United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service Early Successional Habitat Creation Project Environmental Assessment Manchester Ranger District, Green Mountain National Forest Bennington, Rutland, Windham and Windsor Counties, Vermont February 2019 Contact for Project Information: Responsible Official: Jay Strand David Francomb, District Ranger Green Mountain National Forest Green Mountain National Forest 99 Ranger Road Manchester Ranger District Rochester, VT 05767 2538 Depot Street Phone: 802-767-4261 x5522 Manchester Center, VT 05255 Email: [email protected] Phone: 802-362-2307 x7212 Fax: 802-767-4777 Email: [email protected] Fax: 802-362-1251 In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity (including gender expression), sexual orientation, disability, age, marital status, family/parental status, income derived from a public assistance program, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity, in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA (not all bases apply to all programs). Remedies and complaint filing deadlines vary by program or incident. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the responsible Agency or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English. To file a program discrimination complaint, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, AD-3027, found online at http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html and at any USDA office or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by: (1) mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; (2) fax: (202) 690-7442; or (3) email: [email protected] . USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender. Cover page photo credits Left: Bird species likely to benefit from the Early Successional Habitat Creation Project. From top to bottom: blue- winged warbler, indigo bunting, black-and-white warbler. Photos courtesy of Brett Hillman, USDA Forest Service Right: Early successional habitat. Photo courtesy of USDA Forest Service staff Manchester Ranger District, Green Mountain National Forest Contents Chapter 1. Need for the Proposal ................................................................................................. 1 1.1 Proposed Project Location .................................................................................................... 2 1.2 Purpose of Action .................................................................................................................. 2 1.2.1 Forest-wide Management Direction ............................................................................... 2 1.2.2 Partner Collaboration ...................................................................................................... 4 1.3 Need for Action ..................................................................................................................... 4 1.3.1 Create Early Successional Habitat Conditions ............................................................... 4 1.3.2 Promote Aspen-Birch Habitat Type ............................................................................... 5 1.3.3 Maintain Forest Health ................................................................................................... 5 1.3.4 Improve Wetland Habitat ............................................................................................... 6 1.4 Public Involvement and Collaboration .................................................................................. 6 1.5 Public Issues .......................................................................................................................... 6 1.5.1 Substantive Issues ........................................................................................................... 7 1.5.2 Minor Issues ................................................................................................................... 7 1.6 Pre-decisional Objection Process .......................................................................................... 7 1.7 Decisions to be Made ............................................................................................................ 7 Chapter 2. Proposed Action and Alternatives ............................................................................ 9 2.1 Alternative A: No Action ...................................................................................................... 9 2.2 Alternative B: Proposed Action ............................................................................................ 9 2.2.1 Harvest Treatments ....................................................................................................... 10 2.2.2 Developing Road Infrastructure ................................................................................... 14 2.2.3 Site Preparation and Planting ....................................................................................... 17 2.2.4 Wetland Habitat Enhancement ..................................................................................... 17 2.2.5 Design Criteria.............................................................................................................. 18 Chapter 3. Environmental Impacts. .......................................................................................... 19 3.1 Forest Habitat ...................................................................................................................... 19 3.1.1 Issues ............................................................................................................................ 19 3.1.2 Direct and Indirect Effects Analysis Area .................................................................... 20 3.1.3 Affected Environment .................................................................................................. 21 3.1.4 Direct and Indirect Effects ............................................................................................ 23 3.1.5 Cumulative Effects ....................................................................................................... 26 3.2 Threatened, Endangered, and Sensitive Wildlife ................................................................ 27 3.2.1 Issues ............................................................................................................................ 28 3.2.2 Direct and Indirect Effects Analysis Area .................................................................... 28 3.2.3 Affected Environment .................................................................................................. 28 3.2.4 Direct and Indirect Effects ............................................................................................ 30 3.2.5 Cumulative Effects ....................................................................................................... 31 3.3 Threatened, Endangered, and Sensitive Plants.................................................................... 32 3.3.1 Issues ............................................................................................................................ 33 3.3.2 Direct and Indirect Effects Analysis Area .................................................................... 33 3.3.3 Affected Environment .................................................................................................. 33 3.3.4 Direct and Indirect Effects ............................................................................................ 33 3.3.5 Cumulative Effects ....................................................................................................... 34 3.4 Non-native Invasive Plants ................................................................................................. 35 3.4.1 Issues ............................................................................................................................ 35 3.4.2 Direct and Indirect Effects Analysis Area .................................................................... 35 3.4.3 Affected Environment .................................................................................................. 35 Early Successional Habitat Creation Project - Environmental Assessment i Manchester Ranger District, Green Mountain National Forest 3.4.4 Direct and Indirect Effects ............................................................................................ 36 3.4.5 Cumulative Effects ....................................................................................................... 36 3.5 Aquatic Resources ............................................................................................................... 37 3.5.1 Issues ...........................................................................................................................