Schedule of Proposed Action (SOPA) 04/01/2017 to 06/30/2017 Salmon-Challis National Forest This report contains the best available information at the time of publication. Questions may be directed to the Project Contact. Expected Project Name Project Purpose Planning Status Decision Implementation Project Contact Salmon-Challis National Forest, Forestwide (excluding Projects occurring in more than one Forest) R4 - Intermountain Region NRCS Snow Data Sites Special - Special use management On Hold N/A N/A Gail Baer Use Permit Reissuance 208-756-5128 CE [email protected] Description: The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is requesting a reissuance of the Special Use Permits for operation, maintenance, and conversion of manual snow courses and automated SNOTEL data collection sites on Forest Service Lands. Web Link: http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=34081 Location: UNIT - Salmon-Challis National Forest All Units. STATE - Idaho. COUNTY - Custer, Lemhi. The manual snow courses and automated SNOTEL data collection sites are located across the Salmon-Challis National Forest outside of the Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness. Salmon-Challis Forest Plan - Land management planning Developing Proposal Expected:10/2020 10/2020 Joshua Milligan Revision Est. NOI in Federal Register 208-756-5560 EIS 06/2017 [email protected] *UPDATED* Description: The Salmon-Challis National Forest is revising and updating the 1987 Challis and the 1988 Salmon Land and Resource Management Plan (Forest Plan) Web Link: http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=49464 Location: UNIT - Salmon-Challis National Forest All Units. STATE - Idaho. COUNTY - Blaine, Butte, Clark, Custer, Idaho, Lemhi, Valley. LEGAL - Not Applicable. Salmon-Challis National Forest. Water Diversion Permit and - Special use management In Progress: Expected:05/2017 06/2017 Gail Baer Easement Issuance Scoping Start 11/03/2016 208-756-5177 CE [email protected] Description: Issue SUP permit and/or easements on approximately 20 existing non-wilderness water diversions across the Salmon-Challis National Forest. Web Link: http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=50165 Location: UNIT - Salmon-Challis National Forest All Units. STATE - Idaho. COUNTY - Custer, Lemhi. LEGAL - Not Applicable. Various locations across the Challis-Yankee Fork, Salmon-Cobalt, Middle Fork, North Fork, and Leadore Ranger Districts. Salmon-Challis National Forest, Occurring in more than one District (excluding Forestwide) R4 - Intermountain Region 04/01/2017 05:55 am MT Page 1 of 18 Salmon-Challis National Forest Expected Project Name Project Purpose Planning Status Decision Implementation Project Contact Salmon-Challis National Forest, Occurring in more than one District (excluding Forestwide) R4 - Intermountain Region 2017 Communications Site - Special use management In Progress: Expected:05/2017 05/2017 Gail Baer Special Use Permit Renewals Scoping Start 03/21/2017 208-756-5128 CE [email protected] *NEW LISTING* Description: Entity and Communication Site: Lost River Elec Coop and ID Public TV at Windy Devil; Salmon River Elec Coop at Potoman Pk; American Communications Inc. at Jump Off Peak; State ID Military and Custer Telephone Coop. at Grouse Peak So.; see below Web Link: http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=51369 Location: UNIT - Challis-Yankee Fork Ranger District, Lost River Ranger District. STATE - Idaho. COUNTY - Butte, Custer. LEGAL - Not Applicable. Windy Devil, Potoman Peak, Jump Off Peak, Grouse Peak So., Grouse Peak No. communication sites. Big Creek Geothermal Leasing - Minerals and Geology In Progress: Expected:08/2017 09/2017 Julie Hopkins Project DEIS NOA in Federal Register 208-756-5279 EIS 03/16/2017 [email protected] *UPDATED* Est. FEIS NOA in Federal Register 08/2017 Description: The Forest proposes to consent with stipulations to BLM issuance of 3 contiguous, noncompetitive geothermal leases. Web Link: http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=37800 Location: UNIT - Salmon-Cobalt Ranger District, North Fork Ranger District. STATE - Idaho. COUNTY - Lemhi. LEGAL - T23N, R18E, sections 14, 15, 16, 21, 22, 23, 26, 27 & 28. An approximately 9-square-mile area in the Hot Springs Creek drainage of the lower Panther Creek watershed, 20 mi. WNW of Salmon, ID. Halstead Fire Salvage Project - Forest products In Progress: Expected:06/2017 09/2017 David Morris EA Comment Period Public Notice 208-879-4130 [email protected] *UPDATED* 01/23/2014 Description: Salvage marketable forest products from trees killed over 1,452 acres as a result of the Halstead Fire and those trees that may succumb to expansion of Douglas-fir beetle triggered by the fire. Areas include Challis-Yankee and Middle Fork Districts. Web Link: http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=43556 Location: UNIT - Challis-Yankee Fork Ranger District, Middle Fork Ranger District. STATE - Idaho. COUNTY - Custer. LEGAL - Challis-Yankee Fork RD, T11N, R13E, Sections 13, 14, 22-24, and T11N, R14E, Section 18. Middle Fork RD, T12N, R11E, Sections 12, and 13; T12N, R12E, Sections 5, 6, 9, 15-17, 21, and 22. Project area is located in two areas