Environmental Assessment United States Department of Agriculture For Forest Service Malheur River Range Aquatics Project Malheur National Forest Service Prairie City June 2013 Ranger District Responsible Official: For Further Information: Teresa Raaf Randy Gould Forest Supervisor District Ranger Malheur National Forest 237 SW Front Street Prairie City, OR 97869 (541) 820-3800 [email protected] Chapter 1 Page 1 Chapter I - Purpose of and Need for Action Introduction The Prairie City Ranger District is proposing the Malheur River Range Aquatics Project to improve livestock management in the Dollar Basin and Star Glade grazing allotments while also maintaining or enhancing the outstandingly remarkable values of the Malheur Wild and Scenic River and improving conditions for bull trout and their habitat. Portions of these projects are located within the Malheur Wild and Scenic River Corridor. All projects are located within the Malheur River subbasin. Malheur Forest Plan This Environmental Assessment (EA) tiers to the Environmental Impact Statement for the Malheur Land and Resource Management Plan (1990) and incorporates by reference the accompanying Land and Resource Plan, as amended. A Decision Notice (DN) was signed on August 7, 1992 designating a management strategy for the Malheur Wild and Scenic River, amending the Malheur Forest Plan (Forest Plan Amendment #14), and establishing a new Management Area, MA 22b-Wild and Scenic River- Malheur River. The goals of MA 22b are to protect and enhance the scenic, geologic, wildlife habitat and historic values of the river corridor. Preserve the free-flowing conditions of the river. Provide facilities for recreation use and access which do not detract from the planned recreation opportunity settings. Provide for improvements in water quality and native fish habitat. The proposed projects occur in four Forest Plan Management Areas: • MA 1&2 – Timber and Rangeland • MA 3A – Non-Anadromous Riparian Areas • MA 14 – Visual Corridor • MA 22B – Wild and Scenic River Purpose of and Need for Action The purposes of the proposed action are to: • Improve livestock distribution within the Dollar unit of the Dollar Basin allotment and South Star Glade unit of the Star Glade allotment by providing adequate livestock water sources. • Improve resource conditions for bull trout and critical bull trout habitat in the Malheur River. Specific objectives are to improve riparian hardwood composition (willow and alder) and increase riparian vegetation bank cover to enhance stream shade, water temperature, and streambank stability. • Provide for enhancement of outstanding remarkable scenic, historic, geology, and wildlife habitat values in the Malheur Wild and Scenic River Corridor. Chapter 1 Page 2 Livestock Distribution and Water Sources Within specific units of the Dollar Basin and Star Glade Allotments livestock tend to gravitate to the Malheur River due to limited water in the uplands. There is a need to provide alternative water sources in the upland areas to ease livestock herding needs by the grazing permit holder and improve livestock distribution. The Malheur National Forest Plan gives direction to design and implement structural and nonstructural range improvements to maintain productivity and range condition in addition to benefiting both wildlife and livestock. Locate range structural and nonstructural improvements to encourage livestock movement away from riparian areas (VI-35, #88). Bull Trout and their Critical Habitat In 2012 a Proper Functioning Assessment (PFC) was conducted on the Malheur Wild and Scenic River Corridor and the section of river within the Dollar unit of the Dollar Basin Allotment. The assessment identified a need to continue to increase the riparian vegetation cover, specifically willows and alder, to protect stream banks and dissipate energy during high flows. To increase riparian vegetation, there is a need to reduce livestock utilization of this vegetation to accelerate recovery of listed bull trout habitat. Outstanding Remarkable Values and Resources The goal of the Malheur National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan, as amended, is to protect and enhance the outstandingly remarkable values of the Malheur Wild and Scenic River and preserve the free-flowing conditions of the river. Identified values for the river are: scenery, geology, wildlife habitat and history. The Decision Notice that designates the management strategy for the Malheur Wild and Scenic River directs that conflicts between grazing and the outstandingly remarkable scenic and wildlife habitat values would be resolved when identified. In 2011, a 2.5 mile drift fence with two water-gaps was completed in the Dollar unit of the Dollar Basin Allotment. Both constructed water-gaps are