Draft Environmental Impact Statement for Revision of the Land and Resource Management Plan for the Uwharrie National Forest
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U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service Southern Region Draft Environmental Impact Statement for Revision of the Land and Resource Management Plan for the Uwharrie National Forest National Forests in North Carolina R8-MB-138B June 2011 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 a part of an individual's income is derived from any public assistance program. (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 to USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382 (TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. Draft Environmental Impact Statement for Revision of the Uwharrie National Forest Proposed Land and Resource Management Plan Montgomery, Randolph, and Davidson Counties, North Carolina June 2011 Responsible Agency: USDA Forest Service Elizabeth Agpaoa, Responsible Official: Regional Forester, 1720 Peachtree Road NW, Atlanta, GA 30309 404-347-4177 For more information contact: Marisue Hilliard Forest Supervisor National Forests in North Carolina 160 Zillicoa Street Suite A Asheville, NC 28801 (828) 257- 4200 The 90-day comment period begins with publication of the Notice of Availability in the Federal Register. E-mail comments to: [email protected] Subject: Uwharrie Plan Or if e-mail is not available, written comments should be submitted to: Proposed Land and Resource Management Plan NFsNC/Uwharrie National Forest 160 Zillicoa Street Suite A Asheville, NC 28801 Abstract: Three alternatives for revision of the Land and Resource Management Plan (LRMP) for the Uwharrie National Forest are described and compared in this Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS). Alternatives A, B, and C were analyzed in detail in this DEIS. Alternative A represents the current LRMP and is also referred to as the 1986 Plan. Alternative B is the alternative preferred by the Forest Service and is the foundation for the Proposed Plan available for review concurrently with this document. Alternative C is a variation of Alternative B developed to address an unresolved issue with equestrian use of the national forest. This DEIS documents the analysis of all alternatives and displays the environmental effects at a programmatic level. The preferred alternative, outlined in the Proposed Plan, would guide all natural resource management activities on the Uwharrie NF for the next 15 years; would address new information and concerns raised since the 1986 Plan was published; and would meet objectives of federal laws, regulation, and policies. Table of Contents Summary ................................................................................................................................................................................... vii CHAPTER 1: PURPOSE AND NEED FOR THE PROPOSED ACTION ..................................................................... 1 CHAPTER 2: ALTERNATIVES, INCLUDING PROPOSED ACTION ......................................................................... 7 ALTERNATIVE A – Continuation of the 1986 Plan .......................................................................................... 7 ALTERNATIVE B –Proposed Plan [Preferred Alternative] .......................................................................... 8 ALTERNATIVE C .......................................................................................................................................................... 17 ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED NOT ANALYZED IN DETAIL ..................................................................... 17 CHAPTER 3: AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES .............................. 26 Botanical Resources......................................................................................................................................................... 26 Non-Native Invasive Plants Species .......................................................................................................................... 49 Wildlife .................................................................................................................................................................................. 52 Management Indicator Species ............................................................................................................................. 53 Wildlife Demand Species ......................................................................................................................................... 54 Threatened, Endangered, Sensitive, and Locally Rare Wildlife Species ............................................... 55 Migratory Birds ............................................................................................................................................................ 57 Aquatic Wildlife ................................................................................................................................................................. 70 Forest Health ...................................................................................................................................................................... 89 Physical Resources ................................................................................................................................................................ 94 Air Quality ............................................................................................................................................................................ 94 Soils ........................................................................................................................................................................................ 99 Water Resources ............................................................................................................................................................ 107 Climate Change ............................................................................................................................................................... 122 Social, Economic, and Cultural Resources ................................................................................................................ 125 Roads .................................................................................................................................................................................. 125 Recreation ......................................................................................................................................................................... 126 Scenery ............................................................................................................................................................................... 139 Wilderness ........................................................................................................................................................................ 145 River Corridors Eligible for Wild and Scenic River Status ............................................................................ 150 Forest Products .............................................................................................................................................................. 153 Cultural Resources ........................................................................................................................................................ 158 Local Communities ........................................................................................................................................................ 164 Social and Economic Environment ......................................................................................................................... 166 Environmental Justice.................................................................................................................................................. 173 Uwharrie National Forest Draft Environmental Impact Statement i Table of Contents Programs and Plans of other Federal agencies, State and local governments and Indian Tribes 174 Other Effects .................................................................................................................................................................... 177 CHAPTER 4: LIST OF PREPARERS ............................................................................................................................... 181 CHAPTER 5: AGENCIES AND INDIVIDUALS RECEIVING DEIS ........................................................................ 183 CHAPTER 6: GLOSSARY ................................................................................................................................................... 185 References ............................................................................................................................................................................