APPENDIX III SENSITIVE PLANT REPORT AND BIOLOGICAL EVALUATION FOR ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT BURNT FORK, HOGAN CREEK, ROCK CREEK, SAGE CREEK, AND PROPOSED RED BUTTE ALLOTMENTS RANGELAND PROJECT Kim Reid Rear Plant Coordinator Custer National Forest April 2012 Appendix III – Sensitive Plant Report and Biological Evaluation -1- Summary Abstract: Based upon existing information, known locations, probability of occurrence, and probability of impacts, there may be impacts from action alternatives to individuals within Beartooth goldenweed known populations and impacts to individuals in suspected habitat of mealy primrose, small yellow lady’s-slipper, giant helliborine, threeranked humpmoss, upward-lobed moonwort, peculiar moonwort, western moonwort, and Hall’s rush within project area habitats, but the impacts would not likely contribute to a trend towards Federal listing or loss of viability of these species. There would be no impact to musk root, Barratt’s willow, and Shoshonea. The Proposed Management Alternative would provide improvement for sensitive plants habitats that may be vulnerable to grazing impacts in comparison with the Current Management Alternative. Both action alternatives comply with all pertinent laws, regulations and policy. Appendix III – Sensitive Plant Report and Biological Evaluation -2- INTRODUCTION There are no known endangered or threatened plant species in the project area. The three plants listed on the federal Threatened or Endangered Species List as “threatened” and occurring in Montana are water howellia (Howellia aquatilis), Spalding’s catchfly (Silene spaldingii), and Ute ladies’-tresses (Spiranthes diluvialis). Species occurrences and suitable habitat are only known on Forests west of the Continental Divide for water howellia and Spalding’s catchfly, and in the Missouri, Jefferson, Beaverhead, Ruby, and Madison River drainages for Ute ladies’-tresses. No further analysis will be conducted for the threatened species. There are known sensitive plants species in the project area. Forest Service sensitive species are defined as “Those plant and animal species identified by a Regional Forester for which population viability is a concern, as evidenced by: a) significant current or predicted downward trends in population numbers or density or b) significant current or predicted downward trends in habitat capability that would reduce a species’ existing distribution.” The current USFS Northern Region (R-1) sensitive plant species list was developed February 25, 2011. Effects of livestock on sensitive plants that occur in the project area are assessed in this biological evaluation. Livestock and associated management activities have the potential to affect sensitive plant health and habitat integrity. As required by Forest Service Manual 2670.22 and 2670.32, a Biological Evaluation for threatened, endangered, and sensitve plants will be conducted. Forest Service policy regarding Biological Evaluaitons is summarized in Forest Service Manual (FSM) 2672.4. The intent of the Biological Evaluation process is to assess the potential impacts of proposed management activities, and ensure that such activities will not jeopardize the continued existence of 1) species listed, or proposed to be listed, as Engangered or Threatened by the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service and 2) species designated as sensitive by the Regional Forester. PURPOSE AND NEED The purpose and need of the proposed action is to adhere to Public Law 104-19, implement the direction in the Custer National Forest Management Plan, and comply with applicable laws, regulations and policies in the grazing permits that authorize livestock use on Burnt Fork, Hogan Creek On/Off, Rock Creek, Red Butte, and Sage Creek. This may require adjusting livestock management practices, stocking rates, and developing or reconstructing range improvements as determined through the environmental analysis. Riparian assessments indicate that some riparian areas in the analysis area are at risk under current livestock management. Based on three years of production/utilization studies on the Burnt Fork and Rock Creek Allotments, and corroborated by a carrying capacity model, the current permitted use exceeds the carrying capacity on four of these allotments. Based only on a carrying capacity model, the current permitted use exceeds the carrying capacity on Hogan Creek On/Off and Sage Creek Allotments. Current management (currently permitted AUMs, grazing systems without enough deferment, long duration of use, and poor livestock distribution in some areas) would not allow for improved conditions of these “at risk” riparian areas nor would current livestock management allow for proper use of the forage resource within the context of good