Table of Contents

I. INTRODUCTION ...... 3 II. CONSULTATION TO DATE ...... 6 III. CURRENT MANAGEMENT DIRECTION ...... 6 IV. PROJECT DESCRIPTION ...... 7 V. EXISTING SPECIES AND HABITAT CONDITION ...... 20 VI. EFFECTS ...... 27 VII. OTHER MANAGEMENT ISSUES AND RECOMMENDATIONS: ...... 38 VIII. MITIGATIONS AND MONITORING ...... 38 IX. DETERMINATION ...... 38 X. REFERENCES...... 40 APPENDIX A: BOTANY REPORT FOR SPECIAL INTEREST PLANTS ...... 42 APPENDIX B: NOXIOUS WEED RISK ASSESSMENT ...... 47 APPENDIX C: NOXIOUS/INVASIVE WEEDS OF CONCERN ...... 54

CalleCat Ecological Restoration Project 2 Sensitive Plant BE/BA & WRA

I. INTRODUCTION Purpose: Forest Service Manual 2672.42 specifies that a biological evaluation (BE) and a biological assessment (BA) be prepared to determine if a project may affect any USDA Forest Service (FS) sensitive species and US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) threatened, endangered, or proposed species and their designated or proposed critical habitat. This BE/BA is prepared in accordance with legal requirements set forth under Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act (16 U.S.C. 1536 (c)). The purpose of this BE/BA is to review Callecat Ecological Restoration project in sufficient detail to determine to what extent the proposed action may affect any threatened, endangered, proposed, and sensitive (TES) plant species for the project area.

The Amador Ranger District of the Eldorado National Forest proposes to conduct an ecological restoration project on about 5,555 acres of NFS lands. The main project objective is to reduce unnaturally high fuel loadings and improve forest health

Location: The proposed project area is located between the areas of Big Mountain Ridge and Cat Creek Ridge (T9N, R15E, Sections 15, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, and 33; T9N, R14E, Sections 25, 26, 35, and 36; T8N, R15E, Sections 6,15 and16; T8N, R14E, Sections 1, 2, 3, 4, 9,11, and 12 MDB&M).

Species: Listed A species list was obtained from the USFWS to identify threatened, endangered, or proposed listed species that could occur, or be affected by projects on the Eldorado National Forest from the USDI Fish and Wildlife Service pursuant to Section 7 (c) of the Endangered Species Act. The list is available for review at: (http://www.fws.gov/sacramento/es_species/Lists/es_species_lists_NF- form-page.htm).

Currently the only TEP plant species expected to occur on the Eldorado NF is Packera layneae. Potential habitat for Packera layneae is not found within the proposed project area.

Sensitive The following Sensitive plant species are known from the project area: 1) Lewisia kelloggii ssp. hutchisonii 2) Calochortus clavatus var. avius 3) Peltegeria hydrotheria

The following Sensitive plant species have potential habitat within the project area: 1) Allium tribracteatum 2) Botrychium spp 3) Cypripedium montanum 4) Lewisia kelloggii ssp. kelloggii 5) Meesia triquetra 6) Meesia uliginosa

Table 1 lists all Sensitive plant taxa from the ENF. No other Threatened, Endangered, Proposed, or Sensitive (TEPS) plant taxa have known occurrences or potential habitat on the ENF. Taxa that do not have potential habitat in the project area are not further analyzed in this document. Botanical surveys conducted for the proposed project focused on species with potential habitat. Botanists searched for these habitats (e.g., meadow) as well as for the Sensitive taxa.

CalleCat Ecological Restoration Project 3 Sensitive Plant BE/BA & WRA Table 1. Habitat potential of the Proposed Callecat Ecological Restoration analysis area (4,000- 6,2000 ft) for the TEPS plant taxa known or suspected to occur on the Eldorado National Forest.

1 2 Potential Species Status On ENF Rationale For Determination Of No Effect Habitat

Allium tribracteatum S P Yes

El Dorado (Nissenan) manzanita grows on highly acidic Arctostaphylos S K No slate and shale soils and is often associated with closed- nissenana cone conifer forest at elevations of 1,400 to 3,600 feet. Big-scale balsamroot occurs in chaparral, vernally moist Balsamorhiza meadows & grasslands, grasslands within oak macrolepis var. S P No woodland, and ponderosa pine forest at elevations macrolepis below 4,600 feet. Substrates include sandstone, serpentine, or basalt outcrops.

Botrychium spp. S K Yes

Bolander’s Bruchia is found in meadows, seeps, and fens in montane and subalpine communities. It grows in ephemeral habitats such as erosional ditches or small Bruchia bolanderi S K No streams through wet meadows. The species grows above 7000 feet. No suitable habitat exists within the project area.

Calochortus clavatus S K Yes var. avius

Cypripedium P (K on S Yes montanum inholding)

Draba asterophora Tahoe draba is restricted to rocky ledges and talus S H No var. asterophora slopes in subalpine and alpine habitats above 8,200 feet.

Cup Lake draba is restricted to sandy slopes, rocky Draba asterophora S K No ledges, and talus slopes in subalpine and alpine habitats var. macrocarpa above 8,200 feet. Subalpine fireweed is found in moist to wet meadows, Epilobium howellii S K No fens, and mossy seeps in subalpine coniferous forest above 8,000 feet.

CalleCat Ecological Restoration Project 4 Sensitive Plant BE/BA & WRA Tripod buckwheat grows on serpentine soils in foothill Eriogonum S K No and cismontane woodlands. There is no serpentine soils tripodum in the project area. Blandow’s bog-moss grows in wet meadows, fens, & seeps in subalpine coniferous forest from 6,100 to 9,000 Helodium blandowii S P No feet in elevation. Project area is below the expected elevational range for this species. Parry’s horkelia is found on stony, disturbed, slightly acidic soils in open chaparral and cismontane woodland Horkelia parryi S K No below 3,300 feet, often on Ione formation. Potential habitat does not occur in the project area.

Lewisia kelloggii S K Yes ssp. hutchisonii

Lewisia kelloggii S K? Yes ssp. kelloggii

Long-petaled lewisia is restricted to subalpine & alpine Lewisia longipetala S K No slopes or basins with deep snow accumulations, above 8,200 feet in elevation. Saw-toothed lewisia is present in Leonardi Falls Botanical Interest Area. It is restricted to steep, nearly Lewisia serrata S K No vertical cliffs in inner gorges of perennial streams and rarely near seeps and intermittent streams in the American River watershed.

Meesia triquetra S K Yes

Meesia uliginosa S P Yes .

Yellow bur navarretia is found in openings in or adjacent to mixed conifer forest or cismontane Navarretia prolifera S K No woodland on rocky ridgelines, saddles, or eroding ssp. lutea ephemeral drainages from 2,300 to 5,000 feet. It is often found on the Ledmount soils series.

Layne’s ragwort (butterweed) is found on rocky, Packera [Senecio] T, S K No gabbroic or serpentinitic soils in chaparral and layneae cismontane woodland below 3,000 feet. Whitebark pine typically occurs on cold and windy high elevation sites in western north America (7,000-12,000 Pinus albicaulis S, C K No feet). Potential habitat does not occur in the project area.

CalleCat Ecological Restoration Project 5 Sensitive Plant BE/BA & WRA Peltigera S K Yes hydrothyria

Stebbins’ phacelia is found on dry, open, rocky sites Phacelia stebbinsii S K No (bedrock outcrops, rubble or talus) on ledges or moderate to steep slopes.

1 S = Forest Service Sensitive; T =Federally Listed as Threatened; C= Candidate Species 2 H = historic record; K = known to occur on ENF; P = suspected to occur on ENF Sources: USDA FS, 2006; USDA FS, 2001; Federal Register, 1995; CNPS 2007

Field reconnaissance: The project area was surveyed for Sensitive plants and invasive plants primarily in 2009, with secondary surveys occurring in 2010, and 2011. Surveys were intuitive targeting potential habitat (lava cap, meadows, riparian areas, etc.) throughout the project area. All existing sensitive plant occurrences in the project area were also monitored in 2009. Pleasant Valley mariposa lily (CACLA) occurs at four locations scattered throughout the western half of the project area. One Hutchison’s Lewisia occurrence adjacent to unit 113-101. Veined aquatic lichen was found in nine streams throughout the project area including; Sugar Pine Creek, Loggers Delight, Dark Canyon, Twin Gulch, Cat Creek, and an unnamed drainage (Callecat Stream 9).

II. CONSULTATION TO DATE No formal or informal consultation with the USFWS has been conducted since TEP species or potential habitat does not exist in or near the project area.

III. CURRENT MANAGEMENT DIRECTION The goal of the Forest Sensitive Plant Program is to maintain viable populations of sensitive plant species, and under Management Practice 49, the General Direction is to "provide for protection and habitat needs of sensitive plants so that Forest activities would not jeopardize the continued existence of such species" (Land and Resource Management Plan, 1989).

“A [viable] population…has the estimated numbers and distribution of reproductive individuals to ensure the continued existence of the species throughout its existing range within the planning area” (FSM 2670.5)

Current policy as stated in the Forest Service Manual (FSM 2670.32) includes the following: Assist States in achieving their goals for conservation of endemic species.

1. As part of the National Environmental Policy Act process, review programs and activities. 2. Avoid or minimize impacts to species whose viability has been identified as a concern. 3. If impacts cannot be avoided, analyze the significance of potential adverse effects on the population or its habitat within the area of concern and on the species as a whole. (The line officer, with project approval authority, makes the decision to allow or disallow impact, but the decision must not result in loss of species viability or create significant trends toward Federal listing.) 4. Establish management objectives in cooperation with the States when projects on National Forest System lands may have a significant effect on Sensitive species

CalleCat Ecological Restoration Project 6 Sensitive Plant BE/BA & WRA population numbers or distributions. Establish objectives for Federal candidate species, in cooperation with the FWS and the States.

The current condition of Sensitive plant species on the Eldorado National Forest reflects the effects of past and present management activities. Presently there is not enough evidence to suggest whether Sensitive plant populations and/or ranges are increasing, decreasing, or stable. Monitoring of occurrences, which detects decreases or increases from year to year, may merely reflect normal variation in individual numbers as a response to annual climatic changes. There is also considerable uncertainty regarding future changes in local climatic patterns. Given the lack of data needed to take a proactive management approach to these Sensitive plant species, the best available interim management approach is to minimize impacts to known occurrences of Sensitive plant species while allowing expansion into suitable unoccupied habitat. This strategy would also maximize the diversity of habitat and microsite conditions (slope, aspect, elevation, etc) for Sensitive plants on the Eldorado National Forest which may be important in face of future climate change. While much is unknown about the potential long-term effects of a warming and/or drying climate on Sensitve plant species, in the near term, maintaining habitat diversity across the species range may be the best means to manage for species which could require unique microsites to persist under future climatic conditions.

IV. PROJECT DESCRIPTION Changes to the Proposed Action

Due to further analysis and information acquired since the scoping document was sent out to the public, some changes to the proposed action have occurred. Total commercial harvest acres have been reduced for multiple reasons. One reason is the discovery of a new northern goshawk nesting location and subsequent creation of a new PAC. In addition the refinement of unit boundaries for areas proposed for skyline logging systems resulted in some areas being excluded from treatment and some areas to be switched to ground based logging. Also the silvicultural prescriptions for selected spotted owl HRCAs were modified. This resulted in the dropping of acres contained in the selected HRCAs that had mechanical thinning treatment in the recent past. Total reduction in mechanical thinning is approximately 284 acres.

Design criteria for Riparian Conservation Areas have been modified to allow for treatments with prescribed fire and glyphosate to occur closer to stream channels while still meeting forest plan direction.

There will be no public access granted for firewood cutting on roads closed under the 2008 Eldorado National Forest Public Wheeled Motorized Travel Management Environmental Impact Statement (Travel Management EIS) due to the estimate that there would be very few landings (1-3 total) created on these roads. This would only affect roads 9NY09 and 9NY08A. Most of roads in the project area are open to the public and will provide ample access for firewood cutting.

The Amador Ranger District of the Eldorado National Forest specifically proposes the following:

Commercial Thinning: (See Appendix A for Table of Units) • Mechanically thin approximately 2737 acres of natural stands and commercial sized plantations by cutting and removing trees between 10 inches and 30 inches dbh, using ground-based commercial logging methods including whole tree yarding(2551 acres);and skyline logging systems (186 acres)

CalleCat Ecological Restoration Project 7 Sensitive Plant BE/BA & WRA • Remove small trees (4 inches to 10 inches dbh) to landings, or other designated disposal sites, on the mechanically thinned acres • Tree tops and small trees (biomass) would be piled at landings and be made available for either biomass power generation or public fire wood cutting. Material remaining at landings (if not removed by previous methods) would be burned. • Conduct post-harvest treatments, including grapple or tractor piling of existing and activity fuels, followed by prescribed fire where surface fuels remain above desired conditions Silvicultural prescriptions will incorporate recommendations from PSW-GTR-220 and be designed to meet the following goals: • Reduce shading around oaks to improve growing conditions • Increase the percentage of shade intolerant pine and hardwoods • Retain clumps of large trees • Retain large trees with defects such as rot, cavities, and multiple tops • Improve forest resiliency by reducing stand densities by thinning • Manage the intermediate size class (20 to 30 inch DBH), thinning this class primarily by species (shade tolerant), growth form (those acting as ladder fuels), and topography (middle to upper slopes) • Increase stand variability • Increase understory light conditions for shrub establishment

Treatment of Annosus (see appendix A for Table of Units) • Create small openings (1 to 2 acres in size) by removing conifer species in and adjacent to areas with symptoms of annosus root rot infection. Areas would be located throughout the natural stands proposed for commercial thinning and designated during the timber marking phase. Treat stumps of surrounding area with borax fungicide (Sporax or equivalent formulation). The total area treated in these openings would be approximately 60 acres. • Reforest openings with a mix non-host species (ponderosa pine Jeffrey pine, sugar pine, and incense cedar). • Conduct one to two release treatments to ensure seedling survival and growth, using a solution of three percent glyphosate herbicide (Rodeo or equivalent formulation), methylated seed oil (MSO) based surfactant, or a silicone/modified vegetable oil blend), and a colorant or dye. • Evaluate seedling survival and interplant if necessary in order to achieve desired level of stocking.

Borax fungicide is also proposed for stumps created at PiPi campground.

Pre-commercial and Commercial size plantations (See Appendix A for Table of Units) • Conduct timber stand improvement (non-commercial) treatment including precommercial thinning, pruning, and/or slash treatments on about 227 acres

CalleCat Ecological Restoration Project 8 Sensitive Plant BE/BA & WRA • Treat understory vegetation using, manual, mechanical and chemical methods on about 751 acres. Chemical methods would utilize the same glyphosate herbicide mixture described above.

Reforestation of unsuccessful plantations from previous timber harvest (See Appendix A for Table of Units) • Site preparation with mechanical, manual, and/or chemical methods. • Hand planting of native conifer species. • One or more release treatments for survival of planted conifers, using mechanical, manual and/or chemical methods. • Evaluate seedling survival and interplant if necessary in order to achieve desired level of stocking. Chemical methods would utilize the same glyphosate herbicide mixture described above.

Prescribed burn about 3125 acres outside of commercial thinning units (See Appendix A for Table of Units)

Noxious weeds • Control populations of tree of heaven, starthistle and broom using previously mentioned glyphosate herbicide and hand pulling at three known locations • If new populations of noxious weeds are discovered in areas where other project activities occur, they would also be treated with the same methods as above

Road Maintenance and Reconstruction Roads and trails within the project area would be managed consistent with the 2008 Eldorado National Forest Public Wheeled Motorized Travel Management Environmental Impact Statement (Travel Management EIS). Road reconstruction on roads not identified as open to public use, 9NY08A and 9NY09 would be blocked by gates, barricades, rocks, other barriers or by signing. In addition to the seasonal closure identified by the Travel Management EIS, roads identified as open for public use may be temporarily closed during inclement weather to protect reconstruction investments until those roads have been stabilized.

There are approximately 48 miles of road reconstruction, 27 miles of maintenance and 1.5 miles of new construction temporary road needed for the project. The units that have an anticipated need for new temporary road construction are, 153, 159 and 134, 143, and 139. Most of the proposed reconstruction on roads is associated with the need to remove brush from roads that have been over-grown since the previous entry. Some reconstruction, including road rocking, would repair road running surfaces reducing the loss of existing native surface material. Reconstruction activities would also involve the replacement of inadequate drainage crossings, cutting or trimming of trees and brush for sight distance improvement, elimination of ruts, gate installation to control seasonal use or replacement of existing, non-functional gates or barriers, ditch repair, and installation of water bars and dips on roads with inadequate runoff control. Drainage structures would be designed for 100-year storm events. Identified hazard trees will be cut along haul routes used for the project as needed to provide for safety and are subject to removal.

• Road reconstruction is planned on FS system roads 8N42, 8N42C, 9N17A, 9N17B, 9N17H, 9N17J, 9N17K, 9N17S, 9N22D, 9N23, 9N39, 9N40, 9N41, 9N41A, 9N42A,

CalleCat Ecological Restoration Project 9 Sensitive Plant BE/BA & WRA 9N51, 9N51B, 9N67, 9N76, 9N76B, 9N76C, 9N77, 9N78, 9N78A, 9N79, 9N79A, 9NY08, 9NY08A, 9NY08B, 9NY09 AND 9NY33 • Non-system road identified as 9N22A: Block access to this non-system road with rocks or dirt berm and decommission road with a combination of ripping and or covering with vegetative material

Rust Resistant Sugar Pine Protect Amador Ranger District's 22 proven Rust Resistant Sugar Pine trees in a manner consistent with the Forest Rust Resistant Sugar Pine Action Plan and the Regional Policy for Sugar Pine Management. Proposed treatments include the removal of both merchantable (10-30" dbh) and sub-merchantable (<10" dbh) trees which may be used by squirrels to access resistant tree crowns or which strongly compete for soil, light, and nutrients. Slash and any woody vegetation within approximately 100' radius of the resistant trees may be cut and piled or scattered.