one 4 air miles north of Stanley, ID and the other 14 air miles due northeast of Stanley, ID. 04/01/2017 05:55 am MT Page 2 of 18 Salmon-Challis National Forest Expected Project Name Project Purpose Planning Status Decision Implementation Project Contact Salmon-Challis National Forest, Occurring in more than one District (excluding Forestwide) R4 - Intermountain Region Jim McClure-Jerry Peak - Land management planning In Progress: Expected:06/2018 07/2018 Emily Simpson Wilderness Management Plan - Recreation management Scoping Start 07/25/2016 208-630-3507 EA - Special area management Est. Comment Period Public [email protected] s *UPDATED* Notice 03/2017 Description: Develop Interagency (FS & BLM) Wilderness Management Plan for new wilderness area. Web Link: http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=50223 Location: UNIT - Challis-Yankee Fork Ranger District, Middle Fork Ranger District, Lost River Ranger District. STATE - Idaho. COUNTY - Custer. LEGAL - Not Applicable. Approximately 32 miles south of Challis, Idaho. Shoshone Bannock Tribes - Wildlife, Fish, Rare plants In Progress: Expected:01/2018 06/2018 Karryl Krieger Crystal Springs Hatchery - Special use management NOI in Federal Register 208-756-5102 Support Project at Yankee Fork 05/23/2014 [email protected] River and Panther Cr Est. DEIS NOA in Federal EIS Register 04/2017 *UPDATED* Description: Proposed permanent facilities include chinook salmon trapping, holding and acclimation facilities including weirs at Pole Flat Campground site on the Yankee Fork River and at the Cobalt Ranger Station on Panther Creek. In cooperation with BPA. Web Link: http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=44200 Location: UNIT - Salmon-Cobalt Ranger District, Challis-Yankee Fork Ranger District. STATE - Idaho. COUNTY - Custer, Lemhi. LEGAL - Not Applicable. Pole Flat Campground area on the Yankee Fork River and Cobalt Ranger Station on Panther Creek. Upper Yankee Fork Fuels - Fuels management On Hold N/A N/A Riley Rhoades Reduction Project 208-879-4122 EA [email protected] Description: The proposal is to prescribe burn under management conditions to reduce the continuous heavy ground and ladder fuels and reduce the overstory density in the upper reaches of Trapper Creek and the head of the Yankee Fork of the Salmon River. Web Link: http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=32990 Location: UNIT - Challis-Yankee Fork Ranger District, Middle Fork Ranger District. STATE - Idaho. COUNTY - Custer. LEGAL - T14N, R16E, Sections 3, 9-11, 13-17, 19-23, 26-34. All or parts of these sections. Sixteen miles west of Challis Idaho in the Yankee Fork of the Salmon River and Trapper Creek in the FCRONRW. Salmon-Challis National Forest Challis-Yankee Fork Ranger District (excluding Projects occurring in more than one R4 - Intermountain Region District) 04/01/2017 05:55 am MT Page 3 of 18 Salmon-Challis National Forest Expected Project Name Project Purpose Planning Status Decision Implementation Project Contact Salmon-Challis National Forest Challis-Yankee Fork Ranger District (excluding Projects occurring in more than one R4 - Intermountain Region District) Bonanza/Jordan Forest - Forest products In Progress: Expected:04/2017 07/2017 Erin Pierson Products Scoping Start 12/08/2016 208-879-4155 CE [email protected] *UPDATED* Description: 70 acres of multiple Forest Products for public use. Web Link: http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=50700 Location: UNIT - Challis-Yankee Fork Ranger District. STATE - Idaho. COUNTY - Custer. LEGAL - T13N,R15E,S20,29; Boise Meridian, Custer County, Idaho. 15 miles west of Challis, ID. Bonneville Power - Special use management In Progress: Expected:03/2018 06/2018 Gail Baer Administration (BPA) Grouse Scoping Start 03/08/2017 208-756-5128 Peak South Communication [email protected] Facility Project Description: Issue a communications site lease to BPA at Grouse Peak South Communication Site to construct and operate a CE new self-supporting tower, equipment shelter, and propane tanks. Location is T14N, R20E, Sec22 *NEW LISTING* Web Link: http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=51561 Location: UNIT - Challis-Yankee Fork Ranger District. STATE - Idaho. COUNTY - Custer. LEGAL - T14N, R20E, Sec 20, Boise Meridian. Grouse Peak South Communication Site located 7.5 miles east of Challis, Idaho. Crane Basin Timber Stand - Vegetation management In Progress: Expected:05/2017 09/2017 Riley Rhoades Improvement (other than forest products) Scoping Start 08/01/2016 208-879-4132 CE - Fuels management [email protected] *NEW LISTING* Description: Mixed severity prescribed fire In Crane Basin and adjoining McGowan Creek will introduce fire back into an ecosystem that has missed historic fire return intervals. This will improve stand health and provide positive changes to wildlife habitat. Web Link: http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=50979 Location: UNIT - Challis-Yankee Fork Ranger District. STATE - Idaho. COUNTY - Custer. LEGAL - T12N, R21E, Sections. 4, 5, 7-9, 16-21, 28, 29, 32, 33 B.M. The 5760 acre project area located primarily in the Crane Basin and McGowan Creek drainage on the north end of the Lost River Range.