open to the public and administrative motorized and non-motorized use (including groomed snowmobile routes), as well as within developed sites, within the project area were heavily forested prior to the 2016 Pioneer Fire. These areas now have high densities of fire-killed trees. If left standing, these trees pose a risk of striking parked or moving vehicles, recreationists, and Forest Service and contract personnel using these routes and developed sites. Fire-killed trees could also fall when vehicles/users are not present, creating a travelway hazard or potentially blocking individuals behind or between trees across the roadway. Commercially harvesting hazard trees, or felling and leaving them onsite where commercial harvest is not consistent with resource objectives, would proactively mitigate many of these risks, substantially reducing the time, energy, and funding otherwise needed to mitigate these risks over multiple years by Forest Service personnel or service contractors. 2. Reestablish forested conditions to trend the project area towards Forest Plan desired conditions; in particular, increase the representation of early seral conifer species such as ponderosa pine. A large portion of the project area, particularly within forest types classified to historically exhibit a nonlethal fire regime, burned at an uncharacteristically large scale with high intensity, creating patch sizes that are likely to take decades to naturally reestablish forested conditions. Strategically planting early seral species, including riparian vegetation, would create future seed sources and expedite recovery towards Forest Plan desired conditions. 3. Improve watershed conditions by decommissioning unauthorized roads currently degrading watershed conditions that fall within the project area. Unauthorized road segments that were stable and not accessible prior to the fire are now visible following vegetation removal by the fire. Where fire impacts have left these unauthorized road segments unstable, a need exists to decommission segments to reduce degrading effects to the watershed.
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4. Recover the economic value of forest products in a timely manner to avoid loss of commodity value sufficient to jeopardize the Agency’s ability to accomplish project objectives directly related to public health and safety, resource protection, and restoration identified in Needs 1 through 3 above. Trees killed by this wildfire are losing value at an increased rate. Therefore, a need exists to salvage trees as quickly as possible. Expedited implementation allows the Forest to capture enough commodity value to market some of the trees. Often, if material proposed for removal cannot be sold, many of the project’s objectives associated with Needs 1–3 above cannot be met. Recovery of the economic value of forest products in a timely manner will also contribute to employment and income to local communities. What is the Proposed Action? The Lowman Ranger District proposes cutting hazard trees along NFS roads and trails, reforesting areas, decommissioning unauthorized routes, and salvaging additional trees killed by the wildfire to recover economic value important to supporting restoration work. Proposed activities would begin in late spring or summer 2017. Salvage harvest activities are anticipated to be completed by the end of the 2018 operating season, while activities such as reforestation would continue for approximately 10 years. This project would remove hazard and dead trees from approximately 7,223 acres within the 28,007-acre project area. Specifically, to accomplish the purpose What is Salvage Logging? of the project and to address Need 1, this project proposes approximately 5,213 acres of hazard tree Salvage logging for the North Pioneer Project mitigation which includes 1,542 acres of hazard tree is the practice of logging trees in forested felling and leaving onsite and 3,671 acres of hazard areas that are hazard trees or have been killed 1 tree salvage . To address Need 4, approximately by wildfire to recover economic value that 2,010 acres of salvage to recover economic value to would otherwise be lost and use this revenue provide additional support for restoration and to fund resource protection and reforestation recovery efforts within the project area have been activities. identified. Approximately 32 MMBF of wood products would likely be removed through salvage operations. Some acres proposed for treatment may eventually be eliminated during project layout and implementation. For example, additional small streams and springs in the project area could be discovered in areas proposed for salvage. Once these riparian conservation areas (RCAs) are identified, areas proposed for salvage may no longer be consistent with hazard tree removal or resource protection objectives. Other areas may be eliminated because they are too steep for safely operating ground-based machinery or they lack the necessary access for cable yarding.
1 Hazard tree salvage units would remove all hazard trees, as well as salvage any additional dead trees where consistent with design features in Appendix A.
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What was the Planning Process used to develop the Proposed Action? The focus of project planning and design was to identify those priorities for which immediate implementation2 was necessary to achieve the purpose and need. Project planning and design addresses the following: 1. Relief from hazards threatening human health and safety 2. Mitigation of threats to natural resources on NFS or adjacent lands 3. Avoiding a loss of commodity value sufficient to jeopardize the Agency's ability to accomplish project objectives directly related to resource protection or restoration
Priority 1: Hazard Tree Removal Forest Supervisors have a responsibility for the safe operation and management of roads and must “…to the extent permitted by funding levels, systematically provide for elimination of identified hazards” (FSM 7733.04c and FSM 2330.6a [guidance for developed sites risk assessment information]). Forest Service Handbook (FSH) direction (7709.59 Chapter 40) contains more specialized guidance pertaining to hazard trees along NFS roads open to public use. FSH 7709.59, section 41.6 states, “Road maintenance includes removing danger [hazard] trees that threaten safe use of the transportation system.” FSH 7709.59, section 41.7, provides guidance for hazard identification and correction. This section includes guidance that hazard trees along NFS roads should be evaluated, section by section, and hazard trees should be prioritized as high, medium, or low based on the risk to road users from potential tree failure. Removing high-priority hazards trees (failure could occur at any time) along travel routes and around developed sites to remain open during winter 2016/2017 were addressed through fire suppression and through ongoing post-fire actions initiated in fall 2016. The focus of the proposed action for the North Pioneer Project is to address the medium-to-low priority tree hazards that were not considered as time critical (i.e., likelihood of failing was not imminent, but assessed to be within the next 6 months to 2 years). In addition, high-priority hazard trees felled in 2016/2017 and left onsite may be salvaged to recover value where consistent with Forest Plan
2 “Immediate implementation” does not mean directly after the fire. It means the project will be implemented immediately after completing environmental review work when the Agency is ready to issue a decision. Review work includes public involvement. Often, decisions documented in an EA cannot be made until the next spring/early summer following the fire in order to complete field work, consultation requirements with other agencies, and public involvement. Expedited implementation allows the Forest to remove hazards safely, complete associated resource protection/restoration projects, and capture enough commodity value to market some of the trees. Often, if material proposed for removal cannot be sold, many of the project’s needs cannot be met. For these reasons, the Forest anticipates requesting an Emergency Situation Determination (ESD) which, if approved, would allow for implementation to begin in summer 2017. When salvage is involved, the timeline to implement a project associated with an ESD request should capture most of the normal timber operating season the year following the emergency event to capture wood product value important to accomplishing project needs (e.g., a May/June decision and June/July timber salvage offer to address a fire from the previous season).
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resource direction and could contribute to the economic viability of a sale and/or provide revenues that could be used to support subsequent restoration work.
Priority 2: Other Areas to be Considered for Salvage The priority for using salvage is to remove hazard trees threatening human health and safety. Any additional areas considered for salvage that are not tied to these needs have only been considered where their inclusion does not exceed the Forest Service’s planning and implementation capacity to ensure the project will be implemented during summer 2017. Project implementation in summer 2017 is essential to minimize the loss of commodity value of salvageable wood products important to accomplishing project objectives for hazard tree removal; habitat and watershed improvement; and forest restoration, including reforestation.
Determining Location to Remove Hazard and Dead Trees within the Pioneer Fire to Address Priorities 1 and 2 Above Identifying trees appropriate for hazard tree removal or felling, as well as salvage to address priority 1, follows guidance developed by Smith and Gluck (2011). In addition, hazard trees (synonymously referred to as danger trees), would be identified using Filip and others (2016) who define a danger tree or hazard tree as, “any tree or it parts that will fail because of damage, defect, or disease and cause injury or death to people or damage to property.” To be a hazard, a tree must have (1) a potential to fail and (2) a target of value that the tree could strike. To identify salvage locations to address priority 2, emphasis was given to salvaging within units previously analyzed for harvest in the 2016 Becker Integrated Resource Project, 2013 Clear Creek Integrated Project, and 2004 Rock Creek Resource Management Project. Opportunities for salvage in previous project areas was emphasized because data collection, resource specialist knowledge and evaluations, due to recent analysis and assessment work, was more thorough and complete compared to other areas within the fire perimeter that had not been previously analyzed. The following screening process was developed using ecological considerations adopted from Lindenmayer and others (2006) and used to identify areas within these previous project areas that fell within workforce capacity considerations. The primary workforce capacity considerations emphasized remaining within the scope and scale of an environmental assessment that would be practicable to complete within the timeframe to support implementation in early summer 2017 and within guidelines supporting requests for an emergency situation determination (ESD—see Emergency Situation Determination section discussion): The screening process considered the following: • Units should occur where site conditions, such as soils and aspect, are favorable for establishment and sustainability of early seral species. • Units should occur on sites with enough merchantable wood product material that they are economically viable. Helicopter logging is not considered economically viable. • Units should generally avoid areas of high soil burn severity to not increase detrimental impacts to soils and leave standing dead trees to provide shade for future revegetation efforts.
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• Units should occur on suitable timber lands in Management Prescription Category (MPC 5.1). • Salvage should occur within locations that predominately experienced high vegetation burn severity, as measured by >75% basal area loss. • RCAs will be excluded except where treatments are needed to mitigate human health and safety concerns along roadsides and trails open to public use, as well as within developed sites. • Sites with high landslide potential will be excluded, modifying as needed based on soil burn severity. • Locations requiring new system road construction will be excluded. • Construction of temporary roads should only occur on an existing road prism (i.e., unauthorized routes), included in previous decisions, or not exceed 0.5 miles per road segment and not enter RCAs or landslide prone areas.
Hazard Tree and Salvage Treatments As described above, salvage harvest to address hazard trees and recover economic value would occur on approximately 5,681 acres using ground-based and cable logging systems (Table 1, Figure 2). Dead trees, as well as hazard trees, would be cut and removed from within salvage units. The 2016 Pioneer Fire created extensive large patches where little-to-no live forest canopy remains. It is within these high-mortality areas—now considered openings due to the lack of live trees—that salvage units are being proposed. Locations where salvage of dead and hazard trees occurs would appear more open than areas not salvaged. Salvage units would maintain the number of snags per acre identified in Design Feature VM-1. Where large snags (>20 inches diameter at breast height [dbh]) are unavailable, additional smaller snags (≥10 inches dbh) shall be retained where available to meet at least the maximum total number of snags depicted in Table A-6 of Appendix A of the Forest Plan (USDA Forest Service 2010a). If substituting smaller snags for larger snags is necessary, the replacements would consist of snags from the largest diameters available within the unit. The average diameter of retention snags retained would be equal to or greater than the average diameter of the dead trees salvaged. That is, retained snags would be a representative sample of the range of snag diameters available pre-harvest. Ponderosa pine and Douglas-fir would be the preferred species retained as snags. Table 1. Salvage operations summary Logging System Acres Ground Based 4,141 Cable 1,540 Total 5,681
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Figure 2. Proposed hazard tree fell and leave onsite, hazard tree salvage areas, and other salvage units, as well as temporary road locations for the North Pioneer Fire Salvage and Reforestation Project
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Hazard Tree Removal Approximately 109.0 miles of open NFS roads and 9.0 miles of open motorized and non-motorized NFS trails occur within the project area (Figure 2). Within a 200-foot safety buffer along both sides of these roads and trails, trees classified as hazard trees that are likely to strike these routes would be felled on approximately 5,213 acres; trees from 3,671 of these acres would be removed to help pay for the treatment. Hazard trees would be identified based on their risk of falling and their likelihood of striking the established route or site infrastructure (see Figure 3). For example, more trees would likely be felled above a road (where a greater risk of the tree falling, sliding, or rolling down into the road exists) than below the road.
Figure 3. Photo of open National Forest System road 594 within the fire perimeter. The fire-killed trees are expected to fall over during the next few years, impeding public safety on roads and trails.
Riparian Conservation Area Hazard Tree Removal In RCAs between the road and the water feature of salvage units and within the first site potential tree height (1st SPTH) in RCAs where the road intersects the stream perpendicularly, hazards trees would be dropped and left onsite (Figure 4). However, within RCAs on the side of the road opposite the water feature (uphill side of the road), and outside of the 1st SPTH in RCAs where the road intersects the stream perpendicularly, harvesting and removing hazard fire-killed and damaged trees would be allowed where consistent with Forest Plan standards3. Dead trees not identified as hazards would not be felled or removed within RCAs, regardless of whether a salvage unit overlaps with a hazard treatment area. Outside of hazard treatment areas, salvage units would be delineated to exclude the RCA. Within RCAs, hazard trees would be felled and removed on 179 acres and felled and left onsite across 1,216 acres.
3 TRST08: Salvage harvest in RCAs is allowed only where the wood products salvaged will not degrade or retard attainment of riparian, aquatic, hydrological, botanical, and terrestrial wildlife habitat desired conditions (USDA Forest Service 2010a)
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Figure 4. Riparian hazard tree removal guideline depiction. Exceptions to removing hazard trees between the road and the water feature or where the RCA intersects the road perpendicularly may be allowed for worker safety and/or to mitigate damage to road drainage infrastructure. Site-specific evaluation by resource specialists would be required prior to removing material in areas where the exception would be employed (Design Feature FH-1). Felled roadside hazard trees would be sold as various wood products or left onsite consistent with Forest Plan direction. During salvage unit layout, if a unit is eliminated from implementation, hazard trees located within this unit would be felled, but no other salvage treatments would be implemented. Hazard trees would be felled along motorized and non-motorized trails within RCAs. Where the trails fall within the salvage units, these trees would be removed for their commercial value. If the trails fall outside a salvage unit, the hazard trees would be removed from the trail and left onsite.
Activity Fuels Management Trees would be yarded whole to the landing to reduce compaction and aid in soil amelioration. The tops, limbs, and branches would be hauled back and slash material utilized to minimize soil and water movement and promote restoration of soil-hydrologic functions associated with the construction of temporary roads, landings, and skid trails. The piling and burning of slash could occur where needed to protect NFS improvements and facilities; address public safety; and maintain recreational access, use, and visual quality. No hand piling would occur below the road within RCAs, unless otherwise designated through site-specific evaluation. Refer to Design Features FF-1 and FH-8.
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Temporary Roads Implementing this project would require constructing approximately 7.0 miles of temporary roads to facilitate salvage harvest activities (Figure 2). Temporary roads would be constructed to access landings and would be rehabilitated upon completion of all harvest activities. Temporary roads would be decommissioned after use by recontouring to the approximate shape of the surrounding terrain. In addition, the roads would have berms or debris placed near their entrance and along the first portion of the road to discourage use. These temporary road segments are generally located on dry ridgetops not within wet/moist areas. To minimize impacts to the environment and natural resources, 2.7 miles of unauthorized roads would be used as temporary roads (Figure 5). In addition, approximately 4.3 miles of new temporary roads are proposed to access landings where existing system roads and old alignments are not adequate for accessing strategic locations. Figure 2 shows the possible locations of the temporary roads for this project. The exact locations of temporary roads may change during the layout phase of this project, but the overall mileage would be the same or less.
National Forest System Road Management To support large trucks and equipment used to implement the proposed action, road maintenance is proposed on approximately 115 miles of existing NFS roads. However, motorized access would remain unchanged, and no new NFS road construction or decommissioning is proposed. Maintenance activities would include clearing brush from the road shoulders to improve sight distance, blading and shaping the road, cleaning ditches, maintaining or improving drainage structures, and improving the road surface. If a Maintenance Level (ML) 1 road (closed road) is opened and used for project implementation, it would only be open to administrative use, including timber haul. If a unit is eliminated from the project, the associated road work would be eliminated as well. Culverts damaged by the wildfire would also be replaced through road maintenance. To address Purpose and Need 3, 3.3 miles of unauthorized routes, 2.7 miles of which would be used as temporary roads to implement proposed activities (see discussion above), are proposed for decommissioning.
Access and Public Health and Safety To address public health and safety, area closures to motorized and non-motorized recreational uses will be in effect as needed through portions of the project area during implementation of proposed activities. To the maximum extent practicable, notice of closures will be provided at least 2 weeks in advance in local papers and nearby public facilities. The only exception to these closures will be to permittees operating within the project area, who will be provided limited access consistent with their permits as public health and safety concerns allow.
Reforestation Natural regeneration of coniferous trees is desired. To promote and capitalize on natural recovery where it aligns with trajectories for desired conditions, ecosystem response would be monitored, starting in summer 2017. In large, high-severity patches, where limited-to-no seed sources
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remain, sparse natural regeneration may result in delayed successional trajectories or altered vegetation states (Kemp et al. 2015). Thus, to contribute to accomplishing Purpose and Need 2, reforesting strategic locations within the fire perimeter to establish future seed sources with native, long-lived early seral tree species (e.g., ponderosa pine, Douglas-fir, and whitebark pine) would occur to enhance the overall recovery process and trend the vegetation component toward desired future conditions (Table 2). Where a tree planting need overlaps with proposed salvage activities, seedlings would be planted following the completion of harvest operations. Tree seedlings would also be planted in areas identified to have a reforestation need that do not overlap with salvage locations, such as priority locations for wildlife, aquatics, and recreation, and sites identified to reestablish a future seed source for long-term forest recovery (Figure 5). Based on monitoring of forest recovery within these locations, strategic sites (units) would be planted at historical densities using variable spacing to foster long-term restoration objectives identified in the Forest Plan. Table 2. Reforestation/restoration summary Reforestation Acres Natural regeneration 1,314 Tree planting 6,062 Riparian restoration 209 Whitebark pine reforestation 336 TOTAL 7,921
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Figure 5. Proposed reforestation and location of unauthorized routes proposed for decommissioning
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Project Design Features The North Pioneer Project has been designed to avoid or minimize undesirable impacts to resources, to the maximum extent practicable4, and will comply with all applicable laws, regulations, and direction. The interdisciplinary team (IDT) developed the project design features to minimize or avoid potential adverse effects from the proposed action (refer to Appendix A). The design features are based on Forest Plan direction and policy, best available science, and site-specific effectiveness evaluations and would be applied (except where specifically stated) as an integral part of project implementation. Section 208 of the Clean Water Act authorizes and encourages State and local management of nonpoint pollution sources, which include forest practices. This project incorporates design features that reflect best management practices (BMPs) to help meet the requirements of the Clean Water Act. The National Best Management Practices for Water Quality Management on National Forest System Lands—Volume 1: National Core BMP Technical Guide states the following (USDA Forest Service 2012): …site-specific BMP prescriptions are developed based on the proposed activity, water quality objectives, soils, topography, geology, vegetation, climate, and other site-specific factors and are designed to avoid, minimize, or mitigate potential adverse impacts to soil, water quality, and riparian resources. State BMPs, regional Forest Service guidance, land management plan standards and guidelines, monitoring results, and professional judgment are all used to develop site-specific BMP prescriptions. Idaho Forest Practices Act rules includes mandatory BMPs that protect, maintain, and enhance Idaho’s forests and maintain high water quality. Design features included in Appendix A were developed to be consistent with applicable requirements. All applicable design features are reflective of BMPs and would be applied to activities proposed in the North Pioneer Project area. Contract provisions required in timber sales are the mechanism by which BMPs are implemented during activities. Additionally, monitoring of BMPs occurs during and after harvest to ensure correct implementation and effectiveness. Refer to supporting project record documentation concerning BMP/design feature effectiveness.
Monitoring Activities Monitoring is the process of periodically and systematically gathering and analyzing data to understand trends over time. The most common monitoring is related to implementation (did we do what we said we were going to do?) and effectiveness (did we achieve our desired results?). Project Level Monitoring: If the Proposed Action, Alternative 2, is selected for implementation, standard timber sale contract provisions would be used to direct how sale activities are conducted. Other activities performed under contract (such as road work), would be monitored by a contracting officer’s representative to ensure activities are implemented as designed. For example, sale administrators and other contracting representatives would monitor all timber sales to ensure activities are conducted in accordance with contract specifications (e.g., activities occur where and
4 Maximum Extent Practicable—Available and capable of being done after taking into consideration cost, existing technology, and logistics in light of overall project purposes (40 CFR 230.10(a)(2)).
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when they should per the project specific design features in Appendix A, which were developed to protect resources such as soils and wildlife, that yarding is accomplished as planned to protect soils, or that seedlings are planted at the appropriate spacing). In addition, to address visual quality objectives (VQOs) discussed below, viewsheds would be monitored at year 3 and 5 following completion of proposed activities to determine if the objective VQO identified in Forest Plan standard 1076 has been attained. If attainment has not been reached, as part of adaptive management, additional rehabilitation measures consistent with the design features identified in Appendix A would be implemented. See section below concerning variance in a Forest Plan Visual Quality Guideline for more detail. Regeneration monitoring (stocking surveys) would also be completed to assess reforestation needs and whether reforestation objectives were accomplished. Reforestation (plantation) survival surveys would be completed following the first and third growing season to determine mortality causes and to estimate seedling survival. Reforestation survival exams, as required by FSM 2472.4, FSM 2496.14, and FSH 2409.14 (Chapter 61.4 [draft]), would utilize national sampling methods and standards to promote consistency in reporting seedling survival data. Forest Plan Monitoring: The Forest Plan (USDA Forest Service 2010a, Chapter 4) documents a system to monitor and evaluate forest management activities, addressing the most critical components to inform management of the Forest’s resources within the financial and technical capability of the Agency. Monitoring is conducted across the entire national forest on a periodic basis, and the monitoring results are used to guide future projects. Forest Plan monitoring requirements related to the Pioneer Fire area, including the North Pioneer Project, will include remeasuring vegetation inventory plots impacted by the wildfire (e.g., forest inventory plots) and assessing watershed condition, which would be done jointly with the Regional Pacfish and InFish Biological Opinion (PIBO) monitoring group. Annual wildlife and fisheries surveys required in the Forest Plan (USDA Forest Service 2010a, Chapter 4) would continue, including remeasuring inventory locations within the burn perimeter.
Adaptive Management To address hazard trees created by the fire which are affecting human health and safety and to avoid a loss of commodity value sufficient to jeopardize the Agency's ability to accomplish project objectives, the decision for this project would be signed prior to completing all resource and engineering field surveys. Although survey work may not be completed, the effects to resources would be mitigated by implementing the project design features (Appendix A) and by using an adaptive management approach. The FSH defines adaptive management as a structured, iterative process for decision-making to reduce uncertainty through structured hypothesis testing and monitoring of outcomes. This approach supports decision-making which meets resource management objectives while simultaneously accruing information to improve future management (FSH 1909.12, Chapter 40; refer to Figure 4). Adaptive management includes the following key features: 1. Characterizing explicit uncertainty and assumptions 2. Testing assumptions and collecting data using appropriate temporal and spatial scales
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3. Analyzing new information obtained through monitoring and project experience 4. Learning from feedback between monitoring and decisions 5. Adapting assumptions and strategies to design better plans and management direction 6. Making iterative and responsive decisions, evaluating results, and adjusting actions on the basis of what has been learned 7. Creating an open and transparent process that shares learning internally and with the public If, at any point, monitoring surveys discover a site condition not adequately addressed by project design features and environmental analysis for this project, a changed condition analysis would be completed. The Forest Service Handbook (FSH 1909.15, Chapter 10, Section 18) provides direction on review and documentation of new information received after a decision has been made. Through this process, the responsible official must consider whether the new information or changed circumstances are within the scope and range of effects considered in the original analysis. If the responsible official determines that a correction, supplement, or revision to an environmental document is not necessary, implementation should continue. If the responsible official determines that a correction, supplement, or revision to this environmental assessment is necessary, the IDT would conduct the additional analysis and documentation needed as outlined in FSH 1909.15 (Chapter 10, Section 18.4, “Reconsideration of Decisions Based on Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact”). All changed condition analyses, reports, and letters would be made available to the public via the project web site.
Emergency Situation Determination Immediate implementation is essential to successfully accomplish the project purpose and need (i.e., recover economic value from hazard trees that pose risks to public health and safety prior to next recreation season). Therefore, the Forest intends to request an Emergency Situation Determination (ESD) to facilitate immediate implementation of the proposed activities during the 2017 field season. Only the Chief and Associate Chief of the Forest Service may grant an ESD (36 CFR 218.21(a)). An emergency situation is defined at 36 CFR 218.21(b) as follows. A situation on National Forest System (NFS) lands for which immediate implementation of a decision is necessary to achieve one or more of the following: 1. Relief from hazards threatening human health and safety 2. Mitigation of threats to natural resources on NFS or adjacent lands 3. Avoiding a loss of commodity value sufficient to jeopardize the agency’s ability to accomplish project objectives directly related to resource protection or restoration. If the Chief decides this project qualifies for an ESD, the project will be exempt from the objection process (36 CFR 218). This exemption would allow us to implement the project as soon as the environmental analysis is completed and the decision is signed. Providing for immediate implementation following completion of the environmental review allows the Forest to remove hazards safely, complete associated resource protection and reforestation activities, and recover economic value from a portion of the dead trees. Fire damaged wood products are rapidly losing value. Timely recovery of economic value through salvage harvesting is critical
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for funding actions required to accomplish projects objectives. Even if an ESD is granted, many opportunities for the public to be involved in the planning for this project have been and will be provided, including attending open houses, working with local collaborative groups, and commenting on the environmental analysis. We recognize that if an ESD is approved, public involvement for this project will change as identified above. In order to receive public input and keep the public informed throughout the process, public involvement was started early this past fall with field trips and meetings, and we plan to continue meeting with interested groups and members of the public throughout the project, pre- and post- NEPA. These efforts include offering a public field trip to look at the project area in summer 2017. Additional field trips and meetings will be held, as needed or requested, to ensure stakeholders continue to be informed of upcoming project activities and the implementation of those activities. Coordination with Research
Boise State University and the College of Idaho Recent studies have shown the size and severity of wildfires are increasing across the western United States (Westerling 2016), and over half of the acres burned in forests in the western United States are the result of human-induced changes in climate (Abatzaglou and Williams 2016). As these fires have grown, so too have their impacts on landscapes that must now recover. It is estimated that soil erosion resulting from wildfire may double by 2050 (Sankey 2015). Post-fire debris flow models developed by Cannon et al. (2010) offer the opportunity to identify debris flow-prone slopes in post-fire areas using data that are often publicly available. To further the understanding of the effects of the Pioneer Fire on post-fire erosion, Boise State University and the College of Idaho propose measuring and quantifying post-fire erosion in select basins in the Pioneer Fire burn area using remote sensing and geophysical techniques. They propose using geophysical methods to measure post-fire debris flow occurrence, and remote sensing methods to measure post-fire channel change and debris flow volumes of wood and sediment. They propose targeting basins that have already produced debris flows and are predicted to produce debris flows under 15-minute, 12-millimeter storm events. For these basins, they propose noninvasive surveying of basin-contributing areas and depositional areas, as well as surveying known debris flows (e.g., Blackadar, Hole in the Wall, and Monument). Implementing this proposal would include installing temporary geophysical equipment and game cameras to record events.
Pacific Northwest Research Station, Pacific Wildland Fire Science Lab and University of Washington, School of Environmental and Forest Sciences
Proposal 1: Evaluating the Effects of Salvage Logging and Developing Fire Resilient Forests This component of the research proposal would be designed to address questions such as the following: 1. Do treatments affect overall shrub and seedling regeneration?
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2. Do treatments promote invasion by nonnative species? 3. What are the effects of herbicide application on shrub regeneration? 4. How does different spacing of planted tree regeneration affect stand development (i.e., tree survival and growth) and resilience to future fires? 5. What are the effects of salvage logging on fine and coarse woody fuels and stand structure? 6. What are the effects of salvage logging on fuel succession and future fire behavior (rate of spread, reaction intensity)? 7. What are the short- and long-term effects of post-fire salvage logging on soil biochemical and biotic properties, including microbial biomass and decomposition rates? 8. What are the short- and long-term effects of post-fire salvage logging on RCA function and processes as described in the Forest Plan (Forest Service 2010a, Appendix B)? 9. Are seedling performance and survivorship effects minimized since time of fire and by different post-fire salvage logging planting and treatments? 10. Do post-fire salvage logging and planting in large, severe wildfires allow maintaining productivity and create a forest more resilient to future severe fires and climate change? The proposal would evaluate three levels of salvage in a randomized complete block design: (1) unsalvaged (control); (2) intermediate salvage (e.g., approx. 1/3 of basal area removed); and (3) full salvage (e.g., retention of maximum snag numbers per Forest Plan guidance). Four to six replicate blocks, each containing three 5.4-acre salvage units, would be selected from among the areas set aside for salvage.
Proposal 2: Historic Wildfire Effects on Forest Structure and Wildfire Behavior on the 2016 Pioneer Fire In this study, researchers would use empirical data to quantify effects of the 2016 Pioneer Fire on burn severity within historic wildfire areas versus those where historic wildfires have not burned. Researchers would measure fire severity in the form of bole char and crown scorch near and within different fuel treatment units. They would fit nonlinear models to the two metrics as functions of distance to treatment edge. These nonlinear models provide statistical estimates of the distance into the treated area at which fire severity is reduced. Researchers would install linear transects extending across the treated and adjacent untreated areas burned on the Pioneer Fire. Linear transects would be oriented in the direction of fire spread and installed to avoid major roads, riparian buffers, reserve areas, and other wildlife habitat areas. Transect lengths and total number of plots would vary with the size of the treatment units. What is the Key Forest Plan Management Direction Used to Inform Development of the Proposed Action for this Area? As defined within the 2010 Forest Plan, the project area falls entirely within Management Area (MA) 10, Upper South Fork Payette River, and Management Prescription Category (MPC) 5.1, Restoration and Maintenance Emphasis within Forested Landscapes (Forest Service 2010a).
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Consistent with this MPC, activities proposed as part of this project emphasize the restoration or maintenance of vegetation to provide a diversity of habitats over time, reduce risk of future disturbance events, and provide sustainable resources supporting human uses in the area (Forest Service 2010a). In addition, the Forest Plan emphasizes the need to integrate related multiple use objectives (e.g., aquatic resource restoration and recreation opportunity enhancement) with vegetative restoration projects where practicable and efficient to do so. Application of, and consistency with, Forest Plan standards and guidelines are addressed in resource technical reports and a Forest Plan consistency summary document provided in the project record. What Decisions are to be Made? The Responsible Official for this project is Cecilia R. Seesholtz, Boise National Forest Supervisor. The Responsible Official will consider public comments, an internal analysis of this project, and the consequences of similar projects. The Responsible Official will assess the direct, indirect, and cumulative environmental effects, along with current policy, law, and regulation, and will determine the appropriate level of environmental analysis and documentation needed for this project. After such consideration and determination that an EA is the appropriate level of environmental analysis for this project, the Responsible Official may choose to: • Select the proposed action and adopt the project as written; • Modify the proposed action and/or adopt a modified version of the proposed action; • Select the no action alternative. In making this decision, the Forest Supervisor will consider such questions as: • How well does the alternative meet the purpose and need described in this EA? • How well does the alternative address the concerns generated from comments received from interested parties? • Does the alternative mitigate potential adverse effects identified in the analysis as needed to support a finding of non-significant impacts (FONSI)?
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Chapter 2—Issues and Alternatives What Public and Tribal Involvement Have Occurred to Date? Public involvement efforts were used to develop the proposed action. These efforts included meetings and phone calls with In Chapter 2, a local collaborative group, the Boise Forest Coalition (BFC); you will find: tribal and timber industry representatives; County • Public and tribal commissioners; and State agencies (Idaho Department of involvement in the Parks and Recreation, Idaho Department Fish and Game, and project Idaho Department of Lands) from October 2016 through January 2017. District Rangers from the Idaho City and • Major Issues Lowman Ranger Districts hosted field trips with interested identified stakeholders in October and November 2016. The ESD was • What would happen discussed during these field trips and participants expressed if we didn’t meet the strong support for the ESD request, citing concerns that need of the project delays in implementing the project would greatly reduce the • Other actions we merchantability of the burned timber and reduce the possibility considered to successfully address hazard trees and recover economic • A comparison of each value of work products to help support future reforestation alternative and restoration work. We received initial comments from the BFC in October 2016 with thoughts on how to address needs associated with the Pioneer Fire. The District Ranger and project team leader met with the BFC to discuss this project in December 2016, January 2017, and February 2017. The District Ranger, team leader and other resource specialists have continued discussions with the collaborative group throughout the planning process. Forest staff presented information and participated in a panel discussion covering the Pioneer Fire and proposed activities at the Idaho Forest Restoration Partnership in March 2017; this panel included a diverse range of stakeholders and collaborative groups from across the state in March 2017. Forest staff provided a similar panel discussion and presentation at the Idaho Environmental Forum later in the month, further broadening the dispersal of information and feedback from interested public. The North Pioneer Fire Salvage and Reforestation Project proposal was first described in the January 2017 edition of the Forest’s quarterly Schedule of Proposed Actions (SOPA). The SOPA is available on the Forest public website5. A legal notice for the 30-day scoping comment period was published in the Forest paper of record, the Idaho Statesman, on January 28, 2017. The Forest Service formally notified the public of the ESD request in both the scoping letter to the public and associated legal notice. The scoping letter was mailed to approximately 197 interested individuals and groups, including State and local government agencies, elected officials, environmental advocacy groups, adjacent property owners, recreational groups, and the general public. Additionally, a scoping bulletin was emailed to 695 project subscribers. The packet was also
5 https://www.fs.fed.us/sopa/forest-level.php?110402
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sent to the Shoshone-Paiute Tribes of Duck Valley, Shoshone Bannock Tribes of Fort Hall, and Nez Perce Tribe. Project information and documents were also posted on the project website6. We received 21 written comments from individuals, organizations, County government, State agencies, and industry. Comments received during scoping are posted on the project website7. Because of the comments received, the proposed action was updated, including adding design features responsive to comments received. Three additional alternatives were also considered, but not carried into detailed study. During the analysis process, Agency representatives met informally with interested parties to discuss the project when requested. Response to comments received during scoping are posted on the project website8. What Issues/Concerns were Identified through Scoping? Three issues were identified from scoping comments and used in alternative consideration described below. Other concerns raised during scoping were addressed through updates to proposed action design or mitigation/design features or they represented requests of factors commenters would like to see addressed through the effects analysis, such as the effects of salvage logging.
Comments Concerning Salvage Logging Comments received during scoping reflected the varied opinions of the effects of salvage logging. For example, salvage logging is one aspect of post-fire management and may be used to address worker and public safety issues, risks along roads, and risks to infrastructure such as buildings and recreational facilities. Salvage logging may also be appropriate to recover economic value and support community resiliency. The ecological consequences of salvage, however, are often considered negative from the perspective of soils, hydrology, and wildlife habitat resources, although wildlife species responses vary. In 2015, scientists from Oregon State University and the Pacific Northwest Research Station completed a literature review concerning the Ecological Effects of Post-fire Salvage Logging in the Pacific Northwest (Rielly, Spies, and Hessburg 2015). These scientists found the ecological effects of post-fire salvage logging vary depending on the treatment, fire severity, and biological setting (Peterson et al. 2009). They identified that, although enormous amounts of carbon stored in live and dead biomass may be lost to the atmospheric carbon pool in a large fire (Campbell et al. 2007), most is retained in biological legacies including snags, dead and downed wood, and live remnant trees (Baird et al. 1999, Donato et al. 2013). These biological legacies play important ecological roles that vary from the enrichment of recovering vegetation, to providing micro-habitats, stabilizing soils, and moderating harsh environmental conditions on burned sites (Lindenmayer et al. 2004, Lindenmayer and Noss 2006). Thus, these scientists concluded that based on their literature review, in general, little research supports the idea that salvage logging has beneficial ecological effects on terrestrial or aquatic resources (Karr et al. 2004, Beschta et al. 2004, Lindenmayer and Noss 2006). To provide the
6 https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=50789 7 https://cara.ecosystem-management.org/Public//ReadingRoom?Project=50789 8 https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=50789
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proper context, they concluded that salvage logging needs to be addressed at landscape scales and in terms of tradeoffs with other ecological and economic objectives. A summary of the ecological guidelines they recommend for post-fire management is identified in Table 3. For purposes of the environmental assessment completed for this project, the Responsible Official has determined the appropriate comparison to address the tradeoffs between ecological considerations and economic objectives pertaining to salvage logging as recommended by Karr et al. (2004), Beschta et al. (2004) and Lindenmayer and Noss (2006), while also considering public health and safety consistent with Forest Plan desired conditions, objectives, and standards, will be the comparison of effects disclosed in Chapter 3 between the No Action and the Proposed Action alternatives. Table 3. Suggestions for ecologically based post-fire management from three major reviews Recommendations Karr et al. Beschta et al. Lindenmayer and Noss 2004 2004 (2006) Promote natural recovery X X Retain old, large trees and snags X X X Protect soils against compaction and erosion X X X Protect ecologically sensitive areas (e.g. reserves, roadless areas, X X X steep slopes, fragile soils) Rehabilitate roads and fire lines, avoid creation of new roads X X Limit reseeding and replanting X X Avoid new in-stream structures (e.g. sediment traps, check dams) X X Protect and restore watershed before fire X X Continue research, monitoring, and assessment of the effects of X salvage treatments Educate public on the natural role of wildfires, allow natural X X regimes Ban introduction of exotic species X Curtail livestock grazing X Limit low-intensity harvesting or prohibit harvesting in unburned or X X partially burned patches Limit removal of biological legacies from particular areas (e.g. X burned old-growth stands) Ensure maintenance and creation of essential habitat elements for X species of concern Protect aquatic ecosystems with adequate riparian buffers X Note: X denotes a recommendation by the authors.
Issues Carried Forward into Alternative Consideration Three issues with the Proposed Action identified in the scoping comments were carried forward into alternative consideration. Leaving the number of snags required by the Boise Forest Plan on every acre [salvaged] is excessive in light of the thousands of acres that burned. If snags need to be left, leave the lower valued trees as the snags (e.g., Englemann Spruce) and salvage the high valued trees (e.g., Douglas-fir and Ponderosa Pine).
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The following specific comments pertained to this concern: • Comment EF-9: Falling of burnt timber and leaving on the ground, which does not create a safety problem to users of roads and trails. Every effort should be made to recover felled timber. I just completed a job on the Nez Perce National Forest, where the USFS fell dead trees in riparian areas and outside harvest areas and it looks terrible. • Comment AFRC-9: AFRC opposes the blanket decision to cut and leave all hazard trees within the 179 acres within the RCAs. Many of these trees could be removed without equipment entering the RCAs. The EA should provide flexibility to allow removal if it can be done without compromising the RCA. • Comment AFRC-7: AFRC questions the need to provide snags as per the Boise Forest Plan. The Boise Forest Plan standards are designed for managing forested areas that are unburned. The Pioneer Fire burned over 190,000 acres and North Pioneer will treat 7,222 acres within the 28,000 acre project area. Many areas will not be salvaged because they do not meet the purpose and need, are inaccessible, or are otherwise not suitable. An enormous number of dead and dying trees will still be retained on the landscape in addition to the actual acres where wood fiber is removed. Many units are small and will be adjacent to burned areas with significant numbers of snags and/or potential snags available. Leaving the number of snags required by the Boise Forest Plan on every acre is excessive in light of the thousands of acres that burned • Comment AFRC-8: The decision to leave additional smaller snags (>10 inches dbh) where large snags (>20 inches dbh) are unavailable does not seem logical. Leaving a variety of snag sizes is done to provide standing dead material for cavity nesters for longer periods of time. The smaller snags degenerate more quickly and provide near term habitat whereas larger snags deteriorate more slowly and provide longer term habitat. Leaving more smaller snags does not compensate for the lack of larger snags but only provides more short term habitat which is not needed. • Comment BC-9: Snags are important on the landscape, however, we encourage the Forest Service to take into account the number of snags that are in areas where salvage is not proposed, it does not make sense to leave snags in a salvaged area that is directly adjacent to an area that was not salvaged. • Comment EJ-4: It is abundantly clear that the Pioneer Fire will leave the landscape rife with snags of all species and sizes – no matter how much salvage is accomplished. That established, shouldn’t the FSI use comments 1.B. (value depreciation) and 2.A. (adaptive management) above to recognize that most Ponderosa Pine and Douglas-fir Snags are expendable in salvage areas? My experience is that a Englemann Spruce snag provides virtually the same ecological function as a Ponderosa Pine snag. Both are dead, both decay, provide shade and wildlife use opportunities • Comment RS-4: One other comment on economic value, the proposal addresses snag trees and specifically calls for Ponderosa Pine and Douglas Fir as the preferred species for snag trees. Those species also have the highest economic value. I would encourage you to consider alternative species, Engelmann Spruce or Grand Fir as snag tree.
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Expand treatment into adjacent manageable areas that are, and will be affected. The following specific comments pertained to this concern: • Comment EJ-1: It is critical that the BNF merge its considerable expertise with a vision that recognizes the cumulative value of treating the outer-zone of the fire with green harvest and fuel reduction. By doing so, you protect the vulnerable adjacent landscape from inevitable degradation. And, you’ll provide for multiple “human uses”. Please consider a salvage plan that emphasizes: • Salvaging marketable danger trees inside the fire zone. Fell the rest. • Green and fuel reduction harvest on the outer perimeter of the fire zone. • Scientific studies that evaluate the long-term benefits and costs of this approach. • Comment EJ-2: This “adaptive management” approach would allow the FS to remove far less volume than the proposal - and still capture enough value to fund restoration and research within the fire zone. Human safety would still be mitigated and the landscape would be far less susceptible to future catastrophic events. Maximize Economic Value Recovered through Salvage The following specific comments pertained to this concern: • Comment AFRC-4: AFRC fully agrees that timely removal of the commercial material will greatly enhance the value of this material and contribute to positive net receipts that can be used to undertake further restoration work. We are concerned, however, that areas of high valued timber will be left to rot if they occur in areas not considered “hazardous.” Since one of the needs of the project is to “recover the economic value of forest products,” we would like to see an alternative that maximizes economic value recovered. • Comment PR-2: The USFS needs to maximize available salvage for all species and all age classes of timber, both burned and green. The funding raised for salvage sales are critical for future work and restoration on this area. The USFS need to be aggressive about the salvage aspect of this project. Time is of the essence when considering the economic value of this timber. What Would it Mean to Not Meet the Need? What is the “No Action” Alternative? The No Action Alternative would not preclude activities already approved in this area or activities planned as separate projects. A list of ongoing and foreseeable future actions is described in Appendix B. The No Action Alternative provides a baseline of current, post-fire conditions against which to compare the effects of the Proposed Action. Under the No Action Alternative, none of the salvage operations and associated temporary road use, reforestation, or decommissioning of unauthorized roads would occur. Without the salvage operations, the economic value of forest products would not be recovered to support hazard tree removal and subsequent restoration, reforestation, and other recovery actions within the project area. Thus, the Agency would be dependent on annual
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funding appropriations to accomplish these tasks. In addition, without salvage operations, there would be limited contribution to employment and income in local communities. As time passes, the number of hazard trees is anticipated to increase as more trees killed by the fire begin to fall apart or fall over. The majority of hazard trees will likely fall between 3 and 9 years following the fire. Without removing hazard trees, a safe and dependable transportation system free of unstable fire-affected trees or other hazards in areas of public and administrative use would not be established. Thus, absent the removal of hazard trees through salvage as identified in the proposed action, hazard tree assessments would be completed annually prior to opening sites, trails, and roads in order to meet Forest Service handbook direction and policy to address hazard trees around Forest Service developed sites and along NFS roads and trails to remain open to public use (FSH 7709.59, section 41.7(2)(b); FSM2330.6(a)). Hazard trees posing an imminent threat to human safety or infrastructure along open roads, trailheads, and developed sites would be felled using existing management direction, contingent on annual funding availability. This approach may mean that areas within the fire perimeter where funding levels would not allow hazard trees to be addressed within a current season would remain closed to the public and Agency personnel for extended periods of time until the hazard to public health and safety and/or infrastructure could be addressed. Tree mortality that is anticipated to continue for several years, especially in moderate-to-high severity burn areas, could also impact timelines to reforest areas over time. This impact would result primarily from reduced access to reforestation areas due to road/trail closures where hazard trees could not be addressed within annual funding levels, as well as employee safety concerns within reforestation areas with abundant hazard trees. Without timely reforestation or ample natural regeneration, the project area may experience stands that are dominated by dense shrubs for several decades. What Other Actions were Considered?
Alternative Considered but Not Analyzed in Detail In addition to the two alternatives evaluated in detail, three alternatives were considered by the IDT in response to concerns generated from internal and external scoping of the proposed action. The alternatives considered but not studied in detail are briefly described in this section; the rationale for their elimination from detailed study is provided.
Alternative 1 Alternative 1 proposed to leave no snags in areas salvaged or, in areas where snags must be left, to not leave the high valued trees as snags (e.g., Douglas-fir and ponderosa pine), but instead leave the lower valued species (e.g., Englemann spruce)”. This alternative was considered but eliminated from detailed study for the following reasons. Retaining snags and logs (coarse woody debris) across the landscape, including in areas salvaged, is important not only to maintain soil productivity important for producing the next succession of forest cover, but also for wildlife habitat. The first 5 years following a wildfire, such as the Pioneer Fire, is generally the most productive period for wildlife species adapted to post-fire landscapes (USDA Forest Service 2010b, p. 157). Wood-boring beetle larvae show
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dramatic increases in numbers within the first few years after the trees die, peaking around 3 years. This 5-year time period also coincides with the period when salvage logging is most likely. The important ecological role of snags following wildfires was specifically addressed in amendments to the Forest Plan completed in 2010, requiring retaining snags at the high end of the desired condition range in salvage sale activity areas. The additional direction for snag retention during salvage better provides for wildlife species that rely on high snag densities for foraging and reproduction (USDA Forest Service 2010b, p. 157). The Forest Plan standard applicable to retention of snags within salvage areas is Vegetation Management Standard 1082, which states (USDA Forest Service 2010a), For commercial salvage sales, retain the maximum number of snags depicted in Table A-6 within each size class where available. Where large snags (>20 inches dbh) are unavailable, retain additional smaller snags where available to meet the maximum total number snags per acre depicted in Table A-6.9 As disclosed in the 2010 FEIS supporting Forest Plan amendments (USDA Forest Service 2010b), snags and logs are valuable components of healthy and functional ecosystems (Bull et al. 1997, p 21–23 and 35–38). Fires such as the Pioneer Fire create abundant snags. Trees infected with decay before the fire immediately provide nest sites for woodpeckers, and cavities may be utilized in subsequent years by secondary cavity nesters (birds and mammals). Fire-killed or stressed trees attract bark- and wood-boring beetles. Beetle-foraging woodpeckers rapidly colonize postfire environments (Saab et al. 2007) to take advantage of an abundant food resource. Their populations increase and decline in conjunction with the availability of bark- and wood-boring beetles, which usually last a few to several years. Other fire-killed trees decay as time passes and continue to provide nesting sites, though other cavity nesting species may now be favored due to changes in the understory vegetation and availability of food. Eventually, these snags fall, reducing nest sites for cavity-nesting species but providing large pieces of dead trees on the ground (Smith 2000). This wood provides cover for a variety of mammals, herps, and birds, as well as supporting fungi and invertebrates used as food by wildlife. Coarse woody debris resulting from fallen snags is also important within forest ecosystems. The decay process of dead trees contributes to the nutrient reserves and physical and chemical characteristics of forest soils (Bull et al. 1997, p. 35). Large logs are particularly important as they may persist for several decades. During this time, logs are a source of nutrients and chemical components, aiding in soil development. They increase the water holding capacity of a site and provide micro-habitat for a variety of plants, vertebrates, and invertebrates. Logs that are in or near streams provide habitat structure within riparian areas. Logs serve a variety of functional roles for wildlife including hiding cover and protection, foraging areas, nesting, denning, food storage sites, sunning, runways, lookout posts, and breeding display walkways. To maintain populations of snag-dependent wildlife, the appropriate number, species, and size of snags in the proper stages of deterioration should be provided through space and time. Species of
9 This standard shall not apply to management activities that an authorized officer determines are needed for the protection of life and property during an emergency event, to reasonably address other human health and safety concerns, to meet hazardous fuel reduction objectives within WUIs, or to allow reserved or outstanding rights, tribal rights or statutes to be reasonably exercised or complied with.
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wildlife that frequently use snags for foraging, nesting, or perching are selective as to size, decomposition stage, and abundance of snags. Large diameter snags are used more frequently as nest sites and also show more evidence of woodpecker foraging than smaller snags (Bull and Meslow 1977, Mannan et al. 1980, Manuwal and Zarnowitz 1981, Raphael 1980). Consequently, greater numbers of cavity-nesting wildlife are present when large snags are available than where few or no large snags exist (Balda 1975, Haapanen 1965, Mannan et al. 1980, Raphael and White 1984, Scott 1979). The importance of snag species with regard to use by wildlife varies with the plant community. For example, Douglas-fir snags may be used most frequently for nesting in one community (e.g., temperate coniferous forest dominated by Douglas-fir), but are of secondary importance in another community (e.g., mixed conifer forest consisting of ponderosa pine and Douglas-fir). Completed as part of the Proposed Action development, IDT biologists determined which species of snags would be most important in the forest communities under consideration for salvage. Based on Pioneer Fire inventory data, the most common conifer tree snags would be ponderosa pine and Douglas-fir. Ponderosa pine was identified as the first preference for retention due to its early seral tree species role and because it is often preferentially used by primary cavity nesters (Haggard and Gaines 2001; Bull et al. 1997). Douglas-fir is also used for nesting, though typically less preferentially than ponderosa pine where the two species are intermixed. Douglas- fir is utilized for foraging (Bull et al. 1997) and, thus, can be an important component of the post-fire environment. Engelmann spruce was not included in the preference list as it is unlikely to be present outside of RCAs and, therefore, would not be expected to occur within a large portion of salvage units except in locations where hazard trees are to be felled/salvaged along road and trail corridors that fall within RCAs. Retention of snags and coarse wood at levels identified in Forest Plan standards would help retain structure within the salvage units for snag- and cavity-dependent wildlife species on a site, address soil productivity objectives, and support riparian function and process objectives in RCAs where treatments are proposed. Therefore, to meet these important ecological needs and to be consistent with the Forest Plan, the alternative to leave no snags, or not leave high valued trees as snags, was eliminated from detailed analysis.
Alternative 2 Alternative 2 proposed to expand treatments into adjacent manageable areas that are, and will be, affected. This alternative was considered but eliminated from detailed study for the following reasons. As discussed in Chapter 1, immediate implementation is essential to successfully accomplish the project purpose and need. The Forest will request an ESD to facilitate immediate implementation of the proposed activities during the 2017 field season. An emergency situation is defined at 36 CFR 218.21(b) as follows. A situation on National Forest System (NFS) lands for which immediate implementation of a decision is necessary to achieve one or more of the following: 1. Relief from hazards threatening human health and safety 2. Mitigation of threats to natural resources on NFS or adjacent lands
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3. Avoiding a loss of commodity value sufficient to jeopardize the agency’s ability to accomplish project objectives directly related to resource protection or restoration. If the Chief decides this project qualifies for an ESD, the project would be exempt from the objection process. This exemption would allow the Forest to implement the project as soon as the environmental analysis is completed and the decision is signed. Providing for immediate implementation following completion of the environmental review allows the Forest to remove hazards safely, complete associated resource protection and reforestation activities, and recover economic value from a portion of the dead trees before substantial product deterioration occurs. Fire damaged wood products are rapidly losing value. Timely recovery of economic value through salvage harvesting is critical for funding actions required to accomplish project objectives tied to purpose and needs identified in Chapter 1. A primary consideration as to the scope and scale of what was included as part of the proposed action was to ensure areas selected for salvage fell within the sideboards of the ESD factors above, fell within the ecological considerations used in the salvage location screening process identified in Chapter 1, and did not exceed the Agency’s workforce capacity to complete the NEPA process and field implementation work so implementation could begin in early summer 2017. A delay in implementation caused by expanding into areas not directly affected by the wildfire, and thus precluding approval of an ESD, could result in up to a 43% loss in product value based on the timber sale feasibility analysis conducted for the project (refer to project record). Thus, based on these considerations, the Agency believes the Proposed Action reflects the scope and scale of what could be practicably accomplished, and the alternative to expand treatments into adjacent manageable areas was eliminated from detailed analysis.
Alternative 3 Alternative 3 proposed to maximize the economic value recovered through salvage. This alternative was considered but eliminated from detailed study for the following reasons. The Agency believes we are maximizing the economic value recovered through salvage which would be appropriate in light of the ecological and economic considerations used in the screening process for selecting salvage locations discussed in Chapter 1 and workforce capacity considerations pertaining to meeting timelines for implementation to begin in early summer 2017 (see Chapter 1, priority 1 and priority 2 discussion). As discussed in Chapter 1, immediate implementation is essential for successfully accomplishing the project purpose and need, including purpose 4. Recovering value as quickly as possible allows the Agency to collect more funds to support future restoration work within the project area because the value of trees is greater the sooner they are salvaged. Thus, the Forest intends to request an ESD to facilitate immediate implementation of the proposed activities during the 2017 field season. Approval of an ESD would allow the agency to avoid “a loss of commodity value sufficient to jeopardize the agency’s ability to accomplish project objectives directly related to resource protection or restoration.” The economic value for a timber sale refers to the Potential Net Value (PNV) of the sawtimber being harvested and includes costs associated with commercial harvest, such as cutting, skidding, loading, hauling, disposing brush, and performing minimum road improvements or construction necessary to facilitate removing wood products. Initial calculations for the economics feasibility analysis were based on an ESD being approved. Estimates indicate that implementation would
33 North Pioneer Fire Salvage and Restoration Project Environmental Assessment result in net recovery of up to 32.4 MMBF of sawtimber and net positive receipts to the Government of an estimated $2,731,853 (refer to economic analysis in Chapter 3). However, if an ESD is not granted and implementation is delayed, the ESD feasibility analysis indicates a significant loss of volume and value (i.e., up to 43% loss in product value) (refer to project record). This alternative was eliminated from detailed analysis because with approval of an ESD, the recovered value of the timber would be maximized within the framework of ecological, economic, and workforce capacity considerations pertaining to meeting timelines for implementing the Proposed Action, allowing the agency to accomplish project objectives directly related to resource protection and restoration included as part of the project purpose and need.
Alternatives Analyzed in Detail Other than the issues identified above that generated the alternatives considered but not analyzed in detail, no other major issues/conflicts to the proposed action were identified that were not resolved through updates to the Proposed Action, including the addition of design features. Thus, no additional alternatives were developed to be analyzed in detail, other than the no action alternative. As described above, the no action alternative addresses those comments that salvage logging should not occur. Refer to comment response and analysis documentation in the project record and summaries posted on the project website. Are Other Federal, State, or Local Approvals Applicable to the Proposed Action? Table 4 lists the other federal, State, and local permits and/or approval that may be necessary prior to, or during, implementation of the proposed action. Table 4. Summary of other permits and approvals that may be necessary Approval Type Status/Comment Permits from Idaho Transportation Department and/or other Obtain as required by Idaho Transportation Department entities and/or other entities
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How do the Alternatives Compare to Each Other? Table 5 displays how well the alternatives address the purpose and need and the major issues of the North Pioneer Project. Table 5. Comparison of alternatives by how well they address the purpose and need of the North Pioneer Project following implementation of all proposed treatments No Action Proposed Action Indicators Alternative Alternative PURPOSE 1: REMOVE HAZARD TREES AFFECTING PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY ALONG TRAVEL ROUTES AND WITHIN DEVELOPED SITES Need 1: Mitigate the risks of hazard trees resulting from the Pioneer Wildfire along roads and trails open to public motorized and non-motorized use, and within developed sites. Hazard tree fell and leave 0 1,542 Acres of hazard tree Hazard and Dead Tree Salvage 0 3,671 treatment Total acres of hazard tree treatment 0 5,213 PURPOSE 2: RESTORE PORTIONS OF THE LANDSCAPE BURNED BY THE WILDFIRE BY INITIATING REFORESTATION Need 2: Reestablish forested conditions to trend the project area towards Forest Plan desired conditions; in particular, increase the representation of early seral conifer species such as ponderosa pine. Natural regeneration 0a 1,314 Tree planting 0b 6,062 Acres of reforestation Riparian restoration 0 209 Whitebark pine restoration 0 336 Total acres of reforestation 0 7,921 PURPOSE 3: REDUCE WATERSHED IMPACTS RESULTING FROM UNAUTHORIZED ROUTES Need 3: Improve watershed conditions by decommissioning unauthorized roads currently degrading watershed conditions that fall within the project area. Total miles of unauthorized road decommissioning 0 3.3 PURPOSE 4: RECOVER FOREST ECONOMIC VALUE AND BENEFITS THROUGH SALVAGE, GENERATING REVENUES TO SUPPORT THE ACCOMPLISHMENT OF PROJECT OBJECTIVES Need 4: Recover the economic value of forest products in a timely manner to avoid loss of commodity value sufficient to jeopardize the Agency’s ability to accomplish project objectives directly related to public health and safety, resource protection, and restoration identified in Needs 1 through 3 above. Total acres of hazard and dead tree salvage to recover economic value 0 3,671 Total acres of dead tree salvage to recover economic value 0 2,010 Project net revenue (potential net value minus costs) –$441,374 $1,882,189 aNo regeneration monitoring would occur. However, some level of natural regeneration would be expected. bAcres scheduled for tree planting is not expected to naturally regenerate due lack of seed source.
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Chapter 3—Effects of the Proposed Action and Alternatives What are the Effects of the Proposed Action as Compared to the “No Action” Alternative? This section summarizes and compares the environmental effects of the alternatives relative to the factors used in In Chapter 3, determining significance. Addressing environmental effects you will find: this way focuses this assessment on pertinent effects • necessary to make a decision, allowing for a concise The effects of the Proposed Action and document as directed by the Council of Environmental No Action Quality’s regulations for implementing NEPA (40 CFR Parts Alternatives 1500-1508). More details regarding the affected • What monitoring environment, conclusion about potential effects, applicable would occur that isn’t Forest Plan and regulatory direction, and review of best a part of the proposed available science are available in specialist reports for each action or alternatives resource and other supporting documentation in the project record. Appendix B provides a summary of the cumulative effects analysis scales and present, ongoing, and foreseeable future actions considered by resource specialists in their respective analyses. Past actions were included in baselines. The North Pioneer Project has limited context and intensity (40 CFR 1508.27), individually or cumulatively, to the biological, physical, social or economic components of the human environment. This project would have no adverse effect upon consumers, civil rights, minority groups and women, prime farmland, rangeland and forestland, or American Indian Interest and Rights.
Incomplete and Unavailable Information The CEQ regulations for implementing procedural provisions of NEPA (40 CFR 1502.22) require federal agencies to identify relevant information that may be incomplete or unavailable for evaluating reasonable foreseeable adverse effects in an environmental assessment. If the information is essential to a reasoned choice between alternatives, and the cost of gathering that information is not excessive, it must be included or addressed in the assessment. The ecology, inventory, and management of ecosystems are complex and developing disciplines. However, central ecological relationships are well established, and a substantial amount of credible information about ecosystems’ biological and physical resources and social/economic interests within the project area are known. The alternatives were evaluated using the best available information and science (see discussion below). The data collection and evaluation effort supporting this analysis can generally be categorized into 6 basic groups: 1. Field data were collected, compiled, and analyzed to support effects disclosures (e.g., vegetative stand exams, cultural surveys, watershed data).
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2. Resource databases were used to compile and summarize information. 3. Geographic information system (GIS) spatial analyses were used to link database information to geographic locations. 4. Expert science reviews of methodology and assumptions, such as those used in the development of the Forest Plan Wildlife Conservation Strategy (USDA Forest Service 2010a), including using the 6 conservation principles to assess wildlife habitat families and associated species sustainability, were used and form the foundation for site- specific assessments such as those completed for this project. 5. Information and analyses documented in the Forest Plan and project resource specialist reports were prepared by Forest Service resource experts in the fields pertaining to each resource assessed in detail below. 6. Current scientific literature reviews were conducted and are documented in respective resource technical reports contained in the project record, as well as in responses to scoping comment received on this topic. Following review of this information as it pertains to the EA with the IDT, the Responsible Official determined that relevant information was sufficiently complete and available for evaluating reasonably foreseeable effects important to making a reasoned choice between alternatives. Additional detail about the data used by IDT members to support their analyses and the limitations of these data sources are summarized in greater detail in the resource specialist reports in the project record.
