Auggie Creek Restoration/Fuels Project Threatened, Endangered, and Sensitive Plant Report Darlene Lavelle December 17, 2008

Home , Cypripedium passerinum, Howellia, Populus tremuloides, Ribes oxyacanthoides

Introduction The Seeley Lake Ranger District, Lolo National Forest (LNF), is proposing a restoration project designed to restore forest conditions on approximately 965 acres of Forest Service lands within the Auggie, Seeley, and Mountain Creek drainages. The vegetation treatments are designed to develop a diverse mix of vegetative composition and structure, reduce the risk of bark beetle infestations, and reduce the threat of sustained high intensity wildfire in the wildland-urban interface.

Commercial and noncommercial treatments are proposed to reduce stand density, ladder fuels and ground litter, and some dead and down woody debris. Reducing fuels would thereby reduce the risk from insect and disease damage and also the potential for high intensity natural fires around private homes. Fire would also allow an increase of nutrients to plants on the site.

Other project proposals include: • Herbicide treatment of weeds along the approximate 12.45 miles of timber haul routes and landings and the approximate 2.37 miles of stored or decommissioned roads mentioned below; • Build about 0.59 miles of temporary road for tree harvest and then decommission these roads. • Store about 1.78 miles of road (close roads to vehicular traffic but keep roads for future use) • Plant western larch and Douglas-fir on about 44 acres within the commercial treatment units to enhance species diversity. • Replace two culverts which are fish barriers, along Swamp Creek and Trail Creek. • Implement additional best management practices (BMPs) involving road drainage at the Morrell Creek Bridge.

Forest Plan and Regulatory Framework Forest Service Manual (FSM) directions 2670.11, 2670.21 and 2670.31, and the Lolo National Forest Plan standards 24 and 27, require that the LNF not only manage for endangered, threatened, and proposed species, but also recover them. The Endangered Species Act (ESA) states that all federal departments and agencies shall seek to conserve endangered and threatened species. The FSM directs the forests to manage National Forest System habitats and activities for threatened and endangered species to achieve recovery objectives so that special protection measures provided under the ESA are no longer necessary. The Lolo Forest Plan follows this direction and states all threatened and endangered species occurring on the LNF will be managed for recovery to a non-threatened status.

The Forest Service Manual (FSM) and the Lolo National Forest Plan require the Lolo National Forest (LNF) to manage for sensitive species. The FSM defines sensitive species as those plants identified by the Regional Forester for which population viability is a concern, as evidenced by

significant current or predicted downward trends in population numbers, density or habitat capability that would reduce a species distribution (FSM 2670.5(19)). The FSM directs the forests to develop and implement management practices to ensure that sensitive species do not become threatened or endangered because of Forest Service actions (FSM 2670.22 and 2670.32). Lolo Forest Plant standard 27 also directs the forest to manage sensitive species to maintain population viability. There are no forest management areas specific to sensitive species.

Species of Interest and Species of Concern The Lolo NF will be revising the Forest Plan which provides similar direction for plant species of interest and concern, as well as the Regional Forester’s sensitive plants. Some of the current sensitive species are species of interest (SOI) or species of concern (SOC).

Species of interest are plants that have been assigned a state rank of S1 or S2 and a global rank of G4 or G5 by NatureServe (http://www.natureserve.org/explorer/) in association with the Montana Natural Heritage Program. The lower the number ranking, the higher the threats are to a species. Species of interest also include plants that are of interest to the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribe, and rare plants on the Lolo NF with limited distribution where viability is a concern. Species of concern are plants that have been assigned a global rank of G1, G2, or G3 by NatureServe. Species of concern are globally rare plants. For a complete definition of SOI and SOC plants see the Forest Service Handbook (FSH) 1901.12, 43.22Band 43.22c.

Analysis Area Boundary The Auggie Creek Project area is located in Missoula and Powell Counties. The project consists mainly of two areas, the Auggie Creek treatment area (T17N, R15 W, and portions of Sections 24, 25, 26, 27, 34, and 35) and the Mountain Creek treatment area (T17N, R14W, Sect 32). The analysis area is located east of Seeley Lake and Highway 83 and north and south of Cottonwood Lakes RD 477.

