United States Department of Kamas Valley Cattle Agriculture Forest Allotment Service September 2012 Environmental Assessment Heber-Kamas Ranger District, Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest Summit and Wasatch Counties, Utah Townships 1, 2 and 3 South; Range 6 through 9 East, Salt Lake Meridian For Information Contact: Jeff Schramm, District Ranger 2460 South Highway 40, Heber City, UT 84032 (435) 654-0470 Lead Agency: USDA Forest Service Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest Heber-Kamas Ranger District 2460 South Highway 40, Heber City, UT 84032 Responsible Official: Dave Whittekiend, Forest Supervisor Contact Information: Jeff Schramm, District Ranger (435) 654-0470 or Jim Percy, Rangeland Management Specialist (435) 654-7211 The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or part of an individual’s income is derived from any public assistance program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination, write to USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410, or call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382 (TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. Environmental Assessment Kamas Valley Cattle Allotment Table of Contents CHAPTER 1 – PURPOSE AND NEED ...................................................................................................... 4 1.1 Document Structure ........................................................................................................................... 4 1.2 Background and History .................................................................................................................... 4 1.3 Purpose and Need for Action ............................................................................................................. 6 1.4 Proposed Action .................................................................................................................................. 7 1.5 Forest Service Guidance .................................................................................................................... 8 1.6 Incorporation by Reference and Use of Science .............................................................................. 9 1.7 Decision to be made ............................................................................................................................ 9 1.8 Public Involvement ............................................................................................................................. 9 1.9 Issues .................................................................................................................................................. 10 1.9.1 Other disclosures ........................................................................................................................ 11 CHAPTER 2 - ALTERNATIVES, INCLUDING THE PROPOSED ACTION .................................... 14 2.1 Introduction ...................................................................................................................................... 14 2.2 Formulation of Alternatives ............................................................................................................ 14 2.3 Alternatives considered but eliminated from detail study ............................................................ 14 2.4 Alternatives Considered in Detail ................................................................................................... 14 2.4.1 Alternative 1: No Action............................................................................................................. 14 2.4.2 Alternative 2: The Proposed Action ........................................................................................... 14 2.4.3 Alternative 3 ............................................................................................................................... 15 2.4.4 Alternative 4 ............................................................................................................................... 16 2.4.5 Alternative 5 ............................................................................................................................... 16 2.5 Comparison of Alternatives ............................................................................................................. 17 2.6 Comparison of Effects of Alternatives ............................................................................................ 18 CHAPTER 3 - ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES ....................................................................... 21 3.1 Past, Present, and Reasonably Foreseeable Future Actions ......................................................... 21 3.2 Physical Environment ...................................................................................................................... 23 3.2.1 Soils ............................................................................................................................................ 23 3.2.2 Water and Riparian Resources .................................................................................................... 37 3.3 Biological Environment .................................................................................................................... 54 3.3.1 Vegetation ................................................................................................................................... 54 3.3.2 Wildlife ....................................................................................................................................... 69 3.3.3 Fisheries and Aquatic Resources ................................................................................................ 88 3.4 Social / Economic Environment .................................................................................................... 101 3.4.1 Recreation ................................................................................................................................. 101 3.4.2 Grazing Management ................................................................................................................ 108 3.4.3 Roadless Areas and Wilderness ................................................................................................ 123 4. CONSULTATION AND COORDINATION ...................................................................................... 129 5. REFERENCES ...................................................................................................................................... 130 APPENDICES ........................................................................................................................................... 137 Appendix A: 2003 Revised Wasatch-Cache Forest Plan Direction .................................................. 137 Appendix B: Response to Comments .................................................................................................. 141 Appendix C: Maps of Proposed Alternatives ..................................................................................... 144 iii Environmental Assessment Kamas Valley Cattle Allotment CHAPTER 1 – PURPOSE AND NEED 1.1 Document Structure The Forest Service has prepared this Environmental Assessment in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and other relevant Federal and State laws and regulations. This Environmental Assessment discloses the direct, indirect, and cumulative environmental impacts that would result from the proposed action and alternatives. The document is organized in the following parts: • Chapter 1: The section includes information on the history of the project proposal, the purpose of and need for the project, and the agency’s proposal for achieving that purpose and need. This section also details how the Forest Service informed the public of the proposal and how the public responded. • Chapter 2 - Comparison of Alternatives, including the Proposed Action: This section provides a more detailed description of the agency’s proposed action as well as alternative methods for achieving the stated purpose. These alternatives were developed based on driving issues raised by the public and other agencies. Finally, this section provides a summary table of the environmental consequences associated with each alternative. • Chapter 3 - Environmental Consequences: This section describes the environmental effects of implementing the proposed action and other alternatives. Within each section, the affected environment is described first, followed by the effects of the No Action Alternative that provides a baseline for evaluation and comparison of the other alternatives that follow. • Agencies and Persons Consulted: This section provides a list of preparers and agencies consulted during the development of the environmental assessment. • Appendices: The appendices provide more detailed information to support the analyses presented in the environmental assessment. Planning Record Additional