Use of Best Available Science The effects disclosures summarized in this EA are based on a review of resource technical reports in the project record. In those reports, the IDT members based their analyses on data collected during field surveys, skilled interpretations of data and maps, and application of professional judgment from observations and evaluation of data, and integrated relevant scientific information and responsible opposing views where raised by internal or external sources. Refer to the project record for Agency responses to comments received during scoping concerning this topic. Also see the “Literature Cited” section in this EA and each project resource technical report in the project record. This document is tiered to the FEIS and planning record for the 2003 Forest Plan. This document is also tiered to the Final Environmental Impact Statement Supporting Forest Plan Amendments to Integrate the Boise National Forest WCS [Wildlife Conservation Strategy], Phase 1: Forested Biological Community (USDA Forest Service 2010b) and the 2003 Forest Plan as amended in 2010 (USDA Forest Service 2010a). This documentation includes monitoring reports. Analyses from the 2003 FEIS (USDA Forest Service 2003a) and the 2010 FEIS (USDA Forest Service 2010b) have been referenced rather than repeated in some instances. Analyses pertaining to the 2003 Forest Plan FEIS for the 2003 Forest Plan and the FEIS for the 2010 amendments to the Forest Plan are contained in the planning record located at the Forest Supervisor’s Office in Boise, Idaho (USDA Forest Service 2003a, 2010a). Unless specifically noted otherwise, detailed information supporting the analyses presented in this document is contained in the project record located at the Supervisor’s Office of the Boise National Forest.
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Analysis Calculations In the modeling and analyses included throughout Chapter 3, road miles, acres of treatment, and other numbers and calculations are all best estimates based on the latest available information. The modeling and analyses conducted for this EA are intended and designed to indicate relative differences between the alternatives rather than predict absolute amounts of activities, outputs, and/or effects.
Resources Assessed in this Chapter The IDT designed the project to minimize effects on resources, including cultural resources, air quality, and Wild and Scenic Rivers (WSR) as described below. For cultural resources, activities proposed under the Proposed Action are expected to have No Adverse Effect on historic properties in the project area. Applying Design Features CR-1 and CR- 2 would ensure known and newly discovered historic properties and cultural sites would be protected during implementation. Refer to the cultural resource technical report available in the project record for the detailed supporting analysis regarding effects to cultural resources. For the air quality resource, the air quality analysis shows that effects of the Proposed Action to air quality are anticipated to be limited, as only a minor amount of burning would occur, specific to landing piles and some hand piles near values at risk. Because piles would be dispersed across the treatment areas of the project, and ignition would occur over multiple days through the fall and early winter, only a portion of the total potential smoke volume would be released on any given day. Northern Ada County Maintenance Area for PM10 and carbon monoxide (CO) lies 30 miles to the southwest of the closest potential pile location within the project area. Prevailing winds out of the southwest would prevent any smoke intrusion into the Maintenance Area. The Sawtooth Wilderness, a Class I Area, lies 15 miles to the east of the closest potential pile location. The distance between the Sawtooth Wilderness and the prevailing wind should result in smoke dispersing or entirely avoiding the Wilderness. All burning would comply with the Montana/Idaho Airshed Group Smoke Management Plan and recommendations, and is designed to meet the requirements of State of Idaho IDAPA (State administrative rule for air quality); and the policies of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) Interim Air Quality Policy on Wildland and Prescribed Fires (Interim Policy). Refer to the project record Fuels and Air Quality Resource Technical Report for the detailed supporting analysis. For eligible Wild and Scenic Rivers (WSR), the analysis indicates the Proposed Action would maintain the assigned recreation classification for the eligible WSR segment of the South Fork Payette River (Wolf Creek to Pine Flats Creek) and the associated 8,972-acre corridor; preserve the assigned scenic, recreation, and ecological/botany outstanding resource values (ORVs); and preserve the free-flowing status until the river undergoes a suitability study. Thirteen acres of the project area are located within the eligible WSR corridor with 8.6 acres of roadside hazard felling with removal, 13 acres of reforestation activities, 0.3 miles of existing NFS roads, and 5 landing associated with the roadbed. Implementing these activities would not be expected to result in measurable effects to the natural appearance of the river or assigned ORVs given the small number of acres proposed for treatment with ground disturbing activities and the use of less than 1 mile of existing NFS roads within the 8,972-acre corridor. Based on the viewshed analysis completed for the scenic resources analysis, the area within the eligible WSR corridor would not be visible from the Banks to Lowman Highway or the South Fork Payette River
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(North Viewshed Analysis Map is available in the project record). Additionally, reforestation activities would be expected to start restoring the conifer stands over time (50+ years) on a small 13-acre area of the eligible WSR corridor. The ecological/botany ORV would not be impacted by project activities since giant helleborine orchid (Epipactis gigantea) are not known to occur in the project area and no thermal spring habitat is located within the portion of the eligible WSR in the project area (refer to Botanical Technical Report in the project record). The Proposed Action does not propose new impoundments or water diversions that would affect the free-flowing status of the eligible WSR. Please refer to the eligible WSR technical report available in the project record for detailed supporting analysis. For the following resources, in depth information is conveyed to identify how the alternatives address the Purpose and Need or any issues or concerns associated with that resource: forested vegetation, fire and fuels, wildlife, transportation system, recreation, hydrology, fisheries, soils, rare plants, noxious weeds, rangeland, climate change, minerals, scenic, roadless areas, and socioeconomics.
Forested Vegetation
Summary: The No Action Alternative would not involve any tree planting activities or hazard tree or salvage treatments and would result in fewer acres trending toward the desired condition and fewer acres of blister-rust resistant whitebark pine being planted as would occur under the Proposed Action. The No Action Alternative would not alter the current successional trajectory of composition and size class distribution of forest stands within the project area. The Proposed Action would promote the establishment of early seral species (ponderosa pine in the nonlethal and mixed1 fire regimes and Douglas-fir elsewhere) on 6,062 acres and rust-resistant whitebark pine on 336 acres compared to the No Action Alternative. In areas that burned at high severity with few remaining seed sources of the desired species, more acres would trend towards the desired condition because these areas would be planted with early seral species, thus promoting future ecosystem resilience. Fewer medium and large size snags per acre would remain across the project area following the hazard tree and salvage treatments under the Proposed Action. Within the Salvage Units, the average number of snags per acre would meet and often exceed the upper end of the desired range for all PVGs except for large size snags (≥20.0 inches dbh) in PVG1. However, in any treatment unit where there aren’t enough large size snags or they are limited and large snags have to be removed to meet hazard objectives, additional medium size class snags would be retained such that the total number of retained snags exceeds the total number required for retention. The Proposed Action would expedite the recruitment of large tree and old forest habitat on 6,607 acres in the project area by initiating a trajectory of species composition and structure required for long-term development of desired conditions.
This section describes how the alternatives address the purpose of the North Pioneer Project to remove hazard trees affecting public health and safety along travel routes and within developed sites; restore portions of the landscape burned by the wildfire by initiating reforestation; reduce watershed impacts resulting from NFS roads and unauthorized routes; and recover forest economic value and benefits through salvage, generating revenues to support the accomplishment of project objectives. Additionally, this section addresses issues and concerns identified during public scoping regarding the number, size, and species of snags retained;
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environmental differences between the North and South Pioneer Projects; old growth/old forest; and reforestation. Refer to the project record Vegetation Resource Technical Report for the detailed supporting analysis.
Indicators The following indicators were analyzed to measure alternative What are “PVGs”? effectiveness at meeting the purpose and need, desired conditions and Potential Vegetation Groups (PVGs) are a group of addressing issues and concerns for the habitat types that share similar environmental vegetation resource: characteristics, site productivity, and disturbance What are the effects to tree regimes. These groupings simplify the description of composition and the resistance and vegetative conditions for use at the broad scale. resilience of the forest vegetation Potential Vegetation Groups (PVGs) are used in the towards future disturbances and Forest Plan to define desired conditions, and are stressors? grouped according to fire regime, as shown below.
• Acres reforested with Fire PVG desirable tree species Regime PVG 1-Dry ponderosa pine/Xeric Douglas-fir What are the effects to snag numbers, Non-lethal PVG 2-Warm dry Douglas-fir/Moist ponderosa size, and species? pine Nonlethal- PVG 5-Dry grand firs • Density of snags by size class Mixed1 PVG 3-Cool moist Douglas-fir and snag species across the Mixed1- PVG 4-Cool dry Douglas-fir project area and in proposed Mixed2 PVG 6-Cool moist grand fir hazard tree and salvage units PVG 7-Warm dry subalpine fir Mixed2 PVG 11-High elevation subalpine fir What are the effects to large tree Mixed2- PVG 10-Persistent lodgepole pine (mature forest) or old forest habitat Lethal within the project area? PVG 8-Warm moist subalpine fir Lethal PVG 9-Hydric subalpine fir • Acres classified in the large tree size class or old forest habitat in proposed salvage units The spatial area in which direct and indirect effects on vegetation are analyzed is the project area (28,007 acres). Stand and site conditions outside of the project area have fewer effects on the areas being considered for treatment within the project area boundary, and the impacts of those activities. Cumulative effects are analyzed based on the sub-watershed boundaries (6 field Hydrologic Unit Code) for Rock Creek, Upper Clear Creek and Lower Clear Creek (47,381 acres). This boundary was determined to be appropriate as watersheds tend to encapsulate important ecosystem functions and processes related to vegetation. The temporal time frames used for analysis are 0–2 years for temporary, 10 years for short term, and 30 years for long term.
41 North Pioneer Fire Salvage and Restoration Project Environmental Assessment
Background As described in detail in Chapter 2, the No Action Alternative provides a baseline of current, post-fire conditions against which to compare the effects of the Proposed Action. Under this alternative, the salvage operations (i.e. the salvaging of hazard and dead trees) would not occur nor would the tree planting activities associated with the Proposed Action. However, hazard trees along roads and trails that pose a threat to human safety would be felled and left onsite using existing management direction to provide for public safety, as funding was available. Much of the North Pioneer Project area is classified as Potential Vegetation Group (PVG) 7 (8,556 acres, approximately 21% of the project area) followed by PVG 2 (8,030 acres, 29%) and PVG 3 (3,849 acres, 14%). The North Pioneer Project area has relatively more acres in PVGs 7 and 10 and relatively fewer acres in PVG 1 than the South Pioneer Fire Salvage and Reforestation Project Area. Under the Proposed Action, hazard tree treatments (felling only and felling with removal) and salvage treatments would occur on about 7,223 acres (approximately 26% of the project area). Hazard tree salvage and non-hazard tree salvage would occur on 5,681 acres (20% of the project area). Roadside hazard tree treatments would occur adjacent to all open NFS roads in the project area. About 40% of the proposed salvage and hazard tree felling and removal activities would occur in PVG 2; 23% in PVG 7; and 16% in PVG 3. The remaining 21% of salvage and hazard tree actions would occur in PVGs 1, 4, 9, 10, and 11.
What are the effects to tree composition and the resistance and resilience of the forest vegetation towards future disturbances and stressors?
Summary: The No Action Alternative would not involve any tree planting activities within the project area. Consequently, the future forest composition would not include nearly as much blister rust– resistant whitebark pine or early seral conifer species such as ponderosa pine or Douglas-fir as under the Proposed Action. The No Action Alternative would not increase resistance and resilience of the forest vegetation to disturbance and stressors as compared to the Proposed Action. Under the Proposed Action, the 336 acres of whitebark pine and 6,062 acres of ponderosa pine and Douglas-fir tree planting and 209 acres of riparian restoration would result in a future forest composition that includes more blister rust–resistant whitebark pine and more early seral conifer species such as ponderosa pine or Douglas-fir, contributing to an increase in resistance and resilience of the forest vegetation to uncharacteristic disturbance and stressors
Affected Environment
Vegetation Conditions Pre-Pioneer Fire Most vegetative communities within the project area were forested prior to the Pioneer Fire. Past timber harvest and wildfire suppression increased the relative abundance of tree species not adapted to low severity, high frequency fire such as subalpine fir, lodgepole pine, and Douglas- fir in forests that otherwise would have been dominated by fire-adapted ponderosa pine in the nonlethal fire regime, and Douglas-fir where it is an early seral component of the site. Past management and fire suppression also led to increased dwarf-mistletoe infected Douglas-fir and lodgepole pine trees.
42 North Pioneer Fire Salvage and Restoration Project Environmental Assessment
Whitebark pine, a candidate species for listing under the Endangered Species Act (ESA), is a five-needle pine (also referred to as white pines) found in the project area on Pilot Peak on the steep, north side of the peak and adjacent ridges growing among the rocks and talus slopes with few other tree species, and on the ridges that radiate out from Pilot Peak growing with subalpine fir, lodgepole pine, and Douglas-fir (refer to the “Botany” section for more information). It is considered a “keystone” species in the high mountain ecosystems where it grows because its large seeds are highly nutritious and a primary food source for many animals including Clark’s nutcracker which relies almost entirely on whitebark pine (Keane and Parsons 2016). Whitebark pine on the Forest is threatened by many factors, including white pine blister rust (Cronartium ribicola), mountain pine beetle, competition from other conifers, and wildfire.
Vegetation Burn Severity and Patch Size The Pioneer Fire burned over 190,000 acres, of which 47% of the total fire area burned at high vegetation burn severity (>75% basal area loss). Within the North Pioneer Project Area, 58% burned at high vegetation burn severity. An assessment of uncharacteristic disturbance for the Pioneer Fire was completed based on historical fire severity patch sizes (USDA Forest Service 2010a). This assessment is useful in determining where vegetation recovery and response is likely to be either delayed or deviate from the desired trajectory for structure, composition, and function identified in Appendix A of the Forest Plan (USDA Forest Service 2010a). For example, the vegetation burn severity in nonlethal fire regime would typically be very low to moderate with small lethal patches. However, with the Pioneer Fire, large patches burned at high severity, which is uncharacteristic of this fire regime. Based on this assessment, the nonlethal fire regime had the most uncharacteristic burn severity (24,286 acres), followed by the mixed1 fire regime (7,761 acres), and 333 acres of small patches of other fire regimes juxtaposed in-between.
Alternative A (No Action)
Direct and Indirect Effects The No Action Alternative would not involve any tree planting activities within the project area. Consequently, the future forest composition would not include nearly as much white pine blister rust resistant whitebark pine, or early seral conifer species, such as ponderosa pine or Douglas- fir, as it would under the Proposed Action in the treatment areas. Furthermore, in the large, high- severity burn patches, where limited-to-no seed sources remain, sparse natural regeneration may result in delayed successional trajectories or altered vegetation states (Kemp et al. 2015). In a study of post-fire regeneration on dry mixed conifer sites in the Northern Rockies, Kemp et al. (2015) found that the composition of the post-fire regeneration reflected the composition of the pre-fire stand composition. In other words, without intervention, tree species on the site prior to the fire will regenerate the site following the fire. It is reasonable to expect the same pattern to hold true on sites within the project area. Without planting, natural regeneration would eventually occur in many of the areas proposed for treatment, but in most instances, the areas would likely regenerate to a preponderance of less desirable tree species over a much longer duration. Early seral regeneration comprised of whitebark pine (seed collected from trees identified to be resistant to the blister rust disease); ponderosa pine; and Douglas-fir (where a seral component of the site) is highly desirable because these species are resistant to many of the
43 North Pioneer Fire Salvage and Restoration Project Environmental Assessment insects and diseases endemic to the local ecosystem. Under the No Action Alternative, these species would not be planted. By not planting these highly desirable tree species over approximately 6,600 acres as would occur under the Proposed Action, the No Action Alternative would forgo a substantial opportunity to trend the species composition towards the desired conditions described in the Forest Plan (USDA Forest Service 2010a). The No Action Alternative would not increase resistance and resilience of the forest vegetation to disturbance and stressors compared to the Proposed Action. Specifically, while natural regeneration is anticipated in locations with an existing seed source, many locations are likely to remain unforested for the foreseeable future, and natural regeneration that does occur is likely to reflect the composition of the prefire condition, which was not reflective of desired conditions. The No Action Alternative is less likely to achieve the following goals, desired conditions, and objectives in the Forest Plan: VEGO01, VEGO06, VEGO07, and VEGU07 (USDA Forest Service 2010a).
Alternative B (Proposed Action)
Direct and Indirect Effects As a result of tree planting within the project area proposed under the Proposed Action, the future forest composition would include more white pine blister rust-resistant whitebark pine and more early seral conifer species such as ponderosa pine and/or Douglas-fir. Planting of 336 acres of whitebark pine would promote the recovery of high-elevation ecosystems. Furthermore, in large, high-severity burn patches, where limited-to-no seed sources remain, sparse natural regeneration would be enhanced with 6,062 acres of ponderosa pine and Douglas-fir planting in locations and patches where they would serve as seed sources for future natural regeneration of the desired species for the fire regime. Planting 209 acres of riparian trees and shrubs would promote establishment of desired species and increase rate of development of stream shading for aquatic habitat in Clear Creek. The Proposed Action would contribute to the accomplishement of the following goals, desired conditions and objectives in the Forest Plan: VEGO01, VEGO06, VEGO07 and VEGU07 (USDA Forest Service 2010a). The Proposed Action includes planting early seral seedlings, such as whitebark pine; ponderosa pine; and, in some cases, Douglas-fir. By planting seedlings grown from locally collected seed sources, often from trees which exhibited superior phenotypes (physical attributes of resilience and vigor) and in the case of whitebark pine, genetic resistance to white pine blister rust, the Proposed Action would help to “…facilitate ecosystem recovery…” as Beschta et al. (2004) recommends, and would help restore “lost or damaged parts of the ecosystems...” as Karr et al. (2004) recommends. In addition, by planting ponderosa pine and Douglas-fir where seed sources are inadequate to serve as natural sources, the project would meet the intent of Beschta et al. (2004) when the authors state: “in other instances, planting of conifers may be needed where seed sources of native species have been lost…”. Approximately 90,770 of the 190,000 acres burned in the Pioneer Fire burned with high vegetation burn severity (>75% basal area mortality). Of that amount, only 9% is being proposed for reforestation activities. The remaining 91% of the burned area would be left to naturally recover and therefore would be less likely to contribute to achieve the goals, objectives, and desired conditions identified in the Forest Plan.
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What are the effects to snag numbers, size and species?
Summary: Modeling suggests the No Action Alternative would result in an average of 258 snags per acre, 23 of which would be in the medium tree size class and 6 in the large tree size class. Under the Proposed Action, following the proposed treatments in 2017, an average of 239 snags per acre would occur, with 11 in the medium size class and 2.3 in the large size class, and the number of snags in both the medium and large size classes would exceed the desired condition in all PVGs following the fire to achieve the desired condition while providing for human health and safety. Additional snags in the medium size class will be retained as needed to achieve the desired condition for total snags. For the Proposed Action, by 2046, an average of 8 snags per acre would occur, with 1.7 in the medium size class and 1.6 in the large size class per acre in the project area. In the salvage units, Design Feature VM-1 would ensure the number of retained snags per acre in the medium and large size class met the desired condition detailed in Design Feature VM-1. For the roadside hazard tree felling and removal, Forest Plan MPC 5.1 Vegetation Standard doesn’t apply because an authorized officer determined these management activities are needed to reasonably address human health and safety concerns. By incorporating the snag management project Design Features VM-1 and WL-6, the Proposed Action would retain large snags as well as the species of snags which are the most persistent, such as ponderosa pine and Douglas-fir.
Affected Environment Prior to the Pioneer Fire, an average of 62 total snags per acre occurred across the entire project area, with 2.9 medium size snags per acre (10.0–19.9 inches dbh and at least 15 feet tall) and 0.9 large snags per acre (20.0 inches dbh and larger and at least 30 feet tall) as projected with the Forest Vegetation Simulator (FVS) from pre-burn stand data (Table 6). Following the Pioneer Fire, the FVS projects an average of 258 snags per acre in 2017, with about 24 medium size class snags per acre and 5.5 large size class snags per acre (Table 6).
Alternative A (No Action)
Direct and Indirect Effects From the 258 snags per acre across the project area projected in 2017, a rapid decline in snags occurs over time as they decay and fall (Table 6). The greatest reduction is in snags <10.0 inches dbh. By 2046, an average of 9.5 snags per acre would occur, with 2 in the medium size class and 2.6 in the large size class. The projected total number of snags is probably low because natural and artificial regeneration was not simulated in the FVS model. For example, an increase in trees in the sapling and small size class would occur by 2046 as a result of regeneration and subsequent death, increasing the total number of snags. It is also possible that the number of medium and large size snags would be slightly higher than projected in the short and long term because of anticipated increased bark beetle mortality in the fire area.
45 North Pioneer Fire Salvage and Restoration Project Environmental Assessment
Table 6. Projected average snags per acre for the project area under the No Action Alternative Snags per acre Year Time Frame Total Snags Medium Snags Large Snags (≥0.1 inch dbh) (10–19.9 inches dbh) (≥20.0 inches dbh) 2016 Pre-Fire 62.4 2.9 0.9 2017 Post-Fire 257.8 23.4 5.5 2019 Temporary 149.2 19.4 5.2 2026 Short Term 18.9 10.8 4.5 2046 Long Term 9.5 2.0 2.6
The snag breakdown by PVG and desired condition within proposed salvage units is discussed below. As shown for the No Action Alternative, the number of snags in both the medium and large size classes would exceed the desired condition in all PVGs.
Alternative B (Proposed Action)
Direct and Indirect Effects Project Area Snags FVS projections indicate a reduction in medium and large size snags across the project area as expected due to the removal of hazard trees and salvage activities and the natural decay and fall rate (Table 7). In the short and long term, snag numbers would continually decline as the snags decay and fall. The largest reduction would occur in the small size classes (<10.0 inches dbh). By 2046, under the Proposed Action, an average of 1.7 medium and 1.6 large snags per acre would occur in the project area. Table 7. Projected average snags per acre for the project area under the Proposed Action Snags per acre Year Time Frame Total Snags Medium Snags Large Snags (≥0.1 inch dbh) (10–19.9 inches dbh) (≥20.0 inches dbh) 2016 Post-fire 257.8 23.4 5.5 2017 Post Treatment 239.4 11.4 2.3 2019 Temporary 129.1 9.2 2.7 2026 Short Term 11.1 5.1 2.4 2046 Long Term 8.0 1.7 1.6
Proposed Hazard Tree and Salvage Treatment Area Snags Within the proposed hazard tree and salvage treatment areas, on average, slightly more medium and large snags occur per acre following the fire; however, as would be expected, a greater reduction in medium and large size snags would follow treatments (Table 8). Due to natural fall rates, the number of medium size snags in 2046 in the activity areas would be about the same as outside of the activity areas.
46 North Pioneer Fire Salvage and Restoration Project Environmental Assessment
Table 8. Projected average snags per acre within hazard tree and salvage treatment areas under the Proposed Action Snags per acre Year Time Frame Total Snags Medium Snags Large Snags (≥0.1 inches dbh) 10–19.9 inches dbh ≥20.0 inches dbh 2016 Post-fire 256.8 25.1 5.8 2017 Post Treatment 229.2 6.4 1.4 2019 Temporary 120.2 4.5 1.4 2026 Short Term 14.7 2.4 1.3 2046 Long Term 7.9 1.6 1.1
Proposed Salvage of Dead Trees Within the dead tree salvage units (outside of the hazard tree zone), the number of medium and large snags post-harvest would meet the minimum required for PVGs 1, 2 and 4 (as described in the desired condition column in Table 9). FVS modelling indicates a deficit of medium size snags in PVGs 3, 7, 9, and 10 compared to the desired condition (Forest Plan MPC 5.1 Vegetation Standard [USDA Forest Service 2010a]). Design Feature VM-1 would ensure that the number of retained snags per acre in the medium and large size class are at the upper end of the ranges in Table A-6 of the Forest Plan (as shown below in the Desired Condition column) within the salvage units. In all PVGs except PVG 1, the number of large size class snags would exceed the desired condition (Table 9). In salvage units where large size class snags are not available for retention, additional snags in the medium size class would be retained to meet the minimum total snags per acre for the PVG (Design Feature VM-1), consistent with Forest Plan MPC 5.1 Vegetation Standard (USDA Forest Service 2010a).
47 North Pioneer Fire Salvage and Restoration Project Environmental Assessment
Table 9. Average snags per acre by Potential Vegetation Group (PVG) and size class in 2017 in the salvage units for Alternatives A and B compared to the desired condition Snags per acre Medium (10–19.9 inches) Large (≥20 inches) PVG Acres Percent of Area No Action Proposed Action Proposed Action Desired Desired No Action Alternative Alternative (Post-Treatment) (Post-Treatment) Conditiona Conditiona 2017 2017 2017 2017 1 8.2 0.4% ≥0.5 29.4 2.1 ≥2.3 2.5 2.1 2 1037.9 52.6% ≥2.7 39.6 8.6 ≥3.0 8.6 8.4 3 323.4 16.4% ≥4.1 32.7 3.3 ≥2.8 10.3 3.0 4 152.7 7.7% ≥2.7 28.7 5.0 ≥2.1 8.4 4.7 7 442.9 22.5% ≥5.5 36.1 4.9 ≥3.5 7.5 4.8 9 4.5 0.2% ≥7.5 87.7 4.9 ≥3.0 18.8 4.9 10 1.9 0.1% ≥7.7 17.1 1.0 NA N/A N/A aDesired condition is the upper end of the range in the Forest Plan (USDA Forest Service 2010a, Appendix A, Table A-6).
48 North Pioneer Fire Salvage and Restoration Project Environmental Assessment
Hazard and Dead Tree Salvage Areas Within the hazard and dead tree salvage areas, an average of 6.3 medium size snags per acre and Hazard and Dead Tree Salvage 1.1 large snags per acre would remain. These values are generally above the minimum desired Salvage Dead Trees—No harvest will occur for medium size snags in several PVGs and within RCAs associated with salvage harvest below the desired range for large snags in all areas identified for the purpose of recovering PVGs except for PVG 1. However, Forest Plan economic value. MPC 5.1 Vegetation Standard states, “this Hazard and Dead Tree Salvage—Salvage standard shall not apply to management activities and removal of hazard trees will occur within that an authorized officer determines are needed RCAs along roads and trails identified for for the protection of life and property during an hazard tree removal. Harvesting and removing emergency event, to reasonably address other road/trail-side hazard trees will occur on the human health and safety concerns…” side of the road or trail opposite the water (USDA Forest Service 2010a, p. III-232). Felling feature (uphill side of the road) where they run of roadside and priority trail hazard trees was parallel with the steam feature. Where RCAs determined by the Forest Supervisor to be needed intersect the road perpendicularly, no tree for human health and safety. removal will be allowed with some limited exceptions . No new landing construction will During implementation, within the approximate occur within RCAs, and mechanized 200-foot-wide hazard zone on either side of equipment will be restricted to existing road roads and trails, snags would only be felled if prisms within the RCA. they are a hazard to the road or trail, or other Hazard Tree Fell and Leave—Road/trail- improvements associated with the road. Snags side hazard trees that occur within RCAs not a threat to the target, either because of their between the road and the water feature (stream height or distance from the open road, trail, or side of the road) or where the RCA intersects infrastructure or because it is leaning away from the road perpendicularly will be felled and left the road, trail, or infrastructure would be left. onsite (Figure A-1) with some limited exceptions. Decommissioning of Unauthorized Roads The Proposed Action would decommission 0.6 miles of unauthorized routes in the project area. This action would reduce the possibility of permitted public fuelwood gathering in closed areas. The total area affected by this action is a very small portion of the project area and would have negligible effect on the total number of snags across the project area. Retention of Old, Large Trees and Snags Based on Pioneer Fire inventory data, the most common conifer tree snags would be ponderosa pine and Douglas-fir. Ponderosa pine was identified as the first preference for retention due to its early seral tree species role and because it is often preferentially used by primary cavity nesters (Haggard and Gaines 2001; Bull et al. 1997). Douglas-fir is also used for nesting, though typically less preferentially than ponderosa pine where the two species are intermixed. Douglas- fir is utilized for foraging (Bull et al. 1997) and, thus, can be an important component of the post-fire environment. Engelmann spruce was not included in the preference list as it is unlikely to be present outside of RCAs and, therefore, would not be expected to occur within a large portion of treatment units except in locations where hazard trees are to be felled along road and trail corridors that fall within RCAs.
49 North Pioneer Fire Salvage and Restoration Project Environmental Assessment
Karr et al. (2004), Beschta et al. (2004), and Lindenmayer and Noss (2006) all recommend retaining old, large trees and snags when post-fire salvaging because of the ecological importance of these trees and snags. This idea was considered during the project planning process for the North Pioneer Project. Since the larger trees of any species have the greatest chance of surviving a fire, the trees that are left would generally be the larger and older trees. In regard to snags, by incorporating the snag management project Design Features VM-1 and WL-6, the project would retain large snags as well as the species of snags which are the most persistent, such as ponderosa pine and Douglas-fir.
What are the effects to large tree (mature forest) or old forest habitat within the project area?
Summary: No stands met the definition of old forest habitat prior to the Pioneer Fire. The No Action Alternative would not affect the size class distribution of forest stands within the project area. The Proposed Action would expedite the recruitment of large tree and old forest habitat in the project area by establishing the desired species composition and structure required for long-term development on 6,607 acres.
Affected Environment Old forest habitat is an important component of wildlife habitat. Vegetation conditions that define old forest habitat on the Forest are described in the Forest Plan (USDA Forest Service 2010a, Appendix E, Table E-2), and include the following components: fire regime, PVG, tree size class, canopy cover, species composition, snags and coarse woody debris. An analysis of pre-fire conditions revealed that no stands in the project area met all the old forest habitat conditions prior to the Pioneer Fire. Prior to the Pioneer Fire, 309 stands covering 9,019 acres were classified as large tree size class based on stand exam and nearest neighbor data. Large tree size class stands were present in all PVGs, with the most acreage in PVGs 2 and 7. Based on FVS modelling to simulate post-fire conditions, about 116 stands covering 2,788 acres would continue to be classified as large tree size class.
Alternative A (No Action)
Direct and Indirect Effects The No Action Alternative does not propose any activities that would affect the size class distribution of forest stands within the project area. Because this alternative would not have any direct/indirect impacts on the distribution of size classes in the forest stands within the project area, there would also be no cumulative impacts. No stands in the project area meet all of the old forest habitat conditions as defined in the Forest Plan (USDA Forest Service 2010a, Appendix E). Following a simulation of the 2016 Pioneer wildfire, one 8.5-acre stand would achieve all conditions for old forest habitat by 2046 based on FVS projections. Because FVS modelling may not reflect actual post-fire conditions in many stands, the long-term analysis of old forest habitat is presented here for comparison with the Proposed Action.
50 North Pioneer Fire Salvage and Restoration Project Environmental Assessment
Although salvage operations and hazard tree removal would not occur under the No Action Alternative, if this alternative were selected, some hazard tree felling and salvage would likely occur under separate decisions.
Alternative B (Proposed Action)
Direct and Indirect Effects The Proposed Action would expedite the recruitment of large tree and old forest habitat in the project area by establishing the desired species composition and structure required for long-term development on 6,607 acres. Based on FVS modelling, the trajectory of stands towards old forest habitat would continue and in some cases be expedited under the proposed treatments. No stands meet the Old Forest Habitat conditions in the Proposed Action in the post-treatment (2019) and short term (2026). However, the same stand identified in the No Action Alternative would meet the old forest habitat conditions in 2046. This stand is proposed for treatment for roadside hazard tree felling and removal. A total of 21.2 acres meet the old forest habitat condition for large tree canopy cover ≥30% in 2019 (post-treatment), but only 1.4 acres would meet the conditions for large tree canopy cover, total canopy cover and species composition. By 2046, the FVS projected that 42.2 acres would meet the conditions for large tree canopy cover, total canopy cover, and species composition, including the one stand of 8.6 acres that is projected to meet all the conditions for old forest habitat. These patches are classified in PVGs 3, 4, and 7 and are distributed in six small patches in the Rock Creek watershed.
Cumulative Effects The Analysis Area for cumulative effects for the Vegetation Resource includes the sub- watersheds connected to the project area, as described in Appendix B and the cumulative effects document in the project record.
Alternative A (No Action) For the No Action Alternative, no foreseeable (formally planned) future actions would add to the potential cumulative impacts of the No Action Alternative on forest composition and the resistance and resilience of the future forest to disturbances and stressors. While snags would decompose, fall, and some natural regeneration is likely to occur, no activites are proposed within the Analysis Area. Because no activities are proposed that would change the number or density of snags, no cumulative effects to snags would occur. Because this alternative would not have any direct/indirect impacts on the distribution of size classes in the forest stands within the project area, there would also be no cumulative impacts to forest structure or old forests.
Alternative B (Proposed Action) The cumulative effects project list in the EA contains no foreseeable (formally planned) future actions within the cumulative effects analysis area that would add to the potential cumulative impacts of alternative B on forest composition and the resistance and resilience to disturbances and stressors. The South Pioneer Fire Salvage and Restoration Project (South Pioneer) is directly adjacent to the project area and would implement similar proposed actions on vegetation as the North Pioneer Fire Salvage and Reforestation project. However, the South Pioneer project is
51 North Pioneer Fire Salvage and Restoration Project Environmental Assessment located in a different watershed basin and would not be considered a cumulative effect for the vegetation resource, thought the reforestation activities would improve conditions towards desired conditions. The South Pioneer Fire Salvage and Reforestation Project (South Pioneer) which has a similar Purpose and Need as the North Pioneer Fire Salvage and Reforestation Project (North Pioneer). The proposed actions in the South Pioneer project would include 9,276 acres of hazard tree salvage and non-hazard tree salvage, 2,542 acres of hazard tree felling only, 17,605 acres of reforestation and 4.4 miles of unauthorized routes proposed for decommissioning. Of the 17,605 acres proposed for reforestation, 13,045 would be planted with early seral species (ponderosa pine, Douglas-fir or whitebark pine) and would contribute to the development of large size class trees of the desired species and would increase forest resilience from, and resistance to disturbance in the long term which would complement the proposed actions in the North Pioneer project. The South Pioneer project would result in planting of 294 acres of white pine blister rust resistant whitebark pine further complimenting that of the North Pioneer project. Because there were no pre-fire old forest habitat stands identified within the project area there would be no cumulative effects from past, present or future actions as a result of the Proposed Action. Fuelwood gathering is an ongoing activity across the Boise National Forest (BNF). All Forest Service ownership within the analysis area is open to fuelwood gathering/cutting of down or dead trees with a valid permit, except within 300 feet of perennial streams, 150 feet of intermittent streams, and explicit closure areas, such as within ongoing timber sales and potentially portions of the Pioneer Fire. Data is not available regarding the number of trees that are cut and removed each year for fuelwood in the AA. Since there is no restriction on the size of snags that may be cut for fuelwood, large sized snags are often removed. However, fuelwood cutting is concentrated around open system roads as identified on the Motor Vehicle Use Map (MVUM). The cumulative effects of fuelwood gathering and limited cutting of large live and dead trees for road right-of-ways and public safety would result in a decrease in snags. Design Feature WL-6 would help to retain some roadside snags where they are not a hazard to human health and safety within the project area. Outside the analysis area, the effects of fuelwood gathering are anticipated to be negligible considering the scale and abundance of snags on the landscape as a result of the Pioneer fire.
52 North Pioneer Fire Salvage and Restoration Project Environmental Assessment
Fire and Fuels
Summary: Under the No Action Alternative, total dead woody fuel load would increase over time, reaching thresholds for high fire behavior ratings and a high resistance to control for decades into the future. The Alternative a (No Action) would not mitigate hazard trees along open roads and trails, perpetuating unsafe travel conditions for the public and firefighters along 109 miles of open roads and 9 miles of open motorized and non-motorized trails. Under the Proposed Action, large woody fuels would be greatly reduced on 5,681 acres across the project area, decreasing the resistance to control and fire intensities posed by remaining fuels and allowing fire management and firefighters more options when suppressing fire within those areas. For the 1,542 acres of hazard tree felling and leaving onsite proposed under the Proposed Action, large woody fuel loadings 30 years post-fire would be lower than under the No Action Alternative, but greater than from other the Proposed Action treatments, increasing the short- and long-term fire hazard in these localized sites. Leaving felled hazard trees onsite is proposed within RCAs to protect soils from damage and minimize sedimentation. Under the Proposed Action, hazard trees would be felled along approximately 109 miles of open NFS roads and 9 miles of open motorized and non-motorized NFS trails. Additionally, the approximately 7,223 acres of the project area proposed for hazard and dead tree felling would retain far fewer standing dead and hazard trees that could threaten firefighter safety if firefighters are engaged in fire suppression in those areas compared to the No Action Alternative.
This section describes how the alternatives address the purpose of the North Pioneer Project to remove hazard trees affecting public health and safety. Specifically, this section assesses how the alternatives address fuel loading over time and wildfire response concerns in the project area and how the alternatives address fire fighter and public safety and provides information to help managers better achieve priorities for fire management, especially in the event of future wildfires. Refer to the project record fuels resource technical report for the detailed supporting analysis for this resource section.
Indicators Fuels in any given class are assumed to share similar properties; therefore, fuel size classes are regularly used to easily and consistently convey information, even across different vegetation types (Table 10). Assessing project effects on fuels is important, as fuel loadings will influence the behavior of future fires, and in turn, decisions on how to manage those fires.
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Table 10. Fuel size classes Fuel Size Class Size (diameter) Small and Medium Woody Fuels (0–3 inches) What is Fuel Size Class? Small ≤1 inch Medium >1 and ≤3 inches Fuel size class is a category used to Large Woody Fuels (>3 inches) describe the diameter of down dead Large woody fuels >3 and ≤6 inches woody fuels. Fuels within the same size Large woody fuels >6 inches class are assumed to have similar The Pioneer Fire ‘successfully’ reduced all size wetting and drying properties, and to classes of fuels by consuming downed logs, preheat and ignite at similar rates during branches, limbs, needles, and small trees. Over the combustion process (Glossary of time, however, new fuels will accumulate; new Wildland Fire Terminology, 2015). vegetation will establish, grow, and die; and standing dead trees and other material will fall. The rate at which succession occurs and the amount of fuel accumulation by fuel type can vary widely depending on the types of actions taken now. Treatment activities can impact how future fires are managed or suppressed, specifically, if management can be implemented safely. Fuel loading and continuity can affect the potential rate and intensity of fire spread, and severity of fire effects on resources. The presence or absence of hazard trees influences firefighter and public safety, the number one priority of fire management in the Forest Plan. The following indicators were analyzed to measure alternative effectiveness at meeting the purpose and need desired conditions and addressing concerns for the fuels resource: How the alternatives address fuel loading over time and wildfire response concerns in the Project Area. • Woody fuel loading by size class How the alternatives address fire fighter and public safety. • Miles of roads along which hazard trees would be felled • Acres of treatment reducing standing dead trees The spatial area for determining direct effects is the salvage units and road- and trail-side hazard and dead tree salvage treatment areas. Discussions of indirect and cumulative effects also consider the larger North Pioneer Project area, because fire spread, behavior, and effects are influenced by adjacent fuels, slope, aspect, and natural barriers to spread, among other things. Additionally, the cumulative effects discussion incorporates the proposed South Pioneer Project area as proposed treatments in that project are likely to affect fire behavior, management, and public and fire fighter safety within portions of the North Pioneer Project area. The temporal context for the effects analysis are presented in both the short- and long-term, because fuels can be added or removed from a system from a single event or incrementally over time. For purposes of this analysis, short-term effects to the fuels resource are 5 years or less and long-term effects are from 5 years and beyond (up to about 40 years).
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Fuel Loading and Wildfire Response Concerns
Summary: Under the No Action Alternative, the total dead woody fuel load would increase over time reaching thresholds for high fire behavior ratings and a high resistance to control for decades into the future. Under the Proposed Action, large woody fuels would be greatly reduced on 5,681 acres across the project area treated with dead tree salvage and hazard tree removal. Within three decades (by model year 2046), the subalpine fir large fuel size class loads in the areas where roadside hazard trees were felled and removed would be 13 tons per acre, and the Douglas-fir/ponderosa pine large fuel size class loads in the areas proposed for hazard tree salvage would be 16 tons per acre, compared to 43 tons per acre under the No Action Alternative. This reduction in large woody fuel decades into the future would potentially decrease the resistance to control and fire intensities posed by remaining fuels, allowing fire management and firefighters more options when suppressing fire within those areas. For the 1,542 acres of hazard tree felling and leaving onsite proposed under the Proposed Action, large woody fuel loadings 30 years post-fire would be lower than under the No Action Alternative conditions, but greater than other the Proposed Action treatments. In these areas treated with felling only, both the short- and long-term fire hazard would increase with an expedited timeframe relative to the No Action Alternative, and the fell and removal/dead tree salvage treatments under the Proposed Action.
Affected Environment Small and medium woody fuel loads are generally low in areas proposed for salvage. Although the Pioneer Fire consumed small diameter live fuels (grasses, forbs), these fuels will quickly re- sprout and accumulate. Some larger material is still present in the surface fuels and varies in loading depending on site-specific behavior of the fire and pre-fire amounts.
Alternative A (No Action)
Direct and Indirect Effects Under the No Action Alternative, the total dead woody fuel load across the project area is expected to increase over time (Table 11 and Table 12). According to Brown et al. (2003), fires generally exhibit high fire behavior ratings and a high resistance to control (difficulty related to constructing and holding a control line as affected by fire behavior) when large woody fuels exceed 30 to 40 tons per acre. Under the No Action Alternative, large woody fuels would exceed this general threshold for decades into the future, as model year 2046 indicates large woody fuel loading would be 53 tons per acre in the subalpine fir forest type and 43 tons per acre in the Douglas-fir/ponderosa pine forest type (Table 11 and Table 12). Over several decades, without salvage, most stands would consist of heavy loads of material in the larger fuel size classes. High fuel loadings contribute to fire intensity, with small woody fuels having a greater influence on fire behavior, such as rate of spread and surface fire intensity, than large woody fuels. Large surface fuels contribute to higher surface fire intensity and higher surface heat release per unit area that can considerably affect crown fire behavior. However, the contribution of large diameter fuels is not included in many fire behavior modeling programs, which suggests that models may under predict surface fire intensity where heavy fuels are present (Schoennagel et al. 2012).
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Fire intensity contributes to resistance to control; a higher resistance to control indicates fire control lines may be more difficult to hold. Under the No Action Alternative, resistance to control would be further negatively influenced by the presence of standing dead trees and trees structurally damaged by the Pioneer Fire. The combination of large quantities of both hazard trees and fuel accumulation resulting from the No Action Alternative may force fire managers to reduce suppression efforts in the event of a wildfire to keep firefighters safe from high surface fire intensities and numerous hazard trees.
Alternative B (Proposed Action)
Direct and Indirect Effects Under the Proposed Action, for several decades following the salvage of dead trees, large woody fuels would be greatly reduced on 5,681 acres across the project area proposed for dead tree salvage (2,010 acres) and hazard tree removal (3,671 acres), compared to areas where dead trees are proposed for felling and leaving onsite or where no dead tree salvage is proposed (Table 11 and Table 12). Within three decades (by model year 2046), the subalpine fir large fuel size class loads in areas proposed for roadside hazard tree removal would be 13 tons per acre (Table 11), and the Douglas-fir/ponderosa pine large fuel size class loads in areas proposed for dead tree salvage would be 16 tons per acre (Table 12) compared to 43 tons per acre under the No Action Alternative. This reduction in large woody fuel decades into the future would potentially decrease the resistance to control and fire intensities posed by remaining fuels, allowing fire management and firefighters more options when suppressing fire within those areas. For the 1,542 acres of hazard tree felling and leaving onsite proposed under the Proposed Action, large woody fuel loadings 30 years post-fire would be lower than under the No Action Alternative, but greater than other Proposed Action treatments. For example, in the subalpine fir stand in model year 2046, fuel loads in the large size class are predicted to be 41 tons per acre after roadside hazard tree felling only (leave onsite) and 53 tons per acre with no hazard tree felling (the No Action Alternative) (Table 11). This treatment is proposed within much of the RCAs to protect soils from damage resulting from logging equipment use and to minimize sedimentation into streams.
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Table 11. Modeled woody fuel accumulations in a middle-to-high elevation, subalpine fir forest type for the No Action Alternative, the Proposed Action (proposed dead roadside hazard tree fell and remove) and the Proposed Action (proposed felling but no removal) Small and Medium Woody Fuels Large Woody Fuels Large Woody Fuels Large Woody Fuels Total (0–3 inches Diameter) (3–6 inches diameter) (>6 inches diameter) Model (tons/acre) (tons/acre) (tons/acre) (tons/acre) Year No Proposed Proposed No Proposed Proposed No Proposed Proposed No Proposed Proposed Action a Action b Action c Action a Action b Action c Action a Action b Action c Action a Action c Action c 2017 1.6 13.8 14.2 0.4 0.5 2.2 3.1 3.1 55.9 3.5 3.6 58.1 2019 5.4 11.4 11.7 1.0 0.8 2.4 9.0 4.5 55.7 10.0 5.3 58.1 2026 6.9 5.4 5.5 1.9 1.0 2.5 23.4 5.5 52.0 25.3 6.5 54.5 2046 1.5 1.0 1.1 2.4 1.1 1.8 50.5 12.0 38.7 52.9 13.1 40.5 aThe No Action Alternative woody fuel accumulations (no proposed activities) bThe Proposed Action woody fuel accumulations from proposed dead roadside hazard tree fell and remove cThe Proposed Action woody fuel accumulations from proposed felling but no removal Table 12. Modeled woody fuel accumulations in a middle-to-high elevation, Douglas-fir/ponderosa pine forest type for the No Action Alternative and the Proposed Action (proposed dead tree salvage) Small and Medium Woody Large Woody Fuels Large Woody fuels Fuels Large Woody Fuels Total (3–6 inches diameter) (>6 inches diameter) (0–3 inches Diameter) (tons/acre) Model Year (tons/acre) (tons/acre) (tons/acre) Proposed Proposed Proposed Proposed No Action No Action No Action a No Action a Action Action b Action b Action b 2017 0.9 5.7 0.8 0.8 6.1 6.1 6.9 6.9 2019 3.2 5.7 2.3 1.9 14.8 11.8 17.1 13.7 2026 4.9 4.3 3.9 2.7 27.2 15.4 31.1 18.1 2046 1.7 1.4 4.0 2.3 38.8 13.7 42.8 16.0 aThe No Action Alternative woody fuel accumulations (no proposed activities) bThe Proposed Action woody fuel accumulations from proposed dead tree salvage
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As shown above, an immediate increase in small and medium woody fuels follows all three proposed treatment activities, as compared to the No Action Alternative. This increase occurs because logging leaves behind many branches, limbs, and treetops. Instead of gradually falling over on their own over several years, the smaller pieces are added to the system immediately following harvest (Peterson et al. 2015). This short-term increase could increase the fire hazard until the small and medium woody fuels decomposed, but this material begins to decompose more rapidly on the surface, so a longer period follows where overall fuels are reduced (Peterson et al. 2015). An immediate increase in fuel loads for all size classes occurs following the “felling only” treatment (Table 11). This treatment would deposit most of the standing dead wood in the treatment area to the ground, accelerating the natural gradual fall rate but without the removal of large woody fuels. In these areas, both the short- and long-term fire hazard would increase with an expedited timeframe relative to the No Action Alternative and the fell and removal/dead tree salvage treatments within the Proposed Action. The amount of accumulation on the ground would vary by stand; areas with dense pre-fire stocking would have a higher fire hazard than areas with less dense stocking. In the short-term, fire hazard could increase at landings where slash is concentrated and near values at risk due to slash left from harvest activities (Peterson et al. 2015). To mitigate this increase and to meet Forest Plan desired conditions, slash concentrated at landing sites would be redistributed to disturbed areas within the unit to meet resource needs or would be burned. Where necessary, hand piling would be used to reduce the activity-created fuels, and the piles would be burned in the late fall or early winter. Locations that may need to be evaluated for activity fuels treatments (piling and pile burning) are identified in the project design features. Areas within the project area not proposed to receive treatment would demonstrate the same trends in natural fuel accumulation and tree fall as in the No Action Alternative.
Addressing Fire Fighter and Public Safety
Summary: The No Action Alternative takes no action to mitigate hazard trees along open roads and trails, perpetuating unsafe travel conditions for the public and firefighters for years along 109 miles of open roads and 9 miles of open motorized and non-motorized trails. Under the Proposed Action, hazard trees would be felled along approximately 109 miles of open NFS roads and 9 miles of open motorized and non-motorized NFS trails. Additionally, the approximately 7,223 acres of the project area proposed for hazard and dead tree felling would retain far fewer standing dead and hazard trees that could threaten firefighter safety if firefighters are engaged in fire suppression in those areas compared to the No Action Alternative.
Affected Environment Concerning firefighter and public safety, the Pioneer Fire killed and structurally weakened trees along open roads and trails. Large swaths and groups of tree canopies were consumed in areas, resulting in more open stand conditions where the remaining trees, live and dead, are more exposed to wind. All trees, but especially dead and structurally weakened trees, are more likely to fall where they are not sheltered from the wind by neighboring tree canopies. In these areas,
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firefighter and public safety is compromised because dead and hazard trees could fall and strike roads and trails occupied by visitors as well as firefighters responding to future fires in the area.
Alternative A (No Action)
Direct and Indirect Effects The No Action Alternative takes no action to mitigate hazard trees along open roads and trails. Leaving these dead and dying trees would perpetuate unsafe travel conditions for the public and firefighters that would persist for years along 109 miles of open roads and 9 miles of open motorized and non-motorized NFS trails. Aside from direct and immediate safety concerns, leaving numerous hazard trees along access routes would likely impact future fire management decisions and tactics. As the number one priority of fire management is safety, Forest Service policy is to not put fire personnel in unsafe areas, including working around hazard trees. In the project area, the large quantity of hazard trees over an expansive area would impact future fire suppression actions through the need to keep firefighters, engines, and other equipment and operators out of high-hazard areas. For example, firefighters may reduce suppression efforts to find a safer location further away to build control line. This hazardous situation could be a concern for fire management as long as the hazard trees persist.
Alternative B (Proposed Action)
Direct and Indirect Effects Under the Proposed Action, hazard trees would be felled along approximately 109 miles of open NFS roads and 9 miles of open motorized and non-motorized NFS trails. Additionally, the approximately 7,223 acres of the project area proposed for hazard and dead tree felling would retain far fewer standing dead and hazard trees that could threaten firefighter safety if firefighters are engaged in fire suppression in those areas compared to the No Action Alternative. Following roadside hazard tree removal, access and travel by firefighters and the public would be safer. For example, in the event of a wildfire, egress routes would be open because the trees that would have fallen across the road would have already been safely felled.
Cumulative Effects Past and ongoing activities within the project area, which include the Pioneer Fire and related fire suppression actions and the Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) activities (especially where fuels were modified along road systems), were considered in the baseline data and accounted for in the existing condition and discussions. Ongoing fire management activities could include using natural fire to achieve resource benefits, which would result in cumulative reductions and modifications to fuels, and suppressing fire, which could result in the continued accumulation of fuels. Activities such as personal fuelwood gathering, when combined with proposed salvage and hazard tree removal under the Proposed Action, would contribute to localized fuel reductions from the removal of dead trees along open roads within the project area. This activity would cumulatively reduce hazard trees along open roads used by the public and for firefighter response and access, cumulatively improving fire fighter and public safety.
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Rangeland management could allow the grazing of sheep within the grazing allotment once vegetation conditions have recovered from the effects of the Pioneer Fire. The grazing of sheep would cumulatively reduce the accumulation of grasses and forbs which would reduce fine fuels within areas of high abundance of large woody material and reduce shrub density. Road and trail maintenance would continue to occur within the project area. Roadside and trailside hazard trees should be mitigated in treatment areas proposed under the Proposed Action, which would cumulatively decrease the workload required for road and trail maintenance activities. Wildfires from human and natural causes could occur within the project area which would contribute to fuels reduction at unpredictable levels and intensity. Collectively, the direct and indirect effects of proposed actions for the Proposed Action would contribute to lower fire intensities where tree removal and activity slash pile burning occurred, improving wildfire response potential. Additionally, areas treated with salvage and roadside hazard tree abatement would be subject to fewer trees falling as fewer trees would be standing in those areas than in untreated areas in the No Action Alternative, improving fire fighter and public safety. Areas of natural and management directed reforestation would continue to cumulatively add to fuel loading as trees grow over time. Pre-commercial thinning (PCT) would occur in replanted stands over time. PCT modifies fuels by spacing the tree crowns and removing some ladder fuels. Cutting the trees and leaving them on the ground creates a short-term surface fuel hazard that threatens the remaining regeneration as thinned and dead trees will contribute to higher fire intensity (Graham et al. 1999) until these fuels naturally mitigate due to decomposition and compaction under snow, or until they are treated mechanically or with prescribed fire.
Wildlife This section documents the effects of the alternatives on specific wildlife species and habitat elements, and addresses concerns identified during public scoping regarding effects to threatened, endangered, candidate, proposed, sensitive and management indicator species, and a species of interest (SOI), snag densities, specific effects to black-backed woodpecker and three- toed woodpecker, and to elk and big game security. Ten Focal Species were assessed to help determine how the alternatives addressed these concerns. These species were selected because they represent the suite of effects to other wildlife species considered. While species other than Focal Species would be affected by the Proposed Action, those effects would be similar to effects to the Focal Species, and in an effort to reduce redundancy, they are not carried forward in the EA. However, the effects to those other species are documented in the Wildlife Technical Report located in the Project Record. This section concludes with a brief discussion of effects to Forest Management Indicator Species (MIS). Refer to the project record Wildlife Technical Report (includes the Biological Evaluation) and the Biological Assessment for the detailed supporting analysis for all species.
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Background The wildlife species considered in the analysis of What is a Focal Species? the North Pioneer Project included threatened, endangered, proposed, candidate, sensitive, MIS, and Rocky Mountain elk, and migratory birds. The Focal species are those species selected during selection of focal species used for analysis was fine scale analysis to represent other species determined by the following rationale. within a source habitat family and to address expected or potential changes to key Twenty-five wildlife species were initially ecosystem attributes. The species used in this considered for this analysis (Table 13): analysis were selected by evaluating the key environmental conditions and ecological • Three wildlife species listed as threatened functions associated with species in the family (T) or proposed (P) for listing as and selecting species representing those threatened under the Endangered Species correlates and functions potentially affected by Act. the action alternatives. • Nineteen U.S. Forest Service Region 4 Additional species were selected as focal sensitive species (S) identified as occurring species to implement species specific forest on the Boise NF, including one candidate plan direction (i.e., elk). (C) species. The focal species concept is described by • Three Boise NF Forest Plan MIS, Lambeck (1997) and a discussion of this including one sensitive species already concept can be found in the 2010 Forest Plan Wildlife Technical Report (Nutt et al. 2010). identified. • One additional SOI, identified internally as well as through public scoping comments. Habitat is not present in the project area for peregrine falcon, fisher, boreal owl, great gray owl, Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep, greater sage grouse, southern Idaho ground squirrel, Columbian sharp-tailed grouse, yellow-billed cuckoo, or common loon. These seven species would not be affected by the Proposed Action and were not analyzed in detail. White-headed woodpecker was selected as a Focal Species to represent other species that occupy low elevation mature forests with open canopies that use large snags for nesting or denning, and to discuss MIS species in the NEPA document. Black-backed woodpecker is an MIS as well as a fire associated species that responds positively to recent burns where abundant food resources and nesting sites exist. Effects to this species are also representative of effects that would occur to another species, American three- toed woodpecker, which also has a positive association with fire and abundant snags. The American three-toed woodpecker has also been included in the NEPA document due to comments received specific to the species during public scoping. Pileated woodpecker was also selected due to its status as a MIS. This species occupies a broader spectrum of PVGs and elevation ranges than white-headed woodpecker and also uses large snags and down logs. Effects to this species are representative of effects to other species in the same Family group including northern goshawk which similarly use mature forest with high structural diversity or large snags and down logs.
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Flammulated owl is within the same Source Habitat Family as the pileated woodpecker and has also been carried forward as a Focal species. Breeding populations of flammulated owls had been documented in the project area prior to the Pioneer Fire. Some portion of the pre-fire population is likely to continue to breed in the project area in remnant mature ponderosa pine stands. Flammulated owls represent secondary cavity nesting species with small home range sizes dependent on mature forests with moderate canopies and snags for nesting. Canada lynx is a threatened species and occupies a much larger home range than the previously mentioned species. This species needs a mix of successional stages on the landscape and uses down logs for denning. Potential effects to the species are largely disturbance related. The analysis of effects to this species is included in the NEPA document due to a heightened concern for conservation of listed species and because of its use of a mosaic of successional stages across a broad landscape. North American wolverine is proposed for listing as threatened. The species has a large home range, however is not associated strongly with specific vegetation communities, but rather with higher elevations, cooler temperatures, and persistent snow. Similar to Canada lynx, effects are largely disturbance related. The analysis of effects to wolverine are also included in the NEPA document due to the species status as Proposed for listing and heightened interest in conservation. Mountain quail was included as a Focal Species due to its broad distribution across different forested successional stages and strong association with riparian corridors and understory vegetation conditions that provide both food and cover. Effects to the species are generally representative of effects to spotted and Townsend’s big-eared bats which may forage along riparian corridors within the project area. Rocky Mountain elk was selected as a Focal Species due to concerns raised relative to security for elk during project What are Source Habitat, Family, and implementation. Effects to this species are Capacity? representative of effects to gray wolf, another big game species in Idaho, currently designated as sensitive on the Forest. In Source Habitat: Source habitats are those addition, bald eagle winter range coincides characteristics of macrovegetation (i.e., cover with elk winter range and the potential for types and structural stages) that contribute to disturbance or displacement of eagles during stationary or positive population growth for a the wintering period are well-reflected by species in a specified area and time the elk discussion. (Wisdom et. al 2000). Source Habitat Family: A collection of focal Lastly, spotted frog was selected as the species that share similarities in source habitats, Focal Species representing potential impacts with the similarities arranged along major to aquatic wildlife species. vegetative themes. These 10 species will be the only species Source Habitat Capacity: The extent of PVGs or discussed in detail in this EA. The focal cover types capable of developing source habitat species concept is described by Lambeck conditions at some point in time and within some (1997) and a discussion of this concept can defined area. be found in the 2010 Forest Plan Wildlife Technical Report (Nutt et al. 2010).
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Additional information about wildlife species considered but not presented in detail is available in the Wildlife Technical Report, which includes the Biological Evaluation, and the Biological Assessment for TEPCS species, located in the Project Record.
Indicators These wildlife indicators were analyzed for the following species to measure alternative effectiveness at addressing concerns for the wildlife resource: change in source habitat abundance; change in habitat quality (snags and down logs); risk to reproductive success (disturbance, displacement, reduced survivorship of young); vegetation (source habitat) recovery; water quality; and security (elk calving and winter habitat, fall elk security and vulnerability). Effects to low elevation old forest species • White-headed woodpecker (S/MIS) Effects to broad elevation old forest species: • American three-toed woodpecker (S) • Black-backed woodpecker (MIS) • Flammulated owl (S) • Pileated woodpecker (MIS) Effects to forest mosaic species: • Canada lynx (T) • Mountain quail (S) • Wolverine (P) Effects to forest and range mosaic species: • Rocky Mountain elk (SOI) Effects to riverine and riparian wetland species: • Columbia spotted frog (S) The analysis area for the wildlife resource varies by species. Three analysis areas were used. The largest includes two lynx analysis units (LAUs; Pilot-Sunset and Clear Creek LAUs) and identified the analysis area for Canada lynx and North American wolverine. The three 6th HUs overlapping the project area were used for spotted frog, an aquatic species. This analysis area is consistent with they hydrologic and fisheries resources, which are also concerned with water quality and watershed condition. For all remaining wildlife species, the project area was the analysis area. This area was selected as it encompasses the proposed actions, is small enough to portray the effects of those actions, and is large enough to evaluate those effects in the context of the broader landscape utilized by these wildlife species. Temporal effects are described in terms of temporary (0–3 years), short-term (3–15 years), and long-term (15 years or longer), consistent with Forest Plan definitions.