Analysis Methods In addition to surveying for rare plants in the analysis area (which is discussed below in the Existing Condition section of this report), a habitat suitability analysis was conducted for 52 sensitive plants, species of concern (SOC), and species of interest (SOI) to determine the potential for occurrence within the analysis area. These 52 plants are listed in Table 1.

Table 1. Lolo National Forest - Sensitive & Threatened Species (10/04 List), Species of Concern (SOC), and Species of Interest (SOI)

List List Scientific Name Common Name (10/04) SOC SOI Scientific Name Common Name (10/04) SOC SOI Adoxa moschatellina musk-root X X Grindelia howellii Howell's gumweed X X Ageratina occidentalis western snakeroot X X Heterocodon rariflorum rareflower heterocodon X X Allium acuminatum tapertip onion X X Hierochloe hirta ssp. arctica northern sweetgrass X Allotropa virgata sugarstick X Howellia aquatilis (Threatened) water howellia X X Amerorchis rotundifolia roundleaf orchis X X Idahoa scapigera oldstem Idahoa X X Arabis fecunda Mt. Sapphire rockcress X X Kalmia polifolia bog laurel X X Athysanus pusillus common sandweed X X Lagophylla ramoisissima branched hareleaf X Bidens beckii Beck water-marigold X X Lewisia rediviva bitter root X Botrychium paradoxum peculiar moonwort X X Meesia triquetra (moss) meesia moss X X Brasenia schreberi watershield X X Mertensia bella beautiful bluebells X X

Camassia quamash small camas X Nymphaea tetragona ssp. Leibergii Leiberg's waterlily X Carex chordorrhiza creeping sedge X X Orobanche fasciculata clustered broomrape X Carex rostrata beaked sedge X X Orogenia fusiformis California Indian potato X X Carex scoparia broom sedge X Phlox kelseyi v. missoulensis Missoula phlox X X Cirsium brevistylum clustered thistle X Potamogeton obtusifolius blunt-leaved pondweed X X Ribes oxyacanthoides ssp. Clarkia rhomboidea diamond clarkia X X cognatum stream currant X Clinopodium douglasii yerba buena X Ribes triste red currant X Claytonia arenicola sand springbeauty X X Scheuchzeria palustris Rannoch-rush X X Cypripedium fasciculatum clustered lady's -slipper X X Schoenoplectus subterminalis swaying bulrush X X Cypripedium parviflorum lesser yellow lady's- slipper X Silene spaldingii (Threatened) Spalding's silene X X Cypripedium passerinum sparrowegg lady's- slipper X X Sphagnum mendocinum Mendocino sphagnum X Drosera anglica English sundew X X Sphagnum riparium streamside sphagnum X Dryopteris cristata crested woodfern X X Synthris canbyi Mission Mountain kittentails X Epipactis gigantea stream orchid X X Trifolium eriocephalum wooly-head clover X X Gentianopsis simplex oneflower fringed gentian X X Trifolium gymnocarpon hollyleaf clover X X Grimmia brittoniae Britton's dry rock moss X X Waldsteinia idahoensis Idaho barren strawberry X X

A habitat suitability analysis (pre-field review) was conducted which consists of examining existing information from the following sources: • Aerial photographs • Topographic maps • Lolo NF sensitive plant occurrence maps • Lolo NF sensitive plant field survey records • Lolo NF timber stand database (TSMRS) • Pertinent sensitive species conservation strategies, sensitive species status reviews, and research reports • Forest Habitat Types of Montana (Pfister et al., 1997) • Lolo National Forest Plant Field Guide for Sensitive Plants, Species of Concern, and Species of Interest (Lavelle 2007) which contains plant habitat and location information from Lolo NF data and from the Montana Natural Heritage Program database/element occurrence records (http://nhp.nris.mt.gov/plants/guidebook.asp )

Existing Condition In the project area, forests range from ponderosa pine plantations, park-like open coniferous forests, to mixed species with a closed canopy forest. The highest diversity of the area is within in the wetlands, edges of wetlands, and along the creeks. Over 200 species of vascular plants were identified in the Auggie Creek treatment area alone.

