United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service CP District-wide Salvage Project Final Environmental Impact Statement Conejos Peak Ranger District, Rio Grande National Forest March 2018 Conejos and Rio Grande Counties, Colorado USDA NON-DISCRIMINATION POLICY STATEMENT DR 4300.003 USDA Equal Opportunity Public Notification Policy (June 2, 2015) 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). 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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. CP District-wide Salvage Project Final Environmental Impact Statement CP District-wide Salvage Project Final Environmental Impact Statement Conejos and Rio Grande Counties, Colorado Responsible Agency: USDA Forest Service Responsible Official: Andrea M. Jones, District Ranger Rio Grande National Forest 15571 County Road T.5, La Jara, CO 81120 719-274-6309 For Information Contact: Michael Tooley Rio Grande National Forest 15571 CR T.5; La Jara, CO; 81140 719-274-8971 Abstract This Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) evaluates the potential effects of salvage harvest of stands killed by spruce beetles under three alternatives: No Action, Vegetation Management - Proposed Action, and Vegetation Management – Limited Action. The Proposed Action would authorize the salvage harvest of spruce forests on up to 17,000 acres of Forest Service lands, post-harvest planting of conifer seedlings, and implementation of fuel reduction treatments adjacent to developed private lands and infrastructure. The analysis discloses the direct, indirect, and cumulative effects of implementing commercial and non-commercial management activities to meet the purpose and need and move toward desired conditions in the CP District-wide Salvage project area. This document follows the format established in the Council on Environmental Quality regulations (40 Code of Federal Regulations parts 1500-1508). It includes a discussion of the purpose and need for the proposal, alternatives to the proposal, the impacts of the proposed action and alternatives, and a listing of agencies consulted. It is tiered to the 1996 Rio Grande National Forest Revised Land and Resource Management Plan, as amended (Forest Plan), the final environmental impact statement, and record of decision issued for the Forest Plan. As the Rio Grande National Forest is currently undertaking a Forest Plan Revision, this project will be adapted, as needed, to accommodate new information or change associated with the new, finalized plan by utilizing the pre- implementation checklist process. The comment period is closed for this project, and responses to comments can be found in Appendix K of this FEIS. The objection period for the draft decision will end forty-five days from publication of the opportunity to object legal notice in the Valley Courier, Newspaper of Record. 3 CP District‐wide Salvage Project Final Environmental Impact Statement Summary In response to extensive mortality in spruce forests caused by the spruce beetle epidemic, the Conejos Peak (CP) Ranger District proposes to conduct salvage harvest activities on up to 17,000 acres of dead and dying spruce trees in order to move these stands closer to desired conditions in the long-term and capture economic value in the short- term. This proposal also includes performing hazardous fuel treatment activities on up to 1,000 acres of affected lands adjacent to private property and administrative sites, and, to evaluate regeneration needs to meet long-term desired conditions considering stocking requirements, wildlife habitat, and the desired rate of ecological recovery. The CP District-wide Salvage project area encompasses approximately 332,000 of National Forest System, state, and private lands and is located across the Conejos Peak District in Conejos and Rio Grande Counties. This analysis and work being proposed will only be completed on National Forest System Lands. Legal description for the project area is: T 32 N, R 3-7 E; T 33 N, R 3-7 E; T 34 N, R 3-7 E; T 35 N, R 2-5 E; T 36 N, R 2-5 E; T 37 N, R 3-5 E, New Mexico Prime Meridian. The purpose and need for this project was developed by comparing objectives and desired conditions described in the Forest’s land management plan relating to forest product use, forest and grassland health and function, and habitat needs for a variety of key wildlife and plant species. The purpose and need also considers the current conditions and expected future conditions of resources resulting from potential changes in climate and the ongoing mortality in the spruce forest across the Conejos Peak Ranger District. Due to the epidemic proportions of the spruce beetle infestation on the Rio Grande National Forest, project analyses were increased in scale to effectively consider larger landscapes. No major areas of controversy were identified during scoping. Concerns were identified, and how they were addressed is described in section 1.9 of the EIS. The scoping and internal review process identified one issue relating to timber salvage in this landscape: 1) Wildlife impacts specifically relating to Canada lynx and lynx habitat. This issue led the agency to develop the following three alternatives: 1. Alternative 1: No Action 2. Alternative 2: Vegetation Management - Proposed Action 3. Alternative 3: Vegetation Management - Limited Action Both Action alternatives were designed to be viable, consistent with the direction of the land management plan, and capable of moving resources toward desired conditions, at least to some degree. The action alternatives propose varying acres of commercial harvest treatment activities that would be implemented adaptively to move toward desired conditions. When evaluating effects between the alternatives, it was found that the No Action alternative would likely have the fewest short-term effects for most resources. The relatively slow rate of forest stand recovery in some areas could be detrimental to some resources. Fuel loadings would continue to increase as snags fall, increasing the potential for longer duration fires and negative soil-heating impacts and increased threat to Forest users, private resources and infrastructure. Under No Action, no National Forest System Roads would be maintained except under regular work orders and as funding allowed. No temporary road construction would be needed under this alternative. No Action would not benefit the local forest products industry. The action alternatives would have some short-term (approximately 15 years) disturbance effects during harvest activities to soils, watersheds, wildlife and some Forest users. In the long-term (beyond 15 years), there is low risk for adverse effects to resources. Accelerated stand regeneration would be positive in the long-term for all resources. Reducing potential long-term fuel loadings adjacent to private lands would reduce the risk for high-intensity fires in the project area and therefore reduce firefighter safety concerns. The action alternatives would do more to protect existing infrastructure. Positive benefits to local industry would be expected. 4 CP District-wide Salvage Project Final Environmental Impact Statement All proposed management activities for each action alternative would follow Forest Plan standards and guidelines and best management practices, Project Design Criteria (PDC), and the silvicultural guidelines. They would also incorporate the use of a project pre-implementation checklist process and monitoring elements to minimize adverse effects and protect resources. Alternative 2 would have the greatest potential for effects to Canada lynx, as well as an important Rio Grande cutthroat trout fishery. Alternative 3, on the other hand, would reduce the area salvaged by approximately one-half of that proposed by Alternative 2. Based upon the effects of the alternatives, the responsible official