Restoration of Dispersed Camp Sites

At two dispersed campsites located along Cat Creek near intersection of Forest Service Roads 9N17 and 9N22 and a dispersed campsite south of Forest Service Road 8N42 and Unit 135 the following restoration activities would be used to rehabilitate the areas:

• Placement of large boulders next to the stream channels at two dispersed camping areas. The boulders would be placed approximately 20 feet from the edge of the channel so as to prevent vehicles from driving closer to the stream. Removal of campfire rings between the boulders and the stream. • Adding to existing boulder blockade • Contour till to decompact soils and road • Reseeding with botanist recommended mix • Apply weed free straw for short-term stabilization of ripped surfaces • Plant riparian vegetation on banks with absent or suppressed vegetation • Cover site with felled small (pre-commercial) trees to a surface cover of approximately 50%. • Dispersed camping would continue to be allowed in these areas.

At one dispersed camp site located off of Forest Service Road 9N17F and associated Non-System Road:

• Along with rehabilitation activities listed above, obliterate and rehab the non system road including recontouring, reseeding, and placement of temporary erosion control devices. • This area is currently closed to dispersed camping

In and around meadows north of PiPi Campground (Unit 112) • Remove (by hand) conifers in wet meadows. • Thin conifers up to the edge of wet meadows. This would be accomplished using feller bunchers, which would be allowed within 25 feet from the edge of the meadows and allowed to “reach-in” to remove conifers up to the edge of the meadows.

CalleCat Ecological Restoration Project 10 Sensitive Plant BE/BA & WRA • Stabilize gullies using grade control methods and could include: reshaping the headwall of the gully, installing filter fabric, placement of rock as energy dissipaters, construction of grade-control structures such as weirs, log step falls or rock step falls using native material. Revegetate using sod plugs from the adjacent meadow would occur. All work would be done by hand.

Gullies and plugged culvert in the area of 9N17 and Dark Canyon (Unit 130) • Stabilize the gullies by peeling back the headwall to a 1:1.5 slope, install filter fabric, and place cobble-sized rock on excavated face . Between culvert outlets and headcuts, excavate a two foot channel and line with cobble-sized material (3-10 inches). • Unplug the plugged culvert and excavate inlet side of culvert.

Design Criteria

Design criteria are measures taken as part of the proposed action to ensure meeting purpose and need while minimizing environmental effects.

Fuels

Where fuels are heaviest, ground fuels and activity fuels would be grapple or dozer piled for burning. Commercial harvest units would be evaluated upon completion by Fuels Officer to determine whether there is a piling need. Ground or activity fuels would also be available to supply a biomass power generation plant. Where fuel loads are more variable, ground fuels and activity fuels would be grapple or dozer piled where needed to reduce fuel loads to less than 20 tons per acre while retaining 70% effective soil cover. For hand piles, or in areas with lighter fuel loads, concentrations of fuel would be burned, and fire would be allowed to creep between fuel concentrations or hand piles and back into RCAs. Fire line constructed by hand or with equipment maybe needed to complete burning operations, however roads would be used where feasible. During burning operations, fire would be allowed to creep between piles or fuel concentrations and back into RCAs.

Hand treatment of fuels would occur in specified units and within equipment exclusion zones along stream channels, wetlands, and meadows throughout the project where fuel loads exceed woody debris needed for ground cover and large woody debris recruitment for stream channels. The hand piles would be lit from the top, and prescribed fire would be allowed to creep between piles in order to dispose of the hand piles.

Conduct prescribed understory burning on approximately 3125 acres. Activities would include construction of firelines by hand or tractor, and hand cutting ladder fuels around large old growth conifers and oak trees. Consultation between District Silviculturist and Fuels Officer would occur prior to prescribed burning to determine methods to reduce risk of tree mortality in non- commercial sized plantations. Fire line construction would follow established guidelines for waterbar construction as outlined in the Best Management Practices. Upon completion of prescribed burning activities, the visible character of the firelines would be hidden by spreading woody debris where they intersect existing roads and trails to limit unauthorized vehicle use.

Air Quality- Pile burning and prescribed understory burning are implemented under a Smoke Management Plan, issued by the Amador/El Dorado County Air Pollution Control District, and a Burn Plan that adheres to Federal and Regional standards. To reduce air quality impacts, emission

CalleCat Ecological Restoration Project 11 Sensitive Plant BE/BA & WRA reduction strategies would be used. For prescribed burning, desirable meteorological and fuel moisture conditions would be required in the project’s smoke management plan to facilitate venting and dispersion of smoke from the project area.

Pesticide Applications

Chemical application would be restricted to ground-based applications. The application rates for the herbicides, fungicides, and adjuvants proposed for use would be in accordance with each material's label instructions. Herbicide will be applied with backpack sprayers using a directed spray on target vegetation. In reforestation units target vegetation is all competing vegetation and in the established plantations the target vegetation is woody brushAll appropriate laws and regulations governing the use of pesticides, as required by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the California Department of Pesticide Regulation, and Forest Service policy pertaining to pesticide-use, would be followed. Coordination with the appropriate County Agricultural Commissioner would occur, and all required licenses and permits would be obtained prior to any pesticide application. In addition to existing laws and regulations, several additional practices would be employed to increase safety. These include restrictions location of equipment and additional personal protective equipment. A site-specific safety and spill plan would be developed to address site-specific attributes of proposed units.

Heritage

Sites in harvest units or near road maintenance/reconstruction projects would be identified with flagging and avoided during project activities. All thinning of trees adjacent to site boundaries will be directionally felled away from the site. Non-merchantable trees and brush may be removed by hand, within site boundaries, at the direction of the District Archaeologist. The sites in units or near road maintenance/reconstruction will be identified with flagging and avoided during project activities. Sites that are flammable will be avoided during prescribed understory burning and fire line construction activities. Construction of fire lines will occur outside of the cultural resource site boundaries unless directed by the district archaeologist. Gaps created will avoid cultural resource site locations. All machine and hand piles will be placed away from sites at a distance such that site features will not be affected by flames and heat. Hazard tree removal on or in the vicinity of cultural resource sites will be coordinated with the District Archaeologist and will follow the guidelines for hazard tree removal included in the Sierra Programmatic Agreement (Whiteman 2012).

If any previously undocumented cultural resources are encountered during project operations, all work would cease immediately in that area until the District Archaeologist can inspect the area, document the resource, and provide for appropriate protective measures.

Botany and Noxious Weeeds

Aquatic veined lichen (Peltigera hydrothyria), occurs within the proposed project area. Project botanist will be consulted prior to initiation of road maintenance within 100 feet of drainages with aquatic veined lichen. Should any new TES species be located during the proposed project, available steps will be taken to evaluate and mitigate effects.

Four Pleasant Valley Mariposa lily (Calochortus clavatus var. avius) populations occur within the project area and will be flagged for avoidance. All ground disturbing activities, burn piles, and herbicide applications would be excluded from sensitive plant protection areas.

CalleCat Ecological Restoration Project 12 Sensitive Plant BE/BA & WRA Hand thinning and prescribed fire within sensitive plant protection areas may occur at the direction of the project botanist.

Prescribed burn units: Due to the fact that prescribed burn implementation can occur several years after completion of thinning or other treatments, the project leader or burn boss would notify the forest botanist prior to burning in order to re-flag occurrences within burn units. This would clarify occurrence boundaries and ensure that fire lines are not cut through occurrences.

All off-road equipment will be cleaned to ensure it is free of soil, seeds, vegetative matter or other debris before entering the project area. Straw or mulch used for erosion control will be certified weed-free or, if certified straw is not available, rice straw will be used. A certificate from the county of origin stating the material was inspected is required.

Any seed used for restoration or erosion control will be from a locally collected source (ENF, Seed, Mulch and Fertilizer Prescription, 2000). Sand, gravel, fill material, and boulders used within the project area must come from weed free sources. Consult with Forest Botanist for sources of weed-free material.

Post-treatment monitoring of sensitive plants, noxious weed, and special habitat within the project area will be conducted following project implementation to ensure that the design criteria are effective.

Transportation/Roads

Water would be used on native surface roads to maintain surface fines, minimize dust, and maintain surface compaction. Existing waterholes and other sites such as ponds, lakes, or streams, used for water drafting would be inspected for existing amphibians and flow levels prior to use. A Forest Service approved screen covered drafting box, or other device to create a low entry velocity (Riparian Conservation Objective (RCO) #4, SNFPA ROD p. A-56), would be used while drafting to minimize removal of aquatic species, including juvenile fish, amphibian egg masses and tadpoles, from aquatic habitats.

Terrestrial Wildlife

Mechanical and fuels prescriptions are designed to be consistent with Forest-wide management standards and guidelines (SNFPA ROD 2004, pages A-49 to A-59), as well as land allocation standards and guidelines for California spotted owl and Northern Goshawk Protected Activity Centers (SNFPA ROD 2004, pages A-59 to A-61), and Riparian Conservation Areas and Critical Aquatic Refuges (SNFPA ROD 2004, pages A-62 to A-66). As part of this process, HRCAs which had seen fuels reduction activity in the last 15 years were evaluated for potential cumulative effects, and those that HRCAs that had relatively high recent past treatments informed decisions on location and intensity of treatments. In general the western third of the project had experienced fuels treatments in the recent past, and concerns over cumulative effects resulted in removing potential commercial thinning units from the project, or changing the prescriptions to reduce or remove impacts to habitat capability for spotted owl. These changes are captured in the design criteria below for the remaining units.

Commercial Harvest/Plantation Treatments: A limited operating period (LOP) for California spotted owls (March 1 through August 15) and for northern goshawks (February 15 through September 15) would restrict

CalleCat Ecological Restoration Project 13 Sensitive Plant BE/BA & WRA activities for units, or portions of units, that are located within ¼ mile of spotted owl or goshawk nests, unless surveys confirm that owls or goshawks are not nesting. In the absence of recent nest location data, units, or portions of units, or within ¼ mile from PAC boundaries have been covered by the LOPs. LOPs would be implemented to remove or reduce the potential for nesting disturbance to owl and goshawk PACs by activities in units adjacent to the PACs. The spotted owl LOP would be applied, as described above, to the following commercial thinning units: 33, 100, 101, 103, 112, 116, 117, 118, 119, 120, 121, 122, 123, 124, 127, 130, 133, 134, 135, 136, 137, 139, 141, 144, 146, 148, 151, 153, 155 and 157. The spotted owl LOP would be applied, as described above, to the following non-commercial sized plantation units: 108-12, 109- 2,111-1, 111-9, 112-1, 112-3, 112-7, 112-8, 112-9, 112-10, 112-12, 112-26, 112-103, 112-178, 112-204, 113-1, 113-3, 113-5, 113-100, 113-101, 114-10, 114-30,114-32,114- 38, 114-62, 116-1, 116-31, and 116-33. The northern goshawks LOP would be applied, as described above, to the following commercial thinning units: 33, 100, 101, 112, 117, 119, 127, 130, 133, 133, 135, 136, 142, 144, 146, 148, 153, 151, 152, and 153. The northern goshawks LOP would be applied, as described above, to the following non- commercial sized plantation units: 112-1, 112-178, 112-179, 112-204, 113-1, 113-11, 113-100, 113-101, 113-3, 114-30, 114-32, 114-38, 114-5, 114-6, 116-1, 116-31, and 116-33.

Retention of dispersed pockets of small trees and understory brush would be retained during mechanical treatments to provide for wildlife habitat. Preference for location of these pockets will be given to California Wildlife Habitat Relations tree size class 5 stands (24” dbh and greater), and stands located in existing spotted owl Home Range Core Areas (HRCAs).

Mechanical thinning treatments in PACs will conform to the 2004 SNFPA, specifically focusing on treatment of surface and ladder fuels and removing only material necessary to meet project fuels objectives. Thinning within spotted owl or northern goshawk Protected Activity Centers (PACs) will be designed to facilitate prescribed burning, and reduced residual stand mortality effects from prescribed fire and wildfire. Thinning within spotted owl or goshawk PACs would be limited to small tree removal 15” dbh and smaller, and be dependent on stand characteristics for the upper diameter limit (15” would be the maximum, smaller treed stands may have lower max diameters). Mechanical thinning in PACs would occur on 28 acres in Unit 113.

Prescriptions would be designed to maintain and/or enhance hardwoods where they presently exist; priority may be given to areas important to early seral species such as deer. Conifers encroaching on individual oak canopies would be targeted for removal, resulting in small ¼ acre or less openings in the canopy surrounding some oaks.

Snags (15” dbh and greater) would be retained, except where they pose a threat to human health and safety.

The western third of the project area has had prior fuels reduction treatments in the past 15 years, and concerns over cumulative effects to spotted owls (and other species associated with mature, high canopy forests) resulted in removing most of the potential commercial thinning units from this portion of the project. Where treatments were planned within spotted owl HRCAs, with moderate to high capability habitat, which had seen fuels reduction activity that exceeded 30 percent of the HRCA area in the last 10-15 years, the treatments were designed to maintain the existing overstory canopy cover and spotted owl habitat quality. Within these California spotted

CalleCat Ecological Restoration Project 14 Sensitive Plant BE/BA & WRA owl HRCAs mechanical treatments will be designed to reduce surface and ladder fuels in a manner that will result in a 5% or less reduction in canopy cover, averaged over the treatment unit. Treatments would emphasize retaining high capability spotted owl habitat first, and meeting other project needs second. This prescription would apply to the following units: 112, 113*, 114, 116, 118, 119, 122, 123, 124, 136, and 155. Unit 113 is within a spotted owl PAC and has more restrictive marking described in the design criteria above.

Prescribed Burning In California Spotted Owl and Northern Goshawk PACs : Prescribed burning in PACs will be designed to result in a 5% reduction or less in canopy cover, averaged over the treatment unit. Snags (15”dbh and greater) would not be targeted for active lighting. Prior to ignition, current fuel conditions surrounding trees > 30" dbh would be assessed to determine need. If mortality of trees greater than 30” is expected to exceed 5% raking would occur. Where prescribed burning takes place within spotted owl and goshawk PAC boundaries, an attempt will be made to ascertain nesting status pre-lighting, if the burning is planned for the nesting season that year. Based on nesting status additional mitigation, such as exclusion of portions of the proposed burn/PAC, additional fire lines, and different lighting techniques may be implemented to reduce potential effects to nesting spotted owls and goshawks.

The district wildlife biologist would be notified prior to implementation of the prescribed burn in PACs and would be onsite to take part in, and/or monitor burning and associated effects.

Additional hand treatments, including handline construction, tree pruning, and cutting of small trees (less than 6 inches dbh), would be conducted within 1 to 2-acre area surrounding known nest trees, to the extent necessary, to protect nest trees and trees in their immediate vicinity.

Downed logs greater than 30” dbh at the large end, will not be actively lit during implementation of the burn. Snags will be retained during burn preparation, except where they pose a threat to human health and safety, or perimeter control risk for containment of the fire.

Soils

A minimum of 5 logs/acre greater than 16 inches in diameter and greater than 10 feet in length would be retained. Where possible, these large down logs would be protected during mechanical treatment activities and underburning. Retention strategies to increase coarse woody debris would be used on deficient units. Strategies may include retention of 5 logs per acre on site in cull logs or smaller whole trees (less than 16 inches DBH) and 10-15 feet long as replacement coarse- woody debris.

Effective soil cover is prescribed to follow BMPs 1-2, 1-3, 1-15; andForest-Wide Forest Plan Standards and Guidelines (S&Gs). Seventy percent ground cover would be retained in all Riparian Conservation Areas, on erodible soils, units dominated by steeper slopes, soils dominated by granitic parent material and units within watersheds near their threshold. All other areas would be prescribed a minimum effective soil cover of 50 percent. Soil cover quantities are recommended as follows:

Units requiring Units requiring 70% Soil 50% Soil Cover Cover 109-110 109-112 113-007 109-111 109-113 113-101 109-115 109-114 113-136 109-117 109-116 113-138

CalleCat Ecological Restoration Project 15 Sensitive Plant BE/BA & WRA 109-118 111-119 113-139 111-120 111-151 113-140 112-103 111-152 114-084 112-122 112-121 114-102 112-123 112-124 114-143 112-125 112-126 114-145 112-133 112-127 114-146 112-141 112-128 114-148 113-137 112-129 114-033 112-130 114-142 112-132 114-144 112-134 114-150 112-135

Following prescribed burning operations average soil cover for each treated unit would be maintained at a minimum average of 70%.

Mechanical treatment activities would be restricted and/or controlled during high soil moisture conditions.

No ground-based equipment would be allowed on slopes greater than 35 without consultation by soil scientist. (Forest-Wide Forest Plan Standards and Guidelines 86, 1989 Eldorado National Forest Plan). An exception for this would occur in skyline units 134, 159, 151 and 152. In these units feller bunchers would be allowed to operate on slopes up to 45%. This would be allowed for cutting and pre-bunching of logs that would be removed using a skyline logging system.

Shallow soils (such as lava caps/granitic outcrops) are sensitive areas for soil productivity and erosion. Equipment use in these areas would be avoided unless consultation with soil scientist or botanist occurs. (BMP 1-9).

