U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management DRAFT Environmental Impact Statement DOI-BLM-ID-B000-2014-0002-EIS Boise District Office Bruneau-Owyhee Sage-grouse Habitat Project (BOSH) November 2016 U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management Boise District Office 3948 Development Avenue Boise, ID 83705 Bruneau-Owyhee Sage-grouse Habitat Project Draft EIS DOI-BLM-ID-B000-2014-0002-EIS Page i Environmental Impact Statement # DOI-BLM-ID-B000-2014-0002-EIS (Bruneau-Owyhee Sage-grouse Habitat Project) Table of Contents 1.0 Introduction ......................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Need for and Purpose of Action ....................................................................................... 3 1.2 Location and Setting......................................................................................................... 4 1.3 Scoping and Development of Issues ................................................................................ 6 1.4 Conformance with Applicable Land Use Plan(s) ............................................................. 6 1.5 Relationship to Statutes, Regulations, and Other Requirements ...................................... 7 2.0 Description of the Alternatives ......................................................................................... 11 2.1 Alternatives Considered But Not Analyzed in Detail .................................................... 11 2.2 Description of Proposed Action and Alternatives .......................................................... 12 2.2.1 Alternative A - No Action/Continue Present Management .................................... 12 2.2.2 Features Common to Action Alternatives............................................................... 12 2.2.2.1 Project Area Development............................................................................... 12 2.2.2.2 Focal Treatment Area Development ................................................................ 12 2.2.2.3 Annual Treatment Unit Development ............................................................. 13 2.2.2.4 Monitoring ....................................................................................................... 14 2.2.2.5 Methods ........................................................................................................... 15 2.2.2.6 Design Features ............................................................................................... 18 2.2.3 Alternative B – Proposed Action ............................................................................ 20 2.2.4 Alternative C – No Treatment in Wilderness ......................................................... 23 3.0 Affected Environment and Environmental Consequences ............................................... 23 3.1 Fire Behavior .................................................................................................................. 25 3.1.1 Affected Environment – Fire Behavior................................................................... 25 3.1.2 Environmental Consequences – Fire Behavior ....................................................... 27 3.1.2.1 Alternative A – No Action ............................................................................... 27 3.1.2.2 Alternative B – Proposed Action ..................................................................... 27 3.1.2.3 Alternative C – No Treatment in Wilderness .................................................. 28 3.1.3 Cumulative Impacts – Fire Behavior ...................................................................... 28 3.2 Soils ................................................................................................................................ 28 3.2.1 Affected Environment – Soils ................................................................................. 28 3.2.2 Environmental Consequences – Soils ..................................................................... 31 3.2.2.1 Alternative A – No Action ............................................................................... 32 3.2.2.2 Alternative B – Proposed Action ..................................................................... 32 3.2.2.3 Alternative C – No Treatment in Wilderness .................................................. 33 3.2.3 Cumulative Impacts – Soils .................................................................................... 33 3.2.3.1 Scope of Analysis ............................................................................................ 33 3.2.3.2 Current Conditions and Past, Present, and Reasonably Foreseeable Future Actions ............................................................................................................ 33 3.2.3.3 Alternative A – Cumulative Impacts ............................................................... 34 3.2.3.4 Alternatives B & C – Cumulative Impacts ...................................................... 35 3.3 Vegetation ...................................................................................................................... 35 3.3.1 Affected Environment – Vegetation ....................................................................... 35 3.3.2 Environmental Consequences – Vegetation ........................................................... 37 3.3.2.1 Alternative A – No Action ............................................................................... 38 Bruneau-Owyhee Sage-grouse Habitat Project Draft EIS DOI-BLM-ID-B000-2014-0002-EIS Page ii 3.3.2.2 Alternative B – Proposed Action ..................................................................... 38 3.3.2.3 Alternative C – No Treatment in Wilderness .................................................. 39 3.3.3 Cumulative Impacts – Vegetation ........................................................................... 39 3.3.3.1 Scope of Analysis ............................................................................................ 39 3.3.3.2 Current Conditions and Past, Present, and Reasonably Foreseeable Future Actions ............................................................................................................ 39 3.3.3.3 Alternative A – Cumulative Impacts ............................................................... 41 3.3.3.4 Alternatives B and C – Cumulative Impacts ................................................... 41 3.4 Special Status Plants....................................................................................................... 42 3.4.1 Affected Environment – Special Status Plants ....................................................... 42 3.4.2 Environmental Consequences – Special Status Plants............................................ 45 3.4.2.1 Alternative A – No Action ............................................................................... 45 3.4.2.2 Alternative B – Proposed Action ..................................................................... 45 3.4.2.3 Alternative C – No Treatment in Wilderness .................................................. 46 3.4.3 Cumulative Impacts – Special Status Plants ........................................................... 46 3.4.3.1 Scope of Analysis ............................................................................................ 46 3.4.3.2 Current Conditions and Past, Present, and Reasonably Foreseeable Future Actions ............................................................................................................ 46 3.4.3.3 Alternative A – Cumulative Impacts ............................................................... 48 3.4.3.4 Alternatives B and C – Cumulative Impacts ................................................... 48 3.5 Noxious Weeds .............................................................................................................. 48 3.5.1 Affected Environment – Noxious Weeds ............................................................... 48 3.5.2 Environmental Impacts – Noxious Weeds .............................................................. 49 3.5.2.1 Alternative A – No Action ............................................................................... 50 3.5.2.2 Alternative B – Proposed Action ..................................................................... 50 3.5.2.3 Alternative C – No Treatment in Wilderness .................................................. 51 3.5.3 Cumulative Impacts – Noxious Weeds ................................................................... 51 3.5.3.1 Scope of Analysis ............................................................................................ 51 3.5.3.2 Current Conditions and Past, Present, and Reasonably Foreseeable Future Actions ............................................................................................................ 51 3.5.3.3 Alternative A – Cumulative Impacts ............................................................... 52 3.5.3.4 Alternatives B and C – Cumulative Impacts ................................................... 52 3.6 Wildlife/Special Status Animals .................................................................................... 52 3.6.1 Affected Environment – Wildlife/Special Status Animals ..................................... 52 3.6.2 Environmental Consequences – Wildlife/Special Status Species ........................... 59 3.6.2.1 Alternative A – No Action ..............................................................................