Four Forest Restoration Initiative – Rim Country Aquatics Specialist Report Prepared by: Stephanie M. Coleman Forest Aquatic Program Manager Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests For: Lakeside and Black Mesa Ranger Districts, Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests Payson and Pleasant Valley Ranger Districts, Tonto National Forest Red Rock and Mogollon Ranger Districts, Coconino National Forest Date: 11/02/2018 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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Rim Country, Aquatic Resource Report Table of Contents Introduction ................................................................................................................................. 5 Relevant Laws, Regulations, and Policy ..................................................................................... 5 Regulatory Framework ............................................................................................................ 5 Topics and Issues Addressed in This Analysis ......................................................................... 19 Purpose and Need .................................................................................................................. 19 Issues ..................................................................................................................................... 20 Other Resource Concerns ...................................................................................................... 20 Methods ..................................................................................................................................... 20 Information Sources .............................................................................................................. 21 Incomplete and Unavailable Information .............................................................................. 21 Spatial and Temporal Context for Effects Analysis .............................................................. 21 Assumptions .......................................................................................................................... 22 Resource Indicators and Measures ........................................................................................ 23 Affected Environment ............................................................................................................... 30 Summary of Alternatives .......................................................................................................... 62 Alternative 1 – No Action ..................................................................................................... 62 Action Alternatives ................................................................................................................ 62 Project Design Features ......................................................................................................... 66 Environmental Consequences ................................................................................................... 84 Alternative 1 – No Action ..................................................................................................... 84 Alternative 2 – Modified Proposed Action ............................................................................ 86 Alternative 3 (Focused Alternative) ...................................................................................... 93 Actions Common to Alternative 2 and 3 ............................................................................. 101 Cumulative Effects .............................................................................................................. 113 Required Monitoring ........................................................................................................... 119 Forest Plan Amendment Environmental Consequences – By Alternative or in a summary 120 Summary ................................................................................................................................. 120 Degree to Which the Purpose and Need for Action is Met ................................................. 120 Degree to Which the Alternatives Address the Issues ......................................................... 120 Summary of Environmental Effects .................................................................................... 121 Compliance with LMP and Other Relevant Laws, Regulations, Policies and Plans .............. 128 Other Relevant Mandatory Disclosures .................................................................................. 128 Required Permits ................................................................................................................. 128 Irreversible and Irretrievable Commitments of Resources .................................................. 128 Forest Plan Consistency ...................................................................................................... 128 Other Agencies and Individuals Consulted ............................................................................. 129 References Cited ..................................................................................................................... 130 Appendix A: Watershed Condition Framework aquatic habitat indicators by subwatershed. 136 Appendix B: Rim Country Flexible Toolbox Approach for Aquatic and Watershed Restoration Activities ................................................................................................................................. 138 Appendix C: Forest Plan Consistency ......................................................................................... 1 Tables Table 1. Forest Land Management Plan Standards and Guidelines for forest restoration projects in aquatic and riparian habitats by Forest. ................................................................................... 5 Table 2. Forest Plan Management Areas (MA), descriptions, and comparison of Forestwide to Project acres. ......................................................................................................................... 14 Table 3. Resource indicators and measures for assessing effects between alternatives. ............... 23 i Rim Country, Aquatic Resource Report Table 4. Average Riparian Condition from WCATT for species analysis areas. .......................... 33 Table 5. Acreages of Ecological Restoration types and individual Ecological Restoration Units (ERUs) within the entire Rim Country Project Area. ............................................................ 33 Table 6. Miles of each stream type within the Rim Country project area. .................................... 35 Table 7. Federally listed and Forest Service Sensitive aquatic species and/or their habitat expected to occur within the Rim Country project area. ...................................................................... 36 Table 8. Miles of streams and associated 6th Code subwatersheds with Gila trout within the Rim Country proposed project area. .............................................................................................. 39 Table 9. Riparian condition scores from Watershed Condition Framework for 6th Code HUCs with Gila trout within the Rim Country proposed project area. ............................................ 40 Table 10. Miles of streams and associated 6th Code subwatersheds (HUC) with Little Colorado spinedace within the Rim Country proposed project area. .................................................... 41 Table 11. Riparian condition scores from Watershed Condition Framework for 6th Code HUCs with Little Colorado spinedace within the Rim Country proposed project area. .................. 43 Table 12. Riparian condition scores from Watershed