For skid trails and fire lines upslope of and terminating at roads or OHV trails, a waterbar would be placed at a maximum 30 feet from the intersection on all slopes.

Avoid skid trails that traverse steeper areas. If excess soil displacement occurs, re-contour if possible and cover with slash or other organic material to a minimum of 70 percent cover at the conclusion of thinning activities.

New skid trails and landings would not occur on shallow soils without consultation with the Soil Scientist. (BMP 1-9)

Portions of units 117, 135, and 138 that have unacceptable soil conditions greater than 15% exceed Forest Plan Standards and Guidelines. To mitigate soil disturbance, landings on these units would be contour ripped to minimize erosion problems, restore infiltration, and discourage unauthorized motor vehicle use. Primary skid trails on these units would be ripped and then waterbarred. (BMP 1-17, Forest-Wide Forest Plan Standards and Guidelines #87). After ripping, landings would be re-seeded using a native seed mix approved by the project botanist. Seeding of ripped skid trails is required in unit138 and could occur on the other two units. Weed-free waddles will be placed along road 8N42 after tilling of landings for unit 135. After temporary roads have served their use, they would be ripped and seeded to alleviate soil compaction, restore infiltration, and discourage unauthorized motor vehicle use. Water-barring would occur

CalleCat Ecological Restoration Project 16 Sensitive Plant BE/BA & WRA following ripping. (BMP 1-17). Rehabilitation activities on landings would occur after biomass has been removed.

Recommended areas for rehabilitation of primary skidtrails. • Unit117: approximately ¾ of a mile in the northeast portion of this unit plus associated landings • Unit 135: approximately 1 mile concentrated in the center and the west portion of the unit plus associated landings • Unit 138: Approximately ¾ mile throughout the unit plus associated landings.

If during project monitoring it is discovered that project activities may cause Erosion Hazard Ratings to exceed a “moderate” rating based on site specific conditions mitigation measures would be implemented prior to unit close-out. (BMP 1-3)

An existing skid road in northern portion of unit 119 currently concentrating water and sediment into the ephemeral on the north portion of the unit. After completing work between the skid trail and the creek, recontour skid road and place slash bundles to stabilize the soil surface and discourage unauthorized use.

Riparian Conservation Areas

Entire RCA • Ground cover will be maintained at 70 percent or greater. • No mechanical activities on slopes greater than 35 percent. • Approval by one of the following: Hydrologist, Soil Scientist, or Fisheries Biologist, is needed for: a) construction of new landings and/or modification and use of existing landings, b) construction of permanent and/or temporary roads c) use of ground-based equipment and/or removal of vegetation in inner gorges. Approval by a Hydrologist or Fisheries Biologist is needed for equipment crossings of perennial and intermittent streams or the placement of temporary stream crossing structures. • Felling and removal of hazard trees next to haul routes is allowed, with the following restrictions: a) hazard trees with commercial value that can be reached with skidding equipment would be targeted for removal - there will be no endlining to remove trees, b) should a felled hazard tree enter a stream course, the Sale Administrator and Resource Specialist would determine the fate of the tree (e.g. repositioning of the tree, leaving a portion of the tree as felled, etc.), c.) hazard trees with no commercial value and those outside the reach of skidding equipment would be retained in place provided the felled trees would not interfere with the safe use of the road or adversely affect a stream course and associated culverts • No fire ignition within or immediately adjacent to riparian vegetation, unless otherwise specified for a certain type of aquatic feature. • Protection measures can be altered on-the-ground for a specific site by a Resource Specialist (Soil Scientist, Fisheries Biologist, Botanist, Hydrologist).

Equipment Exclusion Zones.

CalleCat Ecological Restoration Project 17 Sensitive Plant BE/BA & WRA • Reach-in to remove non-riparian vegetation (typically 25 feet) is allowed from the edge of the equipment exclusion zone. • No end-lining of trees out of equipment exclusion zones. • Construction of handlines for fire is allowed. Rehabilitation of the handlines would include waterbars and maintain at least70 percent ground cover.

Stream channels • No removal of woody debris within stream channels or embedded in streambanks. • No removal of vegetation (living or dead) within the stream channel or on streambanks. • No hand treatments within 25 feet of the edge of perennial stream channels or within riparian vegetation, whichever is greater. • No hand treatments within 10 feet of the edge of intermittent stream channels or within riparian vegetation, whichever is greater. • Ignition of fire would not occur within 25 feet of the edge of the channel of perennial streams and special aquatic features or 25 feet from the edge of riparian vegetation, whichever is greater. Ignition would be limited to non-riparian vegetation. • Ignition of fire would not occur within 10 feet of the edge of the channel of intermittent streams and ephemeral streams or within 10 feet of riparian vegetation, whichever is greater. • No hand piles within 25 feet of any stream channel. • Equipment crossings in streams channels with veined aquatic lichen (Peltigera hydrotheria) would be avoided. • Glyphosate would not be sprayed within 25 feet of surface water (standing or flowing) or within 25 feet of riparian vegetation, whichever is greater. • Glyphosate would not be sprayed within 5 feet of any dry stream channel (no surface water) or within 5 feet of riparian vegetation, whichever is greater. • Glyphosate would not be sprayed within 25 feet of the edge of special aquatic features (springs, wetlands, meadows, etc.) or within 25 feet of riparian vegetation, whichever is greater. • Overstory canopy within 50 feet of known populations of the veined aquatic lichen (Peltigera hydrothyria) will not be altered by project activities. Equipment crossings will be excluded where the aquatic lichen occurs. Project botanist will be consulted prior to initiation of road maintenance, within 50 feet of known occurrences of aquatic lichen.

Ephemeral streams and channels (unless stated otherwise for a specific Unit) • No ground-based equipment within 25 feet of the edge of the channel. • Removal of non-riparian vegetation by hand (living or dead) is allowed up to the edge of the channel so long as the vegetation is not embedded into the ground or substrate. • Equipment crossings would be approved by the Timber Sale Administrator for ephemeral streams as well as draws and swales (topographic depressions having no defined channel), unless specified otherwise for an individual Unit.

Springs- all Units (unless stated otherwise for a specific Unit) • No ground-based equipment within 50 feet of the edge of the wet area of the spring.

CalleCat Ecological Restoration Project 18 Sensitive Plant BE/BA & WRA • Equipment is allowed to reach into the 50 ft. equipment exclusion zone (typically up to 25 feet) to remove non-riparian vegetation.

Cat Creek Watershed-Units (7, 33, 100, 113-101, 114-101, 102, 120, 121, 122, 123, 124, 125, 126, 127, 128, 129, 130, 131, 132, 133, 134, 136, 137, 138, 139, 140, 141, 142, 143, 144, 145, 146,148, 156, 157, 158, 159) • Commercial timber harvest would be implemented over a minimum of four years, and no more than 500 acres would be implemented in any single year.

Unit specific design criteria for RCAs can be found in Appendix C.

Visuals • Flush cut stumps covered with soil within the first 75’ of the visible foreground from the Pi Pi Campground road. • 12” maximum stump height within the visible foreground of Pi Pi Campground. • Remove logging slash from view of Pi Pi Campground or Hand-pile slash for burning in the visible foreground of Pi Pi Campground or chip slash and disperse into the surrounding area. • Within 2 years of burning, remove dead standing trees resulting from burning if in pockets of ¼ acre or more in the visible foreground of Pi Pi Campground.

Recreation

There are four commercial thinning units in the project that are adjacent to portions of designated off highway vehicle trails. They are units 111, 115, 101 and 136. Where practical, landings and skid trails would be located to minimize impacts to these trails. In areas that project activities modify the existing trail condition, restoration will occur to meet the desired width and tread surface relative to its designated use. Material such as slash, rocks, or large down logs, may be used to re-establish trail width as well as to create barriers at the entrance of skid trails and/or landings to discourage unauthorized OHV use.

No Action (Alternative 2)

Non-Commercial Funding and Snag Recruitment (Alternative 3): This alternative was developed in response to public comments and an actual proposal made by one of the commenters. The Non-Commercial Alternative proposes to remove only those trees located in the commercial thinning units of the Proposed Action that are needed to meet to modify fire behavior on the landscape. In general the diameter limit for thinning would be 16 inches. However, in order to facilitate equipment access to treat the units effectively, there may be circumstances where trees larger than 16 inch are removed. This would include removal of trees for landings, skid roads and in order to access some denser areas of stands with mechanical harvest equipment. In addition this alternative would identify trees over 16” to be girdled and left as snags that would have been removed under the proposed action to meet forest health and promote fire-resistant tree species. All other items in the proposed action would remain the same. This alternative will meet the direction in the November 3, 2009 Order from the United States District Court, Eastern District of California from Case 2:05-cv-00205-MCE-GGH to include a

CalleCat Ecological Restoration Project 19 Sensitive Plant BE/BA & WRA non-commercial funding alternative at the Project Level for the Sierra Nevada Forests Fuel Reduction Projects.

Limited Treatments in RCAs (Alternative 4): This alternative was proposed by a member of the public to address issues with effects to aquatic species. This alternative would be identical to the proposed action except that ground based mechanical equipment would be excluded from the RCA’s of the Middle Fork Cosumnes River and Cat Creek and herbicides would be excluded from all RCA’s throughout the project area. Handwork would still be permitted in these areas.

V. EXISTING SPECIES AND HABITAT CONDITION Sensitive Plant Species Within the project area surveys for Sensitive plant species have occurred since the early 1980’s. Past sensitive plant and noxious weeds surveys have been conducted in the project area for various FS projects. These surveys have focused on different plant species depending on the FS sensitive plant list used at the time of the survey. Collectively these surveys have targeted; Allium tribracteatum, Calochortus clavatus var. avius, Cypripedium montanum, Lewisia kelloggii.

Listed Species Layne’s ragwort (Packera layneae) Layne’s butterweed is a perennial herb in the sunflower family (CNPS, 2001; USFWS, 2002) found in foothill woodland and chaparral habitats along the west slope of the Sierra Nevada in El Dorado and Tuolumne Counties at elevations between 60 and 3,000 feet. About 36 occurrences of this plant are documented on the Eldorado National Forest. Of the 32 documented occurrences in El Dorado County, two are located wholly on the ENF, one is located partially on the ENF, and one is located on a state-owned ecological preserve, and the remainder are found on private lands primarily in the Cameron Park area. There is no potential habitat for this listed species within the proposed analysis area.

Sensitive species

Three-bracted onion (Allium tribracteatum) Three-bracted onion is known only from the Stanislaus National Forest occurring on thin volcanic soils along the ridges near Crandall Peak and along Highway 108 in Tuolumne County. Since adding the species to the ENF sensitive plant list in 2006 the onion has not been found on the forest. One occurrence has been confirmed on rhyolite on private land near Wilseyville in Calaveras County. This indicates a larger range than was previously known and that this species may occur on the Eldorado National Forest. Populations range in size from 5 to approximately 10,000 individuals.

Three-bracted onion is found in lower and upper montane coniferous forests on gravelly lahar (volcanic mud flow soils, often referred to as "lava caps"). This habitat is open and very vulnerable to disturbance. Potential impacts include disturbance from roads, OHV trails, timber landings, skid trails, Helitack base construction, garbage dumps, underground utility lines, utility pole maintenance, and camping locations.

The nearest occurrence of this species is ~10 miles south of the project area so the potential for this species to occur in the project area is considered relatively remote. The onion was not found during 2009 field visits targeting lava cap communities.

Moonworts (Botrychium spp.)

CalleCat Ecological Restoration Project 20 Sensitive Plant BE/BA & WRA Botrychium species are widely distributed in North America and elsewhere. In California they occur infrequently in a variety of moist habitats throughout the Sierra Nevada and other portions of the state. Most moonwort species show a marked affinity for neutral substrates with high mineral content, especially soils developed on limestone bedrock or otherwise containing high calcium content. High elevation habitats suitably moist and cool are abundant throughout the Sierra Nevada and northern California mountains, but these mountains are mostly composed of granites, volcanics, and crustal basalts not rich in soluble calcium. However, leaf litter from incense cedar may favorably modify soils for some moonworts.

Documentation of population numbers and distribution patterns are incomplete largely because members of this genus are difficult to distinguish, and very uncommon and sporadic in distribution (Wagner and Wagner, 1993). These species appear sensitive to activities such as grazing, trampling, logging, and recreational activities such as OHV use.

The Eldorado has one known occurrence of Paradox moonwort (Botrychium paradoxum) on the Pacific Ranger district that was discovered in 2011. Multiple occurrences of B. simplex (ENF watchlist species) are scattered across the forest.

Six species of moonworts are listed as Sensitive species. They were listed as a group because 1) most species in this genus are rare in California; 2) individual species are very difficult to distinguish from each other; and 3) all have similar habitat preferences (wet or moist soils such as in meadows and fens or along the edges of lakes and streams). From the CNPS online inventory (CNPS, 2007): 1. Upswept moonwort (Botrychium ascendens): lower montane coniferous forest, meadows, seeps, 4,900 to over 7,500 feet 2. Scalloped moonwort (Botrychium crenulatum): Fens, lower montane coniferous forest, meadows, seeps, freshwater marshes, 4,900 to over 10,500 feet 3. Common moonwort (Botrychium lunaria): Meadows, seeps, subalpine and upper montane coniferous forest, 7,450 to over 11,000 feet 4. Mingan moonwort (Botrychium minganense): Fens, lower and upper montane coniferous forest, 4,900 to 6,750 feet. 5. Mountain moonwort (Botrychium montanum): Lower and upper montane coniferous forest, meadows, seeps, 4,900 to 7,000 feet. 6. Paradox moonwort (Botrychium paradoxum): Lower and upper montane coniferous forest and meadows.

Mariposa Lily (Calochortus clavatus var. avius) Mariposa lily is known to grow on the Eldorado National Forest and adjoining private lands in the area between Union Valley Reservoir and the North Fork of the Mokelumne River. The elevation of known occurrences ranges from 900 to 5,400 feet. Calochortus clavatus var. avius is most often found on rocky, south-facing slopes in sparse stands of conifers, oaks, and manzanita and/or bear clover (Chamaebatia foliolosa), at elevations of 2,800 to 5,700 feet. With a single exception in Calaveras County, Pleasant Valley mariposa lily is endemic to the Eldorado National Forest and adjoining private lands in the area between Union Valley Reservoir and the North Fork of the Mokelumne River and is currently known to occur at 139 locations within this roughly 420 square-mile area (FS Sensitive Plant records 2012, CNDDB). Of these 139 occurrences, 15 are located on private lands, 4 are located on both private and Forest Service lands and the remaining 120 occur entirely on federal lands. Population size ranges from a few plants into the thousands.

Potential habitat for Pleasant Valley Mariposa lily is found primarily within the western half of the project area. Surface cobbles are almost universally present, though the rocks may be partly

CalleCat Ecological Restoration Project 21 Sensitive Plant BE/BA & WRA obscured by bear clover and shallow soils. The cobbles and soils are residual materials formed from andesitic lahars. The presence of C. clavatus var. avius in open stands of conifers may indicate an intolerance of deep shade and/or thick duff. Fire is a key habitat component, as evidence of past fires at nearly all occurrences on the Eldorado NF. Pocket gophers may also influence the local distribution of C. clavatus var. avius by eating the bulbs. Rocky substrates may provide refugia from such herbivory as well as providing a sunny site with few competitors. The soils, though rocky, often contain considerable clay.

The habitat described above is patchy in distribution and occurs in discrete units of 1 to 40 acres, separated by gaps of unsuitable habitat that vary in width from 1/8 mile to 4 or more miles across the Eldorado NF. Aggregates of occurrences are found along east-west trending ridges that possess numerous south-facing spurs. Dense stands of ponderosa pine or mixed-conifer forest are usually present on the deeper soils located between islands of suitable Pleasant Valley mariposa lily habitat. Disturbances such as fire and wind throw may provide openings in the forest that are suitable for at least temporary occupancy by this species. These temporary openings in areas otherwise unsuitable for the species may provide dispersal corridors by providing opportunities for short-lived colonies of plants to produce viable seed; seed that may then be disseminated to suitable habitats that were otherwise too distant from other long-lived occurrences.

Within the project area the existing condition of Pleasant Valley mariposa lily has been influenced by past logging and OHV activity. Early logging activities in the area likely impacted past occurrences directly by trampling plants, disturbing ground and altering overstory conditions. OHV activity can also threaten populations when vehicle travel through populations, crushing and uprooting plants, and possible introducing invasive species. Fire suppression has also impacted habitat quality throughout the species range by limiting the role of wildfire in maintaining suitable habitat conditions for Pleasant Valley Mariposa lily. Herbicide application near Pleasant Valley Mariposa lily occurrences can also threaten populations if non-selective chemicals are directly applied to plants.

In addition to fire suppression, historic logging, and herbicide application, there are a number of known effects that may influence the current distribution of Pleasant Valley Mariposa lily populations in the project area. Past and ongoing herbivory by deer and gophers has been documented and can impact individual plants if grazing pressure is high or the bulb is damaged. Native plant gathering for traditional uses may have, and continue to occur on the forest. It is currently unknown what affect collection of native materials has had on Pleasant Valley Mariposa lily specifically.

Where the combination of suitable soils, aspect, elevation, and topographic position occur as described under suitable habitat, the desired future condition for these sites consists of vegetation with the following characteristics: 1) mixed-conifer timber stands with 20-60 trees (with dbh > 8 inches) per acre with an understory consisting of clumps of shrubs or scattered individuals; 2) bear clover, where present, does not form a continuous and impenetrable layer; 3) open patches between trees and shrubs support a thin cover of grasses and forbs, including Pleasant Valley mariposa lily; 4) the frequency of understory fires varies from 10-20 years.

