ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT United States Department of Brian Head Fire Rehabilitation Agriculture Forest Service Project Cedar City Ranger District, Dixie National Forest Intermountain Region Iron and Garfield Counties, Utah Dixie National Forest Cedar City Ranger District May 2018 Title page photo description: Photo taken from Panguitch Lake looking west towards Clear Creek. For More Information Contact: Veronica Magnuson District Ranger Cedar City Ranger District 1789 N. Wedgewood Ln Cedar City, UT 84721 Phone: (435) 865-3700 Email: [email protected] Fax: (435) 435-865-3700 In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity (including gender expression), sexual orientation, disability, age, marital status, family/parental status, income derived from a public assistance program, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity, in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA (not all bases apply to all programs). Remedies and complaint filing deadlines vary by program or incident. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the responsible Agency or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English. To file a program discrimination complaint, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, AD-3027, found online at http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html and at any USDA office or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by: (1) Mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights 1400 Independence Avenue, SW Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; (2) Fax: (202) 690-7442; or (3) email: [email protected]. USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender. i This Page Intentionally Left Blank ii Environmental Assessment Brian Head Fire Rehabilitation Project Contents APPROXIMATIONS ........................................................................................................................................... VI ABBREVIATIONS .............................................................................................................................................. VI CHAPTER 1: PURPOSE AND NEED FOR ACTION .........................................................................................7 1.1 INTRODUCTION – BACKGROUND AND LOCATION ..........................................................................................7 1.2 PURPOSE AND NEED FOR ACTION ..................................................................................................................7 1.3 EXISTING AND DESIRED CONDITIONS ..............................................................................................................8 1.3.1 Fire and Fuels Existing Condition ...................................................................................................8 1.3.2 Fire and Fuels Desired Condition ...................................................................................................8 1.3.3 Soils, Geology and Hydrology Existing Condition ..........................................................................8 1.3.4 Soils, Geology and Hydrology Desired Condition .........................................................................10 1.3.5 Recreation, Scenery and Transportation Existing Condition .......................................................10 1.3.6 Recreation, Scenery and Transportation Desired Condition ........................................................11 1.3.7 Silviculture and Forest Resources Existing Conditions .................................................................11 1.3.8 Vegetation and Forest Resources Desired Conditions .................................................................12 1.3.9 Wildlife, Fisheries and Aquatics Existing Conditions ...............................................................12 1.3.10 Wildlife, Fisheries and Aquatics Desired Conditions .............................................................13 1.3.11 Range Resources Existing Conditions ........................................................................................14 1.3.12 Range Resources Desired Conditions .....................................................................................14 1.4 PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT ...............................................................................................................................15 1.4.1 Scoping ........................................................................................................................................15 1.4.2 Comment Analysis .......................................................................................................................15 1.5 DECISION FRAMEWORK .............................................................................................................................15 1.6 COMPLIANCE WITH LAWS, REGULATIONS, AND POLICY ....................................................................................15 CHAPTER 2: ALTERNATIVES INCLUDING THE PROPOSED ACTION ............................................................ 16 2.1 INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................................................16 2.2 ALTERNATIVE 1 – NO ACTION ....................................................................................................................16 2.3 ALTERNATIVE 2 – PROPOSED ACTION ..........................................................................................................16 2.3.1 WATERSHED REHABILITATION..................................................................................................................17 2.3.2 FUEL REDUCTION ..................................................................................................................................17 2.3.3 TIMBER SALVAGE ..................................................................................................................................18 2.4 PROJECT DESIGN FEATURES........................................................................................................................19 CHAPTER 3: AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT AND ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS ................................................ 26 3.1 INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................................................26 3.2 CULTURAL ..............................................................................................................................................26 iii Environmental Assessment Brian Head Fire Rehabilitation Project 3.2.1 Affected Environment/No Action ................................................................................................26 3.2.2 Direct, Indirect and Cumulative Effects of the Proposed Action ..................................................26 3.3 FIRE AND FUELS .......................................................................................................................................27 3.3.1 Affected Environment/No Action ................................................................................................27 3.3.2 Direct, Indirect and Cumulative Effects of the Proposed Action ..................................................27 3.4 FISHERIES AND AQUATICS ..........................................................................................................................27 3.4.1 Direct and Indirect Effects of the No Action ................................................................................27 3.4.2 Cumulative Effects of the No Action ............................................................................................28 3.4.3 Determinations for the No Action ...............................................................................................29 3.4.4 Direct and Indirect Effects of the Proposed Action ......................................................................29 3.4.5 Cumulative Effects of the Proposed Action .................................................................................31 3.4.6 Determinations for the Proposed Action .....................................................................................32 3.5 HYDROLOGY AND SOILS .............................................................................................................................32 3.5.1 Affected Environment/No Action ................................................................................................32 3.5.2 Direct and Indirect Effects of the Proposed Action ......................................................................33 3.5.3 Cumulative Effects of the Proposed Action .................................................................................40 3.6 RANGE/GRAZING .....................................................................................................................................41