Carson City District City Carson FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT , Carson City District Nevada Drought Management DOI-BLM-NV-C000-2013-0001-EA U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management Carson City District 5665 Morgan Mill Road Carson City, NV 89701 775-885-6000 June, 2013 i CARSON CITY DISTRICT DROUGHT MANAGEMENT ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT DOI-BLM-NV-C000-2013-0001-EA It is the mission of the Bureau of Land Management to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of the public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations. DOI-BLM-NV-C000-2013-0001-EA The photo on the cover was taken August 27, 2012 in the Antelope Valley Allotment during BLM Drought Monitoring. ii CARSON CITY DISTRICT DROUGHT MANAGEMENT ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT DOI-BLM-NV-C000-2013-0001-EA TABLE OF CONTENTS ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS .............................................................................................. iv 1.0 INTRODUCTION/PURPOSE AND NEED ................................................................................ 1 1.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Purpose and Need...................................................................................................................... 2 1.3 Land Use Plan Conformance .................................................................................................... 2 1.4 Relationships to Statutes, Regulations, Policy, And Other Plans and Environmental Analyses ........................................................................................................................................... 2 1.5 Scoping And Issue Identification .............................................................................................. 3 2.0 PROPOSED ACTION AND ALTERNATIVES ......................................................................... 4 2.1 Proposed Action ........................................................................................................................ 4 2.2 Alternatives ............................................................................................................................. 17 2.3 Alternatives Considered But Eliminated From Detailed Analysis .......................................... 17 3.0 AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES ................. 19 3.1 Supplemental Authorities ........................................................................................................ 19 3.2 Resources or Uses Other Than Supplemental Authorities ...................................................... 21 3.3 Resources Present and Brought Forward For Analysis (All Resources)................................. 22 3.3.1 Air Quality ....................................................................................................................... 22 3.3.2 Wildlife (Including Special Status Species and Migratory Birds) ..................................... 24 3.3.3 Cultural/Historical Resources .......................................................................................... 31 3.3.4 Native American Religious Concerns .............................................................................. 32 3.3.5 Noxious Weeds/Invasive Non-native Species ................................................................. 35 3.3.6 Wetlands/Riparian Zones ................................................................................................ 38 3.3.7 Water Quality .................................................................................................................. 41 3.3.8 Grazing Management ...................................................................................................... 43 3.3.9 Land Use Authorizations ................................................................................................. 44 3.3.10 Recreation ....................................................................................................................... 46 3.3.11 Socio-Economic Values ................................................................................................... 47 3.3.12 Soils ................................................................................................................................. 58 3.3.13 Vegetation (Including Special Status Species) ............................................................... 61 3.3.14 Wild Horses and Burros .................................................................................................. 68 3.3.15 Special Designations ....................................................................................................... 86 4.0 CUMULATIVE EFFECTS ......................................................................................................... 90 4.1 Past, Present and Reasonably Foreseeable Future Actions ..................................................... 90 i CARSON CITY DISTRICT DROUGHT MANAGEMENT ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT DOI-BLM-NV-C000-2013-0001-EA 4.2 Effect of Past, Present and Reasonably Foreseeable Future Actions ...................................... 90 4.2.1 Air Quality ....................................................................................................................... 90 4.2.2 Wildlife (Including Special Status Species and Migratory Birds) ..................................... 91 4.2.3 Cultural/Historical Resources .......................................................................................... 92 4.2.4 Native American Religious Concerns .............................................................................. 92 4.2.5 Noxious Weeds/Invasive Non-native Species ................................................................. 93 4.2.6 Riparian Areas and Wetland Zones ................................................................................. 94 4.2.7 Water Quality .................................................................................................................. 94 4.2.8 Grazing Management ...................................................................................................... 95 4.2.9 Land Use Authorizations ................................................................................................. 96 4.2.10 Recreation ....................................................................................................................... 96 4.2.11 Socio-Economic Values ................................................................................................... 97 4.2.12 Soils ................................................................................................................................ 98 4.2.13 Vegetation (Including Special Status Species) ................................................................ 99 4.2.14 Wild Horses and Burros ................................................................................................ 100 4.2.15 Special Designations ..................................................................................................... 103 5.0 PERSONS, GROUPS, AND AGENCIES CONSULTED ...................................................... 105 5.1 LIST OF PREPARERS ......................................................................................................... 105 6.0 REFERENCES ........................................................................................................................... 106 7.0 APPENDICES ................................................................................................................................... 1 APPENDIX 1 – MAPS ............................................................................................................................ 2 Map 1 – Carson City District ............................................................................................................ 2 Map 2 – Carson City District Sierra Front Field Office ..................................................................... 3 Map 3 – Carson City District Stillwater Field Office ......................................................................... 4 Map 4 – Sierra Front Field Office 2012/2013 Temporary Water Haul Locations ............................ 5 Map 5 –Carson City District Herd Management Areas .................................................................... 6 Map 6 –Carson City District Sierra Front Field Office Range Allotments ......................................... 7 Map 7 –Carson City District Sierra Front Field Office Range Allotments ......................................... 8 APPENDIX 2– Carson City District Drought Detection and Monitoring Plan ....................................... 9 APPENDIX 3 – Carson City District Drought Management Plan ........................................................... 1 APPENDIX 4 – Carson City District Sample Drought Gather Plan ........................................................ 1 APPENDIX 5 – Range Utilization Monitoring Form .............................................................................. 1 APPENDIX 6 – Carson City District 2012 Drought Monitoring Photographs ....................................... 1 APPENDIX 7 – Response to Comments .................................................................................................... 1 ii CARSON CITY DISTRICT DROUGHT MANAGEMENT ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT DOI-BLM-NV-C000-2013-0001-EA LIST OF TABLES Table 1 Supplemental Authorities………………………………………………….……..20