Environmental United States Assessment Department of Agriculture Forest Service Rogue River – Siskiyou National Forest Chetco River – Scenic segment near Tolman Ranch November 2012 Chetco Wild and Scenic River Mineral Withdrawal Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest Gold Beach Ranger District – Gold Beach, Curry County, Oregon United COOPERATING AGENCY: States Bureau of Land Management Department of the Coos Bay District – North Bend, Coos County, Oregon Interior Bureau of Land Management Coos Bay District For Further Information Contact: Gary Einck, Realty Specialist Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest 3040 Biddle Road Medford, OR 97504 (541) 618-2037 Project Website: http://www.fs.fed.us/nepa/fs-usda-pop.php/?project=39161 Chetco Wild and Scenic River Mineral Withdrawal Environmental Assessment The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, or marital or family status. (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 USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 14th and Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (202) 720-5964 (voice and TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. ii Chetco Wild and Scenic River Mineral Withdrawal Environmental Assessment Map of proposed withdrawal ......................................................................................... vi Summary ....................................................................................................................... vii Chapter 1 - ...... Introduction: Purpose and Need for Action ...................................... 1-1 1.1 Document Structure .............................................................................................................. 1-1 1.2 Background ........................................................................................................................... 1-2 1.3 Purpose and Need for Action ................................................................................................ 1-3 1.4 Management Direction ......................................................................................................... 1-3 1.4.1 Decision Framework ........................................................................................................ 1-5 1.5 Proposed Action.................................................................................................................... 1-6 1.6 Decision to be Made ............................................................................................................. 1-7 1.7 Public Involvement (Scoping) .............................................................................................. 1-7 1.8 Issues .................................................................................................................................... 1-7 Chapter 2 - ...... Alternatives .......................................................................................... 2-1 2.1 Introduction .......................................................................................................................... 2-1 2.2 Alternatives ........................................................................................................................... 2-1 2.2.1 Alternative 1 (No Action) ....................................................................................................... 2-1 Connected Actions – Alternative 1 (No Action) ............................................................................. 2-2 2.2.2 Alternative 2 (Proposed Action) ............................................................................................. 2-3 Connected Actions – Alternative 2 (Proposed Action) ................................................................... 2-3 2.2.3 Mitigation Common to All Alternatives ................................................................................ 2-4 2.3 Alternatives Not Considered in Detail .................................................................................. 2-4 2.4 Comparison of Alternatives .................................................................................................. 2-5 Chapter 3 - ...... Affected Environment & Environmental Consequences ................... 3-1 3.1 Introduction and Affected Users ........................................................................................... 3-1 3.2 Minerals and Mining ............................................................................................................. 3-2 3.2.1 Affected Environment – Minerals and Mining ..................................................................... 3-2 3.2.2 Effects on Minerals and Mining ............................................................................................ 3-4 3.3 Hydrology and Water Quality .............................................................................................. 3-6 3.3.1 Affected Environment – Hydrology and Water Quality ....................................................... 3-6 3.3.2 Effects on Hydrology and Water Quality ............................................................................ 3-10 3.4 Fish and Aquatic Biota ....................................................................................................... 3-11 3.4.1 Affected Environment – Fish .............................................................................................. 3-12 3.4.2 Effects on Fish ..................................................................................................................... 3-14 3.5 Recreation ........................................................................................................................... 3-16 3.5.1 Affected Environment – Recreation .................................................................................... 3-16 3.5.2 Effects on Recreation ......................................................................................................... 3-21 3.6 Wild and Scenic Rivers ...................................................................................................... 3-22 3.6.1 Affected Environment – Wild and Scenic Rivers ............................................................... 3-23 3.6.2 Effects on Wild and Scenic Rivers ...................................................................................... 3-24 3.7 Wildlife ............................................................................................................................... 3-25 3.7.1 Affected Environment – Threatened Wildlife .................................................................... 3-27 3.7.2 Effects on Threatened Wildlife ........................................................................................... 3-27 3.7.3 Affected Environment – Other Wildlife Species of Concern .............................................. 3-28 3.7.4 Effects on Other Wildlife Species of Concern .................................................................... 3-30 3.8 Botanical Resources and Invasive Plants ............................................................................ 3-32 3.8.1 Affected Environment - Botanical Resources and Invasive Plants ..................................... 3-33 3.8.2 Effects on Botanical Resources and Invasive Plants ........................................................... 3-34 3.9 Roadless and Undeveloped Areas....................................................................................... 3-36 3.9.1 Affected Environment – Roadless & Undeveloped ............................................................ 3-37 3.9.2 Effects on Roadless & Undeveloped ................................................................................... 3-37 iii Chetco Wild and Scenic River Mineral Withdrawal Environmental Assessment 3.10 Heritage ............................................................................................................................ 3-37 3.10.1 Affected Environment – Heritage ..................................................................................... 3-38 3.10.2 Effects on Heritage Resources .......................................................................................... 3-39 3.11 Cumulative Effects – All Resources ................................................................................. 3-41 3.11.1 Affected Environment - Cumulative ................................................................................. 3-41 3.11.2 Environmental Effects - Cumulative ................................................................................. 3-42 3.12 Other Required Disclosures .............................................................................................. 3-43 Chapter 4 - ...... Consultation and Coordination ........................................................... 4-1 Chapter 5 - ...... References ........................................................................................... 5-1 Appendix A – Chetco River Protection Act of 2011 Appendix B – Notice of application for withdrawal Appendix C – Map of existing withdrawals and active and voided mining claims Appendix