Programmatic Emergency Stabilization and Rehabilitation Plan and Environmental Assessment October 2013 Twin Falls District Bureau of Land Management Department of Interior NEPA No. DOI-BLM-ID-T000-2011-0001-EA i TABLE OF CONTENTS Programmatic Emergency Stabilization and ................................................... i Rehabilitation Plan and Environmental Assessment ....................................... i October 2013 .................................................................................................... i Twin Falls District ............................................................................................................ i Bureau of Land Management ........................................................................................... i Department of Interior ...................................................................................................... i List of Figures ................................................................................................................. v List of Tables ................................................................................................................... v Introduction ..................................................................................................... 1 Purpose and Need ............................................................................................................ 1 Post-Fire Recovery Objectives, Priorities, and Process .................................................. 3 Land Use Plan Conformance ........................................................................................... 4 Relationship to Statutes, Regulations, or Other Plans .................................................. 5 Scoping and Public Involvement and Issues ................................................................... 6 Alternatives ................................................................................................... 12 No Action Alternative ................................................................................................... 12 Proposed Action ........................................................................................................... 13 Post-Fire Recovery Treatments ................................................................................. 13 Design Features for Sensitive Resources .................................................................. 25 Monitoring ................................................................................................................. 39 Alternatives Considered but Eliminated from Detailed Study ................................. 43 Affected Environment ................................................................................... 44 Soils ............................................................................................................................... 44 Water ............................................................................................................................. 45 Air .................................................................................................................................. 46 Vegetation ..................................................................................................................... 46 General Vegetation .................................................................................................... 46 Special Status Plants .................................................................................................. 53 Wildlife .......................................................................................................................... 58 General Wildlife ........................................................................................................ 58 General Fish............................................................................................................... 60 Special Status Wildlife and Fish ................................................................................ 60 Type 3 and 4 Sensitive Animals .............................................................................. 68 *Effects to these species analyzed under general wildlife ........................................ 69 Migratory Birds ......................................................................................................... 69 Recreation ...................................................................................................................... 70 ii Special Management Areas ........................................................................................... 70 National Landscape Conservation System ................................................................ 70 Areas of Critical Environmental Concern ................................................................. 74 Visual Resources ........................................................................................................... 75 Cultural Resources ........................................................................................................ 76 Grazing Management .................................................................................................... 76 Livestock ................................................................................................................... 76 Wild Horses ............................................................................................................... 77 Direct and Indirect Environmental Impacts .................................................. 78 Soils ............................................................................................................................... 78 No Action .................................................................................................................. 78 Proposed Action ........................................................................................................ 79 Water ............................................................................................................................. 82 No Action .................................................................................................................. 82 Proposed Action ........................................................................................................ 84 Air .................................................................................................................................. 86 No Action .................................................................................................................. 86 Proposed Action ........................................................................................................ 86 Vegetation ..................................................................................................................... 87 No Action .................................................................................................................. 87 Proposed Action ........................................................................................................ 90 Wildlife .......................................................................................................................... 96 No Action .................................................................................................................. 96 Proposed Action ...................................................................................................... 104 Recreation .................................................................................................................... 118 No Action ................................................................................................................ 118 Proposed Action ...................................................................................................... 118 Special Management Areas ......................................................................................... 118 No Action ................................................................................................................ 118 Proposed Action ...................................................................................................... 119 Visual Resources ......................................................................................................... 121 No Action ................................................................................................................ 121 Proposed Action ...................................................................................................... 121 Cultural Resources ...................................................................................................... 122 No Action ................................................................................................................ 122 Proposed Action ...................................................................................................... 122 Grazing Management .................................................................................................. 123 No Action ................................................................................................................ 123 Proposed Action ...................................................................................................... 124 Cumulative Impacts .................................................................................... 126 iii Soils ............................................................................................................................