Snoquera Landscape Analysis Draft Environmental Assessment
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United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service Snoquera Landscape Analysis Draft Environmental Assessment Snoqualmie Ranger District, Mt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest, King and Pierce Counties, WA December 2018 For More Information Contact: Snoqualmie Ranger District 902 SE North Bend Way North Bend, WA 98045 (425) 888-1421 Cover Picture: Snoquera Falls, WA. Photo Credit: Julie Okita The name Snoquera originates from the amalgamation of "Snoqualmie" and "Emergency Relief Appropriations" (ERA) Act of 1935 - part of Roosevelt's New Deal programs. 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Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the responsible Agency or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English. To file a program discrimination complaint, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, AD-3027, found online at http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html and at any USDA office or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632- 9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by mail to U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Ave SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; fax: (202) 690-7442; or email: [email protected]. USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender. i Format of this Environmental Assessment CEQ regulations define an environmental assessment as A concise public document that serves to “briefly provide sufficient evidence and analysis for determining whether to prepare an environmental impact statement or a finding of no significant impact (FONSI).” This environmental assessment focuses on what is relevant and important and concentrates on the issues that are truly significant to the action in question, rather than amassing needless detail (40 CFR 1500.1). Legal requirements only requires the EA to provide enough evidence to support our conclusions, address relevant environmental impacts and concentrates on whether the action would “significantly” affect the quality of the human environment. Therefore this environmental assessment does not include some topics that are not required in an environmental document but have historically been included. Topics that have been eliminated are: project summary, NEPA process language, lengthy list of forest plan standard and guidelines, irreversible and irretrievable commitment section, list of preparers, and appendices. Contents Format of this Environmental Assessment ...................................................................................... ii Contents ........................................................................................................................................... ii Introduction ..................................................................................................................................... 1 Project Location .......................................................................................................................... 1 Tribal Consultation .......................................................................................................................... 4 Public Involvement .......................................................................................................................... 5 Management Direction .................................................................................................................... 6 Land Allocations ......................................................................................................................... 7 Travel Analysis and the MBS Sustainable Roads Strategy ......................................................... 9 Survey and Manage Direction ................................................................................................... 10 Need for the Proposal .................................................................................................................... 12 Landscape Restoration Context for Snoquera Project Area ...................................................... 13 2017 Fires Context for Snoquera Project Area ......................................................................... 18 Proposed Action and Alternatives ................................................................................................. 20 Summary of Alternatives .......................................................................................................... 20 Alternative 1 – No Action ......................................................................................................... 22 Alternative 2 - Proposed Action ................................................................................................ 22 Terrestrial Restoration ........................................................................................................... 23 Transportation System ........................................................................................................... 32 Watershed Restoration........................................................................................................... 39 Recreation Enhancement ....................................................................................................... 45 Alternative 3 .............................................................................................................................. 55 Project Design Criteria and Mitigation Measures ..................................................................... 57 Alternatives Considered but Eliminated from Detailed Study .................................................. 81 Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action and Alternatives................................................. 83 Forest Vegetation ...................................................................................................................... 83 Methodology ......................................................................................................................... 83 Affected Environment ........................................................................................................... 84 Environmental Consequences ............................................................................................... 86 ii Wildlife ..................................................................................................................................... 94 Affected Environment ........................................................................................................... 94 Environmental Consequences ............................................................................................... 99 Aquatic Resources ................................................................................................................... 162 Botanical Resources ................................................................................................................ 200 Affected Environment ......................................................................................................... 200 Environmental Consequences ............................................................................................. 205 Alternative 3 ........................................................................................................................ 209 Invasive Plants ..................................................................................................................... 209 Alternative 2 ........................................................................................................................ 211 Alternative 3 ........................................................................................................................ 211 Compliance with law, regulation, policy, and the Forest Plan ............................................ 212 Recreation ............................................................................................................................... 214 Affected Environment ......................................................................................................... 214 Environmental Consequences ............................................................................................. 215 Cumulative Effects .............................................................................................................. 223 Affected Environment ........................................................................................................