Environmental Assessment United States Department of EAST ALPINE RANGELAND PROJECT Agriculture Forest Service CARSON RANGER DISTRICT Intermountain Region HUMBOLDT-TOIYABE NATIONAL FOREST September 2012 Alpine County, California and Douglas County, Nevada USDA NONDISCRIMINATION STATEMENT 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, and 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). 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Table of Contents Chapter 1 – Purpose and Need ........................................................................................................ 1 1.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Project Area .......................................................................................................................... 1 1.3 Background ........................................................................................................................... 4 1.4 Purpose and Need ................................................................................................................. 7 1.5 Management Direction.......................................................................................................... 8 1.6 Rangeland Capability and Suitability ................................................................................. 12 1.7 Decisions to be Made .......................................................................................................... 13 1.8 Public Involvement ............................................................................................................. 13 1.9 Tribal Involvement.............................................................................................................. 14 1.10 Identification of Issues ...................................................................................................... 14 1.10.1 Soil and Watershed Resources ................................................................................... 15 1.10.2 Vegetation .................................................................................................................. 15 1.10.3 Wildlife and Aquatic Resources ................................................................................ 15 1.10.4 Wilderness.................................................................................................................. 15 1.10.5 Recreation .................................................................................................................. 16 1.10.6 Sensitive and Rare Plants ........................................................................................... 16 1.10.7 Cultural Resources ..................................................................................................... 16 1.10.8 Other Issues and Concerns Not Being Analyzed ....................................................... 16 1.11 Federal and State Permit Requirements ............................................................................ 17 Chapter 2 – Alternatives ............................................................................................................... 19 2.1 Introduction ......................................................................................................................... 19 2.2 Development of Alternatives .............................................................................................. 19 2.3 Alternatives Considered in Detail ....................................................................................... 19 2.3.1 Alternative 1 – Proposed Action .................................................................................. 19 2.3.2 Alternative 2 – No Action/No Grazing ........................................................................ 45 2.3.3 Alternatives Considered but Eliminated from Detailed Study .................................... 45 2.4 Comparison of Alternatives ................................................................................................ 46 Chapter 3 – Affected Environment and Environmental Effects ................................................... 55 3.0 Introduction ......................................................................................................................... 55 East Alpine Rangeland Project i 3.1 Soil and Watershed Resources ............................................................................................ 58 3.1.1 Scope of the Analysis................................................................................................... 58 3.1.2 Desired Condition ........................................................................................................ 61 3.1.3 Current Condition ........................................................................................................ 62 3.1.4 Environmental Consequences ...................................................................................... 64 3.1.5 Irreversible and Irretrievable Commitments ................................................................ 66 3.1.6 Forest Plan Consistency ............................................................................................... 66 3.1.7 Specialist Report .......................................................................................................... 66 3.2 Vegetation ........................................................................................................................... 66 3.2.1 Scope of the Analysis................................................................................................... 67 3.2.2 Desired Condition ........................................................................................................ 69 3.2.3 Current Condition ........................................................................................................ 69 3.2.4 Environmental Consequences ...................................................................................... 89 3.2.5 Irreversible and Irretrievable Commitments ................................................................ 99 3.2.6 Forest Plan Consistency ............................................................................................... 99 3.2.7 Specialist Report ........................................................................................................ 100 3.3 Wildlife and Aquatic Resources ....................................................................................... 100 3.3.1 Scope of the Analysis................................................................................................. 101 3.3.2 Desired Condition ...................................................................................................... 103 3.3.3 Wildlife Species Analyzed in Detail .......................................................................... 104 3.3.4 Irreversible and Irretrievable Commitments .............................................................. 153 3.3.5 Forest Plan Consistency ............................................................................................. 153 3.3.6 Specialist Report ........................................................................................................ 153 3.4 Wilderness......................................................................................................................... 153 3.4.1 Scope of the Analysis................................................................................................. 154 3.4.2 Desired Condition ...................................................................................................... 155 3.4.3 Current Condition ...................................................................................................... 155 3.4.4 Environmental Consequences .................................................................................... 156 3.4.5 Irreversible and Irretrievable Commitments .............................................................. 159 3.4.6 Forest Plan Consistency ............................................................................................. 159 3.4.7 Specialist Report ........................................................................................................ 160 3.5 Recreation ......................................................................................................................... 160 3.5.1 Scope of the Analysis................................................................................................. 160 ii East Alpine Rangeland Project 3.5.2 Desired Condition ...................................................................................................... 160 3.5.3 Current Condition ...................................................................................................... 160 3.5.4 Environmental Consequences