Greenwater Access and Travel Management Project Environmental Assessment
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United States Department of Agriculture Greenwater Access and Travel Management Project Environmental Assessment Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie Snoqualmie November Forest Service National Forest Ranger District 2016 For More Information Contact: Snoqualmie Ranger District 902 SE North Bend Way North Bend, WA 98045 (425) 888-1421 In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity (including gender expression), sexual orientation, disability, age, marital status, family/parental status, income derived from a public assistance program, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity, in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA (not all bases apply to all programs). Remedies and complaint filing deadlines vary by program or incident. 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: (1) mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; (2) fax: (202) 690-7442; or (3) email: [email protected]. USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender. Environmental Assessment Contents 1. Introduction ...........................................................................................................................................1 1.1. Location of the Proposed Project Area ..........................................................................................1 1.2. Background ...................................................................................................................................4 1.2.1. Travel Management and the MBS Sustainable Roads Strategy ..........................................4 1.2.2. Greenwater River Subwatershed .........................................................................................4 1.2.3. Roads ...................................................................................................................................5 1.3. Need for the Proposal ....................................................................................................................7 1.3.1. Need to restore and protect the watershed’s ecology from impacts of the road system. .....7 1.3.2. Need to establish a sustainable road system in the watershed .............................................8 1.3.3. Need to maintain access across the Forest for a variety of users ........................................8 1.4. Issues .............................................................................................................................................8 1.5. Decision Framework .....................................................................................................................9 1.6 Relationship to the Forest Plan and Other Documents ..................................................................9 1.6.1 Land Allocations .................................................................................................................9 1.7. Relevant Land and Resource Management Plan Direction ......................................................... 11 1.7.1. Forest Management Goals and Forest-Wide Standards and Guidelines ........................... 11 1.7.2. Aquatic Conservation Strategy .......................................................................................... 13 1.8 Project Record ............................................................................................................................. 15 2. Alternatives ......................................................................................................................................... 15 2.1. Alternatives considered but not developed .................................................................................. 15 2.1.1. Roads-to-Trails .................................................................................................................. 15 2.1.2. Creating additional motorized trails .................................................................................. 15 2.1.1. Joint Conservation and Recreation Group’s Alternative ................................................... 15 2.2. Alternatives Considered in Detail................................................................................................ 16 2.2.1. Alternative 1 – No Action ................................................................................................. 16 2.2.2. Alternative 2 – Proposed Action ....................................................................................... 16 2.2.3. Alternative 3 – Modified Proposed Action ....................................................................... 19 2.2.4. Summary of Alternatives ................................................................................................... 22 2.2.5. Project Design Criteria ...................................................................................................... 22 3. Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action and Alternatives ....................................................... 26 3.1. Botanical Resources .................................................................................................................... 26 3.1.1. Affected Environment ....................................................................................................... 26 3.1.2. Environmental Consequences ........................................................................................... 29 3.1.3. Cumulative Effects ............................................................................................................ 32 3.2. Fisheries ....................................................................................................................................... 33 3.2.1. Fish Habitat Conditions ..................................................................................................... 34 3.2.2. Fish Passage ...................................................................................................................... 35 3.2.3. Fish Species ....................................................................................................................... 35 3.2.4. ESA Consultation .............................................................................................................. 37 3.2.5. Environmental Consequences ........................................................................................... 37 3.2.6. Effect Determinations........................................................................................................ 40 3.2.7. Cumulative Effects ............................................................................................................ 40 3.3. Soil and Water ............................................................................................................................. 41 3.3.1. Alternative 1 - Affected Environment and Existing Conditions ....................................... 42 3.3.2. Alternative 2 ...................................................................................................................... 52 3.3.3. Alternative 3 ...................................................................................................................... 59 3.3.4. Summary of Environmental Effects .................................................................................. 65 3.3.5. Cumulative Effects ............................................................................................................ 66 i Greenwater ATM 3.4. Forest Vegetation ........................................................................................................................ 69 3.4.1. Affected Environment ....................................................................................................... 69 3.4.2. Environmental Consequences ........................................................................................... 71 3.5. Wildlife ....................................................................................................................................... 74 3.5.1. Species Considered ........................................................................................................... 74 3.5.2. ESA Consultation ............................................................................................................. 76 3.5.3. Environmental Consequences ..........................................................................................