Moskee Project Department of Agriculture
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United States Moskee Project Department of Agriculture Forest Environmental Assessment Service September 2007 Bearlodge Ranger District, Black Hills National Forest Crook County, Wyoming The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or part of an individual's income is derived from any public assistance program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination, write to USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410, or call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202) 720- 6382 (TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. Environmental Assessment Moskee Project Contents CHAPTER 1—PURPOSE and NEED ........................................................................................... 1 Introduction..................................................................................................................................... 1 Project Location.............................................................................................................. 1 Forest Plan Direction ...................................................................................................................... 1 Purpose and Need ........................................................................................................................... 3 Forest Plan Goal 2........................................................................................................... 3 Forest Plan Goal 3........................................................................................................... 4 Forest Plan Goal 10......................................................................................................... 4 Forest Plan Goal 4.1-401 and Guideline 9202; FSM 7700 – Transportation System .... 5 Purpose and Need Summary........................................................................................... 6 Issues............................................................................................................................................... 6 Public Involvement......................................................................................................... 6 Tribal Consultation ......................................................................................................... 6 Identification of Significant Issues ................................................................................. 7 Decisions to be Made...................................................................................................................... 8 CHAPTER 2—PROPOSED ACTION AND ALTERNATIVES .................................................. 9 Introduction..................................................................................................................................... 9 Alternative Development Process................................................................................................... 9 Proposed Action and Alternatives Analyzed in Detail ................................................................... 9 No Action (Alternative 1)............................................................................................... 9 Proposed Action (Alternative 2)..................................................................................... 9 Alternative 3 ................................................................................................................. 17 Alternative 4 ................................................................................................................. 20 Treatment Timing ......................................................................................................... 22 Stewardship Contracting............................................................................................... 22 Alternatives Considered but Eliminated from Detailed Analysis................................................. 23 Comparison of Alternatives Analyzed in Detail........................................................................... 24 CHAPTER 3—DIRECT/INDIRECT AND CUMULATIVE EFFECTS .................................... 29 Introduction................................................................................................................................... 29 Past, Present, and Reasonably Foreseeable Activities Relevant to the Moskee Project............... 29 Physical Elements ......................................................................................................................... 32 Soils .............................................................................................................................. 32 Minerals ........................................................................................................................ 45 Water Resources ........................................................................................................... 46 Biological Environment................................................................................................................ 56 Botany........................................................................................................................... 56 Forest Vegetation.......................................................................................................... 64 Rangeland ..................................................................................................................... 75 Wildlife ......................................................................................................................... 78 Fire and Fuels.............................................................................................................. 116 Noxious Weeds........................................................................................................... 124 Social Environment..................................................................................................................... 128 Land Uses, Recreation, and Travel Management....................................................... 128 i Environmental Assessment Moskee Project Scenery Management.................................................................................................. 131 Heritage....................................................................................................................... 136 Environmental Justice................................................................................................. 137 Socioeconomics .......................................................................................................... 137 Acronyms and References .......................................................................................................... 139 Individuals, Groups, Tribes, and Agencies Consulted................................................................ 150 Preparers ..................................................................................................................................... 152 Tables Table 1: Project Area Legal Description ........................................................................................ 1 Table 2: Allowable Sale Quantity from Suitable Lands (per-decade total).................................... 4 Table 3: Comparison of Actions by Alternative........................................................................... 24 Table 4. Response to Purpose and Need by Alternative............................................................... 26 Table 5. Response to Issues by Alternative .................................................................................. 27 Table 6: Soils in Moskee Project Area ......................................................................................... 32 Table 7. Timber Harvest and Roadwork on Erosive Soils............................................................ 37 Table 8. Timber Harvest on Erosive Soils by Slope Class ........................................................... 37 Table 9: Acres of Shelterwood Seedcut and Group Selection Proposed on Soil Map Units Meeting Guideline 1102a Criteria ........................................................................................ 40 Table 10: Comparison of Acres Proposed for Prescribed Burning on Soils Potentially Subject to Fire Damage.......................................................................................................................... 41 Table 11: Shelterwood Seedcut and/or Overstory Removal on Soils Meeting the Criteria of Forest Plan Standard 1108 .................................................................................................... 43 Table 12. HUC 6 and 7 Watersheds in the Project Area .............................................................. 46 Table 13: Streams in the Moskee Project Area as Determined Through GIS .............................. 46 Table 14. Percent of HUC 7 Watershed Acreage Proposed for Commercial Treatment ............. 50 Table 15: Plant SOLC with Potential Habitat but No Known