United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service February 2017 Chewuch River Restoration River Miles 15.5-20 Environmental Assessment Methow Valley Ranger District, Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest, Okanogan County, Washington Photo of the Chewuch River by Barbara Jackson, Landscape Architect, USDA Forest Service For More Information Contact: Gene Shull Zone Fisheries Biologist Methow Valley District Ranger 24 West Chewuch Road Winthrop, WA 98862 Phone: 509-996-4013 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.) 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Contents Chapter 1 Purpose and Need ......................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Introduction ..................................................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Proposed Project Location .............................................................................................................. 1 1.3 Project Area Description ................................................................................................................. 1 1.4 Purpose and Need ............................................................................................................................ 3 1.5 Regulatory Framework ................................................................................................................... 4 1.6 Consultation and Public Involvement ............................................................................................ 9 1.7 Issues ............................................................................................................................................... 10 Issues Considered but Dismissed ........................................................................................................ 11 Chapter 2 Alternative Description .............................................................................................................. 12 2.1 Proposed Action and Alternatives ................................................................................................ 12 2.1.1 Alternative Formulation ............................................................................................................ 12 2.1.2 No Action Alternative (Alternative 1) ...................................................................................... 12 2.1.3 Proposed Action (Alternative 2) ............................................................................................... 12 2.1.4 Design Criteria, Mitigation, and Monitoring Features .............................................................. 20 2.1.5 Comparison of Alternatives ...................................................................................................... 23 Chapter 3 Existing Condition and Environmental Consequences .............................................................. 26 3.1 Botany ............................................................................................................................................. 26 3.1.1 Affected Environment ............................................................................................................... 26 3.1.2 Environmental Consequences ................................................................................................... 31 3.1.3 Cumulative Effects .................................................................................................................... 32 3.1.4 Conclusion ................................................................................................................................ 34 3.1.5 Other Relevant Mandatory Disclosures .................................................................................... 34 3.1.6 Summary of Botany Effects ...................................................................................................... 35 3.2 Invasives ......................................................................................................................................... 35 3.2.1 Affected Environment and Environmental Consequences........................................................ 35 3.2.2 Environmental Consequences ................................................................................................... 36 3.2.3 Cumulative Effects .................................................................................................................... 36 3.2.4 Other Relevant Mandatory Disclosures .................................................................................... 37 3.2.5 Summary ................................................................................................................................... 37 3.3 Water Resources ............................................................................................................................ 37 3.3.1 Affected Environment ............................................................................................................... 37 3.3.2 Environmental Consequences ................................................................................................... 48 3.3.3 Cumulative Effects .................................................................................................................... 51 3.3.4 Conclusion ................................................................................................................................ 53 3.3.5 Other Relevant Mandatory Disclosures .................................................................................... 53 3.3.6 Summary ................................................................................................................................... 55 3.4 Wild and Scenic Rivers (Recreation and Scenery) ..................................................................... 56 3.4.1 Affected Environment ............................................................................................................... 56 3.4.2 Environmental Consequences ................................................................................................... 64 3.4.3 Cumulative Effects .................................................................................................................... 67 3.4.4 Other Relevant Mandatory Disclosures .................................................................................... 68 3.4.5 Summary of Wild and Scenic Rivers Effects ............................................................................ 72 3.5 Wildlife ........................................................................................................................................... 73 3.5.1 Affected Environment ............................................................................................................... 73 3.5.2 Environmental Consequences ................................................................................................... 77 3.5.3 Cumulative Effects .................................................................................................................... 79 3.5.4 Other Relevant Mandatory Disclosures .................................................................................... 80 3.5.5 Summary ................................................................................................................................... 81 3.6 Soil Resources ................................................................................................................................ 81 3.7 Cultural Resources ........................................................................................................................ 83 3.7.1 Affected Environment and Environmental Consequences........................................................ 83 3.8. Other Environmental Consequences and Required Disclosures .............................................. 84 3.8.1 Conflicts with other Plans, Policies, or Other Jurisdictions ...................................................... 84 3.8.2 Environmental Justice ............................................................................................................... 84 3.8.3 Treaty Resources and Reserved Indian Rights .......................................................................... 84 3.8.4 Wetlands and Floodplains ......................................................................................................... 84 3.8.5 Unique Characteristics of the Area ........................................................................................... 84 3.8.6 Air Quality ...............................................................................................................................