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The wildlife analysis considers effects primarily for the temporary and short-term timeframes. General reference is made for the long-term timeframe, though not a specific year. Wildlife presence and habitat use is tied to vegetation structure, which in some cases, may take decades to develop following high vegetation burn severity. Since some effects, such as reforestation in the low elevation dry forest types are considered beneficial but will not be realized for decades, a general reference to some point beyond 15 years is made.
Summary of Environmental Effects Table 13 summarizes the wildlife species considered by source habitat suite and family, each species’ status, whether it was selected as a focal species, and the effects determination for TEPC, and R4 Sensitive species for the Proposed Action of the North Pioneer Project. MIS and Rocky Mountain elk are also included in Table 13. The No Action Alternative proposes no treatments that would change the current condition of wildlife habitat, and therefore effects to wildlife habitat would be the result of natural disturbance and recovery from the Pioneer Fire. A total of 25 species have been considered in this analysis with 10 species identified as focal species and used for effects indicators to describe how the alternatives address concerns (Table 13).
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Table 13. Wildlife species and status considered by source habitat family and family number, with focal species identified, and effects determinations for the North Pioneer Project Proposed Action Source Selected Effects Determination for Source Habitat Species Family Species Considered as Focal Proposed Actionb Family Statusa Number Species Low Elevation White-headed MII-Detailed discussion is 1 S/MIS Yes Old Forest Woodpecker contained in this document American Three-toed MII-Detailed discussion is S Yes Woodpecker contained in this document N/A-Detailed discussion is Black-backed Woodpecker MIS Yes contained in this document Boreal Owl S No NI Broad Elevation Fisher S No NI 2 Old Forest MII-Detailed discussion is Flammulated Owl S Yes contained in this document Great Gray Owl S No NI Northern Goshawk S No MII N/A-Detailed discussion is Pileated Woodpecker MIS Yes contained in this document NLAA-Detailed discussion is Canada Lynx T Yes contained in this document MII-Detailed discussion is Mountain Quail S Yes Forest Mosaic 3 contained in this document NLTJ-Detailed discussion is Wolverine P Yes contained in this document Gray Wolf S No MII Rocky Mountain Bighorn S No NI Forest and Range Sheep 5 Mosaic N/A-Detailed discussion is Rocky Mountain Elk SOI Yes contained in this document Peregrine Falcon S No NI Forests, Spotted Bat S No MII Woodlands, and 7 Townsend’s Big-eared Bat S No MII Sagebrush Sagebrush 11 Greater Sage Grouse S No NI Southern Idaho Ground S/C No NI Grassland and Squirrel Open-canopy 12 Columbian Sharp-tailed Sagebrush S No NI Grouse Bald Eagle S No MII Riverine and MII-Detailed discussion is 13 Columbia Spotted Frog S Yes Riparian Wetland contained in this document Yellow-billed Cuckoo T No NE Non-riverine Riparian and 14 Common Loon S No NI Wetland aStatus: E = endangered; T = threatened; P = proposed; C = candidate; S = sensitive; MIS = Forest Plan management indicator; SOI = species of interest. bDeterminations are only made for TEPCS species and for ‘action’ alternatives. Determination language for TEP species: NE = “no effect”; NLAA = “not likely to adversely affect”; LAA = “likely to adversely affect”; NLTJ = “not likely to jeopardize proposed species or modify proposed critical habitat”; LTJ = “likely to jeopardize proposed species or adversely modify proposed critical habitat”; determination language for S species: NI = “no impacts”; B = “beneficial effects”; MII = “may impact individuals but is not likely to cause a trend to federal listing or loss of viability”; L = “likely to result in a trend to federal listing or loss of viability”
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Effects to Low Elevation Old Forest Species
Effects to White-headed Woodpecker
Summary: Source habitat abundance is unaffected and would continue to increase under both alternatives. Habitat quality (large snag abundance) within roadside buffers remains degraded under both alternatives. Breeding white-headed woodpeckers may be impacted, though risks of affecting reproductive success have been reduced by the inclusion of design feature WL-1 under the Proposed Action. The Proposed Action shortens the conifer recovery period in nonlethal and mixed1 fire regimes, thereby supporting desired trends for white-headed woodpecker habitat on the Forest.
Affected Environment The white-headed woodpecker is a sensitive species and a Forest Plan MIS on the Forest. In Idaho, white-headed woodpeckers are found mainly in open and mature ponderosa pine and mixed ponderosa pine/Douglas-fir forests (Moore and Frederick 1991, Wisdom et al. 2000). A strong correlation exists between white-headed woodpecker presence and large diameter (≥20 inches dbh) live and dead ponderosa pines (i.e., snags) (Blair and Servheen 1995; Dixon 1995a,b, 1998; Moore and Frederick 1991). Densities of white-headed woodpeckers have been shown to increase as old forest ponderosa pine habitat increases (Dixon 1995b). Important source habitat components are an abundance of large diameter ponderosa pine trees with prolific seed production, a relatively open canopy, and availability of snags for nest cavities (Garrett et al. 1996). Source habitat capacity (PVGs 1, 2, 3, 5, and 6) for white-headed woodpecker occurs on 11,948 acres or roughly 43% of the project area. Seventy-one percent of source habitat capacity occurs within moderate-to-high vegetation burn severity (>25% basal area loss). This has resulted in extensive areas of early successional habitats and is atypical of what would have been expected under the historical range of variability (HRV) for these lower elevation, dry forest types. Suitable conditions occur on only about 583 acres or 2% of the project area. This source habitat occurs as widely scattered patches and is concentrated at lower elevations in Rock Creek and along the mid-section of Clear Creek, coincidental with areas experiencing low or mixed- severity fire effects. Source habitat for white-headed woodpeckers was reduced from pre-fire conditions in areas of moderate and high vegetation burn severity (uncharacteristic for the nonlethal and mixed1 fire regimes). These early successional areas (stand initiation) would take many decades to regenerate and develop the tree sizes and conditions used by white-headed woodpecker. About 121 acres (21%) of source habitat lies within the 200-foot buffer adjacent to open roads and trails. The project area is unlikely to provide for a single home range for white-headed woodpecker. Source habitat is present in an amount (583 acres) roughly equal to a home range size in high quality habitat in contiguous mature ponderosa pine (523 acres [Dixon 1995a]). Habitat within the project area is fragmented by large open areas created by fire and lacks a matrix of mature forest conditions that would facilitate movement between the patches.
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Direct and Indirect Effects Alternative A (No Action) The likelihood of persistence of white-headed woodpecker in the project area is low. Source habitat is not abundant and occurs as highly fragmented stands unlikely to provide a single home range for a breeding pair. While source habitat is projected to increase by the end of the short- term (3–15 years), white-headed woodpecker persistence would remain low into the early part of the long-term timeframe (>15 years) due to low abundance and widely scattered distribution of source habitat. While snags may initially be abundant, their numbers are expected to decline over time within the 200-feet open road and trail corridors due to hazard tree abatement from routine road maintenance and firewood gathering activities. Habitat adjacent to open routes would represent poorer quality habitat within the short-term timeframe due to low numbers or absence of large snags that provide nesting sites. Regeneration of conifers would be delayed in source habitat capacity where large openings were created by fire and no live, cone-producing trees remain to provide a seed source. While modeling indicated an increase in source habitat (~35%) during the next 10 years, this increase would be from other surviving forests reaching sizes and densities used by white-headed woodpeckers. Regenerating large openings may take decades. Several additional decades would pass before stands reach maturity and tree sizes represent white-headed woodpecker habitat. Alternative B (Proposed Action) The likelihood of persistence of white-headed woodpeckers within the project area is the same as the No Action Alternative in the temporary (0-3 years) and short-term (3–15 years) timeframes (i.e., low likelihood). Source habitat abundance would be low with stands widely scattered and unlikely to provide for a home range for a breeding pair. The primary difference is that under the Proposed Action, recovery of source habitat capacity would begin sooner due to reforestation; however, benefits would not be realized for decades or well into the long term. Habitat quality would be degraded in habitats located within the 200-foot buffer of open roads and trails where proposed hazard tree abatement activities would occur. Felling and removing snags would reduce available nesting sites. Habitat adjacent to open routes would represent poorer quality habitat due to lower numbers of large snags that provide nesting sites before the end of the short term, similar to the No Action Alternative, though a larger area may be affected in the temporary timeframe. Hazard tree abatement activities implemented in source habitat could result in disturbance of a breeding pair or loss of an active nest site. The risk of impacting a breeding pair, and thus their reproductive success, has been reduced by the inclusion of Design Feature WL-1. Any active nest site discovered within treatment areas would be protected during the breeding season and retained if it does not pose a hazard. In addition, large snags (>20 inches dbh) within 300-feet of open roads would be marked for retention following salvage and hazard tree treatments to reduce their subsequent loss to firewood gatherers (Design Feature WL-1). Retention of large snags would help retain suitable nest sites for white-headed woodpeckers and other cavity-nesters. Reforestation (6,636 acres) is planned within source habitat capacity PVGs 1, 2, 3, 5, and 6 for white-headed woodpeckers. The strategy consists of a combination of planting (5,888 acres [89%]), riparian restoration (111 acres [2%]), and monitoring for natural regeneration and
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planting if needed (637 acres [10%]). These activities would facilitate recovery to a forested condition reducing the time to when these areas would provide suitable conditions for white- headed woodpecker (i.e., speed recovery) compared to the No Action Alternative. Forest recovery and restoration is important in these low elevation, dry forest types and is emphasized for both wildlife and vegetation resources in the Forest Plan. These forests experienced a high level of uncharacteristic vegetation burn severity during the 2016 Pioneer Fire (see “Forested Vegetation” section) and are a primary focus of reforestation efforts.
Cumulative Effects A suite of vegetation and road management activities have contributed to current habitat conditions within the project area for the No Action and the Proposed Action Alternatives. For example, road construction converted habitat to other uses. Once this infrastructure was on the landscape, it facilitated other activities (fire wood removal, hazard tree abatement) that degraded adjacent habitat through the loss of snags. Historically, timber and salvage harvest removed large, mature trees and snags, or converted mature stands to early successional habitats, reducing or eliminating habitat. In some areas, fire suppression disrupted natural disturbance processes that would have maintained low elevation forests in a mature, open condition. Some restorative treatments (commercial thinning, non-commercial thinning, and prescribed fire) had been implemented to progress fuel and vegetation toward historical conditions as described in the Forest Plan. These past actions, taken in whole, resulted in a set of landscape vegetation conditions which would have had some influence on fire behavior and the resulting post-fire vegetation composition and structure that exists today. For both alternatives, ongoing actions that would continue to impact white-headed woodpecker habitat adjacent to open roads is hazard tree mitigation as part of routine road maintenance along transportation routes, and personal use firewood cutting. About 21% of current source habitat (121 acres) is located within the 200-foot buffer of open roads and trails. Potential nest sites could be removed. The proposed hazard tree abatement activities would also affect snag densities and availability of potential nesting sites in habitats adjacent to open roads and trails, resulting in a cumulative degraded habitat condition in this area for the Proposed Action Alternative. Snags are not expected to be a factor limiting white-headed woodpecker occurrence or abundance in the near future due to fire-induced tree mortality in habitats outside the road and trail corridors. Even though habitat quality would continue to be negatively affected in habitat adjacent to roads, snags should be a common feature of habitat away from roads. One closed road (NFS road 582D) is scheduled for decommissioning under the Clear Creek Integrated Project decision and falls within or immediately adjacent to source habitat. Decommissioning would allow this route to return to a natural vegetative state, improving long- term habitat. While this decommissioning combined with the Proposed Action reduces road density and negative road impacts, cumulative benefits won’t be realized until the long term. Reforestation in source habitat capacity would have a cumulative benefit with the Proposed Action reforestation activities to white-headed woodpeckers; however, benefits would not be realized for several decades or until these stands mature and develop tree sizes and open canopy structure. No foreseeable future activities are known that would affect white-headed woodpeckers or their habitat.
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Sensitive Species Determination (White-headed Woodpecker) Implementing the Proposed Action may impact individuals but is not likely to cause a trend to federal listing or a loss of viability.
Effects to Broad Elevation Old Forest Species
Summary: The American three-toed woodpecker population would be expected to increase within the next few years, then begin a slow decline under both alternatives. Relative to the No Action Alternative, the Proposed Action would reduce source habitat within burned areas in the temporary and early short- term timeframes, with a corresponding reduction in abundance of American three-toed woodpecker in the project area due to differences in available habitat between the two alternatives. The Proposed Action increases the risk of affecting the reproductive success of a breeding pair due to implementation of salvage and hazard tree abatement during the early years post-fire (i.e. coincides with rapid population increase and highs). Design Feature WL-1 would reduce the risk of impacting breeding pairs. For the black-backed woodpecker, the Proposed Action would reduce source habitat from an existing 8,971 acres to 6,725 acres within the North Pioneer Project area in the temporary timeframe. The effects of salvage harvest and hazard tree treatments on habitat abundance extends into the short-term timeframe. By the end of the short-term, source habitat abundance would be the same under both alternatives due to the ephemeral nature of habitat provided by severely burned forests. Enough source habitat remains within the Project area that black-backed woodpecker numbers are expected to increase in the next few years as the woodpeckers colonize the burned areas to take advantage of abundant food resources, with subsequent declines in concert with declining bark- and wood-boring beetle populations as the burn ages, similar to the No Action Alternative. The temporary and short-term loss of source habitat under the Proposed Action would not change the overall trend for population (rapid increase, followed by a decline) or source habitat (decline) for this species. Flammulated owl persistence within the project area under the Proposed Action would remain low to moderate in the short-term, similar to the No Action Alternative. The short-term trend under both alternatives is one of increasing habitat abundance due to increasing tree sizes and canopies within surviving mature forests. Habitat in roadside buffers would be degraded (loss of snags) under both alternatives. Reproductive success of breeding pairs may be reduced though Design Features WL-5 and WL-1. Pileated woodpecker source habitat abundance would increase in the short-term under both alternatives. Habitat adjacent to open roads and trails would continue to be degraded (loss of snags, down logs, or down recruitment) by ongoing or proposed activities. The Proposed Action would shorten the conifer recovery period due to reforestation in some PVGs utilized by the species.
American Three-toed Woodpecker
Affected Environment The Boise National Forest sensitive species, American three-toed woodpecker, is found in boreal and montane forests at elevations ranging from 4,265 to 9,022 feet (Leonard 2001). Here they inhabit mature and overmature stands containing bark beetles, disease, and heart rot (Goggans et al.1988). The American three-toed woodpecker is a primary cavity nester using snags as nest sites. Their prey, bark- and wood-boring insect larvae, are found on dead or dying trees.
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In addition to core late-seral habitat, recent burns provide an important ephemeral habitat for American three-toed woodpecker (Saab et al. 2007). The species is noted as a strong responder to high-severity and crown fire (Smith 2000, Kennedy and Fontaine 2008) and may also experience short-term increases following low and moderate severity fire (Kennedy and Fontaine 2008). No observations of American three-toed woodpecker were found for the project area. Approximately 8,440 acres of source habitat is present in the project area. This habitat is represented by a mix of vegetation burn severities with approximately 65% falling within the two highest severity classes (e.g. experiencing a basal area loss of 50% or greater). The Rock Creek drainage at the south end and the mid-section of Clear Creek have a mixed severity configuration. The northern half of Clear Creek drainage experienced stand-replacement fire resulting in high mortality of trees across a broad swath of the landscape. An older burn (27 years post-fire) occurs at the south end of the Clear Creek drainage. While the original burn is no longer suitable for American three-toed woodpecker, some remnant patches of mature forest were subsequently affected by the Pioneer Fire and provide foraging opportunity. Source habitat occurs within a matrix of other burned habitats often represented by medium to large trees of lower densities. These areas also provide foraging opportunities for woodpeckers occupying source habitat in the project area. Source habitat within approximately 200 feet of open roads and trails (~1,609 acres) is affected by ongoing routine road maintenance hazard tree removal and firewood removal. Both activities reduce snags used as nesting and foraging sites by the species.
Direct and Indirect Effects Alternative A (No Action) Source habitat would be maintained within the project area at levels similar to the existing condition for 3 to 5 years. Following that time, source habitat quality and abundance would begin to decline through natural attrition of snags and decreasing prey populations. By the end of the short-term timeframe, burned areas would become unsuitable, and only 39 acres of habitat would occur in remnant mature forests at higher elevations. These areas are limited and total less than an estimated American three-toed woodpecker home range size. American three-toed woodpecker abundance would mirror available habitat and habitat quality with abundance peaking within 3 to 5 years and then declining. By the end of the short-term, few if any American three-toed woodpeckers would remain within the project area as the majority of source habitat is currently found in burned areas which are expected to lose their suitability after about a decade. Alternative B (Proposed Action) Relative to the No Action Alternative, the Proposed Action would reduce source habitat in the temporary and early short-term timeframes, speed and intensify the degradation of habitat adjacent to open roads and trails, and have a higher risk of impacting reproductive pairs. In addition, there would be a corresponding reduction in abundance of American three-toed woodpecker in the project area due to differences in available habitat and habitat quality between the two alternatives. American three-toed woodpecker abundance would mirror habitat abundance and quality. Source habitat quantity would be reduced by 2,159 acres or 26% in the temporary timeframe by salvage operations, new temporary road construction, and hazard tree mitigation in burned areas.
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Approximately 6,281 acres of source habitat would remain available outside areas affected by salvage and hazard tree treatments and the American three-toed woodpecker population within the project area is expected to increase within the next few years, then begin a slow decline. Using a 131 acre home range size estimate, this source habitat could potentially provide for 48 American three-toed woodpecker home ranges in the temporary timeframe. Similar to the No Action Alternative, this source habitat abundance and quality would begin to decline after 5 years due to the natural loss of snags and declining food resources until the burned areas (ephemeral habitat) are no longer suitable. By 10 to 11 years post-fire, regardless of salvage logging, source habitat would then be restricted to the 39 acres of limited remnant mature forests at higher elevations, and may not support a home range for American three-toed woodpecker. Habitat quality within the 200-feet open road and trail corridors would be degraded by hazard tree mitigation activities. These treatments are projected to extend into the short-term and would remove snags that provide nesting and foraging sites. The primary difference with the No Action Alternative is that this activity would be implemented sooner and would also affect trees that have a high probability of dying within a few years (e.g., near future snag recruitment). American three-toed woodpeckers rapidly colonize burn areas and are likely to be present in source habitat as soon as the 2017 breeding season. Breeding activities could be disrupted by salvage and hazard tree mitigation actions during the breeding season which begins around mid- May and extends through July (Leonard 2001). Felling and removal of a snag with an active nest would likely result in injury or death of juvenile birds. Reproductive success, even if the nest tree is not directly impacted, could be affected through diminished parental care or by the loss or reduction of available food resources in the vicinity of the nest. The risk of impacting a breeding pair are higher under the Proposed Action Alternative due to the larger area affected and the timeframe within which most actions would be implemented compared to the No Action Alternative. Salvage operations, including those in hazard tree mitigation areas, would occur within the timeframe (<5 years post-fire) when American three-toed woodpeckers are most abundant in burns. Design Feature WL-1 would reduce impacts to active nest sites.
Cumulative Effects Past and ongoing activities that have been contributing factors to the amount and quality of source habitat existing today include timber harvest, firewood program, and construction and maintenance of transportation systems for the No Action and Proposed Action Alternatives. Timber harvest has traditionally removed the larger trees and reduced stand densities, characteristics of forests that provide source habitat for American three-toed woodpeckers. Construction of roads converts suitable habitat to other uses. Ongoing firewood reduces snags which are a key feature defining three-toed woodpecker habitat, providing both nesting and foraging substrate. Hazard tree mitigation activities on open roads and trails contributes to a loss of snags important to American three-toed woodpecker habitat and reduces habitat quality. Proposed salvage and hazard tree mitigation treatments under the Proposed Action, including new temporary road construction cumulatively add to loss of American three-toed woodpecker habitat. Some system road decommissioning would be implemented under the ongoing 2017 BAER or 2013 Clear Creek Integrated Projects. About 0.5 miles of road occurs within the
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PVGs considered source habitat capacity for American three-toed woodpecker. Decommissioning would facilitate recovery of these areas to a vegetative condition in the long- term. Benefits would not be realized for several decades as the road segments are located in early seral habitats. This decommissioning would affect a minor amount of habitat (~2 acres), representing less than 2% of a home range (based on a 131-acre home range size). No foreseeable future activity was identified that would affect three-toed woodpeckers, therefore no cumulative effects from future actions are anticipated.
Sensitive Species Determination (American three-toed woodpecker) Implementing the Proposed Action may impact individuals but is not likely to cause a trend to federal listing or a loss of viability.
Black-backed Woodpecker
Affected Environment The black-backed woodpecker was selected as a MIS for the Forest in 2010 (USDA Forest Service 2010a). Black-backed woodpecker has been described variously as a ‘fire specialist’ (Hutto 2008), ‘fire-adapted’, or ‘fire dependent’ species consistently responding positively to fire (Kennedy and Fontaine 2009, Peterson et al. 2009, Rota et al. 2014a). ‘Black-backs’ are dependent on landscapes that experience large disturbances, including wildfire and insect outbreaks. Formal bird surveys conducted in the unburned project area since 2004 have failed to result in black-backed woodpecker detection. Approximately 8,971 acres of source habitat occurs within the project area. Source habitat consists of both unburned and burned forest affected by the Pioneer Fire. Over half (5,549 acres or 61.9%) of source habitat occurs in the moderate-high to high vegetation severity classes represented by 50% basal area loss or more. These are the types of burned forests that typically support higher abundance of black-backed woodpeckers in the early post-fire period. Currently, source habitat (burned and unburned) is well-distributed throughout the Rock Creek drainage, but is patchy and not well-distributed in Clear Creek. Source habitat within approximately 200 feet of open roads and trails (~1,794 acres) is affected by ongoing programs related to public safety and firewood removal. Both activities reduce snags used as nesting and foraging sites by the species. When these activities occur during the breeding season, they could result in loss of an active nest site and young.
Direct and Indirect Effects Alternative A (No Action) Source habitat would be maintained on the landscape at levels similar to existing conditions for 2 to 5 years. Following that time, black-backed woodpecker abundance would decline, due to the natural attrition of snags, declining food resources, and death of colonizing woodpeckers which have a lifespan of about 6 years. Patches of mature forests would remain in the lower portion of Rock Creek and along the midsection of Clear Creek into the long term, allowing black-backed woodpeckers to persist within the project area, although at low densities. Approximately 20% of source habitat in the project area occurs within 200 feet of roads and trails, and the habitat quality would continue to be affected by loss of snags due to ongoing road
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maintenance which removes imminent hazard trees and to the continued removal of snags for firewood. Breeding activities for individual birds could be disrupted within 200 feet of open roads if a snag with an active nest is removed. Some roads and trails may be closed to the public for safety reasons on any given year which could delay the loss of snags in the near future. In any event, transportation systems would eventually be opened and habitat adjacent to these routes would be degraded in both the short- and long-term timeframes due to impacts related to snag removal from road maintenance hazard tree removal and the firewood program. Snag habitat outside the corridor would continue to provide nesting options with little or no disturbance risk from hazard tree or fuelwood collection activities. Alternative B (Proposed Action) Relative to the No Action Alternative, the Proposed Action would reduce source habitat in the temporary and early short-term timeframe, speed the degradation of habitat along open roads and trails, and increase the risk of impacts to reproductive pairs. Source habitat would remain within the project area during the temporary and short-term timeframe, providing habitat for black- backed woodpeckers, and supporting species persistence within the project area. Similar to the No Action, source habitat would begin to decline after 5 years in the burns due to reduced habitat quality and would consist primarily of mature green stands at the end of the short-term timeframe (3–15 years). Source habitat quantity would be reduced by 2,246 acres (25%) in the temporary time frame by salvage operations, new temporary road construction, and hazard tree mitigation in burned areas. Several studies have shown that salvage logging eliminates or reduces suitability of habitat for black-backed woodpeckers (Hutto 2008, Hanson and North 2008, Saab and Dudley 1998; Saab et al. 2007; see Tremblay et al. 2016 for a comprehensive list). Approximately 6,275 acres of source habitat would remain available to black-backed woodpeckers outside of salvage and high hazard tree treatment areas. Using a 178-acre home range size, this source habitat could potentially provide for 38 black-backed woodpecker home ranges in the temporary timeframe. Source habitat located outside of salvage and hazard tree treatment areas in the moderate and high severity classes (>25% basal area loss) would decline in the short-term due to the natural loss of snags and a reduction in wood-boring insects. By 10 to 11 years post-fire, regardless of salvage logging, most source habitat would again be confined to the mature forest that remains within the project area, similar to the No Action Alternative. Habitat quality within the 200-feet road and trail corridors would be degraded by proposed hazard tree mitigation activities. The primary difference with the No Action Alternative is these activities would be implemented sooner than under the No Action with a greater portion of roadside habitat negatively affected in the temporary timeframe. Black-backed woodpeckers are known to rapidly colonize burn areas and are likely to be present in source habitat as soon as the 2017 breeding season. Breeding activities of black-backed woodpeckers could be disrupted by salvage and hazard tree mitigation actions during the breeding period which begins in May and extends through July. Felling and removal of a snag with an active nest would likely result in injury or death of juvenile birds. Even if an active nest tree is not directly impacted, reproductive success could be affected through reduced parental care and through the loss of prey habitat and food resources in the immediate vicinity of a nest if adults are displaced. The risk of impacting a breeding pair are higher under the Proposed Action due to the larger area affected by salvage and the timeframe within which most actions would be
73 North Pioneer Fire Salvage and Restoration Project Environmental Assessment implemented. Salvage operations would occur within the timeframe (<5 years post-fire) when black-backed woodpeckers are most abundant in burns created by wildfire.
Cumulative Effects Past and ongoing activities that have been contributing factors to the amount and quality of source habitat existing today include timber harvest, firewood program, and construction and maintenance of transportation systems, especially roads for the No Action and the Proposed Action Alternatives. Timber harvest has traditionally removed the larger trees and reduced stand densities, characteristics of forests that provide source habitat for black-backed woodpeckers. Construction of roads converts suitable habitat to other uses. Ongoing firewood removal degrades habitat conditions for black-backed woodpeckers by specifically reducing snags which are key features defining habitat, providing both nesting and foraging substrate. Proposed salvage activities (including new temporary road construction) and hazard tree mitigation activities for the Proposed Action Alternative cumulatively add to loss of black-backed woodpecker habitat from past and ongoing activities. Some system road decommissioning would be implemented under the ongoing 2017 BAER or 2013 Clear Creek Integrated Projects. About 2.6 miles of road is within the PVGs considered source habitat capacity for black-backed woodpecker. Decommissioning would facilitate recovery of these areas to a vegetative condition in the long-term. Benefits would not be realized for several decades as the road segments are located in early seral habitats. This would affect a minor amount of habitat (~8 acres), representing less than 5% of a home range (based on a 178 acre home range size). No foreseeable future activity was identified that would affect black-backed woodpeckers, therefore no cumulative effects from future actions are anticipated.
Flammulated Owl
Affected Environment Flammulated owls are sensitive species on the Boise National Forest, and their breeding habitat combines open, mature montane pine forests for nesting, scattered thickets of saplings or shrubs for roosting and calling, and grassland edge habitat for foraging (IDFG 2005, Reynolds and Linkhart 1987, Goggans 1986). Flammulated owls nest in previously excavated cavities in snags and live, large-diameter trees (Bull et al. 1990, McCallum and Gehlback 1988). Pre-Pioneer Fire breeding populations of flammulated owls were known to occur within the project area. Nine active nest sites were identified within the Rock Creek drainage, three in 2005 and six in 2006. The Pioneer Fire has reduced source habitat for flammulated owls in the project area. Prior to the fire, source habitat was fairly extensive within the Rock Creek drainage and occurred as smaller, more isolated blocks in Clear Creek. An estimated 1,465 acres of source habitat remains today which is roughly one-fourth of the amount that existed pre-fire. The understory vegetation, which is an important component of both cover for roosting owls and habitat for prey, has been reduced by the fire. These effects have reduced the quality of the remaining source habitat until the vegetation recovers. Roughly 23% of existing source habitat falls within the 200-foot open road and trail corridor.
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Direct and Indirect Effects Alternative A (No Action) The likelihood of flammulated owls persisting in the project area is low to moderate. Flammulated owls have small home ranges and suitable patch sizes remain both within Clear Creek and Rock Creek to support breeding owls. Short-term trends in habitat abundance are increasing. While source habitat adjacent to open roads and trails would continue to be degraded by ongoing hazard tree abatement as part of the routine road maintenance activities and fuelwood gathering, enough habitat is present outside transportation corridors to allow flammulated owls to persist. Source habitat abundance is expected to remain similar to the existing condition in the temporary timeframe. Vegetation projections indicate that source habitat abundance may increase in the short-term as remaining green forest mature and acquire tree sizes and densities used by flammulated owl. Post-fire habitat quality is tied both to recovery of understory vegetation that provides habitat for prey and cover for roosting owls, and to the abundance of snags. Those portions of habitat within open road corridors would continue to be degraded by activities that fell or remove snags. However, with the recent fire, snags are likely to be an abundant resource in habitats located outside road corridors and are unlikely to be a limiting factor for this species in the near future. Understory vegetation recovery generally occurs within a few years and increases in insects are common following fire. Shrubs and aspen in portions of the Rock Creek area had already begun resprouting in the fall 2016, an indication that root crowns and buds had survived at least in some areas. Survival of underground portions of plants or seed banks would likely be variable and tied closer to soil burn severity. Alternative B (Proposed Action) Flammulated owl persistence within the project area would remain low to moderate in the short- term, similar to the No Action Alternative. The short-term trend is one of increasing habitat abundance due to increasing tree sizes and canopies within surviving mature forests. Habitat adjacent to open roads and trails would continue to be degraded by the Proposed Action and ongoing activities; however, enough habitat occurs outside these corridors, approximately 1,128 acres, to allow flammulated owls to persist. Salvage harvest is expected to have little effect on flammulated owl habitat. This activity is located within areas of high vegetation severity (>75% basal area loss) that do not represent suitable habitat for the species. Hazard tree mitigation also would not affect flammulated owls where it occurs in moderate-to- high severity effects to vegetation (>25% basal area loss) as these locations also do not provide habitat for the species. Hazard tree mitigation, including both felling only and removal, within source habitat (337 acres or 23% of project area source habitat) would continue to degrade habitat adjacent to roads through the removal of potential nesting sites. Snag abundance and nest site availability is not likely to be a limiting factor at least for the short term. The recent fire has created an abundance of snags across the project area and nest sites are expected to be available in habitats away from roads. In addition, large snags that remain within 300 feet of open roads in low- to moderate-severity areas would be marked for retention following hazard tree and salvage operations to minimize their loss to subsequent firewood gathering (Design Feature WL-6).
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Disturbance to breeding flammulated owls may result from hazard tree mitigation activities (fell- and-leave and removal). Snags and live trees targeted for felling or removal may contain an active nest site and felling of such trees would result in injury or death of young. This could impact reproductive success of breeding pairs for that year. Design Features WL-1 and WL-5 have been included to avoid and minimize the effects to nesting flammulated owls. Surveys are to be conducted prior to onset of these activities during the breeding season, and any active nest site discovered would be protected during the breeding season. Following that time, nest sites not representing a hazard would be retained.
Cumulative Effects Past activities that have contributed to current conditions for flammulated owls include primarily road construction and maintenance, timber harvest, and fire suppression for the No Action and the Proposed Action Alternatives. Road construction converts habitat to other uses and fragments habitat. Roads also facilitate other activities such as firewood programs that reduce available snags, and therefore nesting sites in habitat adjacent to roads. Historically, timber harvest removed large, mature trees, or converted mature stands to early successional habitats, reducing or eliminating habitat. The prefire abundance of habitat, particularly in the Rock Creek area, was influenced by fire suppression which allowed the moderately dense stand conditions favored by the species to develop. While some restorative treatments (thinning and prescribed fire) to progress fuel and vegetation toward historical conditions had been implemented prior to the 2016 fire, many planned treatments had not yet been implemented. These past actions resulted in a set of landscape vegetation conditions which would have had some influence on fire behavior and the resulting vegetation composition and structure post- Pioneer Fire. Ongoing actions that continue to impact flammulated owls or their habitat include hazard tree mitigation along transportation routes (road maintenance), personal use firewood cutting, and road decommissioning. About 23% of current source habitat (337 acres) is located within the 200-foot buffer of open roads and trails. Snag densities would be reduced in these corridors. Snags are not expected to be a factor limiting flammulated owl occurrence or abundance in the near future due to tree mortality related to the Pioneer Fire. Even though habitat quality would continue to be negatively affected in habitat adjacent to roads, snags should be a common feature of habitat away from roads. Two closed roads (NFS roads 582C and 582D) located within or immediately adjacent to source habitat are scheduled for decommissioning under the Clear Creek Integrated Project. Decommissioning would allow these routes to return to a natural vegetative state improving habitat into the short and long term. Proposed hazard tree mitigation including salvage harvest within open road and trail corridors would add cumulatively to past and ongoing actions reducing the quality of habitat adjacent to roads. Effects have been minimized by the inclusion of design features. Enough habitat (1,128 acres) is present outside the 200 feet road/trail buffer to support several breeding pairs (based on an average 31 acre home range), and flammulated owls are expected to persist within the project area. No foreseeable future activities are known that would affect flammulated owls or their habitat.
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Sensitive Species Determination (flammulated owl) Implementing the Proposed Action may impact individuals but is not likely to cause a trend to federal listing or a loss of viability.
Pileated Woodpecker
Affected Environment The pileated woodpecker is a Forest Plan MIS (USDA Forest Service 2010a, Appendix E). Pileated woodpeckers occupy dense deciduous, coniferous, or mixed forests, open woodlands, second growth forests, and parks and wooded residential areas of towns (NatureServe 2017). The species prefers habitats with tall closed canopies and high basal areas. Ninety-six observations of pileated woodpecker have been documented in the project area, including two nest sites in Rock Creek drainage. Source habitat capacity (PVGs 3, 6, 7, 8, and 9) for pileated woodpecker occurs on 12,487 acres or roughly 45% of the project area. Seventy-two percent of source habitat capacity is located within moderate-to-high vegetation burn severity (≥25% basal area loss) from the Pioneer Fire with extensive areas of early successional habitats. These stands are at the opposite end of the successional spectrum from forests used by pileated woodpeckers, and will not provide source habitat in the near future. Suitable source habitat conditions occur on about 2,243 acres or 8% of the project area. Source habitat occurs as scattered patches and is concentrated in Rock Creek and along the mid-section of Clear Creek, coincidental with areas experiencing low or mixed-severity fire effects within each drainage. Source habitat for pileated woodpeckers was reduced by approximately 80% from prefire conditions in areas of moderate and high vegetation burn severity. About 453 acres (20%) of source habitat lies within the 200-foot buffer adjacent to open roads and trails. The project area may be able to support at least one home range (~1,006 acres) for pileated woodpeckers. Source habitat patches are located in close enough proximity along the mid- section of Clear Creek that these areas may function as a home range. Habitat within Rock Creek is more fragmented and is unlikely to represent a usable home range. The large patch of source habitat at the lower elevations (north end) of Rock Creek could be used by pileated woodpeckers whose home ranges extend beyond the Project boundary and into the adjacent research natural area (RNA) to the east. Several prefire observations of pileateds have been documented in this vicinity.
Direct and Indirect Effects Alternative A (No Action) The likelihood of persistence of pileated woodpecker in the project area is low to moderate. Source habitat is present in Clear Creek in amounts and distribution likely to support a home range. Source habitat is more fragmented in Rock Creek, but the large patch is connected to other habitat immediately adjacent to the project area. Consistent observations of pileated woodpeckers over a period of several years indicate that the area is likely part of an active home range. Persistence would remain low to moderate through the temporary and short-term timeframes. While source habitat is projected to increase by the end of the short-term, a high
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percentage of source habitat capacity is within moderate-to-high vegetation burn severity and is likely to take decades to develop the tree densities and sizes used by pileated woodpeckers. Regeneration of conifers would be delayed in source habitat capacity where large openings were created by fire and no live, cone-producing trees remain to provide a seed source. While modeling indicated an increase in source habitat (~29%) during the next 10 years, this would be the result of other surviving forests reaching sizes and densities used by pileated woodpeckers. Natural regeneration of large openings may take decades. Several additional decades would pass before stands reach maturity and tree sizes representative of pileated woodpecker habitat. Alternative B (Proposed Action) The likelihood of persistence of pileated woodpeckers within the project area is the same as the No Action Alternative in the temporary and short-term timeframes (i.e., low to moderate likelihood). The primary difference is that under the Proposed Action, recovery of source habitat capacity would begin sooner due to reforestation even though benefits of reforestation would not be realized for decades or well into the long-term. Habitat quality would be degraded in habitats located within the 200-foot buffer of open roads and trails by hazard tree abatement activities. Felling and removal of snags and removal of down logs would reduce available nesting and foraging sites. These activities may be implemented over a several year period depending on whether hazard trees are salvaged or left on-site. Salvage would occur within the next 2 years. Hazard tree fell and leave on site may be implemented over a longer period (up to 10 years) depending on available funding and personnel to accomplish the work. Habitat adjacent to open routes would represent poorer quality habitat due to low numbers or absence of large snags that provide nesting sites before the end of the short-term. This is similar to the No Action Alternative, though may affect more area in the temporary timeframe. Approximately 0.5 miles of new temporary road construction would occur in existing source habitat. This would convert about 1.5 acres of habitat to other uses in the temporary timeframe. The road would be decommissioned following salvage operations and allowed to return to a natural vegetative state. Hazard tree abatement and temporary road construction activities implemented in source habitat could result in disturbance of a breeding pair or loss of an active nest site. Eggs could be destroyed or young injured or killed, negatively impacting the annual reproductive success of individual pairs. Large snags (>20” dbh) within 300-feet of open roads would be marked for retention following salvage and hazard tree treatments to reduce their subsequent loss to firewood gatherers (Design Feature WL-6). This would help retain suitable nest sites for pileated woodpeckers and other cavity-nesters. Reforestation (1,948 acres) is planned within source habitat capacity PVGs 3, 6, 7, 8, and 9 for pileated woodpeckers. The strategy consists of a combination of planting (491 acres [25%]), riparian restoration (51 acres [3%]), whitebark pine restoration (331 acres [17%], and monitor for natural regeneration and plant if needed (1,075 acres [55%]. These activities would facilitate recovery to a forested condition reducing the time to when these areas would provide suitable conditions for pileated woodpecker (i.e., speed recovery) compared to the No Action Alternative.
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Cumulative Effects A suite of vegetation and road management activities have contributed to current habitat conditions within the project area for the No Action and the Proposed Action Alternatives. Road construction converted habitat to other uses. Once this infrastructure was on the landscape, it facilitated other activities (fire wood removal, hazard tree abatement) that degraded adjacent habitat through the loss of snags and down logs. Historically, timber and salvage harvest removed large, mature trees and snags, or converted mature stands to early successional habitats, reducing or eliminating habitat. Fire suppression disrupted natural disturbance processes (fire) allowing some low elevation forests to develop the denser conditions preferred by pileated woodpeckers. These past actions, taken in whole, resulted in a set of landscape vegetation conditions which would have had some influence on fire behavior and the resulting post-fire vegetation composition and structure that exists today. Ongoing actions that would continue to impact pileated woodpecker habitat adjacent to open roads is hazard tree mitigation along transportation routes (road maintenance) and personal use firewood cutting. About 20% of current source habitat (453 acres) is located within the 200-foot buffer of open roads and trails. Potential nest (snags) or foraging (down logs) sites would be removed. The proposed hazard tree abatement activities would also affect snag and down log densities and availability of potential nesting and foraging sites in habitats adjacent to open roads and trails, resulting in degraded habitat conditions. Snags are not expected to be a factor limiting pileated woodpecker occurrence or abundance in the near future due to fire-induced tree mortality in habitats outside the road and trail corridors. Down logs are also expected to increase across the landscape as fire-created snags begin to fall within the short-term. Even though habitat quality would continue to be negatively affected in habitat adjacent to open roads, snags and down logs would be a common feature of habitat away from roads. Two closed roads (NFS roads 582C and 582D) are scheduled for decommissioning under the Clear Creek Integrated Project decision and fall within or immediately adjacent to source habitat. Decommissioning would allow these routes to return to a natural vegetative state improving habitat in the long-term. While this reduces road density and negative road impacts, the benefits won’t be realized until well into the long-term timeframe. Reforestation in source habitat capacity would also benefit pileated woodpeckers, however benefits would not be realized for several decades. No foreseeable future activities are known that would affect pileated woodpeckers or their habitat.
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Effects to Forest Mosaic Species
Summary: Under the No Action alternative, natural recovery of vegetation would determine the recruitment and quality of habitat beyond road and trailside buffers. Habitat along roads would continue to be degraded by both loss of down logs or down log recruitment potential, and also through disturbance associated with human use of this infrastructure. Implementing the Proposed Action Alternative is not likely to adversely affect lynx. Reproducing lynx would not be affected due to the lack of suitable denning habitat and adjacent foraging areas in the project area, as well as the lack of evidence that the Boise NF currently has a reproducing population. While down log structure and future down log recruitment would be reduced by salvage and hazard tree removal treatments, this structure would be a common feature of the landscape and potential denning sites would not be limited. Habitat free from disturbance would be present elsewhere in the LAU during project implementation in the event that a non-breeding lynx is present. The Proposed Action may impact individual mountain quail. The Proposed Action could delay understory vegetation recovery in areas of salvage harvest and hazard tree removal. Design features have been included to reduce negative impacts to soils and vegetation recovery. Design Feature WL-1 would also reduce the risk of impacts to breeding mountain quail if discovered in the project area. The Proposed Action is not likely to jeopardize the continued existence of the wolverine. No historical den sites are known in the project area and no effects to reproducing wolverine are anticipated. Reduction in down logs (used for subnivean denning structure) and future down log recruitment within wolverine habitat would not affect wolverine due to the abundance of snags and thus future down log recruitment potential that exists within source habitat as a result of wildfire. Wolverine are highly mobile and would be able to avoid disturbance from project activities.
Canada Lynx
Affected Environment An ESA threatened species, Canada lynx are generally associated with large tracts of higher elevation boreal or coniferous forest that is often interspersed with rock outcrops, bogs and thickets. Canada lynx typically inhabit montane and subalpine coniferous forests above 1,200 meters (4,000 feet) in Idaho (McKelvey et al. 2000; Ruediger et al. 2000). Lynx Analysis Units (LAUs) have been identified through consultation with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and are used to evaluate lynx habitat and effects to lynx on the Boise National Forest. The North Pioneer Project falls within the Pilot Sunset (112,287 acres) and Clear Creek (61,895 acres) LAUs. These two LAUs comprise the analysis area for Canada lynx. The LAUs do not contain Designated Critical Habitat. Current baseline conditions are summarized in Table 14.
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Table 14. Summary of lynx habitat by Lynx Analysis Unit (LAU) for the North Pioneer Project Meets Desired Source Source Conditionb Habitat Percent Percent LAU Name Habitat Capacitya Suitable Unsuitable Percent (acres) (acres) Unsuitable is <30% Pilot Sunset 23,998 14,963 62.4% 37.6% No (112,287 acres) Clear Creek 22,695 7882 32.5% 67.5% No (61,895 acres) aSource Habitat Capacity is used interchangeably with ‘potential’ lynx habitat, and represents the potential vegetation groups that could at some point in successional development provide suitable habitat conditions for Canada lynx. bDesired condition is established by Forest Plan standard TEST15 (i.e., ≥30% of source habitat capacity in an unsuitable/unusable condition for lynx). Pilot Sunset LAU The Pilot Sunset LAU contains 23,998 acres of source habitat capacity of which 14,963 acres are currently in a suitable condition for lynx (Table 14). Suitable habitat is concentrated west and south of Pilot Peak in areas unaffected by recent fires. Suitable habitat is highly fragmented within recent fire areas and occurs as small patches of forests that remained unburned or where the fire had relatively minor effects on vegetation (low vegetation burn severity). Early seral habitats that provide key foraging areas are limited and most suitable lynx habitat is in a mid- or late-seral condition. Foraging opportunities are found primarily in mature, multi-storied stands with brush and young trees in the understory. Mature forests with abundant down wood or pockets of down wood provide potential denning habitat. These are most prevalent in the unroaded portion of the LAU where vegetation treatments, fuelwood activities, and fires have not affected vegetation structure. Currently, 37.6% of the source habitat capacity in the LAU is in an unsuitable habitat condition (Table 14). Multiple fires have burned within the LAU over the past 30 years, several of which occurred in the past 5 years. Fires include the King Mountain (1989), Coulter Summit (2010), Summit (2013), Grimes (2014), Mores (2015), and Pioneer (2016) Fires. These fires, in part or in whole, affected suitable lynx habitat in the LAU, and are largely the responsible disturbance for unsuitable habitat conditions. Additionally, the Gold Fork and Sawmill (1989) and Whiskey (2014) Fires burned within the LAU, but did not affect lynx habitat. Burned areas are not expected to provide source habitat for three or more decades post-fire or until regeneration reaches heights and densities to provide cover and food for prey during the winter. A system of roads occurs within the LAU and coincides with both current and potential lynx habitat. Roads provide access for a variety of motorized vehicles and human uses during the summer and fall months. Fifty-six miles of groomed oversnow vehicle (OSV) routes occur within the LAU and portions of the LAU are popular destinations for winter recreationists participating in both motorized and non-motorized activities. Winter activities occur within both suitable and potential lynx habitat. Three observations of lynx have been recorded in the LAU. All observations occurred during February or March in the 1990s (1993, 1998, and 1999). Two records were sightings of animals believed to be lynx and one was of tracks which were measured and reported by a biologist.
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Clear Creek LAU The Clear Creek LAU contains 22,695 acres of source habitat capacity of which 7,882 acres are currently in a suitable condition for lynx (Table 14). Suitable habitat is highly fragmented and no larger blocks remain within the LAU. Suitable habitat consists primarily of mature forests. Early seral foraging areas are limited, though mature forests could also be used for foraging. Down wood and patches of down woody material are present; however denning seems unlikely due to the fragmented nature of habitat and the lack of large blocks with interspersion of quality foraging and denning sites. Sixty-five percent of lynx habitat is currently in an unsuitable condition (Table 14). Six fires have affected the condition of lynx habitat in the past 25 years, including Clear Creek (2010), Lowman (1989), 8 mile (2009), Castro (2011), Ridge (2013), and Pioneer (2016). The most recent fire (Pioneer 2016) converted a large portion of lynx habitat to an unsuitable condition when it made a 30,000 acre run in a single day, leaving behind a blackened landscape of high tree mortality. While understory vegetation is expected to recover in a few years, the conifer regeneration that provides winter food and cover for snowshoe hares may take decades to recover. Roads are concentrated along the western half of the LAU and are generally located in vegetation types not used by lynx. There is some overlap in the vicinity of Whitehawk and Clear Creek Summits along the northern boundary and also in the Fern Ridge area. Fifteen miles of groomed snowmobile routes are present in the LAU, the majority of which is located outside of suitable and potential lynx habitat. One unconfirmed lynx observation has been reported in the LAU. The observation was made on NFS road 582 (Clear Creek) outside of lynx habitat in August 1995. The animal was described as having a black tip on tail and long legs. Lynx Habitat within the North Pioneer Project Area Source habitat capacity (potential lynx habitat) occurs in conjunction with upper elevation ridgelines and cool, wet northern aspects. These sites are comprised of PVGs that support lodgepole pine, subalpine fir, and moist Douglas fir forests. The majority of potential lynx habitat is currently in an early stand initiation stage due to the effects of the 2016 Pioneer Fire. Small remnant pockets of suitable habitat remain where vegetation burn severity was low. These pockets are small and widely scattered among unsuitable habitat areas. While down log structure may be present in remnant habitat and could provide cover for denning sites, the configuration of the remaining suitable habitat within the project area is such that it is unlikely to support a reproducing female. Suitable habitat is highly fragmented and does not provide for denning sites in close proximity to high quality foraging habitat. Forests that burned with moderate and high vegetation burn severity lack the horizontal and vertical structure to support winter populations of snowshoe hare. These fire-created openings are likely to inhibit lynx movement as the species generally avoids crossing openings greater than 100 meters (328 feet). Conifer regeneration will take three or more decades to recover and develop the structure that provides food and cover for wintering snowshoe hares. Two of the reported lynx observations occurred within the project area, but were outside the areas providing source habitat for lynx.
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Direct and Indirect Effects Alternative A (No Action) Roadside habitats would continue to be negatively affected by ongoing programs (hazard tree abatement associated with road maintenance and firewood removal). Such programs often target snags or down logs for removal. These habitat elements could provide denning sites now or in the future as is the case with snags. Denning habitat does not need to occur everywhere within a home range but should be available in close proximity to foraging areas. Recent fires have created an abundance of snags and down logs on the landscape. Even though these habitat elements are reduced or eliminated in the 200-foot buffers adjacent to roads, down logs are expected to be a common feature on the landscape in the future and would not limit lynx reproduction. Ongoing programs (road maintenance, recreational use, firewood collection) all contribute to potential disturbance and displacement of lynx that may be present in the analysis area. However, there is no strong evidence that lynx consistently occupy the analysis area. Their rarity suggests that effects from disturbance are unlikely, especially considering the lack of evidence of a reproducing population. Alternative B (Proposed Action) Direct effects as a result of disturbance may occur if individual lynx are present during implementation. Several proposed activities (hazard tree abatement, log hauling, temporary road construction and use, and snow plowing for planting) would occur within remnant patches of suitable habitat. Any lynx occupying habitat in the vicinity of activities may be disturbed and displaced during implementation. Because lynx occupy large home ranges, other portions of each LAU would be available to meet life requisites. Reproducing lynx are not expected to be affected due to the poor quality of habitat (non-contiguous, fragmented, with low or no interspersion of denning and quality foraging) and the lack of evidence of a reproducing population on the Boise National Forest. Even so, Design Feature WL-1 has been included that would require modification of work to provide protection for any active den site discovered during the implementation period. Temporary road construction and clearing of old roadbeds would affect less than 1 acre of suitable lynx habitat. These activities are occurring on old road beds and primarily affect understory grass, forbs, and shrubs. These roads would be decommissioned following salvage operations (temporary time frame) and allowed to return to a natural vegetative state. Indirect effects to habitat would include a reduction of down wood recruitment on 45 acres in the Clear Creek LAU and 145 acres in the Pilot-Sunset LAU due to the removal of snags in roadside hazard tree abatement areas. Down wood provides denning sites and can also enhance foraging habitat (ILBT 2013) by providing cover. Though snags would be removed from suitable habitat, this removal would not affect the overall quality of current or future habitat across the LAUs. The amount of habitat affected is minor relative to potential lynx habitat within the LAUs (0.2% in Clear Creek LAU; 0.8% in Pilot-Sunset LAU). Live trees would remain in these areas and would contribute to future downed wood. In addition, snags are abundant on the landscape due to the effects of the recent fire and the occurrence of mature forests. These snags would eventually fall and down logs would be a common feature of the landscape for decades to come.
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Reforestation within currently unsuitable habitat would facilitate (speed) recovery of these sites to suitable conditions for lynx and their prey compared to the No Action Alternative. Approximately 723 acres of reforestation is planned within source habitat capacity for lynx, including 210 acres in the Clear Creek LAU and 513 acres in the Pilot-Sunset LAU. This activity is considered beneficial to lynx and their prey.
Cumulative Effects Past vegetation management activities (timber harvest, precommercial thinning, reforestation) and fire suppression have contributed to current vegetation conditions and thus have to some degree, in concert with wildfire, influenced the mix of suitable and unsuitable habitat conditions that occur within the analysis area today for the No Action and the Proposed Action Alternatives. Canada lynx has been identified as a species negatively affected by roads or road-related factors including down log reduction, over-trapping, and harassment (Wisdom et al. 2000) and ongoing use and activities associated with the existing road and trail systems perpetuate potential impacts, including reduction of down logs and disturbance of lynx. Two ongoing Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) activities (trail maintenance, straw mulching) occur in or near suitable lynx habitat in the Clear Creek LAU. Habitat is highly fragmented in these locations and potential impacts are related to disturbance and displacement of non-reproducing lynx. Future foreseeable actions planned within lynx habitat in the Pilot-Sunset LAUs include the Carlin Minerals Exploration and South Pioneer Fire Salvage and Reforestation Projects. Carlin Mine is a one-year proposal. Suitability of habitat would not be affected. The project would use explosives and therefore represents a point of disturbance during the snow-free season (~June through October). Some activities proposed with the South Pioneer Project (hazard tree abatement, log hauling, and snow-plowing for reforestation) would occur within suitable lynx habitat and have potential to cumulatively result in disturbance or displacement of lynx with Proposed Action activities. Though down logs and future recruitment would be reduced on areas (~22 acres) where hazard trees are removed, these activities are unlikely to impact lynx due to an abundance of snags and potential future down log recruitment in fire-affected areas. Reforestation would cumulatively speed recovery of approximately 423 acres of unsuitable habitat, shortening the timeframe until these areas again provide habitat for lynx and their prey. The Proposed Action Alternative would add cumulatively to an increased potential for disturbance or displacement of lynx occupying the analysis area. However, reproducing lynx are unlikely to be affected due to the poor quality of habitat in the affected areas and also due to the lack of evidence that a reproducing population exists on the Boise NF.
Listed Species Determination (Canada Lynx) Implementing the Proposed Action may affect, but is not likely to adversely affect lynx.
Mountain Quail
Affected Environment A sensitive species on the Boise National Forest, mountain quail are most often associated with steep slopes or rugged terrain (Brennan et al. 1987). Breeding often occurs at high elevations
84 North Pioneer Fire Salvage and Restoration Project Environmental Assessment during spring and summer, with migrations occurring to lower elevations generally prior to snowfall. High elevation aspen stands surrounded by sagebrush and riparian habitats associated with forest habitats that have a significant shrub component are also used (Brennan et al. 1987). Fires in source habitat can have a short-term negative effect on source habitat, but in the long- term can promote growth and development of shrub habitats for mountain quail (Gutierrez and Delehanty 1999). Two mountain quail observations have been documented in the project area consisting of a single bird in 1993 and a small covey in 1995. One additional observation occurred just outside the project area in 1996. Source habitat capacity for mountain quail occurs on approximately 11,599 acres. An estimated 6,709 acres provided pre-fire source habitat, and 10,725 acres provides post-fire source habitat. The increase can be accounted for due to the effects of the 2016 Pioneer Fire on overstory vegetation. Areas burned by the Pioneer Fire will result in early successional habitats or lower canopy covers in surviving conifer stands, characteristics of areas that may develop a shrubby understory component and diversity of forbs and grasses. Terrestrial species dependent on shrub and herb understories for food and cover generally benefit from increased diversity of understories following fire (Peterson et al. 2009). The response of understory plants post-fire may be variable across the project area depending on burn severity and plant regeneration methods. Outside of high soil burn severity, understory plants may recover or invade from adjacent areas within one to 3 years, with growth enhanced by nutrients released during the burn. Plant recovery would likely be delayed in areas of high soil burn severity.
Direct and Indirect Effects Alternative A (No Action) The likelihood of persistence of mountain quail is considered moderate. While source habitat would be abundant through the short-term, the species has rarely been documented and the last observation occurred 20 years ago. Potentially, other non-habitat factors are influencing the species presence within the project area. Alternative B (Proposed Action) The Proposed Action Alternative has some negative influence on habitat quality and would increase potential for disturbance during implementation. Negative impacts have been mitigated to some extent by the inclusion of design features related to soils, snag retention, and protection of active nest sites. Source habitat remains abundant outside of activity areas and the likelihood of persistence of mountain quail would remain moderate. Approximately 1,851 acres of modeled source habitat is located within salvage or hazard tree removal areas. ML 1 roads would be opened and temporary roads would be constructed in source habitat. These activities would remove vegetation and convert these sites temporarily to a non- vegetated state. However design features have been included to reduce negative impacts to soils and to retain snags within the salvage units. In addition, logging would not occur within most riparian areas (240 feet width on each side of perennial streams). Riparian sites are heavily used by mountain quail following hatching of young. Reforestation activities would occur on 3,594 acres of modeled source habitat. While mixed shrubs and conifers provide habitat for the species, suitability of these sites is likely to decline
85 North Pioneer Fire Salvage and Restoration Project Environmental Assessment starting in the late short-term period (10–15 years) as stands mature, and increasing tree crowns begin to shade the understory. Reforestation would likely reduce the timeframe in which this source habitat remains suitable for mountain quail. Disturbance of breeding mountain quail could occur during implementation. Several activities overlap with areas modeled as source habitat. While initially these may have limited suitability due to sparse understory vegetation, habitat quality would improve as understory vegetation recovers. Potential impacts from disturbance are less likely to occur with activities (salvage harvest) that would be completed in the first two seasons post-fire. Design Feature WL-1 has been included to provide protection for any active nest site discovered during the implementation period.
Cumulative Effects Past vegetation management activities such as timber harvest, precommercial thinning, prescribed burning, and reforestation have all influenced, in conjunction with wildfire, the existing vegetation condition and therefore the abundance and distribution of source habitat for mountain quail for the No Action and the Proposed Action Alternatives. Ongoing and foreseeable activities that represent disturbance factors potentially influencing reproductive success include road and trail maintenance, recreational activities (berry-picking, fishing, camping, etc.), mining (including Carlin Minerals Exploration Project), invasive weed treatments, and fuelwood gathering. In addition, several roads (NFS roads 545 L/M, 582 C/D, 562E) are to be decommissioned under BAER 2017 or the Clear Creek decision and have a high overlap with source habitat. These factors affect about one fifth of source habitat and could affect quail at these locations. The cumulative potential for disturbance of mountain quail increases due to the Proposed Action activities, several of which overlap with modeled source habitat. While ongoing activities are likely to be disrupted during salvage harvest and hazard tree abatement, cumulative effects (i.e., an overall increase in human presence and extent of those activities) could still occur. The decommissioning of roads (ongoing and Proposed Action), once completed, represents a positive trend in habitat conditions in the long-term. These areas would be allowed to return to a natural vegetative state that could provide food and cover.
Sensitive Species Determination (Mountain Quail) Implementing the Proposed Action may impact individuals but is not likely to cause a trend to federal listing or a loss of viability.
Wolverine
Affected Environment Proposed for listing under the Endangered Species Act, wolverine are a wide ranging carnivore that occurs in relatively low densities, and occupies primarily high elevation habitats across the Northern Rockies. Wolverine do not appear to specialize on specific vegetation or geologic habitat features, instead select areas that are cold and reliably maintain deep persistent snow into the warm season.
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Wolverine are highly mobile and occupy large home ranges, anywhere from 15 to 300 square miles, and their source habitat closely overlaps lynx habitat. Therefore the larger analysis area, based on the Pilot-Sunset and Clear Creek LAUs, was selected to capture potential effects to this wide-ranging species. The 29,920 acres of source habitat for wolverine in the Pilot-Sunset LAU is centered around Pilot Peak and the landscape to the west. These high elevation sites tend to retain snow into late spring. Though wolverine denning has not been documented in the area, five records of wolverine were found for the Pilot-Sunset LAU. The 26,234 acres of source habitat for wolverine in the Clear Creek LAU occurs along the upper elevation ridgelines along the northern boundary and the major ridgeline running from Miller Mountain north to the Red Mountain Area. The Red Mountain Area at the northeast edge consists of a complex of talus slopes, cirque basins, and high mountain lakes; a portion of which is within the LAU. These sites are characteristic of denning habitat often described in the literature, though no confirmed use of the area for denning has been documented. No observations of wolverines or their sign have been recorded within the Clear Creek LAU. The 11,380 acres of source habitat within the project area is limited to the higher ridgelines and slopes with persistent snow. No records of wolverine have been documented in the project area.
