Environmental Assessment Blue Buck Hawkweed Project United States Environmental Assessment Department of Agriculture Forest Blue Buck Hawkweed Project Service July 2008 Methow Valley Ranger District Okanogan and Wenatchee National Forest Okanogan County, Washington For Information Contact: John Newcom District Ranger 24 West Chewuch Winthrop, WA. 98862 Phone: (509)996-4003 Environmental Assessment Blue Buck Hawkweed Project The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or part of an individual’s income is derived from any public assistance. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) 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Environmental Assessment Blue Buck Hawkweed Project Table of Contents Summary…..............................................................................................S Chapter 1 Introduction………………………………………………………………….1-1 Document Structure………………………………………………………..1-1 Background…………………………………………………………………1-1 Purpose and Need for Action…………………………………………......1-4 Proposed Action…………………………………………………………….1-5 Public Involvement…………………………………………………………1-6 Issues………………………………………………………………………..1-6 Chapter 2 Alternatives, including the Proposed Action…………………………..2-1 Alternatives………………………………………………………………...2-1 Mitigation Common to All Alternatives…………………………………..2-2 Comparison of Alternatives……………………………………………….2-5 Chapter 3 Environmental Consequences…………………………………………….3-1 Invasive Plants……………………………….…………………….………3-2 Terrestrial Wildlife………………………………………………….……...3-10 Botany………………………………………………………………………3-25 Hydrology…………………………………………………………….…….3-34 Soils…………………………………………………………………….…..3-43 Range Management……………………………………………………...3-50 Aquatic Resources…………………………………………………….….3-56 Human Health………………………………………………………….….3-69 Other Required Disclosures……………………………………………. 3-70 Chapter 4 Consultation and Coordination……..…………………………………….4-1 Environmental Assessment Blue Buck Hawkweed Project List of Figures and Appendices Figures Page Number Figure 2-1. Comparison of Alternatives 2-7 Figure 3.0-1 Established, new and potential invaders found within or adjacent to the Blue Buck Hawkweed project area. 3-2 Figure 3.0-2 Existing invasive plant characteristics. 3-3 Figure 3.0-3 Amounts of herbicide application over a 10 year period. 3-8 Figure 3.2-1 List of sensitive species in special areas at potential risk from orange hawkweed invasion. 3-30 Figure 3.3-1 Concentration levels when sprayed 10 ft from stream. 3-37 Figure 3.3-2 Concentration levels when sprayed 50 ft from stream. 3-38 Figure 3.3-1 Concentration levels when sprayed 100 ft from stream. 3-38 Figure 3.3-2 Concentration levels when sprayed 1 ft from stream. 3-39 Figure 3.3-5 Saturated soil water movement by soil hydraulic conductivity and slope gradient. 3-40 Figure 3.4-1 General research findings of pertinent herbicide characteristics relating to soils. 3-48 Figure 3.5-1 Volstead pasture acres within the Tripod Fire. 3-51 Figure 3.6-1 Sensitive fish distribution in project area. 3-61 Figure 3.6-2 Comparison of surface fine sediment data in Beaver Creek and Blue Buck Creek 2007 vs. 2004. 3-62 Appendices Appendix A References Appendix B Spill Plan Appendix C Project Maps Appendix D Plant List Environmental Assessment Blue Buck Hawkweed Project SUMMARY The Okanogan and Wenatchee National Forest proposes to treat a population of orange hawkweed (Hieracium aurantiacum) by implementing an integrated weed management approach and early detection and rapid response (EDRR). The project includes the use of chemical herbicides applied by back pack pumps and monitoring of treated sites. The project area is located in the Blue Buck, Beaver and the southern portion of the Boulder Creek drainages east of Winthrop and is located on the Methow Valley Ranger District, Okanogan and Wenatchee National Forest, Washington. This action is needed because the proposed treatment area is not currently covered in a Forest wide invasive species planning document that allows treating invasive species with the use of herbicides. A Forest wide noxious weed document is expected to be completed in 2009. The proposed action is designed to control the populations of orange hawkweed in the Blue Buck Creek drainage and lead to eventual eradication. The treatments may restore and retain healthy plant communities, biodiversity and overall ecosystem integrity. Potential effects on TES plant, wildlife, fish, and other resources would be mitigated by applying mitigation measures (see Mitigation Measures Common to All Alternatives in Chapter 2). Potential effects on human health from herbicides would also be mitigated by following mitigation measures in Chapter 2. In addition to the proposed action, the Forest Service also evaluated the following alternatives: Alternative 1: No Action, orange hawkweed continues to spread by rhizomes, stolons and seeds into suitable habitats in the analysis area and beyond (See Vicinity Map in Appendix C). Alternative 2: Proposed Action, treat upland sites by spot spraying with picloram (Tordon) or clopyralid (Transline). Sites within 15 feet of water would be treated by hand-wicking the aquatic formulation of glyphosate (Rodeo). Orange hawkweed sites that occur outside the 15 foot buffer and out to the RHCA boundary would be treated with clopyralid by hand spraying with a backpack sprayer. As part of an integrated weed management approach, geotextile cloth would also be used in suitable and appropriate sites (a monoculture of orange hawkweed at least 100 sq ft in area, relatively flat and no obstructions). The proposed action would prevent spread, reduce sites and eventually eradicate the weed in the analysis area. Proposed acres to be treated include 11 acres of existing orange hawkweed plus up to 25% more for any new detections within the project area. The actual size of the total project area is about 13,836 acres (See Proposed Action Project Area Map in Appendix C). Alternative 3. Manual removal of flower heads and the use of geotextile cloth in appropriate areas; no use of herbicides, reduces seed production for the year but stimulates stolon growth, so reduces potential for new adjacent sites from seed dispersal but enlarges existing sites. Geotextile cloth would reduce spread, seed production and seed dispersal when used in suitable areas. Proposed acres to be treated include 11 acres of existing orange hawkweed plus up to 25% more for any new detections (See Vicinity Map in Appendix C). Based upon the effects of the alternatives, the responsible official will decide whether or not to implement weed treatment activities, modify weed treatment activities and if weed treatments are chosen, what mitigation and monitoring measures are needed. Environmental Assessment Blue Buck Hawkweed Project CHAPTER 1 Purpose and Need INTRODUCTION Document Structure _______________________________ The Forest Service has prepared this Environmental Assessment in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and other relevant Federal and State laws and regulations. The document is organized into four Chapters and Appendices: Summary Chapter 1. Purpose and Need for Action: This section includes information on the history of the project proposal, the purpose of and need for the project, and the agency’s proposal for achieving that purpose and need. This section also details how the Forest Service informed the public of the proposal and how the public responded. Chapter 2. Alternatives, including the Proposed Action: This section provides a more detailed description of the agency’s proposed action as well as alternative methods for achieving the stated purpose. These alternatives were developed based on significant issues raised by the public and other agencies. This discussion also includes mitigation measures. Finally, this section provides a summary table of the environmental consequences associated with each alternative. Chapter 3. Environmental Consequences: This section displays the expected effects to the environment that would occur with the implementation of alternatives presented in Chapter 2. The scientific and analytical basis for the alternative comparison at the end of Chapter 2 is presented here. Chapter 4. Consultation and Coordination: A list of the other agencies and organizations that were consulted on the project, as well as a list of the interdisciplinary team members. Appendices: The appendices provide more detailed information to support the analyses presented in the environmental assessment. Background______________________________________ The Methow Valley Ranger District on the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest contains a population of orange hawkweed (Hieracium aurantiacum) in the Blue Buck Creek drainage east of Winthrop, Okanogan County, WA. Washington State