B L M U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management Environmental Assessment Mojave Desert Burned Area Restoration of Desert Tortoise Habitat DOI-BLM-NV-S010-2016-0029-EA PREPARING OFFICE U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management 4701 N. Torrey Pines Dr. Las Vegas, Nevada 89130 702–515–5000 Environmental Assessment Mojave Desert Burned Area Restoration of Desert Tortoise Habitat DOI-BLM-NV-S010-2016-0029-EA This page intentionally left blank Environmental Assessment iii Table of Contents _1. Introduction .............................................................................................................................. 1 _1.1. Identifying Information ................................................................................................... 1 1.1.1. Title, EA Number, and Type of Project ................................................................. 1 1.1.2. Location of Proposed Action ................................................................................. 1 1.1.3. Preparing Office and Lead Agency ........................................................................ 1 _1.2. Purpose and Need for Action .......................................................................................... 1 _1.3. Background ..................................................................................................................... 2 _1.4. Scoping, Public Involvement and Issues ........................................................................ 6 _2. Proposed Action and Alternatives .......................................................................................... 7 _2.1. Description of the Proposed Action ................................................................................ 9 2.1.1. Description of Areas Burned ................................................................................. 9 2.1.1.1. Clarifications of Terms Used .................................................................... 10 2.1.2. Overview Map and Tables ................................................................................... 11 2.1.3. Herbicide Treatments and Herbicide Use ............................................................ 15 2.1.4. Seeding ................................................................................................................. 16 2.1.5. Habitat Islands ..................................................................................................... 17 2.1.6. Access .................................................................................................................. 18 2.1.7. Monitoring ........................................................................................................... 18 2.1.8. Timeline ............................................................................................................... 20 2.1.9. Stipulations .......................................................................................................... 20 2.1.9.1. Air quality ................................................................................................. 20 2.1.9.2. Floodplains ................................................................................................ 21 2.1.9.3. Geology/Mineral Resources ...................................................................... 21 2.1.9.4. Lands/Access ............................................................................................ 21 2.1.9.5. Paleontology ............................................................................................. 21 2.1.9.6. Recreation ................................................................................................. 21 2.1.9.7. Utility Corridors ........................................................................................ 21 2.1.9.8. Visual Resources ....................................................................................... 21 2.1.9.9. Wastes (hazardous or solid) ...................................................................... 22 2.1.9.10. Water Resources/Quality ......................................................................... 22 2.1.9.11. Wetland/Riparian Zones .......................................................................... 22 2.1.9.12. Woodland/Forestry .................................................................................. 22 _2.2. Description of Alternatives Analyzed in Detail ............................................................ 22 2.2.1. Alternative 2 — No Action .................................................................................. 22 _2.3. Alternatives Considered but not Analyzed in Detail .................................................... 22 2.3.1. No Use of Proposed Herbicides for Vegetation Control ...................................... 22 2.3.2. Full Restoration of Burned Areas ........................................................................ 23 2.3.3. Mechanical Mowing/Disking ............................................................................... 23 2.3.4. Mechanical Blading ............................................................................................. 23 2.3.5. Grazing Domestic Livestock ................................................................................ 23 2.3.6. Use of Forage Kochia .......................................................................................... 23 _2.4. Conformance ................................................................................................................. 24 Table of Contents iv Environmental Assessment 2.4.1. Record of Decision for the Approved Las Vegas Resource Management Plan and Final Environmental Impact Statement (October 1998) ............................. 24 2.4.2. Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area Resource Management Plan and Record of Decision (2009) .......................................................................... 25 2.4.3. Record of Decision for the Approved Ely District Resource Management Plan and Final Environmental Impact Statement (August 2008) ............................... 25 2.4.4. Relationship to Statutes, Regulations and Other Plans ........................................ 26 _3. Affected Environment: .......................................................................................................... 29 _3.1. Areas of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC) ...................................................... 31 3.1.1. Geographic Scope ................................................................................................ 31 3.1.2. Existing Condition ............................................................................................... 31 3.1.3. Surveys ................................................................................................................. 31 3.1.4. Reference ............................................................................................................. 31 _3.2. Cultural Resources and Native American Concerns ..................................................... 32 3.2.1. Geographic Scope ................................................................................................ 32 3.2.2. Existing Condition ............................................................................................... 32 3.2.3. Surveys (Class III) ............................................................................................... 32 3.2.4. References ............................................................................................................ 33 _3.3. Fish and Wildlife Excluding Federally List Species (Including BLM Sensitive Species) ...................................................................................................................... 33 3.3.1. Geographic Scope ................................................................................................ 33 3.3.2. Existing Condition ............................................................................................... 33 3.3.3. Surveys ................................................................................................................. 34 3.3.4. References ............................................................................................................ 34 _3.4. Fuels and Fire Management .......................................................................................... 35 3.4.1. Geographic Scope ................................................................................................ 35 3.4.2. Existing Condition ............................................................................................... 35 3.4.3. Surveys ................................................................................................................. 35 3.4.4. References ............................................................................................................ 35 _3.5. Invasive Species and Noxious Weeds ........................................................................... 35 3.5.1. Geographic Scope ................................................................................................ 35 3.5.2. Existing Condition ............................................................................................... 36 3.5.3. Surveys ................................................................................................................. 36 3.5.4. References ...........................................................................................................