Johnnie Forest United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service Management Project Pacific Northwest Region Umpqua National Forest Tiller Ranger District March 2013 2 Johnnie Forest Management Project Tiller Ranger District Umpqua National Forest Johnnie Forest Management Project Environmental Assessment Douglas County, Oregon March 2013 Lead Agency: USDA Forest Service, Umpqua National Forest Responsible Official: Donna L. Owens, District Ranger Tiller Ranger District Umpqua National Forest 27812 Tiller Trail Highway Tiller, Oregon 97484 Phone: (541)-825-3100 For More Information Contact: David Baker, ID Team Leader Tiller Ranger District Umpqua National Forest 27812 Tiller-Trail Highway Tiller, OR 97484 Phone: (541) 825-3149 Email: [email protected] Electronic comments can be mailed to: [email protected] Abstract: This Environmental Assessment (EA) analyzes a no-action alternative, and one action alternative that includes fuels treatment, pre-commercial thinning and commercially harvesting timber on approximately 3,305 acres, treating activity-generated fuels, conducting road work, and other connected actions. The proposed thinning units are located within Management Areas 10 and 11 of the Umpqua National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan (LRMP), as well as the Matrix, Late Seral Reserve (LSR) and Riparian Reserve land-use allocations defined by the Northwest Forest Plan (NWFP). The project area is located within the Middle South Umpqua watershed on the Tiller Ranger District. 3 Johnnie Forest Management Project Tiller Ranger District Umpqua National Forest The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or part of an individual’s income is derived from any public assistance program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination, write to USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382 (TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. 4 Johnnie Forest Management Project Tiller Ranger District Umpqua National Forest Contents Abstract……………………………………………………………………………………....3 List of Tables………………………………………………………………………………..7 List of Figures……………………………………………………………………………….8 CHAPTER 1: PURPOSE AND NEED FOR ACTION…………………………………...9 PROJECT LOCATION ……………………………………………………………………...……..9 PURPOSE AND NEED FOR ACTION …………………………………………………………11 PROPOSED ACTION ………………………………………………………..…………………..11 RELATIONSHIP TO OTHER PLANNING DOCUMENTS AND ANALYSES …………..….15 SCOPING ……………………………………………………………………………………….…17 ISSUES AND CONCERNS ………………………………………………………...………...….17 PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION …………………………………………………..……………..18 CHAPTER 2: ALTERNATIVES, INCLUDING THE PROPOSED ACTION…………..19 ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED BUT ELIMINATED FROM FURTHER STUDY ………….19 ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED IN DETAIL …………………………………………………...19 ALTERNATIVE 1: NO ACTION …………………………………….………………………19 ALTERNATIVE 2: PROPOSED ACTION ……………………….……………………..….19 COMPARISON OF ALTERNATIVES …………………………….…………………..………….23 BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES, PROJECT DESIGN FEATURES, AND MONITORING ……….………………………………….………………….………….25 CHAPTER 3: AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT AND ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS…..39 ACTIVITIES THAT MAY CONRTIBUTE TO CUMULATIVE EFFECTS…….………..….39 SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT…………………………………………………….…….……..........41 ECONOMICS…………………………………………………………………….……………..41 AQUATIC ENVIRONMENT………………………………………………………..……………47 BENEFICIAL USES OF WATER ……………………………………………………………49 WATER QUALITY ………………………………………………………...…………………..50 STREAM FLOWS ………………………………………………………….………………….55 RIPARIAN RESERVES ………………………………………………………………………58 STREAM CHANNELS …………………………………………………………..……………64 EROSION AND SEDIMENTATION …………………………………………..……………..69 CHEMICAL CONTAMINATION ……………………………………………………….……..71 FISHERIES …………………………………………………………………………………….74 TERRESTRIAL ENVIRONMENT……………………….……………………………………89 FOREST VEGETATION ………….………………………………………………….……….89 WILDLIFE …………………………………………………………………………..…………101 SOIL PRODUCTIVITY ……………………………………………………………………….165 CLIMATE CHANGE ……………………………………………………………….…….……176 BOTANY ……………………………………………………………………….………………179 FIRE AND FUELS ………………………………………………………………………...….201 HERITAGE RESOURCES …………………………………………………..………………215 SPECIFICALLY REQUIRED AND OTHER DISCLOSURES…………………………...217 AIR QUALITY AND SMOKE MANAGEMENT ……………………………………....…….217 WETLANDS AND FLOODPLAINS …………………………………………………...….…218 POTENTIAL WILDERNESS AREAS ………………………………………………...