Direct and Indirect Effects Alternative A (No Action) Current and future down log densities would be reduced in roadside habitats primarily due to the ongoing hazard abatement associated with routine road maintenance and fuelwood gathering. However, down logs are expected to be a common feature of the landscape. Tree mortality from the Pioneer Fire has resulted in abundant snags which would contribute to future down log recruitment, providing structure for den sites across a large portion of the analysis area. Ongoing human activities in wolverine habitat have potential to result in disturbance or displacement of wolverine. These would primarily be of concern if an active den site was involved. At this time, no historical den sites are known and no indications exist that effects to reproduction have resulted from ongoing human activities. Alternative B (Proposed Action) The only structural component of denning habitat potentially affected by proposed activities would be down log structure. Hazard tree felling would drop snags, accelerating the time frame these trees would become down logs. Removing hazard trees and salvaging would reduce future recruitment of down log structure in treated areas. The reduction in future down log recruitment within wolverine habitat is unlikely to affect wolverine due to the abundance of snags that exists within source habitat as a result of wildfire. Down log structure would be a common feature on the landscape for decades to come. Wolverine are susceptible to disturbance effects from human presence and activities, which may result in displacement movements away from those activities (Ruggiero et al. 1994). No historical denning sites have been identified within the analysis area, therefore no potential for disturbance exists at a known site. Hazard tree felling and removal, salvage, temporary road construction and decommissioning, log hauling, and road maintenance are unlikely to occur at these high elevations during the denning period due to cost and efficiency considerations. The
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only activity that occurs within source habitat during the denning period (February through early May) is snow-plowing for planting. Snow-plowing is proposed only in that portion of source habitat with inconsistent persistent snow (1–3 years out of 7) and at any given location would likely only occur once within the 10-year implementation period. To protect wolverine den sites, Design Feature WL-1 would restrict timing of project activities should an active denning site be discovered during implementation; therefore, the likelihood of effects to denning wolverine is low.
Cumulative Effects Ongoing human activities that could contribute to disturbance of wolverine include snow- grooming, winter and summer recreational activities, mining, invasive species treatments, and road and trail maintenance; or other activities that increase the chance of human/wolverine interaction in wolverine habitat for the No Action and the Proposed Action Alternatives. Foreseeable future activities within wolverine habitat include the one-year Carlin Minerals Exploration project and activities associated with the South Pioneer Fire Salvage and Reforestation Project. While these activities increase the level of human presence within the analysis area particularly in the next 2 to 3 years, most activities would not occur during denning (February through early May). Access is typically limited at these high elevation habitats to OSVs or backcountry skiing. Cumulative effects from implementing the Proposed Action are anticipated to be minimal. While disturbance potential may increase particularly in the next few years, the increase would have little overlap with the denning period and reproductive success would not be affected. Down logs that might provide structure at den sites are not limited within the analysis area and would become more common due to snag attrition in the future; therefore removal of snags and down logs during salvage and hazard tree abatement treatments would not negatively affect this habitat element at the scale (landscape) used by wolverine.
Proposed Species Determination (North American Wolverine) Implementing the actions described above is not likely to jeopardize the continued existence of the wolverine.
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Effects to Forest and Range Mosaic Species
Summary: The No Action Alternative would not change calving habitat, winter range or elk security and vulnerability. However, vegetation conditions that contribute to habitat suitability, habitat quality, and effectiveness would change even without taking specific actions. The Pioneer Fire has killed or top-killed vegetation across the broad landscape. This will effect elk habitat and use within the project area, and patterns of elk use and distribution are expected to change as a result of natural vegetation recovery over time. The Proposed Action would implement activities in modeled calving habitat. Salvage harvest and tree hazard treatments would have little impact are they would be implemented in the near future and vegetation would not have recovered such that they are likely to be used for calving. Spring reforestation may disturb cows and calves if implemented after non-conifer vegetation recovery. Hazard tree felling and salvage harvest in ungulate high use winter range would be implemented outside the key wintering period (December 15 through April 15) thereby minimizing disturbance and potential displacement of wintering elk. The Proposed Action would reduce screening cover though the limited removal of green hazard trees and through the removal of snags particularly along roadsides. Effects would be moderated to some degree by terrain and vegetative recovery after a few growing seasons. Elk security would be reduced during implementation as the extent and intensity of human activity would increase. Vulnerability may also increase due to a reduction of security related to implementation disturbance (rather than increased access for hunters). The proposed reforestation activities would accelerate the development of hiding cover.
Rocky Mountain Elk
Affected Environment The SOI, Rocky Mountain elk, is included in this section due to specific concerns (elk security, hiding cover, vulnerability, winter range, calving areas) identified internally or by the public. Elk also provide an important source of food for other species (gray wolf, wintering bald eagles) considered in the analysis, and an evaluation of effects to elk supports analysis of effects for those species. Elk are considered habitat generalists and occupy a wide variety of habitats on the forest including grasslands, shrublands, woodlands, and coniferous forest. Habitat use and distribution varies seasonally. Elk are migratory and may travel many miles each year between summer and lower-elevation winter ranges. Spring range is a key component of year-round habitat, and the quality of forage available on these transitional ranges affects production and survival of young. Summer and fall habitats are important as this is where animals build up the fat reserves that carry them through the winter months. Habitats located on gentle terrain and that provide a mix of lush vegetation and adjacent cover are important during the calving period. Hiding cover and security areas become increasingly important during hunting season, providing some escape from the pressures and stress of hunting season. This analysis will focus on four components of elk habitat: calving areas, winter range, security, and vulnerability.
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Calving Habitat Modeled calving habitat occurs in the mid-section of Clear Creek and also along the upper ridgelines to the north and the east. No calving habitat occurs in the Rock Creek drainage. Where calving habitat experienced high severity, stand-replacement fire in 2016, elk are unlikely to use these areas in the first 1–3 years post-fire because both forage and cover would be limited. A portion of the calving habitat along the eastern boundary may continue to be used in the initial years post-fire as fire severity was mixed and forage and cover is available in this area. Winter Range Winter snow accumulations and inaccessible forage at high elevations force elk to move to lower elevation habitats during the winter months. Winter range within the project area is concentrated along the South Fork Payette River corridor and includes the lower elevations in Clear and Rock Creeks. Elk use in Rock Creek is low based on historical winter count data provided by Idaho Fish and Game. Higher numbers of elk winter in lower Clear Creek where the 1989 Lowman Fire created large openings that quickly regenerated with shrubs. These areas were planted with conifers that achieved pole and small tree size prior to the 2016 Pioneer Fire. Most of the conifer regeneration was killed in 2016. Top-killed shrubs have already begun to resprout, and the area will likely provide abundant browse for wintering elk within a few years. Security and Vulnerability Security habitat provides elk shelter from detection and from disturbance due to human activities. Hiding cover is a dominant component of security habitat and is described as vegetation and habitat features “that provide elk with security or a means of escape from the threat of predators or harassment (Skovlin et al 2002, p. 540)”. Vulnerability to hunting mortality is influenced by both the presence and distribution of security habitat and access for humans to elk habitat through motorized, and to a lesser degree non-motorized, transportation systems (Christensen et al. 1993; Lyon and Christensen 2002; Stallings et al. 2002; Rowland et al. 2005). The Pioneer Fire reduced security habitat in the project area. Pre-fire vegetation conditions and dissected, steep terrain minimized the effects of human activities on elk occupying the habitat during spring through fall. Following the Pioneer Fire, 64% of the project area had a 50% or greater basal area loss indicating a loss of forest canopy that no longer can provide hiding cover because it is unlikely to be able to cover 90% of a standing elk at 200 feet. About 34% of the project area had basal area mortality of less than 50%, and still provide forest vegetation sufficient for hiding cover conditions and screening. In more mesic environments where soils were not damaged, hardwood species such as aspen, ninebark, willow, and Rocky mountain maple would respond rapidly and are capable of achieving heights taller than a standing elk within the first few growing seasons. Drier plant communities are expected to take longer to recover and may be less likely to support taller shrubs.
Direct and Indirect Effects Alternative A (No Action) Calving Habitat Vegetation within calving areas would begin to recover within the temporary timeframe. Forage would become abundant and regenerating shrubs and conifers would provide screening cover for
90 North Pioneer Fire Salvage and Restoration Project Environmental Assessment vulnerable calves in the short- to long-term. Down log habitat would add additional cover structure as trees killed by the fire fall to the ground. Calving activity is expected to resume and increase in areas where terrain, water, and vegetation meet cow elk parturition needs with each post-fire growing season. Winter Range Much of the winter range burned with a high vegetation severity (≥75% basal area loss) killing conifer regeneration, and at the minimum, top-killing other vegetation. Some shrubs had already begun to resprout by fall, indicating survival of below ground roots and buds. In addition, ceanothus, a valuable winter browse plants for elk (Cook 2002), was a common shrub before the fire, and is likely to show a strong post-fire response. Noxious weeds were present on winter range and are likely to increase due to fire effects which initially reduce native plants and provide seedbeds for weed establishment. Vegetation recovery would likely be variable across winter range, but typically these areas provide abundant forage and browse for wintering animals within a few years, extending into the long-term. Wintering ungulates themselves may be a factor affecting vegetation recovery. If high numbers of animals are attracted to an area, heavy browsing may stunt the growth and recovery of some shrub species. Security and Vulnerability The Pioneer Fire increased sight distances from many roads and trails in areas with greater than 50% basal area mortality. Limited cover provided by snag boles, limbs and uncast burned needles are sometimes all that remains for visual screening and does not provide good security habitat due to its sparseness and ephemeral nature (decay of needles, limbs, boles). Elk using these areas during open hunting would be more vulnerable than elk using areas with live vegetation that screens a standing elk. Lower intensity fire-affected areas largely retained enough live vegetation to continue to provide hiding cover and therefore some security for elk. Within the short-term, security habitat within the project area would recover from regrowth of shrub and hardwood species and over the long-term with regrowth of conifer forest habitat. Alternative B (Proposed Action) Calving Habitat Several activities are proposed in modeled calving habitat including 129 acres of salvage harvest, 389 acres of hazard tree fell and removal, 317 acres of reforestation, and snow plowing for planting. Salvage harvest is proposed within the Corral-Big Spruce Creek area and would be accomplished within the next two seasons, with a possibility of overlap between implementation and the calving period (May 1 through June 30). This calving area falls within a high vegetation burn severity and is unlikely to be used for calving during this time period, therefore no disturbance or displacement of females and calves is expected to result from salvage operations in this area. Hazard tree abatement would be implemented in calving habitat adjacent to open roads and trails. These actions would result in a higher level of disturbance during implementation though are occurring along roads and trails typically open to human uses and disturbances during the calving period. Implementation would not open any new areas to disturbance. Disturbance should be limited to a single season at any location and does not represent a long-term change in disturbance.
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Planting on 317 acres and snowplowing are generally implemented in the spring or early summer depending on the elevation, and has a higher likelihood for disturbance as it would be implemented following salvage harvest and at a point when vegetation has recovered such that habitat may again be used by elk. This disturbance could interfere with parental care and could leave the calf more vulnerable to predation. These proposed reforestation actions on 317 acres may also contribute beneficially to calving habitat in the long-term (>15 years) when conifers are planted in gentle terrain, in a manner emulating natural regeneration patterns of clumps and patches. Aspen clones would be avoided (buffered with open, non-planted space) which would help retain cover provided by aspen in all timeframes. Snags would be retained in salvage units (Design Feature VM-1) and would provide cover for calves in the short- or long-term when they fall. Winter Range Design Feature WL-8 would minimize disturbance and potential displacement of wintering elk in the high ungulate use area in lower Clear Creek by prohibiting hazard tree felling and salvage harvest in ungulate winter range during the key wintering period (December 15 through April 15). About 1,549 acres of reforestation would occur on winter range and could be implemented when winter ranges are still occupied. While this would improve cover and security in the long- term, the conifers would eventually begin to shade and reduce the understory that provides forage and browse for wintering elk. Security and Vulnerability The Proposed Action would remove few green trees and only if they are a hazard which means forest canopy would generally not be altered and security habitat would be retained in these areas. The existing motorized and non-motorized transportation system also does not change with the Proposed Action, though some closed, temporary, or even unauthorized routes may be used for salvage operations but returned to their closed status post-implementation. During implementation, the temporarily opened routes would increase elk vulnerability to mortality during the hunting period if the public is allowed access on these routes. However, Design Feature WL-3 addresses this issue by restricting public motorized use of ML 1, ML 2A, seasonally closed and temporary roads during project activities and includes direction to close or decommission these roads at the conclusion of the activities. In the temporary (<3 years) and short-term (3–15 years) timeframes, security habitat would be reduced as screening cover provided by dead trees and the limbs and boles of those trees on the post-fire landscape are removed for salvage and, to a lesser extent, hazard trees. A potential incremental increase in vulnerability to hunting mortality is expected with this loss of cover. However, dead tree habitat does not provide the same quality of security cover that live vegetation provides, but in the absence of live vegetation it does confer some benefit. Effects from the removal of tree boles that provide screening cover would be moderated by terrain in places and the vegetative recovery throughout the project area after multiple growing seasons. Several proposed activities (hazard tree abatement, salvage harvest, temporary road construction or decommission, ML 1 road re-opening or closing, fall planting, and unauthorized route decommissioning could be implemented during the fall hunting season (September 1 through November 30). A total of 115 miles of existing NFS roads would be used for project related implementation, as well as an additional 4.3 miles of temporary road and 2.7 miles of
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unauthorized road which would be decommissioned. Implementation would likely result in direct disturbance and displacement of elk from areas within and immediately adjacent to those actions. Displacement could cause animals to move from suitable elk habitat (e.g., foraging, hiding cover) to lesser quality habitat. Displacement could also cause an increase in movement that makes affected elk more vulnerable to hunter detection. These effects are expected to be greatest the first 3 years, diminishing as actions are fully implemented. Both salvage and hazard tree felling and removal would also have indirect effects to security habitat with the felling of fire-killed trees along open roads in the project area. As previously stated, fire-killed trees do not necessarily contribute to the ability to screen elk from human detection as effectively as green vegetation, but they do contribute some screening value. The felling of those trees would incrementally reduce the effectiveness of security habitat and increase vulnerability of elk to detection and hunting mortality. That effect would occur on roughly 7,223 acres, or 26% of the project area. On those acres, vulnerability to hunting mortality would increase in the temporary and short-term, and diminish with natural or artificial reforestation and recovery of shrub and hardwood vegetation. Proposed reforestation on approximately 7,921 acres of habitat would augment conifer regrowth potentially accelerating development of hiding cover. It is more likely though that hardwood and shrub post-fire regrowth would provide hiding cover decades sooner than conifer habitat (planted or natural).
Cumulative Effects Past vegetation management activities would have influenced fire behavior and fire effects, thus contributing to current vegetation conditions for the No Action and the Proposed Action Alternatives. Road and trail construction and maintenance affect security of calving areas, winter ranges, and vulnerability during the hunting season. Ongoing activities that continue to reduce security are related to the existing road and trail systems which serve as the conduit for human disturbances on the landscape. Motorized roads and trails that remain open during the fall hunting period in particular facilitate hunter access and increase the vulnerability of elk and other big game. Other ongoing activities potentially affecting elk habitat include noxious weed treatments (annual program, BAER 2017) and road decommissioning (Clear Creek Integrated Project). Both of these activities would help maintain or improve habitat conditions for elk, though would create a source of disturbance during implementation. One future foreseeable activity, Carlin Minerals Exploration Project, would have an impact on available elk security during one fall hunting season. The exploration site is located on a road that is closed to the public. The planned use of explosives and the accompanying sound blast would expand disturbance beyond the site an estimated one-half mile. This project is expected to occur within the temporary timeframe and coincide with the Proposed Action salvage and hazard tree removal activities. The Proposed Action would cumulatively add to disturbance and displacement effects above the levels currently occurring and expected because of future actions. There would be a larger footprint of disturbance within the project area, providing a greater area of disturbance and displacement associated with North Pioneer activities. This may increase vulnerability of elk to
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hunting mortality. Some activities also occur within calving habitat and may add cumulatively to existing disturbances during the implementation period. The Proposed Action, in conjunction with past, reasonably foreseeable, and ongoing actions, would have temporary/short-term cumulative effects to disturbance from salvage harvest operations occurring on temporary and reopened roads and short-term/long-term cumulative effects to security habitat along roadsides by reducing (dead tree) stand densities that can provide visual screening contributing to low quality security habitat.
Effects to Riverine and Riparian Wetland Species
Summary: For the Proposed Action Alternative, the likelihood of spotted frog persistence within the analysis area remains low to moderate, similar to the No Action Alternative. While the Proposed Action increases negative impacts in the temporary and short-term timeframes, it also results in slightly more benefits in the long-term than the No Action Alternative from the proposed riparian and conifer planting; though, neither change is large enough to affect the likelihood of persistence within the next 15 to 20 years.
Columbia Spotted Frog
Affected Environment Columbia spotted frog is a sensitive species on the Boise National Forest. In addition, the species serves a variety of functional roles within the community and is associated with habitat elements used by other species in the family; and was selected as a focal species for these reasons. Columbia spotted frogs are aquatic and typically occur in or near permanent bodies of water such as lakes, ponds, slow moving streams, and marshes (Gomez 1994). The analysis area includes the three 6th hydrologic units (HU) that encompass the project area: Upper Clear Creek, Lower Clear Creek, and Rock Creek. Spotted frogs have not been documented in the analysis area, though other amphibians (long-toed salamander [Ambystoma macrodactylum] and Rocky Mountain tailed frog [Ascaphus montanus]) are known to occur. Land management activities and the recent wildfires are influencing current habitat conditions for spotted frogs in the analysis area. Road densities are low (<0.7 mi/mi2) in Upper Clear Creek, moderate (0.7 to 1.7 mi/mi2) in Lower Clear Creek, and high (>1.7 mi/mi2) in Rock Creek. Sediment from roads contributes to lower water quality. Roads fragment riparian habitat and can disrupt movement along riparian corridors. Frogs crossing roads are vulnerable to roadkill. The 2016 Pioneer wildfire has had an effect on the vegetation in the analysis area. Vegetation is important in that it not only provides cover and food for frogs and their prey, but also has an influence on water quality, channel conditions and dynamics, and stream flows. The recent fire has affected large portions of each of the three 6th HUs. Vegetation was most affected in the Upper Clear Creek 6th HU and least in Lower Clear Creek. These fire effects have reduced the quality of habitat for spotted frogs and other amphibians within the analysis area and would continue to influence habitat for many years to come. The Fisheries Technical Report describes the current baseline conditions for riparian habitats; based on key watershed indicators for spotted frogs, current habitat conditions are degraded in each of the three 6th HUs.
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Direct and Indirect Effects Alternative A (No Action) The likelihood of spotted frog persistence within the analysis area remains low to moderate under the No Action Alternative. Habitat quality is expected to be on an improving trajectory as vegetation recovers, slopes become more stable, and road decommissioning and culvert replacement decisions continue to be implemented. No direct effects are anticipated under the No Action Alternative. Indirect effects would be related to vegetation recovery. Deciduous trees, shrubs, forbs, and grasses would begin to recover during the first growing season. Rapid recovery is anticipated in areas of low burn severity with recovery taking up to a few years in moderate burn severity. Vegetation recovery in severely burned soils may take longer. Conifers are expected to naturally regenerate in smaller fire-created openings where mature trees survived and provide a source of seed. Conifer regeneration in larger openings may not occur for many decades if no seed sources remain. Reforestation is most likely to be retarded in the Upper Clear Creek 6th HU as it was most affected by stand-replacement fire. As vegetation recovers, watershed conditions would improve (lower temperatures, decreased sediment and streamflows) and the riparian system would become more stable. Vegetation along stream sides and wetlands would improve both cover for spotted frogs and food and cover for prey. Recovery would begin in the temporary timeframe representing an improving trend in habitat quality for spotted frogs. Alternative B (Proposed Action) The likelihood of spotted frog persistence within the analysis area remains low to moderate, similar to the No Action Alternative. While the Proposed Action increases negative impacts in the temporary and short-term timeframes and also results in slightly more benefits in the long- term than the No Action Alternative, neither change is large enough to affect the likelihood of persistence within the next 15 to 20 years. Direct effects to spotted frogs could result from activities that take place within riparian areas. Frogs could be injured or killed by tree felling in RCAs, vehicles traveling on roads, and equipment working in the vicinity of streams, ponds, or wetlands. This is likely to affect individual frogs. Design Feature WL-1 would prevent impacts to breeding sites if they are discovered during implementation. Frogs have highly permeable skins and could be negatively affected by petroleum or chemical spills. Design features have been included that would minimize the risk of spills in their habitat (Design Features FH-3, FH-10, and TR-2). Natural vegetation recovery would be the same as described for the No Action Alternative. In addition, riparian and conifer planting in the uplands would speed recovery of vegetation resulting in an improving trend in habitat quality. Temporary road construction, road maintenance, and road decommissioning would result in temporary increases in sediment which reduces water quality. Road decommissioning would have short and long-term benefits by decreasing sediment input to streams and reducing human activities within riparian areas that impact streamside vegetation.
Cumulative Effects Past activities were considered in describing the baseline conditions for the No Action and the Proposed Action Alternatives. Ongoing activities that have an influence on water quality,
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watershed condition, and disturbance or displacement of spotted frogs include road and trail maintenance, road use, road decommissioning (Clear Creek Integrated Project), straw mulching (BAER), and culvert replacement (Big Spruce Creek). While many of these activities continue to degrade riparian habitats, three are considered beneficial. Road decommissioning reduces road impacts (roadkill, sediment delivery, habitat fragmentation) in the short- and long-term. Straw mulching helps to stabilize slopes in the temporary and short-term timeframes and prevent major debris flows. The culvert at Big Spruce Creek would be replaced with one that allows for aquatic species passage, improving habitat connectivity along this riparian corridor. The Proposed Action would add cumulatively to the negative impacts that occur in the temporary and short-term timeframes. Unauthorized road decommissioning, riparian planting, and reforestation all add cumulatively to the long-term benefits and would incrementally contribute to an improving trend in habitat conditions.
Management Indicator Species
Summary: Source habitat abundance is unaffected and would continue to increase under both alternatives. Habitat quality (large snag abundance) within roadside buffers remains degraded under both alternatives. Breeding white-headed woodpeckers may be impacted, though risks of affecting reproductive success have been reduced by the inclusion of design feature WL-1 under the Proposed Action. The Proposed Action shortens the conifer recovery period in nonlethal and mixed1 fire regimes, thereby supporting desired trends for white-headed woodpecker habitat on the Forest. For the black-backed woodpecker, the Proposed Action would reduce source habitat from an existing 8,971 acres to 6,725 acres within the North Pioneer Project area in the temporary timeframe. The effects of salvage harvest and hazard tree treatments on habitat abundance extends into the short-term timeframe. By the end of the short-term, source habitat abundance would be the same under both alternatives due to the ephemeral nature of habitat provided by severely burned forests. Enough source habitat remains within the Project area that black-backed woodpecker numbers are expected to increase in the next few years as the woodpeckers colonize the burned areas to take advantage of abundant food resources, with subsequent declines in concert with declining bark- and wood-boring beetle populations as the burn ages, similar to the No Action Alternative. The temporary and short-term loss of source habitat under the Proposed Action would not change the overall trend for population (rapid increase, followed by a decline) or source habitat (decline) for this species. Pileated woodpecker source habitat abundance would increase in the short-term under both alternatives. Habitat adjacent to open roads and trails would continue to be degraded (loss of snags, down logs, or down recruitment) by ongoing or proposed activities. The Proposed Action would shorten the conifer recovery period due to reforestation in some PVGs utilized by the species.
The Forest Plan defines MIS as representative species whose habitat conditions or population changes are used to assess the impacts of management activities on similar species in a particular area (USDA Forest Service 2010b, p. 440). Forest MIS were selected largely due to their use of snag habitats but also because of their association with old forest habitats, departed conditions, and natural disturbance patterns within forest communities. These types of habitats are also areas where the effects of management actions are of greatest interest due to current conditions, the types of management activities in those habitats, and the dependence of numerous wildlife species, especially species of conservation concern, on those habitats. In particular, selected MIS
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are associated with snags in low-elevation old forest, broad-elevation old forest, or disturbed forest habitats following events such as wildfire or outbreaks of insect or disease. Many wildlife species depend on snags, either directly for denning, nesting, or foraging habitat, or indirectly for recruitment of logs, which are then used for denning, resting, or foraging habitat. Three wildlife species, the white-headed woodpecker, black-backed woodpecker, and pileated woodpecker, were identified as MIS in the Forest Plan (USDA Forest Service 2010b, pp. 260– 269). Fifty MIS monitoring transects, totaling 500 count points, were established on the Forest in 2004 to monitor pileated woodpeckers and white-headed woodpeckers. Data has been collected during the breeding season annually since 2004. The black-backed woodpecker was added as a MIS in 2010 (USDA Forest Service 2010b) and monitoring began in 2013.
White-headed Woodpecker White-headed woodpecker was one of the focal species for the project discussed above and those disclosures are not repeated here. From an MIS disclosure perspective, the white-headed woodpecker was selected as an MIS in the Forest Plan because it is likely linked to a suite of other species that use source habitats tied to large trees, open canopy conditions, large snags, and old-forest habitat in low-elevation forests dominated by ponderosa pine that developed under nonlethal and mixed1 fire regimes. Source habitat abundance would increase in the short-term under Alternatives A and B. Habitat quality within 200-feet of open roads and trails would continue to be degraded by ongoing hazard tree abatement and fuelwood removal for the No Action Alternative, and activities related to hazard tree abatement and the ongoing fuelwood program would degrade habitat located adjacent to open roads and trails for the Proposed Action. In the Proposed Action, although removal of large snags is likely to be concentrated in the temporary timeframe versus spread out over a longer period extending well into the short-term. Reforestation would benefit white- headed woodpecker by speeding recovery of source habitat capacity and shortening the time period that it would take to develop suitable conditions for this woodpecker. Both alternatives show an increasing trend in habitat abundance in the short-term. The Proposed Action has the added benefit of shortening the recovery period of source habitat capacity, thereby supporting desired trends for white-headed woodpecker habitat on the Forest.
Black-backed Woodpecker The Black-backed Woodpecker was selected as a MIS for the Forest in 2010 (USDA Forest Service 2010b) because of their association with high numbers of snags in disturbed forests, use of late-seral old forest conditions, and relationship with beetle outbreaks in the years immediately following fire or insect and disease outbreaks. Management activities, such as salvage logging, timber harvest, and firewood collection, can affect this species. Under the No Action Alternative, source habitat abundance would remain similar to the existing condition in the temporary timeframe and then begin to decline as time since fire increases. Burned areas provide ephemeral habitat for black-backed woodpeckers which respond positively to high abundance of beetle- and wood-boring beetle larvae that populate recently burned areas. Black-backed woodpecker abundance is expected to rapidly increase within the next few years, and then begin a decline in concert with declining food and snag resources. Black-backed
97 North Pioneer Fire Salvage and Restoration Project Environmental Assessment woodpecker habitat would be limited to surviving mature forests by the end of the short-term timeframe where they would persist in low numbers until the next disturbance event. The Proposed Action would reduce source habitat for black-backed woodpeckers from an existing 8,971 acres to 6,725 acres within the project area in the temporary timeframe. The reduction is the result of salvage harvest in high vegetation burn severity areas (>75% basal area loss) resulting from the 2016 fire. Source habitat would continue to decline into the short-term and by the end of the short-term period (3–15 years) would be limited to mature, dense forest (2,626 acres) that survived the fire. The effects of salvage harvest on habitat abundance extends only into the short-term timeframe due to the ephemeral nature of habitat occurring in high vegetation burn severity areas where salvage harvest occurs. Enough source habitat remains within the project area that black-backed woodpecker numbers are expected to increase in the next few years as the woodpeckers colonize the burned areas to take advantage of abundant food resources. Black-backed woodpecker numbers would be expected to decline in concert with declining bark- and wood-boring beetle populations as the burn ages. This decline is not affected by salvage harvest, but is related to the time since fire.
Pileated Woodpecker The pileated woodpecker was selected as a MIS for the Forest because of its association with broad-elevation, old forest and habitat components including large trees, snags, and logs. Source habitat abundance would increase in the short-term under the No Action Alternative. Habitat quality within 200-feet of open roads and trails would continue to be degraded by ongoing hazard tree abatement and fuelwood removal due to the reduction of large snags and down logs. Source habitat abundance would decrease slightly (–1.5 acres) due to temporary road construction, then increase in the short-term under the Proposed Action, similar to what would occur under the No Action Alternative. Proposed Action activities related to hazard tree abatement and the ongoing fuelwood program would degrade habitat located adjacent to open roads and trails. This is similar to the No Action, although removal of large snags and down logs is likely to be concentrated in the temporary timeframe versus spread out over a longer period extending well into the short-term. Reforestation would benefit pileated woodpecker by speeding recovery of source habitat capacity and shortening the time period that it would take to develop suitable conditions for this woodpecker. Both alternatives show an increasing trend in habitat abundance in the short-term, though habitat adjacent to open roads would continue to be degraded by ongoing or proposed actions. The Proposed Action has the added benefit of shortening the recovery period for some source habitat capacity, thereby supporting desired trends for pileated woodpecker habitat on the Forest.
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Transportation System
Summary: Neither the No Action Alternative nor the Proposed Action would change the miles of NFS road or Operational Maintenance Levels of existing roads; NFS road densities would remain the same. NFS roads would not be decommissioned, and new permanent road closures, seasonal restrictions, or changes to vehicle use on the roads would not occur. The final miles of temporary road would also be the same under both alternatives, as currently no temporary roads exist, and after implementation of the Proposed Action, the 7.0 miles of temporary road constructed to facilitate project activities would be decommissioned. The No Action Alternative would not maintain any additional miles of NFS road within the project area. The miles of road maintained within the project area would continue to be performed annually at the same level and frequency as before the fire, but the result would be increased road maintenance needs due to the post-fire effects, while Forest funding for road maintenance would remain unchanged. Under the No Action Alternative, Operational ML 1 roads would not be re-opened to support the dead tree salvage and reforestation activities. The No Action Alternative does not propose salvage operations; therefore, the No Action Alternative would preclude receipts from salvage harvest to address deferred road maintenance needs and other restoration needs associated with the Pioneer Fire. Benefits to human life and safety would not occur under the No Action Alternative as hazards associated with fire-killed trees would remain. The threat to human life and safety would increase where hazard trees remain along roads open yearlong or open seasonally. Increased road closures would occur to address maintenance needs and hazard tree mitigation leading to a disruption of travel and access on NFS lands within and outside of the project area. The Proposed Action would maintain 115.1 miles of NFS road with approximately 53.9 miles of Light, 45.6 miles of Moderate, and 15.6 miles of Heavy road maintenance. The Proposed Action includes reopening 6.9 miles of closed Operational ML 1 roads for hauling to facilitate salvage operations; these roads would be returned to a state of storage following use. About 109 miles of roads open to motorized and administrative use and about 6.9 miles of ML 1 roads would be treated for hazard trees, which would provide a safe transportation system and decrease long-term maintenance needs.
This section describes how the alternatives address the Purpose of the North Pioneer Project to remove hazard trees affecting public health and safety along travel routes and within developed sites; reduce watershed impacts resulting from NFS roads and unauthorized routes; and recover forest economic value and benefits through salvage, generating revenues to support the accomplishment of project objectives. Additionally, this section addresses concerns identified during public scoping regarding safe access to the project area; not reducing the number of roads, including NFS roads and trails in the Project Area; the location and placement of temporary roads; replacement of culverts damaged by fire; haul routes; heavy traffic on limited roads; road densities before, during, and after project implementation; and consistency of proposed activities with the Roadless Rule. Refer to the project record Transportation Resource Technical Report for the detailed supporting analysis.
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Indicators The following indicators were analyzed to measure alternative effectiveness at meeting the purpose and need desired conditions and addressing concerns for the transportation resource. How many miles of NFS road would be maintained during the salvage project? • Miles of NFS roads maintained. How many miles of NFS road currently in a state of storage (Operational ML 1) would be reopened for hauling purposes to facilitate salvage operations during the project and returned to a state of storage following use? • Miles of NFS ML 1 road reopened, maintained, and reclosed. How many miles of temporary road would be constructed to facilitate salvage operations? What are National Forest System (NFS) Road • Miles of temporary road Maintenance Levels and How Many miles of Each constructed, maintained, Maintenance Level Occur within the Project Area? and decommissioned. How would roads be maintained The existing transportation system in the Project Area has three to provide for user safety? operational maintenance levels (ML) as described here. • Miles of road along which Maintenance Level 1—Assigned to intermittent service roads hazard trees would be during the time they are closed to vehicular traffic. Basic removed. custodial maintenance is performed as needed to keep damage to The analysis area for direct, adjacent resources to an acceptable level and to perpetuate the road to facilitate future management activities. indirect, and cumulative effects to the transportation system is the Maintenance Level 2—Assigned to roads open for public or 28,007-acre Project area. The permitted use by high clearance vehicles. Passenger car traffic is temporal boundaries for not a consideration. analyzing the direct and indirect Maintenance Level 3—Assigned to roads open and maintained effects are 0–3 years (short term) for travel by a prudent driver in a standard passenger car. User and 3–15 years (long term). comfort and convenience are not considered priorities.
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Road Maintenance During Salvage
Summary: Under the No Action Alternative, road would be maintained within the project area annually at the same level and frequency as before the fire, but the result would be increased road maintenance needs within the project area due to the post-fire effects while Forest funding for road maintenance would remain unchanged. This situation would cause the threat to human life and safety to increase where hazard trees remain along roads open yearlong or seasonally. The Proposed Action would maintain 115.1 miles of NFS road with approximately 53.9 miles of Light, 45.6 miles of Moderate, and 15.6 miles of Heavy road maintenance. Hazard trees would be removed along 109 miles of roads open to public motorized and administrative use and about 6.9 miles of ML 1 roads which would provide a safer transportation system and decrease long-term maintenance needs. NFS roads would be used during salvage operations to haul material to public highways on 6.9 miles of ML 1 roads, 88.1 miles of ML 2 roads, and 20.1 miles of ML 3 roads.
Affected Environment The project area contains 127.0 miles of NFS roads: 18.0 miles of ML 1 roads, 88.9 miles of ML 2 roads, and 20.1 miles of ML 3 roads (Table 15). Due to budgetary constraints, only about 21% of open roads within the project area, or 23 miles of ML 2 and ML 3 roads, receive annual maintenance. About 86 miles of ML 2 roads within the project area receive no annual road maintenance. Primary routes such as NFS roads 510 and 582 (about 15.5 miles total) receive maintenance, such as road surface blading and ditch cleaning, twice a year. Additional maintenance following the Pioneer Fire was completed on 112 miles of NFS roads in fall 2016 as part of Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER). These road drainage reconstruction treatments included ditch and culvert cleaning, road template reshaping, construction of drain dips adjacent to culverts in stream crossings where diversion potential existed, culvert removals, and the installation of debris racks to protect culvert inlets. Within the project area, 36.8 miles of NFS roads are open year-round to all vehicles. Another 66.2 miles of NFS road are designated as open to all vehicles, seasonally. All routes open for public motorized use are identified on the Lowman Ranger District MVUM. For the 3.6 miles of State Highway 21 within the Project Area, Idaho Department of Transportation (ITD) maintenance crews perform recurring road maintenance tasks such as snow plowing, ditch cleaning, pavement repair, sign maintenance, and other drainage improvements.
Alternative A (No Action)
Direct and Indirect Effects The No Action Alternative would increase road maintenance needs within the project area while Forest funding for road maintenance would remain unchanged, and consequently, road maintenance would continue to be performed at the same level and frequency as before the fire. This situation would increase the threat to human life and safety where hazard trees remain along roads open yearlong or open seasonally as designated on the Lowman Ranger District MVUM. Increased road closures would occur, as needed, to address maintenance needs and hazard tree mitigation leading to a disruption of travel and access on NFS lands within and outside of the project area.
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In the short term (0–5 years), effects from the Pioneer Fire would increase the potential for debris flows and erosion along roads, creating additional funding requirements to maintain roads at the current maintenance level. Infrastructure items such culverts would see increased potential for blockage and failure, and increased surface loss and ditch erosion would be expected to occur. Road closures may occur where road maintenance is inadequate to provide safe travel on roads open to the public due to debris slides or culvert failures. The cleanup of trees on the roadway would require workers and heavy equipment to reopen roads annually for travel, and this demand would likely increase and continue for years. Additionally, the added threat to human life and safety would occur due to the possibility of vehicles being hit by falling trees or Forest visitors becoming trapped behind the fallen trees with no way to summon help, as cell phone service is not a viable option for communications in the project area.
Cumulative Effects Two undersized culverts on NFS road 582 at Pole Creek and Big Spruce Creek will be replaced with bottomless arches with natural stream substrate during fall 2017. These replacements will increase the flow capacity of the structures and remove the existing barriers to fish migration. While the replacement work is ongoing, NFS road 582 would be closed for up to 5 weeks from mileposts 10 through 12. Forest users heading towards the Bear Valley or Deadwood area from Lowman will have to use alternate access routes while the road closure is in effect. Replacing the undersized culverts will benefit human life and safety for users driving NFS road 582 and reduce long-term road maintenance costs as the risk of culvert failures and road washouts will be reduced at the two sites. However, because maintenance is not proposed under this alternative, cumulative effects would not occur to this indicator.
Alternative B (Proposed Action)
Direct and Indirect Effects Under the Proposed Action, NFS roads would be used during salvage operations to haul material to public highways, such as State Highway 21and the Banks-Lowman Highway, on a total of 115.1 miles of road: 6.9 miles of ML 1 roads, 88.1 miles of ML 2 roads, and 20.1 miles of ML 3 roads (Table 15). Table 15. miles of National Forest System roads in the project area and those to be used during salvage operations under the Proposed Action Maintenance Level (ML) Miles within the Project Area Miles Used During Salvage ML 1 18.0 6.9 ML 2 88.9 88.1 ML 3 20.1 20.1 Total 127.0 115.1
The Proposed Action would maintain these 115.1 miles of NFS road with approximately 53.9 miles of Light, 45.6 miles of Moderate, and 15.6 miles of Heavy road maintenance, as
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described below (Table 16). Magnesium chloride would be applied to about 16 miles of NFS road 582 to mitigate dust and increase visibility for public use. About 6.9 miles of ML 1 roads, 88.1 miles of ML 2 roads, and 20.1 miles of ML 3 roads would also be treated for hazard trees which would provide a safe transportation system and decrease long-term maintenance needs. Table 16. miles of road maintenance proposed under the Proposed Action Type of Maintenance Miles Light 53.9 Moderate 45.6 Heavy 15.6 Magnesium chloride treatment 16.0 Hazard tree removal 115.1
As mentioned in the discussion of the “Affected Environment”, the annual Forest road maintenance budget is insufficient to address road maintenance needs across the entire road system in the project area. Under the Proposed Action, approximately$146,980 from timber sale activities related to the salvage of dead and hazard trees would be available for road maintenance, making supplemental funding or contributions from appropriated annual Forest budget for road maintenance unnecessary. Road closures would be issued in areas where tree felling operations are in progress adjacent to roads or on road segments too narrow to safely support mixed two-way traffic. Press releases would be published in local newspapers to inform the public of current road use restrictions. Additionally, signs would be posted at key road intersections to advise the public about current road closures and potential alternate routes. The Forest Service would coordinate with the Idaho Transportation Department District 3 for project activities along or within the State Highway 21 right-of-way (ROW). Coordination would include ROW encroachment applications and permits, to which the terms and conditions from the permits would be adhered. Road maintenance would be delineated into three categories: pre-haul, during haul, and post- haul. Pre-Haul Road Maintenance Pre-haul road maintenance prepares roads for use by log trucks and is completed prior to beginning hauling operations. Pre-haul road maintenance can be categorized by three levels of work: • Light Maintenance—Applicable to roads that receive road maintenance annually or roads that received the Road Drainage Reconstruction Treatment under BAER in 2016. Work typically includes road surface blading, ditch cleaning, and culvert cleaning as needed, and removing fallen trees or brush from the roadway. This type of maintenance is typical of a primary route or roadway open yearlong to motorized vehicles. Light maintenance would occur on 53.9 miles in the project area (Table 16).
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• Moderate Maintenance—Applicable to roads periodically receiving road maintenance that are still drivable by a high clearance vehicle. Work typically includes removal of vegetation from the road shoulders, road surface re-shaping and blading, ditch cleaning and culvert cleaning, replacement of deficient culverts or installation of new culverts, and removal of fallen trees from the roadway. This maintenance is typical of a secondary route or roadway open yearlong or seasonally to motorized vehicles, which may only be open for administrative access. Moderate maintenance would occur on 45.6 miles in the project area (Table 16). • Heavy Maintenance—Applicable to roads that have not received any road maintenance in years and are too overgrown to drive, or ML 1 roads. The roadbed may be rutted and narrow from lack of surface blading, and brush may cover the entire road surface. Work typically includes removal of vegetation from the entire road surface, road surface widening and blading, slump and slide repair, ditch cleaning and culvert cleaning, replacement of deficient culverts or installation of new culverts, and the removal of fallen trees from the roadway. This maintenance level is typical of a tertiary route or roadway open seasonally to motorized vehicles or closed to all motorized use, such as an ML 1 road. Heavy maintenance would occur on 15.6 miles in the project area (Table 16). During Haul Maintenance During haul, road maintenance occurs during active hauling operations and keeps the roads safe for travel. Work includes road surface blading, as-needed cleaning of ditchlines and ditch relief culverts, maintenance of structures such as bridges and cattleguards, and as-needed incidental roadside vegetation clearing. Typically, a maintenance cycle occurs once every 60 loaded log truck trips over the road segment. Applying water during road maintenance cycles would control dust during haul. On NFS road 582, magnesium chloride would be applied in lieu of water to increase the time between road maintenance cycles as this arterial route supports mixed traffic types. The intent is to keep this primary route open to public traffic, if operationally feasible, to provide access to the popular recreation areas in the North Fork Boise River and Atlanta areas. Post-Haul Maintenance Post-haul maintenance occurs after hauling has been completed. Roads that would remain open after project completion would essentially receive the same maintenance as during haul maintenance—road surface blading, cleaning of ditchlines and culverts, and maintenance of structures such as bridges and cattleguards as needed. For ML 2 roads, additional post-haul maintenance, such as waterbar construction, would occur where appropriate to control road surface drainage and reduce erosion. Post-haul maintenance requirements for ML 1 roads are discussed below.
Cumulative Effects Some of the roads to be used for haul within the North Pioneer Fire Project area may also be used when implementing the South Pioneer Fire Salvage and Reforestation Project. This overlap would occur when roads provide the shortest or only haul route from the north project area through the south project area to State Highway 21. Road maintenance work requirements for pre-haul, during haul, and post-haul are included in each contract and are specified by road
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number. The purchaser has the responsibility to meet the requirements to maintain the haul routes commensurate with use and to share in the performance to those requirements with the purchasers of adjacent sales that haul over the same road segments. Two undersized culverts on NFS road 582 at Pole Creek and Big Spruce Creek will be replaced with bottomless arches with natural stream substrate during fall 2017. These replacements will increase the flow capacity of the structures and remove the existing barriers to fish migration. While the replacement work is ongoing, NFS road 582 would be closed for up to 5 weeks from mileposts 10 through 12. Forest users heading towards the Bear Valley or Deadwood area from Lowman will have to use alternate access routes while the road closure is in effect. Replacing the undersized culverts will benefit human life and safety for users driving NFS road 582 and reduce long-term road maintenance costs as the risk of culvert failures and road washouts will be reduced at the two sites. Combined with the Proposed Action, these activities would cumulatively improve roads within the project area.
Maintenance Level 1 Road Reopened for Salvage
Summary: Under the No Action Alternative, ML 1 roads would not be reopened. As part of the Proposed Action, 6.9 miles of closed ML 1 roads would be reopened for hauling purposes to facilitate salvage operations during the project, and then returned to a state of storage following use which would address the purpose of the project to recover forest economic value and benefits through salvage.
Affected Environment Approximately 18.0 miles of ML 1 roads occur within the project area (Table 15). These NFS roads are closed to all motorized use.
Alternative A (No Action)
Direct and Indirect Effects Under the No Action Alternative, ML 1 roads would not be reopened to support dead tree salvage and reforestation activities. Roads would remain in a state of storage. Needs associated with the Pioneer Fire would be a lower priority for road maintenance on these tertiary road systems. Potential issues related to the Pioneer Fire, such as erosion and stabilization, slides, and unauthorized use, could occur at higher rate. Current funding sources are inadequate to address these short- and long-term needs. Receipts from salvage harvest would not be available to address deferred road maintenance needs associated with the Pioneer Fire.
Cumulative Effects No present or foreseeable future activities would have any additional effect on reopening ML 1 roads as they are currently closed to all motorized use and would continue to be closed under the
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No Action Alternative. As a result, additional or cumulative effects either indirectly or directly related to these ML 1 roads would not occur.
Alternative B (Proposed Action)
Direct and Indirect Effects As part of the Proposed Action, 6.9 miles of currently closed ML 1 roads would be taken out of storage to facilitate removing forest products, addressing the purpose of the project to recover forest economic value and benefits through salvage. The roads would be prepared for haul by removing earthen barriers and waterbars, downed trees, and other vegetation on the road surface; restoring the road template to accommodate log truck traffic; and installing drainage features to control erosion. The roads would still be closed to public traffic, would be signed as “Closed” on the ground, and would not appear on the Lowman Ranger District MVUM as roads authorized for public motorized use. Following use, these ML 1 roads would be put back into storage and would remain part of the Forest road inventory. The methods used to prepare the roads for long-term storage include installing waterbars to handle road surface drainage, removing culverts, and physically blocking the road entrance using constructed earthen barriers or boulders. If the topography is too flat for barriers to be effective in deterring unauthorized motorized use, a section of the beginning of the road would be recontoured and covered with vegetative slash to blend it into the landscape.
Cumulative Effects No present or foreseeable future activities would have additional effects on reopening of ML 1 roads as they are currently closed to all motorized use and would be returned to that state as part of this project. Thus, additional or cumulative effects either indirectly or directly related to these roads would not occur.
Temporary Road Construction
Summary: Temporary road construction would not occur under the No Action Alternative. For the Proposed Action, a total of 7.0 miles of temporary road would be constructed to facilitate removing forest products which would address the purpose of the project to recover forest economic value and benefits through salvage. All of the temporary roads would be decommissioned following use. Of the 7.0 miles of proposed temporary roads, 2.7 miles would be located on existing unauthorized road templates, and 4.3 miles would be new construction with no existing template.
Affected Environment Temporary roads do not currently exist within the project area.
Alternative A (No Action)
Direct and Indirect Effects Temporary road construction would not occur under the No Action Alternative.
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Cumulative Effects No present or foreseeable future activities would have any additional effect on miles of temporary roads because temporary roads do not exist and would not be constructed as part of the No Action Alternative. As a result, additional or cumulative effects would not occur related to temporary roads.
Alternative B (Proposed Action)
Direct and Indirect Effects A total of 7.0 miles of temporary road would be constructed to facilitate removing forest products which would address the purpose of the project to recover forest economic value and benefits through salvage. All temporary roads would be decommissioned following use. Road construction would not occur within or immediately adjacent to any Idaho Roadless Area. The time between constructing and decommissioning each temporary road would be minimized to the maximum extent practicable. Constructing and decommissioning would generally occur during the same field season. Decommissioning of these roads would comply with the requirements of Design Features FH-8, NX-2, and TH-2. Additional mitigation (e.g., water bars/cross ditches, slash filter windrows, silt fencing, straw bales/wattles) would be applied to temporary roads that remain operational over winter to minimize soil erosion and sediment delivery during spring snowmelt and runoff. Of the 7.0 miles of proposed temporary roads, 2.7 miles would be located on existing unauthorized road templates and 4.3 miles would be new construction with no existing template. The temporary roads that are coincident with an existing unauthorized road template would be improved to the minimum extent needed to accommodate log truck traffic. This work could include additional vegetation clearing, template widening and shaping, and constructing log landings where needed. For temporary roads not coincident with an existing road template, work would entail constructing a new road to the minimum standard required to accommodate log truck traffic. This work would include vegetation clearing and grubbing, excavating and shaping of a road template, and constructing log landings where needed.
Cumulative Effects No present or foreseeable future activities would have any additional effect on the miles of temporary roads because temporary roads do not currently exist, and the proposed temporary roads would be fully decommissioned as part of the project. As a result, additional or cumulative effects related to these temporary roads would not occur.
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Roads Maintenance for Safety
Summary: Benefits to human life and safety would not occur under the No Action Alternative as the hazards associated with the fire-killed trees would still exist. The threat to human life and safety would increase where hazard trees remain along roads open yearlong or open seasonally. Increased road closures would occur to address maintenance needs and hazard tree mitigation, leading to a disruption of travel and access on NFS lands within and outside of the project area. Under the Proposed Action, hazard trees would be removed along 109 miles of road open to motorized travel. This removal would reduce the threat to human life and safety associated with travel over the roads and would decrease long-term maintenance needs.
Affected Environment Areas adjacent to many of the roads and trails open to public and administrative motorized and non-motorized use (including groomed snowmobile routes), as well as within developed sites, within the project area were heavily forested prior to the 2016 Pioneer Fire. Currently, the 109 miles of ML 2 and ML 3 NFS roads within the project area are lined with high densities of fire-killed trees which pose a risk of striking parked or moving vehicles, recreationists, and Forest Service and contract personnel using these routes and accessing developed sites. Fire- killed trees could also fall when vehicles/users are not present, creating a travelway hazard or potentially blocking individuals behind or between trees across the roadway. Forest Supervisors have a responsibility for the safe operation and management of roads and must “…to the extent permitted by funding levels, systematically provide for elimination of identified hazards” (FSM 7733.04c and FSM 2330.6a). FSH direction contains more specialized guidance pertaining to hazard trees along NFS roads open to public use. FSH 7709.59, section 41.6 states, “Road maintenance includes removing danger (hazard) trees that threaten safe use of the transportation system.” FSH 7709.59, section 41.7, provides guidance for hazard identification and correction. This section includes guidance that hazard trees along NFS roads should be evaluated, section by section, and hazard trees should be prioritized as high, medium, or low based on the risk to road users from potential tree failure. High-priority hazard tree (failure could occur at any time) removal along travel routes and developed sites remaining open during winter 2016/2017 was addressed during fire suppression and ongoing post-fire actions initiated in fall 2016.
Alternative A (No Action)
Direct and Indirect Effects Benefits to human life and safety would not occur under the No Action Alternative as the hazards associated with the fire-killed trees would still exist. Current funding sources are inadequate to address the removal of large quantities of fire-killed hazard trees along the 109 miles of ML 2 and ML 3 NFS road within the project area. Receipts from salvage harvest would not be available to address this need associated with the Pioneer Fire.
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Cumulative Effects No present or foreseeable future activities would have any additional effect on human life and safety related to the removal of hazard trees. The hazard would continue to exist under the No Action Alternative.
Alternative B (Proposed Action)
Direct and Indirect Effects Hazard trees would be removed along 109 miles of road open to motorized travel. This removal would reduce the threat to human life and safety associated with travel over the roads and would decrease long-term maintenance needs. Removing hazard trees adjacent to open roadways is necessary to make the transportation system safe for travel. The threat of trees falling onto the roadway would likely continue for many years unless they are removed through the implementation of this project. Additionally, the subsequent hauling of the removed hazard trees over NFS roads provides the opportunity to perform road maintenance tasks as part of the removal process which otherwise would not be funded adequately through annual appropriations to accomplish the work.
Cumulative Effects Even with the implementation of the Proposed Action, trees would likely continue to fall onto the open roads within the project area, which could have additional effects on human life and safety. These trees could include bug-killed trees and snowfall-induced tree snap-offs and tip overs which would be dealt with through normal Forest road maintenance operations. Combined with the Proposed Action, removing hazard trees through normal Forest road maintenance operations would cumulatively reduce the threat to human life and safety associated with travel over the roads.
Recreation Resources
Summary: Under the No Action Alternative, public safety closure order 0402-00-49 would remain in place and additional closures would be expected annually as hazards are evaluated. Road and trial maintenance costs would also increase under this alternative and road and trail closures would occur to address hazard trees. No changes in winter or summer ROS classifications would occur under the No Action Alternative. Under the Proposed Action, users would be affected by short-term disruptions and displacement and road and trail closures during project implementation from late spring 2017 through early summer 2018. Disruption related to snowplowing associated with reforestation would be minimal. The Proposed Action would decrease the short- and long-term road maintenance needs within the project area while providing funding for road maintenance by salvaging dead and hazard trees alongside roads open to motorized recreational use. No changes in winter or summer ROS classifications would occur under the Proposed Action.
This section describes how the alternatives address the need to mitigate the risks of hazard trees resulting from the Pioneer Wildfire along roads and trails open to public motorized and non-
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motorized use and within developed sites. Refer to the project record recreation technical report for the detailed supporting analysis.
Indicators The following indicators were analyzed to measure alternative effectiveness at meeting the purpose and need desired conditions and addressing issues and concerns for the recreation resource: Disruption/displacement of recreation users • Area closures Motorized and nonmotorized recreational access • Miles of NFS roads and trails designated for motorized and nonmotorized travel • Miles of NFS roads and trails groomed for use in the snow season by snow machines • Miles of NFS trails with and without closure orders Dispersed recreation • Changes in areas where general forest camping (GFA) is allowed as displayed on the MVUM • Public safety and hazard tree mitigation Recreation Opportunity Spectrum (ROS) classification • Change in ROS classification
Disruption/Displacement of Recreation Users
Affected Environment The North Pioneer Project area is located north and east of Lowman, Idaho. The project area receives some use by summer and winter recreationists, with some general forest area camping, snowmobile riding, and fall hunting. General forest area camping increases during seasonal fall hunting. One developed campground (Park Creek), located along NFS road 582 immediately adjacent to the project area. This area had some minor fire activity and will be assessed for remaining hazards in the spring. Following the Pioneer Fire, several public safety closure orders were enacted to address public safety from the fire itself and hazards such as standing dead trees and snags. The current public safety closure order 0402-00-49, Pioneer Fire-Version #1, which was authorized after the Pioneer Fire is still in place. This closure order affects 2 miles of trails within the project area and 53 miles of trails outside of the project area but within the Pioneer Fire perimeter. Trail systems within or immediately adjacent to the project area provide access to the Red Mountain Roadless Area. These trails were heavily affected by the fire, which damaged trail structures and left numerous dead and hazard trees along trail routes.
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Alternative A (No Action)
Direct and Indirect Effects The No Action Alternative would disrupt and displace recreational users. Public safety closure order 0402-00-49 would remain in place until hazard trees could be mitigated based on available funding, and additional closures would be expected annually for the foreseeable future as roads, trails, and GFA camping areas are evaluated for hazards. Groomed snowmobile routes could be affected by periods of inaccessibility from tree breakage and downed trees from winter storms. Costs associated with grooming these routes would increase due to the additional cost of clearing downed trees. Access to other recreational areas such as Bear Valley or Deadwood Reservoir would be disrupted from intermittent closures along NFS road 582.
Cumulative Effects To date, users have been displaced from the project area twice because of the Pioneer Fire. First, when the fire was still active, and then because of public health and safety closures. Under the No Action Alternative, users would likely be displaced from the project area for a longer period because hazards would take longer to eliminate (5–15 years) with the current workforce and funds available. Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) activities planned for 2017 would cause noise disruptions from helicopter mulching activities in Clear Creek. BAER culvert replacements scheduled to occur on NFS 582 at Pole Creek and Big Spruce Creek would replace existing undersized culverts with bottomless arches and would result in a road closure from August to September, adding to existing disruptions and displacements.
Alternative B (Proposed Action)
Direct and Indirect Effects Under the Proposed Action, users would be affected by short-term disruptions and displacement during project implementation. The effects would likely begin in late spring 2017 and last through early summer 2018. In areas cleared of hazards and open the public access, harvesting and road maintenance activities would impact recreation use during the summer from localized noise, dust, and increased traffic. However, recreationists would likely shift their use in the short-term to nearby NFS lands away from areas impacted by proposed activities to maintain their recreational experience. Short-term access to other recreational areas, such as Bear Valley or Deadwood Reservoir, would be disrupted from intermittent closures for public safety along NFS road 582. Winter recreation may be disrupted by road closures and snow plowing associated with logging operations. However, these effects would only occur if hauling operation are not complete by winter 2017/2018. Snowplowing associated with reforestation could occur over multiple years and last up to 10 years. However, late season snowmachine use is minimal and, therefore, expected to create only minimal disruptions to users.
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Cumulative Effects Past activities have contributed to the existing conditions for recreational access and opportunities in the analysis area and are included in the affected environment discussion. Ongoing activities, such as road use and maintenance, trail use and maintenance, livestock grazing, and fire suppression, would be expected to continue within the analysis area. Minor disruptions and/or displacement to recreational users in the analysis area may occur with ongoing activities; however, these disruptions would be minor and have occurred historically. Some road and trail projects are planned under the BAER and South Pioneer Salvage and Reforestation Project (South Pioneer Project) that will result in some additional displacement on users in the project area. The BAER projects would create additional disruption and displacement with activities associated with helicopter mulching activities in Clear Creek and culvert replacements on NFS road 582. Actions proposed under the North Pioneer Project, including harvest and road maintenance, would lead to additional disruption and displacement of recreationists. While this project does not directly overlap with the South Pioneer Project area, several roads and groomed snowmachine routes cross thru these projects based on their adjacency, which would lead to increased disruption and displacement to dispersed recreation users from the cumulative short-term public safety closures affecting a much greater area. Proposed actions under the North Pioneer Project would mostly likely impact recreation use during the summer from localized noise, dust, and increased traffic. However, recreationists would likely shift their use in the short-term to nearby NFS lands away from areas impacted by proposed activities to maintain their recreational experience.
Motorized and Nonmotorized Recreational Access
Affected Environment Recreation access in the project area is available by motorized and non-motorized access. Motorized vehicle designated access “Roads Open to All Vehicles, Yearlong” is limited to approximately 6.8 miles of the 127 miles of authorized NFS road and potentially all roads could be affected in some way by proposed project. Another 9.0 miles of authorized NFS motorized trails occur within the project area, but only 2 miles of trail would be affected by proposed project. All routes and areas open to motorized general forest area camping are identified in the Lowman Ranger District MVUM. NFS road 582 is a primary travel route for summer recreation access to the Bear Valley area and Deadwood Reservoir and its associated campgrounds and facilities north of the project area. The project area features approximately 19.6 miles of NFS roads that are groomed and maintained as snow machine trails during the winter. Following the Pioneer Fire, several public safety closure orders were enacted to address public safety from the fire itself and hazards such as standing dead trees and snags. The current public safety closure order 0402-00-49, Pioneer Fire-Version #11that was authorized after the Pioneer Fire is still in place. This closure order affects 2 miles of trails within the project area and 53 miles of trails outside of the project area but within the Pioneer Fire perimeter. Trail systems within or immediately adjacent to the project area provide access to the Red Mountain Roadless Area. These trails were heavily affected by the fire, which damaged trail structures and left numerous dead and hazard trees along the trail routes.
