Draft Environmental Impact Statement Integrated Non-Native Invasive Plant Control
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United States Department of Agriculture Draft Environmental Forest Service Impact Statement June 2011 Integrated Non-native Invasive Plant Control Project Mark Twain National Forest lands in portions of Barry, Bollinger, Boone, Butler, Callaway, Carter, Christian, Crawford, Dent, Douglas, Howell, Iron, Laclede, Madison, Oregon, Ozark, Phelps, Pulaski, Reynolds, Ripley, Shannon, Ste. Genevieve, St. Francois, Stone, Taney, Texas, Washington, Wayne, and Wright Counties, Missouri. 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.) 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Draft Environmental Impact Statement Integrated Non-native Invasive Plant Control Integrated Non-native Invasive Plant Control Project Draft Environmental Impact Statement Mark Twain National Forest Lead Agency: USDA Forest Service Cooperating Agencies: Missouri Department of Conservation Responsible Official: Dave Whittekiend, Forest Supervisor Mark Twain National Forest 401 Fairgrounds Road Rolla, MO 65401 For Information Contact: Brian Davidson Interdisciplinary Team Leader 401 Fairgrounds Road 573-341-7414 Abstract: The Mark Twain National Forest proposes a Forest-wide integrated management strategy to control the spread of non-native invasive plant species (NNIP) within the National Forest over the next 10 years, or until circumstances change to the point that the analysis is no longer valid. There are 32 NNIP species currently inventoried and mapped (1,966 sites) which infest approximately 32,428 acres on the Mark Twain National Forest. Three alternatives are analyzed in this EIS. Under alternative 1, no manual, mechanical, chemical, or biological treatment of existing or future NNIP populations would occur. Alternative 2 (Preferred Alternative) would implement an integrated program for the prevention, suppression, reduction, and eradication of existing and future NNIP infestations on the forest. Control methods would include various combinations of manual, mechanical, chemical, cultural, and biological treatments. Herbicide is proposed on 0.2 % of the acres dispersed across the Mark Twain NF. Alternative 3 would allow only manual, mechanical, and cultural treatments, and limited use of specific biological agents. No herbicides would be allowed. It is important that reviewers provide their comments in such a way that they are useful to the Agency‟s preparation of the EIS. Therefore, comments should be provided prior to the close of the comment period and should clearly articulate the reviewer‟s concerns and contentions. The submission of timely and specific comments can affect a reviewer‟s ability to participate in subsequent administrative review or judicial review. Comments received in response to this solicitation, including names and addresses of those who comment, will be part of the public record for this proposed action. Comments submitted anonymously will be accepted and considered; however, anonymous comments will not provide the respondent with standing to participate in subsequent administrative review or judicial review (40 CFR 1503.3). Send Comments to: Brian Davidson Interdisciplinary Team Leader 401 Fairground Road Rolla, Missouri 65401 Date Comments Must Be Postmarked: August 8, 2011 i Draft Environmental Impact Statement Integrated Non-native Invasive Plant Control TABLE OF CONTENTS Chapter 1 Purpose of and Need for Action ........................................................................ 1 Document Structure .....................................................................................................................1 Background ..................................................................................................................................1 Location .......................................................................................................................................2 Purpose and Need for Action .......................................................................................................2 Proposed Action ...........................................................................................................................4 Decision Framework ....................................................................................................................6 Public Involvement ......................................................................................................................6 Issues ............................................................................................................................................7 Other Related Efforts ...................................................................................................................8 Chapter 2 Alternatives, Including the proposed action .................................................... 11 Introduction ................................................................................................................................11 Alternatives Considered in Detail ..............................................................................................11 Project Design Criteria ...............................................................................................................19 Alternatives Considered but Eliminated ....................................................................................22 Comparison of Alternatives .......................................................................................................25 Prevention and education ...........................................................................................................26 Chapter 3 Affected Environment and Environmental Consequences ............................... 28 Vegetation ..................................................................................................................................29 Soil Resources ............................................................................................................................44 Watershed ..................................................................................................................................54 Wildlife Resources and MIS ......................................................................................................69 Threatened, Endangered, and Sensitive Species ........................................................................91 Threatened and Endangered Aquatic Species ..........................................................................120 Recreation ................................................................................................................................130 Wilderness ................................................................................................................................136 Heritage Resources ..................................................................................................................141 Social Economics .....................................................................................................................142 Environmental Justice ..............................................................................................................146 Human Health and Safety ........................................................................................................147 Invasive Plants and Climate Change ........................................................................................159 Short-term Uses and Long-term Productivity ..........................................................................160 Unavoidable Adverse Effects ...................................................................................................161 Irreversible and Irretrievable Commitments of Resources ......................................................161 Monitoring ...............................................................................................................................162 Other Required Disclosures .....................................................................................................164 Chapter 4 Consultation and Coordination .................................................................... 167 Preparers and Contributors .......................................................................................................167 References Cited ......................................................................................................................170 Appendices .................................................................................................................. 181 Appendix A – NNIP Species Inventoried on the MTNF .........................................................181 Appendix B