United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service December 2012 Environmental Assessment Laurel Creek Property Owners Association Access Across National Forest System Lands Tusquitee Ranger District, Nantahala National Forest Clay County, North Carolina For Information Contact: Tusquitee Ranger District 123 Woodland Drive Murphy, NC 2828906 (828) 837-5152 www.fs.usda.gov/nfsnc 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. Laurel Creek Property Owners Association Access Project Environmental Assessment Table of Contents Summary .................................................................................................................. 1 Chapter 1 – Purpose and Need for the Action ....................................................... 2 1.1 Introduction and Document Structure ..................................................................... 2 1.2 Background ............................................................................................................ 2 1.3 Purpose and Need for the Project ............................................................................ 3 1.4 Where Actions Would Occur ................................................................................... 7 1.5 Proposed Action ..................................................................................................... 8 1.6 What the Decision Will Address .............................................................................. 8 1.7 Scoping .................................................................................................................. 8 1.8 Issue Identification ................................................................................................. 9 1.9 Other Issues .......................................................................................................... 10 1.10 Access to Non-Federal Lands ............................................................................... 11 1.10.1 Adequate Access to Inholdings ......................................................................................... 11 1.10.2 Similarly Situated Non-Federal Land ................................................................................ 12 1.10.3 Existing Access Rights ....................................................................................................... 12 1.10.4 Reasonable Use and Enjoyment ....................................................................................... 13 Chapter 2 – Alternatives ........................................................................................ 17 2.1 Introduction ......................................................................................................... 17 2.2 Alternatives Considered in Detail .......................................................................... 17 2.2.1 Alternative A – No Action ................................................................................................... 17 2.2.2 Alternative B – Proposed Action ......................................................................................... 17 2.3 Alternatives Not Considered in Detail .................................................................... 21 Chapter 3 – Affected Environment and Environmental Consequences ............ 26 3.1 Recreational Analysis............................................................................................ 26 3.1.1 Existing Condition ............................................................................................................... 26 3.1.2 Effects to Recreation........................................................................................................... 28 3.1.3 Cumulative Effects to Recreation: ...................................................................................... 29 3.2 Scenery Analysis ................................................................................................... 29 3.2.1 Existing Condition ............................................................................................................... 29 3.2.2 Scenery Analysis.................................................................................................................. 30 3.2.3 Effects to Scenery ............................................................................................................... 30 3.2.4 Cumulative Effects to Scenery ............................................................................................ 30 3.3 Water Quality and Hydrologic Analysis ................................................................. 31 3.3.1 Existing Condition ............................................................................................................... 31 i Laurel Creek Property Owners Association Access Project Environmental Assessment 3.3.2 Effects to Water Quality ..................................................................................................... 32 3.3.3 Cumulative Effects to Water Quality .................................................................................. 34 3.3.4 Anticipated Impacts and Permits Required Under Alternative B ....................................... 34 3.4 Geological Analysis ............................................................................................... 37 3.4.1 Scope ................................................................................................................................... 37 3.4.2 Geologic Setting .................................................................................................................. 37 3.4.3 Evaluation of Geologic Hazards and Risks .......................................................................... 39 3.4.4 Effects ................................................................................................................................. 40 3.4.5 Cumulative Effects .............................................................................................................. 40 3.5 Soils ..................................................................................................................... 40 3.5.1 Existing Condition ............................................................................................................... 40 3.5.2 Effects ................................................................................................................................. 41 3.5.3 Cumulative Effects .............................................................................................................. 42 3.6 Air Quality ............................................................................................................ 42 3.6.1 Existing Condition ............................................................................................................... 42 3.6.2 Effects ................................................................................................................................. 42 3.6.3 Cumulative Effects .............................................................................................................. 42 3.7 Cultural and Historic Resources ............................................................................. 43 3.7.1 Existing Condition and Survey Results ................................................................................ 43 3.7.2 Effects ................................................................................................................................. 43 3.7.3 Cumulative Effects .............................................................................................................. 43 3.8 Biological Resources ............................................................................................. 44 3.8.1 Endangered, Threatened, and Sensitive Species ................................................................ 44 3.8.2 Communities, Special Habitats, and Management Indicator Species (MIS) ...................... 66 3.8.3 Forest Concern Species ....................................................................................................... 82 3.8.4 Non-native Invasive Plants (NNIP) ...................................................................................... 94 3.9 Climate Change .................................................................................................... 95 Chapter 4 – Consultation and Coordination ........................................................ 97 5.0 Appendices....................................................................................................... 98 5.1 General Guidelines for Road Construction ............................................................