BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT VALE DISTRICT OFFICE 100 OREGON STREET VALE, OREGON 97918 Mormon Basin / Pedro Mountain Fuels Management Project ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT DOI-BLM-OR-V000-2009-004-EA January 2015 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1 INTRODUCTION .............................................................................................................................................. 1 1.1 SUMMARY ........................................................................................................................................................ 1 1.2 PROJECT AREA DESCRIPTION AND LOCATION ................................................................................................. 3 1.3 PURPOSE AND NEED FOR ACTION ................................................................................................................... 3 1.4 CONFORMANCE WITH APPLICABLE LAND USE PLANS ..................................................................................... 5 1.5 DECISION TO BE MADE.................................................................................................................................... 6 1.6 IDENTIFICATION OF ISSUES FOR ANALYSIS ...................................................................................................... 6 1.7 ISSUES CONSIDERED BUT NOT ANALYZED FURTHER ...................................................................................... 7 2 ALTERNATIVES INCLUDING THE PROPOSED ACTION ..................................................................... 8 2.1 ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED BUT ELIMINATED FROM DETAILED ANALYSIS .................................................. 8 2.2 ALTERNATIVE 1: NO ACTION ALTERNATIVE ................................................................................................... 8 2.3 ALTERNATIVE 2: THE PROPOSED ACTION ....................................................................................................... 9 2.3.1 Summary ................................................................................................................................................ 9 2.3.2 Treatment Descriptions .......................................................................................................................... 9 2.3.3 Broadcast Application of Herbicide for Annual Grass Control .......................................................... 13 2.3.4 Connected Action: Construction of Temporary Roads and Improvement of Existing Roads ............. 20 2.4 ALTERNATIVE 3: LOW IMPACT FUELS REDUCTION AND RESTORATION ........................................................ 21 2.5 PROJECT DESIGN ELEMENTS .......................................................................................................................... 23 3 AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT ...................................................................................................................... 26 3.1 AIR QUALITY ................................................................................................................................................. 27 3.2 WATER QUALITY/WETLANDS RIPARIAN........................................................................................................ 28 3.3 SOILS ............................................................................................................................................................. 30 3.4 FISH AND WILDLIFE ....................................................................................................................................... 31 3.4.1 Greater Sage-Grouse ........................................................................................................................... 31 3.4.2 Eagles (bald and golden) ..................................................................................................................... 32 3.4.3 Bats ...................................................................................................................................................... 33 3.4.4 Deer and elk ......................................................................................................................................... 34 3.4.5 Northern goshawk ................................................................................................................................ 34 3.4.6 Neotropical Migratory Birds ............................................................................................................... 34 3.4.7 Fisheries .............................................................................................................................................. 35 3.5 VEGETATION .................................................................................................................................................. 36 3.5.1 Non-Forest Vegetation ......................................................................................................................... 36 3.5.2 Noxious Weeds ..................................................................................................................................... 38 3.5.3 Special Status Plants ............................................................................................................................ 39 3.5.4 Forest and Woodland Vegetation ........................................................................................................ 42 3.6 CULTURAL RESOURCES.................................................................................................................................. 45 3.7 GRAZING MANAGEMENT ............................................................................................................................... 47 3.8 FIRE MANAGEMENT ....................................................................................................................................... 48 3.9 VISUAL RESOURCES ....................................................................................................................................... 51 3.10 RECREATION .................................................................................................................................................. 52 3.11 SOCIOECONOMICS .......................................................................................................................................... 52 3.12 CLIMATE CHANGE ......................................................................................................................................... 53 4 ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS .................................................................................................................... 54 4.1 AIR QUALITY ................................................................................................................................................. 55 4.2 WATER QUALITY / WETLANDS RIPARIAN ...................................................................................................... 56 4.3 SOILS ............................................................................................................................................................. 59 4.4 FISH AND WILDLIFE ....................................................................................................................................... 61 4.4.1 Fisheries .............................................................................................................................................. 61 4.4.2 Terrestrial and Avian Wildlife ............................................................................................................. 62 i 4.5 VEGETATION .................................................................................................................................................. 68 4.5.1 Non-Forest Vegetation ......................................................................................................................... 68 4.5.2 Noxious Weeds ..................................................................................................................................... 71 4.5.3 Special Status Plants ............................................................................................................................ 72 4.5.4 Forest and Woodland Vegetation ........................................................................................................ 74 4.6 CULTURAL RESOURCES.................................................................................................................................. 76 4.7 GRAZING MANAGEMENT ............................................................................................................................... 77 4.8 FIRE MANAGEMENT ....................................................................................................................................... 78 4.9 VISUAL RESOURCES ....................................................................................................................................... 79 4.10 RECREATION .................................................................................................................................................. 80 4.11 SOCIOECONOMICS .......................................................................................................................................... 81 4.12 CLIMATE CHANGE ......................................................................................................................................... 81 5 CUMULATIVE EFFECTS ............................................................................................................................