There are four existing occurrences of Mariposa lily in the Callecat ecological Restoration project area. None are in proposed thinning units. Three occurrences are within Rx burning units, and one is in close proximity to plantation 112-11 where proposed herbicide activities will occur.

Site specific details for the occurrences are provided below: Table 2. Summary of Pleasant Valley mariposa lily occurrences in the analysis area.

CalleCat Ecological Restoration Project 22 Sensitive Plant BE/BA & WRA FS occurrence Comments

Proposed Cat Creek prescribe burn area would occur on the eastern edge of CACLA-139 lava cap. Line construction would occur along edge of lavacap.

Adjacent to unit 111-119 along 9n77. Low risk of impacts from proposed CACLA-57 project activity. No Rx burning or plantation work nearby

CACLA-113- Within the proposed Cat Creek prescribed burn area and within 160 feet of 01 plantation 112-11. Occurrence is adjacent to road 9N78.

CACLA 113- Within the proposed Cat Creek prescribed burn area. Adjacent to unit 112-121 02 and 9N76b. Handline construction near occurrence could be a concern.

Mountain Lady's Slipper (Cypripedium montanum) Mountain lady's slipper is an uncommon orchid in California. It grows throughout the northwest: From Alaska to California and east to Montana. In California, it reaches as far south as Santa Cruz County along the coast and Madera County in the Sierra Nevada. The species is known from the Stanislaus and Plumas NF, but has not been documented on the Tahoe NF.

Mountain lady's slipper grows in both moist and dry conditions at elevations between 600 and 6,700 feet, although less common above 4,800 feet. It grows in moist sites near streams or sometimes near the edge of small seeps but also in relatively dry conditions on hillsides in mixed conifer forests. The one population within the ENF is on a private inholding and has northwest and northeast aspects and is located at an elevation of 5,200 feet, approximately 5 miles south of the Callecat Ecological Restoration Project area. Potential habitat is extensive across the Eldorado National Forest and in the proposed project area. Surveys for this species have been ongoing since 1998 on the Eldorado National yet no occurrence has been found on the Forest.

High intensity fires are one of the greatest threats to mountain lady’s slipper orchid. This threat ranked highest in the statewide threat analysis (R5 Conservation assessment), and is supported by research and literature. Clustered and mountain lady’s slippers are intolerant to fires that burn through the litter layer above mineral soil. The species may tolerate less intense fires that do not eliminate the duff layer and leave the forest canopy fully or partially intact. Heavy fuel loads may pose a threat to many populations by increasing the risk of intense fire. Large scale fires could result in significant negative effects to multiple populations of these species.

In addition to fire, mechanical disturbances such as timber harvest and fire lines could threatened occurrences of Mountain lady’s slipper orchid. Disturbances that affect the rhizomes of these species, duff and litter layer, and the structure of the upper soil horizons may threaten plants and populations, as do those activities that remove the forest canopy. Such mechanical disturbances ranked second statewide in the threat analysis, and include timber harvest activities, construction of fire lines, culvert relocation, and other ground disturbing activities. A high ranking of this disturbance is consistent with information on the species responses to rhizome disturbance and forest canopy removal.

Kellogg’s and Hutchison’s Lewisia (Lewisia kelloggii ssp. kelloggii and ssp. hutchisonii) Kellogg’s and Hutchison’s lewisia were added to the ENF sensitive plant list in 2006 after researchers separated the species for those plants occurring in Idaho from plants occurring in

CalleCat Ecological Restoration Project 23 Sensitive Plant BE/BA & WRA California (Wilson et al. 2005). The plants in Idaho have been renamed as Lewisia sacajaweana. The change makes L. k. ssp. kelloggii and L. k. ssp. hutchisonii endemic to California. Kellogg’s lewisia is known from 29 occurrences on four National Forests in California. One occurrence is known from the Lassen NF, four on the Plumas NF, six on the Tahoe and about eighteen on the Eldorado, which is midway through the range of one subspecies and at the northern range of the other subspecies (hutchisonii). One occurrence on the Eldorado has been reported to be larger than 2,000 plants, but most other occurrences range in number from 50 to 250 plants.

This plant is endemic to Butte, Sierra, Plumas, Nevada, Eldorado and Amador Counties in California. Site elevations range from 5,100 to 7,000 feet. The northern most occurrence is known from the Lassen NF recorded by Dempster and Janeway but the number of plants was not clearly noted. The largest occurrence on the Eldorado (2,000 plus plants) is one of the most southern sites, located in the vicinity of Cody Summit Ridge, southwest of Strawberry. Additional Lewisia kelloggii occurrences are known on the Eldorado NF. How many of these are ssp. hutchisonii and how many are ssp. kelloggii needs to be determined during future field work. For the purposes of this analysis this subspecies determination is not of great consequence as both subspecies are R5 designated as sensitive.

Kellogg’s and Hutchison’s lewisia usually occur on ridgetops or relatively flat open areas with widely spaced trees in partial to full sun. Most soils are reported to be sandy granitic to erosive volcanic with granitic boulders. Kellogg’s and Hutchison’s lewisia are spring ephemeral perennial herb, thus the survey window for the species is restricted to June and July when the plants produces fleshy leaves and flowers. After flowering the succulent portion of the pedicel shrinks down, pulling the flower below ground level. This feature of the plants biology limits the survey window for Kellogg’s and Hutchison’s Lewisia to the summer months when the plant is flowering.

Threats include off-highway vehicles since they travel easily across the flat, open habitat of where Kellogg’s lewisia often occurs. Other potential threats include camping; hiking and other activities that compact soil and/or trample plants. Native plant gathering for traditional uses may affect some populations. Plants are most susceptible to impact from trampling during the spring months before the plant becomes dormant. During dormancy the plant can tolerate some disturbance as it is under the soil surface and relatively protected from trampling and other direct impacts.

LEKE occurrence # 16: The occurrence was discovered in 2011 along FS trail 14E26 (Caldor Loop) on the edge of unit 136 and Plantation 113-101. Equipment staging will be excluded from this occurrence.

Three-ranked hump-moss (Meesia triquetra) and Broad-nerved hump-moss (M. uliginosa) Meesia triquetra is found worldwide. The majority of the California occurrences are in the Sierra Nevada, with most occurrences in the southern Sierra Nevada. Two occurrences were located on the Eldorado National forest near Ice House Reservoir in 2007.

Meesia uliginosa also has a worldwide distribution. The majority of the California occurrences are in the Sierra Nevada. Its distribution is sporadic throughout the Sierra Nevada and fewer occurrences are known than for M. triquetra. It is known to occur from Siskiyou County south to Tulare County with one collection from the San Jacinto Mountains in Riverside County. Populations of M. uliginosa are reported to be small and infrequently encountered. There are no known occurrences of M. uliginosa on the Eldorado NF but potential habitat does exist.

CalleCat Ecological Restoration Project 24 Sensitive Plant BE/BA & WRA Both M. triquetra and M. uliginosa grow in bogs and fens. M. triquetra grows in cold, permanently saturated, spring-fed meadows and fens at elevations between 4,200 to 8,200 feet. It often grows in association with Sphagnum moss, Drosera (sundew), and Vaccinium (huckleberry). M. uliginosa grows in permanently wet, primarily spring-fed meadows at elevations between 4,200 and 9,200 feet. These meadows are generally in the upper levels of mixed conifer to subalpine forests.

The two most critical factors affecting the abundance and distribution of fen species such as M. uliginosa are hydrology and the nutrient concentration of incoming water. Changes in hydrology may occur through ditching related to road or trail construction or cattle trails. Direct trampling by livestock has also been identified as a threat.

Veined water lichen (Peltigera hydrothyria) Veined water lichen is infrequently reported. Where populations occur, the number of individuals are generally few. Surveys for this species have been conducted in support of projects on the Eldorado National Forest since 2006 when this lichen was added to the ENF Sensitive plant list. In 2008 multiple populations of Peltigera hydrothyria were discovered on the Eldorado NF growing within the stream channel of Cat, Anderson, and Mehrten Creek (tributaries to the Middle Fork of the Cosumnes River). Additional populations were found in 2009 in Dark Canyon Creek, tributaries to Cat Creek and two unnamed tributaries to the North Fork Cosumnes River. Across California there are 80 known occurrences across the Plumas, Eldorado, Stanislaus, Mendocino, Six Rivers, Klamath, Inyo, Sierra, and Sequoia (R5 USDA FS, 2010).

Within the Sierra Nevada, this species is found in cold, unpolluted streams in mixed conifer forests between 2,500 and 8,000 ft. The water is very clear and peak flows are not of the intensity that would lead to scouring. The streamlets have a rich aquatic bryophyte flora and are rarely more than 8 inches deep.

According to the 2010 R5 Conservation Assessment, P. hydrothyria is known almost exclusively from streams with little sedimentation or scouring. During high water events, scouring might occur from gravel and rock movement, or even from sediment abrasion. The thin, gelatinous thallus of P. hydrothyria is presumably quickly abraded or completely removed from substrates during such events. Sedimentation may also be detrimental to P. hydrothyria colonies by physically covering thalli, reducing photosynthesis. Watershed-disturbing activities leading to sedimentation at and above occurrence sites can threaten populations.

P. hydrothyria populations are known to correspond to habitat characteristics outside of the stream channel, including canopy cover (shading) and presence of old growth forest. The relevant characteristics of old growth forests are uncertain and may overlap the canopy cover relationship in that they both tend to increase shading. Management activities that affect forest structure around known occurrences, particularly when altering the shading of the stream, could be detrimental to P. hydrothyria populations. Wildfire may be a localized threat to P. hydrothyria populations in multiple ways. Wildfire may directly impact canopy cover shading populations, may increase sedimentation through removal of vegetation and reduction of duff, may increase nutrient runoff, and may even alter watershed hydrology.

Global climate change is expected to warm air temperatures in California, which could subsequently warm water temperatures and impact habitat for the aquatic lichen. Additionally, snow-pack in the Sierra Nevada is expected to decrease, which could allow stream water temperatures to increase and reduce stream flows rapidly during summers. Given the current

CalleCat Ecological Restoration Project 25 Sensitive Plant BE/BA & WRA trajectory of air temperatures, stream temperatures are likely rising throughout the Sierra and if the trend continues, P. hydrothyria could be significantly impacted at a regional scale (USDA R5, 2010).

Aquatic noxious weeds of concern for aquatic veined lichen on the Eldorado include Didymo (Didymosphenia geminate), parrots feather (Myriophyllum aquaticum), hydrilla (Hydrilla verticillata), and Eurasian milfoil (Myriophyllum spicatum). None of these species, excluding didymo are known from the Eldorado NF but do occur in the vicinity of the forest. Of particular concern for veined aquatic lichen is the potential invasion of occupied streams by Didymo. Didymo has been noted in a number of rivers in the Sierra Nevada including the Feather River, the South Fork of the American River, and the Rubicon River and is generally spread by anglers. The spread of this invasive algae would likely be detrimental to veined aquatic lichen since the algae covers rocks and streambeds where the lichen is known to occur. Project activities are not expected to introduce aquatic invasive species in the project area.

Table 3 Veined Aquatic lichen occurrences in the project area FS occurrence Comments

Occurrence is growing in Twin Gulch. Within unit 111-152, and 109-117. PEHY-013 Plantations management is not proposed near the stream

Unit 112-129 is above the occurrence. Lichen occurs on other side of 09N77 PEHY-014 down to Cat Creek (S9). Plantation 112-4 is approximately 200 feet upstream of occurrence.

Occurrence is within Dark Canyon Creek near confluence with Cat Creek. Occurrence is within Cat Creek RX burn. There are no units or plantations PEHY-007 nearby.

Occurrence is in Loggers Delight Creek. Two patches are known- one above 9N17, the other between 9N17 and 9N40. The eastern boundary of the Dark Canyon RX burn will be along 9N23A which parallel Loggers Delight. PEHY-008 Plantation 113-1 is 150 feet from known population and goes to the channels edge upstream of known lichen. The Dark Canyon burn will include the downstream loci. Occurrence is in Sugar Pine Creek. The aquatic lichen occurs above 9N40 in vicinity of unit 112-133. There are no plantations in vicinity of lichen but PEHY-001 proposed plantations are at the headwaters of Sugar Pine Creek. The main loci of PEHY-001 occur along Cat Creek. Portions of Cat Creek loci are adjacent to proposed Cat Creek Rx burn units.

Occurrence is adjacent to culvert where 9N40 crosses Cat Creek. Unit 114-146 is in the vicinity. Possible impacts from proposed roadwork along 9N40. PEHY-005 There are no plantations in the vicinity. Proposed restoration next to creek should limit impacts from dispersed recreation.

PEHY-002 Occurrence in Anderson Creek. Plantation 114-62 is adjacent to creek.

CalleCat Ecological Restoration Project 26 Sensitive Plant BE/BA & WRA Occurrence in North Fork Cosumnes. Plantation south of river approximately PEHY-003 300ft.

PEHY-004 Occurrence in Mehrten Creek. RR sugar pine on west side of creek.

Special Interest Plants and plant Communities Refer to Appendix A, Botany report for Special Interest Species.

Noxious Weeds See Appendix B for the Noxious Weed Risk Assessment and Appendix C for Noxious Weeds of Concern for the ENF. Implementation of included design criteria should minimize the likelihood of project activities enhancing or spreading invasive species into the proposed project area.

VI. EFFECTS Analysis area defined: This analysis addresses activities and actions associated with the Callecat ecological restoration project on Eldorado National Forest. The cumulative effects for botany are bound in time by the first botany records on the Eldorado National forest (early 1980’s) and covers all proposed activities that are likely to occur in the project area during the next 5 years. The spatial extent of the analysis includes all known and potential occurrences found within the area of the proposed project.

Assumptions for analysis: 1) Herbicide application will follow product labels, project bmp’s, design criteria, and will be properly applied by applicators. 2) When using SERA Pesticide Risk Assessments, hazard quotients identified for the most sensitive terrestrial plant was used for analysis of effects for FS sensitive species.

Alternative 1 (proposed action)

Direct and indirect effects for known sensitive plants Negative, effects of the proposed project are not expected for TESP plants since design criteria have been included to prevent direct and indirect effects to known Sensitive plant species. Further discussion of specific risks from project activities and site project design criteria that address the potential risks are provided below:

Thinning: The proposed project would conduct mechanical thinning activities on 2,918 acres within the project area to reduce stand density and promote fire resilience within the project area. Adverse impacts to sensitive terrestrial plants could occur if mechanical equipment damages or uproots sensitive plants, compact soils, or alter overstory condition. For sensitive aquatic species in the project area thinning activities could cause impacts if thinning activities result in increased sediment delivery to occupied streams or altering stream shading required for aquatic veined lichen.

All known terrestrial sensitive plant occurrences greater than 100 feet from proposed thinning units are not expected to be directly impacted by proposed project activities. To insure that occurrences are not inadvertently impacted by additional activities associated with thinning projects (landing construction, skid trails, road improvements, etc.) all sensitive plant occurrences will be flagged on the ground and included on project area maps prior to project initiation. All activities will be excluded from these sensitive plant occurrences unless approved by the project botanist in advance of implementation.

CalleCat Ecological Restoration Project 27 Sensitive Plant BE/BA & WRA

Table 4. Terrestrial plants occurrences within 500 feet of proposed thinning units. Unit Sensitive plant occurrence Approximate distance 113-101 and 113-136 Hutchison’s lewisia FS# 16 500 feet from unit boundary 112-121 Pleasant Valley mariposa lily FS#13-01 200 feet from unit boundary and FS# 13-02 111-119 Pleasant Valley mariposa lily FS#57-01 185 feet from unit boundary and FS# 57-02

The risk of thinning activities impacting known aquatic veined lichen fall into two general categories. The first risk scenario could occur if direct alteration of streamside vegetation and overstory condition result in increased light reaching the stream channel at a known occurrence. This could also include any direct effects near the thinning project that could cause sediment to be delivered into the creek which could reduce habitat quality as well as destroy the lichen’s delicate thallus. Project design criteria limit thinning activities within 50 feet of known veined aquatic lichen occurrences- which would apply to unit 111-152 and 112-129. All other occurrences are greater than 100 feet from proposed thinning units and should not be impacted by proposed thinning activities. Protection measures in place for management within RCA, the project erosion control plan, and soil design criteria have been included in the project and are also expected to limit sediment delivery to stream channels as a result of thinning projects.

Table 5. Aquatic sensitive species within 500 feet of proposed thinning units. Unit Veined aquatic lichen occurrence # Approximate distance 111-152 13(Twin Gulch Creek) Within unit 112-128 7 (Dark Canyon Creek) 360 feet 112-129 14 (Callecat stream#9) Within unit 112-132, 112-138 8 (Loggers Delight) 150 feet 112-133 01-02 (Sugar Pine Creek), 01-01 (Cat 260 feet creek) 114-146 05 (Cat Creek) 100 feet

Herbicides: The proposed project would apply herbicides on approximately 800 acres within the project area to reduce understory vegetation and promote conifer growth in plantations and openings in natural stands. The proposed herbicide application present different risk scenarios for known terrestrial and aquatic sensitive species within the Callecat project area. For terrestrial sensitive plants, the primary risk is the potential for off-target movement of glyphosate through drift as well as direct application of herbicides to sensitive plant occurrences. For aquatic veined lichen found throughout the project area the primary risk is exposure to glyphosate entering occupied streams.