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Alternative A (No Action)
Direct and Indirect Effects The No Action Alternative would increase road maintenance needs within the project area while Forest funding for road maintenance would remain unchanged and the threat to human life and safety would increase where hazard trees remain along roads open yearlong or open seasonally (see the “Transportation” section). Increased road closures would occur, as needed, to address maintenance needs and hazard tree mitigation. These closures would disrupt travel and access on NFS lands within and outside of the project area (see the “Transportation” section). Non-motorized trails would see similar effects due to increased maintenance related to trail clearing and removal of downed trees. Approximately 2.0 miles of trails systems are currently closed within the project area. Groomed snowmachine routes could be affected by periods of inaccessibility from tree breakage and high densities of downed trees from winter storms. Costs associated with grooming these routes would increase due to the additional costs of clearing downed trees. Access to other recreational areas, such as Bear Valley or Deadwood Reservoir, would be disrupted from intermittent closures along NFS road 384.
Cumulative Effects The BAER activities planned for 2017 would cause noise disruptions from helicopter mulching activities in Clear Creek. BAER culvert replacements scheduled to occur on NFS road 582 at Pole Creek and Big Spruce Creek would replace existing undersized culverts with bottomless arches and would create a road closure from August to September. These activities will create additional short-term road and trail closures while work is being completed.
Alternative B (Proposed Action)
Direct and Indirect Effects The Proposed Action would decrease the short- and long-term road maintenance needs within the project area while providing funding for road maintenance by salvaging dead and hazard trees alongside roads open to motorized recreational use. Hazard trees would be reduced and the threat to human life and safety would decrease along roads open to all vehicles yearlong or roads open to all vehicles, seasonal (see the “Transportation” section). A short-term increase in road closures would occur as needed to address public safety during project implementation. Nonmotorized trails access would not be directly affected since trails within the project area are closed under the current public safety closure. Nonmotorized trails would be cleared of hazard trees and re-opened for use under the Proposed Action. Miles of groomed snowmachine routes may be reduced during winter 2017/2018 (December 15– March 15). Costs associated with grooming snowmachine routes would decrease in the long term from removing dead and hazard trees along groomed routes. Snow plowing to access reforestation locations may occur in early spring after grooming has ended but could disrupt late season snowmachine users in the project area. Snowplowing associated with reforestation could occur over multiple years and could last up to 10 years.
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Cumulative Effects Additional road and trail projects are planned under the BAER program and the South Pioneer Salvage and Reforestation Project (South Pioneer Project). These will add to recreation user displacement in the project area. BAER projects will cause noise disruptions from helicopter mulching activities in Clear Creek. BAER culvert replacements scheduled to occur on NFS road 582 at Pole Creek and Big Spruce Creek will replace existing undersized culverts with bottomless arches and would create a road closure from August to September. The South Pioneer Project proposes actions on an additional 39,100 acres as well as actions on roads and trails which would lead to a greater disruption and displacement of recreation users. While this project does not directly overlap with the North Pioneer Project area several roads and groomed snowmachine routes cross thru these Projects based on their adjacency.
Dispersed Recreation
Affected Environment The project area receives some dispersed recreation use, such as camping, seasonal hunting, scenic driving, and firewood gathering. General forest area camping increases during the fall hunting season. One developed campground (Park Creek) occurs along NFS road 582 immediately adjacent to the project area. This campground experienced some minor fire activity and will be assessed for remaining hazards this spring.
Alternative A (No Action)
Direct and Indirect Effects Under the No Action Alternative, dispersed recreation opportunities within the project area would also be decreased in the short term. Opportunities for general forest area camping would be restricted, especially along NFS road 582 until hazard trees could be mitigated. Opportunities for fuelwood gathering would increase across the project area, with activities such as hunting, fishing, berry and mushroom picking slightly affected in the short term. In both the short and long term, public safety issues would persist with limited funds and opportunities available to address hazard tree mitigation along all NFS roads and trail systems in the project area.
Cumulative Effects The South Pioneer Project proposes actions on an additional 39,100 acres as well as actions on roads and trails which would lead to a greater disruption and displacement of recreation users. While the South Pioneer Project does not directly overlap with the North Pioneer Project area, several roads and groomed snowmachine routes cross thru these Projects based on their adjacency. These projects in addition to other proposed projects (e.g., BAER, South Pioneer, and Clear Creek Timber Sale) will most likely increase displacement and disperse recreational users in these areas.
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Alternative B (Proposed Action)
Direct and Indirect Effects The Proposed Action would decrease dispersed recreational opportunities within the project area in the short term due to public safety closures. Opportunities for general forest area camping would be restricted or reduced during 2017 and 2018 during project implementation. Long-term general forest area access would remain unchanged as currently displayed on the MVUM, with short-term closures removed as quickly as hazardous conditions are address along roads, trails, and general camping and recreational sites. Opportunities for fuelwood gathering would decrease across the project area as dead and hazard trees are removed, with activities such as hunting, fishing, berry and mushroom picking slightly affected in the short term from effects of public safety closures in 2017 and 2018. In both the short and long term, hazards to public safety would be reduced along roads, trails, and developed and dispersed recreational areas. Funding from salvage receipts would be available to address hazard tree mitigation along trail systems in the project area.
Cumulative Effects The South Pioneer Project proposes actions on an additional 39,100 acres as well as actions on roads and trails which would lead to a greater disruption and displacement of recreation users. While the South Pioneer Project does not directly overlap with the North Pioneer Project area, several roads and groomed snowmachine routes cross thru these Projects based on their adjacency. These projects in addition to other proposed projects (e.g., BAER, South Pioneer, and Clear Creek Timber Sale) will most likely increase displacement and disperse recreational users in these areas.
Recreation Opportunity Spectrum
Affected Environment The ROS (USDA Forest Service 1986) is a classification system in which components of recreation settings and facilities, such as access, developed sites, activities, and experiences, are organized and arranged along a continuum or spectrum. The continuum ranges from very primitive settings and experiences to highly concentrated, urbanized ones. The ROS provides a framework for defining the types of outdoor recreation settings, opportunities, and experiences that exist or could be provided in an area. It also provides a context and tool for estimating and describing recreation resources as well as effects to those resources from alternative management strategies and actions. Four summer ROS classifications occur within the analysis area: is Roaded Modified (19,605 acres); Roaded Natural (7,495 acres); Semi-Primitive Motorized (776 acres); and Semi- Primitive Non-Motorized (5 acres) (Boise NF, Summer ROS GIS data). Three winter ROS classifications occur within the analysis area: Roaded Natural (1,694 acres); Semi-Primitive Motorized (24,891 acres); and Semi-Primitive Non-Motorized (1,296 acres) (Boise NF, Winter ROS GIS data).
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Alternatives A (No Action) and B (Proposed Action)
Direct and Indirect Effects None of the alternatives would affect summer or winter ROS classifications within the analysis area. Nor to any of the alternatives proposed any changes to over-snow or winter recreation use in the analysis area. Therefore, neither summer nor winter ROS would be modified within the analysis area.
Cumulative Effects Since neither alternative would have any direct or indirect effects to the existing ROS classifications, neither alternative would have any cumulative effects.
Hydrology Resources
Summary: The No Action Alternative would not affect water quality and quantity because no actions are proposed. The Proposed Action would maintain the temperature, sediment, water yield, chemical contaminants, and road density watershed resource indicators. The Proposed Action includes project specific design criteria intended to minimize effects to water quality and quantity. An analysis of effects to relevant and influenced hydrology and water quality indicators concludes that negligible temporary and/or short-term effects to water quality, in the form of increased risk of sediment delivery and reductions in stream shade, are possible under the Proposed Action. While these effects are possible, they would not measurably degrade water quality conditions because they are anticipated to be immeasurable and/or negligible within the analysis area. Short and long-term effects of the Proposed Action are expected to provide beneficial effects to water quality by reducing the effects associated with unauthorized roads and enhancing riparian functionality by conducting riparian planting in specific areas.
This section describes how the alternatives address the Purpose of the North Pioneer Project to reduce watershed impacts resulting from NFS roads and unauthorized routes. Additionally, this section addresses concerns identified during public scoping that project activities may cause sedimentation, increases in peak/base flow, channel instability, risk of rain-on-snow events, and increases in stream water temperature. Refer to the project record Hydrology Resource Technical Report for the detailed supporting analysis. The North Pioneer Project Area includes approximately 10,748 acres of Rock Creek, 7,660 acres of Upper Clear Creek, and 9,599 acres of Lower Clear Creek, which drain into the South Fork of the Payette River.
Indicators The following indicators were analyzed to measure alternative effectiveness at meeting the purpose and need desired conditions and addressing concerns for watershed resources (Table 17).
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Table 17. Watershed resource indicators, concerns, and measures used in this analysis Watershed Resource Concern Measure Indicator Harvesting and reforestation activities could affect Stream Temperature the amount of shade over streams and result in Changes in stream shade changes in stream temperatures. Harvest and reforestation activities that result in Sediment ground disturbance may be result in increased erosion Changes in risk of sediment delivery and/or sediment delivery to streams. Harvest and reforestation activities could affect Changes in the amount and timing of Water Yield infiltration and evapotranspiration rates resulting in peak and base flows as well as overall changes in peak/base flows or overall water yield. water yield Machinery utilized to implement harvest activities Risk of chemical leaks or spills that Chemical Contaminants has the potential to leak or spill fuel, fluids, or other would affect ground or surface water. lubricants which could impact water quality. Construction of temporary roads could increase road Road Density density in analysis watersheds which could have Change in road density (mi/mi2) sediment and water yield impacts. Direct, indirect, and cumulative effects were analyzed at the sub-watershed scale (6th field hydrologic unit code) within sub-watersheds where project activities are proposed. The following sub-watersheds are included in this analysis: Upper Clear Creek, Lower Clear Creek, and Rock Creek. This analysis scale was chosen to incorporate resource conditions and effects occurring from past, present, and future activities within the affected watersheds. The temporal boundaries for analyzing the direct and indirect effects are evaluated at the temporary (0– 3 years), short-term (3–15 years), and long-term (15+ years) timeframes for the same reasons stated above.
Summary of Effects Table 18 displays the summary of effects of the Proposed Action for each of the watershed condition indicators (WCIs). Discussion of the effects to each indicator for both the Proposed Action and the No Action Alternative follows. Table 18. Summary of the effects of the Proposed Action to each of the watershed resource indicators Effects of the Proposed Action
Watershed Resource Temporary Short-term Long-term (0–3 years) (3–15 years) (15+ years) Indicatorsa Effectsb Trend/Effectc Trend/Effectc Trend/Effectc (+/-/none) (+/-/none) (+/-/none) Temperature (Bull Trout) M -* +* +* Sediment M -* -* +* Water Yield M N +* +* Chemical Contaminants M -* -* N Road Density M -* -* +* Change in Drainage Network M -* -* +* aMatrix checklist adapted from USFWS and NMFS1998. bThis designation displays the potential effects of the action on habitats or individuals, and not on the status of the entire local population/watershed: I = Improve, M = Maintain, D = Degrade, N = No Influence cTrend effects: N = No trend, - = negative trend, + = positive trend, +/-=uncertain trend, may be positive or negative,*indicates negligible impact.
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Stream Temperature
Summary: The No Action Alternative would not affect stream temperature because no actions are proposed. Even though the project area could see increases in summer maximum water temperature resulting from the Pioneer Fire, project activities proposed under the Proposed Action would not degrade stream temperature because the canopy loss of trees in the burned environment has already reduced stream shade proportionate to burn intensity, and the trees proposed for removal contribute only a small proportion of the remaining non-canopy, tree-based shade component.
Affected Environment Water temperature is a critical habitat component of streams. Removing streamside vegetation reduces stream shading, which increases solar radiation to streams. Increased solar radiation can increase stream temperature. Temperature increases of 2–9 °C can be problematic for salmonids and other cold water fish because warmer water increases the biological oxygen demand in the stream, decreasing available oxygen. The pre-fire baseline assessments for temperature of the three sub-watersheds within the project area were functioning at risk (FR) for Upper Clear Creek and functioning at unacceptable risk (FUR) for Lower Creek and Rock Creek. Estimates for the post-fire condition are FUR for Upper Clear Creek, Lower Creek, and Rock Creek.
Alternative A (No Action)
Direct and Indirect Effects With no action, no hazard tree felling would occur within RCAs . The shade component hazard trees provide to streams would remain. This shade component would not likely cause a measurable decrease in stream temperature or an increase in the quality of the Temperature WCI.
Cumulative Effects Past and ongoing management actions have been considered in describing the baseline existing condition for the Temperature WCI. No reasonably foreseeable future activities would cumulatively affect (measurably increase or decrease) the temperature indicator for this alternative.
Alternative B (Proposed Action)
Direct and Indirect Effects Activities proposed under the Proposed Action would not degrade this WCI because the canopy loss of trees in the burned environment has already reduced stream shade proportionate to burn intensity, and because the trees proposed for removal contribute only a small proportion of the remaining shade component (Table 18). No project activities are proposed in RCAs except for hazard tree mitigations and riparian restoration. Thus, within the Upper Clear Creek, Lower Clear Creek, and Rock Creek sub-watersheds, percent non-canopy tree-based stream shading would decrease slightly from project activities with an immeasurable effect on stream
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temperatures in the temporary (0–3 years) and short-term (3–15years) timeframes. The magnitude and effect of these changes to stream temperature would be small, localized, and/or negligible in the context of the entire analysis area. Reforestation and riparian planting efforts and natural regeneration would contribute to an increase in the quality of this WCI by increasing stream shade in the short and long term (15+ years) (Table 18). For hazard tree mitigation along perennial streams, reducing hazard trees would not measurably affect stream temperature. Approximately 80% of effective shade comes from approximately 0.5 STPH distance from the channel (60 feet in this case) (FEMAT 1993). Modeling results of tree densities within one SPTH of streams with a weighted average of 89% mortality show that Project activities could potentially fell up to 58% of the standing dead trees which would no longer be available for shade. If one assumes the standing dead trees contribute 25% of what live trees contribute, then actions proposed under the Proposed Action could equate to a 1.3% reduction in total potential shade from standing dead trees, in this model scenario. Even if the percent shade reduction from the scenario was doubled, project activities could potentially decrease shade from standing dead trees by only 2.6%. The overall stream shade change would be smaller because a large component of stream shade comes from streamside riparian vegetation; shade from standing dead trees is a small percentage of the overall shade apparatus of streams. This change in stream shade from removing standing dead trees would not measurably increase stream temperatures or degrade this WCI. Additionally, adherence to Design Feature FH-1 would protect RCA functions and minimize the loss of stream shade from project activities. Reforestation efforts and riparian planting would increase stream shade over time and contribute to the recovery of stream temperatures in the analysis area. Other project activities, such as road maintenance, temporary road construction, and unauthorized road decommissioning, would not affect stream temperature. Hazard tree felling and salvage activities would not result in effects that would directly, indirectly, or cumulatively degrade stream temperature.
Cumulative Effects Past and ongoing management actions have been considered in describing the baseline existing condition for the Temperature WCI. All of the actions for the Clear Creek Integrated and the Rock Creek Project as well as 2017 BAER and other activities were considered in this analysis. No reasonably foreseeable future activities would be expected to affect (measurably increase or decrease) the temperature indicator. The Proposed Action would not further degrade the existing functionality of the Stream Temperature WCI in the short and long term because the watersheds in the project area are FUR.
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Sediment
Summary: The No Action Alternative would maintain the existing condition and trend of sediment/turbidity throughout the project area. The Sediment/Turbidity WCI is expected to also be maintained in all timeframes under the Proposed Action. An increase in the risk of sediment delivery in the temporary timeframe exists because of heavy road maintenance and use required to implement the Proposed Action. However, adherence to design features would minimize potential sediment delivery to streams. In the short and long term, risk of sediment delivery to streams would be reduced immeasurably by decommissioning unauthorized routes.
Affected Environment The existing condition of the sediment/turbidity indicator is FUR in the Upper Clear Creek, Lower Clear Creek, and Rock Creek sub-watersheds. The primary influences contributing to these functionality ratings are the post-fire condition associated with the Pioneer Fire and the existing network of roads.
Alternative A (No Action)
Direct and Indirect Effects This alternative would maintain the existing condition and trend of sediment/turbidity throughout the project area. Under the No Action Alternative, none of the proposed activities would occur. No changes in sediment delivery would be realized in any timeframe compared with the existing condition. Existing sediment delivery associated with post-fire conditions would continue to occur, as well as sediment delivery from roads throughout the project area. Existing unauthorized roads within the project area would not be decommissioned and would continue to be a source for sediment delivery.
Cumulative Effects Because no changes to sediment delivery would occur under the No Action Alternative, no additional cumulative increases or decreases to overall sediment yield would occur.
Alternative B (Proposed Action)
Direct and Indirect Effects The Proposed Action would maintain the existing functionality of the Sediment/turbidity WCI in the temporary, short term, and long term for the Upper Clear Creek, Lower Clear Creek, and Rock Creek subwatersheds (Table 18). The risk of sediment delivery to streams would temporarily immeasurably increase. This immeasurable increase would be associated with heavy road maintenance and use required to implement the Proposed Action. In the short and long term, the risk of sediment delivery would immeasurably decrease because of unauthorized road decommissioning. The effects are negligible due to the relatively small expected magnitude of change. The Proposed Action includes constructing and using 7 miles of temporary roads. Approximately 4.7, 1.5, and 0.8 miles of temporary roads are proposed within the Rock Creek, Lower Clear
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Creek, and Upper Clear Creek subwatersheds, respectively. Approximately 2.7 miles of proposed temporary roads are located on existing unauthorized road prisms. Temporary roads are primarily proposed in areas outside RCAs, however, 3 road segments, totaling 0.18 miles, are proposed in the Rock Creek subwatershed. Two segments of these roads cross intermittent stream channels adjacent to NFS road 594. These portions of proposed temporary roads crossing intermittent streams are planned to be built on existing unauthorized road prisms. Where temporary road construction occurs within the RCA, Design Feature FH-5 requires erosion control devices, such as slash filter windrows or straw wattles, to minimize sediment delivery. Some ground disturbance is expected to occur from preparing these roads for log hauling. Blading the road surface as well as vegetation removal would also occur. Water bars would be constructed at the appropriate location and spacing to reduce road surface erosion. After project activities are completed, temporary roads would be decommissioned to allow for revegetation of the disturbed area as described in Design Feature FH-10. The Proposed Action includes approximately 115 miles of road maintenance on existing NFS roads to support trucks and equipment used to implement the Proposed Action. Roads receiving light and moderate road maintenance would maintain or reduce existing potential for sediment delivery to streams. The 15.6 miles of roads receiving heavy maintenance would have temporary or short-term increased sediment production from vegetation removal and reshaping of the road surface template. Appropriate BMPs to minimize sediment delivery to streams would be implemented, such as slash filter windrows at the toe of fill slopes (Design Feature FH-5). Approximately 3.2 miles of roads receiving heavy maintenance are located within RCAs. Design Feature FH-5 would implement the use of erosion control measures along these locations to minimize sediment delivery. Snow plowing may be used for both salvage harvest and for access to planting units. Design Feature FH-8 describes BMPs associated with snow plowing that would be implemented to minimize sediment delivery. Road decommissioning would occur on approximately 3.3 miles of unauthorized roads within the project area, with 2.7 miles of these roads to be used as temporary roads to facilitate project activities prior to decommissioning. Approximately 0.6 miles of the proposed unauthorized road decommissioning fall within RCAs. A variety of treatment prescriptions may be used to decommission these routes and would be determined on a case-by-case basis during implementation (Design Feature FH-4). Erosion control methods, such as broadcasting slash or mulch and seeding, would be used to minimize erosion from exposed soils associated with the reclaimed road prism (Design Features FH-5 and FH-10). No measurable sediment delivery to streams is anticipated from road decommissioning with implementation of the proposed design features. Sediment delivery to streams from the 2,010 acres of salvage harvest units is not expected due to a combination of BMPs to reduce erosion from skid trails and by limiting salvage units to locations outside RCAs. Sediment production from the surface and cut and fill slopes of landings may occur due to exposed and/or compacted soils. However, Design Feature FH-1 limits new landing construction to areas outside RCAs, and Design Feature FH-6 requires all constructed landings to be reclaimed after use by reshaping, ripping, placing slash, and seeding. Therefore, no sediment delivery to streams would occur from landing construction and use.
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Within RCAs, hazard tree felling with product removal would only occur on the uphill sides of roads which parallel the RCA (Design Feature FH-1), with some limited exceptions. Design Feature FH-1 limits the use of mechanized equipment (except chainsaws) to existing road prisms within RCAs. No skidders or feller-bunchers would operate off existing roads within RCAs, resulting in minimal ground disturbance. Any ground disturbance that may occur in conjunction with product removal would be on the uphill side of the road which, in combination with slash application, would obstruct sediment travel. Exceptions to remove trees within RCAs below the road include criteria to keep equipment on existing road prisms and prohibit skidding or dragging of logs with the intention to minimize ground disturbance and avoid sediment delivery. Within RCAs, landings used to process and deck logs during roadside hazard tree removal would be limited to existing wide spots in roads. Proposed reforestation activities would have a negligible effect on sediment yield due to the limited amount of ground disturbance that would occur from hand-planting trees. Overall, designated RCA buffers for project activities have been designed to minimize the potential for sediment delivery where possible. Observed and modeled sediment transport distances from similar post-fire salvage harvest projects on the Forest suggest the designated RCA buffers provide reasonable protection to streams from sediment delivery. Where sediment- producing activities are proposed within RCAs, such as road maintenance and log hauling, sediment delivery would be minimized by applying design features and BMPs to reduce sediment production and delivery to streams.
Cumulative Effects Past and ongoing management actions have been considered in describing the baseline existing condition for the Sediment/turbidity WCI. Foreseeable future activities that may have additional effects on the Sediment/turbidity WCI include BAER activities planned for the 2017 field season. Aerial hillslope mulching, unauthorized road stabilization, road drainage reconstruction, trail drainage reconstruction, and road storm patrols are planned. These activities are expected to reduce sediment delivery to streams and/or decrease the magnitude of post-fire storm damage that may occur within the first year. The effects to the Sediment WCI associated with implementing road and trail-specific BAER work would contribute to an overall decrease in the risk of sediment delivery because these activities are intended to reduce the potential for failure and or rutting/gullying of road and trail infrastructure and, consequent, sediment delivery. Design Feature FH-9 requires BAER treatments to be maintained where overlap with the Proposed Action occurs to ensure treatment effectiveness. Other activities relevant to cumulative sediment effects would be the two culvert replacements planned for Pole and Big Spruce creeks. Both culverts are at risk and scheduled for replacement with aquatic organism passage (AOP) structures. Replacement work will use BMP for controlling sediment impacts from the work. Although the actual replacements and removal of the culverts would result in temporary adverse effects in the form of displacement or trampling of riparian vegetation and/or some sediment delivery (small, compared to the post-fire existing condition), all three sites will be fully rehabilitated. In both the short and long term, these actions would greatly enhance the hydrologic linkage of floodplains as bankfull width and height will be accessible post treatment. Design features for this work are crafted to contextualize and, in some cases, augment the positive effects of BMPs and minimize sediment effects to downstream values (habitat, stream structure). Work on these culverts is scheduled for summer 2017.
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The Clear Creek Integrated Project includes decommissioning of NFS roads and unauthorized routes. It also includes road maintenance and drainage feature repair/construction. To date, much of this work has been completed, and we expect this work will decrease overall sediment production in Upper and Lower Clear Creeks. Road decommissioning and road maintenance associated with the Rock Creek Project was expected to lower overall sediment in the short and long term. All actions for the Clear Creek Integrated and the Rock Creek projects, as well as 2017 BAER and other listed/mentioned activities were considered in this analysis. No other reasonably foreseeable activities are expected to result in effects to the Sediment/turbidity WCI that would measurably increase or decrease overall sediment yield.
Water Yield
Summary: The No Action Alternative would maintain the existing condition and trend of the Peak Flow/Base Flow WCI throughout the project area. Because of the alterations in flows that wildfire can produce, and because project activities involve removing dead or dying trees in a relatively small area of the affected subwatersheds, the Peak Flow/Base Flow WCI would not be degraded by proposed activities under the Proposed Action. Project planting activities would have a positive effect on this WCI by increasing rainfall interception, decreasing flows (by increasing evapotranspiration), and stabilizing stream banks (riparian planting) in the short and long term.
Affected Environment The driving factors of watershed response to the Pioneer Fire in the project area are the presence of steep slopes, lack of effective ground cover, and loss of raindrop interception via the absence of vegetation canopy cover. Changes in forest vegetation resulting from management or natural events can affect the frequency and magnitude, not just of the summer storm hydrograph, but also of rain-on-snow events (Harr 1986). Rain-on-snow events are common in the project area. Wildfire can change the albedo of the snow and change pack conditions and melt timing. Changes in snowpack and melt timing combined with rain-on-snow events could affect water yield by increasing peak flows and their timing. Rain-on-snow and resulting peak flows are natural processes in Clear and Rock Creeks and have shaped the overall morphology and stability of stream channels in the area. The pre-fire baseline assessments for water yield (Peak Flow/Base Flow WCI) of the subwatersheds within the project area were FA for Upper Clear Creek and Rock Creek, and FR for Lower Clear Creek. The post-fire conditions are FR for Upper Clear Creek and Rock Creek, and FUR for Lower Clear Creek.
Alternative A (No Action)
Direct and Indirect Effects This alternative would maintain the existing condition and trend of the Peak Flow/Base Flow WCI throughout the Project Area. Post-fire changes discussed in the existing conditions section would not change. Water yield and sediment yield values would recover as vegetation and
123 North Pioneer Fire Salvage and Restoration Project Environmental Assessment ground cover increase; any water repellent soil layers that occurred from the fire would break down over time (Doerr et al. 2006). Hazard trees along roads, felled or not, would not impact the processes that affect water yield because the trees are dead with minimal crowns. Stream temperatures would also recover over time as shrubs and trees that provide streamside shade recover. Field assessments in October 2016 noted sprouting vegetation in some riparian areas along Clear Creek, just weeks post-fire.
Cumulative Effects Past and ongoing management actions have been captured in the existing condition for the Peak Flow/Base Flow WCI. Foreseeable future activities that may have any incremental or additive effects on this WCI include BAER activities planned for the 2017 field season. Stabilization of unauthorized roads, road drainage reconstruction, trail drainage reconstruction, and road storm patrols are planned. BAER-related road treatments are proposed to reduce overall watershed effects from increased post-fire runoff. No other reasonably foreseeable activities are expected which would change this WCI. Because no changes to the Peak Flow/Base Flow WCI would occur under the No Action Alternative, no cumulative effects to the Peak Flow/Base Flow WCI would measurably increase or decrease water yield.
Alternative B (Proposed Action)
Direct and Indirect Effects This WCI would not be expected to change because of hazard tree felling, salvage harvest, temporary road construction, or road maintenance. A long-term improvement is expected in this WCI from unauthorized route decommissioning and reforestation, though that improvement would likely not be measurable (Table 18). Salvage harvest would not measurably alter the current hydrology because trees that already burned in the Pioneer Fire either have no crown, or their crowns have been greatly reduced and are no longer contributing to transpiration or interception. Project Design Feature FH-8 would minimize soil and water impacts from skid trail networks in salvage harvest units by outlining appropriate erosion control measures. Proposed temporary road construction would not change this WCI because proposed activities would not appreciably change existing road densities in the analysis watersheds, and temporary roads would be decommissioned. Increased road maintenance would maintain the functionality of the roads and their associated drainage features; thus, no measurable change in peak and base flows are expected. Road improvements associated with the Proposed Action are necessary and may reduce overall long- term, post-fire sediment yield. Road decommissioning activities would increase infiltration, decrease runoff and sediment, and encourage revegetation. Though these activities together improve this WCI, the results would be immeasurable.
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Cumulative Effects Past and ongoing management actions have been considered in describing the baseline existing condition for the Peak Flow/Base Flow WCI. All actions for the Clear Creek Integrated and the Rock Creek projects, as well as 2017 BAER and other listed/mentioned activities were considered in this analysis. Foreseeable future activities that may have any additional effects on this WCI include BAER activities planned for the 2017 field season. Aerial hillslope mulching, unauthorized road stabilization, road drainage reconstruction, trail drainage reconstruction, and road storm patrols are planned. These activities can increase infiltration and slow runoff. No other reasonably foreseeable activities are expected to result in effects to this indicator that would measurably change peak flows or base flows.
Chemical Contaminants
Summary: The No Action Alternative would maintain the existing condition regarding the Chemical Contaminants/Nutrients WCI. The Proposed Action would also maintain the Chemical Contaminants/Nutrients WCI. This alternative incorporates design features intended to address the potential for chemical contamination of surface water from fuel and or chemical releases associated with equipment used to implement the Proposed Action.
Affected Environment The existing contaminants/nutrients condition is FA for Upper Clear Creek and Lower Clear Creek and FR for Rock Creek. No 303(d) listed streams or total maximum daily loads (TMDLs) occur within the project area (State of Idaho 2012). Sources of chemical contamination are limited in the subwatersheds with a couple exceptions. Lower Clear Creek has a contained, hazardous materials landfill (HAZMAT), which is managed by the Department of Energy, and Rock Creek has three abandoned mines. No known water quality issues are associated with the HAZMAT landfill or the mining claims in the area (IDEQ 2014).
Alternative A (No Action)
Direct and Indirect Effects The No Action Alternative would maintain the existing condition regarding the Chemical Contaminants/Nutrients WCI which is FA in Upper Clear Creek and Lower Clear Creek, and FR in Rock Creek. No proposed activities would occur under this alternative, and no potential for chemical or fuel spills exists that could contaminate water bodies
Cumulative Effects The risk of chemical contamination associated with direct and indirect effects does not exist under the No Action Alternative because no activities would occur. Thus, no additional or cumulative effects would occur.
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Alternative B (Proposed Action)
Direct and Indirect Effects The Proposed Action would maintain the Chemical Contaminants/Nutrients WCI as outlined in Table 18. This alternative incorporates design features intended to address the potential for chemical contamination of surface water from fuel or chemical releases associated with equipment used to implement proposed actions. Fuel would not be stored in RCAs, and refueling equipment would not occur within RCAs (Design Feature FH-1). All waste associated would be disposed of properly (Design Feature FH-2). Spill containment would be onsite when equipment is working, and any spills of fuel or chemicals that occur during implementation would be cleaned up completely (Design Feature FH-3).
Cumulative Effects Past and ongoing management actions have been considered in describing the baseline existing condition for the Chemical Contaminants/Nutrients WCI. Ongoing and reasonably foreseeable actions that may affect this indicator include 2017 BAER treatments, the Clear Creek Integrated Project, dispersed recreation, fire suppression, minerals exploration, weather modification, and noxious weed treatment. These activities are also considered as past activities since they have been occurring within the cumulative effects analysis area. Baseline conditions have not identified effects to chemical contaminants from past activities. These reasonably foreseeable activities include design features to limit the risk of chemical contamination. As a result, no additional or cumulative effects would occur.
Road Density
Summary: The No Action Alternative would maintain the existing condition regarding Road Density and Location and Drainage Network WCIs. The Proposed Action would maintain the existing functionality of the road density and location indicator in the short and long term.
Affected Environment The Road Density and Location and Drainage Network WCIs are FA in the Upper Clear Creek, FR in the Lower Clear Creek, and FUR in the Rock Creek subwatersheds. Existing road densities in these subwatersheds are 0.62 mi/mi2 in Upper Clear Creek; 2.32 mi/mi2 in Lower Clear Creek; and 4.09 mi/mi2 in Rock Creek.
Alternative A (No Action)
Direct and Indirect Effects This alternative would perpetuate the existing condition regarding the Road Density and Location and Drainage Network WCIs. None of the proposed activities would occur under this alternative, and no change in road miles would occur.
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Cumulative Effects Because no changes to road density or locations would occur under the No Action Alternative, no additional cumulative effects to the Road Density and Location and Drainage Network WCIs would occur.
Alternative B (Proposed Action)
Direct and Indirect Effects The Proposed Action would maintain the existing functionality of the Road Density and Location and Drainage Network WCIs in the short and long term (Table 18). A temporary increase in road density would occur during implementation due to the construction of temporary roads; however, these roads would be decommissioned after implementation. In the short and long term, road density would be slightly improved in the Lower Clear Creek and Rock Creek sub-watershed from decommissioning 3.3 miles of unauthorized roads.
Cumulative Effects Past and ongoing management actions have been considered in describing the baseline existing condition for the Road Density and Location and Drainage Network WCIs. Ongoing and reasonably foreseeable actions that may affect this indicator include 2017 BAER treatments. Additional non-NFS road decommissioning was identified to be implemented with the Pioneer North BAER Assessment (5.7 miles of unauthorized roads [0.9 miles in the Lower Clear Creek Sub-watershed, 4.8 miles in the Upper Clear Creek Sub-watershed]). These actions have not been implemented to date; however, road density would further decrease, positively affecting the Road Density WCI, after decommissioning associated with BAER. Roads identified to be decommissioned from BAER would be implemented during summer 2017.
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Fisheries
Summary: The No Action Alternative would have no effect on the watershed condition indicators (WCIs) or the Primary Constituent Elements (PCEs) or to bull trout or their critical habitat. Under this alternative, natural fire recovery processes would continue, and therefore no effects are anticipated. The Proposed Action would have no influence and would maintain the existing functional rating of all the WCIs and PCEs. Project design features limit the types of proposed activities occurring within RCAs, and mitigate effects to an immeasurable and negligible level. Project activities may affect, but are not likely to adversely affect bull trout and their designated critical habitat in the North Pioneer Project analysis area.
This section describes how the alternatives address the elements of the purpose of the North Pioneer Fire to restore portions of the landscape burned by the wildfire by initiating reforestation and to reduce watershed impacts resulting from NFS roads and unauthorized routes. Additionally, this section addresses concerns identified during public scoping that proposed activities may affect bull trout or critical habitat or other fish species, hazard tree felling in the RCA could reduce the remaining stream shade resulting in higher stream temperatures, roadside hazard tree removal activities could reduce large What are Watershed Condition woody debris inside RCAs, and compaction and Indicators (WCIs)? vegetation removal could increase surface flows, especially during rain-on-snow events during the spring. Refer to the project record Fisheries Watershed condition indicators (WCIs) are Specialist Report including Biological an integrated suite of aquatic (including Assessment for Threatened and Endangered biophysical components), riparian Species for the detailed supporting analysis. (including riparian –associated vegetation species), and hydrologic (including Indicators uplands) condition measures that are intended to be used at a variety of The following fisheries indicators were analyzed watershed scales. These WCIs were to measure alternative effectiveness of meeting adopted through the Aquatic Conservation the purpose and need desired conditions and Strategy which provides direction to addressing concerns for the fisheries resource: maintain and restore characteristics of healthy, functioning watersheds, riparian What are the effects to fish species and habitat? areas, and associated fish habitats. WCIs • Watershed condition indicators (WCIs) represent a diagnostic means to determine current conditions and assist in determining • Primary Constituent Elements (PCEs) for future conditions associated with Bull Trout Critical Habitat implementing management actions or natural restoration over time. • ESA determination of effects for bull trout The following spatial and temporal scales were utilized for the effects analysis of North Pioneer Project. Spatially, direct, indirect, and cumulative effects were tracked at the subwatershed scale (6th field Hydrologic Unit Code). The project area includes three subwatersheds: Upper Clear Creek, Lower Clear Creek, and Rock Creek. This scale was chosen because the spatial scale of proposed management activities (approximately 28, 007 acres) is consistent with typical subwatershed scales (10,000–40,000 acres). Additionally, broader national and forest-specific
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watershed goals, such as those described in the Watershed Condition Framework and Boise National Forest Aquatic Conservation Strategy, utilizes subwatershed scales for depicting resource conditions and functionality. Temporary (0–3 years), short-term (3–15 years), and long- term (15+ years) timeframes were used to depict effects to indicators. This timeframe was chosen to be consistent with Forest Plan Standards SWTS01 and SWTS04 (USDA Forest Service 2010a). Effects to bull trout and their habitat were analyzed at the stream reach where data suggested occupancy; as well as, actions occurring adjacent USFWS designated critical bull trout habitat.
What are the effects to fish species and habitat?
Affected Environment
Watershed Condition Indicators (WCIs) The project area includes three subwatersheds: Upper Clear Creek, Lower Clear Creek, and Rock Creek. The Pioneer Fire parameter is within these subwatersheds. The Pioneer Fire and other past events and activities, such as road construction and vegetation management, have affected each of the watershed condition indicators within the subwatersheds at varying levels. Baseline conditions for each WCI are detailed in Table 20 (below), but most indicators are functioning at risk or functioning at unacceptable risk largely because of the post-Pioneer Fire natural processes.
Primary Constituent Elements (PCEs) Primary Constituent Elements (PCEs) as identified in the designation of Critical Habitat for Bull Trout (Federal Register Vol. 75/ 75 FR 2269) and are those habitat components essential for the primary biological needs of foraging, reproducing, rearing of the young, dispersal, genetic exchange, or sheltering of bull trout. Each PCE has multiple corresponding pathway indicators (WCIs) to address potential effects, which are described above.
Fish Species The Columbia River Basin distinct population segment (DPS) of bull trout (Salvelinus confluentus) is listed as threatened under the ESA (USDI FWS 1998), and also identified as a management indicator species in the Forest Plan (Forest Service 2010). The USDI FWS Designation of Critical Habitat identified Clear Creek and Long Creek within the North Pioneer Project area as critical habitat for bull trout (USDI FWS 2010). Stream surveys within the project area found bull trout occupying Clear Creek and Fruitcake Creek. The R4 sensitive species, Westslope cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarki lewisi), does not have habitat present in the project area. Consequently, proposed activities would not impact westslope cutthroat trout or their habitat.
Direct and Indirect Effects
Alternative A (No Action) This alternative does not propose any new management activities and would therefore have no effect on the WCIs or the PCEs. The No Action Alternative would not contribute to any decline
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or trend in WCIs, PCEs or population viability. Under this alternative, natural fire recovery processes would continue, and therefore no effects are anticipated. The current condition trend would continue in all timeframes. The alternative would have no effect to bull trout or their critical habitat.
Alternative B (Proposed Action)
Watershed Condition Indicators The proposed action would implement a variety of management actions within the project area. Those actions include activities within and outside the RCAs. The buffer widths identified as RCA distances would protect fish and their habitat from proposed activities outside the RCA. As a result, proposed activities outside the RCA would not result in measureable effects to ESA- listed fish or USFWS designated bull trout critical habitat and are not further analyzed. Actions proposed within the RCAs have the potential to affect bull trout and bull trout critical habitat (Table 19). Table 19. Proposed activities within Riparian Conservation Areas (RCAs) near Designated Critical Bull Trout Habitat Acres of Proposed Activity located within Proposed Activity RCAs near Bull Trout Critical Habitat Roadside Tree Felling with Removal 99 acres Hazard Tree Felling Below the Road 300 acres Road Maintenance—Light 9.9 miles Road Maintenance—Moderate 0.8 miles Road Maintenance—Heavy 0 miles Unauthorized Routes Proposed for Decommissioning 0.07 miles Reforestation and Riparian Restoration 369 acres Temporary Road Construction 0 miles
Watershed Condition Indicators Project design features limit the types and effects of proposed activities occurring within RCAs. Proposed activities would have no influence on the functionality of the following watershed condition indicators (WCIs): subpopulation size (bull trout only), growth and survival (bull trout only), life history diversity and isolation, persistence and genetic integrity, physical barriers, off- channel habitat, and disturbance history/disturbance regime. Proposed activities would maintain the functionality of the following WCIs: temperature, sediment/turbidity, chemical contaminants/nutrients, substrate embeddedness, large woody debris, pool frequency, pool quality, large pools, refugia, maximum width/depth ratio, streambank condition, floodplain connectivity, change in peak/base flows, change in drainage network, road density and location, riparian conservation areas, and integration of species and habitat conditions. Table 20 details the potential temporary (0–3 years), short-term (3–15 years), and long-term (15+ years) effects to each WCI for the Proposed Action.
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Primary Constituent Elements (PCEs) for Bull Trout Critical Habitat Proposed activities would maintain each of the Primary Constituent Elements (PCEs) for bull trout critical habitat. No effects to bull trout subpopulation WCIs associated with the proposed activities are expected. There would be some negligible and immeasurable changes to habitat related WCIs, but those changes would have negligible and/or immeasurable effects on PCES.
Cumulative Effects Past and ongoing management actions have been considered in describing the existing baseline conditions for all WCIs. Foreseeable future activities that may have additional effects on WCIs were analyzed and the combined effects were determined to be negligible and/or immeasurable. No effects to bull trout subpopulations are expected in the temporary, short- or long-term timeframes associated with any of the proposed activities; therefore, cumulative effects are expected to be negligible and/or immeasurable.
Determination of Effects and Rationale for Bull Trout Based on the effects analysis completed for each Pathway/WCI and associated PCE analysis, the Proposed Action may affect, but is not likely to adversely affect bull trout and bull trout designated critical habitat. The basis for this conclusion is summarized below: • Some of the proposed activities could expose bare soils, which would increase the risk of sediment movement from these activities; however, the analysis for the Sediment WCI shows that 120 foot RCA buffers and sediment mitigation measures would be sufficient to prevent any additional sediment from entering occupied or bull trout critical habitat streams. Sediment travel distances for road related activities would be less than 70 feet. • The proposed action includes activities which could increase the risk of contamination from gas/oil (equipment operating near streams) and magnesium chloride (transportation) in the RCAs leading to an effect to listed fish species or their habitat. However, project design features and stream buffers would prevent potential effects. Therefore, effects are expected to be immeasurable, negligible, and discountable. • Hazard tree felling activities are occurring within the RCA. Project design features and stream buffers have been incorporated into this project. • Hazard tree removal may occur within RCAs above the road, but no equipment would be allowed off existing roads. Effects are expected to be immeasurable and negligible. This conclusion was based on modeled sediment travel distances showing RCA widths below the road would be sufficient to buffer bull trout and their habitat from effects associated with RCA hazard tree removal (FEMAT 1993). Analysis in the sediment, large woody debris (LWD) and RCA WCIs showed that the proposed treatments would have immeasurable and negligible effects. • The proposed activities would maintain all bull trout critical habitat PCEs.
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Table 20. Summary of effects to watershed condition indicators (WCIs) by timeframe for the Proposed Action Alternative Effects of the Proposed Action Watershed a Condition Baseline Condition Trend Indicator Effectsb Discussion of Effects (T/S/L)c
Subpopulation Character No direct or indirect effects to any local population are expected. Resident sub-adult bull trout reside in Clear Creek. There is no potential for these fish to be affected at the subpopulation level as the only activities Subpopulation FR-Lower and Upper within the RCA are felling of hazard trees and limited restoration. There may be negligible, discountable, Size Clear Creek; NI N/N/N and/or immeasurable effects to a few individuals, and/or a few habitat WCIs, but overall habitat conditions (bull trout only) FUR-Rock Creek and local population and functionality would not change, and all PCEs would be maintained. Therefore, no effects to bull trout at the subpopulation scale is anticipated. No direct or indirect effects to any local population are expected. The only resident fish suspected to reside FR-Lower and Upper within the project area is in Clear Creek where subadults have been documented. There is no potential for Growth and Clear Creek; these fish to be affected at the subpopulation level as the only activities within the RCA are felling of hazard Survival NI N/N/N trees and planting. There may be negligible, discountable and/or immeasurable effects to a few individuals, (bull trout only) FUR-Rock Creek and/or a few habitat WCIs, but overall existing conditions for growth and survival would not change, and all PCEs would be maintained. Therefore, no effects to bull trout growth and survival is anticipated. There is no potential for the proposed action to effect life history diversity and isolation or persistence and Life History genetic integrity of bull trout directly. Also, No indirect effects to the species are anticipated. Activities Diversity and FR-Lower Clear within the RCA (felling of hazard trees and reforestation activities) have the potential for a limited, Isolation/ Creek, Upper Clear NI N/N/N negligible and discountable disturbance to any individuals that may be nearby when work is occurring Persistence and Creek and Rock Creek (resident and/or migratory life forms). Temporary disturbance effects to overall fitness or survival are Genetic Integrity expected to be negligible and therefore not affect overall persistence at the subwatershed scale. No proposed (bull trout only) activities would affect fish barriers.
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Effects of the Proposed Action Watershed a Condition Baseline Condition Trend Indicator Effectsb Discussion of Effects (T/S/L)c
Water Quality Felling of hazard trees within the RCA may negatively affect stream temperatures in the temporary timeframe. However, any effects would be localized, negligible, and immeasurable. Due to fire mortality FUR-Lower Clear most trees have already lost their canopy, and are no longer providing stream shading. The removal of some Temperature Creek, Upper Clear M -*/+*/+* tree boles could negligibly reduce shade. In the short-term, riparian vegetation would regrow and provide Creek and Rock Creek some benefits. In the long term, replanting of conifers would help to moderate expected increases in summer stream temperatures within Clear Creek but any beneficial effects would largely occur outside the timeframe of this analysis (>50 years). Some of the temporary road building, road decommissioning, and road maintenance activities could result in a negligible and immeasurable temporary increase in risk of sediment production; however, the modeled sediment travel distances (70 feet) is far less than the RCA buffer (120 feet) associated with sediment FUR-Lower Clear delivery. In the short and long term, risk of sediment delivery to streams would be reduced by Sediment/ decommissioning unauthorized routes. Replanting of riparian vegetation would provide a buffer to limit Creek, Upper Clear M -*/-*/+* Turbidity Creek and Rock Creek sediment inputs from hill slope processes post-fire. Project Design Features FH-4, FH-5, FH-6 and FH-8 would prevent, lessen, and/or mitigate any potential effects. Therefore, effects from sediment would be negligible and immeasurable. In the long term, road maintenance and decommissioning should reduce current chronic effects from sedimentation. Project Design Feature FH-6 would mitigate any potential effects from snowplowing activities. FA- Lower and Upper During the temporary and short-term timeframes, equipment associated with proposed activities may operate Chemical Clear Creek; inside the RCA. All refueling of vehicles or equipment used in salvage operations, transportation or M -*/-*/N Contaminants/ snowplowing would occur outside the RCA (Design Features FH-3, 9 and 10). Design Feature TR-2 would Nutrients FR-Rock Creek prevent magnesium chloride from measurably affecting any project area streams. Habitat Access FUR-Lower Clear No effect. No culverts would be added, removed, or replaced within bull trout occupied stream or critical Physical Barriers Creek, Upper Clear NI N/N/N bull trout habitat. No push up dams would be constructed or removed within or near occupied or designated Creek and Rock Creek critical habitat.
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Effects of the Proposed Action Watershed a Condition Baseline Condition Trend Indicator Effectsb Discussion of Effects (T/S/L)c
Habitat Elements Some of the temporary road building and decommissioning activities could result in immeasurable and FUR-Lower Clear negligible temporary and short term increases in sediment delivery although modeled sediment travel Substrate distances (70 feet) are less than the RCA buffer (120 feet). In the short- and long-term, road maintenance and Creek, Upper Clear M -*/-*/+* Embeddedness Creek and Rock Creek decommissioning should reduce current chronic effects from sedimentation. Replanting of riparian vegetation would provide a buffer to limit sediment inputs from hill slope processes post-fire. Project Design Feature FH-6 is sufficient to prevent any potential effects from snowplowing activities. In the temporary and short-term, LWD could be increased by felling of hazard trees within the RCA. In the FR-Lower Clear long-term, a temporal gap in the supply of sufficient LWD would occur as seral vegetation dominates RCA Large Woody Creek, Upper Clear M +*/+*/-* areas (especially RCA areas receiving hazard tree felling treatments). In the long-term, replanting of conifers Debris (LWD) Creek and Rock Creek in the RCA’s would help maintain or improve the current trajectory for large wood within the limited areas in which RCA replanting is proposed but overall would not change the functional rating of this WCI. FR-Lower Clear Creek; Pool Frequency/ FA-Upper Clear Creek In the temporary and short-term, hazard trees felled within the riparian area could create new large pools. In and Rock Creek M +*/+*/N the long-term, many of the hazard trees felled could rot out, however based on the LWD analysis, there would still be sufficient supply of LWD, which would prevent degradation of this WCI. FUR – Upper Clear Large Pool/Pool Creek; Lower Clear Quality Creek; Rock Creek
FR-Lower Clear Creek; Off-Channel No activities are proposed that would affect any off-channel habitat; because, all equipment would operate NI N/N/N Habitat FA-Upper Clear Creek from existing road prisms only (Design Feature FH-1). and Rock Creek
The proposed actions are expected to have negligible and immeasurable negative effects on this WCI during implementation of activities (hazard tree felling, road maintenance, and road decommissioning activities) FR-Lower Clear within the RCA in the temporary and short-term timeframes. . Road maintenance and road decommissioning Refugia Creek, Upper Clear M -*/-*/+* would reduce chronic sources of sediment in the long term. Also in the long term, promoting mature tree Creek and Rock Creek growth and future LWD recruitment through planting in the watersheds would increase shading (lowering stream temperatures), create more channel complexity/pool formation, and sediment storage capacity in the future; all of which are critical components of bull trout core habitat areas.
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Effects of the Proposed Action Watershed a Condition Baseline Condition Trend Indicator Effectsb Discussion of Effects (T/S/L)c
Channel Condition and Dynamics FR-Lower and Upper Immeasurable improvements are expected in the long-term as a result of project activities. Replanting of Maximum Clear Creek conifers in the RCA would improve the resilience of the channel to resist future scour events by providing M N/N/+* Width/Depth root holding strength. Also, road decommissioning inside the RCA would reduce potential long-term Ratio FA-Rock Creek sediment. FA-Lower and Upper Replanting of conifers in the RCA would provide root holding strength and buffer stream banks to resist high Streambank Clear Creek; M N/+*/+* flow and scour events and effects from recreation. This improvement is attributed to an increase in LWD Condition FR-Rock Creek recruitment and stimulating understory riparian shrub species which could promote streambank stability.
FUR-Lower Clear Creek; No activities are proposed within stream channels. Existing road prisms would be used so the current Floodplain condition would not change until the long-term after temporary and unauthorized roads are decommissioned, M N/+*/+* Connectivity FR-Upper Clear Creek; which could negligibly enhance the hydrologic linkage of some floodplains where decommissioning roads FA-Rock Creek occurs near to streams.
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Effects of the Proposed Action Watershed a Condition Baseline Condition Trend Indicator Effectsb Discussion of Effects (T/S/L)c
Flow/Hydrology FUR-Lower Clear In the temporary, road maintenance and temporary road construction may increase flows, as the drainage Creek; network increases. However, in the short- and long-term timeframes road related activities including road Change in M N/+*/+* decommissioning would reduce overall road drainage, and decrease surface runoff in the long-term. Peak/Base Flows FR-Upper Clear Creek Replanting of conifers in the uplands and RCAs would help attenuate flows over time as subwatersheds and Rock Creek recover from the fire. Several temporary road building, road decommissioning, and road maintenance activities are proposed FR-Lower Clear which would extend the length of the current drainage network; however, the effects to the WCI would Change in Creek; remain negligible at the scale of analysis. In the short- and long-term timeframes, all temporary roads and Drainage FA-Upper Clear Creek; M -*/+*/+* additional unauthorized travel routes would be decommissioned, and no longer be present on the landscape. Network Thus a net benefit (in the long-term) to this WCI is expected under the Proposed Action. The effects to this FUR-Rock Creek WCI are expected to be negligible and would not change the functional rating of the subwatersheds for this WCI. Watershed Conditions
FR-Lower Clear In the temporary and short-term, construction of temporary roads would increase the overall road density. Creek; This increase is expected to be negligible over the subwatershed scale. In the long-term, all temporary roads Road Density and FA-Upper Clear Creek; M -*/+*/+* and many unauthorized travel routes would be totally decommissioned, and no longer be present on the Location landscape. Thus, a net immeasurable benefit to this WCI is expected under the Proposed Action. This change FUR-Rock Creek is not expected to change the functional rating of the subwatersheds for this WCI. FUR-Lower Clear Creek and Rock Creek; Disturbance FA – Upper Clear History/ Creek The Proposed Action has no potential to affect the current condition for these WCIs. The Pioneer Fire of 2016 affected all subwatersheds on a large scale. The proposed hazard tree felling and salvage harvest would NI N/N/N not affect the current trajectory of the subwatersheds. Vegetation and streams would continue to be FUR – Lower Clear dominated by post fire processes in spite of the proposed activities. Creek; Rock Creek Disturbance Regime FR – Upper Clear Creek
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Effects of the Proposed Action Watershed a Condition Baseline Condition Trend Indicator Effectsb Discussion of Effects (T/S/L)c Replanting of conifers within the RCAs could immeasurably improve some WCIs as indicated above, FUR-Lower Clear shifting them incrementally toward desired future condition. Overall, RCA condition could improve Riparian Creek immeasurably, and should improve faster than through natural regeneration alone. In the temporary time Conservation M -*/+*/+* frame, removal of trees within the RCA could have negligible negative effects on some RCA functions. FR-Upper Clear Creek Areas However, due to post-fire processes, the RCA condition would continue on its current trajectory within the and Rock Creek time frame of this analysis, and any further benefits from reforestation would occur beyond the timeframe of this analysis. The overall species and habitat situation for fisheries would not change in the temporary timeframe. While several WCIs may experience a negligible and immeasurable effect in the temporary timeframe, the change Integration of FR-Lower and Upper does not necessarily equate to any change to the overall species and habitat condition for this WCI. Several Species and Clear Creek; WCIs and important habitat components that are currently degraded from past disturbance and management M -*/+*/+* Habitat actions could immeasurably improve with the Proposed Action. Several (LWD, sediment, road density) may FUR-Rock Creek Conditions have potential immeasurable benefits to aquatic species’ habitat in the short- and long-term timeframes. However, the current situation for aquatic species and habitat conditions would continue to be influenced by landscape scale disturbance events, and the trajectory would not change under the Proposed Action. a: Functionality for baseline conditions: FA = Functioning Acceptably, FR = Functioning at Risk, FUR = Functioning at Unacceptable Risk. b: Effects to Functionality Class: M = Maintain (within functionality class), D=Degrade (change functionality class), NI = No Influence, I = Improve (change functionality class). c: Trend effects: N = No trend, - = negative trend, + = positive trend, +/-=uncertain trend, may be positive or negative * indicates negligible impact. Timeframe: T/S/L. T = Temporary (0- 3 years) S = Short-term (3-15 years) L = Long-term (15+ years).
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Soils Resource
Summary: No activities are proposed under the No Action Alternative; therefore, this alternative would have no direct or indirect effects on detrimental soil disturbance or total soil resource commitment; nor would this alternative increase the probability or occurrence of management-induce landslides. The Proposed Action would temporarily (0–15 years) increase detrimental disturbance in each activity area from <1% to 87%. Implementing restorative design features and completing other project activities (reforestation and route decommissioning), would reduce this detrimental disturbance to 0%–11% after 10 years. The Proposed Action would also decrease existing total soil resource commitment by 0.1%. A low likelihood for proposed salvage harvest to increase the probability of landslide occurrence exists. However, implementing harvest with skyline harvest systems on landslide prone ground would avoid compaction from ground-based equipment that would alter the soil-hydrologic functions and decrease slope stability. The Proposed Action would comply with Forest Plan Standard SWST02, SWST03, and SWST12.
This section describes the analysis to address concerns identified during the public involvement process regarding potential impacts to soil quality that could occur from salvage harvest. With respect to public comments received regarding erosion, compaction, microbes, and nutrient cycling, the intent of the applicable Forest Service management direction for soils resources is aimed at protecting soil quality. The intent is to limit physical impacts from proposed management activities and improve soils damaged by past management. By using analysis indicator thresholds to measure and limit physical damage, the biological, physical, and chemical properties contributing to any soil’s inherent level of productivity is maintained or restored. Refer to the project record Soils Resource Technical Report for the detailed supporting analysis. The Pioneer Fire shaped the existing condition of the soil, which can be characterized by the post-fire soil burn severity. Soil burn severity describes the fire-caused damage to the soil and is a measure of the effects of fire on soil quality, including how water moves into and through the soil (hydrologic properties). Together with slope, burn severity influences the amount of natural soil erosion that occurs following a fire. Within the North Pioneer Project Area, soil burn severity classes are identified as unchanged/very low, low, moderate, or high. Approximately 1,839 acres (6%) of the area have unchanged/very low soil burn severity; 9,216 acres (33%) have low soil burn severity; 14,796 acres (53%) have moderate soil burn severity, and 2,133 acres (8%) have high soil burn severity. Sites with moderate and high soil burn severity can be more vulnerable to detrimental erosion if ground-based logging equipment or other disturbances disrupt them. These soils are also susceptible to compaction caused by equipment. When compacted, increases in overland water flow can accelerate soil erosion with subsequent sediment delivery to adjacent streams. However, erosion control and soil stabilization practices are effective on these sites and must be applied (Robichaud et al. 2011; Slesak et al. 2015).
Indicators The following indicators were analyzed to address concerns for potential impacts to soil quality from implementing proposed activities designed to meet the Project’s purpose and need desired conditions.
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Would proposed activities cause detrimental soil compaction and increase soil erosion above natural levels? • Percent detrimental soil disturbance (DD) within each activity area Would temporary road construction, skid trails and log landings cause long term degradation of the physical, biological and chemical soil properties and decrease the amount of area that can support desired vegetation? • Percent total soil resource commitment (TSRC) within each activity area Would salvage harvest increase the potential for landslides, particularly in areas having inherently moderate or high instability? • Acres of moderate and high slope stability hazards where activities are proposed. At any point in time, soil quality conditions across landscapes lie somewhere within the spectrum of undisturbed disturbed — detrimentally disturbed — total soil resource commitment (Figure 6). The “undisturbed” and “disturbed” categories best represents most natural soil quality conditions of intact forested and non-forested settings. Soils characterized as “disturbed” have not had their physical and biological properties impacted to a level where soil conditions impair productivity. Soils categorized as DD or TSRC have been impacted by discretionary management activities, spatially and temporally, to a level that inhibits plant growth, often with compounding undesirable effects to watershed health (e.g., accelerated erosion with increased sediment delivery to waterbodies and increased potential for spread of undesirable noxious and non-native plants). The soil quality analysis tracks “cause & effect” relationships that characterize existing conditions and estimate the potential environmental effects expected to occur from proposed activities to a threshold or desired range. The threshold or desired range is defined by an indicator based on applicable Forest Plan Standards and Guidelines. The change in the indicator from the current condition provides a benchmark for estimating the extent and magnitude of effects from implementing the Proposed Action, and concludes whether soil management goals and objectives are being, or can be met.
Figure 6. Soil disturbance by activity
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Would proposed activities cause detrimental soil compaction and increase soil erosion above natural What is Detrimental Disturbance? levels? Detrimental soil disturbance (DD) is the Summary: No activities are proposed under the alteration of natural soil characteristics that No Action Alternative; therefore, there are no results in immediate or prolonged loss of activity areas and no direct or indirect effects. soil productivity and soil-hydrologic For the Proposed Action, salvage harvest would conditions. At least 85% of an activity area temporarily (0–15 years) increase DD in each should be in a non-detrimentally disturbed activity area from <1% to 87%. Implementing the condition. restorative design features and completing other DD occurs where management activities project activities (reforestation and route have displaced, compacted, puddled, or decommissioning), will result in DD in salvage severely burned the soil. harvest units ranging from 0%–11% after 10 years. DD excludes existing or planned classified Implementing the activities under the Proposed transportation facilities, dedicated trails, Action would comply with Forest Plan Standard and landings, and other dedicated facilities. SWST02. However, the impacts of these actions are considered total soil resource commitment Affected Environment (TSRC) (USDA Forest Service 2010a, Glossary, p. 12) The existing DD in the project-delineated activity areas ranges from 0% to 5% and is attributed to past timber harvest, dispersed recreation, off-highway vehicle (OHV) use, and personal fuelwood gathering. Severely burned soils from the Pioneer Fire do not contribute to current levels for DD. Severely burned soil conditions apply only to prescribed fire and natural fires that are managed for resource benefits (USDA Forest Service 2010a, Glossary. p. 12).
