Owyhee Desert Sagebrush Focal Area Fuel Breaks
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B L M U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management Decision Record - Memorandum Owyhee Desert Sagebrush Focal Area Fuel Breaks PREPARING OFFICE U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management 3900 E. Idaho St. Elko, NV 89801 Decision Record - Memorandum Owyhee Desert Sagebrush Focal Area Fuel Breaks Prepared by U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management Elko, NV This page intentionally left blank Decision Record - Memorandum iii Table of Contents _1. Owyhee Desert Sagebrush Focal Area Fuel Breaks Decision Record Memorandum ....... 1 _1.1. Proposed Decision .......................................................................................................... 1 _1.2. Compliance ..................................................................................................................... 6 _1.3. Public Involvement ......................................................................................................... 7 _1.4. Rationale ......................................................................................................................... 7 _1.5. Authority ......................................................................................................................... 8 _1.6. Provisions for Protest, Appeal, and Petition for Stay ..................................................... 9 _1.7. Authorized Officer .......................................................................................................... 9 _1.8. Contact Person ................................................................................................................ 9 Table of Contents This page intentionally left blank Decision Record - Memorandum v List of Figures Figure 1.1. Owyhee Desert Sagebrush Focal Area Fuel Breaks Map ........................................... 10 List of Figures This page intentionally left blank Decision Record - Memorandum vii List of Tables Table 1.1. Seasonal restrictions associated with raptor nesting periods. Disturbance would not occur where nesting or breeding behavior is documented by a wildlife biologist. Disturbance would be authorized within these date ranges if nesting or breeding behavior is not documented by a wildlife biologist, as long as other seasonal restrictions (such as migratory bird nesting and big game crucial seasonal restrictions) are followed. ......................................................................................................................... 3 List of Tables This page intentionally left blank Chapter 1. Owyhee Desert Sagebrush Focal Area Fuel Breaks Decision Record Memorandum This page intentionally left blank Decision Record - Memorandum 1 1.1. Proposed Decision The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Elko District, has completed a Determination of NEPA Adequacy (DNA), DOI-BLM-NV-E020–2015–0043–DNA, to document an interdisciplinary review of existing NEPA documents in relation to the current proposed action. The proposed action is to expand fuel break treatments within the Owyhee Desert to protect large intact stands of sagebrush from wildfire. This will be completed through mechanical treatments (mowing and seeding where needed), and chemical cheatgrass control treatments (herbicide where needed). Approximately 5,500 acres of fuel breaks have been completed within the Elko District portion of the Owyhee Desert to date, encompassing approximately 100 miles of existing roads. The Northern Great Basin Fire and Invasive Assessment Tool (FIAT),(Appendix H) Approved Nevada and Northeastern California Greater Sage-Grouse Resource Management Plan Amendment (ARMPA)) identified the need to expand linear fuel breaks within the Owyhee Desert Project Planning Area (PPA) located within a designated Sagebrush Focal Area (SFA). Portions of the identified fuel breaks extend outside the SFA but are included because they are strategically located on main roads south of the SFA that are needed for slowing down the rate of fire spread and provide integral protection to the SFA and PPA in this remote landscape. This decision will authorize a vegetation treatment to construct and maintain additional fuel breaks along existing roads within the Owyhee Desert (see Figure 1.1, “Owyhee Desert Sagebrush Focal Area Fuel Breaks Map”). This treatment is designed as a fuel break to alter vegetation structure in order to modify fire behavior, intensity, complexity, size, and increase suppression effectiveness. The purpose for the treatment is to create a break in the continuity of fuels that will, in the event of a wildland fire, allow for suppression actions to be conducted safely and reduce overall fire size. The fuel break will provide multiple suppression anchor points across the Owyhee Desert. The fuel break treatment will reduce standing sagebrush, reduce flashy fine fuels such as cheatgrass, and create a more fire tolerant mosaic along roadsides. The project is directly designed to protect large intact areas of Greater Sage-Grouse (GRSG) habitat by reducing fuel load and threat of wildland fire, as well as enhance GRSG habitat by promoting native release of herbaceous understory vegetation and increased plant community diversity. Approximately 3,000 acres of sagebrush/grass community will be mowed using agricultural tractor(s) and rotary cutter(s). Treatment areas will be focused in areas where residual herbaceous vegetation is healthy and native release is expected. Portions of the fuel breaks will be seeded if a desirable understory is not expected after mowing treatment. The mowing will be completed in mosaic designs with irregular edges. Total width of the treatment will be from 300 to 400 feet with un-mowed strips of sagebrush approximately every 60-90 feet. Un-mowed islands will be approximately 30- 50 feet in width. Mowing height will be four to eight inches above the ground, conditions permitting. A combination of both island and strip methods will be used to leave corridors and intact habitat for wildlife species. This treatment is essential because if the area is left untreated there is a risk of permanently losing GRSG habitat to wildfire. The project would result in protection for large contiguous blocks of intact sagebrush which is important for GRSG habitat. Based on consultation with the Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW) and the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), seasonal habitat restrictions would be imposed on the treatment from January 1- July 31. Areas that do not respond to mowing treatments with desired understory vegetation will be seeded with site appropriate native vegetation. To establish desired herbaceous understory vegetation, drill and/or aerial seeding will be conducted in areas where it is determined that native release is insufficient. Drill seeding will be accomplished using agricultural tractor(s) pulling range drills. Chapter 1 Owyhee Desert Sagebrush Focal Area Fuel Breaks Decision Record Memorandum Proposed Decision 2 Decision Record - Memorandum Drill seeding involves the use of agricultural drill techniques to bury seeds to a depth of 1/4 - 3/8 inch. Native species such as Indian rice grass (Achnatherum hymenoides), bluebunch wheatgrass (Pseudoroegneria spicata), bottlebrush squirreltail (Elymus elymoides), thickspike wheatgrass (Elymus lanceolatus), western yarrow (Achillea millefolium), and Sandberg’s bluegrass (Poa secunda) will be utilized. Also included within the BLM’s decision is the use of approved herbicides to contain and control annual grasses such as cheatgrass and other undesirable species. Cheatgrass is very invasive and can often out-compete other more desirable vegetation. In seeded areas, cheatgrass left unchecked can cause partial or total seeding failure. The use of approved herbicides to reduce the density and composition of annual grass or invasive species would be utilized on a case-by-case basis as one of various measures to maintain and improve GRSG habitat. This considers guidelines outlined in the 2000 Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (WAFWA) guidelines for GRSG habitat management. The uses of imazapic and glyphosate herbicide treatments will be available for use to suppress non-native annuals in order to improve the success of native forbs and grasses into the treatment areas. Environmental Design Features Each treatment would include a number of features to ensure impacts are reduced to the extent possible. These are specific protective measures that would be identified for each treatment during the final design process. No treatments would be conducted within the Owyhee Canyon Wilderness Study Area. Habitat Protection 1. Seasonal habitat restrictions for GRSG would be imposed on the treatment from January 1– July 31 where no implementation will occur. 2. Disturbance would occur outside of migratory bird nesting seasons, typically between April 1, and July 31, in order to avoid disturbing breeding and nesting activities. If disturbance must occur during the migratory bird nesting seasons, a pre-disturbance nesting bird survey must be conducted by a qualified BLM specialist no more than 2 weeks prior to the commencement of the disturbance. Should nesting or breeding behavior be documented by a BLM specialist, disturbance would be postponed or the area avoided. Should no nesting or breeding behavior be documented by a BLM specialist, disturbance would be authorized to begin no later than 2 weeks after the survey. 3. Any treatments during raptor nesting season would not commence until after completion of a pre-disturbance