Pacific Northwest Region Invasive Plant Program Preventing and Managing Invasive Plants Final Environmental Impact Statement
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Pacific Northwest Region Invasive Plant Program Preventing and Managing Invasive Plants Final Environmental Impact Statement USDA Forest Service Pacific Northwest Region States of Oregon and Washington, Including Portions of Del Norte and Siskiyou Counties in California, and Portions of Nez Perce, Salmon, Idaho, and Adams Counties in Idaho Lead Agency: USDA Forest Service Responsible Official: Linda Goodman, Regional Forester Pacific Northwest Region 333 SW First Ave. PO Box 3623 Portland, OR 97208 For More Information: IPEIS, Eugene Skrine, Team Leader PO Box 3623 Portland, OR 97208 Ph: (503) 808-2685 Fax: (503) 808-2699 Email: [email protected] www.fs.fed.us/r6/invasiveplant-eis Abstract: The Forest Service proposes to add management direction to all existing National Forest Land and Resource Management Plans in the Pacific Northwest Region (Region Six). This direction would standardize invasive plant prevention, and expand the set of invasive plant treatment tools available for use on National Forests in Region Six. The FEIS considers four alternatives in detail (including No Action). Adoption of the standards in any of the action alternatives would likely reduce the extent and rate of spread of invasive plants across the region, and help prevent new infestations. All of the action alternatives include standards to protect human health and the environment. The Forest Service preferred alternative is the Proposed Action. Preventing and Managing Invasive Plants Final Environmental Impact Statement April 2005 The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, 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 TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 14th and Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (202) 720-5964 (voice and TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. ii Preventing and Managing Invasive Plants Final Environmental Impact Statement April 2005 Contents SUMMARY ...........................................................................................................................1 Purpose and Need...................................................................................................................1 The Proposed Action ..............................................................................................................2 Decision to be Made...............................................................................................................3 Public Involvement and Issues ...............................................................................................7 DEIS Comment Period.......................................................................................................7 Key Issues...........................................................................................................................7 The No Action Alternative .....................................................................................................8 The Other Action Alternatives ...............................................................................................9 Alternative B ......................................................................................................................9 Alternative D ......................................................................................................................9 Inventory and Monitoring.....................................................................................................10 Effects of the Alternatives....................................................................................................11 No Action .........................................................................................................................11 Action Alternatives...........................................................................................................11 CHAPTER 1 PURPOSE AND NEED FOR ACTION ...........................................................1-1 1.1 Introduction ...................................................................................................................1-1 1.2 Need for Action .............................................................................................................1-2 1.3 Decision to be Made......................................................................................................1-3 1.4 Project Location.............................................................................................................1-4 1.5 What is Not Included.....................................................................................................1-5 1.6 Public Participation, Scoping and Issues.......................................................................1-9 1.6.1 Key Issues.............................................................................................................1-10 1.6.2 Other Issues ..........................................................................................................1-13 1.6.3 DEIS Comment Period.........................................................................................1-14 CHAPTER 2 ALTERNATIVES, INCLUDING THE PROPOSED ACTION ......................2-1 2.1 Introduction ...................................................................................................................2-1 2.2 Alternatives Considered in Detail .................................................................................2-1 2.3 Current Direction and the No Action Alternative .........................................................2-4 2.3.1 Prevention...............................................................................................................2-5 2.3.2 Treatment and Restoration .....................................................................................2-8 2.3.3 Inventory and Monitoring.......................................................................................2-9 2.4 Management Direction Common to All Action Alternatives......................................2-11 2.4.1 Desired Future Conditions, Goals and Objectives ...............................................2-12 2.4.2 Inventory and Monitoring Plan Framework.........................................................2-15 iii Preventing and Managing Invasive Plants Final Environmental Impact Statement April 2005 2.5 Management Direction Unique to Each Action Alternative .......................................2-16 2.6 Comparison of Alternatives.........................................................................................2-25 2.7 Alternatives Considered but Eliminated From Detailed Study ...................................2-33 2.7.1 Prohibiting OHVs, Grazing, Logging, and other Land Management Activities..2-33 2.7.2 No Treatment of Invasive Plants ..........................................................................2-33 2.7.3 No Use of Herbicides ...........................................................................................2-34 2.7.4 Additional Use of Herbicides ...............................................................................2-35 2.7.5 No use of Biocontrol Agents ................................................................................2-35 2.7.6 Prohibit Aerial Application Of Herbicides...........................................................2-36 2.7.7 Restore Native Ecosystems Alternative (RNEA).................................................2-36 CHAPTER 3 AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT ........................................................................3-1 3.1.1 Current Extent of Invasion .....................................................................................3-2 3.1.2 Invasive Plant Species in Region Six .....................................................................3-5 3.1.3 Mechanisms of Invasion.........................................................................................3-9 3.2 Influence of Invasive Plants on Ecosystem Components............................................3-26 3.2.1 Soils ......................................................................................................................3-27 3.2.2 Water Quality .......................................................................................................3-31 3.2.3 Riparian ................................................................................................................3-35 3.2.4 Aquatics................................................................................................................3-37 3.2.5 Native Plants and Plant Communities ..................................................................3-40 3.2.6 Wildlife.................................................................................................................3-47 3.2.7 Threatened, Endangered, Proposed and Sensitive Species ..................................3-49 3.2.8 Social and Economic ............................................................................................3-66 3.2.9 Congressionally Designated Areas.......................................................................3-70