Alternative A (No Action)
Direct and Indirect Effects Direct and indirect effects on soil quality are limited to impacts specifically related to roadside hazard tree and salvage harvest and removal of burned timber (salvage harvest) within delineated activity areas (harvest units). No activities are proposed under the No Action Alternative; therefore, there are no activity areas and no direct or indirect effects. Where it exists across the project area, DD from dispersed recreation and personal fuelwood gathering would be expected to persist, but not increase in the temporary, short-, or long-term timeframes (Table 21).
Cumulative Effects The cumulative effect is the same as direct and indirect effects for the No Action Alternative described above. Localized areas where soils are currently detrimentally compacted and/or displaced from past timber harvest would recover and stabilize over time, as the causative impact(s) no longer exist (Arnup 1988). Existing DD from present/ongoing dispersed recreation and personal fuelwood gathering would be expected to persist but not increase. No reasonably foreseeable management activities influencing DD would be implemented under this alternative.
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Alternative B (Proposed Action)
Direct and Indirect Effects For the Proposed Action, the direct and indirect effects from salvage harvest would increase DD in each activity area in the temporary to short-term timeframe (0–15 years). The estimated increases in DD from salvage harvest would range from <1% to 87% for all activity areas (Table 21). The sizeable increases in estimated DD are attributed to ground disturbance in harvest units designated for tractor and tractor/jammer yarding. The landtype sensitivity analysis, combined with recent literature reviews, concludes burned areas have increased susceptibility to displacement (erodibility) and compaction from salvage harvest (Wagenbrenner et al. 2015; McIver 2003; Knapp and Ritchie 2016). The design feature (FH-8) requiring full re-contouring and stabilization of skid trails, essentially route decommission prescriptions, would establish conditions for accelerated restoration of DD in the salvage harvest units implemented with ground-based machinery. DD in harvest units implemented with skyline yarding have higher inherent sensitivity primarily because of steeper slopes. However, the absence of ground-based machinery considerably minimizes DD. Implementing the restorative design features and completing other project activities (reforestation and route decommissioning), will result in DD in salvage harvest units ranging from 0%–11%. Implementing the activities under the Proposed Action would comply with Forest Plan Standard SWST02. Table 21. Summary of detrimental disturbance (DD) by alternative
Existing Direct and Indirect Effect Cumulative Effect Alternative Condition Salvage Harvest 5 Years 10 Years No Action 0%–5% 0% 0%–5% 0%–4% Proposed — <1%–87% 0%–20% 0%–11% Action Approximately 18 of the 57 units/activity areas are estimated to exceed 15% DD immediately following salvage harvest activities. After salvage within the individual harvest units, there is a time lag for sequentially implemented actions: harvest, skid trail restoration, planting, route decommissioning, etc. At the conclusion of project activitie,s the DD increase in salvage harvest units would recover to disturbed conditions, mostly due to active restoration of the skid trails. Temporary and short-term increases in DD are expected in salvage harvest activity areas where ground-based equipment (dozers/rubber tire skidders or Timco) would use skid trails to yard logs. The primary (designated) skid trails are classified as TSRC and discussed in that section. However, using secondary (6- to 10-pass) skid trails that either branch off primary trails or are the only trails in small harvest units is common, which may or may not cause detrimental soil compaction and displacement (Froehlich et al. 1983). The temporary and short-term direct effects from ground-based salvage harvest decrease through restoring skid trail disturbances described under Design Features FH-8 and TH-4; stabilization is also required under the Idaho Forest Practices Act (IDAPA 20.02.01). However, some short-term (up to 10 years) increases in DD are expected due to residual impacts from primary and secondary skid trails, as it is unreasonable to expect restoration would be 100% effective over 100% of the skid trails. Also, short-term increases (up to 15 years) in DD would exist from residual impacts where roads have been decommissioned and soil quality conditions transition from TSRC to DD, and eventually to a disturbed condition.
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As previously stated, DD is associated with ground disturbance that accelerates soil displacement (erosion) or causes compaction. The fall and leave treatment of hazard trees in RCAs would be accomplished with hand felling using chainsaws and not result in ground disturbance. Should ground-based machinery be used to implement this action, equipment would be restricted to existing route templates. Therefore, no increase in detrimental soil impacts (erosion or compaction) would be expected from implementing the fall and leave mitigation action. The impacts of vegetation management treatments on surface soil conditions can vary considerably. The impact of salvage harvest on soil physical properties is primarily compaction, which increases soil bulk density and strength, decreases water infiltration and aeration porosity, restricts root growth, increases surface runoff and erosion, and alters heat flux. The susceptibility of soil to compaction is a function of soil texture and original bulk density, soil moisture content, and soil organic matter (OM) as a function of the number of machine passes and the type of machinery being used (Elliot et al. 2010). Recent studies have evaluated the responses of soil chemical, biological, and physical properties from mechanical vegetation treatments (e.g., harvest, noncommercial thinning, and site preparation). Numerous findings from these studies support the conclusions in this analysis. The following summarize those findings explicitly applicable to the cause-and-effect relationships and soil quality indicators used to derive the analysis conclusions: Soils can be more easily compacted by salvage harvesting. How this translates to a loss or decrease in soil quality is based on high-risk soil conditions (e.g., seasonally wet, clayey texture, low rock content, low OM content, minimal forest floor development). Understanding the inherent soil properties (e.g., surface soil textures, rock content, erosion potential) and selecting the best management practices for the site-specific characteristics (e.g., avoid harvesting on high risk soils or when soil water content is near field capacity) allows for more powerful interpretation and assessment of potential effects on soils (Wagenbrenner et al. 2015). Across National Forests in the Northern Region, no timber harvest system consistently resulted in mean DD in excess of 15% of the areal extent within a timber harvest unit. Statistically significant differences exist in the amount of DD resulting from ground-based, skyline, and helicopter timber harvest systems (Reeves et al. 2011). Because the harvest systems evaluated in this study are similar to those being proposed in the South Pioneer Fire Salvage and Reforestation Project, these findings are applicable to the conclusions in this analysis. Using designated or existing harvest traffic lanes (i.e., skid trails) during salvage harvest and leaving thinning residue in high traffic areas can reduce soil compaction on a stand basis (Page-Dumroese et al. 2010). Manageable factors to minimize soil impacts include type of equipment and use, all timed to take advantage of seasonal soil conditions to minimize impacts (Elliot et al. 2010).
Cumulative Effects The cumulative effects on soil quality include disturbances of past, present/ongoing, and reasonably foreseeable activities within each activity area plus the direct and indirect effects of the proposed salvage harvest. Within the delineated activity areas, detrimental soil conditions from disturbances occurring in the last 21 years were considered as existing or residual detrimental impacts that, when
142 North Pioneer Fire Salvage and Restoration Project Environmental Assessment combined with the direct and indirect effects of the activities proposed in the North Pioneer Project, define the cumulative effect. DD exists around the perimeters of developed recreation sites and dispersed recreation areas that are categorized as TSRC. Timber harvest and other ground disturbing activities contributing to DD predating 1988 are not included in this analysis, as those impacts have recovered (Arnup 1998). The cumulative effect values represent the existing DD conditions plus additive direct effects for the 3- , 5-, and 10-year time periods. The cumulative effects for DD by activity area are consistent with Forest Plan Standard SWST02. Within 5 years of project implementation, DD would decrease from the immediate effects and range from 0% to 20%. Additional recovery of DD in each salvage harvest unit would occur between 5 and 10 years following salvage harvest, with DD estimates at 10 years, ranging from 0% to 11%. All salvage harvest units are estimated to be at or below 15% DD upon completion of Project activities (Table 21). In activity areas with existing DD from past or present/ongoing activities, the expected impacts from implementing the Proposed Action (specifically salvage harvest) would cause an incremental short-term, cumulative increase in DD. The DD from salvage harvest would decrease in the short term when skid trails are actively reclaimed. As the remaining projects and restorative design features are implemented, residual DD would recover to disturbed conditions through active reclamation or passive amelioration bringing the cumulative DD within each activity area to between 0% and 11% by year 10 (Arnup 1998). Over the longer term (20 years or more), residual DD resulting from localized impacts having longer lasting effects are likely to exist. These impacts are confined to small areas <1 acre that are randomly distributed throughout an activity area. Existing DD from present/ongoing dispersed recreation and personal fuelwood gathering would be expected to persist, but not increase, in the temporary, short-, or long-term timeframes. No known foreseeable future management activities would measurably increase or decrease cumulative DD within the respective activity areas.
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Would temporary road construction, skid trails and log landings cause long term degradation of the physical, biological and chemical soil properties and decrease the amount of area that can support desired vegetation?
Summary: Under the No Action Alternative there are no proposed activities, therefore there are no direct and indirect effects that would change TSRC. What is Total Soil Resource Commitment? Implementing the Proposed Action would result in an immeasurable decrease in TSRC when compared to the existing conditions. After TSRC is the conversion of a productive site implementing salvage harvest and related to an essentially non-productive site for a activities, TSRC is estimated to be 2.3%, a decrease period of more than 50 years. of 0.1% from existing TSRC. This alternative would Examples include classified or unclassified be consistent with Forest Plan Standard SWST03. roads, inadequately restored haul roads, designated skid roads, landing areas, Affected Environment parking lots, mining dumps or excavations, dedicated trails (skid trails also), developed The existing condition for TSRC is campgrounds, other dedicated facilities, approximately 2.4% and is attributed to and some stock driveways. Productivity on impacts from the existing transportation these areas ranges from 0% to 40% of facilities, some limited past timber harvest, natural (USDA Forest Service 2010a, developed and dispersed recreation, OHV use, Glossary p. 50) and personal fuelwood gathering. The TSRC activity area for direct and indirect and cumulative effects is the 28,007-acre project area. The rationale for this delineation is based on guidance in the Forest Plan (USDA Forest Service 2010a, p. Gl-1). The TSRC acres were estimated by overlaying the developed recreation facilities, transportation facilities, and past harvest data in GIS with the project area boundary, field observations of a subset of TSRC sites, and by review of high-resolution imagery.
Alternative A (No Action)
Direct and Indirect Effects Under the No Action Alternative there are no proposed activities, therefore there are no direct and indirect effects that would change TSRC. Where it exists across the project area, TSRC from travel routes, dispersed recreation, and personal fuelwood gathering would be expected to persist, but not increase in the temporary, short-, or long-term timeframes.
Cumulative Effects The cumulative effects for the No Action Alternative are the same as the direct and indirect effects. Existing TSRC from present/ongoing travel routes, developed and dispersed recreation, and personal fuelwood gathering would be expected to persist but not increase in the temporary or short or long term. No reasonably foreseeable management activities influencing TSRC would be implemented under this alternative.
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Alternative B (Proposed Action)
Direct and Indirect Effects Skid trails, temporary roads, and log landings would increase TSRC. The increase would be short term (0–10 years) as those disturbances would be restored temporarily to DD which would then recover to disturbed soil quality conditions. Decommissioning NFS and unauthorized routes would decrease TSRC over the long term. In addition to road decommissioning, Design Features FH-8 and TH-4 will be required to achieve soil restoration objectives and consistency with Forest Plan Standard SWST03. The disturbance activities, data, and calculations used to derive TSRC estimates are located in Attachment C of the Soils Resource Technical Report. An interim increase of about 3.0% in TSRC would occur from constructing and using log landings, designated skid trails, and up to 7.0 miles of temporary road to facilitate salvage harvest. The conclusion for these direct effects to be short term is addressed through Design Features FH-8 and TH-4 which require these disturbances be reclaimed when they are no longer needed for salvage harvest, reversing the increased TSRC. Decommissioning roughly 3.3 miles of existing unauthorized routes will immeasurably reduce TSRC (<0.5%). Most of the forested stands within the project area are roaded and have previously been logged, most notably in the 1980s and most recently in the early 1990s. Remnant, disconnected segments of old skid trails are evident, many of which would be reused to implement the proposed salvage harvest. Prior to the Pioneer Fire, many of the remnant trails had varying levels of vegetative cover, with varying levels of stability and impacts discontinuous across the soil disturbance spectrum. Therefore, the existing effects are difficult to quantify from a soil quality perspective. With the fire removing the vegetative screen and stability, most of the proposed primary skid trails would be co-located over existing disturbances, and this TSRC is accounted for under existing conditions. Based on the configuration of the harvest units, 888 log landings with an average size of 0.5 acre would be needed to implement the proposed salvage harvest. The actual number of landings and their equivalent impact area may vary, as the preference is to minimize new construction/ground disturbance and locate landings in currently disturbed areas or co-located within existing road prisms. Depending on their location, the log landings may or may not increase TSRC; regardless, those disturbances would be rehabilitated post-salvage to achieve disturbed soil quality conditions. Design Features FH-8 and TH-4 require newly constructed landings be ripped and reshaped to provide acceptable infiltration and surface drainage, slash distributed to cover approximately 50% of the reshaped surface, and the area planted with a Forest Service approved seed mixture upon completion of harvest activities. Depending on existing resource impacts from dispersed recreation areas that are used as landings, these dispersed areas may or may not be fully restored. Some locations could be retained for recreation uses, which would limit future, unwanted disturbances from user encroachment.
Cumulative Effects With none of the alternatives affecting soil quality outside of the project area, the activity area for assessing cumulative effects consists of the 28,007-acre project area. The existing conditions for TSRC reflect the past and present/ongoing impacts of the travel routes and long-term disturbances.
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With no past/ongoing actions expected to increase TSRC, the cumulative effects from implementing the Project’s proposed actions would result in an immeasurable decrease in TSRC when compared to the existing conditions (Table 22). At the conclusion of implementing salvage harvest and related activities, TSRC is estimated at 2.3%, a decrease of 0.1% from existing TSRC. This alternative would be consistent with Forest Plan Standard SWST03. Table 22. Total Soil Resource Commitment (TSRC) by alternative (values in percent) Alternative B Existing Active Restoration TSRC Feature Condition Direct/Indirect Cumulative or Design Feature (%) Effects (%) TSRC (%) (%) NFS Roads 2.14 0.00 0.00 2.14 NFS Road - New Construction 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 NFS Road - Reconstruction/Relocation 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 NFS Roads Decommissioned –0.18 0.00 0.00 –0.18 UA Roads 0.04 0.00 0.00 0.00 UA Roads Decommissioned 0.00 0.00 –0.04 –0.04 Temporary Road Construction 0.00 0.08 –0.08 0.00 NFS Motorized Trails 0.06 0.00 0.00 0.06 NFS Non-motorized Trails 0.01 0.00 0.00 0.01 Recreation Disturbances (actual acres) 0.31 0.00 0.00 0.31 Skid Trails (.5 mi/10 ac harvest) 0.00 1.35 –1.35 0.00 Landings (888 @ 0.5 acre) 0.00 1.59 –1.59 0.00 Livestock Disturbances (acres) 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 Cumulative TSRC 2.38 3.02 –3.06 2.34 Note: Values based on 28,007-acre project area.
Would salvage harvest increase the potential for landslides, particularly in areas having inherently moderate or high instability?
Summary: The No Action Alternative would not implement any management activities; thus, no additional direct or indirect or short- or long-term effects would increase the probability or occurrence of management-induced landslides. A low likelihood for proposed salvage harvest to increase the probability of landslide occurrence exists. Salvage harvest is proposed on 571 acres (28% of the total proposed salvage harvest) of ground identified as moderate and high hazard for slope stability. However, 96% of salvage harvest on landslide prone ground would be implemented with skyline harvest systems, thus avoiding compaction from ground-based equipment that would alter the soil-hydrologic functions and decrease slope stability. This alternative would comply with Forest Plan Standard SWST12.
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Affected Environment Within the project area, approximately 21% of the lands are mapped as high and moderate What is Landslide Hazard? hazard for landslides (Table 23). Almost all of the identified landslide hazard areas coincide with steep, strongly dissected mountain slope Landslide hazard is the calculated lands having shallow soil profiles on steep probability of slope failure. In practical slopes overlying the granitic geology, which field use, it is a relative (e.g., low, moderate, or high) estimate of the potential are randomly occurring patches scattered susceptibility for landslide occurrence. throughout the project area. (USDA Forest Service 2010a, Glossary The direct and indirect effects for slope p. 26) stability are limited to impacts specifically A landslide prone area is an area with a related to salvage harvest and removal of tendency for rapid soil mass movements burned timber within delineated activity areas typified by shallow, non-cohesive soils on (harvest units). The cumulative effects on slopes where shallow translational planar slope stability include disturbances of past, landsliding phenomena is controlled by present/ongoing, and reasonably foreseeable shallow groundwater flow convergence. activities within each activity area plus the The initiation is often associated with direct and indirect effects of the proposed extremely wet periods, such as rain-on- snow events. It does not include slow soil salvage harvest. Within the harvest units, the mass movements that include deep earth- analysis is focused where salvage harvest is flows and rotational slumps, nor snow being considered on lands with moderate and avalanche or rock fall areas. Translational high slope stability hazards. These locations slides have been documented as the present the greatest likelihood for management dominant form of landslides for the activities to influence the natural processes that majority of the Forest. affect slope stability. The rationale for this delineation is based on guidance in the Forest Plan (USDA Forest Service 2010a, p. B-44). Currently, 24 miles (of 153 total miles) of existing NFS and unauthorized routes are located on moderate or high landslide prone areas. Table 23. SINMAP landslide hazard ratings (Pack et al. 1998) Stable Low Moderate High Slope Stability Hazard Acres Percent Acres Percent Acres Percent Acres Percent North Pioneer Project Area 17,680 63 4,627 17 2,182 8 3,518 13 (28,007 acres)
Alternative A (No Action)
Direct and Indirect Effects The No Action Alternative would not implement any management activities; thus, no additional direct or indirect or short- or long-term effects would increase the probability or occurrence of management-induced landslides. There would be no direct and indirect effects to the three primary factors that influence slope stability (i.e., soil moisture, root strength, and slope gradient) and the likelihood of new landslides would not increase or decrease.
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Cumulative Effects The No Action Alternative would have no effect on slope stability within the project area; therefore, no cumulative effects are anticipated. Considering no large-scale activities are being implemented or planned in the future, the existing conditions and direct and indirect effects of the No Action Alternative represent the cumulative effects. The cumulative effects for slope stability would be limited to the susceptibility for failures from the existing road-related landslides. Given the project area’s disturbance history that effects of current activities are not expected to measurably change, and because no future land management activities are planned for the Project area, there would be no additional or incremental cumulative effects under the No Action Alternative beyond the previously described direct and indirect effects.
Alternative B (Proposed Action)
Direct and Indirect Effects No direct and indirect effects are expected when implementing salvage harvest actions. It is important to understand that soil moisture and root strength, the primary factors that regulate slope stability and can be impacted by management actions, have been considerably altered from the fire (Megahan et al. 1978). This alternative would comply with Forest Plan Standard SWST12. A low likelihood for proposed salvage harvest to increase the probability of landslide occurrence exists. Salvage harvest is proposed on 571 acres (28% of the total proposed salvage harvest) of ground identified as moderate and high hazard for slope stability (Table 24). However, the majority (96%) of salvage harvest on landslide prone ground would be implemented with skyline harvest systems, thus avoiding compaction from ground-based equipment that would alter the soil-hydrologic functions and decrease slope stability. The acres of slope stability hazards represent the sum of numerous smaller sites within any individual activity area; the largest contiguous patch of unstable lands (e.g., “moderate” or “high” LSP rating) within a salvage harvest activity area is approximately 30 acres. Forest Plan guideline SWGU04 requires identification and field verification of moderate and high hazard landslide prone areas that coincide with proposed salvage harvest units; site-specific management measures will be incorporated where salvage harvest is proposed in the vicinity of existing hillslope failures.
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Table 24. Summary of proposed salvage harvest on “Moderate” and “High” landslide prone lands Alternative Salvage Harvest Operations No Action Proposed Action Salvage Harvest—Tractor Yarding (acres) — 21 Salvage Harvest—Skyline Yarding (acres) — 550 Salvage Harvest—Temporary Road (miles) — 1.2 Alternative Travel Routes (miles) No Action Proposed Action NFS & Unauthorized Existing Routes 24 23 Unauthorized/Temporary—Decommission — 1.2
Segments totaling 1.2 miles of the 7 miles of temporary roads proposed for log haul are in locations rated moderate or high stability hazard. These are 20 discontinuous segments, each less than 0.15 mile, and all are located on existing templates. Considering temporary roads would be restored to pre-disturbance contour (Design Feature FH-8, TH-4), no temporary, short-, or long- term direct and indirect effects are expected to increase the probability or occurrence of landslides.
Cumulative Effects The area for assessing cumulative effects on slope stability consists of the 28,007-acre project area. No large-scale management-induced landslides have been identified within the project area. Known management-induced sites are limited to small hillslope failures of cut and fill slopes associated with road prisms. There are no foreseeable future activities within the project area, in addition to those assessed for direct and indirect effects that may influence the occurrence of landslides. The analysis to identify areas having slope stability concerns combined with implementing the field verification guideline provides the rationale for the action alternative’s consistency with Forest Plan Standard SWST12. A low probability for proposed salvage harvest to increase slope instability over existing conditions exists. Furthermore, with the low potential for direct and indirect effects resulting from the proposed activities, any incremental or cumulative effects would not be anticipated.
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Rare Plants
Summary: Though implementing the No Action Alternative would have no direct, indirect, or cumulative impact on whitebark pine, recovery of the whitebark pine community at Pilot Peak would likely take longer than under the Proposed Action. The No Action Alternative would have no direct, indirect or cumulative impact to Idaho dwarf-primrose, Bryum moss, Sacajawea’s bitterroot, or small phacelia and would have no risk of long-term loss of population viability or habitat for the 10 Forest Watch Species analyzed. Activities proposed under the Proposed Action may impact individuals, but would not likely contribute to a trend towards federal listing or loss of viability to the populations or species of whitebark pine, Bryum moss, Sacajawea’s bitterroot, or small phacelia and would have no impact to Idaho dwarf-primrose. Effects and risk of long-term loss of population viability or habitat for the 10 Forest Watch and Unique Habitat Indicator species would be low. The 336 acres of whitebark pine reforestation would be beneficial and should speed the high-elevation vegetative community recovery.
This section describes how the alternatives address the purpose of the North Pioneer Project to restore portions of the landscape burned by the wildfire by initiating reforestation, specifically, whitebark pine restoration. Additionally, this section addresses concerns identified during public scoping that proposed activities may affect rare plants, including candidate, threatened, endangered, sensitive, and management indicator species. Refer to the project record Botanical Technical Report and Biological Evaluation Covering Listed, Proposed, Candidate, Sensitive, and Forest Watch Species Resource Technical Report for the detailed supporting analysis.
Indicators The following indicators were analyzed to measure alternative effectiveness at meeting the purpose and need, desired conditions and addressing concerns for the rare plant resource: Would proposed activities affect rare plant resources and habitat, including whitebark pine? • Effects to whitebark pine species and habitat • Effects to R4 Sensitive species and habitat • Effects to Forest Watch species and habitat The spatial analysis scale for direct, indirect and cumulative effects to Sensitive and Forest Watch plants was the project area with the addition of known occupied rare plant habitat and associated Plant Conservation Areas (PCAs) that may extend over and outside project area boundaries. Spatially, direct and indirect effects for whitebark pine were tracked at the project area level with the addition of designated haul routes passing outside the project area boundaries, but through occupied whitebark pine habitat. The cumulative effects area for whitebark pine considered the project area plus a 10-kilometer buffer to account for the average distance Clark’s nutcrackers may harvest and transport whitebark pine seeds. These scales were chosen because they represent the ecological extent of the plant populations anticipated to be subject to potential impacts from proposed management activities. Temporally, temporary (0–3 years), short-term (3–15 years), and long-term (15+ years) timeframes were used to depict effects to indicators.
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Would proposed activities affect rare plant resources and habitat, including whitebark pine?
Affected Environment The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) Listed Threatened/Endangered/Proposed and Candidate Species List does not include any listed threatened, endangered, proposed or candidate plant species for the Project Area. Although whitebark pine is not included on the USFWS list for this project area, the species qualifies for the Regional Forester’s Sensitive List and populations overlap proposed activities in the project area.
Whitebark Pine Whitebark pine (Pinus albicaulis) (Candidate/R4 Sensitive Species) is considered a “keystone” or foundation species in North America, and, therefore, is a critical part of a properly functioning ecosystem (Tomback 2001). While a substantive portion (about 12% or almost 20,000 acres) of the Forest’s habitat supporting whitebark pine was affected by the Pioneer Fire, only about 8% (1,573 acres) of that total area lies within the North Pioneer Project area boundaries. Whitebark pine is present at the upper elevations of the project area, and additional suitable habitat occurs at high elevations in forested and non-forested vegetation types.
Sensitive Species Within the Project Area, Sacajawea’s bitterroot (Lewisia sacajaweana) occupies habitat at Pilot Peak, Deadwood Ridge, and Miller Mountain (Kirkham Ridge). Undocumented individuals and additional potential habitat may occur at high elevations of the project area. Though populations of Idaho dwarf-primrose (Douglasia idahoensis) are located approximately10 mile west of the project area boundary at Scott Mountain, Idaho dwarf- primrose, Bryum moss (Bryum calobryoides), and small phacelia (Phacelia minutissima) are not known to occur in the project area, though suitable habitat for these species may exist.
Boise Forest Watch Species The former Boise Forest Watch species, tall swamp onion (Allium validum) (representing unique habitats) is present on the southwest side of the Project Area near Pilot Peak. Four documented populations of sweetgrass (Hierochloe odorata) occur in the riparian meadows of Bear Valley, north of the North Pioneer project boundary. Though sweetgrass, and scalloped moonwort (Botrychium crenulatum), little grapefern (Botrychium simplex), Mt. Shasta sedge (Carex straminiformis), tufted penstemon (Penstemon laxus), Kruckeberg’s hollyfern (Polystichum kruckebergii), Sierra sanicle (Sanicula graveolens), Lieberg stonecrop (Sedum leibergii), and sticky tofieldia (Triantha occidentalis ssp. brevistyla) are not known to occur in the project area, suitable habitat for these species may exist.
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Alternative A (No Action)
Direct, Indirect and Cumulative Effects Whitebark Pine Though implementing the No Action Alternative would have no direct, indirect, or cumulative effects on whitebark pine, recovery of the whitebark pine community at Pilot Peak would likely take longer than under the Proposed Action. Sensitive and Forest Watch Species The No Action Alternative would have no direct, indirect, or cumulative impact to Idaho dwarf- primrose, Bryum moss, Sacajawea’s bitterroot, or small phacelia and would have no risk of long- term loss of population viability or habitat for the 10 Forest Watch Species.
Alternative B (Proposed Action)
Direct and Indirect Effects Whitebark Pine Proposed activities may impact individuals, but would not likely contribute to a trend towards federal listing or loss of viability to the populations or species of whitebark pine. Proposed salvage units do not overlap whitebark pine habitat. Approximately 85 acres of proposed roadside tree felling and removing would overlap occupied whitebark pine habitat. Though removing whitebark pine would only occur to mitigate hazards to work crews or the public, supporting activities, such as using feller/bunchers to fell trees, using tractor/jammers to pull trees to road, and creating and using log landings could crush live whitebark pine and compact the soil. Using haul routes or snowplowing to access harvest areas would have minimal negative effects as these actions would occur on established roadbeds. Risk to whitebark pine on the 25 acres of roadside felling and leaving that overlap occupied whitebark pine habitat would be lower than that for roadside tree felling and removing. Ground disturbance would be minimized, and nutrients and organic matter would remain on site. Landings, log hauling, and piling/burning would not occur in these areas. For both of these treatments, unless live or dead whitebark pine pose a safety hazard, they would be left in place (Design Feature RP-1). Whitebark pine would also be afforded additional resource protection in the Plant Consideration Areas for Sacajawea’s bitterroot in the Pilot Peak and Deadwood Ridge areas, which would limit activities in concentric rings around known populations of Sacajawea’s bitterroot (Design Feature RP-2). With these design features in place and the small acreage of overlap with proposed activities, loss of whitebark pine individuals related to project activities would be very small. Reforestation plays a bigger role in project effects to the whitebark pine community at Pilot Peak. The 336 acres of whitebark pine reforestation would be beneficial and should speed the high elevation vegetative community recovery. Estimates of whitebark pine mortality around Pilot Peak are 50%. Recovery of whitebark pine ecosystems takes many years due to harsh climatic conditions and species life history. Natural regeneration of whitebark pine depends on the presence of an intact local seed source and the whitebark pine seed dispenser—the Clark’s nutcracker—with cone production not typically occurring until the trees are around 60 years old.
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Replanting whitebark pine where it was killed by the Pioneer Fire would jumpstart community restoration; however, even with artificial regeneration it would be many years before the whitebark pine in the Pilot Peak area is fully self-sustaining. Genetically appropriate and blister resistant seed collected on the Forest is available in the Forest’s seedbank and would be used in whitebark pine reforestation efforts. Sensitive Species and Forest Watch Species Proposed activities may impact individuals, but will not likely contribute to a trend towards federal listing or loss of viability to the populations or species of Bryum moss, Sacajawea’s bitterroot, and small phacelia, and would have no impact Idaho dwarf-primrose. Effects and risk of long term loss of population viability or habitat for the 10 Forest Watch and Unique Habitat Indicator species would be low. Proposed tree felling, salvage, reforestation actions, and supporting activities would overlap with portions of the occupied habitat for Sacajawea’s bitterroot and tall swamp onion. With design features in place (Design Features RP-2, RP-3, RP-4, RP-5, and RP-6), the risks of those ground- disturbing activities negatively impacting habitat are reduced. Suitable habitat for riparian and wet meadow R4 Sensitive and Forest Watch species within the project area may be disturbed, but design features limit the effects to these habitats. Riparian restoration plantings would improve conditions in this habitat type and are expected to be beneficial for these species. Other proposed actions either would not overlap rare plant habitat or would have little to no effect.
Cumulative Effects Past and current events (Pioneer Fire) and human activities have contributed and would continue to contribute (primarily negatively in the case of mining, transportation, and special uses) to the minor effects of proposed activities in the North Pioneer Salvage and Reforestation Project on whitebark pine and other rare plants and habitat. The proposed 336 acres of whitebark pine reforestation combined with the 294 acres of whitebark pine reforestation proposed in the South Pioneer Salvage and Reforestation Project makes a positive contribution, helping to counter other events and factors contributing to the decline of the species.
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Noxious Weeds/Invasive Plant Species
Summary: Under both alternatives, weeds would continue to be treated where known infestations occur under the Forest Noxious Weed Program. Under the No Action Alternative, changes in current land management activities are not proposed; therefore, no increase in the distribution and status of noxious weeds, nor the ability to detect, monitor, or treat infestation would occur resulting from this alternative. Weed populations behind closed roads or area closures would be left untreated until the closures were lifted. While the Proposed Action could increase the risk of exposure for species such as spotted knapweed, rush skeletonweed, and Dalmatian toadflax, the risk of exposure is reduced through design features based on Forest Plan standards developed to minimize or avoid the introduction and spread of noxious weeds. The ability to detect, monitor, and treat established and newly identified infestations of noxious weeds in the Project Area would increase from current Forest Noxious Weed Program detection and monitoring levels because access to established and new infestation sites would be increased by road and trail maintenance activities, and maintained by the removal of hazard trees along travel routes.
This section describes how the alternatives address concerns identified during public scoping that the risk of exposure to noxious weeds would increase from proposed management activities. Refer to the project record Noxious and Invasive Plant Resource Technical Report for the detailed supporting analysis.
Indicators The effects of integrated weed management largely depend on the implementation effectiveness of detection, prevention, control, containment, and monitoring practices. Three considerations typically influence these weed management practices: exposure risk to new weed infestation establishment, the ability to detect and monitor weed populations, and the ability to treat established infestation. These factors were used as indicators for the analysis. The spatial area in which direct and indirect effects were analyzed is the project area (28,007 acres). Cumulative effects were analyzed at the scale of the Pioneer Fire area and how actions proposed in this project would interact with other ongoing, present, and foreseeable future actions occurring within the perimeter of the Pioneer Fire area, such as BAER treatments and proposed activities in the South Pioneer Fire Salvage and Reforestation Project.
Exposure Risk, and the Ability to Detect, Monitor and Treat Weed Infestations
Affected Environment Five species of Idaho-listed noxious weeds have been identified within the North Pioneer Project Area perimeter. The most serious infestations to date area are the widespread rush skeletonweed (Chondrilla juncea) and spotted knapweed (Centaurea stoebe ssp. micranthos). Dalmatian toadflax (Linaria dalmatica ssp. dalmatic), oxeye daisy (Leucanthemum vulgare), and nodding plumeless thistle (commonly known as milk thistle [Carduus nutans]) are also present and have a high potential rate of spread or may provide source material for new or additional populations. Noxious weed control is required by the State and administrated by the County. The Forest has an active noxious weed and non-native plant treatment program carried out by certified
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applicators. The North Pioneer Project Area is part of an Integrated Weed Management Area as described in the Boise National Forest Weed Management Strategy.
Alternative A (No Action)
Direct and Indirect Effects Changes in current land management activities are not proposed under the No Action Alternative. No increase in the distribution and status of noxious weeds in the analysis area would likely occur over what currently occurs through ongoing activities. No new ground-disturbing management activities or changes to the transportation system would occur. Noxious weed management would continue to occur within the project area and noxious weed funding available for weed treatment would remain unchanged. Under the No Action Alternative, roads and trails that are closed due to dead tree and road related hazards would only be reopened as program dollars become available to do so. This delay could cause infestations behind those closures to remain untreated and unmonitored until the closures are lifted.
Cumulative Effects Because this alternative would have no direct or indirect effect, cumulative effects would not occur.
Alternative B (Proposed Action)
Direct and Indirect Effects Risk of Exposure The Proposed Action could increase the potential for introducing new noxious weed species and/or spreading known noxious weed species in the project area based on proposed ground- disturbing activities. Ground-disturbing activities include salvage harvest, temporary road construction and decommissioning, reforestation, and unauthorized route decommissioning. Harvest activities associated with dead and hazard tree salvage along with temporary road construction would be expected to produce potential establishment sites for noxious weeds. Reforestation activities would have the least amount of ground disturbance of proposed activities and would be unlikely to produce establishment sites for noxious weeds. Though the risk of exposure could be high for rush skeletonweed; medium for spotted knapweed; and low for Dalmation toadflax, oxeye daisy, and nodding plumeless thistle based on the number of acres of ground-disturbing activity overlapping known noxious weed infestations, the risk of exposure would be reduced by including design features based on Forest Plan standards developed to minimize or avoid the introduction and spread of noxious weeds. Design Features NX-1 through NX-4 and FH-8 require that off-road equipment (e.g., skidders) is cleaned and that seed mixes, organic matter, and or other materials brought into the project area are weed-free. These features minimize the potential for noxious weed introduction, dispersal, or establishment.
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Ability to Detect, Monitor, and Treat Weed Populations The Proposed Action would increase the ability to detect, monitor, and treat noxious weeds in the project area from current Forest Noxious Weed Program detection, monitoring, and treatment levels. Access to established and new infestation sites would be increased by road and trail maintenance activities and maintained by removing hazard trees along travel routes. Funding from receipts of salvaged timber would be available for increased frequency and intensity of surveys and treatment of new infestations of noxious weeds and would allow for more rapid treatment opportunities where funding is the limiting factor.
Cumulative Effects Past management actions have been considered in describing the existing conditions of noxious weeds in the analysis area. Vegetation management activities, road activities (including culvert work), recreation activities/facilities construction and use, fire (prescribed and wildfire), grazing and mining contribute to the establishment and spread of noxious weeds. As with activities proposed under the Proposed Action, noxious weed project design features would also be required during implementation of present and ongoing projects, including the Clear Creek Integrated Resource Project, and new trail construction and road decommissioning activities. Thus, with application of design features as part of the project proposals, implementation would be expected to minimize exposure risk to the introduction and spread of noxious weeds, and reduce any potential cumulative effects. The BAER team is responsible for monitoring existing weed populations to confirm weeds presence within mapped polygons; that same GIS layer was used for this report. The BAER team also monitored dozer and hand-lines to confirm if any were constructed through infestations. High traffic roads, trails, drop points, spike camps and Incident Command Posts (ICPs) were also scouted and monitored (BAER weed reports, available in the project record). Actual effects from the Pioneer Fire on invasive weeds is unknown; however, ground-disturbing activities and high motorized and foot traffic will likely lead to new and expanding infestations within the fire perimeter. In addition, the area was closed during the fire, thus prohibiting treating known infestations, that there will be new and expanding infestations within the fire perimeter. Future projects and activities associated with BAER include ground-disturbing activities, such as culvert replacements, that would slightly increase potential establishment sites for noxious weeds but effects would be localized. Straw mulching activities in the Clear Creek drainage would slightly reduce the potential for weed spread in high soil burn severity areas. The South Pioneer Fire Salvage and Reforestation Project would use segments of road within the northwestern portion of the project area for haul and, therefore, would have a cumulative impact in miles of road maintained and log hauling. The only noxious weed present where these miles would be cumulatively used is rush skeletonweed, so introduction and spread is expected to be minimal. As with activities proposed under the Proposed Action, noxious weed project design features would also be required during implementation of reasonably foreseeable projects. Thus, with application of design features as part of the project design, implementation would minimize cumulative exposure risk to the introduction and spread of noxious weeds.
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Rangeland Resources
Summary: For both alternatives, due to the changes in forage quality and quantity resulting from the 2016 Pioneer Fire, portions of the Boise Basin (32,838 acres) and North Fork S&G (43,094 acres) Allotments (Table 25) will be rested until standards set forth in the Forest Plan (VEGU05) and the recommendations of the South Pioneer BAER Report are met. Under the No Action Alternative, permitted livestock would continue to graze under current permits and Annual Operating Instructions (AOIs) and according to the standards and objectives set forth by the Forest Plan. Implementing the Proposed Action would improve forage quality and quantity on 2,116 acres in the Boise Basin Allotment and 82 acres in the North Fork Allotment where salvage harvest would occur, and create long-term (3–15 years) forage stability on 2,921 acres in the Boise Basin Allotment and 21 acres in the North Fork Allotment where proposed reforestation treatments would occur. Proposed activities under the Proposed Action could temporarily (0–3 years) displace sheep grazing. However, modifications of grazing patterns would be addressed, as needed, in the allotment AOIs. The temporary to short-term (0–3 years) nature of the project activities, and the ability to move livestock into portions of the allotment unaffected by the various disturbance activities would alleviate most of these concerns.
This section describes how the alternatives address whether proposed activities would affect the amount or quality of forage available for livestock grazing with the Boise Basin and North Fork Sheep and Goat (S&G) Allotments or cause livestock displacement. Additionally, this section addresses concerns identified during public scoping that the area be allowed to rejuvenate without the added pressure of yearly grazing. Refer to the project record Range Resource Technical Report for the detailed supporting analysis.
Indicators The following indicators were analyzed to measure alternative effectiveness at addressing concerns for the rangeland resource: Will proposed activities impact the amount or quality of forage available for livestock grazing, and will proposed activities displace livestock within the Boise Basin and North Fork S&G Allotments? • Acres of salvage within Project Area allotments • Acres of reforestation within Project Area allotments
Amount or Quality of Forage Available and Livestock Displacement
Affected Environment The Pioneer Fire burned approximately 32,838 acres of the Boise Basin S&G Allotment and 43,094 acres of the North Fork S&G Allotment. About 10,023 acres of the Boise Basin S&G Allotment and 433 acres of the North Fork S&G Allotments fall within the project area. The Pioneer Fire burned approximately 10,023 acres of the Boise Basin S&G Allotment and 433 acres of the North Fork S&G Allotment within the project area with variable intensities. The
157 North Pioneer Fire Salvage and Restoration Project Environmental Assessment rangeland condition following the fire is in a state of recovery, and is therefore in a status of non- use for resource protection for grazing in 2017. Due to these changes in forage quality and quantity resulting from the 2016 Pioneer Fire, portions of the Boise Basin and North Fork S&G Allotments will be rested until standards set forth in the Forest Plan (VEGU05) and the South Pioneer BAER Report are met (project record).
Alternative A (No Action)
Direct and Indirect Effects The No Action Alternative does not propose any new management activities, thus no management-induced changes to the range resources would be expected to occur. Current authorized livestock grazing would be anticipated to occur under the term grazing permit and AOI with implementation of this alternative, once the standards set forth in the Forest Plan and the South Pioneer BAER Report are met regarding effects from the Pioneer Fire. Range conditions, including forage quality, forage quantity, and the area usable for livestock grazing, would be expected to be maintained at levels similar to existing conditions.
Cumulative Effects The No Action Alternative would not have any cumulative effects to range resources given that direct or indirect effects would not occur.
Alternative B (Proposed Action)
Direct and Indirect Effects Forage Availability Implementing the Proposed Action would likely improve forage quality and quantity on the 2,116 acres in the Boise Basin Allotment and 82 acres in the North Fork Allotment where salvage harvest would occur (Table 25). Walburger et al. (2005) found that forage production, particularly perennial grasses and forbs, increased following timber harvest. Salvage treatments also remove dead and dying trees from the landscape, thus clearing the area of fallen timber through which it is difficult for livestock and wildlife to pass. Reforestation treatments on 2,921 acres in the Boise Basin Allotment and 21 acres in the North Fork Allotment would create long-term forage stability, especially in burned areas susceptible to encroachment by shrublands (e.g., ceanothus) and possible invasive plant dominance (Table 25). Preventing conversion to shrubland communities and keeping the desired perennial vegetation should decrease the risk of large wildfires, further stabilizing the forage base, and increasing forage productivity and sustainability.
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Table 25. Allotment, and proposed salvage and reforestation acres and percentages in the project area Category Boise Basin Allotment North Fork Allotment Allotment Information Total allotment acres 253,206 400,893 Allotment acres within the 2016 32,838 43,094 Pioneer Fire Perimeter Allotment acres within Project Area 10,023 433 Salvage Proposed salvage acres 2,116 82 Percent of allotment acres within Project Area on which proposed 21% 19% salvage would occur Percent of total allotment acres on 0.8% 0.02% which proposed salvage would occur Reforestation Proposed reforestation acres 2,921 21 Percent of allotment acres within Project Area on which proposed 29% 5% reforestation would occur Percent of total allotment acres on which proposed reforestation would 1% 0.005% occur
Livestock Displacement Proposed salvage and reforestation units may temporarily displace livestock from the project area into other areas of the Boise Basin and North Fork Allotments. Short-term modifications of grazing practices would be coordinated with the hydrologist, fish biologist, silviculturist and soil scientist to ensure compliance with the Forest Plan rangeland resource direction and to support recovery of desired vegetation conditions and related biophysical resources. The Forest Service would inform the permittee, through the AOIs, of pending project activities to minimize the potential for conflicts and allow for short-term modification of grazing practices where necessary (Design Feature RM-1). Proposed salvage units on 21% of the Boise Basin Allotment and 19% of the North Fork Allotment within the project area are expected to be completed by the fall of 2018 and would preclude grazing in these units during implementation. Upon completion, if Forest Plan rangeland resource direction and desired vegetation conditions and related biophysical resources standards are met to allow grazing in those areas, Design Feature RM-1 would be used to coordinate potential conflicts with other proposed activities, including haul routes and potential conflicts between traffic to and from the project area and livestock. Proposed reforestation units may be expected to long-term (3–15 years) displace livestock from the project area into other areas of the Boise Basin and North Fork Allotments. A minimum of five growing seasons of rest following plantings has been identified as adequate mitigation to avoid negative grazing effects in the Project Area, which coincides with the typical 5-year period before planted trees are certified (Forest Plan Guideline RAGU06 [USDA Forest Service 2010a, p. III-48).
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Design Feature VM-2 prohibits bedding of sheep and salting of livestock in plantations until plantation trees have grown to a size that reduces their susceptibility to damage from livestock, and Design Feature VM-3 discourages livestock use in progeny sites, seed orchards, and plantations that have not been certified. The permittee may elect to employee a full time herder to ensure livestock do not enter reforestation units while still using other portions of the allotment in the project area. Should additional reductions in season or stocking be determined necessary, the Boise Basin and North Fork S&G Allotments should be able to absorb reductions considering the plantings would occur in only 1% of the entire Boise Basin Allotment and 0.005% of the North Fork Allotment (Table 25). No short term decrease in AUMS are expected from the implementation of treatments.
Cumulative Effects Past management activities within the analysis area have been considered in describing the affected environment of range resources. The Pioneer Fire affected range resources in 2016 by displacing livestock from the analysis area due to wildfire effects. Ongoing activities that could potentially impact range resources in the analysis area include road and trail activities, dispersed recreation activities, and wildfire suppression. Other ongoing activities that could affect range resources in the analysis area include resting required by BAER Management Recommendations for the Pioneer Fire; for this project, portions of the Boise Basin and North Fork S&G Allotments will be rested until standards set forth in the Forest Plan and BAER Report are met. See South Pioneer BAER Report in project record for specific criteria to be met prior to the return of livestock grazing. This project would likely cumulatively impact range resources through displacement of livestock in the short-term and/or modification of grazing patterns in the long- term within the cumulative effects analysis area during project implementation. No short or long- term decrease in AUMS are expected from the implementation of treatments within either the Boise Basin or North Fork Allotments. Ongoing noxious weed treatment could also potentially impact range resources in the analysis area. The District annually monitors and treats existing and new noxious weed infestations to decrease the expansion of such populations. Preventing the expansion will aid in keeping desired perennial vegetation, and cumulatively increase forage productivity and sustainability for livestock and wildlife. Because both the Boise Basin and North Fork allotments extend into the South Pioneer Salvage and Reforestation Project’s boundary, resting areas within the allotment boundary on one project could affect operations and management of the allotments in the other project. Routing patterns, numbers of livestock, and season could be affected until standards set forth in the Forest Plan and South Pioneer BAER Report are met. Cumulatively, the North and South Pioneer Projects would affect 1.2% of the total allotment acres with proposed salvage activities, and 2.4% of the total allotment acres with proposed reforestation activities. These effects would be short-term rest, and long-term improvements to forage quantity and quality.
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Climate Change
Summary: The No Action Alternative does not make forested vegetation more resilient to disturbances, including climate change. The effects of the Proposed Action would be consistent with policy and science regarding ecological conditions and resilience to climate change. The Proposed Action would trend vegetative conditions toward desired conditions, fostering resistance and resilience to disturbance, including those associated with a changing climate (refer to the “Vegetation” section).
In 2009, the Forest Service developed NEPA guidance on how to consider effects of climate change at the project level. The guidance states that forests should consider two types of climate change effects if appropriate to the type and scale of the project: 1) effects of climate change on projects and 2) effects of projects on climate change. According to the 2010 Forest Plan (USDA Forest Service 2010b, p. 89), the effects of climate change on projects were addressed through the development of forest-wide desired conditions assumed to foster resistance and resilience to disturbance, including those associated with a changing climate. Fulé et al. (2009) stated that forests with vegetative conditions similar to historical conditions are more resilient to drought, epidemic levels of insect pathogens, and severe wildfire whose pattern or severity are affected by a change in weather. In line with recommendations from Fulé et al. (2009), the desired conditions described in the 2010 Forest Plan (USDA Forest Service 2010a, Appendix A) were founded on concepts of historical range of variability. Though many scientists now question the use of the historical range of variability as the long-term goal for ecosystem management, Peterson et al. (2011) contend it is an appropriate near to mid-term (i.e., 2–20 years) planning goal while agencies begin the process of incorporating climate change information and potential impacts to the local level. Therefore, at this time, actions moving toward the desired conditions and conservation principles described in the 2010 Forest Plan respond to the potential effects of climate change on projects. The second effect described by the 2009 Forest Service guidance addresses the effects of projects on climate change. Forests play a major role in the carbon cycle. The carbon stored in live biomass, dead plant material, and soil represents the balance between CO2 absorbed from the atmosphere and its release through respiration, decomposition, and burning. The effects of projects on climate change relate to carbon cycling, which includes carbon sequestration and the release of CO2 and other greenhouse gases.
Harmon (2001) noted that though the mechanisms explaining CO2 storage and release occur at fine scales (i.e., stands), the consequences occur at broader scales (i.e., landscapes). Harmon (2001) and Harmon and Marks (2002) advocated that carbon effects must be addressed at the landscape-scale to understand the net effect of storage and release. Solomon et al. (2007) stated that temporal scale is also important because, though a disturbance such as wildfire can be a significant source of CO2 emissions, CO2 is recaptured on decadal timescales as vegetation regrows. Turner et al. (1995) described the carbon flux arc at the stand-level as follows: after stand-replacing disturbance results in an early-seral stage, forests release more CO2 than they store through decomposition of woody debris. As the canopy cover increases (mid-seral stages), the rate of storage overtakes the rate of release through growth; and, in older stands (later-seral stages), a fluctuating relationship exists between release through respiration from trees due to the energy costs of maintaining a large organism and/or decreases in growth against the amount of carbon stored in dead wood.
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Indicators The following indicators were analyzed to measure alternative effectiveness at meeting the purpose and need desired conditions and addressing issues and concerns for climate change (Table 26): What are the effects of the proposed actions on carbon storage and cycling • Snags per acre and CWD (tons per acre) • Biomass removed (dry tons per acre) What are the effects of the proposed actions on forest resiliency • Acres reforested with desirable tree species The spatial area in which direct and indirect effects on vegetation are analyzed is the project area (28,007 acres). Cumulative effects were analyzed based on the sub-watershed boundaries (6 field Hydrologic Unit Code) for Rock Creek, Upper Clear Creek, and Lower Clear Creek (47,381 acres). This boundary was determined to be appropriate as watersheds tend to encapsulate important ecosystem functions and processes related to vegetation. The temporal time frames used for analysis were 0–2 years for temporary, 10 years for short term, and 30 years for long term. Table 26. Resource indicators and measures for assessing effects Resource Element Resource Indicator Measure Forest Composition and Impact on Resistance from and Resiliency toward Disturbances, Species composition Acres reforested with desirable tree species including climate change. Carbon stored in standing dead trees (snags) Snags CWD Snags per acre and CWD (tons/acre) and coarse woody debris (CWD) Carbon stored in harvested wood products Harvest biomass Biomass removed (dry tons/acre)
Affected Environment Forests are in continual flux, emitting carbon into the atmosphere, removing carbon from the atmosphere, and storing carbon as biomass (sequestration). Over the long-term, through one or more cycles of disturbance and regrowth (assuming the forest regenerates after the disturbance), net carbon storage is often zero because re-growth of trees recovers the carbon lost in the disturbance and decomposition of vegetation killed by the disturbance (McKinley et al. 2011, Ryan et al. 2010, Kashian, et al. 2006). Much of the analysis area, and all proposed treatment units, were burned by the Pioneer Fire in 2016. Prior to the fire, forests were composed of mixed conifers at a variety of composition, densities, and structures dominated by mid-to-late seral age classes. At this stage of their development, these stands would have been estimated to be net carbon sinks. That is, they were likely sequestering carbon faster than they were releasing it to the atmosphere. The strength of that sink, however, has likely been reversed to a source, or at least weakened as a sink, due to recent fire activity which caused tree mortality. Over time, these areas may shift back into a sink stage in their carbon cycle, assuming reforestation occurs. Carbon flux rates have not yet been calculated for the entire Forest.
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Alternative A (No Action)
Direct and Indirect Effects No wood products would be harvested or stored (e.g., building materials) under the No Action Alternative, but dead trees (snags) would fall and decay through time (Table 27). Table 27. Projected average snags per acre, coarse woody debris (CWD), and removals for the project area under the No Action Alternative Year Time Frame Average Snags/Acre (≥0.1 inch dbh) Average CWDa (tons/acre) 2016 Pre-Fire 62.4 5.4 2017 Post-Fire 257.8 3.4 2019 Temporary 149.2 6.1 2026 Short Term 18.9 10.3 2046 Long Term 9.5 15.1 aCWD = course woody debris, which is down woody material ≥3.0 inches in diameter No direct human-induced emissions of carbon into the atmosphere would occur under the No Action Alternative. The number of standing snags per acre would peak in 2017 following the fire, and then decline during each cycle as snags fall to the ground and add to CWD. Conversely, the amount of biomass in CWD would increase each cycle through the planning period. Table 27 does not reflect the amount of carbon released to the atmosphere, but it does represent the relative amount of carbon stored onsite in standing and down dead wood, which is being used here to compare with the Proposed Action. The amount and duration of carbon emissions from long-term decomposition of fire-killed vegetation depends on the productivity of the ecosystem, the severity of the fire, and the ability of the ecosystem to recover (DellaSala and Hanson 2015). Low severity fires kill understory plants, shrubs and small trees which are not a significant portion of total stand carbon storage and do not represent a significant source of carbon emissions when they decompose. Unburned leaf litter and woody debris from fire killed trees (needles and limbs) have a high turnover (10– 20 years). Following high-severity fire which frequently results in mortality of all, or nearly all, of overstory trees, there is a large pool of large woody debris (logs and snags) which are significant sources of carbon emissions and can continue to release (and store) carbon up to, and exceeding, 100 years (DellaSala and Hanson 2015). Low productive ecosystems (e.g., interior ponderosa pine) take longer to shift from being a carbon source to carbon sink than high productive forests (e.g., coastal Douglas-fir). Some studies indicate that ponderosa pine and dry mixed forest types may take 40 years to shift from source to skink (DellaSala and Hanson 2015). Generally, due to fire mortality, the analysis area would continue to function as carbon sources in the short term, with dead trees releasing carbon into the atmosphere as they decompose. This state would continue for up to a decade or more until the rate of forest re-growth, assuming trees regenerate, meets and exceeds the rate of decomposition of the killed trees. As stands continue to develop, the strength of the carbon sink would increase (typically peaking at an intermediate age, and then gradually decline, but remaining positive) (Pregitzer and Euskirchen 2004). Carbon stocks would continue to accumulate as the stands mature, although at a declining rate, until again impacted by subsequent disturbance. The long-term ability of forests to persist as net carbon sinks is uncertain (Galik and Jackson 2009). Drought stress, forest fires, insect outbreaks, and other disturbances may
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substantially reduce existing carbon stock (Galik and Jackson 2009). Climate change threatens to amplify risks to forest carbon stocks by increasing the frequency, size, and severity of these disturbances (Dale et al. 2001, Barton 2002, Breashears and Allen 2002, Westerling and Bryant 2008, Running 2006, Littell et al. 2009, Boisvenue and Running 2010). Recent research indicates that these risks may be particularly acute for forests of the Northern Rockies (Boisvenue and Running 2010). Increases in the severity of disturbances, combined with projected climatic changes, may limit post-disturbance forest regeneration, shift forests to non- forested vegetation, and possibly convert large areas from an existing carbon sink to a carbon source (Barton 2002, Savage and Mast 2005, Allen 2007, Strom and Fule 2007, Kurz et al. 2008a, Kurz et al. 2008b, Galik and Jackson 2009). Leaving areas of forest densely stocked maintains an elevated risk of carbon loss due to potential disturbance. Providing for prompt reforestation after disturbance ensures that forests become sinks again in the future and can speed carbon recovery.
Cumulative Effects The No Action alternative does not propose any changes to the existing condition. Dead trees would continue to fall, predominantly within the next 10 years, and these carbon sources would decay and release carbon into the atmosphere. However, the cumulative effects of this at the regional and global scales would not have a discernable impact on atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases or global warming, considering the limited changes in both rate and timing of carbon flux predicted in the affected acres and the global scale of the atmospheric greenhouse gas pool and the multitude of natural events and human activities contributing to that pool.
Alternative B (Proposed Action)
Direct and Indirect Effects As described in the environmental analysis, the Proposed Action would have the following direct effects on carbon storage and cycling: • Salvage hazard and dead trees on about 3,671 acres • Fell and leave hazard trees on about 1,542 acres • Salvage dead trees (not hazard trees) on about 2,010 acres • Plant early successional species in priority areas that burned at uncharacteristic severity on about 6,062 acres • Plant blister rust resistant whitebark pine on about 336 acres • Plant riparian trees and shrubs on about 209 acres An estimated 32.4 MMBF of wood products would harvested. The following proposed activities in this alternative would have indirect effects on forested vegetation: • Decommission about 0.6 miles of unauthorized routes In large, high-severity patches, where limited-to-no seed sources remain, sparse natural regeneration may result in delayed successional trajectories or altered vegetation states (Kemp et
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al. 2015). Thus, to contribute to accomplishing Purpose and Need 2, planting of long-lived, early seral species (e.g., ponderosa pine and Douglas-fir) in strategic locations would occur to establish future seed sources to enhance the overall recovery process and trend the vegetation component toward desired future conditions. Areas expected to recover naturally would be monitored and planting could occur in selected priority locations if deemed necessary for other resource priorities (wildlife habitat, scenic or whitebark pine restoration). FVS projections indicate fewer average snags per acre across the project area in 2017 (Table 28) compared to the No Action Alternative (Table 6); as expected, due to removing hazard trees. A corresponding increase in CWD after treatments in 2017 occurs because of felling and leaving of hazard trees in RCAs, and limbs and tops left on the ground following the harvest of snags (Table 28). But, the amount of CWD would be lower under the Proposed Action compared to the No Action Alternative (Table 27). In the short and long term, the average number of snags/acre would continue to decline as the snags fall while a corresponding increase in CWD would occur. Table 28. Projected average snags per acre, coarse woody debris (CWD), and removals for the project area under the Proposed Action Year Time Frame Average Snags/acre ≥ 0.1" dbh Average CWDa (tons/acre) 2016 Pre-Fire 6.24 5.4 2017 Post-Treatment 239.4 3.3 2019 Temporary 129.1 8.8 2026 Short Term 11.1 10.5 2046 Long Term 8.0 11.2 aCWD = course woody debris, which is down woody material ≥3.0 inches in diameter. The Proposed Action would result in an estimated 5.5 bone dry tons/acre of wood products biomass harvested from dead trees, most which would be used as building materials and in ways that would store carbon for a longer period than decay rates would allow on the ground. Decommissioning of unauthorized routes would reduce access to firewood gathering, which could retain more snags standing that would result in a slower release of carbon into the atmosphere. These acres represent a miniscule area in the context of regional carbon stores. In the short term, the Proposed Action would remove some carbon currently stored in dead biomass through cutting of hazard trees and burning timber in the salvage units. A substantial portion of this carbon would remain stored for a period in wood products (USEPA 2010, Depro et al. 2008). Additionally, motorized equipment used during any of the proposed activities would emit greenhouse gasses. For the short term, onsite carbon stocks may be lower under the Proposed Action than under the No Action Alternative because removing wood contained in roadside hazard trees and from the salvage units would reduce some of the carbon available to be emitted through decomposition of this material. Removing most of the burned trees in the salvage units would provide open and safe areas to reforest with native seral species, consequentially speeding up the overall ecosystem recovery with resilient tree species adapted to future disturbances (refer to the desired conditions and resiliency discussion in the Vegetation Resource Technical Report in the project record). The proposed reforestation would help ensure these forest stands return to a carbon sink function as quickly as possible. As the stands continue to develop, the strength of the carbon sink would increase until peaking at an intermediate age, and then gradually declining but remaining positive
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(Pregitzer and Euskirchen 2004). Carbon stocks would continue to accumulate as the stands mature, although at a declining rate, until impacted by future disturbances. For these reasons, recovery from a carbon source to a sink may be marginally faster under the Proposed Action. However, the overall area of treatment is miniscule relative to the areas impacted by the Pioneer Fire, and immeasurable relative from a landscape or regional carbon perspective.
