Medicine Bow Landscape Vegetation Analysis Project Draft Environmental Impact Statement
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United States Department of Agriculture Medicine Bow Landscape Vegetation Analysis Project Draft Environmental Impact Statement Forest Service Medicine Bow-Routt National Forests and Thunder Basin National Grassland Laramie and Brush Creek/Hayden Ranger Districts June 2018 Disclaimer: Although the Forest Service uses the most current and complete data it has available, GIS data and product accuracy may vary. They may be: developed from sources of differing accuracy, accurate only at certain scales, based on modeling or interpretation, incomplete while being created or revised, have represented features not in accurate geographic locations, etc. The Forest Service makes no expressed or implied warranty, including warranty of merchantability and fitness, with respect to the character, function, or capabilities of the data or their appropriateness for any user's purposes. 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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: USDA Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights. USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender. Note: The Forest Service makes every effort to create documents that are accessible to individuals of all abilities; however, limitations with our word processing programs may prevent some parts of this document from being readable by computer-assisted reading devices. If you have questions about how to identify new information or if you need assistance with this document, please contact the Medicine Bow-Routt National Forests and Thunder Basin National Grassland Supervisor’s Office at 307-745-2300. Cover photo: Matrix of beetle-killed stands surrounded by resilient stands that were previously harvested (provided by U.S. Forest Service). Medicine Bow Landscape Vegetation Analysis Project Draft Environmental Impact Statement Albany and Carbon Counties, Wyoming Lead Agency: USDA Forest Service Cooperating Agencies: Wyoming State Forestry Division, Wyoming Game and Fish Department, Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality, Wyoming State Historic Preservation Office, Cheyenne Board of Public Utilities, Wyoming Department of Agriculture, Carbon County, Little Snake River Conservation District, Laramie Rivers Conservation District, Medicine Bow Conservation District, Saratoga-Encampment-Rawlins Conservation District, Bureau of Land Management, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Responsible Official: Russell Bacon, Forest Supervisor 2468 Jackson St., Laramie, WY 82070 For Information Contact: Melissa Martin, Planning and Information Program Manager 2468 Jackson St., Laramie, WY 82070 307-745-2371 Abstract: The purpose of the Medicine Bow Landscape Vegetation Analysis (LaVA) Project is to respond to changed forest vegetation conditions presented by the bark beetle epidemic experienced on the Medicine Bow National Forest. The need for the project is defined by existing, desired, and predicted conditions for forested vegetation and the threats to forest values they pose. Two alternatives were analyzed—no action and the modified proposed action—as authorized by section 104(1) of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act. The proposed project is a hazardous fuels reduction project as defined by the Healthy Forests Restoration Act, section 101(2) and is subject to subparts A and C of 36 CFR part 218 (project-level pre- decisional administrative review process). It is important that reviewers provide their comments at such times and in such a way that they are useful to the Agency’s preparation of the environmental impact statement. 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 or judicial reviews. Send Comments to: Melissa Martin, Planning and Information Program Manager 2468 Jackson St., Laramie, WY 82070 Date Comments Must Be Received: August 20, 2018 Summary The Medicine Bow Landscape Vegetation Analysis (LaVA) project area includes most of the Snowy Range and Sierra Madre Mountain Ranges in the Medicine Bow National Forest. The Medicine Bow National Forest has experienced epidemic levels of mountain pine beetle and spruce bark beetle infestations since the mid- to late 1990s, and post-epidemic conditions have dramatically changed the cover type, diversity, and structural stages of the forested vegetation. High tree mortality levels have also moved the Medicine Bow away from desired conditions outlined in the 2003 revised Medicine Bow National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan (forest plan). Identified gaps between existing and forest plan desired conditions within the LaVA project area include: • Heavy fuels have accumulated in conifer stands which does not protect communities, infrastructure, and municipal watersheds from wildfires. • Heavy tree mortality has reduced biodiversity across the Medicine Bow National Forest, including suitable habitat for wildlife species. Given this reduction, there is a need to accelerate habitat recovery through vegetation treatments. • Existing forested structural stages, age classes, and cover types do not meet forest plan desired conditions. Consequently, there is a need to accelerate regeneration through stand initiation treatments which improve resilience to future epidemics. • The existing jackstrawed condition in much of the beetle-killed conifer stands does not provide recreation and livestock access and satisfaction for hunting and other recreation activities. There is a need to reduce the heavy buildup of dead and down material through fuel reduction and salvage treatments. • The existing condition of overhead hazard trees, caused by the bark beetle epidemics, does not provide for public and employee safety and lower the risk of wildfire in wildland-urban interface areas. • The existing condition of tree mortality has moved the Medicine Bow National Forest away from the desired conditions for a suitable timber base in Management Areas 5.13 and 5.15 (timber emphases). There is a need for treatments to support the future regeneration of merchantable tree species to meet desired conditions, standards, and guidelines for these two management areas. The purpose of the LaVA Project is to respond to the conditions outlined above. The need for the project is defined by existing, desired, and predicted conditions for forested vegetation and the threats posed by the existing and predicted conditions. The proposed project is a hazardous fuels reduction project as defined by the Healthy Forests Restoration Act, section 101(2) and is subject to subparts A and C of 36 CFR part 218 (project-level pre-decisional administrative review process). Draft Environmental Impact Statement – LaVA Project i Summary Cooperating Agencies Medicine Bow National Forest personnel have cooperated with numerous