located within the interior of the Wild and Scenic River corridor. A conflict has been identified in which one of the water gaps is causing visual and recreational impacts in the Wild and Scenic River corridor, so there is a need to address this conflict with this project. Chapter 1 Page 3 Proposed Action This section is an overview of the proposed action. A more detailed description can be found in Chapter 2. See Appendix A, Proposed Action Map. • Cross Springs Extension Project (T17S, R33.5E, Section 3) The existing water source at Cross Springs located in the Merit unit of the Dollar Basin Allotment would be reconstructed. This would involve replacing the existing headbox at the spring source as well as the existing trough, which was damaged by falling trees. The overflow from this trough would be captured and piped to a second trough located in the South Star Glade unit of the Star Glade Allotment. Figure 1 shows the location of the Cross Springs Extension Project. Figure 1: Cr oss Spr i n gs E xt en si on P r oj ect Chapter 1 Page 4 • Dollar Basin Pipeline Project (T17S, R33.5E, Sections 23 and 24) Part of the spring water that feeds the Dollar Basin pond would be captured and piped to a trough located in the Dollar Basin unit approximately 3,500 feet downhill. The overflow from this trough would be piped to a second trough and the overflow from the second trough would be returned to the draw. See Figure 2. Figure 2: Dollar Basin Pipeline Project • Malheur River Corridor Fence Project (T17S, R. 33.5E, Section 1, 12, 13 and T17S, R34E, Section 18) One of the water gaps constructed in 2011 in the Malheur Wild and Scenic River corridor would be removed to reduce visual and recreation impacts. In addition a 2 mile continuation of the Malheur River Corridor fence would be installed in the Dollar Basin allotment. This fence combined with existing fencing would span between the boundary fences of the Dollar Basin and Central Malheur Allotments and would restrict livestock access to about 3.75 miles of the Malheur River except for the water-gap at Frazier Gulch within the Dollar unit of the allotment. Once the fence is completed, livestock would be excluded from the Malheur River for a minimum of 5 years. See Figures 3 and 4. Chapter 1 Page 5 • Forest Plan Amendment The Proposed Action would require an amendment to the Forest Plan to retain an existing water gap at Frazier Gulch and four small segments of fence within the scenic portion of the Malheur Wild and Scenic River boundary. Decision Framework The decision framework refers to the nature of the decision that would be made by the Malheur Forest Supervisor based on the analysis contained in this document and comments submitted during scoping and the objection period for this Environmental Assessment. At the conclusion of the objection period, the Malheur Forest Supervisor would decide whether to implement the Malheur River Range Aquatics Project as proposed, to implement the project in a modified fashion, or not to implement the project at all. Since the proposal includes one site- specific non-significant Forest Plan amendment, the Forest Supervisor’s decision would also determine whether to amend the Malheur Forest Plan. The Forest Supervisor’s decision would also determine if the project might cause significant environmental effects requiring analysis in an Environmental Impact Statement. Public Involvement and Consultation The Malheur Range Aquatics Project has been listed on the Malheur National Forest Schedule of Proposed Action (SOPA) since April 2011. This SOPA is distributed to a wide array of government agencies, interest groups, and interested individuals. Collaboration: A collaborative process with individuals representing Oregon Natural Desert Association, grazing permittees, and the Forest Service representatives was conducted in 2010. From the collaboration process objectives and concepts for the proposed action were developed. Scoping: On June 22, 2011 the proposed action that was developed through the collaboration process was mailed to the public for comment. One response was received. In 2012, the proposed action was further modified to address concerns related to the Malheur Wild and Scenic River. On December 19, 2012 the modified proposed action was sent to 29 agencies, organizations, and individuals. The letter invited additional participation in the scoping process. Three written responses were received. In general the respondents expressed opposition to commercial livestock grazing and fencing within the Wild and Scenic River Corridor. Comments also expressed concerns with water developments affecting water quality. Specifically concerns related to the development of Big Bend Spring. Comment letters are available in the project file. On January