Effects of Climate Change on the Proposed Action Climate change would have no impact on the efficacy of the felling and removing hazard trees or salvaging fire-killed trees because the trees are dead and the timing of the proposed harvest is 1– 2 years. Climate change may impact the survivability of the planted trees, especially at lower elevations on warmer, drier sites. The proposed reforestation includes planting of early seral species. Ponderosa pine would be planted in the warm–dry PVGs where it is a primary component. Douglas-fir would be planted in the cooler and moister mid-elevation habitats while whitebark pine would be planted where it existed prior to the fire in high-elevation cold habitats. Much of the area proposed for planting is in the warmer, drier sites that would be planted with ponderosa pine. Across the Forest, ponderosa pine occurs from the warm, dry, low-elevation ecotone to mid-elevations (Steele et al. 1981). Of the species found across this elevational range, ponderosa pine is the most tolerant of the warmer, drier conditions forecasted by most climate change models, and, therefore, would be the most resistant. Hannah et al. (2002) stated that known climate tolerances of species can be used to help predict and respond to potential changes in community ranges. Ponderosa pine communities with stand structures similar to historical conditions would also be the most resilient and resistant to potential increases in the frequency and extent of wildfire expected to occur under a warmer, drier climate (Westerling et al. 2006).
Effects of Projects on Climate Change The Forest Service does not have an acceptable tool for analyzing greenhouse gases. Though the FVS can estimate total stand carbon and carbon removed over time under different management scenarios and disturbances, such as fire, insects, and disease, it does not address other types of processes, such as decomposition or respiration that in some ecosystems can be a major source of CO2 release (Turner et al. 1995). It also does not address other mechanisms of onsite storage and does not account for the CO2 that could be produced from removing, transporting, and processing, which is a CO2 source many authors contend must be considered. Though the 2009 guidance states that the Agency will continue to invest in developing analysis methods for assessing carbon storage and estimating greenhouse gas emissions, the guidance also states that because the scale of most projects in themselves, with the potential exception of oil and gas proposals, are extremely small, conducting meaningful quantitative evaluations is not possible, particularly without a context at scales above projects (e.g., state or regional levels) for assessing the outcomes (USDA Forest Service 2009).
Cumulative Effects The Proposed Action would not have a discernable impact on atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases or global warming, considering the limited changes in both rate and timing of carbon flux predicted in the affected acres and the global scale of the atmospheric greenhouse gas pool and the multitude of natural events and human activities contributing to that pool.
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Although not a statutorily defined purpose of NFS management, forests do provide a valuable ecosystem service by removing carbon from the atmosphere and storing it in biomass (Galik and Jackson 2009). Forests are a strong net carbon sink, absorbing more carbon than they emit (Houghton 2003; USEPA 2010, pp. 7–14; Heath et al. 2011). From 2000 to 2008, U.S. forests sequestered (removed from the atmosphere, net) approximately 481.1 teragrams (Tg) of carbon dioxide per year, with harvested wood products sequestering an additional 101 teragrams per year (Heath et al. 2011). Our National Forests accounted for approximately 30% of that net annual sequestration. National Forests contribute approximately 3 Tg carbon dioxide to the total stored in harvested wood products compared to about 92 Tg from harvest on private lands. The entire Forest represents a very small amount of the carbon stored in forests of the coterminous United States (Heath et al. 2011). This project would affect only a tiny percentage of the forest carbon stocks, and an infinitesimal amount of the total forest carbon stocks of the United States. Within the United States, land use conversions from forest to other uses (primarily for development or agriculture) are identified as the primary human activities exerting negative pressure on the carbon sink that currently exists in this country’s forests (Ryan et al. 2010; Conant et al. 2007). The affected forest lands in this proposal would remain forests and would not be converted to other land uses, and long-term forest services and benefits would be maintained.
Mineral Resources
Summary: Under the No Action Alternative, mining claimants/owners may be displaced or prevented access to their mining claims because of potential closure orders or fallen trees. Implementing the Proposed Action would result in temporary and possibly short-term disruption and/or displacement of mining claimants/owners because of closure orders and timber felling or hauling operations.
This section addresses issues and concerns identified during public scoping regarding access to mining claims or projects. Refer to the project record mineral resource technical report for the detailed supporting analysis.
Indicators The following indicator was analyzed to measure alternative effectiveness at meeting the purpose and need desired conditions and addressing issues and concerns for the minerals resource: Access to mining claims/projects • Decommissioning of unauthorized roads, road maintenance activities, timber harvest operations and/or temporary area/road closures that could impact access to mining claims/projects
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Access to Mining Claims and/or Projects
Affected Environment Most present-day mining activity (16 of the 19 claims within the project area) exists in and around the Rock Creek drainage. These activities consist primarily of placer mining for gold, which is accomplished without the aid of earth-moving equipment. Most mining activity is small scale and consists of weekend campers and the occasional week-long campers. One proposed mineral Plan of Operation occurs within the project area; however, access to this area is from outside of the North Pioneer Fire project area, and access to this claim would not be impacted by this action. No closure orders are currently prohibiting access or travel within the project area, and access is not being prohibited to any claims within the project area.
Alternative A (No Action)
Direct and Indirect Effects Under the No Action Alternative, mining claimants/owners may be displaced or prevented access to their mining claims because of closure orders authorized to mitigate public health and safety concerns related to hazardous situations around standing dead trees. Furthermore, if no closure orders are authorized as described above, standing dead trees, could fall in and around mining claims and associated camping and mineral resources working locations, resulting in public health and safety concerns. Access routes to and from mining claims could also be impacted by falling dead trees, which could prevent miners from accessing or leaving their claims, depending on the number and size of trees that fall and the mining claimants’ sawyer skills. Short- and long-term impacts from watershed destabilization could also occur under the No Action Alternative if no action is taken to address road maintenance concerns. This destabilization could impact access because of road washouts and instabilities and culvert failures.
Cumulative Effects Past and ongoing activities within the project area (Appendix B) were considered in the baseline data and accounted for in the existing condition. Minor and temporary disruptions and/or displacement to mineral resources in the analysis area may occur related to ongoing recreation and fuelwood uses and regularly scheduled road and trail use and maintenance. One proposed Plan of Operations is under review in the cumulative effects analysis area. However, access disruptions are not anticipated as the claim is located on the west project boundary, and access to the mineral resource Plan of Operation site is via NFS roads from the west which do not fall within the project area. The cumulative effects of these activities would not “endanger or materially interfere with prospecting, mining or processing operations or uses reasonably incident thereto” (FSH 2809.15; 36 CFR 228.8; 30 U.S.C. § 601, et seq.).
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Alternative B (Proposed Action)
Direct and Indirect Effects Implementing the Proposed Action would result in temporary and possibly short-term disruption and/or displacement of mining claimants/owners because of closure orders and timber felling or hauling operations that may require miners to vacate their mining claims during operations. Claimants which may be affected by area closures and safety concerns would be analyzed on a case-by-case basis (Design Feature MG-1). If mining/prospecting operations and harvest operations can safely occupy the same location, then both uses would continue. However, if harvest operations present a safety concern, mining operations would cease until harvest operations no longer present a hazard. Temporary impacts to mining claimants/owners (i.e., traffic delays) may also occur during road maintenance activities proposed under the Proposed Action. However, road maintenance activities would likely improve access in the short- and long-term. Because decommissioned or changing maintenance level of NFS roads is not proposed under the Proposed Action, access to mining claims/projects would remain unchanged. Decommissioning unauthorized routes within the project area would not impact mineral resources. An LR-2000 database search of mining claims shows no mining claim access exists by way of these unauthorized routes. Given the limited number of mining claims within the project area and that no Notice of Intents have been submitted to the Lowman District Ranger, impacts to mineral resources would be minimal under the Proposed Action.
Cumulative Effects Past and ongoing activities within the project area (Appendix B) were considered in the baseline data and accounted for in the existing condition. Minor and temporary disruptions and/or displacement to mineral resources in the analysis area may occur related to ongoing recreation and fuelwood uses and regularly scheduled road and trail use and maintenance. One proposed Plan of Operations is under review in the cumulative effects analysis area. However, access disruptions are not anticipated as the claim is located on the west project boundary, and access to the mineral resource Plan of Operation site is via NFS roads from the west which do not fall within the project area. The cumulative effects of these activities will not “endanger or materially interfere with prospecting, mining or processing operations or uses reasonably incident thereto” (FSH 2809.15; 36 CFR 228.8; 30 U.S.C. § 601, et seq.).
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Scenic Resource
Summary: The No Action Alternative would not create any direct or indirect effects to the scenic environment and would be compliant with Forest Plan standards and guidelines for the scenic environment. The temporary and short-term visual effects of the Proposed Action include stumps, skid trails, temporary road construction, road maintenance, and skyline corridors in the foreground and created openings in the middle ground. Design Features VQ-1, VQ-2, VQ-3, FH-8, TH-2, TH-4, and VM-1 would reduce potential visual effects of proposed activities. Short-term reductions of the VQOs would be required for hazard tree felling treatment areas under the Proposed Action. However, Forest Plan Standard SCST02 allows for short-term reductions (3–15 years) in VQOs to accommodate public safety needs, and the Forest Supervisor has determined the proposed hazard tree felling is necessary for public safety, making these activities consistent with the Forest Plan. Furthermore, the predicted vegetation recovery, screening provided by untreated acreages, and varying angle of view would allow the VQOs in salvage units, to be met within 3 years, consistent with Forest Plan Guideline SCGU02, making these activities consistent with the Forest Plan.
This section describes how the alternatives affect visual quality and their consistency with established VQOs. Refer to the project record North Pioneer Fire Salvage and Reforestation Scenery Resource Report for the detailed supporting analysis.
Indicators The following indicators were analyzed to measure alternative effectiveness at addressing concerns for the visual quality resource: What is the degree of visual dominance and the duration of the effects related to the proposed activities? • Qualitative assessment of visual quality • Qualitative assessment of visibility of visual effects • Duration of visual effects on the landscape Would proposed activities be consistent with Forest Plan adopted VQOs, standards and guidelines? • Consistency with adopted VQOs • Consistency with Forest Plan Standards SCST01 and SCST02 and Forest Plan Guideline SCGU02
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What is the degree of visual dominance and the duration of the effects related to the proposed activities?
Affected Environment
Visual Effects What are VQOs? The Pioneer Fire has dramatically affected the visual landscape, burning Visual Quality Objectives (VQOs) are categories of large landscape scale areas at low to acceptable landscape change measured in degrees of high severity ratings, killing all deviation from the natural appearing landscape (USDA vegetation in some areas and burning a Forest Service 1974). The categories include Preservation, mosaic pattern in others. Retention, Partial Retention, Modification, and Maximum Modification, as described below. Visibility of Visual Effects VQOs Description The immediate foreground views from Allows ecological changes only, other than very Preservation State Highway 21, the Ponderosa Pine low impact recreation facilities. State Scenic Byway, are currently Retention Management activities are not visually evident. affected by the fire from the Partial Management activities remain visually subordinate Mores Creek Summit to NFS road 594, Retention to the characteristic landscape. Rock Creek Road junction, for Management activities may visually dominate, but Modification must borrow from established forms, line color and approximately 14 miles. Dead and texture. scorched trees and scorched earth are Activities may dominate, and appear as to borrow Maximum from established form, line color and texture when the remaining features in some Modification stretches. The reduced vegetation does viewed from background distances. afford views to features such as rock formations, streams, and distant vistas that were previously screened by roadside vegetation. In the Rock Creek drainage, the fire burned in a mosaic pattern leaving pockets of green trees amid large areas of fire-killed trees. Foreground views are dominated by blackened dead trees and scorched soils. From middle ground distances, the mosaic is visible in black, rust brown, and green colors across the steep slopes. Features such as roads and rock outcrops are more apparent to the viewer.
Duration of Visual Effects Visual effects from the Pioneer Fire will remain for 10–20 years, including the jack-straw appearance of dead standing and down timber and the mosaic of openings on previously timber- dominated slopes. Restoring the visual elements of timber vegetation will be slow in areas with reduced seed sources.
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Alternative A (No Action)
Direct, Indirect, and Cumulative Effects Visual Effects, and Visibility and Duration of Visual Effects The No Action Alternative would not have any direct or indirect effects to the scenic environment. As a result of taking no action, visual effects from the Pioneer Fire would remain for 10–20 years, including the jack-straw appearance of dead standing and down timber and the mosaic of openings on previously timber dominated slopes, as described in the Affected Environment section. Because no direct or indirect effects would occur from the No Action Alternative, cumulative effects would also not occur.
Alternative B (Proposed Action)
Direct and Indirect Effects Visual Effects Approximately 1,251 acres of the proposed salvage harvest units would be visible in the Proposed Action (Figure 7, Table 29, Table 30, Table 31). All roadside hazard tree felling units would be visible from area roads and trails. Elements of the proposed activities, such as skid trails, temporary road construction, road maintenance, and skyline corridors create linear features that appear unnatural and contrast with the surrounding colors detracting from the preferred natural features of the view. Unnaturally shaped forms or unnaturally sized openings would not be created because the unit boundaries follow the irregular burn edges, and live, scorched, and dead trees would remain within the units. Design Features VQ-1, VQ-2, VQ-3, FH-8, TH-2, TH-4, and VM-1 would reduce the potential visual effects of proposed activities by addressing the location of log landings, roads, and skid trails; the height and contrast of remaining stumps; accumulations of slash; and other forms of visual distraction and contrast.
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Figure 7. Viewshed analysis
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Table 29. Salvage acres visible from National Forest System (NFS) roads and State Highway 21 within the project area Sensitive Designated Visible Salvage acres Visible Salvage acres in Visible Salvage acres in Roads Partial Retention Retention State Highway 21 84.5 82.6 1.9 NFS road 316 1.2 1.2 0 NFS road 582 725.2 698.9 26.3 Total 810.9 782.7 28.2
Table 30. Visible salvage acres from designated National Forest System (NFS) trails Trail Visible Salvage acres NFS trail 145 0 NFS trail 700 179.0 NFS trail 701 21.5 NFS trail 705 95.4 NFS trail 721 24.6 NFS trail 724 40.4 Total 360.9
Table 31. Visible salvage acres from designated yurts Designated Yurt Visible Salvage acres Stargaze 78.1 Banner 0 Total 78.1
Visibility of Visual Effects Foreground Timber harvest impacts such as skid trails, stumps, slash, skyline corridors and temporary road construction or reconstruction are often a minimal disturbance in the foreground due to the screening and softening afforded by the remaining scenery. In the burned areas of the Pioneer Fire, ground disturbance would generally be more evident due to the contrasting color of soils compared to the blackened soils in which they occur. Road cuts would expose native soils and stumps which could seem strikingly bright against the contrast with the blackened scorched earth. Roads would be decommissioned during the same field season. Where remaining slash usually blends in with understory vegetation, accumulations would be visible. These effects are expected to dominate the foreground initially and soften as forbs, shrub, and groundcover regrow. Many of these effects would be mitigated by the proposed design features. For example, in the foreground, stumps and slash could be evident, but the design feature to cut stumps at maximum heights and reduce color contrast by covering or dusting stump faces would make them less apparent.
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Middle Ground In the middle ground views, the effects would relate more to the openings created by harvesting trees amidst the remaining trees. Openings within dead timber contrast to a lesser degree than openings created within a dense forest stand, deep green in color. The openings are not expected to be striking due to the selection of merchantable trees, feathering of the edges bordering RCAs, and snag tree retention, rather than a complete removal of all trees. Nor are the impacts expected to be long-term as the remaining dead and dying trees fall, obscuring the edges of the opening. Road cuts and fills and skid trails would be most evident in the foreground and middle ground views as they create linear features of contrasting color. Skyline corridors would not appear as definitive corridors due to the degraded structure of the remaining timber stands that are continuing to unravel. The soil disturbance of the skyline corridor would be evident for a short period (6–12 months). Because the trees would be whole tree yarded with the forward end lifted off the ground, the tops and limbs would be dragging, but very little gouging would occur, and the visual effects would be minimal and short lived. Background Background views are not expected to be affected by proposed activities in the short term to a degree that would alter the visual quality from these distances. In background areas, the ground disturbances are rarely discernible enough to detract from the valued landscape. Duration No long-term (>15 years) visual quality effects are expected because the effects caused by harvest activities would dissipate within a few years. Proposed activities would benefit the scenic stability of future stands by removing dead material from the area and reducing dead standing trees. Reducing dead standing trees in foreground views is beneficial because the view would be dominated by the new growth of forbs, shrubs, and seedlings rather than dead trees. In some areas, wildflowers would proliferate. Additionally, reforestation activities would restore forest stands sooner, restoring the scenic attributes of native vegetation and meeting the desired landscape character at an earlier timeframe compared to the No Action Alternative. Though these effects would be realized over a long period of time, they lead to the lasting sustainability and resilience of valued scenic attributes.
Cumulative Effects In some ways, the Pioneer Fire has served to remove many of the past visual impacts that would have created an accumulation of effects to the area. Past harvests units that had previously created visual impacts such as linear forms, shapes, and differing textures are no longer apparent where fire has removed the forest component of the landscape. Proposed BAER projects, such as straw mulching and culvert replacements, will create temporary impacts (1–2 years). These activities, although visible, are likely to be perceived as beneficial and would therefore be positive visual elements. Timber harvesting to the south, within the South Pioneer Fire Salvage and Reforestation project, would have similar effects and duration to the proposed activities. A total of 19,813 visible salvage acres occur in the South Pioneer Project. While in the North Pioneer Project 1,251 visible salvage acres occur, for a cumulative total of 21,064 acres.
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Will proposed activities be consistent with Forest Plan adopted Visual Quality Objectives (VQOs), standards and guidelines?
Affected Environment The Forest Plan forest-wide visual quality standard, SCST01, states, “All projects shall be designed to meet the adopted VQOs as identified in MA direction and represented on the Forest VQO map.” The management area direction pertinent to this project is found in the MA 10, Upper South Fork Payette River, Standard 1076, which states, “Meet the VQOs as represented on the Forest VQO Map, and where indicated in the table below as viewed from the following areas/corridors” (see Chapter 1). Forest Plan direction also includes the following standard and guideline regarding the duration of time allowed for a site to recover to the objective VQO identified in Standard 1076 following a disturbance:
Allow for short-term reductions in VQOs to accommodate Burned Area Emergency Rehabilitation (BAER) projects, emergency needs for protection SCST02 of investments, and public safety needs. When reducing VQOs, attempt to meet the next-highest objective at the closest viewer distance or most relevant distance given the probable sensitive viewer.
Duration of visual impacts from ground disturbing and vegetation removal activities to allow for herbaceous vegetative recovery of ground cover may SCGU02 extend to three years in fgR, fgPR, mgR, and mgPR. Consider timely initiation of reseeding in areas where natural recovery is questionable.
Alternative A (No Action)
Direct, Indirect, and Cumulative Effects The No Action Alternative would comply with Forest Plan Standards and Guidelines for the scenic environment. The existing visual quality would remain at Modification to Retention. No cumulative effects related to the No Action Alternative would occur.
Alternative B (Proposed Action)
Direct and Indirect Effects Due to visual effects that would occur from the Proposed Action, the VQOs of Retention and Partial Retention would not be maintained in some areas during the first few years after project completion as described below. The Proposed Action would be consistent with Forest Plan Standards and Guidelines for the Scenery Resource because Forest Plan Standard SCST02 allows for short-term reductions to accommodate public safety needs, and Forest Plan Guideline SCGU02 allows visual impacts to extend to 3 years from ground-disturbing and vegetation removal activities, such as those proposed under the Proposed Action. Specific information for the proposed activities is provided below.
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Hazard Tree Felling Treatment Areas The effects to views in the immediate foreground along the 3.6 miles of State Highway 21 within the project area in the first 3 years after the hazard tree proposed activities occur would require a short-term reduction of VQOs from Retention to Partial Retention. Forest Plan Standard SCST02 allows for short-term reductions (3–15 years) in VQOs to accommodate BAER projects, emergency needs for protection of investments, and public safety needs, and the Forest Supervisor has determined the proposed hazard tree felling is necessary for public safety, making these activities consistent with the Forest Plan. Though the visual impacts would be evident in the immediate foreground along the 13 miles of hazard tree removal on NFS road 582, the Partial Retention VQO would be met because the density of hazard trees is lower in this area. Salvage Treatment Areas In addition to the hazard tree areas affected by the Proposed Action, as viewers travel along project area roadways, they would also be able to see adjacent slopes of salvage harvest and associated activities. Approximately 85 acres of salvage harvest activity would be visible from the Scenic Byway, and of those acres, 83 acres are in Partial Retention and 2 acres in Retention. Of the 725 salvage acres visible from NFS road 582, about 699 acres are in Partial Retention and 26 acres in Retention. These VQOs would not be met immediately after project implementation. Approximately 439 acres of salvage harvest activity would be visible from trails and yurts10. Ground disturbances, such as skid trails and temporary roads, would be seen as linear contrasting forms that detract from the natural appearing landscape and would be codominant with the visual elements of the blackened tree boles and scorched dead and dying trees. However, the predicted vegetation recovery in the Douglas-fir/ninebark of the moderately severe burned area along the Scenic Byway would provide sufficient screening of impacts from ground disturbances and allow the VQOs to be met within 1 to 2 years, and the screening provided by untreated acreages, varying angles of view, and predicted vegetation recovery in the Douglas fir/nine bark and Douglas-fir/snowberry along NFS road 582 would allow the VQO of Retention and Partial Retention to be met within 3 years, consistent with Forest Plan Guideline SCGU02. These trails (Table 29, Table 30, Table 31) are located to the east of State Highway 21 and views to salvage units (361 acres) in the North Pioneer project area are approximately 2 miles to the west of State Highway 21. Management activities will not likely be evident to any degree from this distance. Approximately 78 acres of salvage units are visible from Stargaze Yurt. The Stargaze Yurt is located east of State Highway 21 while salvage units are located to the west of State Highway 21. From approximately 2 miles, the ground disturbances of the proposed management activities will not likely be evident. No salvage units are visible from Banner Yurt.
10 Visibility acreages are determined by use of digital terrain modeling known as “bare earth modeling” that does not consider screening from remaining trees or shrubs. It is a worst-case scenario and visual impacts will not occur on all visible acres. The acreages calculated for visibility will be high, and the visible acreage shows the potential for impacts related to management activities, rather than visible acres of impact.
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Cumulative Effects A total of 19,813 visible salvage acres occur in the South Pioneer Project. The North Pioneer Project includes 1,251 visible salvage acres, for a cumulative total of 21,064 acres. The area and the combined proposed activities will create impacts that will impact the visual resource for a period of 1 to 3 years. The cumulative effects of the hazard tree and salvage harvest activities will be evident throughout both the North and South Pioneer Project areas. The harvest effects will create an appearance of management activity for a period of no longer than10 years. The effects of the fire will remain much longer and appear as post-fire recovery for the next 20 years. Views from State Highway 21, which runs through both the North and South Pioneer Project areas will be affected by both fire and management activities. There will be increased awareness of the dynamic nature of forested landscapes and how fire and management affects scenery resources. The VQOs will be temporarily reduced. As the forested landscape recovers, management effects will diminish.
Socioeconomics
Summary: Under the No Action Alternative, no salvage logging or hazard tree removal or felling would occur in the project area. The total costs for all restoration activities (e.g., reforestation, decommissioning unauthorized routes, and hazard tree treatments), would be $2,995,050. With a PNV of $0 under the No Action Alternative, no surplus funds would be available (PNV minus restoration costs). No expenses would be incurred for sale preparation or contract administration. Given the incurred cost for this NEPA analysis, this alternative would be considered “below cost” by approximately $441,374. Without salvage operations, the No Action Alternative would provide limited contribution to employment and local community income. Under the Proposed Action, approximately 32.4 MMBF of wood products would be removed, generating a potential net value of $2,728,871. Given the PNV and estimated Forest Service costs, this alternative would be considered “above cost” by approximately $1,882,189. The cost of all restoration items would be less than the PNV (revenue generated from timber sale receipts and available for funding restoration items) by about $85,136. The cost of treating RCA acres is estimated to be $270,700. Removing wood products and implementing restoration actions under the Proposed Action would create and support 757 jobs and directly and indirectly benefit local economies.
Background This section describes how the alternatives address the project purpose and need to recover the economic value of forest products in a timely manner to avoid loss of commodity value sufficient to jeopardize the Agency’s ability to accomplish project objectives directly related to public health and safety, resource protection, and restoration identified in Needs 1 through 3. Additionally, this section addresses issues and concerns identified during public scoping that the project maximizes the economic benefit of salvage removal to fund restoration projects and to contribute to the economic vitality of the area. Refer to the project record economic resource technical report for the detailed supporting analysis. Non-commodity values are difficult to assess, especially on projects of this size. Rather, the full range of non-timber costs and priced benefits (as used to determine management area allocation) is more appropriately assessed at the Forest Plan level. Several values and amenities, including recreation and visual quality, occur within and adjacent to the project area. Although these
178 North Pioneer Fire Salvage and Restoration Project Environmental Assessment amenities have not been assigned monetary value and have not been included in this economic assessment, many aspects of the social environment (i.e., wildfire susceptibility and terrestrial wildlife habitat restoration) are discussed elsewhere. In addition, the 2003 Southwest Idaho Ecogroup Land and Resource Management Plan FEIS (USDA Forest Service 2003b, Chapters 2 and 3) includes a comprehensive socioeconomic analysis of the effects of timber harvest on the communities in southwestern Idaho; this analysis included the effects on non-commodity resources. A socioeconomic analysis included in the FEIS for Forest Plan amendments was also developed in 2010 (USDA Forest Service 2010b). Immediate implementation is essential to successfully accomplish the project purpose and need (i.e., recover the economic value from hazard trees posing a risk to public health and safety prior to the next recreation season). Therefore, the Forest intends to request an emergency situation determination (ESD) to facilitate immediate implementation of the proposed activities in spring/summer 2017. Only the Chief and Associate Chief of the Forest Service may grant an ESD (36 CFR 218.21(a)). If the Chief decides this project qualifies for an ESD, the project would be implemented as soon as the environmental analysis is completed and the decision is signed. This analysis assumed the ESD will be approved when calculating the monetary value of the burnt timber and effects to local communities and job creation.
Indicators The following indicators were analyzed to How is the Net Revenue Calculated? measure alternative effectiveness at meeting the purpose and need desired conditions and addressing issues and concerns for the economics A financial efficiency analysis is required resource: for all timber sales in a project proposal that exceed $100,000 in advertised value How much volume will be harvested and how will (Forest Service Manual (FSM) 2432.22c). this affect PNV The net revenue is calculated by subtracting • Volume in millions of board feet (MMBF) projected NEPA costs, sale preparation What is the projected net revenue between costs, and contract administration costs from the total Potential Net Value (PNV) of alternatives the project. • Net revenue How do the alternatives affect job creation or job support • Jobs per year for individual restoration items and commercial treatment (MMBF harvested) The analysis area for direct and indirect effects for the economic analysis is the approximately 28,007-acre project area. The cumulative effects area include ongoing and foreseeable projects associated within the Pioneer Fire boundary.
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Volume in MMBF
Affected Environment The Pioneer fire burnt through the Rock Creek Resource Management Project and the Clear Creek Integrated Project areas, negatively affecting the Forest’s planned timber outputs and potential job creation. These projects would have sold an estimated 7.7 MMBF of sawtimber.
Alternative A (No Action)
Direct and Indirect Effects Under the No Action Alternative, no salvage logging or hazard tree removal and felling would be implemented within the project area.
Cumulative Effects No cumulative effects are associated with this alternative.
Alternative B (Proposed Action)
Direct and Indirect Effects The Proposed Action would remove an estimated 32 MMBF of wood products from the three salvage sales analyzed (Table 32). Three sales were developed to mitigate multiple operators utilizing the same road systems, thus reducing potential conflicts and reducing hazardous working conditions. Table 32. Estimated volume removed for the three salvage sales analyzed Sale Volume (CCF) Lower Rock Creek Sale Volume 26,676 Upper Rock Creek Sale Volume 11,384 Clear Creek Sale Volume 24,425 Total Volume (MMBF) 62,485 (32.4) Note: Sale names, volume estimates, and values are used for analysis purposes only
Cumulative Effects No reasonably foreseeable vegetation management projects are proposed on lands associated within the North Pioneer Fire Project area.
Net Revenue
Affected Environment The financial efficiency analysis uses the Transaction Evidence Appraisal (TEA) system to estimate the following: net sale volumes, costs, and appraised values; the effects of the alternatives on local economies; funds available to be returned to the Federal Treasury; and the total cost to implement the alternative as compared to the revenues generated. Additionally, the estimated cost of this environmental analysis is included in the financial assessment.
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No legal or policy mandate requires that revenues generated by an individual National Forest timber sale exceed the cost to implement that project. However, a timber sale is considered to be below cost when the Forest Service’s expense to prepare and administer the sale exceeds the revenue returned to the Federal Treasury. Within the project area, past vegetation projects have altered the vegetation. In addition, vegetation was altered by the Pioneer Fire, which created a high density of dead and dying trees. Past vegetation projects have also contributed to the existing NFS road infrastructure, which affects the cost of implementing different harvest systems and transporting wood products to milling facilities. Past actions have contributed to the need for restoration actions, such as decommissioning unauthorized roads and mitigation of road-related impacts within RCAs.
Alternative A (No Action)
Direct and Indirect Effects No salvage logging or hazard tree mitigation would occur under the No Action Alternative. Without salvage operations, the economic value of forest products would not be recovered and used to fund restoration and reforestation projects within the project area. Instead, the Agency would depend on annual funding appropriations to accomplish these tasks. The monetary value lost under the No Action Alternative by not salvaging forest products is estimated to be $2,728,871 (Table 33). Hazard trees posing an imminent threat to human safety or infrastructure along open roads, trailheads, and developed sites would be felled using existing management direction. Hazard tree treatments would be contingent on annual funding availability. Because road-side and trail hazards would not be addressed under the No Action Alternative, routes and areas could be closed to the public and agency personnel for extended periods of time until public health and safety hazards could be addressed. Costs to treat roadside hazards are expected to be $622,000 for open roads and $49,200 for trails (Table 34). Proposed restoration activities, such as reforestation or unauthorized road decommissioning, would not be implemented, and post-fire resource values would remain unchanged. Reforestation of burned areas could cost $2,321,000, and decommissioning of unauthorized roads could cost $2,850 (Table 34). The total costs for all restoration activities (e.g., reforestation, decommissioning unauthorized routes, and hazard tree treatments), would be $2,995,050 (Table 34). With a PNV of $0 under the No Action Alternative, no surplus funds would be available (PNV minus restoration costs) (Table 34). No expenses would be incurred for sale preparation or contract administration. Given the incurred cost for this NEPA analysis, this alternative would be considered “below cost” by approximately $441,374 (Table 34).
Cumulative Effects No cumulative effects are associated with this alternative.
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Alternative B (Proposed Action)
Direct and Indirect Effects The Proposed Action would generate a PNV of $2,728,871 from the three analyzed salvage sales for this analysis (Table 33 and Table 34). Given the PNV and estimated Forest Service costs, this alternative would be considered “above cost” by approximately $1,882,189 (Table 34). Receipts would be collected and prioritized to fund restoration work within the Pioneer Fire, utilizing stewardship contracting, KV fund collections, and appropriated funding. The cost of all restoration items would be less than the PNV (revenue generated from timber sale receipts and available for funding restoration items) by about $85,136 (Table 34). Therefore, supplemental funding would not be necessary to fund restoration activities. Table 33. Estimated potential net value for the three salvage sales analyzed Sale Revenue ($) Lower Rock Creek Sale 1,629,254 Upper Rock Creek Sale 270,117 Clear Creek Sale 832,500 Total Potential Net Value (PNV) 2,728,871 Note: Sale names, volume estimates, and values are used for analysis purposes only Table 34. Financial assessment, appraised value (PNV), and other project costs and associated supplemental funding needs by alternative Proposed Action Action No Action Alternative (with unusual adjustments)a Salvage Harvest Total Volume CCF (MMBF) 0 62,485 (32.4) Total Potential Net Value (PNV) $0 $2,728,871 Projected NEPA Cost –$441,374 –$441,374 Projected Sale Preparation Cost $0 –$202,654 Projected Contract Administration $0 –$202,654 Commercial Treatment Cost $0 –$846,682 Net Revenue (PNVc minus Costs) –$441,374 $1,882,189 Restoration/Hazard Reduction Project Expenditures (incl. road costs, e.g., maintenance, decommission) not associated with commercial harvest) Potential Net Value (PNV) $0 $2,728,871 Restoration Project Expenditures Reforestation of Burned Areasb –$2,321,000 –$2,321,000 Decommission of Unauthorized Routesb –$2,850 –$2,850 Roadside Hazard Fellingb –$622,000 –$270,685 Trail Hazard Tree Fellingb –$49,200 –$49,200 Subtotal Other Project Costs –$2,995,050 –$2,643,735 Surplus Funds (PNVc minus Other Project Costs) $0 $85,136 aUnusual adjustments reflect the decrease in timber value due to blue stain or weather checking that occur over time to dead trees. bIf the No Action Alternative is selected, there would still be a need to address these restoration activities. Additional NEPA would be required to address these restoration needs and appropriated funds to implement. cPNV includes Includes costs associated with commercial harvest (e.g., cutting, skidding, loading, hauling, brush disposal, minimum road improvements or construction necessary to facilitate removing wood products). Does not include NEPA, sale preparation, or contract administration costs.
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Cumulative Effects Completed and proposed BAER activities, including culvert replacement, straw mulching, hazard tree removal around recreation sites and along roads and trails, and road and trail improvements are expected to exceed $2.1 million and contribute 24 jobs. Proposed salvage sales in the South Pioneer Fire Salvage and Reforestation Project area could increase the economic efficiency of the North Pioneer Project. Sales using the same road systems for hauling may reduce costs, and operational costs could be reduced if multiple sales are purchased by a single entity, which could increase the PNV. Sales in the South Pioneer Project area could cumulatively impact revenue in the North Pioneer Project by increasing the volume harvested. Salvage harvest would address most roadside and trail hazard trees, thus reducing funding needed to mitigate these hazards. Since salvage harvest would not occur below the road or perpendicular to the road in RCAs, a need to address these roadside hazards would remain. The cost of treating these RCA acres is estimated to be $270,700.
Jobs Created
Affected Environment The Pioneer fire burnt through the Rock Creek Resource Management Project and the Clear Creek Integrated Project areas, negatively affecting the Forest’s planned timber outputs and potential job creation. These projects would have generated 342 jobs within local communities. The December 2015 unemployment rate for Boise County was 5.9% compared to the national rate of 4.8% (US Bureau Labor Statistics 2016).
Alternative A (No Action)
Direct and Indirect Effects Under the No Action Alternative, no salvage logging or hazard tree removal and felling would be implemented within the project area. Over time, the number of hazard trees would increase as more trees affected by the fire die and fall. Most hazard trees would likely fall between 3 and 9 years following the fire. If hazard trees are not removed, public health and safety would be affected, especially along travel routes and around administrative and recreation sites. Areas open and available for public and administrative use within the project area would be affected. Closing roads and trails could negatively impact local communities relying on forest users to support their economies. Without salvage operations, the No Action Alternative would provide limited contribution to employment and local community income (Table 35). An estimated 728 jobs would be lost if commercial harvest is not implemented.
Cumulative Effects No cumulative effects are associated with this alternative.
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Alternative B (Proposed Action)
Direct and Indirect Effects Removing wood products and implementing restoration actions under the Proposed Action would create and support jobs and directly and indirectly benefit local economies. Lippke and Mason (2005) report the direct annual employment rate for forest products is 4.65 jobs/MMBF, and the indirect employment rate is 17.82 jobs/MMBF. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (US President 2009) estimated that $92,000 of government spending created 1 job per year; 64% of which was from direct employment or indirect employment. Considering only job creation and support in the private sector, the total estimated jobs created and supported under the Proposed Action would be 757 (Table 35). Table 35. Summary of jobs supported by alternative for commercial treatment and restoration activities Measure No Action Alternative Proposed Action Volume (MMBF) 0 32.4 Jobs Supported by Commercial Harvest 0 728 Jobs Supported by Restoration Activities 0 29
Cumulative Effects Completed and proposed BAER activities, including culvert replacement, straw mulching, hazard tree removal around recreation sites and along roads and trails, and road and trail improvements are expected to exceed $2.1 million and contribute 24 jobs. Proposed salvage sales in the South Pioneer Fire Salvage and Reforestation Project area could increase the economic efficiency of sales in the North Pioneer Project area and cumulatively impact the number of jobs and economic activity in Boise County and surrounding communities by providing increased volume harvested.
Inventoried Roadless Areas
Summary: No management activities are proposed under the No Action Alternative, so the effects of this alternative to roadless characteristics would be unmeasurable and the character of the IRAs would be maintained. Solitude with respect to disturbance related to human activities would be expect to be low and the undeveloped nature attribute would be unchanged under the No Action Alternative. The Proposed Action would not result in direct effects to the existing roadless characteristics or wilderness attributes of the Deadwood or Red Mountain IRAs since no activities are proposed within these IRAs. No measurable effects to the roadless characteristics of the Grimes Pass IRA would be expected and the character of this IRA would be maintained similar to current conditions following implementation of the Proposed Action. The Proposed Action would not be expected to effect the potential suitability for future wilderness designation of the Grimes Pass IRA given that the effects to the wilderness attributes would be unmeasurable.
This section describes the effects of the alternatives on the Inventoried Roadless Areas (IRAs). Additionally, this section addresses concerns identified during public scoping regarding effects to
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IRAs, consistency with the Idaho Roadless Rule (36 CFR 294), and unroaded areas contiguous11 to IRAs. Roadless characteristics and wilderness attribute worksheets containing the detailed supporting analysis are available in the project record.
Indicators The following IRA indicators were analyzed to measure alternative effectiveness at meeting the purpose and need and desired conditions and addressing concerns about the roadless resource. What effects to roadless characteristics would be attributed to proposed activities? • Evaluation of roadless characteristics12 based analyses completed for other resource areas What effects to wilderness attributes would result from proposed activities that would affect the IRA(s) potential suitability of wilderness designation in the future? • Qualitative evaluation of wilderness attributes/qualities13.
Background On October 16, 2008, the Forest Service published a final rule (36 CFR 294) adopting state- specific management direction for designated roadless areas in the state of Idaho (i.e., the Idaho Roadless Rule). This final rule takes a balanced approach, recognizing local and national interests for managing lands within IRAs. The rule establishes permissions and prohibitions governing the types of activities that may occur within IRAs. It does not establish management direction for areas adjacent to an IRA. Direction for management of areas adjacent to IRAs, such as the project area, is provided in the Forest Plan (USDA Forest Service 2010a). The project area includes three IRAs: Deadwood IRA, Red Mountain IRA, and Grimes Pass IRA (Table 36 and Figure 8). Table 36. Inventoried Roadless Areas (IRAs) contained within the project area IRA Total acres Designations Backcountry Restoration Deadwood 52,472 Primitive Forest Plan Special Area Wild Land Recreation Primitive Red Mountain 114,608a Backcountry Restoration General Forest, Rangelands, and Grasslands Primitive Grimes Pass 13,289 General Forest, Rangelands, and Grassland Forest Plan Special Area a109,711 acres on the Boise National Forest and 4,897 on the Salmon-Challis National forest
11 Unroaded areas contiguous to IRAs for the purposes of this analysis are unroaded areas between the NFS road system and IRA boundary. 12 Roadless characteristics include 1) Soil, water and air resources, 2) Sources of public drinking water, 3) Diversity of plant and animal communities, 4) Habitat for TS and species dependent on large undisturbed areas of land, 5) Primitive and semi-primitive classes of recreation, 6) Reference landscapes for research study or interpretation, 7) Landscape Character and integrity, 8) Traditional cultural properties and sacred sites, and 9) Other locally unique characteristics. 13 Wilderness attributes/qualities include 1) untrammeled/natural integrity; 2) natural/natural appearance; 3) undeveloped/remoteness; and 4) opportunities for solitude or primitive recreation.
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Figure 8. Map of Inventoried Roadless Areas relative to the North Pioneer Fire Salvage Project Area
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Roadless Characteristics
Affected Environment Roadless characteristics typically assessed are not unique to IRAs (i.e., may be present outside as well as within the IRA). These characteristics are often believed to represent what defines a particular roadless area’s social and ecological value (USDA Forest Service 2010a, Appendix H, p. H-1). These characteristics include the following: • Soil, water, and air resources. • Sources of public drinking water • Diversity of plant and animal communities • Habitat for Threatened, Endangered, Proposed, Candidate, or Sensitive Species • Primitive and semi-primitive classes of recreation • Reference landscapes for research study or interpretation • Landscape character and integrity • Traditional cultural properties and scared sites • Other locally unique characteristics (e.g. eligible Wild and Scenic River corridors) The project area includes approximately 1,315 acres of the Grimes Pass IRA designated under the GFRG theme under the Idaho Roadless Rule (36 CFR 294). The Deadwood IRA, Red Mountain IRA, and portions of the Grimes Pass IRA occur immediately adjacent to the project area. The analysis of roadless characteristics included activities proposed within, immediately adjacent to, or contiguous to IRAs. The analysis area for roadless characteristics is the project area and the Deadwood, Grimes Pass, and Red Mountain IRAs, approximately 208,376 total acres, unless otherwise noted. This area was chosen as the analysis area because it represents the ecological extent for the IRAs. Roadless characteristics associated with air quality, public drinking water, traditional cultural properties and sacred sites, primitive and semi-primitive classes of recreation (ROS), and other locally unique characteristics (i.e., eligible Wild and Scenic River Corridor) would have no effects or limited and/or unmeasurable effects under the No Action Alternative and Proposed Action based on analyses completed for air quality, hydrology, eligible WSRs, recreation, and cultural resources (refer to the EA sections for these resource and/or technical reports in the project record). These roadless characteristics as they relate to IRAs will not be discussed further in this document. Affected environment descriptions for the soil, water, botanical, fisheries, wildlife, recreation, and scenic resources can be found in the EA sections for those resources presented in this document.
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Alternative A (No Action)
Direct and Indirect Effects No management activities would occur under this alternative in or adjacent to the Deadwood, Grimes Pass, and Red Mountain IRAs. Under this alternative, ongoing activities such as Pioneer BAER Activities, trail and road use/maintenance, and recreational uses in the analysis area would be expected to continue. The No Action Alternative would be expected to increase vegetation cover through natural regeneration processes overtime, consequently, improving roadless characteristics associated with soil, hydrology, rare plant, wildlife, fisheries, and scenic resources from the current conditions resulting from the wildfire disturbance event (refer to individual resource sections in this EA). Effects of the No Action Alternative to roadless characteristics would be unmeasurable at the IRA scale, and the character of the IRAs would be maintained similar to current conditions (refer to roadless character worksheet in the project record). This alternative would be consistent with the Idaho Roadless Rules (36 CFR 294).
Cumulative Effects The cumulative effects activities (i.e., past, present/ongoing, and reasonably foreseeable activities [Appendix B]) were evaluated, and only activities whose effects would overlap in time and space with effects of this project were considered in this analysis. Past actions were assumed to have contributed to the existing conditions of the roadless characteristics and are included in the affected environment disclosures. Additionally, ongoing activities such as road/trail use and maintenance, groomed snowmobile routes, recreation uses, livestock grazing, and special use permits, have been occurring for some time and were also assumed to have contributed to the roadless characteristics existing conditions. Ongoing activities in the analysis area for the Deadwood IRA that could cumulatively impact roadless characteristics include Pine Flats Campground Salvage, Pioneer Fire BAER road and trail drainage reconstruction, Pioneer Fire BAER weeds Early Detection and Rapid Response (EDRR), and Pioneer Fire BAER aerial application of straw mulch. No reasonable foreseeable activities were identified in or adjacent to the Deadwood IRA. Present and ongoing activities that could cumulatively impact roadless characteristics in or adjacent to the Grimes Pass IRA when considered with the effects of this project include Pine Flats Campground Salvage, Pioneer Fire BAER road drainage reconstruction, and Pioneer Fire BAER weeds EDRR. The Carlin Mineral Exploration Project is a reasonable foreseeable action in the Grimes Pass IRA. Ongoing Activities in the analysis area for the Red Mountain IRA that could cumulatively impact roadless characteristics include BAER weed EDRR, Pioneer Fire BAER road and trail drainage reconstruction, Pioneer Fire BAER weeds EDRR, and Pioneer Fire BAER aerial application of straw mulch. The Lowman WUI and Lowman North Burn TSI Projects are reasonable foreseeable activities located in and/or adjacent to the Red Mountain IRA. The ongoing and reasonable foreseeable activities in these IRAs may affect resources tied to roadless characteristics (soil, water, botanical, fisheries, wildlife, recreation, and scenic resources) in localized areas both in and adjacent to the IRAs. But, these effects are not expected to be measurable based on the small size localized areas that may be treated when compared to the size of the IRAs. The No Action Alternative would not have measurable effects to roadless
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characteristics at the IRA scale. While the effects of the No Action Alternative and the effects of the present and reasonably foreseeable activities may overlap in time and space, measurable cumulative impacts would not be expected given small area of potential treatments given the large IRA sizes.
Alternative B (Proposed Action)
Direct and Indirect Effects The Proposed Action would not result in direct effects to the existing roadless characteristics of the Deadwood or Red Mountain IRAs since no activities are proposed within these IRAs. However, the following activities are proposed immediately adjacent or in unroaded areas contiguous to these IRAs: salvage harvest (18 acres Deadwood IRA), road/trail side hazard treatments (78.7 acres Deadwood IRA and 65.3 acres Red Mountain IRA), hand piling and burning (60 acres Deadwood IRA), reforestation (450 acres Deadwood IRA and 159.2 acres Red Mountain IRA) and associated road activities (Figure 2). Associated road activities include road maintenance, use as a haul route, landings associated with road bed, and snowplowing to facilitate reforestation activities. Natural regeneration, combined with proposed reforestation areas adjacent to the IRAs, would be expected recover vegetation faster than the No Action Alternative. Roadless characteristics for soil; water; plant and animal communities; threatened, endangered, proposed, candidate, and sensitive species; and landscape character and integrity would be directly and indirectly affected to varying degrees from the proposed activities based upon the disclosures of soil, hydrology, rare plants, wildlife, fisheries, and scenic resources (refer to the effects disclosures for the soil, hydrology, rare plants, wildlife, fisheries and scenic resource in this document.) However, effects to the roadless characteristics at the scale of the Deadwood and Red Mountain IRAs would not measurably change the character of these IRAs from current conditions since no activities are proposed within these IRAs, the small amount of treatment proposed adjacent to the IRAs, and the large size of these IRAs (refer to roadless character worksheet in the project record). Activities are proposed within the Grimes Pass IRA and immediately adjacent to the IRA in an area with a high road density. Given the high road density of the areas adjacent to the Grimes Pass IRA, this analysis of roadless characteristics focuses on the activities occurring within the IRA, including 26.7 acres of roadside hazard treatments (15.4 acres of felling with removal and 11.3 acres of felling only) along 0.3 miles of authorized NFS roads located within this IRA, and 156 acres of reforestation activities (Figure 9). Activities associated with the 0.3 miles of NFS road in the IRA would include road maintenance, use as a haul route, 1 landing associated with road bed and a turnout, and snowplowing to facilitate reforestation activities. Roadless characteristics for soil; water: plant and animal communities; threatened, endangered, proposed, candidate, and sensitive species; and landscape character and integrity would be directly and indirectly affected to varying degrees from the proposed activities based upon the disclosures of soil, hydrology, rare plants, wildlife, fisheries, and scenic resources (refer to the effects disclosures for the soil, hydrology, rare plants, wildlife, fisheries and scenic resource in this document). No measurable effects to the roadless characteristics of the Grimes Pass IRA would be expected and the character of this IRA would be maintained similar to current conditions following implementation of the Proposed Action since only 1.4% of the IRA would have activities implemented, the roads occurring in the IRA are existing NFS roads open for public use, and treatments are focused on the hazard tree removal along these road corridors (refer to
189 North Pioneer Fire Salvage and Restoration Project Environmental Assessment roadless character worksheet in the project record). Additionally, natural regeneration combined with proposed reforestation areas in the Grimes Pass IRAs, would be expected to recover vegetation faster than the No Action Alternative. All activities proposed in the Grimes Pass IRA are located in the portion of the IRA assigned to the General Forest, Rangelands, and Grasslands (GFRG) theme under the Idaho Roadless Rule (36 CFR 294), which allows timber harvest activities. This alternative would be consistent with the Idaho Roadless Rule (36 CFR 294).
Cumulative Effects Cumulative effects activities for the Proposed Action were analyzed the same as under the No Action Alternative. While the ongoing and reasonable foreseeable activities in these IRAs (see “Cumulative Effects” section under the No Action Alternative above) may affect resources tied to roadless characteristics (soil, water, botanical, fisheries, wildlife, recreation, and scenic resources) in localized areas both in and adjacent the IRAs, these effects are expected to be limited based on the small size and localized areas that may be treated when compared to the size of the IRAs. The Proposed Action would not have measurable effects to roadless characteristics at the IRA scale. While the effects of the Proposed Action and the effects of the present and reasonably foreseeable activities may overlap in time and space, measurable cumulative impacts would not be expected given small area of potential treatments given the large IRA sizes.
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Figure 9. Reforestation and roadside hazard treatments in the Grimes Pass Inventoried Roadless Area
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Wilderness Attributes
Affected Environment The analysis area for wilderness attributes/qualities is the project area and the Deadwood, Grimes Pass, and Red Mountain IRAs areas, totaling 208,376 acres, unless otherwise noted. This area was chosen as the analysis area because it represents the ecological extent that the wilderness attributes for the IRAs should be evaluated. Effects evaluations for IRAs consider the effects of proposed activities on wilderness qualities or attributes. Wilderness qualities or attributes of each IRA on the Forest were assessed as part of Forest Plan revision in 2003. Appendix C of the Final EIS (USDA Forest Service 2003a, pp. C- 30 through C-330) for the 2003 Forest Plan provides an overview description of the Deadwood, Grimes Pass, and Red Mountain IRA with respect to wilderness suitability. Additionally, Appendix H of the Final EIS (USDA Forest Service 2003a) for the 2003 Forest Plan and Appendix C of the Final EIS for the Idaho Roadless Rule (USDA Forest Service 2008) provide descriptions of the Deadwood, Grimes Pass and Red Mountain IRAs. In 2005, the Forest Service developed a monitoring protocol for wilderness character (Landres et al. 2005) using the “wilderness qualities” of Natural, Undeveloped, Untrammeled, and Opportunities for Primitive Recreation and Solitude. These qualities are very similar to and correlate closely with the wilderness attributes described in the 2003 Forest Plan (amended in 2010) (Table 37). Table 37. Crosswalk of Wilderness Qualities to Wilderness Attributes Wilderness Qualities from 2005 Wilderness Character Wilderness Attributes from Monitoring Protocol Wilderness Attribute Rating System Untrammeled—Monitors modern human activities that directly control or manipulate the components or processes of ecological system inside Natural Integrity wilderness. monitors both intended and unintended effects of modern Natural— Natural Integrity people on ecological systems inside wilderness since the time the area Apparent Naturalness was designated. monitors the presence of structures, construction, Undeveloped— Apparent Naturalness habitations, and other evidence of modern human presence or occupation Remoteness insider wilderness Outstanding opportunities for solitude or a primitive and unconfined type of recreation—monitors conditions that affect the opportunity for Solitude people to experience solitude or primitive, unconfined recreation in a Opportunities for Primitive Recreation wilderness setting.
Untrammeled/Natural Integrity and Natural/Apparent Naturalness Attributes The Deadwood IRA on the Lowman and Emmett Ranger District encompasses the Deadwood River drainage from the Deadwood Reservoir to the confluence of the South Fork Payette River. Elevations range from about 3,800 feet along the South Fork Payette River to 7,066 feet at Deadwood Mountain. This roadless area is underlain by granitics of the Idaho batholith. Lands at lower elevations are moderately steep and dry, while those at higher elevations are steeper, moister, and more strongly dissected by streams. Steep, rugged canyons enclose the Deadwood River. Sagebrush-grass communities with stands of ponderosa pine and Douglas-fir abound at lower elevations, while dense stands of lodgepole pine, Douglas-fir, and subalpine fir dominate in higher areas. Overall, the Deadwood roadless area is steep, rugged, and remote. Prominent
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features include the Deadwood River Canyon, Stevens Point (6,640 feet), Deadwood Mountain, and Deadwood Ridge. The natural appearance and integrity of this roadless area is intact. Some evidence of salvage logging exists in the southeast portion within the Clear Creek drainage. (USDA Forest Service 2003a, p. C-63). The Grimes Pass IRA lies west of Lowman and southeast of Garden Valley. The Grimes Pass IRA is underlain by Cretaceous granitics of the Idaho batholith. Elevations range from 3,500 to 7,000 feet. Strongly dissected fluvial lands are vegetated with moderate to dense stands of Douglas-fir and ponderosa pine. Overall, the Grimes Pass area has steep slopes and deep ravines. Dense timber stands of Douglas-fir and ponderosa pine are interspersed with brushy areas and rock outcrops. The natural integrity and appearance of this roadless area have been somewhat affected by scattered evidence of old mining roads and old diggings. Segments of five different classified roads occur within the IRA for approximately 2.1 miles (USDA Forest Service 2003a, p. C-76). The Red Mountain IRA lies north and east of Lowman and includes the Eightmile and Warm Springs Creek drainages of the South Fork Payette River drainage, and the area east of Bear Valley Creek in the Middle Fork Salmon River drainage. Elevations range from 4,500 feet along the South Fork Payette River to 8,722 feet atop Red Mountain. Lower elevations include steep stream-cut slopes and canyons, while higher elevations are characterized by glacial troughlands and cirques. Vegetation in the South Fork Payette River drainage includes open sagebrush/grass communities and moderate to dense stands of ponderosa pine and Douglas-fir. The Clear Creek and Bear Valley areas are marked by scattered-to-dense stands of lodgepole pine, Douglas-fir, and subalpine fir, with scattered stands of Engelmann spruce in the wetter areas. Overall, the area includes diverse mountainous terrain, ranging from heavily forested slopes to barren and dissected rocky canyons, to high alpine mountain lakes in cirque basins. Prominent features include Red Mountain, Eightmile Mountain (7,871 feet), and the high- elevation Red Mountain lakes. Generally, this IRA retains its natural appearance and natural integrity with one short section of unauthorized road on the perimeter of the IRA (USDA Forest Service 2003a, p. C-117).
Undeveloped/Remoteness Attribute The Deadwood IRA is generally undeveloped with few structures, habitations, and other evidence of human presence. Structures and/or human developed features include recreational trails (motorized and non-motorized) a television translator, buried power line, historic mine and diggings, mine prospects/claims, and permitted seismic monitoring station (USDA Forest Service 2008, Appendix C). The Grimes Pass IRA has few structures, habitation, and other evidence of human presence. Structures and/or human developed features include a short section of power line along the boundary, historic mine and diggings, and current mine prospects and claims (USDA Forest Service 2008, Appendix C) The Red Mountain IRA is generally undeveloped with few structures, habitations, and other evidence of human presence. Structures and/or human developed features include recreational trails (motorized and non-motorized), range drift fences, domestic water transmission line and water diversion are permitted in the area (USDA Forest Service 2008, Appendix C).
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Outstanding Opportunities for Solitude or a Primitive and Unconfined Type of Recreation/Solitude Attribute The Deadwood IRA is a large land mass, and the complex terrain broken by the numerous drainages flowing to the Deadwood River and the Deadwood River Canyon provide opportunities for solitude and remoteness. Opportunities for primitive recreation are good, especially along the Deadwood River. The ruggedness of the canyon provides challenging recreation experiences. The IRA receives backcountry fall big-game hunting use concentrated mostly in the areas adjacent to trails and roads. Fall hunting is the predominant recreational use. A few trails in the area receive some mountain bike use. Some of the trails, particularly the Deadwood Ridge Trail, are popular hiking trails as well. A popular network of motorized trails in the area receives a moderate amount of motorized trailbike and ATV use. Segments of four motorized trails occur in the area, totaling 24.5 miles (USDA Forest Service 2003a, Appendix C). Opportunities for solitude, primitive recreation, and challenging experiences in the Grimes Pass IRA are somewhat limited because of this area's narrow and irregular shape, which confines use. The steep and rugged terrain provides considerable challenge to cross country foot travel, and the broken terrain allows for seclusion and solitude. The IRA receives backcountry fall big-game hunting use concentrated mostly in areas adjacent to trails and roads, but the area receives little other recreational use. No recreation trails occur in the area (USDA Forest Service 2003a, Appendix C). The Red Mountain IRA is a large roadless area with extensive mountain terrain, and varied vegetative, landform, and water features allow for ample opportunities to experience solitude and primitive or challenging forms of recreation. This is a large area which receives a variety of backcountry motorized and non-motorized use mostly on the existing 66-mile trail system. The IRA receives typical backcountry fall big-game hunting use, concentrated mostly in the areas adjacent to trails and roads. A popular groomed snowmobile route follows the northern boundary, and snowmobile use occurs adjacent this trail in the open forest and open meadow areas. The high-elevation lakes in the northern portion of the IRA are popular recreation destinations, accessible by a network of trails. There are 11 trails within the area, of which 59.6 miles are motorized and 6.4 miles are non-motorized (USDA Forest Service 2003a, Appendix C). The 2016 Pioneer Wildfire burned approximately 41,492 acres (79.1%) of the Deadwood IRA; 11,366 acres (85.5%) of the Grimes Pass IRA; and 14,647 acres (12.7%) of the Red Mountain IRA. Following the 2016 Pioneer Fire, the evidence of human activities or presence maybe more observable by forest users due to the loss of vegetative cover. Opportunity for solitude and primitive recreation have likely been impacted by the loss of vegetative cover and area closures following the wildfire. The natural appearance of the Deadwood, Grimes Pass, and Red Mountain IRAs are generally intact with evidence of the wildfire, i.e. loss of vegetative cover, and fire suppression activities common in the burned areas of the IRAs, which is a changed condition of the pre-fire conditions that existed in these IRAs. The Grimes Pass and Deadwood IRA has a history of mining which are likely more visible following the 2016 Pioneer Fire impacting the natural appearance of this IRA from pre-fire conditions. Any roads and trails located in these IRAs maybe more visible on the landscape due to the loss of vegetation following the wildfire.
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Alternative A (No Action)
Direct and Indirect Effects No new management activities would occur in or adjacent to the Deadwood, Grimes Pass, and Red Mountain IRAs under this alternative. Under this alternative, ongoing activities such as Pioneer BAER Activities, trail and road use/maintenance, and recreational uses would be expected to continue. Natural recovery of vegetation would be expected to occur overtime, which would improve vegetative over current conditions for natural appearance and solitude in the Deadwood, Grimes Pass, and Red Mountain IRAs in the long-term timeframe (15+ years). However, the conifer vegetation likely to return naturally over time would reflect the species composition that was in the area prior to the fire disturbance event instead of desirable early seral species (refer to “Forested Vegetation” section). Solitude with respect to disturbance related to human activities would be expect to be low and the undeveloped nature attribute would be unchanged under this alternative since no new management actions are proposed.
