The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or part of an individual's income is derived from any public assistance program. (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). To file a complaint of discrimination, write to USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410, or call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382 (TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. ii Table of Contents Chapter 1 Purpose of and Need for Action ........................................................................ 1 1.1 Background ......................................................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Description of the Allotments ............................................................................................................. 3 1.2.1 Dexter Creek Allotment .............................................................................................................. 4 1.2.2 June Lake Allotment ................................................................................................................... 5 1.2.3 Mono Mills Allotment ................................................................................................................. 5 1.2.4 Mono Sand Flat Allotment .......................................................................................................... 6 1.3 Purpose and Need ............................................................................................................................... 6 1.4 Desired Condition ............................................................................................................................... 7 1.4.1 Desired Condition for Range ....................................................................................................... 8 1.4.2 Desired Condition for Water Quality .......................................................................................... 9 1.4.3 Desired Condition for Hydrologic and Soil Function .................................................................. 9 1.4.4 Desired Condition for Air Quality ..............................................................................................10 1.4.5 Desired Conditions for Wildlife .................................................................................................10 1.5 Forest Plan Direction .........................................................................................................................10 1.5.1 Inyo National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan (1988) ..........................................10 1.5.2 LRMP Amendment #6 – Forest-wide Range Utilization Standards (1995) ...............................10 1.5.3 Sierra Nevada Forest Plan Amendment (2004) ..........................................................................11 1.5.4 Mono Basin National Forest Scenic Area Comprehensive Management Plan (Scenic Area Plan) (1989) 11 1.6 Public Involvement ............................................................................................................................12 1.6.1 Comment and Scoping Period ....................................................................................................12 1.6.2 Native American Consultation ...................................................................................................12 1.6.3 Issues ..........................................................................................................................................13 Chapter 2 Alternatives ..................................................................................................... 14 2.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................................14 2.2 Alternative Development Process .....................................................................................................14 2.3 Alternatives Considered But Eliminated From Detailed Study .....................................................14 2.3.1 Sage Grouse Conservation Alternative .......................................................................................14 2.3.2 Resource Conservation Alternative ............................................................................................15 2.3.3 Current Management Alternative ...............................................................................................15 2.4 Alternatives Considered in Detail .....................................................................................................15 2.4.1 Alternative 1 – No Action (No Grazing) ....................................................................................15 2.4.2 Alternative 2 – Proposed Action ................................................................................................16 2.5 Monitoring ..........................................................................................................................................23 Chapter 3 Environmental Consequences ......................................................................... 26 3.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................................26 iii 3.2 Effects Relative to Range Resources ................................................................................................27 3.2.1 Existing Condition ......................................................................................................................27 3.2.2 Environmental Consequences ....................................................................................................29 3.3 Effects Relevant to Hydrologic Resources, Soil, and Air Quality ..................................................38 3.3.1 Existing Condition ......................................................................................................................38 3.3.2 Environmental Consequences ....................................................................................................46 3.4 Effects Relative to Terrestrial Wildlife ............................................................................................52 3.4.1 Existing Condition ...................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined. 3.4.2 Environmental Consequences .................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined. 3.5 Effects Relative to Aquatic Wildlife .................................................................................................79 3.5.1 Existing Condition ......................................................................................................................79 3.5.2 Environmental Consequences ....................................................................................................84 3.6 Effects Relative to Plants and Noxious Weeds .................................................................................85 3.6.1 Existing Condition ......................................................................................................................85 3.6.2 Environmental Consequences ....................................................................................................88 3.7 Effects Relative to Cultural Resources .............................................................................................91 3.7.1 Existing Condition ......................................................................................................................91 3.7.2 Environmental Consequences ....................................................................................................95 3.8 Effects Relative to Socio-Economic Factors.....................................................................................97 3.8.1 Existing Condition ......................................................................................................................97 3.8.2 Environmental Consequences ....................................................................................................98 3.9 Effects Relative to Finding of No Significance (FONSI) Elements ..............................................100 Chapter 4 Lists ............................................................................................................... 105 4.1 Agencies and Persons Consulted.....................................................................................................105 4.2 References Cited...............................................................................................................................105 APPENDIX A: Allotment Maps ..............................................................................................................115 APPENDIX B: Amendment #6 Matrices .................................................................................... 121 APPENDIX C: Capability and Suitability