BIOLOGICAL EVALUATION (Conservation Species) USDA FOREST SERVICE Kisatchie National Forest Winn Ranger District Mendenhause Project Compartments 51, 52, and 56 INTRODUCTION: The purpose of this Biological Evaluation (BE) is to ensure that Forest Service actions do not contribute to the loss of viability of any native or desirable non-native animal species. This BE documents likely effects of management actions on populations of conservation species of concern as determined by the Louisiana Natural Heritage Program (LNHP). Such species are those, whose viability is most likely to be put at risk from management actions. Information presented here is used to ensure that such species are maintained at, or are moving toward, viable population levels. Populations of other species (those at less risk of losing viability) are maintained by creating and maintaining a diversity of habitat types distributed across the National Forest in accordance with Forest Plan Standards and Guidelines. Through this combination of approaches, viable populations of all species are maintained. A review of the Louisiana Rare Animal Species list and the Forest Geographic Information System (GIS) records was conducted to determine which species would possibly occur within the project site. The general biology of the species, personal communication with experts, and literature searches were used to determine the potential effect proposed actions, including the no action, would have on species considered likely to occur within the project area. The aforementioned research was conducted considering the best available science, and the potential effects discovered are discussed in this BE. PURPOSE AND NEED: Differences between current and desired conditions have been identified within the project area. In order to move the project area toward the desired conditions, specific resource management actions were identified and the alternatives were developed. The purpose of this project is to meet the needs of the Red-cockaded woodpecker (RCW), reduce risk of Southern Pine Beetle (SPB) attack, restore native longleaf pine, shortleaf pine-oak-hickory, and bottomland hardwood communities; improve forest access, and maintain boundaries between forest and private landowners. This project is needed to: Reduce the risk of Southern Pine Beetle attack The SPB risk rating program, Southern Pine Beetle-Event Monitor (SPB-EM), created by the USDA Forest Service Southern Research Station, was used to rate loblolly stands. Stands with a hazard rating of medium or high were selected for first thinning. Data produced by this model projected that approximately 78 percent of the proposed treatment stands have a high southern pine beetle hazard rating; and approximately 9 percent have a medium SPB hazard rating. Restore Native Vegetation Communities: Longleaf Pine, Shortleaf Pine / Oak - Hickory, and Bottomland Hardwood The Forest Plan calls for reforestation of native vegetation communities. Based on current stand exam data, a large percentage of the project area’s forest type is currently loblolly pine. The project would restore approximately 125 acres to longleaf pine ecosystem, 75 acres to shortleaf pine/oak-hickory ecosystem, and 75 acres to hardwood ecosystem. Increase suitable RCW habitat The desired future condition (DFC’s) of Management Area (MA) 5 is the management of RCW habitat and restoration of the historical vegetation. The RCW Recovery Plan recognizes that the fitness of woodpecker groups increases if they have foraging habitat. The RCW Recovery Plan defines quality habitat as substantial amounts of foraging areas that are burned regularly, have some large old pines, low densities of small and medium pines, sparse to no hardwood midstory, and have a bunchgrass and forb groundcover (RCW Recovery Plan, p. 188). Foraging habitat is reduced by the presence of midstory hardwoods. Cavity trees must be in open stands with little hardwood midstory and few overstory hardwoods. Effective midstory control is a prerequisite to the management, conservation, and recovery of red-cockaded woodpeckers throughout their range (RCW Recovery Plan, p. 38). There are approximately 2,812 acres of the project area within the RCW HMA. The project area has not been thinned in several years and many of the stands proposed for treatment have basal areas (BA) greater than 80ft2. Stands located within the RCW HMA have been prescribed burned recently, however prescribed fire may be ineffective in quickly removing midstory due to the size of the trees it contains. The RCW HMA population objective for the Winn Ranger District is 263 active clusters (The Plan, FW-712, pg. 2-61); currently there are 46 active clusters. The project area has numerous recruitment stands that are currently not suitable for nesting. The project would include installation of 4 artificial inserts in each recruitment stand. Maintain Forest Service Boundaries Property boundary marking is inadequate in numerous locations, making it difficult to determine ownership. There are approximately 13 miles of private and NFS land