B L U.S. Department of the Interior M Bureau of Land Management Spruce Mountain Restoration PREPARING OFFICE U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management Wells Field Office 3900 E. Idaho St. Elko, Nevada 89801 United States of America (775) 753–0200 Spruce Mountain Restoration : Environmental Assessment: This page intentionally left blank Spruce Mountain Restoration iii Table of Contents 1. Introduction ................................................................................................................................ 1 1.1. Identifying Information: ................................................................................................... 1 1.1.1. Location of Proposed Action: ................................................................................ 1 1.1.2. Name and Location of Preparing Office: ............................................................... 1 1.2. Purpose and Need for Action: .......................................................................................... 1 2. Proposed Action and Alternatives ............................................................................................ 3 2.1. Alternative A — Proposed Action .................................................................................... 5 2.1.1. Proposed Project Procedures ................................................................................ 14 2.2. Alternative B ................................................................................................................... 20 2.3. Alternative C ................................................................................................................... 20 2.4. Alternative D ................................................................................................................... 20 2.5. No Action Alternative ..................................................................................................... 21 2.6. Alternatives Considered but not Analyzed in Detail ...................................................... 21 2.6.1. Hand Thinning Only on Treatments .................................................................... 21 2.6.2. Sagebrush Mowing and Dixie Harrow ................................................................ 21 2.7. Conformance ................................................................................................................... 22 3. Affected Environment: ............................................................................................................ 23 3.1. Air Quality and Climate .................................................................................................. 25 3.2. Cultural Resources .......................................................................................................... 26 3.3. Fire Management ............................................................................................................ 26 3.4. Forestry and Forest Products .......................................................................................... 30 3.5. Hydrology and Riparian/Wetland ................................................................................... 31 3.6. Invasive, Non-Native Species ......................................................................................... 33 3.7. Migratory Birds ............................................................................................................... 33 3.8. Native American Religious Concerns ............................................................................. 45 3.9. Public Health and Safety ................................................................................................. 45 3.10. Lands with Wilderness Characteristics ......................................................................... 46 3.11. Livestock Grazing ......................................................................................................... 46 3.12. Recreation ..................................................................................................................... 47 3.13. Soils ............................................................................................................................... 48 3.14. Special Status Species ................................................................................................... 49 3.15. Vegetation ..................................................................................................................... 58 3.16. Visual Resource Management ....................................................................................... 59 3.17. Wilderness Study Areas ................................................................................................ 60 3.18. Wild Horses ................................................................................................................... 61 3.19. Wildlife ......................................................................................................................... 61 4. Environmental Effects: ........................................................................................................... 69 4.1. Air Quality ...................................................................................................................... 72 4.2. Cultural Resources .......................................................................................................... 73 Table of Contents iv Spruce Mountain Restoration 4.3. Fire Management ............................................................................................................ 77 4.4. Forestry and Forest Products .......................................................................................... 83 4.5. Hydrology and Riparian/Wetland ................................................................................... 88 4.6. Invasive, Non-Native Species ......................................................................................... 89 4.7. Migratory Birds ............................................................................................................... 92 4.8. Native American Religious Concerns ............................................................................. 97 4.9. Public Health and Safety ................................................................................................. 98 4.10. Livestock Grazing ......................................................................................................... 99 4.11. Recreation ................................................................................................................... 104 4.12. Soils ............................................................................................................................. 105 4.13. Special Status Species ................................................................................................. 108 4.14. Vegetation ................................................................................................................... 117 4.15. Visual Resource Management ..................................................................................... 125 4.16. Wilderness Study Areas .............................................................................................. 125 4.17. Wild Horses ................................................................................................................. 127 4.18. Wildlife ....................................................................................................................... 131 5. Tribes, Individuals, Organizations, or Agencies Consulted: ............................................. 145 6. List of Preparers ..................................................................................................................... 149 Appendix A. Spruce Mountain Restoration Treatments ........................................................ 153 Appendix B. Cumulative Effects Study Areas (CESAs) ......................................................... 169 Bibliography ............................................................................................................................... 183 Table of Contents Spruce Mountain Restoration v List of Figures Figure A.1. Spruce Mountain Restoration Proposed Treatment Types ....................................... 154 Figure A.2. Basco Chaining Maintenance/Expansion ................................................................. 155 Figure A.3. Brush Creek .............................................................................................................. 156 Figure A.4. Coyote Basin Bottom ................................................................................................ 157 Figure A.5. Coyote East ............................................................................................................... 158 Figure A.6. Coyote North Bowl ................................................................................................... 159 Figure A.7. Demonstration .......................................................................................................... 160 Figure A.8. East Spruce Ridge ..................................................................................................... 161 Figure A.9. Honeymoon Chaining Maintenance/Expansion ....................................................... 162 Figure A.10. Indian Creek ..........................................................................................................