The elevation range in the analysis area is mainly 4,100 to 4,400 feet. The Mountain Creek treatment area contains wetlands and a ponderosa pine plantation. There are also stands of mixed coniferous forests in the Mountain Creek portion, containing ( Pinus ponderosa ) ponderosa pine, ( Psuedotsuga menziesii ) Douglas-fir, ( Larix occidentalis ) larch, ( Pinus contorta ) lodgepole, ( Picea engelmannii ) Engelmann spruce, ( Abies grandis ) grand fir, ( Abies lasiocarpa ) subalpine fir, and ( Populus tremuloides ) aspen. A common forest habitat type in the area is Psuedotsuga menziesii/Vaccinium spp. (Douglas-fir/huckleberry).

The Auggie Creek treatment area also contains wetlands and mixed coniferous forests. Like Mountain Creek, a common forest habitat type is Douglas-fir/huckleberry. This treatment area also includes areas of past harvest.

The analysis area provides habitat for many of the rare plants within the following guilds (see Table 2): • aquatic and vernal pools • marshes, seeps, springs, and wet meadows • riparian associates • margins of moist coniferous forests • mid-elevation moist coniferous forests • disturbed areas

Table 2. Lolo National Forest – Guilds for Forest Sensitive (10/04 list) and *Threatened Plants, Species of Concern, and Species of Interest (updated 11/2008)

AQUATIC and VERNAL POOLS RIPARIAN ASSOCIATES DRY CONIFEROUS FORESTS (PPINE, DRY Bidens beckii Botrychium paradoxum D-FIR & DRY GRAND FIR HABITAT TYPES) Brasenia schreberi Camassia quamash Allium acuminatum *Howellia aquatilis Carex scoparia Clarkia rhomboidea Nymphaea tetragona ssp. Leibergii Cypripedium parviflorum Cypripedium fasciculatum Potamogeton obtusifolius Cypripedium passerinum Schoenoplectus subterminalis Dryopteris cristata DRY GRASSLANDS & OPENINGS IN PPINE Epipactis gigantea & DRY D-FIR FORESTS FENS and FEN MARGINS Heterocodon rariflorum Allium acuminatum Amerorchis rotundifolia Hierochloe hirta ssp. arctica Clarkia rhomboidea Carex chordorrhiza Kalmia polifolia Grindelia howellii Carex rostrata Ribes oxycanthoides ssp. cognatum Lagophylla ramoisissima Cypripedium parviflorum Ribes triste Lewisia rediviva Cypripedium passerinum Waldsteinia idahoensis Orobanche fasciculata Drosera anglica Orogenia fusiformis Dryopteris cristata MARGIN OF MOIST CONIFEROUS Phlox kelseyi v. missoulensis Epipactis gigantea FORESTS *Silene spaldingii Gentianopsis simplex Amerorchis rotundifolia Trifolium eriocephalum Kalmia polifolia Cypripediium parviflorum Trifolium gymnocarpon Meesia triquetra Cypripedium passerinum Scheuchzeria palustris Dryopteris cristata MID-MONTANE/SUBALPINE GRASS/FORB Sphagnum mendocinum Epipactis gigantea Botrychium paradoxum Sphagnum riparium Waldsteinia idahoensis Cirsium brevistylum

MARSHES, SEEPS, SPRINGS, MID-ELEVATION MOIST CANYON WALLS, CREVICES, ROCK and WET MEADOWS CONIFEROUS FORESTS OUTCROPS & SLIDES Amerorchis rotundifolia Cypripedium fasciculatum Allium acuminatum Botrychium paradoxum Ribes triste Eupatorium occidentale Camassia quamash Clinopodium douglasii Lewisia rediviva Carex chordorrhiza Waldsteinia idahoensis Orobanche fasciculata Carex scoparia Ribes oxycanthoides ssp. cognatum Cirsium brevistylum SUBALPINE FORESTS