interface in the project area. Boundary lines would be maintained or re- established to prevent ownership issues. Improve road conditions The Forest Plan requires a road system suitable for land and resource management activities and Forest administration (The Plan, p. 2-46, FW-554), and to provide user safety and traffic efficiency (The Plan, p. 2-48, FW-574). Within the Mendenhause Creek project area, several roads require maintenance and improvements. These improvements would involve blading, spot graveling, ditch restoration, and reconstruction of specific roads to prevent degradation of the Figure 1 : road system. Temporary roads used during project Vicinity Map of the USFS, Kisatchie National Forest, Winn Ranger District’s Mendenhause Project located implementation would be obliterated and re-vegetated as part North of U.S. Hwy 84 West in Winn Parish, Louisiana. of the project work, following use. Several closed National Forest Service Roads (NFSRs) are proposed to be designated for administrative use only once project implementation is complete. Roads with Gum Springs Horse Trail crossings would have signs posted near crossings to ensure safety to road and trail users. PROJECT LOCATION: The project area is located in western Winn Parish, approximately 8 miles west of Winnfield, Louisiana in Sections 3, 4, 5, 10, 11, 14, 15, 16, 17, 20, 21, 22, 23, 27, and 28 of Township 11 North and Range 4 West. CONSULTATION HISTORY: The Final Environmental Impact Statement, Revised Land and Resource Management Plan, Kisatchie National Forest, which this project implements, was concurred upon by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Concurrence from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will be requested for this project. A heritage resource survey has been completed in these compartments. The findings of the survey have been sent to the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) and concurrence has been received. PROPOSED MANAGEMENT ACTION: Harvest Treatments: First Thinning on approximately 446 acres in Compartment 51 (in stands 2, 6, 9, and 13), Compartment 52 (in stands 4, 7, 11, 12, 15, 27, 29, 30, and 35), and Compartment 56 (in stands 1 and 16) to an average residual 60 ft2 per BA in the young loblolly pine stands to reduce risk of SPB damage or loss and to improve tree and stand vigor. Intermediate thinning on approximately 3,038 acres in Compartment 51 (in stands 1, 5, 8, 10, 14, 15, 16, 17, and 19), Compartment 52 (in stands 2, 5, 16, 18, 20, 24, and 33), and Compartment 56 (in stands 2-11, 13-15, 18-23, 25, 27, 30, and 31). Thinning in Compartments 51 and 56 would consist of removing some pine pine and some or all hardwood midstory and overstory necessary to achieve an average of 60 ft2 BA per AC (except within the RCW clusters where BA would be reduced to an average 50 ft2 BA per AC). These thinning’s would retain longleaf and shortleaf pine over loblolly and slash pines. Retention priority would be 1) relict trees, 2) potential cavity trees, 3) trees greater than 10 inches diameter at 4.5 feet above ground level, 4) trees less than 10 inches at DBH. Hardwood trees that are in clusters would not be cut. Hardwoods retained, that were not in clumps, would be retained by the following order: 1) Relict trees, 2) wildlife cavity trees, 3) flowering species, and 4) large/super canopy trees Intermediate thinning that occurs in Compartment 52 would consist of pine and hardwood midstory and overstory reduction to an average 100 ft2 BA per AC. Species would be retained in the following order: 1) oaks and hickory, 2) dogwood, 3) black cherry, 4) American beech, 5) blackgum, 6) American holly, 7) elm, 8) maple, 9) sweetgum, and 10) loblolly pine. Retention priority would be 1) relict trees, 2) wildlife cavity trees, 3) large/super canopy trees, and 4) clumps of hardwoods. Longleaf restoration of approximately 125 acres in compartment 52 (stand 6) and Compartment 56 (stands 24, 26, 28, and 29) by artificial regeneration. Restoration would consist of cutting all species except longleaf pine,. Site preparation of these stands would include chopping, burning and/or herbicide. Once seedlings are planted, prescribed burning to control brownspot disease and release, as needed, would be initiated. Release would be accomplished using handtools (chainsaws, brushsaws, etc.), burning, herbicide application, or a combination. Herbicides used would include Triclopyr, Imazapyr, or a combination to control competing vegetation. Herbicide would be applied in spring (usually April and/or May) after the trees have completed full flush by directed foliar spray, hack and squirt, or basal bark treatments. Any burning would occur within a minimum of 30 days after herbicide application. Shortleaf restoration of approximately 75 acres in compartment 51 (stands 11, 20, and 21) by artificial regeneration. Restoration would consist of cutting all species except shortleaf pine. Site preparation of these stands would include chopping, burning and/or herbicide. Once seedlings are planted, they would be released, as needed.