BOTANICAL RESOURCES REPORT Chetco Wild and Scenic River Mineral Withdrawal Project Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest Gold Beach Ranger District Clint Emerson District Botanist October 25, 2012 CONTENTS 1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................................... 2 2 Project and Effects Summary ................................................................................................................ 2 3 Affected Environment ........................................................................................................................... 2 3.1 Botanical Resources ...................................................................................................................... 3 3.1.1 Threatened, Endangered, Sensitive and survey and Manage Plant and Fungi Species 3 3.1.2 Invasive Plant Species ......................................................................................................... 6 4 Environmental Effects........................................................................................................................... 7 4.1 Effects on Botanical Resources ..................................................................................................... 8 4.1.1 Effects on Threatened, Endangered, Sensitive and Survey and Manage Plant and Fungi Species 8 4.1.2 Risk of Invasive Plant Species Spread .................................................................................. 9 References ................................................................................................................................................... 11 Page 1 of 62 1 INTRODUCTION This report will describe and analyze effects to existing botanical resources within the Chetco Wild and Scenic River Mineral Withdrawal project area. It will cover vegetation related items including Threatened, Endangered and Sensitive (TES) plant and fungi species, Survey and Manage (SM) plant and fungi species, invasive plant species, general vegetation character and unique plant communities and special habitats. Closely associated resources are described and analyzed in the following specialist’s report: a) Dead and down wood quantities are described in the Wildlife report. b) River and stream morphology and riparian vegetation are discussed in the Hydrology and Fisheries reports. The Environmental Assessment incorporates and summarizes the information from this report. 2 PROJECT AND EFFECTS SUMMARY Project Summary: Alternative 1 - There are currently four (4) claims within the river segments proposed for withdrawal. None have been validated through a minerals examination. The Chetco Wild and Scenic River Management Plan (1993, pg. 19) identified 16 mining claims in the Scenic river segments and 15 claims in the Recreational segment. Since that time, most claims have been forfeited or found to be null and void. The current mineral segregation (withdrawal) expires on July 31, 2013. New claims could be staked in the project area after July 31, 2013, with no action. On 5/22/2008 Chetco River Mining and Explorations had submitted a Notice of Intent to operate their claims Gold #3 through #8 for a 10 year period. Those claims are currently void, but could be reclaimed if and when the withdrawal is lifted. This Notice of Intent (NOI) could be a good example of what is typically proposed in an NOI. Alternative 2 - Proposed action: Make a recommendation to the Secretary of the Interior to withdraw from mineral entry for a period of 5 years, in aid of legislation, approximately 5,610 acres of National Forest System lands to protect lands along the Chetco Wild and Scenic River. Withdrawal is subject to valid existing rights. Effects Summary: Two issues were raised during internal scoping that may affect botanical resources. a) Potential for invasive aquatic and terrestrial plants to be spread within the project area. b) Potential for Sensitive aquatic and terrestrial bryophytes, lichens and vascular plants to be impacted or extirpated at the population level. Effects to botanical resources are anticipated to be reduced by implementing the proposed action because of the significant reduction in potential mining operations along the Chetco River. Under either alternative there is a potential for direct and indirect effects from unregulated off highway vehicle use that may occur in or adjacent to new dispersed camping and mining areas. 3 AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT This chapter summarizes current botanical resources in the affected area with an emphasis on those components with the potential to be affected by the proposed action. Resources with no potential to be affected may be identified, but are not analyzed in detail. This information provides the baseline needed to understand impacts associated with the project, as described in Chapter 4 of the main body of the EA. Page 2 of 62 The scope of the analysis area for botanical resources is: The 5,610 acre project area that lies within the Chetco Wild and Scenic River Corridor and stretches from the boundary of the Kalmiopsis Wilderness on the east to the edge of Forest Service land on the west. See the map of the project in the EA for the specific area. 3.1 BOTANICAL RESOURCES 3.1.1 THREATENED, ENDANGERED, SENSITIVE AND SURVEY AND MANAGE PLANT AND FUNGI SPECIES Threatened, Endangered and Sensitive Plants and Fungi Forest Service Manual (FSM) chapter 2670 provides policy and direction for the management of TES plants (vascular plants and bryophytes) and fungi (lichens and fungi) and their habitat on Forest Service lands. In particular, chapter 2670 outlines policies that require a Biological Evaluation (BE) report to be written in order to determine and document effects from proposed actions on TES species. The National Forest Management Act (NFMA) and recent direction from the Region 6 Forester has also included direction requiring locally uncommon and narrowly distributed species to be considered within the BE process. This portion of the Botanical Resources report satisfies the BE requirement under Forest Service Manual policy and NFMA. FSM 2670.31 states the following objectives for conservation and management of plant species listed as Threatened, Endangered or Proposed for listing as Threatened or Endangered: 1. Place top priority on conservation and recovery of endangered, threatened, and proposed species and their habitats through relevant National Forest System, State and Private Forestry, and Research and Development activities and programs. 2. Establish, through the Forest planning process, objectives for habitat management and/or recovery of populations, in cooperation with states, the Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) or the Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries Service (NOAA Fisheries), and other federal agencies. 3. Review, through the biological evaluation process, actions and programs authorized, funded, or carried out by the Forest Service to determine their potential for effect on threatened and endangered species and species proposed for listing. 4. Avoid all adverse impacts on threatened and endangered species and their habitats, except when it is possible to compensate adverse effects totally through alternatives identified in a biological opinion rendered by the Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) or Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries Service (NOAA Fisheries); when an exemption has been granted under the act; or when the FWS or NOAA Fisheries biological opinion recognizes an incidental taking. Avoid adverse impacts on species proposed Page 3 of 62 for listing during the conference period and while their federal status is being determined. 5. Initiate consultation or conference with the FWS or NOAA Fisheries when the Forest Service determines that proposed activities may have an effect on threatened or endangered species; are likely to jeopardize the continued existence of a proposed species; or result in the destruction or adverse modification of critical or proposed critical habitat. 6. Identify and prescribe measures to prevent adverse modification or destruction of critical habitat and other habitats essential for the conservation of endangered, threatened, and proposed species. Protect individual organisms or populations from harm or harassment as appropriate. FSM 2670.32 states the following objectives for conservation and management of plant species listed as Sensitive: 1. Assist states in achieving their goals for conservation of endemic species. 2. Review programs and activities, as part of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, by conducting a biological evaluation, to determine their potential effect on sensitive species. 3. Avoid or minimize impacts to species whose viability has been identified as a concern. 4. Analyze, if impacts cannot be avoided, the significance of potential adverse effects on the population or its habitat within the area of concern and on the species as a whole. (The line officer, with project approval authority, makes the decision to allow or disallow impact, but the decision must not result in loss of species viability or create significant trends toward federal listing of the species.) 5. Establish management objectives in cooperation with the states when projects on National Forest System lands may have a significant effect on sensitive species population numbers or distributions.