Cypripedium parviflorum Allotropa virgata DISTURBED AREAS Cypripedium passerinum Orogenia fusiformis Cirsium brevistylum Dryopteris cristata Ribes triste Clarkia rhomboidea Epipactis gigantea Clinopodium douglasii Gentianopsis simplex ALPINE Grindelia howellii Heterocodon rariflorum Synthris canbyi Lagophylla ramosissima Hierochloe hirta ssp. arctica Mertensia bella Kalmia polifolia VERNALLY MOIST CLIFFS OR Orogenia fusiformis Scheuchzeria palustris MOSSY TALUS SLOPES Trifolium eriocephalum Trifolium eriocephalum Adoxa moschatellina Trifolium gymnocarpon Waldsteinia idahoensis Athysanus pusillus Claytonia arenicola Grimmia brittoniae Heterocodon rariflorum Idahoa scapigera Ribes oxycanthoides ssp. cognatum

Federally-listed Threatened Plants The Internet site of the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) was consulted on December 9, 2008, for an updated list of proposed and listed endangered and threatened plant species that may be present on the Lolo NF. Two threatened plant species occur near the Lolo NF: Howellia aquatilis (water howellia) and Silene spaldingii (Spalding’s silene) (USFWS 2008).

Howellia aquatilis Water howellia is a vascular plant species in the Campanulaceae (harebell) family, and was listed as threatened under the ESA by the USFWS on August 15, 1994 (94 FR 171354). It is an annual plant that occurs in small, vernal, freshwater glacial ponds and oxbow sloughs in the valley zone from 3100 to 4425 feet in elevation (Montana Natural Heritage Program 2008).

Water howellia is present on the Swan Lake Ranger District of the Flathead National Forest just north of the Seeley Lake Ranger District. Surveys for water howellia have been conducted in potential habitat of the LNF over the past several years. No water howellia has been found on the Seeley Lake Ranger District to date (LNF Survey and Occurrence Records).

A pond, which is potential habitat for water howellia is located along the southern boundary in the Auggie Creek treatment area in T17N, R15W, Section 35. This pond was surveyed on July 23, 2007 by Forest botanists. This pond contains similar plant species that are found at known water howellia ponds (S.Shelly, 1997; S.Mincemoyer, 2005); however, no water howellia plants were found.

Silene spaldingii Spalding’s silene is a vascular plant species in the Caryophyllaceae (pink) family, and was listed as threatened under the ESA by USFWS on November 9, 2001 (FR66(196):51598-51606). It is a perennial plant that is primarily restricted to mesic grasslands that make up the Palouse region in southeastern Washington, northwestern Montana, and adjacent portions of Idaho and Oregon. It is typically associated with grasslands dominated by Festuca idahoensis (Idaho fescue) and Festuca campestris (rough fescue). This plants known sites range from 1750 to 5100 feet in elevation (Montana Natural Heritage Program 2008).

Habitat for Spalding’s silene does not occur in the project area.

Sensitive Species, Species of Interest, and Species of Concern Prior to botanical surveys for the Auggie project, no Forest sensitive species, species of concern, or species of interest had been found in the analysis area.

Brasenia schreberi (watershield) and Bidens beckii (Beck water-marigold) occur in Seeley Lake, west of the project area. Grindelia howellii (Howells’gumweed) plants have been located on and adjacent to the Cottonwood Lakes Rd. north and east of the project area.

Botanical field surveys were conducted throughout the analysis area in 2007 and 2008. In 2007 proposed harvest units had not been identified so botanical surveys were performed throughout the Auggie Creek and Mountain Creek treatment areas. Several wet or seasonally wet meadows were also searched. No sensitive, SOC, or SOI plants were found during these 2007 surveys.