According to the SERA risk assessment there is some risk for off-target affects up to 500 feet from application area (SERA National Risk Assessment for glyphosate, 2011) based on a standard drift coefficient, max application rate of 4 lbs. per acre, and a No Observable Effect Concentration (NOEC) of 0.0013 lbs/acre. This would seem to indicate that there is some potential for adverse effects to Sensitive plants within 500 feet of proposed herbicide application. However, it is worth noting that the drift models used in the SERA risk assessment are based on broadcast boom applications in an agricultural setting which is expected to exceed the actual drift observed from backpack applications in a forested area (SERA 2011). The stated risk from drift is also contrary to general observations from past herbicide projects on the Eldorado National Forest conducted over the past 20 years where impacts to non-target vegetation from glyphosate

CalleCat Ecological Restoration Project 28 Sensitive Plant BE/BA & WRA drift have never been noted > 25 feet from application areas. Based on this direct experience from herbicide applications on the forest, and the inclusion of design features to limit drift, adverse effects are not expected for sensitive plant species from the proposed action. However, there are two sensitive plant occurrences (table 6) where the HQ for drift to terrestrial plants is above a threshold of concern. As a precaution these Sensitive plant populations will be monitored to validate conclusion of no adverse effects from drift.

Table 6. Terrestrial sensitive plants within 500 feet of plantations Plantation Sensitive species Approximate distance from plantation 113-101 Hutchison’s lewisia #16 480 feet 112-11 Pleasant Valley Mariposa 175 feet lily #13-01

Within the Callecat project area, veined aquatic lichen was found along the lower reaches of most streams in the project area. Most occurrences are not adjacent to proposed plantations but a number of populations are downstream of multiple plantations which are in close proximity to the occupied stream reach. If glyphosate were to enter streams (via accidental spill or drift) it could be carried downstream into veined aquatic lichen populations. Design criteria for pesticide applications are in place to reduce the potential for glyphosate to enter streams and have been shown to be effective from monitoring of past projects on the Eldorado NF and across Region 5 (Dave Bakke 2001). In addition, if a small amount of glyphosate does enter a stream during routine herbicide application it would likely be diluted before reaching aquatic lichen populations, further reducing the potential exposure of a detrimental dose from routine herbicide application. In the unlikely event of accidental herbicide spill in the project, potential exposure to downstream veined aquatic lichen may be sufficient for adverse effects depending on the concentration and volume of herbicide involved in the spill. This risk is mitigated by standard spill containment measures included in the proposed project. If a spill does occur and enters a stream occupied by aquatic lichen, post-accident monitoring would occur and available measures would be taken to mitigate effects.

Table 7. Aquatic lichen occurrences within 500 feet or 0.50 miles downstream of proposed plantations. Plantation aquatic lichen occurrence Approximate Distance between plantation and occurrence 114-62 Occ-002 (Anderson Creek) Plantation is adjacent to occurrence 114-62 Occ-003 (North Fork 0.50 miles downstream of Cosumnes) plantation 112-202 Occ-001 (Cat Creek) Planation is adjacent and 183 feet upslope from the population 113-4 Occ-001-02 (Sugar Pine Plantation is 0.5 miles Creek) upstream of occurrence 113-2; 113-1 Occ-008-02 (Loggers Plantations are within 150 Delight) feet of occurrence 113-15 Occ-008-01 (Loggers Plantation is 0.25 miles Delight) near Cat Creek upstream of occurrence 112-24 Occ-007 (Dark Canyon) Plantation is 0.20 miles

CalleCat Ecological Restoration Project 29 Sensitive Plant BE/BA & WRA upstream of occurrence 112-4 Occ-014 (Stream 9) Plantation is 0.05 miles upstream of occurrence 109-2 Occ-013 (Twin Gulch) Plantation is 0.55 miles upstream of occurrence

Currently the sensitivity of veined aquatic lichen to glyphosate is unknown. The National Risk Assessments summarize potential risks for aquatic algae, aquatic macrophytes and terrestrial plants, but does not provide information on the sensitivity of aquatic lichen to glyphosate (SERA, 2011). Some research has shown that terrestrial lichens are relatively sensitive to low concentrations of glyphosate (exposure from drift), but it is unknown if aquatic lichens exhibit similar sensitivities to glyphosate (SERA 2011). At this time, aquatic algae are the closet potential surrogate for aquatic lichen since algae are one of the partners in the symbiotic organism. According to the SERA risk assessment the Hazard Quotients (HQ) for acute and chronic exposures are all below a threshold of concern (SERA 2011). The HQ for accidental acute exposures are above a threshold of concern (HQ= 79), but the potential risk of spill has been addressed by DF limiting herbicide mixing near streams. The SERA risk assessment also modeled concentration of glyphosate in a stream from drift (6 feet wide and flow rate of 710,000 L/day), assuming pesticide application along a 1,038 foot segement the stream. Under this scenario the HQ for sensitive aquatic algae species are below a threshold of concern when applications occur >25feet from the modeled stream, suggesting the affects from drift into streams will not impact nearby aquatic lichen occurrences.

Table 8. modeled concentrations in water and hazard quotients (HQ) for sensitive aquatic algae in a stream downwind of application site. Distance concentration in water (ft) (mg/L) HQ1 0 3.65E-01 1.59 25 3.04E-03 1.32E-02 50 1.58E-03 6.87E-03 100 8.81E-04 3.83E-03 300 3.44E-04 1.50E-03 500 2.12E-04 9.22E-04 900 1.14E-04 4.96E-04 1HQ is based on a NOAEC of 0.23 mg a.e./L for the most sensitive algae species (Skeletonema costatum)

However, due to the close proximity of some aquatic lichen occurrences to the plantation in the project area; the presence of multiple plantations along stream reaches occupied by aquatic lichen; and the lack of available information on the specific sensitivity of aquatic lichen to glyphosate, post treatment monitoring would be conducted to confirm assumptions that project design criteria and buffers are adequate to prevent adverse effects to aquatic lichen in the project area. Sporax stump treatments: The proposed project includes the application of Sporax as a fungicide for stumps in the vicinity of Pipi campground and in identified pockets of Annosus (approximately 60 acres). Based on SERA risk assessments for Sporax, non-target aquatic plants and algae do not appear to be at risk from acute, chronic, or accidental exposure scenarios (SERA, 2006). The highest hazard quotient expected for plant species is for the worse case spill

CalleCat Ecological Restoration Project 30 Sensitive Plant BE/BA & WRA scenario (25 lbs of Sporax into a small pound), which is still below a threshold of concern. There also appears to be little risk to terrestrial plants exposed to boron through runoff of sporax applied to tree stumps. Therefore, effects to Sensitive plant species, including veined aquatic lichen, from the proposed annosus treatments are not expected for the Callecat project.

Activities associated with prescribe fire (line construction, pile burning, broadcast burning): Within the Callecat ecological restoration project area approximately 4,800 acres of prescribed burning will be conducted. In general the actual prescribed fire has limited impacts on understory terrestrial plant communities and sensitive plant species since these species are adapted to growing on a landscape where wildfire was historically an integral component of shaping and maintaining the plant communities where these sensitive species occur. Prescribed burning activities proposed for the Callecat Ecological Restoration project includes creepy pile, jackpot, and general understory burning. While the actually burning activities are relatively benign, the prep work associated with burning does involve some risk to terrestrial and aquatic sensitive plants in the Callecat project area.

Fire-line construction can directly impact terrestrial sensitive plant occurrences by potentially uprooting, crushing, or altering habitat condition (canopy closure, microsite hydrology, covering plants, etc.) if fire-line is constructed through an occurrence. Of the known terrestrial plants in the project area Hutchison’s lewisia FS#16, Pleasant Valley mariposa lily FS # 13 and 57, and 139 are all within or near the edge of proposed prescribed fire areas. All known occurrences will be flagged prior to line construction. Since fire-line construction can occur several years after completion of thinning and other treatments, the project botanist will be consulted prior to constructing line to reflag any sensitive plant occurrence that may need to be updated and to insure any additional line construction within the project area does not affect known sensitive plant occurrences. When laying out future burn units, fire-line construction will be developed to avoid direct impacts to sensitive plant occurrences. Other activities that may impact sensitive plants include piling fuels or felling hazard trees into sensitive plant occurrences. Since sensitive plant occurrences will be flagged for avoidance this is not expected to be a concern for known sensitive plants within the project area.

For known veined aquatic lichen in the project area, changes in water quality following the proposed prescribed fire could occur if the removal of vegetation and ground cover during prep activities or burning causes erosion, sedimentation, or changes in stream volume. While some changes in water quality may occur as a result of the proposed project, it is expected to be comparably low relative to most large wildfires because control burns are usually restricted to smaller areas and burn at lower intensities than large wildfires (Hydrology report, Callecat ecological restoration project). In addition, published research indicates that effects to water quality and aquatic species from prescribed fire - when such effects do occur - are relatively short-lived and last only a few years. Thus, as long as all design criteria measures designed to protect hydrologic features and Riparian Conservation Areas (RCA) within the project area are followed, the proposed control burn is not expected to impact long-term habitat quality for veined aquatic lichen.

RR Sugar pine: The Callecat project proposes thinning activities around 22 rust resistant sugar pines across the Amador Ranger district. One of the identified sugar pines is within approximately 80 feet of Mehrten Creek which is occupied by veined aquatic lichen. As a part of the Callecat Ecological restoration project the Amador District proposes to remove three small commercial size whitefirs and a number of sub-merchantable trees within 100 feet of the rust resistant sugar pine. The population of aquatic lichen in Merhten Creek is robust above Cat Creek road but decreases in density below the road crossing. There is a lack of riparian vegetation along

CalleCat Ecological Restoration Project 31 Sensitive Plant BE/BA & WRA this portion of the creek below Cat Creek road which may explain the reduce density of lichen below the road. The proposed activities will be localized within the RCA and are not expected to significantly affect stream shading surrounding the channel or impact the lichen in the vicinity of the RR sugar pine.

Roadwork in the project area: Proposed road work for the Callecat Ecological restoration project includes 48 miles of reconstruction, 27 miles of maintenance and 1.5 mile of new road construction. Potential threats for terrestrial sensitive plants during road construction are primarily the physical disturbance to roadside occurrences. There are three known occurrences of Pleasant Valley adjacent to or bisected by designated roadways in the project area (see table 8). Impacts to these known occurrences are not expected since all occurrences will be flagged for avoidance. No new road construction is proposed within these occurrences. If road maintenance, reconstruction, brushing or new construction is required adjacent to terrestrial sensitive species the project botanist will be contacted prior to initiating roadwork to insure impacts to sensitive plants are avoided.

Table 9 Known terrestrial sensitive plant species within the project area adjacent to proposed road reconstruction Road Activity Occurrence comments 9N76B Reconstruction, Pleasant Valley Lily Plants are 25feet brushing FS#12 from roadway 9N76B Reconstruction, Pleasant Valley Lily Plants are 15 feet brushing FS#13 from roadway 9N77 Reconstruction, Pleasant Valley Lily Plants are on both brushing FS#57 sides of the road within 50 feet

Within the Callecat project area a number stream channels are occupied by veined aquatic lichen. Many of these streams are crossed or run parallel to existing roads in the project area where road work is proposed. The proposed buffer of 100 ft for roadwork adjacent to streams occupied by veined aquatic lichen (unless approved by project botanist) will reduce potential effects to known populations.

Table 10. Roads within 100 feet of drainages with veined aquatic lichen Road Activity Veined aquatic lichen comments occurrence 9N40 crosses Dark Reconstruct and Dark Canyon Creek (FS 9N40B and 9N40 Canyon creek, brushing #7) 9N40b runs parallel 9N40 and 9N17 Reconstruct Loggers delight (FS # cross Loggers 9N40, 9N17, 9N23 /maintenance for 8-01 and FS# 8-02 Delight 9N23 runs 9N17, brushing parallel to creek 9N17 crosses creek, occurrence is just 9N17 Maintenance Cat Creek (FS# 5 downstream of road crossing Lichen is 100 ft Sugar pine creek (FS# 9N40 Reconstruct upstream of road 1-02 crossing

CalleCat Ecological Restoration Project 32 Sensitive Plant BE/BA & WRA 9N77 crosses creek, Callecat Stream 9 (FS# lichen above and 9N77 Reconstruct 14) below road crossing.

Invasive plant introduction: Soil disturbances can provide opportunities for the introduction and proliferation of invasive species. These species have the potential to quickly outcompete native plants including Sensitive plants for sunlight, water, and nutrients. These species can also form dense monocultures which can alter habitat for Sensitive plant species. Seeds of these species can be carried into Sensitive plant areas on prescribed burning equipment, vehicles, and on workers boots and clothing. The magnitude of this impact is difficult to predict since it is contingent on the introduction of a noxious weed species into an area, an event which may or may not occur. A potential source of introduced invasive species is the importing of gravel used in road construction. Major roads in the project area were surveyed in 2009. Disturbance from fire may offer new opportunities for weed seed introduction, so there is a need for roadside weed monitoring following the completion of the project to ensure that noxious weeds do not become established.

Benefits of proposed project for Sensitive plants Pleasant Valley Mariposa lily (Calochortus clavatus var. avius) tends to be found in open stands of conifers and is believed to be intolerance of deep shade and/or thick duff. Fire was likely a key component in maintaining open habitat on the Eldorado NF prior to widespread fire suppression activities. The proposed prescribed burning in the Callecat project could indirectly benefit known occurrences within the project area and any undiscovered individuals by reducing duff and cover of competing vegetation and opening up the overstory. Fall burns are generally conducted on the Eldorado NF which would be favorable for any undiscovered occurrences within the project area. Of the three known occurrences in the project area (Pleasant Valley Mariposa lily FS # 13, 57, and 139), two occurrences are within proposed rx burns. These sites are relatively open but a low intensity rx burning in the fall could benefit the species by improving habitat quality. To assure undesired effects to sensitive plants are avoided during implementiation the project botanist will be notified prior to burning within sensitive plant sites and would be onsite during burning operations if available.

Within the project area veined aquatic lichen (Peltigeria hydrotheria) occurs in a number of perennial stream reaches. According to the Region 5 Conservation Assesment (2010), viened aquatic lichen tends to occur in cool, clear, perennial streams, and is believed to be sensitive to drastic changes in overstory condition and sediment deposition. One of the objectives of the Callecat ecological restoration is to improve forest resilience by reducing fuel loading and increasing stand heterogeneity. These actions will limit the potential for contiguous areas of high mortality crown fire occuring through large portions of the project area. To the extent that the project is successful in achieving these goals, the proposed project could improve the long-term habitat quality for veined aquatic lichen on the landscape by reducing the potential of stand replacing wildfires within the watershed, which could impact the overstory canopy surrounding populations of veined aquatic lichen.

The Callecat Ecological Restoration project is also expected to directly benefit two known aquatic lichen occurrences (FS occ # 5 and FS occ # 3) by limiting impacts to streamside habitat from ongoing dispersed recreation. These two occurrences are on the Middle Fork of the Cosumes and Cat Creek in the project area off of FS roads 9N17F and 9N22 respectively. Dispersed camping along the Middle Fork of the Cosumnes is causing impacts to riparian vegetation and stream condition. The proposed project will limit impacts by decompacting soil,

CalleCat Ecological Restoration Project 33 Sensitive Plant BE/BA & WRA replanting native vegtation, and improving existing barricades to further limit vehicle access to the site. The occurrence growing on Cat Creek is also in the vicinity of dispersed recreation where riparian vegetation has been impacted. The proposed Callecat project will address these impacts by placing barricades, and planting riparian vegetation in denuded areas adjacent to the creek.

The proposed restoration of the gullies and plugged culvert in the area of 9N17 and Dark Canyon (unit 130) will benefit veined aquatic lichen (Peltigera hydrothyria) in Dark Canyon Creek. The gullies and plugged culvert area approximately 0.45 miles upstream of the known occurrence and currently deliver sediment to the creek and could cause impacts to the population of aquatic veined lichen. Stabilizing the gullies and unplugging the culvert will improve habitat quality for veined aquatic lichen in Dark Canyon Creek.

Overall the project area is relatively free of invasive plant infestations. None of the proposed units or Rx burn areas include high priority infestations but yellow starthistle (Centaurea solstitialis), tree of heaven (Ailanthus altissima), and scotch broom (Cytisus scoparius) exist in the project area, primarily along designated roads (see weed risk assessment). Active control measures have been included in the Callecat Ecological Restoration project and are expected to eradicate these infestations. By removing known infestations from the project area the proposed project will reduce the potential for invasive species to spread beyond current infestations within the project area, reducing native vegetation diversity and potentially impacting known sensitive plant occurrences. Of the known invasive plant infestations and sensitive plant occurrences, starthistle is considered the greatest threat to Pleasant Valley Mariposa lily sites and has been found growing in other Pleasant Valley Mariposa lily occurrences on the forest. However, the expected risk of invasion for known Pleasant Valley mariposa lily occurrence in the project area is considered very remote since the known yellow starthistle infestation is very small, along highway 88, and far removed for areas of concentrated project activities and existing Pleasant Valley mariposa lily occurrences.

Direct effects for undiscovered sensitive plants in the project area Potential habitat for a number of sensitive plant species occurs in the Callecat project area but occurrences were not found during recent sensitive plant surveys. While survey coverage for the project was extensive, it is still possible that past and recent surveys overlooked existing sensitive plants (surveys can only positively state a species presence, not its absence). If surveys inadvertently overlook sensitive plants, these individuals could be affected by project activities including, fire-line construction, prescribed burning, herbicide application, thinning activities, or road maintenance. If new occurrences are found during project implementation the project botanist would be contacted and necessary mitigations developed to limit impacts to newly discovered sensitive plant species.

