United States Department of Agriculture Volume 1—Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Land Management Plan Flathead National Forest Forest Service Northern Region November 2018 “. for the greatest good of the greatest number for the longest time.”—Gifford Pinchot, founding Chief of the Forest Service, 1905 Volume 1—Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Land Management Plan Flathead National Forest Lead agency: USDA Forest Service Responsible official: Chip Weber, Forest Supervisor Flathead National Forest 650 Wolfpack Way Kalispell, MT 59901 406-758-5204 Abstract: This is the first of four volumes of the final environmental impact statement (EIS) that documents analysis of the preferred alternative, two other action alternatives, as well as a no-action alternative for programmatic management of the land and resources administered by the Flathead National Forest. The Forest Service has identified alternative B modified as the preferred alternative. The Flathead National Forest encompasses 2.4 million acres in Flathead, Lake, Lewis and Clark, Lincoln, Missoula, and Powell Counties, Montana. The Forest Service is concurrently amending the forest plans of the Helena-Lewis and Clark, Kootenai, and Lolo National Forests to incorporate habitat management direction for the Northern Continental Divide Ecosystem (NCDE) grizzly bear population (refer to volume 3 of the final EIS for the evaluation of effects of the amendments). Flathead National Forest photo captions (clockwise from upper left): • South Fork of the Flathead River, Spotted Bear Ranger District • Forwarder working on the Paint Emery Resource Management Project, Hungry Horse– Glacier View Ranger District • Two hikers • Snowmobiler • View from trail to Pentagon Cabin in the Bob Marshall Wilderness (photo by Peter Borgesen) • Fireweed • White-tailed deer (photo by John Littlefield) In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity (including gender expression), sexual orientation, disability, age, marital status, family/parental status, income derived from a public assistance program, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity, in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA (not all bases apply to all programs). Remedies and complaint filing deadlines vary by program or incident. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the responsible Agency or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English. To file a program discrimination complaint, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, AD-3027, found online at http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html and at any USDA office or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by: (1) mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; (2) fax: (202) 690-7442; or (3) email: [email protected]. USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender. Flathead National Forest Forest Plan FEIS Volume 1 Table of Contents Summary of Volumes 1 and 2 ...................................................................................................................... viii Chapter 1. Purpose and Need for Action ......................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Proposed Action .............................................................................................................................. 1 1.2 Document Organization .................................................................................................................. 2 1.3 The Planning Area ........................................................................................................................... 4 1.4 Purpose and Need for Action ........................................................................................................... 6 1.4.1 2012 planning rule requirements ................................................................................................ 6 1.4.2 Grizzly bear habitat management ............................................................................................... 7 1.4.3 Inland native fish habitat ............................................................................................................ 9 1.4.4 Canada lynx habitat management ............................................................................................... 9 1.4.5 Inventoried roadless areas ........................................................................................................ 10 1.4.6 Old-growth forests .................................................................................................................... 10 1.4.7 Winter motorized recreation .................................................................................................... 10 1.5 Decision Framework ...................................................................................................................... 11 1.6 Relationship to Other Entities ........................................................................................................ 11 1.6.1 County governments ................................................................................................................ 12 1.6.2 State ......................................................................................................................................... 12 1.6.3 Tribes ....................................................................................................................................... 13 1.6.4 Federal ..................................................................................................................................... 13 1.7 Levels of Forest Service Planning ................................................................................................... 13 1.7.1 National strategic planning ....................................................................................................... 13 1.7.2 National Forest System unit planning ........................................................................................ 14 1.7.3 Project or activity planning ....................................................................................................... 14 Chapter 2. Alternatives ................................................................................................................................. 16 2.1 Introduction ......................................................................................................................................... 16 2.2 Development of Alternatives ................................................................................................................ 16 2.2.1 Public engagement ....................................................................................................................... 16 2.2.2 Issues used for alternative development ....................................................................................... 18 2.3 Elements Common to All Alternatives ................................................................................................... 19 2.4 Description of Alternatives ................................................................................................................... 20 2.4.1 Management areas ....................................................................................................................... 20 2.4.2 Alternative A—No action .............................................................................................................. 22 2.4.3 Alternative B modified .................................................................................................................. 24 2.4.4 Alternative C ................................................................................................................................. 29 2.4.5 Alternative D ................................................................................................................................ 31 2.4.6 Alternatives considered but eliminated from detailed study .......................................................... 33 2.4.7 Comparison of alternatives ........................................................................................................... 40 Chapter 3. Affected Environment and Environmental Consequences............................................................ 44 3.1 Introduction ......................................................................................................................................... 44 3.1.1 Use of best available scientific information ................................................................................... 44 i Table of Contents