Surveys performed in 2007 in the wetlands in the Mountain Creek treatment area found that most of these wetlands are seasonally wet with portions remaining wet, particularly in years with good precipitation. Potential habitat for Carex chordorrhiza (creeping sedge) , Camassia quamash (small camas) , Carex scoparia (broom sedge) , Cirsium brevistylum (clustered thistle) , Cypripedium parviflorum (lesser yellow lady’s slipper) , Dryopteris cristata crested woodfern) , Epipactis gigantea (stream orchid), Ribes oxyacanthoides ssp. cognatum stream currant) , Ribes triste (red currant) , Scheuzeria palustris (Rannoch-rush) , Trifolium eriocephalum (woolly-head clover) , and Waldsteinia idahoensis (Idaho barren strawberry) was found in or adjacent to the wetlands.

While potential habitat for Grindelia howellii (Howell’s gumweed) was identified in disturbed areas throughout the Mountain Creek treatment area, this plant was not located.

The pond and pond edge in the Auggie Creek treatment area has habitat for Potamogeton obtusifolius (bluntleaf pondweed), Schoenoplectus subterminalis (swaying bulrush) and Kalmia polifolia (bog laurel). These plants were not found.

Additional wetlands were surveyed in 2008 that had not been surveyed in 2007 in the Auggie Creek treatment area. One population of camas was found adjacent to Seeley Creek. Potential habitat for Carex chordorrhiza, Camassia quamash, Carex scoparia, Cirsium brevistylum, Cypripedium parviflorum, Dryopteris cristata, Epipactis gigantea, Ribes oxyacanthoides ssp. cognatum, Ribes triste, Scheuzeria palustris, Trifolium eriocephalum, and Waldsteinia idahoensis was also found in or adjacent to the wetlands surveyed.

Surveys in the areas of the two proposed culvert replacement areas and the Morrell Creek Bridge where BMPs are proposed found potential habitat for the species mentioned above, but no plants were found.

Exotic (non-native) Species During botanical surveys, noxious weeds, mainly Centaurea biebersteinii (spotted knapweed), were found scattered throughout the project area. Cirsium arvense (Canada thistle) was also seen throughout the project area in slash piles of older tree harvest cuts, and on disturbed sites on the edges of wet or seasonally wet meadows, and in disturbed meadows. Noxious weeds and the

potential effect of the proposed action on them is further discussed in the Noxious Weed section of this document.

Several species of non-native grasses are present throughout the project area such as Phalaris arundinaceae (reed canary grass) and Bromus tectorum (cheatgrass). Both of these plants are aggressive non-natives. Reed canary grass was one of the dominant plant species on the edges of several wet or seasonally wet meadows and cheatgrass was mainly seen on dry disturbed sites. Cynoglossum officinale (houndstongue), Leucanthemum vulgare (oxeye daisy), Cirsium vulgare (bull thistle) were also seen.

Environmental Consequences No Action Alternative - Direct, Indirect, and Cumulative Effects In the No Action Alternative, no ground disturbing activities would occur. Therefore, no direct impacts to rare plants or their habitat would occur. However, the potential beneficial indirect or cumulative impacts that would occur as a result of the proposed activities would also not occur.

Proposed Action - Direct, Indirect, and Cumulative Effects Sensitive Species, Species of Interest, and Species of Concern Known Occurrences Camassia quamash is a wetland-associated plant. Plants were found adjacent to Seeley Creek. The no activity 150-foot buffer zone along Seeley Creek prescribed in the Resource Protection Measures would protect most of these plants. There may be a few plants outside of this buffer that would be impacted.

Unknown Occurrences Although surveys in the project area were mainly intuitive (i.e., searching in high potential habitats for sensitive plants), other occurrences of Forest sensitive, SOC, or SOI plants may have been undetected. The direct, indirect, and cumulative effects for undetected occurrences are unknown and can only be speculative due to lack of known locations. Undetected occurrences may potentially be directly affected for a brief period as a result of the proposed underburning within the project area. These effects are expected to be of short duration and nutrient releases in the soil should benefit plants. Prescribed fire and thinning of the canopy may stimulate the expansion of undetected populations by reducing competition and increase light penetration to plants in the understory. Due to the small scope of the effects and the brief and temporary duration of the understory prescribed burn, the proposed project is not expected to contribute to cumulative effects for Forest sensitive species, SOC, or SOI plants.

