Swan River State Forest
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Swan River State Forest: Department of Natural Resources and Conservation LOST NAPA VICINITY MAP Approximate Lost Napa Project Area March 8, 2021 LOST NAPA MULTIPLE TIMBER SALE PROJECT FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT Enclosed is a copy the Lost Napa Multiple Timber Sale Project Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS). The proposed project is located approximately 7 miles south of Swan Lake, Montana in the Swan River State Forest. The Department does not present a preferred alternative of the two action alternatives analyzed in the FEIS. The proposed harvest volumes range from 0 with No-Action Alternative A, 19.8 MMbf with Action Alternative B, and 18.5 MMbf with Action Alternative C. My proposed decision in the FEIS is Action Alternative C. The rational for my proposed decision is at the end of Chapter II in the FEIS. I anticipate making my final decision on March 22, 2021. The Land Board has the ultimate decision responsibility. The FEIS was designed to address Swan River State Forest’s primary commitment to Montana’s mandated timber harvest levels over a three-year period. This approach does a better job of analyzing cumulative effects to valuable resources and improves coordination for project planning within active subzones scheduled by the Habitat Conservation Plan. Sincerely, Nick Aschenwald Unit Manager Swan River State Forest 34925 MT Highway 83, Swan Lake, Mt 59911 (406) 754 - 2301 LOST NAPA MULTIPLE TIMBER SALE PROJECT FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT PREFACE This document has been designed and developed to provide the decisionmaker with sufficient information to make an informed, reasoned decision concerning the proposed Lost Napa Multiple Timber Sales Project (proposed action) and to inform the interested public about this project so they may express their concerns to the project leader and decisionmaker. The FEIS consists of the following sections: • Chapter I – Purpose and Need • Chapter II – Alternatives • Chapter III – Existing Environment and Environmental Effects • References • Preparers and Contributors • Scoping List and Respondents • Stipulations and Specifications • Glossary • Acronyms and Abbreviations CHAPTERS I and II offer a summary overview of the proposed action. These chapters have been written so nontechnical readers can easily understand the purpose and need of the proposed action, alternatives to the proposed action, and the potential environmental, economic, and social effects associated with the no-action and action alternatives. CHAPTER I provides a brief description of the proposed action and explains key factors about the project, such as: 1) the purpose and need of the proposed action, which includes the project objectives; 2) the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) process, which includes how scoping is done and the decisions made by the decisionmaker concerning this project; 3) the proposed schedule of activities; 4) the scope of this Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS), which includes other relevant projects, issues studied in detail, and issues eliminated from further analysis, and 5) the relevant laws, regulations, and consultations with which DNRC must comply. CHAPTER II provides detailed descriptions of the No-Action and the Action Alternatives. Included is a summary comparison of project activities associated with each alternative and a summary comparison of the predicted environmental effects of each alternative. These comparisons provide the decisionmaker a clear basis for choice between the No-Action and Action Alternatives. CHAPTER III briefly describes the past and current conditions of the pertinent ecological and social resources in the project area that would be meaningfully affected, establishing a part of the baseline used for the comparison of the predicted effects of the alternatives. Chapter III also presents the detailed, analytic predictions of the potential direct, indirect, and cumulative effects associated with the No-Action and Action Alternatives. REFERENCES lists the references utilized in the FEIS. PREPARERS AND CONTRIBUTORS lists the preparers of the FEIS. SCOPING LIST AND RESPONDENTS lists the persons, agencies, and organizations that are listed to receive scoping documents, newsletters, and public participation activities associated with the proposed action. This list also contains those individuals who submitted issues and concerns regarding the proposed action. STIPULATIONS AND SPECIFICATIONS includes a list of measures designed to prevent or reduce the potential effects to the resources considered in this FEIS. GLOSSARY defines the technical terms used throughout the document. ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS lists the acronyms and abbreviations used throughout the document. COVER LETTER VICINITY MAP (back of front cover) PROJECT AREA MAP PREFACE TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER I—PURPOSE AND NEED Location of the Project ................................................................................................................................. I-1 Purpose and Need ........................................................................................................................................ I-1 Project Objectives ......................................................................................................................................... I-2 Public Involvement ...................................................................................................................................... I-2 Development of Issues and Alternatives .................................................................................................. I-3 Draft Environmental Impact Statement .................................................................................................... I-4 Proposed Schedule of Activities ................................................................................................................. I-4 Scope of This FEIS ........................................................................................................................................ I-5 Relevant Past, Present, and Reasonably Foreseeable Actions ................................................................ I-5 Issues Studied in Detail and Issues Eliminated from Further Analysis................................................ I-7 Issues Studied in Detail (table) ................................................................................................................... I-8 Issues Eliminated from Further Analysis (table) ..................................................................................... I-12 Relevant Agreements, Laws, Plans, Permits, Licenses, and Other Requirements .............................. I-20 CHAPTER II - ALTERNATIVES Introduction .................................................................................................................................................. II-1 The Interdisciplinary Team ........................................................................................................................ II-1 Development of Alternatives ..................................................................................................................... II-1 Description of Alternatives ........................................................................................................................ II-2 Comparison of Activities (table) ................................................................................................................ II-5 Achievement of Project Objectives ............................................................................................................ II-6 Achievement of Objectives (table) ............................................................................................................. II-7 Alternative Comparison of Environmental Impacts ............................................................................... II-9 Comparison of Environmental Impacts (table) ....................................................................................... II-9 Proposed Decision ....................................................................................................................................... II-44 CHAPTER III - EXISTING ENVIRONMENT AND ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS Introduction .................................................................................................................................................. III-1 Vegetation Analysis ..................................................................................................................................... III-2 Geology and Soils Analysis ........................................................................................................................ III-64 Watershed and Hydrology Analysis ......................................................................................................... III-84 Fisheries Analysis ........................................................................................................................................ III-108 Wildlife Analysis ......................................................................................................................................... III-139 Economic Analysis ...................................................................................................................................... III-195 Air Quality Analysis ...................................................................................................................................