Cumulative Effects Cumulative effects activities (i.e., past, present/ongoing, and reasonably foreseeable activities [Appendix B]) were evaluated and only activities whose effects would overlap in time and space with effects of this project were considered in this analysis. The analysis area for the IRA resource was larger than the area the cumulative effects list for the project was compiled for; consequently, additional activities not included in Appendix B have been considered for this analysis. Past actions were assumed to have contributed to the existing conditions of the wilderness attributes and are included in the affected environment disclosures. Additionally, ongoing activities such as active mine claims, road/trail use and maintenance, groomed snowmobile routes, recreation uses, livestock grazing, and special use permits have been occurring for some time and were also assumed to have contributed to the wilderness attribute existing conditions. Ongoing activities for all 3 IRAs are described in the “Cumulative Effects” section for the No Action Alternative for the “Roadless Characteristics” section. The Pine Flat Campground Salvage Project proposes to salvage hazard trees in the campground which may impact the natural appearance of the IRA in the immediate vicinity of the project since it would be visible to the casual forest user in the temporary to short-term timeframe. As vegetative cover recovers, evidence of this activity would lessen. Since this project is located in a campground located in BCR in the Deadwood IRA and FPSA (eligible WSR corridor) in the Grimes Pass IRA, and these designations would not typically offer a primitive recreational experience, the impact of this activity would not likely be measurable for the solitude attribute. BAER road and trail and aerial mulch application would occur in and adjacent to the all three IRAs. These BAER activities would be expected to temporarily impact opportunities for solitude in and adjacent to the Deadwood IRA due to the presence of workers, helicopters, and machinery, as well as potential area closures for public safety. These effects are expected to be localized near activity locations. The Carlin Mineral Project would be located in the GFRG portion of the Grimes Pass IRA. This project would likely be implemented at the same time as the activities proposed by this project. This project is also located in the same location as the roadside hazard treatments along NFS road 380D and near the reforestation activities in the GFRG portion of the Grimes Pass IRA. The Carlin Mineral project proposes to utilize an unauthorized road as a temporary road to
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access a mineral claim, complete road maintenance to facilitate use of temporary road, blast a quartz vein to remove material to test for locatable minerals with gold being the target mineral haul about 30-40 tons of material off site for evaluation, and spread overburden material over disturbed area. This project is likely to impact the natural appearance, opportunity for solitude, and the undeveloped natural of the IRA in a localized area of the Grimes Pass IRA. The natural appearance and undeveloped nature at the project site would be negatively impacted in the long term due to blasting and removing of up to 40 tons of material. However, at the scale of the 13289-acre IRA, this change likely would not be measureable. Opportunity for solitude near the Carlin Mineral Exploration Project would be negatively impacted in the temporary (0-3 years) timeframe during project implementation given the presence of workers, equipment, and blasting activities at the site. The Lowman WUI and Lowman North Burn TSI projects propose vegetation management actions and prescribed fire activities, most of which occur outside but adjacent to the Red Mountain IRA with small portions of the projects occurring within the IRA. These activities would likely impact the opportunity for solitude and natural appearance of the IRA in the temporary to short-term timeframe in localized locations. The No Action Alternative would not affect the solitude and undeveloped wilderness attributes; thus, there would be no cumulative effects. Since the natural appearance wilderness attribute would be expected to improve in the long term under the No Action Alternative, but ongoing activities would be expected to impact the natural appearance in the temporary to short term, there would be no cumulative effects since the effects would not overlap in the same timeframes.
Alternative B (Proposed Action)
Direct and Indirect Effects The Proposed Action would not result in direct effects to the existing wilderness attributes of the Deadwood or Red Mountain IRAs since no activities are proposed within these IRAs. Proposed activities immediately adjacent to or in the unroaded areas contiguous to the Deadwood and Red Mountain IRAs include road/trail hazard tree treatments (felling only and felling with removal), salvage harvest, reforestation, hand piling/pile burning, and road activities to facilitate harvest activities. The road/trail hazard tree treatments, salvage logging, and hand piling and pile burning proposed outside of roadless but adjacent or in contiguous unroaded areas may be visible during implementation, thereby impacting the apparent naturalness in localized areas of the larger IRA area. However, these treated areas would be expected to become less visible in the long term with recovery of vegetation resulting from reforestation activities and natural recovery. Solitude may be impacted in localized areas adjacent to these IRAs during implementation of road/trail hazard treatments, salvage logging, reforestation, hand piling and pile burning, and road activities, including road maintenance, haul route use, and snow plowing, in the temporary timeframe due to the presence of workers and machinery. Additionally, localized area closures may occur during project activities for public safety purposes; these would impact opportunities for primitive recreation in the temporary to short term. Over the long term (15+ years), the area would be expected to provide for solitude and opportunities for primitive recreation similar to pre-fire conditions since workers and machinery associated with the project would not be in the area and vegetation would recover through reforestation activities and natural regeneration. The undeveloped nature of these IRAs would not be expected to be impacted by this alternative since
196 North Pioneer Fire Salvage and Restoration Project Environmental Assessment no structures, habitation, or construction activities are proposed in or adjacent to boundaries are proposed. The Proposed Action would not be expected to affect the future potential suitability for wilderness designation of these IRAs given the effects to the wilderness attributes would be unmeasurable. Effects would be unmeasurable because treatments would be localized and few treatments are proposed adjacent or in unroaded areas contiguous to the IRAs (refer to wilderness attribute worksheet in the project record). The Proposed Action would result in unmeasurable temporary to short-term effects to the existing wilderness attributes from activities proposed in and immediately adjacent to the Grimes Pass IRA. Treatments within the IRA include roadside hazard treatments (felling with removal and felling only), reforestation, landings, and road use associated with hazard tree treatments and reforestation activities. Proposed activities immediately adjacent to the Grimes Pass IRA include road hazard tree treatments (felling only and felling with removal), salvage harvest, reforestation, hand piling/pile burning, and road activities to facilitate harvest activities. Roadside hazard tree treatments, salvage, and hand piling and pile burning within this IRA or immediately adjacent may be visible during implementation, thereby impacting the apparent naturalness in localized areas of the larger IRA area. However, these treated areas would be expected to become less visible in the long term with recovery of vegetation resulting from reforestation activities and natural regeneration. Construction of temporary road(s) adjacent to the IRA boundary would impact the natural appearance in localized areas adjacent to the roadless area during project implementation, but these temporary road(s) would be decommissioned providing for a more natural appearance in the short to long term as vegetation recovers (refer to Design Feature TH-4). Solitude may be impacted in localized areas adjacent to this IRA during implementation of road/trail hazard treatments, salvage logging, reforestation, hand piling and pile burning, and road activities including road maintenance, haul route use, and snow plowing, in the temporary timeframe due to the presence of workers and machinery. Additionally, localized area closures may occur during project activities for public safety purposes. These closures would impact opportunities for primitive recreation in the temporary to short term. In long term (15+ years), the area would be expected to provide solitude and opportunities for primitive recreation similar to pre-fire conditions since workers and machinery associated with the project would not be in the area and vegetation would recover through reforestation activities and natural regeneration. The undeveloped nature of these IRAs would be unmeasurably impacted this alternative in the temporary timeframe from localized temporary road construction activities adjacent to its boundaries. The Proposed Action would not be expected to effect the potential suitability for future wilderness designation of the Grimes Pass IRA given that the effects to the wilderness attributes would be unmeasurable. Effects would be unmeasurable because they would be localized and few treatments are proposed in and adjacent to the IRA (refer to wilderness attribute worksheet in the project record).
Cumulative Effects The cumulative effects activities (Appendix B) were evaluated and only activities whose effects would overlap in time and space with the effects of this project were considered in this analysis. The analysis area for the IRA resource was larger than the area that the cumulative effects list for the project was compiled with consequently additional activities not included in Appendix B have been considered for this analysis. Past actions were assumed to have contributed to the existing conditions of the wilderness attributes and are included in the affected environment disclosures. Additionally, ongoing activities such as active mine claims, road/trail use and
197 North Pioneer Fire Salvage and Restoration Project Environmental Assessment maintenance, groomed snowmobile routes, recreation uses, livestock grazing, and special use permits have been occurring for some time and were also assumed to have contributed to the wilderness attribute existing conditions. In addition to the ongoing activities described in the “Cumulative Effects” sections above, the segment of NFS road to be used as a haul route occurs within the Grimes Pass IRA (BCR theme) and outside of the project area. This activities on this route may impact the solitude attribute in the IRA during project implementation due to increase human activity in the area. Since the road is an authorized NFS road located open for public use, this effect would not likely be measurable as this area would typically have some use occurring. Cumulative negative impacts from this project and BAER activities may affect the opportunity for solitude of within and adjacent to the portion of the Deadwood IRA located along the western boundary of the project area. Impacts could result from the presence of workers, equipment and machinery, and helicopters and potential area closures during activity implementation. In addition, the natural appearance and undeveloped natural attributes of this area of the Deadwood IRA would have a long-term negative cumulative effect because of ground disturbing activities proposed and the amount of time that vegetative recovery would take to reduce the visibility of this project and BAER activities. However, at the Deadwood IRA scale (52,472 acres) it is unlikely that these activities would result in measurable cumulative effects to the wilderness attribute from implementing this project, the Pine Flats Campground salvage, and BAER activities. The Deadwood IRA would be expected to remain suitable for designation as a wilderness in the future. Cumulative negative impacts from this project, BAER activities, and the Carlin Mineral Exploration Project may temporarily affect the opportunity for solitude of the GFRG portion of the Grimes Pass IRA. Effects would be from the presence of workers, equipment, and machinery; blasting activities; and potential area closures during project implementation. In addition, the natural appearance and undeveloped natural attributes of the GFRG portion of the Grimes Pass IRA would have a negative, long-term cumulative effect because of ground disturbing activities proposed and the amount of time that vegetative recovery would take to reduce the visibility of this project and the Carlin Project activities. However, at the Grimes Pass IRA scale (13289 acres) these activities would not likely result in measurable cumulative effects to wilderness attributes from implementing this project, the Pine Flats Campground salvage, BAER activities, and the Carlin Mineral Exploration Project. The Grimes Pass IRA would be expected to remain suitable for future designation as a wilderness. Cumulative negative impacts from implementing this project and BAER activities may temporarily affect the opportunity for solitude within and adjacent to the portion of the Red Mountain IRA located along the eastern boundary of the project area. Effects would be due to the presence of workers, equipment and machinery, and helicopters, and potential area closures during activity implementation. In addition, the natural appearance and undeveloped natural of this area of the Deadwood IRA would have a long-term negative cumulative effect because of ground disturbing activities proposed and the amount of time that vegetative recovery would take to reduce the visibility of this project and BAER activities. However, at the Red Mountain IRA scale (114,608 acres) these activities would not likely result in measurable cumulative effects to wilderness attributes from implementing this project, BAER activities, or the Lowman WUI and Lowman North Burn TSI Projects. The Red Mountain IRA would be expected to remain suitable for designation as a future wilderness.
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Chapter 4—Agencies and Persons Consulted What Agencies and Persons have been Consulted? Table 38 displays a list of Native American Tribes, collaborative groups, agencies, elected officials, and In Chapter 4,you will organizations and businesses consulted for input during find: project development. Additionally, numerous individuals • A list of the agencies were consulted for input, either through formal scoping or and persons informal contacts with specific resource specialists. consulted during Scoping documents were mailed to 197 parties, as well as project development posted on the Boise National Forest project website. The GovDelivery email notification system delivered the scoping documents to an additional 695 interested parties who chose to receive electronic notification. A complete list of agencies and persons consulted is available in the project record. Table 38. Native American Tribes, collaborative groups, agencies, elected officials, and organizations and businesses consulted during the planning process for the North Pioneer Project Native American Tribes Nez Perce Tribe Shoshone Bannock Tribe Shoshone Paiute Tribe Collaborative Groups Boise Forest Coalition Agencies Elected Officials Bureau of Land Management Boise County Commissioners Idaho Department of Lands Representative Mike Simpson Idaho Dept. of Water Resources Representative Raul Labrador Idaho Dept. of Agriculture Senator James E. Risch Idaho Dept. of Environmental Quality Senator Mike Crapo Idaho Dept. of Fish and Game Valley County Commissioners U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service NOAA Fisheries U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
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Organizations and Businesses Advocates for the West Idaho Whitewater Association American Forest Resource Council Idaho Wildlife Federation Blue Ribbon Coalition Intermountain Forest Association Boise Building Sierra Club Boise Cascade Southwest Idaho Mountain Bike Association Boise Valley Fly Fishermen The Nature Conservancy Center for Biological Diversity The Wilderness Society Deadwood Outfitters Treasure Valley Backcountry Horsemen Fly Fishers of Idaho Treasure Valley Trail Machine Assn. Golden Eagle Audubon Trout Unlimited Greater Garden Valley Area Chamber of Commerce Valley Soil & Water Conservation District Idaho ATV Association, Inc. Western Lands Project Idaho Conservation League Winter Wildlands Alliance Idaho Mining Association Brown Brothers Construction Inc. Idaho Outfitters and Guides Assn. Canaday Trucking Idaho Precision Log Homes, LLC JI Morgan Inc. Idaho World Mahon Logging Idaho Rangeland Resource Commission MW Renfro & Sons Inc. Idaho Rivers United Parma Post and Pole Inc. Idaho State Bowhunters Tamarack Mill LLC Idaho State Snowmobile Association Woodgrain Millwork Idaho Forest Group LLC National Wild Turkey Federation
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Pregitzer, K.S. and E.S. Euskirchen. 2004. Carbon cycling and storage in world forests: biome patterns related to forest age. Global Change Biology 10: 2052-2077. Available online at: http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/cgi-bin/fulltext/118805398/PDFSTART Raphael, M. G. 1980. Utilization of standing dead trees by breeding birds at Sagehen Creek, Cali- fornia. Ph.D. Thesis. Univ. California, Berkeley. 195pp. Raphael M.G., and M. White 1984. Use of Snags by Cavity-Nesting Birds in the Sierra Nevada. Wildlife Monographs. 86, 1-66, Publication of the Wildlife Society. Reeves, Derrick, Deborah Page-Dumroese, and Mark Coleman. 2011. Detrimental soil disturbance associated with timber harvest systems on National Forests in the Northern Region. Res. Pap. RMRS-RP-89 Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. 12 p. Reynolds, R. T. and B. D. Linkhart. 1987. The nesting biology of Flammulated Owls in Colorado. Pages 239–248 in Biology and conservation of northern forest owls (R. W. Nero, R. J. Clark, R. J. Knapton, and R. H. Hamre, Editors). USDA, Forest Service, General Technical Report RM- 142, Rocky Mountain Research Station. Reilly, M.J., Spies, A.S., Hessburg, P.F. 2015. Ecological Effects of Post-fire Salvage Logging in the Pacific Northwest. White Paper. Boise, ID. Robichaud, P.R., W.J. Elliot, L. MacDonald, R. Coats, J.W. Wagenbrenner. 2011. Evaluating post-fire salvage logging effects on erosion. Lincoln, NE: University of Nebraska. Rota, C.T.; J.J. Millspaugh, M.A. Rumble, C.P.Lehman, and D.C. Kesler. 2014a.The role of wildfire, prescribed fire, and mountain pine beetle infestations on the population dynamics of Black-backed Woodpeckers in the Black Hills, South Dakota. PLOS One 9:e94700. doe:10.1371/journal.pone.0094700. Rowland, M. M.; M. J. Wisdom, B. K. Johnson, and M. A. Penninger. 2005. Effects of Roads on Elk: Implications for Management in Forested Ecosystems. Pages 42-52 in Wisdom, M. J., technical editor, The Starkey Project: a synthesis of long-term studies of elk and mule deer. Reprinted from the 2004 Transactions of the North American Wildlife and Natural Resources Conference, Alliance Communications Group, Lawrence, Kansas, USA. Ruediger, Bill, Jim Claar, Steve Gniadek, Bryon Holt, Lyle Lewis, Steve Mighton, Bob Naney, Gary Patton, Tony Rinaldi, Joel Trick, Anne Vandehey, Fred Wahl, Nancy Warren, Dick Wenger, and Al Williamson, 2000. Canada lynx conservation assessment and strategy. USDA Forest Service, USDI Fish and Wildlife Service, USDI Bureau of Land Management, and USDI National Park Service. Forest Service Publication #R1-00-53, Missoula, MT. 142 pp. Ruggiero, L.F., K.B. Aubry, S.W. Buskirk, L.J. Lyon, and W.J. Zielinski. 1994. A Scientific basis for conserving forest carnivores: American marten, fisher, lynx, and wolverine in the Western United States. USDA Forest Service. Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station. General Technical Report RM-254. 184p. Running, S.W. 2006. Is global warming causing more, larger wildfires? Science 313: 927-928.
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Ryan M.G., M.E. Harmon, R.A. Birdsey, C.P. Giardina, L.S. Heath, R.A. Houghton, R.B. Jackson, D.C. McKinley, J.F. Morrison, B.C., Murray, D.E., Pataki, and K.E. Skog. 2010. A Synthesis of the Science on Forests and Carbon for U.S. Forests. Issues in Ecology, Report Number 13. 17 p. Saab, Vicki, and Jon Dudley. 1998. Responses of cavity-nesting birds to stand-replacement fire and salvage logging in ponderosa pine/Douglas-fir forest of southwester Idaho. RMRS- RP-11 (Research Paper), USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Ogden, UT. Saab, Victoria; William Block, Robin Russell, John Lehmkuhl, Lisa Bate, and Rachel White. 2007. Birds and Burns of the Interior West: Descriptions, Habitats, and Management in Western Forests. General Technical Report PNW-GTR-712; USDA Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station. Sankey et al. 2015. Predictin future, post-fire erosion and sedimentation with watershed models in the western USA. American Geophysical Union, Fall meeting 2015, abstract #H12C-04. Savage, M. and J.N. Mast. 2005. How resilient are southwestern ponderosa pine forests after crown fires? Can. J. For. Res. 35: 967–977. Schoennagel, Tania, Beblen, Thomas T., Negron, Jose F., and Smith, Jeremy M., 2012. Effects of Mountain Pine Beetle on Fuels and Expected Fire Behavior in Lodgepole Pine Forests, Colorado, USA. PLoS ONE 7(1): e30002. Doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0030002 Scott, Virgil E. 1979. Bird response to snag removal in ponderosa pine. J. For.77(1): 26– 28.Skovlin, Jon M., Peter Zager, and Bruce K. Johnson. 2002. Elk Habitat Selection and Evaluation. Pages 557-582 in Toweill, Dale E. and Jack Ward Thomas, technical eds. 2002. North American Elk: Ecology and Management. The Wildlife Management Institute, Washington, D.C. 962 pp.Smith, Jane Kapler, ed. 2000. Wildland Fire in Ecosystems: Effects of fire on Fauna. Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS-GTR-42-vol.1. Ogden, UT: USDA, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, 83 p. Slesak, R.A., S.H. Schoenholtz, and D. Evans. 2015. Hillslope erosion two and three years after wildfire, skyline salvage logging, and site preparation in southern Oregon, USA. Forest Ecology and Management 342: 1-7. Smith, Jane Kapler, ed. 2000. Wildland fire in ecosystems: effects of fire on fauna. Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS-GTR-42-vol. 1. Ogden, UT: USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. 83 p. Smith, S. and Cluck, D. 2011. Marking guidelines for fire-injured trees in California. USFS Forest Health Protection Report # RO-11-01. Solomon, S.D.; Qin, D.; Manning, M.; Chen, Z.; Maquis, M.; Averyt, K.B.; Tignor, M.; Miller, H.L. (eds.), Denman, K.L.; Brasseur, G. 2007. Couplings between changes in the climate system and biogeochemistry. Chapter 7, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, United Kingdom and New York, NY, USA., pages 500-587.
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Stallings, David H., Gary J. Wolfe, and Dan K. Crocket. 2002. Regulating the Hunt. Pages 749- 792 in Toweill, Dale E. and Jack Ward Thomas, technical eds. 2002. North American Elk: Ecology and Management. The Wildlife Management Institute, Washington, D.C. 962 pp. State of Idaho (IDEQ). 2014. Idaho’s 2012 Integrated Report (Final) Idaho Department of Environmental Quality. Online GIS platform. Accessed March 7, 2017. Steele, R.; Pfister, R.D.; Ryker, R.A.; Kittams, J.A. 1981. Forest habitat types of central Idaho. Gen. Tech. Report INT-114. Ogden, UT: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Intermountain Research Station, 138 pages. Strom, B.A. and P.Z. Fulé. 2007. Pre-wildfire fuel treatments affect long-term ponderosa pine forest dynamics. International Journal of Wildland Fire 16: 128-138. Tomback, D. F.; Arno, S. F.; Keane, R. E. 2001. The compelling case for management intervention. Pages 3-28 in: Tomback, D.; Arno, Stephen F.; Keane, R. E., editors. Whitebark Pine Communities: Ecology and Restoration. Island Press, Washington, DC Tremblay, J.A.; R.D. Dixon, V.A. Saab, P. Pyle and M.A. Patten. 2016. Black-backed Woodpecker (Picoides arcticus), The Birds of North America (P.G. Rodewald, Ed.). Ithaca: Cornell Lab of Ornithology; Retrieved from the Birds of North America: https://birdsna.org/Species-Account/bna/species/bkbwoo DOI: 10.2173/bna.509. Accessed 13 March 2017. Turner, D.P.; Koerper, G.J.; Harmon, M.E.; Lee, J.J. 1995. A carbon budget for forests of the conterminous United States. Ecological Applications. Vol. 5(2): 421-436. U.S. Department of Labor – Bureau of Labor Statistics. 2016. Unemployment in the Boise Area by County. U.S. President. 2009. Estimates of Job Creation From the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. Executive Office of the President, Council of Economic Advisors. 12 p. USDA Forest Service. 1974. National Forest Landscape Management, Volume 2, Chapter: The Visual Management System. Agric. Handbook. 462. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service. 47 p USDA Forest Service 1986 Recreation Opportunity Spectrum (ROS) 1986 ROS Book 2009. Lowman Ranger District “E” Area Motorized Wheeled Vehicle Travel Management Project Environmental Assessment USDA Forest Service 2003a Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Boise National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan, Boise National Forest USDA Forest Service 2003b Land and Resource Management Plan for the Boise National Forest, Volumes 1-2, Boise National Forest, Boise, ID USDA Forest Service 2010a Land and Resource Management Plan for the Boise National Forest, 2003-2010 Integration, Volumes 1-2, amended July 2010, Boise National Forest, Boise, ID
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USDA Forest Service 2010b Final Environmental Impact Statement Supporting Forest Plan Amendments to Integrate the Boise National Forest Wildlife Conservation Strategy, Phase 1: Forested Biological Community, Boise National Forest, Boise, ID USDA Forest Service. 2009. Climate Change Considerations in Project Level NEPA Analysis. Located at http://www.fs.fed.us/emc/nepa/climate_change/includes/cc_nepa_guidance.pdf USDA Forest Service. 2012. National Best Management Practices for Water Quality Management on National Forest System Lands. Volume 1: National Core BMP Technical Guide. Washington, DC. USDI Fish and Wildlife Service and USDC NMFS. 1998 (March). Endangered Species Consultation Handbook Procedures for Conducting Consultation and Conference Activities Under Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act. USDI Fish & Wildlife Service and USDC National Marine Fisheries Service. US EPA 2013. Chapter 7. Land Use, Land-Use Change, and Forestry, in Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks: 1990–2011. The entire report is available online at: http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/ghgemissions/usinventoryreport.html Wagenbrenner, J., MacDonald, L., Coats, R. [and others] 2015. Effects of post-fire salvage logging and a skid trail treatment on ground cover, soils, and sediment production in the interior western United States. Forest Ecology and Management 335 p. 176-193. Walburger, K., T. DelCurto, M. Vavra, and A. A. Clark. 2005. The effects of herbivory and timber harvest on understory production in northeastern Oregon. Oregon Agricultural Experiment Station, Eastern Oregon Agricultural Research Center, Burns, OR. Westerling, A.L. 2016. Increasing western US forest wildfire activity: sensitivity to changes in the timing of spring. Phil. Trans. R. Soc. B 371. Westerling, A.L. and B.P. Bryant. 2008. Climate change and wildfire in California. Climatic Change: 87(Suppl. 1): S231-S249. Westerling, A.L.; Hidalgo, H.G.; Cayan, D.R.; Swetman, T.W. 2006. Warming and earlier spring increase western U.S. forest wildfire activity. Science Vol. 313: 940-943 Wisdom, Michael J.; Holthausen, Richard S.; Wales, Barbara C.; Hargis, Christina D.; Saab, Victoria A.; Lee, Danny C.; Hann, Wendel J.; Rich, Terrell D.; Rowland, Mary M.; Murphy, Wally J.; Eames, Michelle R. 2000. Source habitats for terrestrial vertebrates of focus in the interior Columbia basin: broad-scale trends and management implications. General Technical Report PNW-GTR-485. Portland, OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station. 3 vol. (Quigley, Thomas M., tech. Ed.; Interior Columbia Basin Ecosystem Management Project: scientific assessment).
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Appendices Appendix A: Design Features Cultural Resources CR-1. Avoid and protect all known historic properties during project implementation. CR-2. If any cultural materials are encountered during the course of the project, all ground disturbing activities in the immediate vicinity of the discovery will cease until the Forest Archeologist is notified, and the Idaho State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) and potentially affected Indian tribes are consulted. Fire/Fuels FF-1. Pile and burn or disseminate activity fuels, consistent with Design Features FH-8 and TH-2, where needed to protect National Forest System improvements and facilities; address public safety; and maintain recreational access, use, and visual quality. No hand piling will occur below the road within RCAs, unless otherwise designated through site-specific evaluation by the Hydrologist or Fish Biologist consistent with Design Feature FH-1. Fisheries, Hydrology, and Soils FH-1. To maintain riparian functions and water quality, all perennial streams (year-round surface flow) have a designated 240 foot RCA width while intermittent streams (flows some part of the year and have defined bed and banks), springs, ponds, and wetlands have a designated 120 foot RCA width. Stream features are identified in the stream layer (Boise National Forest GIS Database) or as identified in the field. The following apply to the above- defined RCA widths: • Salvage Dead Trees—No harvest will occur within RCAs associated with salvage harvest areas identified for the purpose of recovering economic value. • Hazard and Dead Tree Salvage—Salvage and removal of hazard trees will occur within RCAs along roads and trails identified for hazard tree removal. Harvesting and removing road/trail-side hazard trees will occur on the side of the road or trail opposite the water feature (uphill side of the road) where they run parallel with the steam feature (Figure 1). Where RCAs intersect the road perpendicularly, no tree removal will be allowed with some limited exceptions14. No new landing construction will occur within RCAs, and mechanized equipment will be restricted to existing road prisms within the RCA.
14Removal or relocation of hazard trees may be allowed if falling and leaving onsite would result in one of two situations: 1) hazardous working conditions for felling operations (i.e., lack of escape routes or stacking of tree boles such that there is unpredictable movement when felled trees come to rest) or 2) downed trees would compromise road prisms, bridges, and/or drainage features associated with the road. The Forest or District Fish Biologist, Hydrologist, and/or Transportation Engineer will coordinate with the appropriate Timber Management Assistant to evaluate these areas to ensure trees can be removed without causing unacceptable effects to soil, water, riparian, or aquatic resources.
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• Hazard Tree Fell and Leave—Road/trail-side hazard trees that occur within RCAs between the road and the water feature (stream side of the road) or where the RCA intersects the road perpendicularly will be felled and left onsite (Figure A-1) with some limited exceptions.
Figure A-1. Example of treatment zones along roads and trails identified for either salvage or felling with an emphasis on hazard tree mitigation. This example shows how treatments would be applied within RCAs and outside of RCAs
FH-2. Water drafting locations, methods, and timing shall be approved by the Forest Service Contract Administrator in consultation with the Fisheries Biologist and/or Hydrologist. Screens on intake hoses will meet all U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) criteria (e.g., 3/32 mesh with sufficient surface area). FH-3. No fuel shall be stored in RCAs. Refueling or servicing of vehicles or equipment shall not occur within RCAs unless no other alternative exists. In the event there is no acceptable alternative site for these activities, refueling or servicing sites must be approved by the Forest Service Contract Administrator in consultation with the District Hydrologist and/or Fish Biologist and have an approved spill containment plan commensurate with the amount of fuel. All equipment shall be in good repair and free of leakage of lubricants, fuels, coolants, and hydraulic fluid. FH-4. To minimize soil and water movement and promote restoration of soil-hydrologic functions, unauthorized route decommissioning may include, but is not limited to, some or all of the following activities: scarification of road bed; partial to full re-contour; removal of culverts and stabilization of stream crossings; elimination of access from connecting roads utilizing barrier devices, such as boulders, berms, and slash material at access points; and application of seed/mulch at all disturbed areas with a seed mixture approved by the Forest Service Botanist. Determination of methods to be used will be completed on a site-by-site basis during Project implementation.
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FH-5. Erosion control devices are required where activities occur in RCAs to minimize sediment delivery to streams from road management activities, including temporary road construction, road maintenance, and/or unauthorized route decommissioning. Erosion control devices may include, but are not limited to, certified weed-free straw wattles or bales, slash filter windrows, and/or biodegradable erosion cloth. The District Hydrologist or Fisheries Biologist will consult with the Forest Service Contract Administrator in determining the most effective sediment control method. Erosion control materials will be allowed to deteriorate in place. FH-6. To maintain the condition of the roads and to minimize soil movement from road surfaces, snow removal shall be done in a manner to preserve and protect the roads to ensure safe and efficient travel as well as prevent unacceptable erosion damage to roads, streams, and adjacent lands: • A minimum depth of 6 inches of snow must be left to protect roadways and bridges. • During snow removal operations, banks shall not be undercut nor shall gravel or other road surfacing material be bladed off the roadway surface. • Snow removal work also includes removing snow slides, minor earth slides, fallen timber, and boulders obstructing normal road surface width, including turnouts. All debris, except snow and ice that is removed from the road surface and ditch, will be deposited away from stream channels at approved locations. • Drainages and culverts shall be kept functional during and following the roadway use. Any dirt or other inorganic materials cleaned from culvert inlets will be deposited away from stream channels at approved locations. • Snow berms will not be left on the road surface. Berms left on the shoulder of the road will be removed and/or drainage holes shall be opened and maintained. Drainage holes shall be spaced as required to obtain satisfactory surface drainage without discharge on erodible fill slopes. FH-7. To prevent degradation of previous and ongoing Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) actions, the functionality of emergency actions implemented under BAER will be protected. BAER actions include hillslope seeding and mulching, road and trail drainage improvements, hillslope stabilization and motor vehicle access restrictions, hazard warning signs, and noxious weed/invasive plant treatments. Any damage to previously implemented BAER actions from the proposed action will be repaired within a reasonable timeframe, but not to exceed 72 hours. However, any damage to previously completed BAER actions will be repaired immediately if threats to human life and safety are expected; or damage to infrastructure related to BAER actions will be repaired immediately if the damage will result in resource impacts (e.g. culvert failure and water quality). Otherwise, damage or impairment of functionality will be repaired or corrected concurrent with erosion control activities needed for salvage harvest and felling of drop-and-leave hazard trees.
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FH-8. To minimize soil and water movement and promote the restoration of soil-hydrologic functions associated with the construction of temporary roads, landings, and skid trails, the following will be implemented upon completion of Project activities: • Temporary Roads—Decommission temporary roads by full obliteration along entire length of disturbance. Upon completion of Project activities, all temporary roads used to implement Project activities will be reclaimed by ripping or scarifying compacted surfaces to a depth of 12 inches; re-contouring excavated segments to the original slope; and scattering slash or mulch to achieve effective ground cover over at least 50% of the reclaimed surface. • Landings—Reshape constructed landings used in association with this Project to provide adequate drainage. Constructed landings will be ripped to a depth of 12– 18 inches, with slash and/or mulch evenly distributed to achieve effective ground cover over at least 50% of the reclaimed surface. • Excavated Skid Trails—All newly constructed and existing excavated skid trails used to implement project activities will be reclaimed by ripping or scarifying compacted surfaces to a depth of 12 inches; re-contouring excavated segments to the original slope; and scattering slash or mulch to achieve effective ground cover over at least 50% of the reclaimed surface. • Skid Trails—Where Primary and Secondary skid trails are located in moderate or high soil burn severity and the Soils Resource analysis identifies moderate-to-high sensitivity, apply the same restoration prescription for excavated skid trails described above. On remaining Primary and Secondary skid trails, remove interior and lateral berms and construct waterbars at angles and at locations to not concentrate flow into natural flow path or swales, and where possible, divert runoff into vegetated, stable areas. Where sediment buffers are lacking or where runout can concentrate flow, utilize slash or other debris at waterbar outlets to diffuse runoff and store sediment. Utilize available slash material for erosion control to minimize soil movement and sediment delivery by placing logs or slash against the ground surface perpendicular to the slope fall-line, and mulch as needed to achieve effective ground cover over at least 50% of the reclaimed area. On Primary skid trails, scarify the trail tread to address soil compaction and initiate soil restoration. In addition to the above actions, the following will be implemented following completion of Project activities: • All reclaimed areas will be revegetated with certified weed-free grasses, shrubs, and/or trees to expedite vegetative recovery and further reduce potential sediment delivery. Any material used for revegetation activities will meet requirements of Design Feature NX-2. • All constructed temporary roads, landings, and skid trails will be closed to public use by recontouring access points the first 100 feet or sight distance, whichever is less. If needed, barriers, such as rock, earthen berms, or large coarse woody debris, will be placed to deter unauthorized use. Landing slash or mulch will be used to restore soil- hydrologic function and process and minimize soil and water movement (see Design Feature TH-2).
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FH-9. Waste resulting from road and trail activities, logging operations, and burning operations (e.g., crankcase oil, filters, grease tubes, oil containers, or other nonbiodegradable waste) shall be removed from the operating area and disposed of properly. FH-10. Ensure that a spill containment kit, commensurate with the amount of fuel stored, and supplies (e.g., shovels, absorbent pads, straw bales, and/or booms) are onsite when equipment or service vehicles are within the Project area. If a spill should occur, State and federal regulations regarding spills would be followed (e.g., any spills resulting in a detectable sheen on water shall be reported to the Environmental Protection Agency National Response Center [1-800-424-8802] and Idaho Department of Environmental Quality [1-800- 632-800], and cleanup be initiated within 24 hours of the spill). FH-11 (North Only). No heavy equipment or logging trucks shall be permitted to utilize the Clear Creek ford crossing located on NFS road 545 near the 515/582 NFS road junction. FH-12. Use the SINMAP analysis results in addition to guidelines developed by Chatwin et al. (1994) during project implementation to field-verify or identify moderate- and high- hazard landslide prone areas where commercial timber harvest and road construction is proposed. Site-specific management measures or mitigations shall be required where the proposed activities might initiate landslides. Minerals/Geology MG-1. Reasonable access for mining claimants will be determined on a case-by-case basis by the Minerals Administrator, Timber Sale Administrator, and District Ranger. Noxious Weeds NX-1. Avoid or reduce the introduction and spread of weed seeds and propagates by including provisions in all contracts to ensure appropriate off-road equipment is cleaned. All contractors and/or purchaser of any timber sale shall be required to ensure that, prior to moving onto the National Forest System lands, all off-road equipment is cleaned and free of soil, seeds, vegetative matter, or other debris that could contain seeds. NX-2. Ensure seed mixes and/or plant materials used during restoration and soil erosion prevention activities is comprised of certified weed-free native or desirable nonnative seed mixes and/or native cultivars, as recommended by the Forest or District Botanist. NX-3. Require all straw and/or hay brought to the project area for land management purposes be certified weed-free. NX-4. During project implementation, report the identification of undocumented noxious weed populations in the project area to the District Weed specialist for inclusion in noxious weed treatment plans as provided for in existing plans and environmental documents in effect at the time of implementation. Traffic and Public Safety PS-1. A closure order will be issued for public safety when logging operations are occurring within sale areas and associated haul routes. To the maximum extent practicable, notice of closures will be provided at least 2 weeks in advance in local papers and nearby public facilities.
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PS-2. Logging contractors shall install signs to notify the public of hazards with respect to active logging truck traffic. Signs will be located near the public access entry points to the project area. The contractor will be responsible for maintaining the signs during the life of the project. Recreation RE-1. Coordinate Purchaser/Contractor campsites with the Recreation Specialist to avoid or minimize impacts to dispersed recreation users. RE-2. Trees will be directionally felled away from authorized trails where feasible. Any stumps within 3 feet of the finished slope of the trail will be flush cut to meet Forest Service trail standards. RE-3. Identify project area authorized trails in the timber sale contract. For the authorized trails falling within or immediately adjacent to harvest units, specific contract provisions will be included to protect National Forest System improvements; maintain access or use; and protect or minimize impacts to trail surfaces, trail heads, trail access, and recreation opportunities. The Sale Administrator shall designate all skid trails crossing authorized trails and shall consult with the Recreation Specialist on appropriate maintenance or repair necessary to return the trail to its preexisting condition. Range Management RM-1. Notify the Range Management Specialist of the timing of project activities, including salvage and hazard tree felling, reforestation, and road activities. Inform permittee(s), through the allotment annual operating instructions (AOIs), of pending project activities to minimize the potential for conflicts and allow for short-term modification of grazing practices where necessary. Short-term modifications of grazing practices will be coordinated with the Hydrologist, Fish Biologist, Silviculturist, and Soil Scientist to ensure compliance with the Forest Plan Rangeland Resource direction and to support recovery of desired vegetation conditions and related biophysical resources. Rare Plants RP-1. Protect all live and dead whitebark pine trees unless they pose an imminent hazard to public safety. Avoid damaging live whitebark pine trees during implementation to the maximum extent practicable15.
15 Maximum Extent Practicable—Available and capable of being done after taking into consideration cost, existing technology, and logistics in light of overall project purposes (40 CFR 230.10(a)(2))
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RP-2. (North Only) Project activities will avoid to the maximum extent practicable11 occupied and/or field-verified high potential habitat of Sacajawea’s bitterroot or Idaho dwarf- primrose. Plant Consideration Areas (PCAs) will be developed by the Forest Botanist for occupied habitat within the project area. The PCA shall include a 500-meter zone from the outside edge of the occupied habitat area. The PCA (Figure A-2) shall include zones formed by concentric rings (100 meters, 300 meters, 500 meters) originating from the outside edge of the occupied habitat area to the 500-meter line. The following direction will apply to these zones: • Prior to salvage and hazard tree felling operations occurring in PCAs, and during the growing season (approximately May–July), Sacajawea’s bitterroot populations (Pilot Peak, Deadwood, and Miller PCAs) will be identified and flagged by Forest Botany staff. Felling operations shall be performed in a manner to avoid felling trees into those identified areas. • No salvage shall occur in occupied habitat and within the 100-meter buffer zone, unless approved by the Forest Botanist. Felling and removing by whole tree yarding may occur within the 300- and 500-meter buffers. • No log decking, newly constructed landings, equipment/vehicle turnarounds, or off- road equipment use will occur within the PCAs outside of existing road prisms. • Piling and burning is not allowed within the occupied habitat or 100-meter buffer. Slash generated from harvest/salvage activities within a PCA will be lopped and scattered within the harvest area or piled/burned within the existing road prism. • Dust abatement shall occur along roads within the PCAs (i.e., NFS roads 510 and 380) during project activities. This dust abatement shall be conducted via water application to minimize impacts from dust to rare plants and pollinator forage resources.
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Figure A-2. Example of Plant Consideration Areas (PCAs) along roads and trails identified for either salvage or felling with an emphasis on hazard tree mitigation. This example shows how treatments would be applied within PCAs Zones
RP-3. To protect rare plant species associated with riparian habitats, no decked material or slash piles will be allowed in riparian plant communities. Decking of material is allowed during winter operations while the ground is frozen or snow covered. RP-4. Heavy equipment or other machinery used in salvage or felling operations is to remain outside of riparian plant communities or restricted, as stated in Design Feature FH-1, to existing road prisms within RCAs. RP-5. Field surveys will be conducted prior to salvage operations, as needed, where a high potential for occupied rare plant habitat is identified or additional information is needed in known occupied habitat. Site-specific protection measures will be developed by the Forest Botanist in coordination with implementation personnel. If necessary, new protective measures or modification of the existing design features will be applied thru timber sale contract provision B(T)6.24 or other direction. RP-6. Tree planting in the whitebark pine reforestation units will avoid planting natural openings not supporting trees. To prevent disturbance and conifer encroachment in occupied, but dormant, Sacajawea bitterroot habitat, tree seedlings will be planted no farther than 10 feet from evidence of a previously existing tree. Timber Harvest TH-1 (North Only). Snow plowing may occur on established groomed ski and snow machine trails within the project area and on all haul routes as needed to facilitate salvage harvest and hazard tree removal activities.
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TH-2. Transport yard trees whole to the landing and manufacture them at the landing to reduce compaction and aid in soil amelioration. After manufacturing, the tops/limbs/branches will be hauled back and utilized as slash material on skid trails within tractor/jammer units or utilized on temporary roads and landings. Apply slash to temporary roads or landings (see FH-8). TH-3. Limit the grade of constructed skid trails to a maximum of 30%. TH-4. Temporary roads and skid trails used to facilitate proposed mechanical treatments are either identified as new locations or aligned with existing unauthorized roads. The time between constructing and decommissioning each temporary road and skid trail will be minimized to the maximum extent practicable. Both activities (constructing and decommissioning) will generally occur during the same field season. However, additional mitigation (e.g., water bars/cross ditches, slash filter windrows, silt fencing, straw bales/wattles) will be applied to temporary roads and skid trails that remain operational/open over the winter to minimize soil erosion and sediment delivery during spring snowmelt and runoff. Engineering/Transportation TR-1. Road maintenance will be performed on NFS roads to reduce resource impacts during implementation and improve watershed conditions. Road maintenance activities will include, but are not limited to, road prism blading, spot aggregate placement, drainage improvements, roadway clearing, and roadway ditch/culvert cleaning.
TR-2 (North Only). Magnesium chloride (MgCl2) will be applied to about 16 miles of NFS road 582 to mitigate dust and increase visibility for public use. Applying MgCl2 will be prohibited within 6.1 meters (~20 feet) of designated critical bull trout habitat (i.e., Clear Creek and Long Creek) and within 3.0 meters (~10 feet) of live water stream crossings within the project area. This mitigation is designed to protect listed bull trout and their habitat from direct entry of MgCl2 during application (wind or splash from vehicles travelling on NFS roads) as well as movement of MgCl2 ions over time that could indirectly enter habitat following application (run-off from rainstorm following treatment). Wildlife Resources WL-1. Appropriate provisions (i.e., provision B(T)6.24) to provide protective measures for known Threatened, Endangered, Proposed, and Candidate and Region 4 Sensitive (TEPC/S) wildlife species and habitats shall be included in all contracts. If new TEPC/S species, denning, nesting, or roosting sites are discovered during implementation, the Wildlife Biologist shall be contacted to specify mitigation measures needed to avoid or minimize impacts. The Wildlife Biologist, Contract Representative, and other appropriate resource representatives will coordinate any needed modifications to prescribed treatments or activities to maintain key features of nesting/denning/roosting habitat, to avoid disrupting nesting/denning activities, and to comply with Forest Plan direction and/or law. WL-2. Trees and snags with raptor nests (i.e., large stick nests) shall be retained. The Wildlife Biologist shall be notified if any raptor nests are discovered during layout and implementation. The Wildlife Biologist will make a site-specific assessment to determine raptor occupancy; species; and any appropriate protective measures (e.g., timing restrictions, no-treatment buffers, prescription modifications). Raptor nest trees and snags identified as
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hazard trees may be felled but only after consultation with the Wildlife Biologist and a determination of occupancy and appropriate timing of the action to avoid impacts to nesting raptors. WL-3. Public motorized use shall be restricted on Maintenance Level (ML) 1, ML 2A, seasonally closed, and temporary roads used for implementing project activities. While these routes may be used for implementation purposes, they will remain closed to public motorized uses to minimize impacts to wildlife. Temporary, ML 1, and ML 2A roads shall not be put on the Motor Vehicle Use Map (MVUM). Signage and/or barriers will be used as appropriate to prevent motorized use by the public. Public access on gated roads that are seasonally open shall only be allowed during the open period designated on the MVUM. Temporary roads shall be decommissioned and ML 1/ML 2A roads shall be effectively re-closed as soon as practicable following salvage operations. WL-4. Operational loss of aspen snags (>8 inches dbh) will be avoided to the maximum extent practicable during salvage harvest. WL-5. Hazard tree felling, salvage harvest, temporary road construction, and ML 1 road opening/maintenance activities shall be prohibited within identified flammulated owl historical nesting areas from May 1 through August 15 until annual surveys have been completed by a Wildlife Biologist or technician. Surveys, using an established protocol, shall be conducted during the optimal detection period of the breeding season (approximately May 15–June 30) to assess occupancy and locate active nest sites. Site-specific protection measures for active nest sites falling within hazard tree felling and salvage harvest areas will be developed by the Wildlife Biologist in coordination with implementation personnel. Nest trees shall not be harvested in salvage areas outside of hazard tree removal zones. Nest trees identified as hazard trees may be felled or harvested; however, they shall not be felled during the breeding season (May 1–August 15) if occupied. WL-6. In patches of low-to-moderate vegetation burn severity within 300 feet of open NFS routes, sign or mark large ponderosa pine and Douglas-fir snags (>20 inches dbh) that are not deemed hazards to human health and safety. Snags will be marked using a combination of “Wildlife Tree” signs affixed to the snag and/or orange tree-marking paint. Marking these snags will occur during or after implementation of the proposed salvage and hazard tree felling actions, but before the area is opened up for personal use firewood collection. WL-7 (North Only). Hazard tree felling, salvage harvest, temporary road construction, and ML 1 road opening/maintenance activities shall be prohibited from April 1 through August 24 within identified post-fledging areas (PFA) for historical goshawk nesting territories until annual surveys have been completed by a Wildlife Biologist or technician. Known nest sites for the Road Fork and Fruitcake Creek territories will be monitored to determine occupancy. If occupied, timing restriction would apply to the activities as noted above within the PFA. WL-8 (North Only). Hazard tree felling and salvage harvest in ungulate winter range (lower Clear Creek only) shall be implemented outside the key wintering period (December 15– April 15).
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Vegetation Management VM-1. Retain at least the maximum number of snags post-implementation depicted in Table A-6 (USDA Forest Service 2010a, Appendix A) within each size class where available by salvage harvest unit. Table A-1. Minimum snags retained post-implementation (derived from Forest Plan, Appendix A Table A-6 for the Salvage [Non-Hazard-Tree] PVGs (PVGs 1–4) PVG 1 PVG 2 PVG 3 PVG 4 Snag Class Snags/Acre Snags/Acre Snags/Acre Snags/Acre 10–19.9 inches 0.5 2.7 4.1 2.7 >20 inches 2.3 3.0 2.8 2.1 Total 2.8 5.7 6.9 4.8 Minimum Height 15 feet 30 feet 30 feet 30 feet • Where large snags (>20 inches dbh) are unavailable, additional snags (>10 inches dbh) shall be retained where available to meet at least the maximum total number snags per acre depicted in Table A-6. • If substituting smaller snags for the larger (>20 inches dbh) snag class is necessary, the replacements shall consist of snags from the largest diameters available. • The average diameter of retention snags shall be equal to or greater than the average diameter of salvaged snags (i.e., retained snags will be a representative sample of the range of snag diameter at breast height pre-harvest). • If a harvest unit includes both hazard tree salvage and salvage outside hazard tree removal areas, then the design feature for minimal snag retention shall be met for the entire harvest unit; however, snags shall be retained in the portion of the unit located away from the open road or trail where hazard trees are a concern. • Snag species marked for retention will give preference to ponderosa pine first, and then Douglas-fir. In units where ponderosa pine and Douglas-fir are co-dominant, both species will be retained although ponderosa pine representation will be greater. Lodgepole pine snags may also contribute to minimum snags per acre standards in harvest units where lodgepole pine is a major seral component. • Snags shall be retained in clumps as well as some individuals scattered across the harvest unit. • A portion of the imminently dead trees (90% probability of mortality) shall be retained onsite to meet the minimum snag retention standard. The ‘portion’ retained should be similar to their representation in the salvage unit (i.e., if 10% of the salvageable trees fall within this group, then approximately 10% of the retained snags would come from this group. VM-2. Bedding of sheep and salting of livestock in plantations will be prohibited until plantation trees have grown to a size that reduces their susceptibility to damage from livestock (Forest Plan Standard RAST08 [USDA Forest Service 2010a]). Livestock use should be discouraged within plantations until they have been certified, minimizing conflicts as outlined in Design Feature RM-1.
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VM-3. Livestock use should be discouraged in progeny sites, seed orchards, and plantations that have not been certified (Forest Plan Guideline RAGU06 [USDA Forest Service 2010a, p. III-48]). While livestock are present within the allotment and pasture(s) with reforestation units for up to 5 years following planting, the permittee is required to employ a herder/rider to either ensure livestock are not within reforestation units and/or to push livestock from units. If the permittee cannot keep livestock out of reforestation units, the permittee would be required to take non-use for resource protection in the project area with reforestation units for up to 5 years. Visual Quality VQ-1. Constructed log landings, roads, gravel pits, borrow areas, and bladed skid trails should be minimized within sensitive view sheds to the maximum extent possible. VQ-2. In sensitivity level 1, foreground areas around developed sites and State Highway 21 (e.g., campgrounds, developed viewpoints, trails, and trailheads) stumps should be cut flush within the first 100 feet and 6 inches or less in height from 100 to 300 feet. From sensitivity level 2 trails, stumps should be cut flush within the first 100 feet and 6 inches or less in height from 100-300 feet; stumps should be cut to 6 inches or less in height within the immediate foreground (300 feet) of roads. Color contrast caused by bright fresh cut stump faces should be reduced by covering or dusting stump faces with a soil or duff material. Table A-2. Roads and trails by sensitivity level and stump height treatment type Name or Number Facility Type Sensitivity 0–100 feet 100–300 feet Level Treatment Type Treatment Type State Highway 21 State Highway 1 Flush Less than 6 inches Trail 145 NFS Trail 2 Flush Less than 6 inches Road 582 NFS Road 2 Less than 6 inches Less than 6 inches VQ-3. Temporary roads and skid trails should blend into the characteristic landscape of the surrounding area to the maximum extent practicable. To accomplish this blending, practices such as the following should be considered and implemented where applicable: • Design cut and fill banks to be sloped to accommodate natural revegetation and to reduce sharp contrasts viewed from any distance. • Where skid trails meet sensitivity level 1 and 2 roads, they should intersect at a right angle and, where practicable, curve within 100 feet from the road to minimize the length of the visible skid trail corridor from the road, and debris should be scattered across the skid trail from the road edge out 50 feet in both directions. • Where skid trails meet sensitivity level 1 and 2 trails, debris should be scattered across the skid trail from the trail edge out 50 feet in both directions.
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Appendix B: Cumulative Effects: Present, Ongoing, And Reasonably Foreseeable Activities
The National Environmental Policy Act requires analysis and disclosure of potential cumulative effects—the impact on the environment that results from the incremental impact of an action when added to other relevant past, present (ongoing) and reasonably foreseeable actions (those for which there are existing decisions, funding or identified proposals, but that have not yet been implemented), regardless of what agency or person undertakes such actions (40 CFR 1508.7). Cumulative effects analysis is carried out in accordance with 40 CFR 1508.7 and The Council on Environmental Quality Guidance Memorandum on Consideration of Past Actions in Cumulative Effects Analysis, dated June 24, 2005. Past activities were considered by each resource area assessed in Chapter 3 and are incorporated into the baseline conditions disclosed in the affected environment for each resource. Thus, because past activities are already included in baseline conditions, they are not included in the cumulative effects analysis. More information concerning past activities incorporated into baseline conditions are available in the project record and applicable resource technical reports. Cumulative effects disclosures for each resource addressed in Chapter 3 considered present, ongoing, and reasonably foreseeable actions that fell within the cumulative effects analysis area identified for the resource. Table B-1 identifies the cumulative effects analysis area by resource. Table: B-1. Cumulative effects analysis areas (CEAA) by resource Resource Sub-resource CEAA Total acres Air Quality N/A Project area to Airshed 28,007 acres Climate Change N/A Rock Creek, Upper Clear Creek and 47,381 acres Lower Clear Creek Subwatersheds Cultural N/A Area of Potential Affect (APA) within 28,007 acres Project Area Economics N/A Project Area 28,007 acres Fire & Fuels N/A Project Area plus South Pioneer 28,007 acres plus South Project Area PA Fisheries N/A Rock Creek, Upper Clear Creek and 47,381 acres Lower Clear Creek Subwatersheds Forested Vegetation N/A Rock Creek, Upper Clear Creek and 47,381 acres Lower Clear Creek Subwatersheds Hydrology N/A Rock Creek, Upper Clear Creek and 47,381 acres Lower Clear Creek Subwatersheds IRA-Roadless N/A Project Area plus the 28,007 acres Deadwood IRA 52,472 acres Grimes Pass IRA 114,608 acres Red Mountain IRA 13,289 acres Minerals N/A Project Area 28,007 acres Noxious Weeds N/A Project Area to interactions within Fire 28,007 acres to Perimeter 190,000 acres Rangeland N/A Boise Basin and North Fork S&G 654,099 acres allotments
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Resource Sub-resource CEAA Total acres Rare Plants Rare Plants Project Area and Plant Conservation 28,007 acres Areas (PCAs) Whitebark pine Project Area plus a 10 Kilometer 321,892 acres Buffer Recreation N/A Project Area 28,007 acres Scenic Resource N/A Project Area 28,007 acres Soils Detrimental Disturbance Activity Area 11,349 acres Total Soil Resource Project Area 28,007 acres Commitment Slope Stability Project Area 28,007 acres Transportation N/A Project Area 28,007 acres Wildlife Lynx Pilot/Sunset Lynx Analysis Units 112,987 acres and (LAU) 62,005 acres Wolverine and 42,963 acres Clear Creek (LAU) 40,319 acres Pilot/Sunset (LAU) Habitat Clear Creek (LAU) Habitat Spotted Frog Rock Creek, Upper Clear Creek and 47,381 acres Lower Clear Creek Subwatersheds Other Species Project Area 28,007 acres Wild Scenic River N/A WSR corridor for the South Fork 8,972 acres Payette River (Wolf Creek to Pine Flats Creek)
All present, ongoing, and foreseeable future actions that fell within these cumulative effect analysis areas (Table B-1) were identified and displayed in Table B-2. Each resource reviewed each of these actions to determine which would be applicable to their respective cumulative effects analysis. Those actions identified by each resource as applicable to their cumulative effects analysis is summarized in Table B-2. This includes those actions proposed in the South Pioneer Fire Salvage and Reforestation Project that a resource specialist determined fell within the extent of their respective cumulative effects area and whose effects overlapped in time and space with those of the proposed action described in Chapter 1 of this document. Some present and ongoing actions have been modified and/or activities listed have been temporary halted due to the Pioneer Fire itself; activities such as grazing, dispersed recreation, public access, fuelwood gathering and Christmas tree cutting have been disrupted but are still considered as present and ongoing. While ongoing projects such as the Clear Creek Integrated Project 2013 and Becker Integrated Resource Project 2016 will no longer implement the vegetation and fuels reduction actions authorized by those decisions but will continue to implement other aspects of those decisions such as, road reconstruction, road decommissioning, recreational enhancements, improvement to water quality and fish passage, etc. Thus, the actions still to be implemented under these past decisions are included, as applicable, in each resource cumulative effects analysis.
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Table B-2. List of the present, ongoing and reasonably foreseeable activities by resource area
Project or Activity
Roadless
- In Project Area? Quality Air Change Climate Cultural Economics Fuels & Fire Fisheries Vegetation Forested Hydrology IRA Mineral Weeds Noxious Rangeland Plants Rare Recreation Resource Scenic Soils Transportation Wildlife River Wild Scenic Present/Ongoing Pioneer Fire Management Activities BAER 2016 - Burn Area Emergency Yes X X X X X X X X X Rehabilitation Public Safety Closure Yes X X X X X X X Orders Present/Ongoing Activities Present/Ongoing Transportation Management Activities
Road Maintenance Yes X X X X X X X X X X X
Trail Maintenance Yes X X X X X X X X X
Present/Ongoing Vegetation Management Activities (Harvest, Reforestation, Timber Stand Improvement (TSI)) Buckskin Restoration No Project Present/Ongoing Prescribed Fire Management Activities Buckskin Restoration No Project Present/Ongoing Fire Suppression Activities
Wildfire Suppression Yes X X X X X
Present/Ongoing Range Management Activities
Grazing Yes X X X X X X X X X
225 South Pioneer Fire Salvage and Restoration Project Environmental Assessment
Project or Activity
Roadless
- In Project Area? Quality Air Change Climate Cultural Economics Fuels & Fire Fisheries Vegetation Forested Hydrology IRA Mineral Weeds Noxious Rangeland Plants Rare Recreation Resource Scenic Soils Transportation Wildlife River Wild Scenic Present/Ongoing Noxious Weed Management Activities Weed Treatments Yes X X X X X X X X X Boise County Cooperative Noxious Yes X X X X X X X X Weed Treatments Present/Ongoing Recreation Activities Groomed Snowmachine Yes X X Routes Groomed/Un-groomed No X Ski Trails Trailhead Maintenance Yes X X X X X X X Non-motorized Trail Yes X X X X X X X X Maintenance Motorized Trail Yes X X X X X X X X Maintenance Cabins, Yurts, No X X X Campgrounds Use General Forest Area Yes X X X X X X X Camping IDPR Yurts No Maintenance Campground No X X maintenance Rental Cabin No Maintenance Public Recreation Yes X X X X X X X X X X Activities Fuelwood Gathering Yes X X X X X X X X X X
226 South Pioneer Fire Salvage and Restoration Project Environmental Assessment
Project or Activity
Roadless
- In Project Area? Quality Air Change Climate Cultural Economics Fuels & Fire Fisheries Vegetation Forested Hydrology IRA Mineral Weeds Noxious Rangeland Plants Rare Recreation Resource Scenic Soils Transportation Wildlife River Wild Scenic Christmas Tree Yes X X X X X X Program Dispersed Recreation Yes X X X X X X X X and Hunting Present/Ongoing Special Use Management Activities Lands Special Use, Road Easement - Yes X X X Valley County, no expiration date Lands Special Use, Irrigation water transmission pipeline Yes X X X <12" - Miller Hall LLC, expires 2042 Present/Ongoing Mineral Management/Rehabilitation Activities Active Mining Claims Yes X X X X X X Placer and Lode Present/Ongoing Private Land Management Activities Residences/Cabins/Ranches Landuse - Little BNF data (known uses are limited grazing, wood product production, mining and residences/commercial No X X X facilities) also includes state/county uses and other non-USFS federal (Dept. of Energy site at Lowman).
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Project or Activity
Roadless
- In Project Area? Quality Air Change Climate Cultural Economics Fuels & Fire Fisheries Vegetation Forested Hydrology IRA Mineral Weeds Noxious Rangeland Plants Rare Recreation Resource Scenic Soils Transportation Wildlife River Wild Scenic Present/Ongoing Previous NEPA Decisions Becker Integrated No X X X X X Resource Project 2016 Clear Creek Integrated Yes X X X X X X X X X X X Project 2013 Present/Ongoing Pioneer Fire Project and Activities Beaver Creek North No X X X Roadside T.S. Beaver Creek South No X X X Roadside T.S. Coulter Roadside T.S. No X X X
Pine Flats T.S. No X X X X BAER 2017 - Burn Area Emergency Yes X X X X X X X X X X X X X X Rehabilitation
Reasonably Foreseeable Activities
Reasonably Foreseeable Vegetation Management Activities (Harvest, Reforestation, Timber Stand Improvement (TSI)) Lowman WUI Corridor No X X
Reasonably Foreseeable Prescribed Fire Activities Lowman WUI Corridor No X X
228 South Pioneer Fire Salvage and Restoration Project Environmental Assessment
Project or Activity
Roadless
- In Project Area? Quality Air Change Climate Cultural Economics Fuels & Fire Fisheries Vegetation Forested Hydrology IRA Mineral Weeds Noxious Rangeland Plants Rare Recreation Resource Scenic Soils Transportation Wildlife River Wild Scenic Reasonably Foreseeable Special Use Management Activities Keller Outfitter and Guide Special Use Permit - Issuance of a 10-yr special use permit No X X to outfit and guide predator hunting for wolf, cougar and bear. Reasonably Foreseeable Mineral Management/Rehabilitation Activities Cumo Exploration No X Carlin Mineral Yes X X X X X X X Exploration Project Reasonably Foreseeable Private Land Management Activities Residences/Cabins/Ranches Private Land Timber Salvage – Associated No X with Pioneer Fire Reasonably Foreseeable Pioneer Fire Activities South Pioneer Fire Salvage and No X X X X X X X X X X X X Reforestation Project EA
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