Cumulative Effects In order to understand the contribution of past actions to the cumulative effects of the proposed action and alternatives, this analysis relies on current environmental conditions as a proxy for the impacts of past actions. This is because existing conditions reflect the aggregate impact of all prior human actions and natural events that have affected the environment and might contribute to cumulative effects and is consistent with National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Regulations (36 CFR 220.4(f)) (July 24, 2008).

Forest Service Ativities: Adverse impacts to sensitive plants from recent (1989-2011) activities have largely been minimized by the use of mitigation measures, mainly the use of avoidance. Ongoing and future management activities in the Callecat ecological restoration project area

CalleCat Ecological Restoration Project 34 Sensitive Plant BE/BA & WRA would likely include trail maintenance, hazard tree removal and implementation of ongoing FS projects in the area including Prospect Rock and View 88. It is anticipated that future impacts to sensitive plants would continue to be minimized through the use of avoidance for the above foreseeable actions. Avoidance or other means of mitigating impacts to sensitive plant occurrences is consistent with direction contained in in the ENF LMRP, which includes under Standard And Guideline 49 (p. 4-91), "provide for the protection and habitat needs of sensitive plants so that Forest activities would not jeapardize the continued existence of such species."

Climate change: Anthropogenic caused increases in temperatures and changes in precipitation are likely to impact both ecosystem structure and ecosystem processes (IPCC, 2007). Climate controls many ecosystem processes including species distribution and abundance, regeneration, vegetation productivity and growth, and disturbance all of which could affect FS sensitive species on the Eldorado National Forest. While there is some uncertainty regarding the scale, rate, and direction of future climatic conditions in the western United States and the Sierra Nevada (North et al., 2009) some general observation regarding past changes and expected future changes are generally agreed upon.

Climate change effects on precipitation and mean temperature have been difficult to predict with considerable variation between different models. According to Dettinger (2005), the most common prediction among the most recent models for California is temperature warming by about 9 degrees F by 2100, with precipitation remaining similar or slightly reduced compared to today. Most models agree that summers would be drier than they are currently, regardless of levels of annual precipitation. Current estimates of predicted climate change on vegetation patterns forecast that forest types and other vegetation dominated by woody plants in California would migrate to higher elevations as warmer temperatures make those areas suitable for colonization and survival (Lenihan et al. 2003). However, rare and uncommon species are expected to experience a number of barriers when adjusting to a rapidly changing climate because of the combination of a small number of occurrences, narrow elevational ranges, and requirements for specific soils types. Some of the FS Sensitive plant species (Pleasant Valley Mariposa lily, Hutchison’s Lewisia, and Three-bracted onion) with potential habitat in project area are restricted to limited areas within the forest. Plants confined to outcrops of special soils are generally expected to have a far lower chance of successful migration to suitable new sites and thus far greater risks of extinction in the face of climate change, than plants that are soil generalists (Harrison 2009). Because of the uncertainty in scale, direction, and rate of future climate change, current management of sensitive species on the Eldorado NF would focus maintaining viable populations throughout the species known range.

Noxious weeds: The establishment of noxious weeds in sensitive plant habitat can impact species by competing with native species for resources. Historic logging, grazing, and OHV travel have already introduced noxious weeds, primarily nonnative annual grasses, into portions of the project area. These annual grasses likely became established early in the analysis area during the Euro American settlement of the Sierras, probably as a result of grazing, logging, and mining activities. The grasses are common in both natural and developed openings such as lava caps, landings, and roadways throughout the Eldorado NF. The proposed Callecat restoration project is not expected to result in a detectable increase in the spread or proliferation of these non-native species above existing levels. Proposed design criteria for the project, including eradication of known priority infestations is expected to reduce the risk of introducing and spreading high priority noxious weeds in the project area (see WRA).

The threat of noxious weeds (current and future) introduction cannot be completely eliminated for the proposed Callecat project or other expected activities in the area. Therefore it is necessary to

CalleCat Ecological Restoration Project 35 Sensitive Plant BE/BA & WRA continue to monitor and control high priority infestations that already occur or may develop in the project area. The Eldorado National Forest noxious weed program is expected to continue monitoring and managing noxious weeds and would take necessary actions to address new infestations if they are discovered in the project area. Continued surveys for noxious weeds are expected to occur during future projects in the analysis area.

No Action (Alternative 2) Under the no action alternative a number of activities identified in the proposed action that directly benefit sensitive plant occurrences will not occur in the near future. Dispersed recreation near Cat Creek and Middle Fork of the Cosumnes will continue to impact riparian vegetation and deliver sediment to the streams potentially impacting populations of veined aquatic lichen. Pleasant Valley mariposa lily occurrence 13-01 and 13-02 will continue to occupy current habitat, but the two occurrences will not benefit from a low intensity understory burn which would have reduced cover and litter that will eventually impacts habitat quality for the sensitive plant. Under the no action alternative the risk of existing invasive plant infestations continuing to spread in the project area, potentially impacting sensitive plant occurrence, is likely to continue until the forest completes necessary analysis to allow for future treatment.

The risk of stand replacing crown-fires is believed to remain without the proposed fuel reduction in Alternative 1, 3, and 4 (see fuels report for Callecat Ecological Restoration project). Large stand replacing fires in the Sierra Nevada tend to result in homogenous conditions post-fire with less diversity of understory plant species when compared to low intensity underburns (Knapp and Keeley, 2006). High-intensity wildfires can also result in accelerated erosion, sedimentation, and altered hydrologic processes, all of which could negatively affect habitat quality for some Sensitive plant species (Neary et al, 2005), especially those found in forested habitat. In addition, fire-suppression activities during large uncontrolled wildfires may increase the spread of invasive plant species which could negatively impact potential and occupied habitat for Sensitive plants (Zouhar et al, 2008). Together, these studies suggest that uncontrolled high-intensity wildfires could impact some sensitive plant species by altering habitat quality and potentially facilitating the invasion of noxious weeds. In particular the threat of stand replacing fires in the project area is of concern for veined aquatic lichen, which does not tolerate dramatic reductions in stream shading or stream sedimentation. For Pleasant Valley mariposa lily, and Hutchison’s lewisia, direct and indirect effects from a stand replacing wildfire are less likely under the no action alternative. Both species are usually dormant during the fall fire season with perennial structures buried underground and protected from potentially lethal temperatures. In addition both species tend to occur in open habitat and would likely thrive post fire (as observed with the Pleasant Valley lily in Cleveland fire) unless invasive species become established.

Under the no action alternative some potential effects to sensitive plants described in the action alternatives will be reduced. Most obviously any potential direct effects to any undiscovered occurrences within the proposed project area will be eliminated without the proposed activities. The risk of noxious weed introduction will also be much lower under the no action alternative compared to other alternatives (Alt 1, 3, and 4) since potential vectors and ground disturbance associated with the project will not occur. The risk of herbicide applications impacting aquatic lichen and other sensitive plants is also reduced under the no action alternative compared to both Alternative 1 and 3. While design criteria have limited the risk of effects below a threshold of concern for known sensitive plant populations in the project area, the risk of accidental spills, overspray, and drift cannot be completed eliminated and will be slightly reduced under the no action alternative.

CalleCat Ecological Restoration Project 36 Sensitive Plant BE/BA & WRA Cumulative Effects: In order to understand the contribution of past actions to the cumulative effects of the no action alternative, this analysis relies on current environmental conditions as a proxy for the impacts of past actions. This is because existing conditions reflect the aggregate impact of all prior human actions and natural events that have affected the environment and might contribute to cumulative effects and is consistent with Forest Service National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Regulations (36 CFR 220.4(f)) (July 24, 2008). Existing environmental condition in the project area for Alternative 2 is the same as described for Alternative 1.

Current and future management activities expected within the proposed project area include hazard tree removal and some minor road maintenance. It is also expected that fire suppression activities would occur in the event of a wildfire in the project area.

The cumulative effects of past activities (logging and fire suppression), current and future management, and the no action alternative are potentially adverse for known any undiscovered sensitive plants within the project area. Past fire suppression and continued increases in fuels and stand density under the no action alternative may increase the probability of high severity wildfire occurring within the proposed project area. Both fire suppression activities and large tracks of bare-ground after high severity wildfire are extremely susceptible to invasive plants (Zouhar et al, 2008). The potential introduction and proliferation of invasive species as well as potential sedimentation and altered hydrologic processes (Neary et al, 2005) after an uncontrolled wildfire could adversely impact potential habitat for some Sensitive plants under the no action alternative. However, large wildfires have also benefited Pleasant Valley mariposa lily populations on the Eldorado National forest by removing competing brush and conifers so the potential effects will vary for sensitive species in the project area.

Non-Commercial Funding and Snag Recruitment (Alternative 3):

Direct effects for Alternative 3 are expected to be similar to the proposed action, since the action alternatives will include ground disturbing activities and prescribed fire over largely similar areas in the Callecat project area. There is always a remote possibility for FS Sensitive plant populations to be overlooked within the project area during botanical surveys. If this occurs Alternative 3 would result in similar negative direct effects to undiscovered populations as described under alternative 1.

Indirect effects from ground based harvest equipment for Alternative 3 are expected to be very similar to Alternative 1. However, Alternative 3 is expected to maintain slightly more canopy cover within the project area as a result of the lower DBH limit. The projected differences in canopy cover between the two alternatives could indirectly affect potential habitat for Sensitive plant species if noxious weeds are introduced into the project area. If this were to occur Alternative 3 would be slightly less susceptible to noxious weed establishment than Alternative 1 because noxious weeds are generally less competitive when shaded by overstory conifers. If noxious weeds are not introduced into the project area the expected differences in forest structure between the proposed action and Alternatives 3 (canopy cover, stand density, etc.) will not substantially alter the quality of potential Sensitive plant habitat within the project area. The negative indirect effects to potential sensitive habitat from ground disturbing activities should be similar for alternative 3 if it occurs in potential habitat for sensitive species (see effects for Alternative 1).

Alternative 3 is expected to be similar to Alternative 1 in reducing the risk for high intensity wildfire within the project area. The expected reduction in risk for high severity wildfire would

CalleCat Ecological Restoration Project 37 Sensitive Plant BE/BA & WRA indirectly benefit Sensitive plant species with the proposed project area as described for Alternative 1.

Cumulative effects for Alternative 3 will be similar to those described for Alternative 1.

Limited Treatments in RCAs (Alternative 4): Effects from Alternative 4 are similar to the proposed action except for the following: • There is a lower risk of effects from herbicides to sensitive plants since herbicide application will not occur within RCA under alternative 4. This will result in a lower risk of direct and indirect effects to veined aquatic lichen from herbicide application in the project area; although under the proposed action the expected risk of effects are already below a threshold of concern. • There is also a slightly lower risk of invasive species introduction into RCAs along Cat Creek and the Middle Fork of the Cosumnes since mechanical equipment will be excluded from RCA on the above drainages. The difference from the proposed action is expected to be minor since Alternative 1 includes Design Criteria that greatly limit the potential for invasive plant introduction in the project area.

VII. OTHER MANAGEMENT ISSUES AND RECOMMENDATIONS: None.

VIII. MITIGATIONS AND MONITORING Sensitive plants Any new occurrences of sensitive plants identified within the Callecat Ecological Restoration project area would be flagged and avoided when necessary. Occurrences of Sensitive plant species near proposed herbicide application areas (<500 feet) would be monitored after treatments. These preventative measures meet the Threatened, Endangered, Proposed, and Sensitive Plant Species standard and guideline from the 2004 SNFPA ROD.

IX. DETERMINATION

For Listed Species There is no potential habitat for Arctostaphylos nissenana, Balsamorhiza macrolepis var. macrolepis, Bruchia bolanderi, Draba asterophora var. asterophora, Draba asterophora var. macrocarpa, Eriogonum tripodum, Epilobium howellii, Helodium blandowii, Horkelia parryi, Lewisia longipetala, Lewisia serrata, Navarretia prolifera ssp. lutea, Phacelia stebbinsii, and Pinus albicaulis in the Callecat Ecological Restoration project area. I therefore conclude that the proposed action (Alternative 1, 3 and 4) would not affect these species.

For Candidate species Alternative 1, 3, and 4 of the Callecat Ecological Restoration project would not affect Pinus albicaulis.

For Sensitive Species There are four occurrences of Calochortus clavatus var. avius and one occurrence of Lewisia kelloggii var. hutichisonii within the Callecat project area. Direct impacts from project activities are not expected since terrestrial plant occurrences within the project area will be flagged for avoidance prior to project initiation. Therefore Alternative 1, 3, and 4, may affect undiscovered

CalleCat Ecological Restoration Project 38 Sensitive Plant BE/BA & WRA individual, but would not lead to a trend towards Federal listing or loss of viability for Calochortus clavatus var. avius or Lewisia kelloggii var hutichisonii.

There are nine occurrences of Peltigeria hydrotheria within the Callecat project area. Impacts from project activities are not expected since design criteria for Riparian Conservation Areas have been developed and will limit potential effects to stream reaches occupied by Peltigeria hydrotheria. Therefore, Alternative 1, 3, and 4 of the Callecat Ecological restoration project, may affect undiscovered individual, but would not lead to a trend toward Federal listing or loss of viability for Peltigeria hydrotheria.

Some suitable habitat for Allium tribracteatum, Botrychium ascendens, Botrychium crenulatum, Botrychium lunaria, Botrychium minganense, Botrychium montanum, Botrychium paradoxum, Cypripedium montanum, Lewisia kelloggii ssp. kelloggii, Meesia triquetra, and Meesia uliginosa occurs in the Callecat project area, but populations were not found in the project area. Because past surveys cannot positively state the absence of a sensitive plant species it is possible that the proposed project could affect undetected individuals in the project area. Therefore, Alternative 1, 3, and 4 of the Callecat Ecological Restoration project may affect (undiscovered) individuals but is not likely to result in a trend toward Federal listing or loss of viability for Allium tribracteatum, Botrychium ascendens, Botrychium crenulatum, Botrychium lunaria, Botrychium minganense, Botrychium montanum, Cypripedium montanum, Lewisia kelloggii var. hutchisonii, Lewisia kelloggii ssp. kelloggii, Meesia triquetra, Meesia uliginosa.

CalleCat Ecological Restoration Project 39 Sensitive Plant BE/BA & WRA X. REFERENCES Asher, Jerry. 1998. Invasive Weeds: Impacts and Solutions. Bureau of Land Management presentation. Asher, J., S. Dewey, C. Johnson, and J. Olivarez. 2001. Reducing the spread of invasive exotic plants following fire in western forests, deserts, and grasslands. Pages 102–103 In K.E.M. Galley and T.P. Wilson (eds.). Proceedings of the Invasive Species Workshop: the Role of Fire in the Control and Spread of Invasive Species. Fire Conference 2000: the First National Congress on Fire Ecology, Prevention, and Management. Miscellaneous Publication No. 11, Tall Timbers Research Station, Tallahassee, FL. Barnett, T.P.; Pierce, D.W.; Hidalgo, H.G.; Bonfils, C.; Santer, B.D.; Das, T.; Bala, G.; Wood, A.W.; Nozawa, T.; Mirin, A.A.; Cayan, D.R.; Dettinger, M.D. 2008. Human-Induced Changes in the Hydrology of the Western United States. Science. 19: 1080-1083. Brown, James and Jane Smith (eds.). 2002. Wildland Fire in Ecosystems: effects of fire on flora. RMRS-GTR-42-vol. 2 Bossard, CC, JM Randall, and MC Hoshovsky. 2000. Invasive Plants of California’s Wildlands. University of California Press. CNPS (California Native Plant Society). 2011. Inventory of Rare and Endangered Plants of California (online version). Dettinger, M. D. 2005. From climate-change spaghetti to climate-change distributions for 21st century California. San Francisco Estuary and Watershed Science Vol. 3, Issue 1, (March 2005), Article 4. http://repositories.cdlib.org/jmie/sfews/vol3/iss1/art4 Eldorado National Forest. 2011. Sensitive plant habitat and occurrence maps, and unpublished occurrence records. Eldorado National Forest. 1989. Land and Resource Management Plan. Pacific Southwest Region. USDA Forest Service. Eldorado National Forest. 2012. Noxious Weed GIS database. Placerville, CA Eldorado National Forest. 2012. Scoping Notice for CalleCat Ecological Restoration project. USDA Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Region, Eldorado National Forest, Pacific Ranger District. Gelbard JL and J Belnap. 2003. Roads as conduits for exotic plant invasions in a semiarid landscape. Conservation Biology 17: 420-432. Hamlet, A.F.; Mote, P.W.; Clark, M.P.; Lettenmaier, D.P. 2007. 20th century trends in runoff, evapotranspiration, and soil moisture in the Western U.S. Journal of Climate. 20: 1468-1486. Harrison, S., E. Damschen & B. M. Going (2009) Climate Gradients, Climate Change, and Special Edaphic Floras. Northeastern Naturalist, 16, 121-130. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change [IPCC]. 2007. Climate change 2007: The IPCC Fourth Assessment Report. Cambridge, United Kingdon: Cambridge University Press. Keeley Jon and Thomas McGinnis. 2007. Impact of prescribed fire and other factors on cheatgrass persistence in a Sierra Nevada ponderosa pine forest. International Journal of wildland Fire 16: 96-106. Lenihan, J.; Drapek, R.; Bachelet, D.; Neilson, R. 2003. Climate change effects on vegetation distribution, carbon, and fire in California. Ecological Applications. 13: 1667–1681. Marer P.J. 2000. The safe and effective use of pesticides second edition. University of California Davis Statewide Integrated Pest Management Program. Mote, P.W. 2003. Trends in snow water equivalent in the Pacific Northwest and their climatic causes. Geophysical Research Letters. 30: 1601. Mote, P.W.; Hamlet, A.F.; Clark, M.; Lettenmaier, D.P. 2005. Declining mountain snowpack in western North America. Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society. 86: 39-49.

