United States Department of Agriculture Dorset Peru Forest Integrated Resource Project Service August 2012 Preliminary Environmental Assessment: 30 Day Comment Document Manchester Ranger District Green Mountain National Forest Towns of Dorset, Peru, Manchester and Winhall; Bennington County, VT For Information Contact: Melissa Reichert Project Team Leader Green Mountain National Forest Supervisor’s Office 231 North Main Street Rutland, VT 05701 (802)747-6754 FAX (802)747-6766 E-mail:[email protected] Responsible Official: William F. Jackson District Ranger Manchester Ranger District 2538 Depot Street Manchester, VT 05255 (802)362-2307, ext. 212 FAX (802)362-1251 Dorset Peak Vista E-mail: [email protected] The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political affiliation, sexual orientation, and marital or familial status (not all prohibited bases apply to all programs). Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication or program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact the USDA’s TARGET Center at 202/720-2600 (voice or TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination, write the USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326- W, Whitten Building, 14th and Independence Avenue, Washington, DC, 20250-9410 or call 202/720-5964 (voice or TDD). The USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. This document can be made available in large print. Contact Melissa Reichert (802)747-6754 or email: [email protected] Dorset Peru Integrated Resource Project Preliminary Environmental Assessment Table of Contents Introduction and Document Structure ......................................................................................... 1 Chapter 1. Purpose and Need ................................................................................................. 2 1.1 Description of the Project Area .................................................................................... 2 1.2 Forest Service Authority, Policy and Management Direction ........................................ 4 1.3 Purpose and Need ....................................................................................................... 6 1.4 Proposed Action .........................................................................................................21 1.5 Decision Framework ...................................................................................................21 1.6 Public Involvement .....................................................................................................21 1.7 Identification of Issues ................................................................................................22 Chapter 2. Description of the Alternatives ..............................................................................25 2.1 Alternatives Considered for Detailed Analysis ............................................................25 2.2 Alternatives Considered but Eliminated from Detailed Analysis .................................42 2.3 Comparison of Alternatives .........................................................................................44 Chapter 3. Affected Environment and Environmental Consequences .....................................51 3.1 Social .........................................................................................................................51 3.2 Recreation ..................................................................................................................54 3.3 Habitat Diversity .........................................................................................................64 3.4 Timber Management and Economic Analysis .............................................................81 3.5 Management Indicator Species (MIS) .........................................................................88 3.6 Threatened and Endangered Species (TES) Wildlife ..................................................96 3.7 TES Plants ...............................................................................................................103 3.8 Non-Native Invasive Plants .......................................................................................107 3.9 Soils and Wetlands ...................................................................................................108 3.10 Fisheries and Water ................................................................................................. 114 3.11 Air .............................................................................................................................119 3.12 Visual Quality ...........................................................................................................122 3.13 Heritage Resources ..................................................................................................127 3.14 Environmental Justice...............................................................................................129 Chapter 4. Consultation or Coordination ...............................................................................131 4.1 USDA Forest Service Participation ...........................................................................131 4.2 Other Governmental Agencies Contacted ................................................................. 132 Chapter 5. References .........................................................................................................133 Chapter 6. Abbreviations and Acronyms ..............................................................................142 Appendix A: Summary of Proposed Wildlife Habitat and Timber Management Treatments ..... A-1 Appendix B: Mitigation Measures ............................................................................................ B-1 Table of Contents page i Dorset Peru Integrated Resource Project Preliminary Environmental Assessment LIST OF TABLES Table 1.1: Distribution of land by ownership/management ........................................................ 2 Table 1.2: Dorset Peru project management area allocations ................................................... 5 Table 1.3-1: Comparison of important existing habitat composition conditions with HMU objective ranges ......................................................................................................................... 7 Table 1.3-2: Comparison of the existing regenerating age class (0-9 years) with HMU objective range; and existing age class distribution for remaining age classes .......................................... 8 Table 1.3-3: Comparison of existing LWD and pool habitat with Forest Plan objectives ...........14 Table 2.1-1: Proposed activities related to soil and water improvement ...................................36 Table 2.1-2: Alternative C: Areas Eliminated from Treatment ..................................................42 Table 2.3: Comparison of Management Actions by Alternative ................................................44 Table 2.3: Summary of Environmental Resource Effects by Alternative. ..................................46 Table 3.1 – 1: Dorset Peru Project Area Census Data .............................................................52 Table 3.2-1: Developed Recreation Sites within the Dorset Peru Project Area .........................57 Table 3.2-2: Dorset Peru Project Area National Forest System Trails ......................................59 Table 3.2-3: Annual Operations and Maintenance (O&M) and Deferred Maintenance Costs By Trail ...........................................................................................................................................60 Table 3.2-4: NFS Trail System/Classification Review and Recommendations .........................62 Table 3.2-5: Summary of Recreation Resource Effects by Alternative .....................................63 Table 3.3-1: Comparison of existing habitat composition conditions with HMU objective ranges .................................................................................................................................................65 Table 3.3-2: Comparison of the existing age class distribution across all forested habitat types on all lands, and on suitable lands managed using even-aged management, with the HMU objective ranges for suitable lands of these age classes ...........................................................66 Table 3.3-3: Comparison of existing composition with anticipated composition resulting from implementation of Alternative B in the short-, mid-, and long-term.............................................73 Table 3.3-4: Comparison of the existing age class distribution of forested stands with anticipated distribution in 2019 when vegetation treatments will have been completed ...............................75 Table 3.4-1: Selected Financial Benefits and Costs .................................................................85 Table 3.5-1: Management Indicator Species (MIS) and the habitats they represent in the Dorset Peru Project Area ......................................................................................................................90 Table 3.6-1: Species listed as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) with currently or historic occurrence in Vermont and on lands now administered by the Green Mountain National Forest ...............................................................................................97