Environmental United States Department of Assessment Agriculture Forest Burn and Crystal Springs Allotment Service Management Plan August 2008 Lookout Mountain Ranger District, Ochoco National Forest Crook County, Oregon T. 13 and 14 S., R. 18 and 19 E., multiple sections For Information Contact: Tory Kurtz 3160 NE Third Street Prineville, OR 97754 (541)416-6400 http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/centraloregon/projects/units/lookout/ The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, or marital or family status. (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 USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 14th and Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (202) 720-5964 (voice and TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. Environmental Assessment Burn and Crystal Springs Allotment Management Plan DRAFT Table of Contents Table of Contents .............................................................................................................i List of Tables ...................................................................................................................ii List of Figures.................................................................................................................iii Summary.........................................................................................................................iv Chapter 1 - Introduction and Purpose and Need for Action........................................1 Document Structure .....................................................................................................................1 Background and Project Area Description...................................................................................1 Purpose and Need for Action.......................................................................................................3 Proposed Action...........................................................................................................................4 Forest Plan Direction ...................................................................................................................5 Decision Framework....................................................................................................................6 Intergovernmental Communication .............................................................................................6 Public Involvement ......................................................................................................................7 Issues............................................................................................................................................7 Chapter 2 - Alternatives Including the Proposed Action...........................................10 Alternatives ................................................................................................................................10 Alternative 1 - No Action ......................................................................................... 10 Alternative 2 - The Proposed Action ........................................................................ 11 Alternative 3.............................................................................................................. 12 Alternative 4.............................................................................................................. 12 Project Design Features Common to All Alternatives...............................................................14 Monitoring .................................................................................................................................15 Comparison of Alternatives .......................................................................................................16 Chapter 3 - Environmental Consequences .................................................................19 Range Resources........................................................................................................................19 Soils, Water Quality, Riparian Function and Aquatic Habitat...................................................32 Threatened, Endangered and Sensitive Aquatic Species ...........................................................59 Essential Fish Habitat.................................................................................................................64 Management Indicator Species ..................................................................................................65 Primary Cavity Excavators Including the Common Flicker..................................... 65 Proposed, Endangered, Threatened and Sensitive Wildlife Species..........................................70 Northern Bald Eagle ................................................................................................. 72 Gray Flycatcher......................................................................................................... 73 California Wolverine ................................................................................................ 74 Neotropical Migratory Birds......................................................................................................75 Rocky Mountain Elk and Mule Deer .........................................................................................83 Sensitive Plant Species...............................................................................................................84 Invasive Plants .........................................................................................................................107 Heritage Resources ..................................................................................................................116 Treaty Rights............................................................................................................................119 Socio-Economics .....................................................................................................................120 Affected Environment............................................................................................. 120 Environmental Consequences................................................................................. 121 Cumulative Effects...................................................................................................................123 Other Disclosures.....................................................................................................................124 i Crystal Springs and Burn Allotment Management Plan Environmental Assessment DRAFT State and Local Laws.............................................................................................. 124 National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).......................................................... 124 National Historic Preservation Act ......................................................................... 124 Endangered Species Act 1973 ................................................................................ 125 Clean Water Act...................................................................................................... 125 Wetlands and Floodplains....................................................................................... 125 Civil Rights and Environmental Justice.................................................................. 126 Irreversible and Irretrievable Commitments of Resources ..................................... 126 Inventoried Roadless Areas and Wilderness........................................................... 126 Chapter 4 - Consultation and Coordination ............................................................. 127 References............................................................................................................................... 129 Appendix A - Maps...................................................................................................... 143 List of Tables Table 1. Crystal Springs and Burn Allotments acres and locations.................................... 2 Table 2. Comparison of alternatives. ................................................................................ 16 Table 3. Burns and Crystal Springs Allotment information. ............................................ 19 Table 4. Burn Allotment: Use in 2006 and 2007............................................................. 19 Table 5. Crystal Springs Allotment: Use in 2006 and 2007. ........................................... 20 Table 6. Allotment and range improvement details.......................................................... 21 Table 7. Summary of C & Ts in Burn and Crystal Springs Allotments. ......................... 22 Table 8. Summary of Winward Riparian Studies in Burn and Crystal Springs Allotments. ................................................................................................................................... 22 Table 9. Forage production and stocking rates. ............................................................... 23 Table 10.