North Red Mountain Forest Health and Fuels Reduction EA # DOI-BLM-CA-N030-2020-0015-EA U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Arcata Field Office Arcata, CA Prepared By: _____________________________________ ___/___/___ Marissa Vossmer, Forest Ecologist Prepared By: _____________________________________ ___/___/___ Alex Miyagishima, Prescribed Fire and Fuels Specialist Reviewed By: _____________________________________ ___/___/___ Dave Fuller, Planning and Environmental Coordinator _____________________________________ ___/___/___ Dan Wooden, Assistant Field Manager Contents 1. Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 6 Background and Setting .................................................................................................. 6 Purpose and Need for Action and Decision to be Made ................................................. 6 Purpose and Need for Action ...................................................................................... 6 Decision to be Made ................................................................................................... 6 Conformance with Land Use Plan .................................................................................. 7 Relationship to Statutes, Regulations or Other Plans ..................................................... 7 Scoping and Issues .......................................................................................................... 8 2. Proposed Action and Alternatives .................................................................................. 8 Proposed Action .............................................................................................................. 8 Vegetation and Forest Management ........................................................................... 8 Project Design Features .................................................................................................. 9 Specific Management Actions .................................................................................... 9 Alternative 1 (No Action) ............................................................................................. 13 Vegetation Management (Including Forest Management) ....................................... 13 Fire Management ...................................................................................................... 13 3. Affected Environment ................................................................................................... 13 Wildlife including Threatened and Endangered Species .............................................. 13 Fish and Essential Fish Habitat ..................................................................................... 15 Riparian ......................................................................................................................... 15 Water Quality ................................................................................................................ 15 Forest Management ....................................................................................................... 16 Fire and Fuels Management .......................................................................................... 16 Soils and Geology ......................................................................................................... 17 Vegetation including Threatened and Endangered Plants ............................................ 18 Recreation ..................................................................................................................... 22 Visual Resources ........................................................................................................... 22 Cultural Resources ........................................................................................................ 23 Native American Concerns ........................................................................................... 25 4. Environmental Effects – Direct, Indirect and Cumulative............................................ 26 Proposed Action ............................................................................................................ 26 Terrestrial Wildlife.................................................................................................... 26 Threatened or Endangered Wildlife .......................................................................... 27 2 Fish, Water Quality, and Riparian Resources ........................................................... 27 Forest Management ................................................................................................... 27 Fire and Fuels Management, including Air Quality ................................................. 28 Vegetation ................................................................................................................. 30 Recreation & Visual Resources ................................................................................ 31 Cultural Resources and Native American Religious Concerns ................................ 31 Cumulative Effects of Proposed Action ....................................................................... 32 Terrestrial Wildlife.................................................................................................... 32 Threatened or Endangered Wildlife .......................................................................... 32 Fish, Water Quality, and Riparian Resources ........................................................... 33 Forest Management ................................................................................................... 33 Fire and Fuels Management, including Air Quality ................................................. 34 Soils and Geology ..................................................................................................... 34 Vegetation ................................................................................................................. 35 Recreation ................................................................................................................. 35 Visual Resources ....................................................................................................... 35 Cultural Resources .................................................................................................... 36 Native American Religious Concerns ....................................................................... 36 No Action Alternative ................................................................................................... 36 Terrestrial Wildlife.................................................................................................... 36 Threatened or Endangered Wildlife .......................................................................... 36 Fish, Water Quality, and Riparian Resources ........................................................... 36 Forest Management ................................................................................................... 37 Fire and Fuels Management, including Air Quality ................................................. 37 Soils and Geology ..................................................................................................... 37 Vegetation ................................................................................................................. 37 Recreation and Visual Resources .............................................................................. 37 Cultural Resources .................................................................................................... 38 Native American Religious Concerns ....................................................................... 38 Cumulative Effects of No Action ................................................................................. 38 Terrestrial Wildlife.................................................................................................... 38 Threatened or Endangered Wildlife .......................................................................... 38 Fish, Water Quality, and Riparian Resources ........................................................... 38 Forest Management ................................................................................................... 39 3 Fire and Fuels Management, including Air Quality ................................................. 39 Soils and Geology ..................................................................................................... 40 Vegetation ................................................................................................................. 40 Recreation ................................................................................................................. 40 Visual Resources ....................................................................................................... 40 Cultural Resources .................................................................................................... 40 5.0 Tribes, Individuals, Organizations and Agencies Consulted ...................................... 41 6.0 References ................................................................................................................... 42 7.0 Appendices .................................................................................................................