United States Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management DOI-BLM-ID-T010-2019-0006-EA Final Saylor Creek Herd Management Area Wild Horse Gather Plan Environmental Assessment U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management Twin Falls District Jarbidge Field Office 2878 Addison Ave E. Twin Falls, ID 83301 Phone: (208) 736-2350 FAX: (208) 736-2375 1.0 Purpose and Need for Action ............................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................................ 1 1.2 Background ......................................................................................................................................... 1 1.3 Purpose and Need for Action .............................................................................................................. 1 1.4 Decision to be Made ........................................................................................................................... 1 1.5 Conformance with Applicable Land Use Plan ................................................................................... 1 1.6 Relationship to Statutes, Regulations or Other Plans ......................................................................... 1 1.7 Scoping, Public Involvement, and Issues ........................................................................................... 2 2.0 Description of the Alternatives ............................................................................................................ 3 2.1 Alternative 1: No Action .................................................................................................................... 3 2.2 Alternative 2: Proposed Action .......................................................................................................... 3 2.3 Alternative 3 ....................................................................................................................................... 5 2.4 Alternatives Considered But Eliminated From Detailed Study .......................................................... 6 Gather By Horseback Only .................................................................................................................. 6 Remove or Reduce Domestic Livestock within the HMA ................................................................... 6 Manage the HMA as a non-reproducing herd ...................................................................................... 6 Manage the HMA with an AML of 50-200 ......................................................................................... 6 Fertility Control Treatment Only (No Removal) ................................................................................. 6 3.0 Affected Environment and Environmental Effects ............................................................................ 7 3.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................................ 7 3.2 Wild Horses ........................................................................................................................................ 7 3.2.1 Affected Environment ................................................................................................................. 7 3.2.2 Alternative 1 – No Action ........................................................................................................... 9 Direct and Indirect Effects ............................................................................................................... 9 3.2.3 Alternative 2 - Proposed Action ................................................................................................ 10 Direct and Indirect Effects ............................................................................................................. 10 3.2.4 Alternative 3 .................................................................................................................................. 10 Direct and Indirect Effects ............................................................................................................. 10 3.2.5 Management Actions Common to Alternative 2 and Alternative 3 .............................................. 11 3.3 Livestock Grazing Management ....................................................................................................... 17 3.3.1 Affected Environment ............................................................................................................... 17 3.3.2 Alternative 1 - No Action .......................................................................................................... 19 Direct and Indirect Effects ............................................................................................................. 19 3.3.3 Alternative 2 - Proposed Action ................................................................................................ 19 Direct and Indirect Effects ............................................................................................................. 19 3.3.4 Alternative 3 .............................................................................................................................. 19 Direct and Indirect Effects ............................................................................................................. 19 3.4 Noxious Weeds and Invasive Plants ................................................................................................. 19 3.4.1 Affected Environment ............................................................................................................... 19 3.4.2 Alternative 1 - No Action .......................................................................................................... 20 Direct and Indirect Effects ............................................................................................................. 20 3.4.3 Alternative 2 - Proposed Action ................................................................................................ 20 Direct and Indirect Effects ............................................................................................................. 20 3.4.4 Alternative 3 .............................................................................................................................. 21 Direct and Indirect Effects ............................................................................................................. 21 3.5 Recreation ......................................................................................................................................... 21 3.5.1 Affected Environment ............................................................................................................... 21 3.5.2 Alternative 1 - No Action .......................................................................................................... 21 Direct and Indirect Effects ............................................................................................................. 21 3.5.3 Alternative 2 - Proposed Action ................................................................................................ 22 i Direct and Indirect Effects ............................................................................................................. 22 3.5.4 Alternative 3 .............................................................................................................................. 22 Direct and Indirect Effects ............................................................................................................. 22 3.6 Vegetation ......................................................................................................................................... 22 3.6.1 Affected Environment ............................................................................................................... 22 3.6.2 Alternative 1 - No Action .......................................................................................................... 23 Direct and Indirect Effects ............................................................................................................. 23 3.6.3 Alternative 2 - Proposed Action ................................................................................................ 23 Direct and Indirect Effects ............................................................................................................. 24 3.6.4 Alternative 3 .............................................................................................................................. 24 Direct and Indirect Effects ............................................................................................................. 24 3.7 Wildlife (Other than BLM Special Status Species) .......................................................................... 24 3.7.1 Affected Environment ............................................................................................................... 24 3.7.2 Alternative 1 - No Action .......................................................................................................... 24 Direct and Indirect Effects ............................................................................................................. 25 3.7.3 Alternative 2