USGS Volcanic Monitoring Stations in the Mt. Hood Wilderness Preliminary Assessment
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United States Department of Agriculture USGS Volcanic Monitoring Stations in the Mt. Hood Wilderness Preliminary Assessment Forest Mt. Hood National Zigzag and Hood River July 2016 Service Forest Ranger Districts For More Information Contact: MaryEllen Fitzgerald, Special Uses Program Manager Mt. Hood National Forest 16400 Champion Way Sandy, OR 97055 (503) 668-1429 Cover photo: Proposed location for gas instrumentation on the north side of Crater Rock, Mt. 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Preliminary Assessment Contents Chapter 1 – Introduction ......................................................................................................................... 1 1-1 Document Structure ................................................................................................................ 1 1-2 Location of the Proposed Project Area ................................................................................... 3 1-3 Background ............................................................................................................................ 3 1-4 Purpose and Need for Action ................................................................................................. 4 1-5 Management Direction ........................................................................................................... 4 National Forest Management Act ................................................................................................... 4 Stafford Act .................................................................................................................................... 5 Wilderness Act ............................................................................................................................... 5 1-6 Decision Framework .............................................................................................................. 5 1-7 Public Involvement ................................................................................................................. 6 1-8 Issues ...................................................................................................................................... 6 Chapter 2 – Proposed Action and Alternatives ...................................................................................... 7 2-1 No-action Alternative ............................................................................................................. 7 2-2 Proposed Action Alternative .................................................................................................. 7 Proposed Locations ........................................................................................................................ 8 Proposed Equipment and Installation ........................................................................................... 15 Forest Plan Amendment #20 ........................................................................................................ 18 Wilderness Act Consistency ......................................................................................................... 19 2-3 Project Design Criteria and Mitigation Measures ................................................................ 21 2-4 Alternatives Considered, but Eliminated from Detailed Study ............................................ 21 Locating Monitoring Stations Outside of Wilderness .................................................................. 21 Installing Fewer Monitoring Stations in Wilderness .................................................................... 22 Chapter 3 – Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action and Alternatives .................................... 23 3-1 Wilderness, Recreation and Visual Quality .......................................................................... 23 Analysis Assumptions and Methodology ..................................................................................... 24 Existing Conditions ...................................................................................................................... 25 Effects Analysis ............................................................................................................................ 33 Consistency Determination .......................................................................................................... 39 3-2 Wildlife ................................................................................................................................. 41 Analysis Assumptions and Methodology ..................................................................................... 42 Existing Conditions ...................................................................................................................... 42 Effects Analysis for All Alternatives............................................................................................ 42 Consistency Determination .......................................................................................................... 56 3-3 Water Quality ....................................................................................................................... 56 Analysis Assumptions and Methodology ..................................................................................... 56 Existing Conditions ...................................................................................................................... 58 Effects Analysis ............................................................................................................................ 63 Consistency Determination .......................................................................................................... 70 3-4 Fisheries ................................................................................................................................ 77 Analysis Assumptions and Methodology ..................................................................................... 78 Existing Conditions ...................................................................................................................... 79 Affected Environment/Action Area ............................................................................................. 79 Effects Analysis for All Alternatives............................................................................................ 84 Effects Determination/Summary of Effects ................................................................................. 85 Consistency Determination .......................................................................................................... 87 3-5 Botany .................................................................................................................................. 87 Analysis Assumptions and Methodology ..................................................................................... 87 Mt. Hood National Forest i USGS Volcanic Monitoring Stations Existing Conditions ...................................................................................................................... 91 Effects Analysis ........................................................................................................................... 94 Effects Determination .................................................................................................................. 96 Consistency Determination .......................................................................................................... 96 3-6 Invasive Plant Species .......................................................................................................... 98 Analysis Assumptions