Federally-listed threatened plants Howellia aquatilis The Conservation Strategy for water howellia states that unoccupied potential ponds should be maintained in suitable condition for future colonization sites (Shelly 1997). A forested buffer of 300 feet from pond margins is generally maintained for occupied ponds. Forest buffers should be designed to maintain a favorable physical environment by preventing adverse hydrological changes and should be large enough to prevent blowdown. Ground disturbing activities within the buffer should be avoided or limited to activities that may be needed to maintain the integrity of the buffer (e.g., underburning to maintain open understory vegetation). Discussions with a

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service botanist concluded that a 200 foot buffer around the potential Howellia aquatilis pond, as prescribed in the Resource Protection Measures in Table 5, would adequately protect the species’ habitat. This buffer would exclude ground-disturbing activities including slash treatments. Project activities outside of the buffer would be in compliance with the Conservation Strategy which would maintain a favorable physical environment by preventing adverse hydrological changes and preventing blowdown. Proposed underburns in adjacent units would occur under spring or fall conditions to minimize risks of hot fires entering the buffer zone. A cool burn within the buffer zone would be allowed if it occurred. Therefore, no negative impacts would occur to this plant or its potential habitat.

Silene spaldingii Because habitat for Spalding’s silene does not occur in the project area, no negative impacts would occur to this plant or its habitat.

Forest Plan Consistency While the proposed Auggie project “may affect individuals, it is not likely to result in a trend toward Federal listing or loss of viability” for Camassia quamash and the other Regional Forester’s sensitive plants, or SOC and SOI plants that could potentially occur in the project area. These plants include: Carex chordorrhiza, Carex scoparia, Cirsium brevistylum, Cypripedium parviflorum, Dryopteris cristata, Epipactis gigantea, Grindelia howellii, Kalmia polifolia, Potamogeton obtusifolius , Ribes oxyacanthoides ssp. cognatum, Ribes triste, Scheuzeria palustris, Schoenoplectus subterminalis, Trifolium eriocephalum, and Waldsteinia idahoensis . The determination for all other Regional Forester’s sensitive plants, SOC, and SOI plants not listed above, is that there would be no impacts to these plants or their habitat. Therefore the proposed action is consistent with Forest Plan and other regulatory direction.

This determination is based on the: 1) Presence of potential habitat for these plants within the project area. 2) Lack of documented occurrences with the project area 3) Negative occurrence results during intuitive surveys with the possibility that sensitive plant occurrences may have been overlooked 4) Brief and temporal duration of the understory burn 5) Potential beneficial effects of reducing competition from understory burning and increasing light to understory plants from thinning activities.

Monitoring Areas that burn hotter than intended and create localized high intensity burn areas where noxious weeds may have an establishment advantage over native plants should be monitored and seeded with native seeds if needed.

To minimize indirect impacts of weed spread through slash piles, piles should be monitored for noxious weed establishment and seeded with native seeds if needed.

Literature Cited Dixon, Katrina (USFWS botanical consultant), personal communication with Darlene Lavelle on December 16, 2008.

Lavelle, Darlene. 2007. Lolo National Forest 2007 Plant Field Guide for Sensitive Plants, Species of Concern, and Species of Interest. USFS, Missoula, MT.

Lolo National Forest TES plant occurrence maps. Lolo National Forest. USFS, Missoula, MT.

Lolo National Forest TES plant field survey records. Lolo National Forest. USFS, Missoula, MT.

Mincemoyer, Scott. 2005. Range-wide status assessment of Howellia aquatilis (water howellia). Prepared for US Fish and Wildlife Service by Montana Natural Heritage Program. Natural resource information system, Montana state library. 63 pp.

Montana Natural Heritage Program. 2008. Plant Field Guide http://nhp.nris.mt.gov/plants/guidebook.asp )

Pfister, R, Kovalchik, B., Arno, S, and Presby, R. 1997. Forest habitat types of Montana. USDA Forest Service Intermountain Forest and Range Experiment Station, Ogden, Utah.

NatureServe, http://www.natureserve.org/explorer/