Environmental United States Assessment for Department of Agriculture Forest Integrated Treatment of Service Southwestern Noxious or Invasive Region Plants Tonto National Forest Gila, Maricopa, Pinal, and Yavapai Counties, Arizona For Information Contact: Patti Fenner, Noxious Weed Program Manager Tonto National Forest Supervisor’s Office, 2324 E. McDowell Road, Phoenix, AZ 85006 602-225-5200 www.fs.fed.us/r3/tonto/ 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 of all or part of an individual’s income is derived from any public assistance program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) 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Printed on recycled paper – August 2012 Content Summary ................................................................................................................................... 1 Chapter 1 – Purpose and Need ................................................................................................. 3 Document Structure .............................................................................................................. 3 Background .......................................................................................................................... 3 Purpose and Need for Action ................................................................................................. 5 Consistency with Forest Plan Goals and Objectives ............................................................. 11 Consistency with Laws and Policies .................................................................................... 12 Proposed Action .................................................................................................................. 13 Decision Framework ........................................................................................................... 16 Public Involvement ............................................................................................................. 16 Issues .................................................................................................................................. 17 Chapter 2 – Alternatives, Including the Proposed Action ...................................................... 21 Alternatives ........................................................................................................................ 64 Mitigation Measures Common to the Proposed Action and Alternative 2 ............................. 65 Chapter 3 – Affected Environment and Environmental Consequences................................. 71 Soil Resources .................................................................................................................... 72 Water Quality ...................................................................................................................... 77 Ground Water Quality ......................................................................................................... 79 Vegetation Communities and Fire Regimes ......................................................................... 84 Invasive Plants .................................................................................................................... 94 Endangered, Threatened, Candidate and Sensitive Plant Species .......................................... 98 Range Management .......................................................................................................... 113 Endangered, Threatened, Proposed, Candidate, and Sensitive Wildlife Species .................. 116 Neotropical Migratory Birds ............................................................................................. 124 Endangered, Threatened, Proposed, Candidate and Sensitive Fish Species ......................... 131 Social Concerns ................................................................................................................ 142 Heritage Resources ........................................................................................................... 152 Chapter 4 - Consultation and Coordination ......................................................................... 173 Federal and State Officials and Agencies ........................................................................... 174 Tribes ............................................................................................................................... 175 Others ............................................................................................................................... 175 Chapter 5 – References………………………………………………………………………...177 Environmental Assessment for Integrated Treatment of Noxious or Invasive Plants, Tonto NF i List of Tables Page 1. List of Noxious Plant Species for the Tonto National Forest 7 2. Biocontrol agents’ names and target species 56 3. Typical and maximum herbicide and carrier application rates 64 4. Comparison of alternatives 69 5. Soil Properties 73 6. Effects of various weed control methods on soils 74 7. Potential for surface runoff and leaching for proposed herbicides 81 8. Vegetation types present within the Tonto National Forest, and known weeds 85 9. Effects of various weed control methods on vegetation communities 90 10. Known and potential endangered and sensitive plant species on the Tonto NF 99 11. Threatened, endangered, and sensitive animal species on the Tonto NF 116 12. Migratory bird species of concern in the proposed action and two alternatives 126 13. Endangered, threatened, sensitive, and native fishes of the Tonto NF 132 14. Acceptable daily intake (mg/kg/day) for selected herbicides 148 15. Minority population and persons living below poverty level in Tonto NF area 172 EA for Integrated Treatment of Noxious or Invasive Plants on the Tonto NF iii List of Appendices A. Invasive Plant Descriptions B. Definitions of Acronyms and Terms Used in this Document C. U.S.D.A. Forest Service Guide to Noxious Weed Prevention Practices D. Soil, Water and Air Best Management Practices E. Herbicide Safety and Spill Plan F. Herbicide Risk Assessment Locator G. Herbicide Project Design Features to Mitigate Potential Effects to Federally-listed and Sensitive Plant and Animal Species on the Tonto National Forest H. Standard Consultation Protocol for Noxious Weed Control I. Cumulative Effects Project List J. Biological Assessment/Evaluation K. Management Indicator Species and Migratory Bird Treaty Act Reports L. Comments received, Summaries & Responses M. Biological Opinion N. Maps Figure 1. Vegetation type map for the Tonto National Forest Figure 2. Noxious Weed Occurrences on the Cave Creek Ranger District Figure 3. Noxious Weed Occurrences on the Globe Ranger District Figure 4. Noxious Weed Occurrences on the Mesa Ranger District Figure 5. Noxious Weed Occurrences on the Payson Ranger District Figure 6. Noxious Weed Occurrences on the Pleasant Valley Ranger District Figure 7. Noxious Weed Occurrences on the Tonto Basin Ranger District Figure 8. Herbicide Exclusion Area iv Environmental Assessment for Integrated Treatment of Noxious or Invasive Plants, Tonto NF Summary The Tonto National Forest (Tonto NF) proposes to conduct control treatments for invasive plants throughout the area of the National Forest. The project area is located on approximately 2.9 million acres in central Arizona and is within the Tonto NF. This action is needed, because of the occurrence of noxious weeds on and adjacent to the Forest, whose populations are growing exponentially, and to meet the requirements of law, regulations, and policy. The proposed action is to use the approach of Integrated Vegetation Management to manage invasive plant species on the Tonto NF. The Forest would use the complete range of methods associated with integrated vegetation management to eradicate or contain and control populations of invasive species. These control methods include manual/mechanical techniques, burning/flaming, cultural methods, biological control agents, and herbicides. Monitoring, prevention, education, and cooperation with other land managers are also incorporated into this proposal. In addition to the proposed action, the Forest Service also evaluated the following alternatives: Alternative 1: No Action (continue ongoing treatments). This alternative allows all previous decisions regarding treatment of noxious weeds on the Tonto NF to continue. There are: manual treatments forestwide, torching areas less than ten acres in size adjacent to roads, herbicide use in areas allowed by categorical exclusion (administrative & recreation sites), treatment of yellow starthistle and diffuse knapweed by prescribed fire and herbicide at the Pleasant Valley Ranger Station, continuation of a burn program for Malta starthistle along SR 188, and use of herbicides along federal and state highways as approved in a decision notice