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Environmental Assessment Environmental Assessment United States Department of Hunter Integrated Resource Agriculture Forest Service Project 2017 Clackamas River Ranger District, Mt. Hood National Forest Clackamas and Marion Counties, Oregon The project is located in T.6 S., R.6 E.; T.6 S., R.7 E.; T.6 S., R.8 E.; T.7 S., R.7 E.; T.7 S., R.8 E.; T.8 S., R.7 E.; T.8 S., R.8 E.; T.9 S., R.7 E.; T.9 S., R.8 E.; Willamette Meridian. For Information Contact: James Roden 595 NW Industrial Way, Estacada, OR 97023 503.630.6861 [email protected] 1 Table of Contents 1.0 Introduction.......................................................................................................................................... 3 1.1 Document Structure .......................................................................................................................... 3 1.2 Project Area Summary ...................................................................................................................... 4 1.3 Purpose and Need for Action ............................................................................................................ 9 1.4 Other Management Direction .......................................................................................................... 23 1.5 Decision Framework ....................................................................................................................... 26 1.6 Public Involvement ......................................................................................................................... 27 2.0 Alternatives ........................................................................................................................................ 32 2.1 Alternative A - No Action ............................................................................................................... 32 2.2 Alternative B - Proposed Action ..................................................................................................... 32 2.3 Other Alternatives Considered ........................................................................................................ 66 2.4 Comparison of Alternatives ............................................................................................................ 70 3.0 Environmental Consequences ........................................................................................................... 74 3.1 STAND GROWTH AND PRODUCTIVITY ................................................................................. 76 3.2 DIVERSITY ................................................................................................................................... 81 3.3 WATER QUANTITY and QUALITY ........................................................................................... 84 3.4 FISHERIES ..................................................................................................................................... 98 3.5 GEOLOGIC STABILITY ............................................................................................................. 111 3.6 SOIL PRODUCTIVITY ............................................................................................................... 117 3.7 NORTHERN SPOTTED OWL .................................................................................................... 131 3.8 OTHER WILDLIFE ..................................................................................................................... 138 3.9 SCENERY AND RECREATION ................................................................................................. 151 3.10 UNROADED AND UNDEVELOPED CHARACTER ........................................................... 157 3.11 TRANSPORTATION .............................................................................................................. 163 3.12 BOTANY ................................................................................................................................. 170 3.13 INVASIVE SPECIES .............................................................................................................. 172 3.14 FUELS AND FIRE HAZARD ................................................................................................. 175 3.15 AIR QUALITY ........................................................................................................................ 181 3.16 ECONOMICS – FINANCIAL ANALYSIS ............................................................................ 183 3.17 CLIMATE CHANGE .............................................................................................................. 184 3.18 OTHER REQUIRED DISCLOSURES .................................................................................... 187 4.0 Consultation and Coordination ...................................................................................................... 191 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, 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. 2 Summary The project is located in the Clackamas River Ranger District, Mt. Hood National Forest, Oregon. The Mt. Hood National Forest is referred to as ‘the Forest’ in this document. This proposal contains a suite of projects including vegetation management, transportation management and aquatic/riparian management actions. The purposes of these actions are to enhance forest health, growth and diversity; improve critical habitat for northern spotted owls; enhance Late-Successional Reserves and Riparian Reserves; provide early- seral habitats; provide an appropriate road system that is safe, affordable and minimizes impacts to resources; and to enhance or restore streams, aquatic habitats and riparian vegetation. 1.0 Introduction 1.1 Document Structure The Forest Service has prepared this document in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and other relevant Federal and State laws and regulations. This document discloses the direct, indirect, and cumulative environmental impacts that would result from the proposed action and alternatives. This document uses a section number system. This paragraph for example is in section 1.1 and may be referred to as s. 1.1. The document is organized into the following parts. Summary Introduction: This section includes the purpose of and need for the project, and the agency’s proposal for achieving that purpose and need. This section includes design criteria. This section also details how the Forest Service informed the public of the proposal and how the public responded. Alternatives: This section provides a description of alternative methods for achieving the stated purpose. These alternatives are developed based on issues raised by the 3 public and other agencies. Finally, this section provides a comparison of the environmental consequences associated with each alternative. Environmental Consequences: This section describes the environmental effects of implementing the proposed action and other alternatives. This analysis is organized by resource. Within each section, the existing situation is described first, followed by the effects of the alternatives. The no-action alternative provides a baseline for evaluation and comparison of the other alternatives. Consultation and Coordination: This section provides a list of preparers and agencies consulted during the development of this assessment. References and Appendices: The appendices provide more detailed information to support the analyses presented in the assessment. Additional documentation, including more detailed analyses of project-area resources, may be found in the project planning record located at the Estacada Ranger Station in Estacada, Oregon. 1.2 Project Area Summary The Hunter project area is located along the eastern edge of the Clackamas River Ranger District
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