DOCSLIB.ORG

Agua Fria Grasslands Improvement Project Draft Environmental Assessment

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Agua Fria Grasslands Improvement Project Draft Environmental Assessment United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service Agua Fria Grasslands Improvement Project Draft Environmental Assessment Verde Ranger District, Prescott National Forest Yavapai County, Arizona September, 2015 Cover Photo: Grasslands outside of Dugas, Arizona; photo credit Max Wahlberg For More Information Contact: Todd Willard Verde Ranger District 300 E. Hwy 260 Camp Verde, Arizona 86322 Phone: (928) 567-1130 Email: [email protected] Fax: (928) 567-1179 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. Contents Contents ............................................................................................................................................ i Introduction ..................................................................................................................................... 1 Proposed Project Location .......................................................................................................... 1 Need for the Proposal ...................................................................................................................... 3 Public Involvement and Tribal Consultation ................................................................................... 3 Proposed Action and Alternatives ................................................................................................... 4 Background ................................................................................................................................. 4 No Action .................................................................................................................................... 5 Proposed Action .......................................................................................................................... 5 Mesquite and Catclaw Treatment Alternative ............................................................................. 9 Alternatives Considered but Eliminated from Detailed Study .................................................. 10 Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action and Alternatives................................................. 10 Vegetation ................................................................................................................................. 10 Wildlife ..................................................................................................................................... 22 Soils and Watershed .................................................................................................................. 37 Fuels and Fire Behavior ............................................................................................................ 67 Transportation ........................................................................................................................... 71 Cultural Resources .................................................................................................................... 73 Recreation and Scenic Resources .............................................................................................. 76 Livestock Grazing ..................................................................................................................... 84 Finding of No Significant Impact .................................................................................................. 90 Context ...................................................................................................................................... 90 Intensity ..................................................................................................................................... 90 References ..................................................................................................................................... 93 Appendix A. .................................................................................................................................. 94 Appendix B.................................................................................................................................... 98 Existing Condition .................................................................................................................... 98 Desired Future Condition .......................................................................................................... 98 Treatment Objectives ................................................................................................................ 98 Silvicultural Treatments ............................................................................................................ 99 Best Management Practices and Protection Measures .............................................................. 99 Future Management ................................................................................................................ 100 Appendix C.................................................................................................................................. 101 Appendix D. ................................................................................................................................ 103 Appendix E. ................................................................................................................................. 105 Map 1. Agua Fria Proposed Vegetation Treatments ............................................................... 105 Map 2. Agua Fria Transportation Proposed Actions............................................................... 106 Map 3. Agua Fria Mesquite Treatment Areas ......................................................................... 107 i List of Tables Table 1. Proposed vegetation treatments ......................................................................................... 5 Table 2. Proposed transportation actions ......................................................................................... 7 Table 3. Vegetation Types within the Agua Fria Project Area ...................................................... 11 Table 4. TE&S Species occurrences in the Agua Fria Assessment Area. ..................................... 23 Table 5. Ash Creek / Sycamore Creek 5th and 6th Code Watershed Acres .................................... 41 Table 6. Bishop Creek 5th and 6th Code Watershed Acres ............................................................. 41 Table 7. Agua Fria Overall Watershed Condition Assessment ..................................................... 42 Table 8. Sub-watershed conditions, by indicator .......................................................................... 42 Table 9. Cienega Creek soil condition ratings ............................................................................... 43 Table 10. Dry Creek soil condition ratings.................................................................................... 44 Table 11. Little Ash Creek soil condition ratings .......................................................................... 45 Table 12. Lower Ash Creek soil condition ratings ........................................................................ 46 Table 13. Little Sycamore Creek soil condition ratings ................................................................ 47 Table 14. Sycamore Creek soil condition ratings .......................................................................... 48 Table 15. Indian Creek soil condition ratings................................................................................ 49 Table 16. Silver Creek soil condition ratings ................................................................................ 50 Table 17. Bishop Creek soil condition ratings .............................................................................
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Grand Canyon Council Oa Where to Go Camping Guide
    GRAND CANYON COUNCIL OA WHERE TO GO CAMPING GUIDE GRAND CANYON COUNCIL, BSA OA WHERE TO GO CAMPING GUIDE Table of Contents Introduction to The Order of the Arrow ....................................................................... 1 Wipala Wiki, The Man .................................................................................................. 1 General Information ...................................................................................................... 3 Desert Survival Safety Tips ........................................................................................... 4 Further Information ....................................................................................................... 4 Contact Agencies and Organizations ............................................................................. 5 National Forests ............................................................................................................. 5 U. S. Department Of The Interior - Bureau Of Land Management ................................ 7 Maricopa County Parks And Recreation System: .......................................................... 8 Arizona State Parks: .................................................................................................... 10 National Parks & National Monuments: ...................................................................... 11 Tribal Jurisdictions: ..................................................................................................... 13 On the Road: National
    [Show full text]
  • Socioeconomic Assessment for the Prescott National Forest
    Socio-Economic Assessment for the Prescott National Forest Prepared for the Southwest Region USDA Forest Service The University of Arizona School of Natural Resources 2005 Socioeconomic Assessment of the Prescott National Forest Prepared for: The Prescott National Forest 344 So. Cortez St. Prescott, AZ 86303 and USDA Forest Service Region 3 (Southwestern Region) 333 Broadway SE Albuquerque, NM 87102 Submitted by: Arizona National Forests Socioeconomic Assessment Team The University of Arizona School of Natural Resources 312 BioSciences East P.O. Box 210043 Tucson, AZ 85721-0043 Acknowledgements The completion of this socioeconomic assessment would not have been possible without consistent cooperation between the University of Arizona and the Southwestern Region of the United States Forest Service. We would like to thank the following individuals for the time and effort they contributed to the development of this study. Reuben Weisz was an important resource in the Regional Office, offering critical guidance during the formative stages of the assessment. Mark Johnson, Mike Leonard and James McKie were each valuable sources of information on the Prescott National Forest. Craig Wissler, Mickey Reed, and Alona Bachi of the Advanced Resource Technology Group in the College of Agriculture at the University of Arizona provided land ownership and land use data as well as each of the GIS components of this assessment. Susan Winter of the Planning Analysis Group in the Rocky Mountain Research Station provided the IMPLAN data for the assessment of natural resource dependent economic activities. The cover photo, also featured in Tapamveni: The Rock Galleries of Petrified Forest and Beyond, by Pat McCreery and Ekkehart Malotki, represents prehistoric Native American rock art from an area north of Sitgreaves N.F.
