Environmental Assessment For Brown(s) Creek-Lower Maumelle Project Responsible Agency: US Forest Service, Ouachita National Forest Jessieville-Winona-Fourche Ranger District Responsible Official: Megan Moynihan, District Ranger PO Box 189 – 8607 Hwy 7 N Jessieville, AR 71949 For Further Information Contact: Paula Homan, NEPA Planner (501) 984-5313 ext. 107 This project is subject to subparts A and B of 36 CFR Part 218 Project-Level Predecisional Administrative Review Process (objection process); it is not authorized under the Healthy Forest Restoration Act (HFRA). 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TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER 1 ...................................................................................................................... 1 PURPOSE OF AND NEED FOR THE PROPOSED ACTION ................................... 1 Proposed Action ................................................................................................................ 1 Purpose of and Need for the Action ................................................................................ 3 Scope of This Environmental Analysis ........................................................................... 5 Relevant Planning Documents ........................................................................................ 5 History of the Planning and Scoping Process ................................................................. 6 Issues ............................................................................................................................... 6 Decisions to Be Made ........................................................................................................ 6 CHAPTER 2 ...................................................................................................................... 7 ALTERNATIVES INCLUDING THE PROPOSED ACTION ................................... 7 Alternative Design ............................................................................................................. 7 Alternatives to be Documented in Detail ........................................................................ 7 Technical Requirements................................................................................................ 12 Alternatives Considered But Eliminated from Detailed Study ..................................... 18 Other Past, Present, and Reasonably Foreseeable Future Actions ............................ 18 Summary Comparison All Alternatives........................................................................ 19 CHAPTER 3 .................................................................................................................... 21 AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES .... 21 Analysis Methods ............................................................................................................ 21 Cultural and Historical Resources ................................................................................ 24 Recreation, Scenery, Wilderness, Roadless Areas ....................................................... 25 Local Economy and Financial Efficiency ..................................................................... 27 Transportation and Infrastructure ............................................................................... 29 Soil Resource ................................................................................................................... 30 i Water Quality .................................................................................................................. 33 Vegetation ........................................................................................................................ 36 Management Indicator Species and Habitat (MIS) ..................................................... 40 Proposed, Endangered, Threatened and Sensitive Species (PETS) ........................... 58 Public Health and Safety ................................................................................................ 78 Climate Change ............................................................................................................... 80 CHAPTER 4 .................................................................................................................... 83 PERSONS AND AGENCIES CONSULTED ............................................................... 83 CHAPTER 5 .................................................................................................................... 84 REFERENCES CITED .................................................................................................. 84 APPENDICES ................................................................................................................. 92 Appendix A: Activities by Compartment and Stand .................................................. 92 Appendix B: Project Maps .......................................................................................... 107 ii LISTING OF FIGURES & TABLES Existing Conditions Contrasted to the Desired Conditions (Table 1.1) ....................... 4 Reference for Revised Forest Plan Standards by Management Area (Table 1.2) ...... 6 Stands With a Limited Operating Season (Table 2.1) ................................................. 14 Summary Comparison of Management Activities by Alternative (Table 2.3) .......... 19 Summary Comparison of Effects on Environment by Alternative (Table 2.4)......... 20 Comparison by Financial Efficiency (Table 3.1) .......................................................... 28 Comparison of Proposed Action and Allowable Soil Loss (Table 3.2) ...................... 32 Sediment Delivery By Alternative (Table 3.3) .............................................................. 36 Current Age Class Distribution by Forest Type (Table 3.4) ....................................... 37 Post-Harvest Age Class Distribution Pine Types (Table 3.5) ..................................... 38 Potentially Affected Management Indicator Species (Table 3.6) ............................... 40 Terrestrial MIS and Associated Purposes (Table 3.7) ................................................. 41 Aquatic MIS and Associated Purposes (Table 3.8) ...................................................... 56 Herbicide LD50 and Toxicity Risk to Birds (Table 3.9) .............................................. 64 Herbicide LD50 and Toxicity Risk to Insects (Table 3.10) ......................................... 67 Proposed Activities by Compartment and Stand (Table A.1) .................................... 93 iii Brown(s) Creek – Lower Maumelle Project Chapter 1 Purpose of and Need for the Proposed Action Proposed Action The Jessieville-Winona-Fourche Ranger District proposes to implement the following management activities*: Shortleaf pine restoration (clearcut loblolly pine plantation) – 13 acres Seedtree regeneration harvest – 268 acres Shelterwood regeneration harvest – 255 acres Commercial thinning – 1,778 acres (includes 212 acres of woodland restoration including midstory removal and burning) Group Selection - 19 acres1 Site preparation herbicide – 642 acres Site preparation prescribed burn – 723 acres Hand plant shortleaf pine seedlings (if necessary) – 536 acres Pre-commercial thinning – 39 acres Stand improvement-midstory removal– 1,354 acres Stand improvement-regeneration release – 995 acres Ecosystem prescribed burning – 11,144 acres Fire line construction – 5.32 miles Fire line maintenance – 14.1 miles Wildlife pond maintenance/reconstruction – 21 ponds Nest box installation – 42 units Wildlife habitat improvement-midstory removal – 1,396 acres Road reconstruction or maintenance – 6.28 miles Temporary road