CalleCat Ecological Restoration Project 40 Sensitive Plant BE/BA & WRA SERA. Nov. 21, 2009. WorksheetMaker Version 5.00 User Guide. Syracuse Environmental Research Associates, Inc SERA. Mar. 1, 2011. Glyphosate—Human health and ecological risk assessment—final report. Syracuse Environmental Research Associates, Inc. Shevock JR. 1996. Status of rare and endemic plants. Sierra Nevada Ecosystem Project. Final Report to Congress. Stewart, I.T.; Cayan, D.R.; Dettinger, M.D. 2005. Changes toward earlier streamflow timing across western North America. Journal of Climatology. 18: 1136–1155. USDA Forest Service. 1990. Forest Service Manual: Wildlife, Fish, and Sensitive Plant Habitat Management (section 2670), WO Amendment 2600-90-1. Effective 6/1/90. USDA Forest Service. 1990. Threatened and Endangered Plants Program Handbook (R-5 FSH 2609.25) Amendment 1, Exhibit 1: R-5 Sensitive Plant Species. USDA Forest Service. 1995. Forest Service Manual: Noxious Weed Management (section 2080). Effective 11/29/95 USDA Forest Service. 2001. Forest Service Guide to Noxious Weed Prevention Practices. USDA Forest Service. 2006. Regional Forester's List of Sensitive Plant Species (Revision). Pacific Southwest Region. July 31, 2006. USDA Forest Service. 1998. Stemming the Invasive Tide: Forest Service Strategy for Noxious and Nonnative Plant Management. USDA Forest Service. 2000. Noxious Weed Management Strategy. Pacific Southwest Region. USDA Forest Service. 2001. Pacific Southwest Region. Sierra Nevada Forest Plan Amendment, Final Environmental Impact Statement. USDA Forest Service. 2004. Pacific Southwest Region. Sierra Nevada Forest Plan Amendment, Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement. USDA Forest Service. Region 5. 2005. Conservation Assessment for Cypripedium fasciculatum and Cypripedium montanum. USDA Forest Service. Region 5. 2010. Conservation Assessment for Peltigera hydrothyria. Wilson, B., V. Hipkins, E. Rey Vizgirdas & T. Kaye (2005) Variation in Lewisia kelloggii (Portulacaceae) with description of a new species endemic to Idaho. West. N. Amer. Nat, 65, 345-358. Zouhar, K. 2003. Bromus tectorum In: Fire Effects Information System [Online]. U.S. Departement of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory. http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/plants/graminoid/brotec/all.html

CalleCat Ecological Restoration Project 41 Sensitive Plant BE/BA & WRA APPENDIX A: BOTANY REPORT FOR SPECIAL INTEREST PLANTS

I. INTRODUCTION

Purpose: The purpose of the Botany Report is to describe effects on Special Interest (or watch list) plant species, special interest plant communities, and other botanical resources.

Special Interest Plant Species and communities:

The project is within the elevation range for Botrychium simplex, Drosera rotundifolia, Piperia leptopetala, Pseudostellaria sierrae, Silene invisa, and Taxus brevifolia. The only special interest species known to occur in the area are Taxus brevifolia (above Pipi creek in unit 109-113) and Botrychium simplex (in Sugar pine creek near unit 113-140).

Lava cap: There are a number of lava cap plant communities throughout the project area.

Meadows: The largest meadow community in the project area is within unit 109-112 above Pipi Camp Ground.

II. CURRENT MANAGEMENT DIRECTION

Special Interest species: A number of plant species do not meet all of the criteria to be included on the Regional Forester’s Sensitive Plant List, but are of sufficient concern that we need to consider them in the planning process. These include species that are locally rare – as opposed to declining throughout their range – are of public concern, occur as disjunct populations, are newly described taxa, or lack sufficient information on population size, threats, trend or distribution.

Such species make an important contribution to forest biodiversity and are addressed as appropriate through the NEPA process. To better identify these species, forests have been encouraged to develop watch lists for these special interest species. These watch lists are dynamic and updated as the need arises to reflect changing conditions and new information.

III. EXISTING ENVIRONMENT Within the project area surveys for Sensitive and Special Interest plant species surveys have been occurring since the early 1980’s. These surveys have focused on different plant species depending on the FS sensitive and Special Interest plant list used at the time of the survey. Current populations of special interest species were found in 2011 during surveys for the Callecat ecological restoration project.

CalleCat Ecological Restoration Project 42 Sensitive Plant BE/BA & WRA

Little Moonwort (Botrychium simplex ) Little moonwort is a perennial fern (Ophioglossaceae) found in wet meadows, fens, and riparian areas throughout the Sierra Nevada (0-6,000 ft). Most moonwort species show a marked affinity for neutral substrates with high mineral content, especially soils developed on limestone bedrock or otherwise containing high calcium content. High elevation habitats suitably moist and cool are abundant throughout the Sierra Nevada and northern California mountains, but these mountains are mostly composed of granites, volcanics, and crustal basalts not rich in soluble calcium. However, leaf litter from incense cedar may favorably modify soils for some moonworts. The species is not listed under the state or federal endangered species act. The little moonwort was considered but rejected by California Native Plant Society for listing because the species is too common in California. Current ENF management is to flag and avoid known occurrences.

There is one occurrence of little moonwort growing along Sugar Pine Creek. The nearest thinning unit is within 200 feet of the occurrences, upslope and on the other side of road 9N17b.

Roundleaf sundew (Drosera rotundifolia) Roundleaf sundew (Droseraceae) is a coniverous perennial forb found in wet meadows and fens throughout the Sierra Nevada (0-6,300 ft). The species is not listed under the state or federal endangered species act. The roundleaf sundew was considered but rejected by California Native Plant Society for listing because the species is too common in California. Current ENF management is to flag and avoid known occurrences. Potential threats for this species include any activities that alter hydrologic processes that support fens and wet meadows where the sundew occurs. Additional threats include direct disturbance to peat bodies where the sundew often occur, or input of additional sediment which impacts the proper function of fen communities.

Rein orchid (Piperia leptopetala) Rein orchid (Orchidaceae) is a terrestrial orchid that grows on the forest floor in montane woodlands and mixed conifer forests (1,250-7,300 ft). The orchid grows primarily in open mixed or coniferious forests, in light to moderate shade. Plants inhabit both fairly steep hillsides and relatively flat terrain. The species is not listed under the state or federal endangered species act. The rein orchid is currently on the California Native Plant Society watch list and is not believed to be very endagered in California (CNPS list 4.3). One occurrence of the orchid is known from a private inholding on the Eldorado NF along Iron Mountain Road a few miles east of Jenkisen Lake (CalFlora). Threats for this terrestrial orchid from include ground disturbing activities such as road construction, timber harvest, fire line construction, and OHV activity. Management for this species would include flag and avoid for any new occurrences.

Sierra starwort (Pseudostellaria sierrae) Sierra starwort (Caryophyllaceae) is an annual herb found in montane woodlands and coniferous forests (4,100-7,200 ft). The species is not listed under the state or federal endangered species act. The Sierra starwort currently on the California Native Plant Society review list and is believed to be fairly endagered in California (CNPS list 3.2). Current ENF management is to flag and avoid any new occurrences.

Redfir catchfly (Silene invisa) Red fir catchfly is known from widely scattered locations from Amador County to Lassen Volcanic National Park, and also in the Trinity Alps. Very few locations were known before the 1980's, but subsequent fieldwork has resulted in a substantial increase in the number of occurrences known, primarily on the Tahoe, Eldorado, and Plumas National Forests. The red fir

CalleCat Ecological Restoration Project 43 Sensitive Plant BE/BA & WRA catchfly grows in red fir, upper mixed conifer, or lodgepole forests, generally along moist or dry meadow edges, ephemeral stream banks, and forest edges under partial or open canopy red fir (Abies magnifica), white fir (Abies concolor, and/or lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta var. murrayana). Potential threats to this species include changing shading, nutrient, and water levels; and noxious weed introduction. Plants have been observed in older non-maintained forest system roads suggesting that the plants can tolerate some level of disturbance. Current ENF management is to flag and avoid known occurrences. There are no known occurrences of redfir catchfly in the project area.

Pacific Yew (Taxus brevifolia) Pacific yew is an uncommon tree found below 5000 ft in mesic sites on lower slopes of dense mixed evergreen forest. The species is not listed under the state or federal endangered species act. The Pacific yew was considered but rejected by California Native Plant Society for listing because the species is too common in California. One occurrence of Pacific yew was found in unit 109-113 in the Callecat project area.

Lava cap: These plant communities are generally dominated by high diversity of herbs and shrubs adapted to growing on rocky and volcanic soils eroded from Mehrten formation mudflow. Early each spring, these rocky areas give rise to a rich and varied ephemeral plant community. The rest of the year lava cap communities often have a sparse barren appearance. This community type is recognized by CNPS as a sensitive plant community type. Threats to these unique plant communities include OHV activity, fuels reduction activities, landing construction and invasive plant introduction. Because of the lava cap physical situation, on fairly level ridgetops, much of this habitat has been impacted by the construction of roads, trails, and landings. The forest generally avoids ground disturbance including landings, and equipment staging on pristine lava cap communities.

Meadows: These unique plant communities often contain a high diversity of native species relative to surrounding forested areas and show wide variability between meadow types from dry upland meadows, to wet meadows and peatlands. While meadow types can vary greatly across the Eldorado NF, they generally share common characteristics including 1) the presence of plant communities dominated by herbaceous species 2) plants that use surface water and/or shallow groundwater and 3) woody vegetation may occur but is not dominant. These plant communities play and important role in providing wildlife habitat, regulating hydrologic processes, and proving both recreational and culturally functions. Potential threats include altering hydrologic processes that support meadow vegetation, invasive plant introduction, grazing, and some recreation activities.

IV. DESIGN CRITERIA • Pacific yew (Taxus brevifolia) will be avoided to the extent possible during thinning within the unit. • Broadcast burning will be excluded within the equipment exclusion zone along Pipi Creek to limit impacts from fire to Pacific yew (Taxus brevifolia). Jackpot burning would be allowed in areas free of Pacific yew. • No active ignition of riparian vegetation in meadow north of Pipi campground • Equipment use on shallow soils (granitic outcrops and lavacap) would be avoided unless consultation with soil scientist and botanist occurs V. EFFECTS Little moonwort: Botrychium simplex is relatively common on the Eldorado National forest, often found along perennial streams and wet meadows, especially on the Amador RD. The Main

CalleCat Ecological Restoration Project 44 Sensitive Plant BE/BA & WRA potential threats to the population growing in Sugar Pine Creek from project activity is from fireline construction within RCA. The probability of this occurring is very remote since there is a road on either side of the creek that could be used as a control line during proposed prescribed burning. As a precaution the occurrence will be flagged for avoidance to insure that it is not directly impacted from project activities.

Pacific yew: Pacific yew tends to grow in cool protected drainages that generally experienced infrequent fires on the Eldorado NF. Yews often occur in the understory of mature forests, and are sensitive to drastic reductions in overstory canopy cover (increase heat and light exposure). Disturbance from fire will often result in mortality of adult plants and seedlings because pacific yew lack a thick protective bark common on other conifer species occurring in the Sierras. Following disturbance from fire, recruitment of yews will generally occur from remaining offsite populations (bird dispersed seeds), although the recovery can be quite slow.

The Pacific yew within the project area may be affected by the proposed thinning and prescribe burning in unit 113. The majority of the population occurs above Pipi Creek, growing on relatively steep ground where thinning and prescribe burning activities will be limited. Design criteria to avoid disturbing yew during thinning and broadcast burning will reduce potential effects to individuals that do occur where project activities are proposed, but some individuals in the population are likely to be impacted by reduced canopy density or mechanical disturbance. During prescribe burning some pacific yew may also be impacted by fire but direct ignition in areas occupied by Pacific yew will not occur. It is expected that prescribe fire will not carry through much of the area where Pacific yew occurs, because the area is a moist, steep drainage and is unlikely to carry fire that may creep in from areas of active ignition.

No other special interest plant species have been found within the project area. However, if past and recent surveys inadvertently overlook special interest plants, it is possible that some individuals may be affected directly by project activities. Indirect effects from project activity to undiscovered individuals may include soil compaction, crushing or uprooting individual plants, altered overstory conditions and potential introduction of non-native species and noxious weeds.

If any new special interest plant species are discovered in the Callecat project area, necessary actions would be considered to limit impacts from project activities. Therefore, the proposed project is not expected to cause cumulative effects for special interest plant species within the proposed project area.

Lavacaps: Lavacap communities occur primarily in the western portion of the project area. Impacts to lavacap communities from equipment staging and landings will be avoided during project implementation.

Meadows: Meadows in the project area have been addressed as special aquatic features in the Riparian Conservation Objective analysis for the Callecat Ecological Restoration project. Design criteria listed in the RCO analysis have been included in the proposed project and will prevent impacts to the known meadows in the project area including the meadow complex north of Pipi campground.

VI. MITIGATION Flag and avoid any new occurrence of Special Interest species discovered before project implementation when necessary to prevent impacts from enduro events.

Literature cited

CalleCat Ecological Restoration Project 45 Sensitive Plant BE/BA & WRA USDA Forest Service. R5. 1988. Interim Management guide for Silene invia.

USDA Forest Service. R3. 2006. Drosera rotundifolia L (roundleaf sundew): A technical Conservation Assessment.

Coelman RA. 2002. The Wild Orchids of California. Comstock Publication Association.

Rabeler RK and Hartman RL. 2002. Pseudostellaria sierrae (Caryophyllaceae), a new species from California. Novon 12: 82-86.

CalleCat Ecological Restoration Project 46 Sensitive Plant BE/BA & WRA APPENDIX B: NOXIOUS WEED RISK ASSESSMENT

Five factors of weed spread were analyzed for the proposed Callecat Ecological Restoration project. Determinations of risk (High, Moderate, and Low) are summarized below along with the total risk of weed spread for the proposed project if suggested mitigation measures are implemented.

If the proposed Callecat Ecological restoration project includes all listed mitigation measures to reduce or eliminate the risks of introducing or spreading noxious weeds in the project area then it is my determination that the risk of spreading noxious weeds in the project area is Low.

Introduction: This assessment is in compliance with the Eldorado National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan (USFS PNF LRMP 1989), the Sierra Nevada Forest Plan Amendment (SNFPA) FSEIS and Record of Decision (ROD), Executive Order on Invasive Species (Executive Order 13112), and the direction in the Forest Service Manual section 2900, Noxious Weed Management (2012), which includes a policy statement calling for a risk assessment for noxious weeds to be completed for every project. The overriding principle stated in these documents is that the costs associated with preventing an infestation are much less than the costs of eliminating a population once it has expanded, and of dealing with the effects of a degraded plant community.

Noxious weeds generally possess one or more of the following characteristics: aggressive and difficult to manage, poisonous, toxic, parasitic, a carrier or host of serious insects or disease, or being nonnative or new to or not common to the United States or parts thereof (FSM 2900). In order to control noxious weeds the US Forest Service has adopted an integrated weed management approach to reduce the spread of noxious weeds on to, and from National Forest System lands. The main objective of this integrated approach to weed management is to prevent the introduction and establishment of noxious weed infestations, and control (contain and suppress) existing noxious weed infestations on National Forest System lands (FSM 2900). In addition when any ground disturbing action or activity is proposed, the federal agency is required to determine the risk of introducing or spreading noxious weeds associated with the proposed action (FSM 2900).

1. Noxious Weeds Present In or Near Project Area (Moderate) Existing noxious weed records were reviewed for the Callecat ecological project area (ENF 2012 weed layer). A majority of proposed units, roads and trails were surveyed for noxious weeds in 2009. Generally the project area is relatively free of invasive species but there are a few small high priority infestations (ENF List A species) scattered throughout the project area. All infestations are outside proposed treatment units and are restricted to roadsides infestations.

Non-native annual grasses are also present throughout the project area, primarily in open areas including roadsides, plantations, lavacaps, and landings. In general these non-native grasses (Bromus diandrus, B. madritensis, and Avena fatua) have already saturated much of the available habitat throughout the existing project area and the forest. The Forest does not track these species because of their prevalence throughout the forest. Because these species are well established, few measures are available to prevent the continued spread of these species along existing trails and roads. The Forest does track a few non-native grasses including medusa head (Elymus caput- medusae) and barbed goat grass (Aegilops triuncialis), none of which are currently known from the project area. These species are high priority for prevention and control on the Eldorado NF because they are infrequently found across the forest, but believed to have a high potential for invading.

CalleCat Ecological Restoration Project 47 Sensitive Plant BE/BA & WRA

Cheat grass (Bromus tectorum) is another nonnative annual grass widespread on the Eldorado where it has established itself as a minor component in many plant communities. This weedy grass, along with related exotic Bromes, is thought to contribute to an increase in fire frequencies in the Great Basin and the Eastern Sierras. It is present in scattered, small occurrences along roadsides, dispersed recreation areas, plantations, and lavacaps in the project area. Though it appears to move off the roadsides and into plantations here on the ENF and elsewhere in the Sierra, it rarely forms a monoculture when native vegetation remains intact. Below is a summary of high priority noxious weed species infestation known from the project area and immediate vicinity:

Yellow starthistle (Centaurea solstitialis): There is one infestations of yellow starthistle in the project area along highway 88 near Lumber yard. The district has treated the roadside infestation since it was discovered in 2007 and has nearly eradicated the infestation. Proposed roadwork and other project activities will not occur in the vicinity of the infestation.