rangeland management principles and practices. Changes to current management may be necessary relative to livestock numbers, allotment/pasture season and duration of use, livestock distribution, and intensity of livestock management (i.e. salting, herding, fencing, and water developments) on all allotments of the analysis area. The proposed Red Butte Allotment area (recent USFS purchase) has been both farmed and heavily grazed in the past by the former landowners thus negatively impacting vegetation communities. Proper grazing management could be used to improve the health and diversity of introduced and native forage plants found within this area. There are four minor issues concerning the 2008 Beartooth Travel Management Record of Decision in the Sage Creek Allotment. Two of the proposed changes are directly related to improving range management in the analysis area, the other two changes would address minor oversites with the current travel plan. Appendix III – Sensitive Plant Report and Biological Evaluation -3- COMPARISON OF ALTERNATIVES The table below compares the three alternatives. Table 1 – Comparison of Alternatives Alternative 1 Alternative 2 No Alternative 3 Parameter Current Livestock Livestock Proposed Action Management Grazing Issue Term Grazing Permit no yes yes Number of AUMs Burnt Fork Allotment na 127 AUMs NTE 98 AUMs Hogan Creek On/Off Allotment na 1,091 AUMs NTE 773 AUMs Rock Creek Allotment na 215 AUMs NTE 98 AUMs Sage Creek Allotment na 818 AUMs NTE 1,023 AUMs Red Butte Allotment na na NTE 616 AUMs Analysis Area Total 2,251 AUMs NTE 2,608 AUMs Stocking Rate Burnt Fork Allotment na 1.4 acres/AUM 1.8 acres/AUM Hogan Creek On/Off Allotment na 1.1 acres/AUM 1.6 acres/AUM Rock Creek Allotment na 2.1 acres/AUM 4.7 acres/AUM Sage Creek Allotment na 2.6 acres/AUM 3.4 acres/AUM Red Butte Allotment na na 1.1 acres/AUM Stocking Decrease or Increase Burnt Fork Allotment na na -23% Hogan Creek On/Off Allotment na na -29% Rock Creek Allotment na na -54% Sage Creek Allotment na na +20% Red Butte Allotment na na na Number Livestock Permitted Burnt Fork Allotment 0 cow/calf pairs 43 cow/calf pairs Flexible number of livestock on all Hogan Creek On/Off Allotment 0 cow/calf pairs 370 cow/calf pairs allotments. Permittees could choose Rock Creek Allotment 0 cow/calf pairs 40 cow/calf pairs to run cow/calf pairs, cows, yearlings, Sage Creek Allotment 0 cow/calf pairs 202 cow/calf pairs bulls or horses. Red Butte Allotment Analysis Area Total 0 cow/calf pairs 655 cow/calf pairs Season of Use Burnt Fork Allotment na 7/10 - 9/14 Flexible turn-on dates on all Hogan Creek On/Off Allotment na 7/19 - 9/23 allotments, but never before June 15th, Rock Creek Allotment na 6/11 - 10/10 and usually not before July 1st, Sage Creek Allotment na 7/1 - 9/30 variable season ending dates. Red Butte Allotment na na Number Days of Grazing Burnt Fork Allotment na 67 days Flexible number of days on all Hogan Creek On/Off Allotment na 67 days allotments but must have a deferred Rock Creek Allotment na 122 days rotation system of grazing and cannot Sage Creek Allotment na 92 days exceed 30 days of grazing in any Red Butte Allotment na na pasture. Grazing Rotation System Burnt Fork Allotment na 3 pasture deferred 3 pasture deferred Hogan Creek On/Off Allotment na 3 pasture deferred 3 pasture deferred Rock Creek Allotment na 4 pasture mod def 4 pasture mod def Sage Creek Allotment na 5 pasture mod def 7 pasture mod def Red Butte Allotment na na 6 pasture deferred Miles of Fence to Remove Burnt Fork Allotment 1.58 miles 0 miles 0 miles Hogan Creek On/Off Allotment 2.19 miles 0 miles 0 miles Rock Creek Allotment 2.91 miles 0 miles 0.30 miles Sage Creek Allotment 7.29 miles 0 miles 0.40 miles Red Butte Allotment na na na Analysis Area Total 13.97 miles 0 miles 0.70 miles Miles of Fence to Construct Burnt Fork Allotment 0 miles 0 miles 0 miles Hogan Creek On/Off Allotment 0 miles 0 miles 1.08 miles Rock Creek Allotment 0 miles 0 miles 0.50 miles Sage Creek Allotment 0 miles 1.20 miles 3.20 miles Red Butte Allotment na na na Appendix III – Sensitive Plant Report and Biological Evaluation -4- Alternative 1 Alternative 2 No Alternative 3 Parameter Current Livestock Livestock Proposed Action Management Grazing Analysis Area Total 0 miles 1.20 miles 3.40 miles Number Cattleguards to Install Burnt Fork Allotment 0 cg 0 cg 0 cg Hogan Creek On/Off Allotment 0 cg 0 cg 0 cg Rock Creek Allotment 0 cg 0 cg 0 cg Sage Creek Allotment 0 cg 0 cg 2 cg Red Butte Allotment na na 5 cg Analysis Area Total 0 cg 0 cg 7 cg Miles of Stock Driveway to Construct Burnt Fork Allotment Hogan Creek On/Off Allotment 0 miles 0 miles 0.95 miles Rock Creek Allotment 0 miles 0 miles 0 miles Sage Creek Allotment 0 miles 0 miles 0 miles Red Butte Allotment 0 miles 0 miles 0 miles na na 0 miles Analysis