…….218 5 Johnnie Forest Management Project Tiller Ranger District Umpqua National Forest PRIME FARMLANDS, RANGELANDS, FORESTLANDS, AND PARKLANDS …..…219 CONFLICTS WITH PLANS POLICIES OR OTHER JURISDICTIONS …….….……..219 POTENTIAL OR UNUSUAL EXPENDITURES OF ENERGY ………………...….…...219 CONSUMERS, CIVIL RIGHTS, MINORTY GROUPS, AND WOMEN ………..….…..219 ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE ……………………………………………………….…..…220 RECREATION AND VISUALS …………………………………………….……….….….220 CHAPTER 4: CONSULTATION WITH OTHERS…………………………………..223 PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT ………………………………………………………..…………223 AGENCY AND OTHER GOVERNMENT CONSULTATION …………………..………223 INTERDISCIPLINARY TEAM ……………………………………………………..………224 GLOSSARY…………………..……………….…………………….……………..……225 REFERENCES …………………………………………………….…………..……….227 6 Johnnie Forest Management Project Tiller Ranger District Umpqua National Forest List of Tables Table 1. Connected Actions Associated with the Proposed Actions …………………..…………21 Table 2. Alternative 2 Unit Summaries..………………………………...………………..………….22 Table 3. Comparison of Alternatives ……………………………………...…………….………….. 23 Table 4. Past Management Activities in the Planning Area ……..………...………….…..………39 Table 5. Ongoing and Reasonably Foreseeable Activities in the Planning Area ..……………..40 Table 6. Economic Efficiency Analysis ………………………………………………..……….……42 Table 7. Umpua NF Wildfire Details for Decade ……………………………………..…………….44 Table 8. Economic Impact Analysis ……………………………………………………..…………..46 Table 9. Summary of the 6th Field Sub-watersheds ……………………………………..………...51 Table 10. Water Quality 303(d) Listings in the Johnnie sub-watershed..…………………………52 Table 11. Average Maximum Temperatures for Sites Downstream from Johnnie ……………...53 Table 12. Hydrologic Recovery Pre- and Post- Treatment ……………………..…………..……..58 Table 13. Summary of Treatment Proposed in Riparian Reserves……………….…………..…..62 Table 14. Summary of Road and Landing Actions in Riparian Reserves..…………. …….……..62 Table 15. Road Work at Stream Crossings…..……………………………………………………...65 Table 16. Summary of Riparian Reserve Actions and Effects ………………………….……...…67 Table 17. Anadromous Fish Usage In and Downstream of Johnnie Planning Area…………….76 Table 18. Resident Fish Usage In and Downstream of Johnnie Planning Area…………………77 Table 19. Bivalve and Gastropod Potential Habitat in Johnnie Planning Area ………………….77 Table 20. Determination of Effects to Threatened and Sensitive Aquatic Species ………..……81 Table 21. Analytical Process Summary of effects to Indicators …………………………………..83 Table 22. Current Distribution of Age Classes within the Johnnie Planning Area ..……….…… 90 Table 23. Existing Physical and Biological Stand Conditions for Commercial Stands ………….91 Table 24. Desired Stand Conditions and Prescribed Actions, Valley Bottom…………………….95 Table 25. Desired Stand Conditions and Prescribed Actions, Mountain Slope.………………….95 Table 26. Residual Stand Conditions after Commercial Thinning …………………………...……96 Table 27. Pre-commercial Existing Stand Conditions ………………………..…………………….97 Table 28. Summary of Direct and indirect Effects to Vegetation ……….…………………………98 Table 29. Snag Habitat Deficiencies in Deadman/Francis Sub-watersheds ….………………..104 Table 30. Management Indicator Species …………………………………….……………………109 Table 31. Umpqua National Forest NSO Habitat Baseline ………….…………………………...110 Table 32. Regional Trends of Primary Cavity Nester ……………………………………..………115 Table 33. Focal Species in the USFS Landbird Strategic Plan ………………………………....118 Table 34. Umpqua NF Listed and Sensitive Species Ecological Requirements………………..128 Table 35. Umpqua NF Listed and Sensitive Species Pre-field Review and Summary ………..132 Table 36. Environmental Baseline for Johnnie Action Area ……………………………………...138 Table 37. NRF and Habitat Spatial Conditions …….………………………….…..………………141 Table 38. Stream and Road Densities in the Johnnie Planning Area ……….…………………..165 Table 39. Noxious Weed List ………………………………………………….………………….…183 Table 40. Noxious Weeds Known to Occur in the Project Area.…………………………………186 Table 41. Umpqua NF Listed and Sensitive Plant List ……………………………………………189 Table 42. Other Rare or Uncommon Plant Species ………………………………………………193 Table 43. Estimated Brush Disposal Costs by Alternative ..…………………..………………….201 Table 44. Action Alternative FRCC Rating Within Planning Area ……………………………….202 Table 45. Summary of Fuels Treatment Acres and Effects ………………….....……………….211 7 Johnnie Forest Management Project Tiller Ranger District Umpqua National Forest List of Figures Figure 1. Johnnie Planning Area Vicinity Map ………………………………………….…………10 Figure 2. Johnnie Planning Area Boundary and Proposed Units Map …………….………........13 Figure 3.