    [Show full text]
  • NEMO Watershed Based Plan Verde Watershed
    NEMO Watershed Based Plan Verde Watershed Acknowledgements Arizona NEMO acknowledges the University of Arizona Cooperative Extension Service, Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) Water Quality Division, the Water Resources Research Center, and the University of Arizona Advanced Resource Technology Lab (ART) for their technical support in producing the Watershed Based Plans. Funding provided by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency under the Clean Water Act and the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality’s Water Quality Protection Division. Additional financial support is provided by the University of Arizona, Technology and Research Initiative Fund (TRIF), Water Sustainability Program through the Water Resources Research Center. The NEMO website is www.ArizonaNEMO.org. Written and prepared by: Chris Black, Hoori Ajami, D. Phillip Guertin, Lainie R. Levick and Kristine Uhlman University of Arizona Tucson, Arizona December 2005 Table of Contents Section 1: Introduction Background Purpose and Scope Methods Structure of this Watershed Plan References Section 2: Physical Features Watershed Size Topography Water Resources Lakes and Reservoirs Stream Type Stream Density Annual Stream Flow Water Quality Geology Soils Climate Precipitation Temperature References Data Sources Section 3: Biological Resources Ecoregions Vegetation Habitats (Riparian and Wetland Areas) Major Land Resource Areas (MLRA’s) References Data Sources Section 4: Social / Economic Characteristics County Governments Council of Governments (COGs) Urban Areas
    [Show full text]
  • Draft Environmental Impact Statement for Integrated Treatment of Noxious
    United States Department of Agriculture Final Environmental Impact Forest Service Statement for Integrated Southwestern Region Treatment of Noxious or Invasive Weeds Coconino, Kaibab, and Prescott National Forests within Coconino, Gila, Mojave, and Yavapai Counties, Arizona The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, or marital or family status. (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 TTY). To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326- W, Whitten Building, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (202) 720-5964 (voice and TTY). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. Printed on recycled paper • January 2005 Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Integrated Treatment of Noxious or Invasive Weeds Coconino, Kaibab, and Prescott National Forests within Coconino, Gila, Mojave, and Yavapai Counties, Arizona Lead Agency: USDA Forest Service Responsible Officials: Nora B. Rasure, Forest Supervisor Coconino National Forest 1824 S. Thompson St. Flagstaff, AZ 86001 Michael R. Williams, Forest Supervisor Kaibab National Forest 800 S. 6th Street Williams, AZ 86046 Michael R. King, Forest Supervisor Prescott National Forest 344 South Cortez Street Prescott, AZ 86303-4398 For Information Contact: Charles F. Ernst 800 South 6th Street Williams, AZ 86046 Abstract: The Coconino, Kaibab, and Prescott National Forests propose to implement a control program for noxious or invasive weeds within central Arizona.
    [Show full text]
  • Land and Resource Management Plan for the Prescott National Forest
    United States Department of the Interior U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Arizona Ecological Services Office 2321 West Royal Palm Road, Suite 103 Phoenix, Arizona 85021-4951 Telephone: (602) 242-0210 FAX: (602) 242-2513 In Reply Refer To: AESO/SE 02EAAZ00-2013-F-0019 July 9, 2014 Ms. Teresa A. Chase, Forest Supervisor Prescott National Forest 344 South Cortez Street Prescott, Arizona 86303 RE: Biological and Conference Opinion –Land and Resource Management Plan for the Prescott National Forest Dear Ms. Chase: Thank you for your January 24, 2014 letter, received January 27, 2014, requesting initiation of formal consultation under section 7 of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) (ESA). At issue are impacts that may result from the revised programmatic “Land and Resource Management Plan for the Prescott National Forest” (LRMP) for lands located in Coconino and Yavapai Counties, Arizona (dated January 2014). The proposed action may affect the endangered Gila chub (Gila intermedia) and its critical habitat, endangered Gila topminnow (Poeciliopsis occidentalis occidentalis), threatened Gila trout (Oncorhynchus gilae), endangered spikedace (Meda fulgida) and its critical habitat, endangered loach minnow (Tiaroga cobitis) and its critical habitat, endangered razorback sucker (Xyrauchen texanus) and its critical habitat, threatened Mexican spotted owl (Strix occidentalis lucida) and its critical habitat, endangered southwestern willow flycatcher (Empidonax traillii extimus) and its critical habitat, threatened
    [Show full text]