Game Bird Farm and Shooting Preserve Programmatic EIS 3 - 1 Game Bird Farm and Shooting Preserve Programs FINAL PROGRAMMATIC ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT December 2001 Final PEIS Game Bird Farm and Shooting Preserve Programmatic EIS 3 - 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS Page CHAPTER 1 - INTRODUCTION ......................................................................................................................1-1 BACKGROUND FOR PROGRAMMATIC EIS ...................................................................................1-1 PURPOSE AND NEED .......................................................................................................................1-2 ROLE OF FWP AND OTHER GOVERNMENT AGENCIES.............................................................1-2 PUBLIC SCOPING..............................................................................................................................1-3 Issues Raised During Scoping Period...................................................................................1-3 Wildlife ......................................................................................................................1-3 Vegetation.................................................................................................................1-3 Noise.........................................................................................................................1-3 Socioeconomic .........................................................................................................1-3 PUBLIC COMMENTS ON THE DRAFT PEIS ...................................................................................1-4 CHAPTER 2 - DESCRIPTION OF EXISTING PROGRAM ............................................................................2-1 INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................................................2-1 EXISTING REGULATIONS ................................................................................................................2-1 Game Bird Farms...................................................................................................................2-1 Shooting Preserves................................................................................................................2-2 Other MFWP Game Bird Programs ......................................................................................2-5 Permit to Release Ring-Necked Pheasants............................................................2-5 Permits for Field Trials or Dog Training...................................................................2-5 Upland Game Bird Enhancement Program.............................................................2-6 Avicultural Permits....................................................................................................2-6 Program Alternatives .............................................................................................................2-6 Alternative A, the No Action Alternative...................................................................2-7 Alternative B .............................................................................................................2-7 Alternative C .............................................................................................................2-7 Alternative D .............................................................................................................2-7 CHAPTER 3 - AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT ..................................................................................................3-1 INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................................................3-1 WATER RESOURCES .......................................................................................................................3-1 Surface Water ........................................................................................................................3-1 Groundwater ..........................................................................................................................3-2 SOIL .....................................................................................................................................................3-2 Great Plains Physiographic Province....................................................................................3-3 Central Rocky Mountain Physiographic Province.................................................................3-3 Northern Rocky Mountain Physiographic Province ..............................................................3-3 VEGETATION......................................................................................................................................3-3 Riparian Areas and Wetlands................................................................................................3-4 Upland Vegetation .................................................................................................................3-4 Noxious Weeds......................................................................................................................3-5 Plant Species of Special Concern.........................................................................................3-5 WILDLIFE AND FISHERIES RESOURCES ......................................................................................3-5 Diseases.................................................................................................................................3-7 Game Bird Stocking...............................................................................................................3-8 Interspecies Competition and Hybridization..........................................................................3-9 Predation ..............................................................................................................................3-10 Genetic Dilution and Natural Selection ...............................................................................3-10 THREATENED AND ENDANGERED SPECIES.............................................................................3-10 RECREATION ...................................................................................................................................3-10 NOISE ................................................................................................................................................3-11 Final PEIS Game Bird Farm and Shooting Preserve Programmatic EIS 3 - 3 TABLE OF CONTENTS (continued) Page ACCESS AND LAND USE................................................................................................................3-12 SOCIOECONOMIC CONDITIONS...................................................................................................3-13 Population and Demographics..........................................................................................................3-13 Employment and Income.....................................................................................................3-14 Community Services............................................................................................................3-14 Government and Public Finance.........................................................................................3-14 Housing ................................................................................................................................3-15 Social Well-being .................................................................................................................3-15 Upland Game Bird Farms and Shooting Preserves ...........................................................3-15 CHAPTER 4 – PROGRAM ALTERNATIVES.................................................................................................4-1 ALTERNATIVE A: NO ACTION ALTERNATIVE ...............................................................................4-1 ALTERNATIVE B: CATEGORICAL EXCLUSION FROM MEPA REVIEW......................................4-1 ALTERNATIVE C: CATEGORICAL EXCLUSIONS FROM MEPA REVIEW WITH REQUIRED MITIGATION MEASURES .....................................................................4-1 Mitigation Measure C-1..........................................................................................................4-2 Mitigation Measure C-2..........................................................................................................4-2 Mitigation C-3 .........................................................................................................................4-3 Mitigation Measure C-3a .............................................................................................4-3 Mitigation Measure C-3b .............................................................................................4-3 Mitigation Measure C-3c..............................................................................................4-3 Mitigation Measure C-4..........................................................................................................4-4 ALTERNATIVE D: GAME BIRD REGULATORY PROGRAM CHANGES.......................................4-4 D-1: Increase License Fees...................................................................................................4-4 Mitigation Measure D-1a .............................................................................................4-4