Rush skeletonweed (Chondrilla juncea): There is one small infestation along 8N44 that was found in 2009. The infestation is outside of proposed treatment areas, and roadwork will not occur along 8N44.

Tree of heaven (Ailanthus altissima): One small infestation is growing through the cattle guard on 9N17. The district has repeatedly cut the plant back since it was discovered in 2006 but the plant continues to resprout.

Scotch broom (Cytisus scoparius): There are two infestations of Scotch broom in the vicinity of the Callecat project area along 8N58. Both occurrence are small and were pulled in 2009. It is likely that new plants have germinated from the seed bank and will need to be retreated. Proposed project activity including road construction and maintenance are not proposed along 8N58.

Other non-native species known from the project area Certain widespread non-native species, such as bull thistle (Cirsium vulgare), woolly mullein (Verbascum thapsus), Klamathweed (Hypericum perforatum), and spiny dogtail grass (Cynosurus echinatus) are present in the project area but are considered lower priority species for invasive plant management on the Eldorado NF. These exotic species have become somewhat naturalized in much of the Sierra Nevada forests below 7,000 ft. While they can be locally abundant in areas of recent soil disturbance they do not appear to create persistent monocultures (their numbers diminish a few years after disturbance activities cease).

There are also a number of non-native species within the project believed to be largely naturalized throughout the forest, but are unlikely to become locally dominant. Examples include; Elytrigia intermedia, Lactuca serriola, Phleum pratense, Rumex acetosella, Spergularia rubra, Taraxacum officinale, Tragopogon dubius. These species are would not be addressed further in this document.

Descriptions for noxious weeds currently known for the project area

Rush skeletonweed: Rush skeletonweed (Chondrilla juncea) is a perennial invasive herb (Sunflower family), often found along roadsides and in recently disturbed areas. A single skeletonweed can produce 15,000 to 20,000 seeds in a season which are spread by wind,

CalleCat Ecological Restoration Project 48 Sensitive Plant BE/BA & WRA livestock, wildlife, and mechanical equipment. Rush skeletonweed infestations crowd out native vegetation, degrade range quality, and are highly competitive for water and nutrients. Mechanical treatments are only effective during the first year of plant growth. Once the plants become established they will sprout from deep taproots after treatments. For well-established infestations integrated weed management involving 1) chemical treatments 2) biocontrols and 3) revegetation with native species is the best strategy to control rush skeletonweed.

Scotch broom: Scotch broom (Cytisus scoparius) is a perennial shrub (legume family) often found in disturbed areas. The seeds for scotch broom are large and are distributed naturally by gravity (i.e. rolling down hill) or on mechanized equipment. Scotch broom is extremely prevalent at lower elevation areas in the Eldorado National forest, especially on the Georgetown Ranger District. Small isolated infestations on the Amador district are currently a high priority for treatment because the invasive shrub is uncommon across much of the district.

Scotch Broom is undesirables because it forms dense stands which crowd out native species, destroy wildlife habitat, and increase fire hazard. Mechanical treatment is effective for removing mature plants. The seedbank however, is long-lived and will continue to produce plants for many years.

Yellow Starthistle: Yellow starthistle (Centaurea solstitialis) is an annual invasive herb found along roadsides, landings, and disturbed areas throughout the Eldorado NF (up to 6500 ft). A single starthistle flower head can produces over 50 seeds. However, the seeds have no wind- dispersal mechanisms so few seeds move more than two feet from the parent plant without assistance. Therefore, animals and human influences, such as vehicles, contaminated crop seed, hay or soil, and road maintenance, contribute greatly to the plant’s rapid and long-distance spread.

As the plant infests an area, it chokes out the native plants, reducing biodiversity and wildlife habitat and forage. Another concern associated with the plant is “chewing disease” that develops in horses that have eaten yellow starthistle. Small infestations can be treated by pulling plants before seeds are dispersed. Herbicide treatments are effective when treating large infestations.

Cheatgrass: Cheat grass (Bromus tectorum) is a non-native annual grass that has rapidly spread throughout much of the western United States. Cheat grass seeds are spread by water, livestock, wildlife, and mechanized equipment. The major concern with cheat grass and other annual grasses is the increase in fine flashy fuels when annual grasses become established in natural plant communities (Zouhar 2003). This altered fuelbed has been shown to increase the intensity, and frequency of fires within the stand, eventually resulting in a “type conversion” from forest and woodlands to annual grassland or shrubland (Zouhar 2008). There are very few options to control existing infestations. Small infestations can be treated by mowing or weedeating prior to seed maturation in the spring. Maintaining sufficient cover of native species would likely prevent annual grasses from spreading within the project area (Keeley and McGinnis 2007, Zouhar 2008).

CalleCat Ecological Restoration Project 49 Sensitive Plant BE/BA & WRA

Tree of heaven: Tree of heaven (Ailanthus altissima) is a non-native tree that can form dense stands, especially in the foothills of the Sierra. The tree spreads by seed, stem fragements, and root sprouts. The tree is dicious requiring two trees to produce viable seeds. The one infestation in the project area is considered an outlier since most infestations occur at much lower elevations and is a priority for eradictation. Handpulling young seedlings can be effective but larger trees are difficult to remove mechanically since remaining root fragments will produce new trees. Cutting generally result in prolific root suckering and stump sprouting. 2. Habitat Vulnerability (Moderate) The proposed action alternatives (alt 1, 3, and 4) would all thin and remove conifers using ground based commercial logging within units that are predominantly densely vegetated either with small trees, small trees and shrubs, or sparse understory vegetation with a dense overstory of mixed conifer species. Stands such as the ones identified for this project are common on the ENF. Botanical knowledge gained from years of surveying similar dense stands suggests that the vegetation is composed of native species and the degree of shade under these stands is not conducive to invasive plants establishment. The project does propose to temporarily reduce native vegetation cover, which may provide enough sunlight for some weed species, but the lack of weed propagules (seeds/stems/roots) for the majority of the project area significantly reduces the risk of weed invasion. Project activities would also involve road work through lavacap and riparian communities. Prescribe fire would predominantly occur in mixed conifer and fir communities but may also occur in lava cap and riparian communities. These communities are vulnerable to invasion by different suites of noxious weed species as described below:

Lava cap: Lava cap plant communities bisected by designated routes are vulnerable to noxious weed invasion if propagules are introduced. These plant communities are generally dominated by high diversity of herbs and shrubs adapted to growing on rocky and volcanic soils eroded from Mehrten formation mudflow. The limited canopy closure in many lava cap communities increases the vulnerability of these unique plant assemblages to invasion by noxious weed species adapted to growing in dry upland conditions such as yellow starthistle (Centaurea solstitialis), barbed goatgrass (Aegilops triuncialis), and medusahead (Taeniatherum caput-medusae). Unfortunately, non-native annual grasses have already become established as a minor component of many lava cap plant communities on the forest.

Riparian communities: There are number of roads within and adjacent to riparian areas. These riparian areas in close proximity of roads and trails would be susceptible to noxious weed invasion to riparian invaders, especially in areas that have been recently disturbed. Riparian areas on the Eldorado NF are particularly vulnerable to invasion by perennial pepperweed (Lepidium latifolium), Canada thistle (Cirsium arvense), oblong spurge (Euphorbia oblongata), and Himalayan blackberry (Rubus armeniacus).

Mixed conifer fir forests: Intact upland conifer forests are largely resilient to invasion by invasive species on the forest. When openings are created (roadways, prescribe fire, thinning projects) annual grasses, bull thistle (Cirsium vulgare), mullein (Verbascum thapsus), and other non-native species often become establish following the disturbance. However, these infestations rarely form dense monocultures and are easily outcompeted by native trees and shrub regeneration. More invasive species like yellow starthistle (Centaurea solstitialis), brooms, spotted knapweed (Centaurea maculata) and perennial pepperweed (Lepidium latifolium) can also become established in these upland communities and are a concern for the Forest.

CalleCat Ecological Restoration Project 50 Sensitive Plant BE/BA & WRA

3. Non-project Weed Vectors (Moderate) Weed vectors currently in the project area and vicinity include: off-highway vehicles (OHVs) such as motorcycles and four-wheel drive vehicles; road maintenance equipment; recreationists; private cars and trucks; Forest Service vehicles and workers; logging equipment on private land and FS; and wildlife. Natural dispersal from wind may also spread the seeds of some invasive species into the proposed project area. Wildlife may also disperse certain noxious weeds that can become attached to fur, or when viable seeds pass through digestive systems. Vehicles traveling routes and roads may pick up seeds from existing infestations and spread them to other locations on the forest. For some species, seeds can become affixed to clothing and gear (e.g. non-native annual grasses). Other species do not have dispersal mechanisms for attaching and would most like travel in mud on vehicle and tire tread (e.g. yellow starthistle, scotch broom, and spotted knapweed). 4. Habitat Alteration Expected as Result of Projects (Moderate) The proposed project would result in some habitat alteration due to hazard tree removal, control line construction, prescribed fire, hand thinning, road construction, and timber harvest. All thinning and fuel removal treatments would temporarily increase the amount of light reaching the ground and in some instances the exposure of bare mineral soil. This is important because seeds of potential and known List-A noxious weeds require sunlight and contact with mineral soil for germination and growth (Zouhar, 2008). In addition, proposed treatments such as burning could benefit noxious species by: inducing seed germination, temporarily reducing or eliminating competition from native plants, and increasing nutrient availability for noxious weeds. All these factors combine to make conditions ideal for weed seed to germinate and flourish immediately following fire and mechanical thinning (Asher et al., 2001).

Long-term habitat alteration associated with the proposed Callecat ecological restoration project are expected to be minimal. Low intensity prescribed fires, precomercial, and commercial thinning, remove smaller trees while leaving mature conifers in the overstory. Across the proposed project area the average canopy cover will not decrease below 50 percent. In addition many native shrubs have been observed to readily resprout or geminate in the years immediately following mastication and fire (USDA Forest Service, FEIS 2008), and often increase in cover when overstory density is reduced. Thus, long-term habitat alterations conducive to the spread and establishment of noxious weed (i.e. increased bare ground and light) are not expected for much of the project area because remaining conifers and native vegetation will provide sufficient canopy cover to exclude most invasive species. During the interim period required for native vegetation to re-establish in the understory it is important to monitor and remove any new noxious weeds that may spread into newly open areas created immediately after the fire. This management requirement address FSM 2081.2(3): Contain and control established infestations.

Within plantation units, the shrub community will be temporarily reduced by the proposed herbicide work. The use of non-selective herbicides for plantation maintenance also tends to reduce the density and diversity of other native understory forbs and grass species. This reduction in native shrub and grass cover will increase the vulnerability of plantations to invasion by invasive species and non-native grasses immediately following treatments. This vulnerability is expected to be decrease once plantation brush reestablishes and planted conifers mature, reducing the long-term persistence of openings where invasive species could become established.

5. Increased Vectors as a Result of Project Implementation (Moderate)

CalleCat Ecological Restoration Project 51 Sensitive Plant BE/BA & WRA The proposed project would temporarily increase potential weed vectors due to the increase in project related traffic (ground base harvesting equipment, masticator, equipment used for road reconstruction and maintenance, etc).

Management requirements have been incorporated into the project to reduce or eliminate the likelihood of most vector opportunities related to the proposed project (see section 6). Vectors include: vehicles and equipment used for project related activity, revegetation material brought into the project area, gravel and rock used for road maintenance and straw or mulch used for erosion control.

Management requirements have not been incorporated into the project to prevent the potential spread of new and existing noxious weeds on project worker’s clothing or shoes. There is a low risk of these potential vectors actually moving seed but no reasonable mitigation measure exists to prevent this potentially minimal seed movement.

6. Mitigation Measures The following mitigation measures should be included in the Callecat Ecological Restoration project. These mitigation measures have been designed to limit the potential introduction of new noxious weeds into the project area and limit the potential spread of existing high priority noxious weed infestations. • Known noxious weed infestations in the Callecat project area will be eradicated as soon as possible. • ENF list-A noxious weed occurrences found along roadsides within the project area and within any proposed unit have been marked and mapped. Where feasible, all noxious weed occurrences would be excluded from direct ground disturbance or other project related activities in order to reduce the potential spread of noxious weeds within the project area. If an infestation cannot be avoided, equipment would be washed prior to leaving the infested area as noted on harvest cards in the project file. • All off-road equipment will be cleaned to ensure it is free of soil, seeds, vegetative matter or other debris before entering the project area. • Straw or mulch used for erosion control will be certified weed-free or, if certified straw is not available, rice straw will be used. A certificate from the county of origin stating the material was inspected is required. • Any seed used for restoration or erosion control will be from a locally collected source (ENF, Seed, Mulch and Fertilizer Prescription, 2000). • Sand, gravel, fill material, and boulders used within the project area must come from weed free sources. Consult with Forest Botanist for sources of weed-free material. • Prescribed burn units: Rx burn implementation can occur several years after completion of thinning or other treatments. The project leader or burn boss would notify the forest botanist prior to Rx burning in order to re-flag ENF list-A noxious weed occurrences that occur in burn units. This would clarify occurrence boundaries and ensure that fire lines are not cut through noxious weed occurrences.

MONITORING 1. Post-treatment surveys, especially after prescribed burning, would be conducted. This management requirement addresses FSM 2081.2(3): Contain and control established infestations. 2. Locations of any new infestations of noxious weeds found during or after project implementation would be mapped for continued monitoring and hand treatments. This

CalleCat Ecological Restoration Project 52 Sensitive Plant BE/BA & WRA management requirement addresses FSM 2081.2(3): Contain and control established infestations. 3. Newly detected weed locations would be flagged, mapped, and reported to the Forest Botanist. This management requirement addresses FSM 2080.43(4): Maintaining a noxious weed inventory for the Forest.

7. Anticipated weed response to proposed action (Low Risk) The proposed Callecat Ecological Restoration project would: 1) occur in relatively intact forest communities with a moderate risk for invasion and 2) occur in a portion of the Eldorado with few high priority noxious weed infestations; but does involves activities that could introduce or spread existing noxious weeds. Because of the above factors the anticipate weed response to the proposed action is High/Moderate if recommended mitigations are not included. By including all of the mitigations listed in section 6, it is anticipated that the risk of spreading and/or introducing noxious weeds would be reduced to a low level of risk.

This weed risk assessment is restricted to the project description in this Biological Evaluation. If activities are proposed that extend beyond the activities described in this document, then a new assessment would be required.

CalleCat Ecological Restoration Project 53 Sensitive Plant BE/BA & WRA APPENDIX C: NOXIOUS/INVASIVE WEEDS OF CONCERN

List A. Highly invasive weed species known to occur on the Eldorado National Forest or suspected (*) to be here now or in the near future Acroptilon repens (Centaurea repens) Russian knapweed Aegilops cylindrica* jointed goatgrass Aegilops triuncialis barbed goatgrass Ailanthus altissima Chinese tree of heaven Cardaria chalepense small whitetop Cardaria draba hoary cress Cardaria pubescens whitetop Carduus nutans* musk thistle Carduus pycnocephalus Italian thistle Centaurea calcitrapa (added 12/08) purple starthistle Centaurea diffusa diffuse (white) knapweed Centaurea maculosa spotted knapweed Centaurea pratensis* meadow knapweed Centaurea solstitialis yellow starthistle Cirsium arvense Canada thistle Cytisus scoparius Scotch broom Euphorbia esula* (added 12/08) leafy spurge Euphorbia oblongata oblong spurge Genista monspessulana French broom Isatis tinctoria* (added 4/10) dyer’s woad Lepidium latifolium tall whitetop Linaria genistifolia ssp. dalmatica* dalmation toadflax Lythrum salicaria (added 12/07) purple loosestrife Onopordum acanthium (added 8/04) Scotch thistle Spartium junceum Spanish broom Elymus caput-medusae medusahead grass Tamarix chinensis* salt cedar, tamarisk

List B. A list of other exotic or noxious weeds that may occur on the Eldorado National Forest that currently are not believed to be as aggressive as those in list A or are widespread throughout the forest. Brassica nigra black mustard Bromus diandrus ripgut brome Bromus tectorum cheat grass Centaurea melitensis tocalote Chenopodium botrys (added 12/08) Jerusalem-oak goosefoot Chondrilla juncea rush skeleton weed Cirsium vulgare bull thistle Conium maculatum poison hemlock Dittrichia graveolens* stinkwort Festuca arundinacea tall fescue Foeniculum vulgare fennel Hirschfeldia incana (added 7/03) mustard Hypericum perforatum klamathweed Lathyrus latifolius perennial sweet pea

CalleCat Ecological Restoration Project 54 Sensitive Plant BE/BA & WRA Lychnis coronaria rose campion/ mullein pink Melilotus alba white sweet clover Melilotus officinalis yellow sweet clover Rubus discolor Himalayan blackberry Salsola tragus Russian thistle/tumbleweed Silybum marianum (added 9/03) milk thistle Torilis nodosa (added 7/2/03) hedge parsley Verbascum Thapsus woolly mullein Vinca major periwinkle

CalleCat Ecological Restoration Project 55 Sensitive Plant BE/BA & WRA