R3-COR-10-004 Final Environmental United States Department of Assessment Agriculture Forest Service Redrock Canyon Southwestern Region Renovation Project Coronado National Forest Santa Cruz County, Arizona For More Information Contact: Coronado National Forest Sierra Vista Ranger District Attn: Glenn Frederick 5990 South Highway 92 Hereford, AZ 85615 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.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination, write to USDA, Director of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410, or call (800) 79503272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382 (TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. Printed on recycled paper—September 2010 Redrock Canyon Renovation Project (FINAL EA) Page 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER 1—PURPOSE AND NEED....................................................................................................... 7 1.1 INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................. 7 1.2 BACKGROUND ............................................................................................................................... 8 1.3 PURPOSE AND NEED .................................................................................................................. 12 1.4 PROPOSED ACTION ..................................................................................................................... 13 1.5 DECISION FRAMEWORK ............................................................................................................ 14 1.6 PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT ............................................................................................................. 14 1.7 ISSUES ............................................................................................................................................ 16 1.8 FOREST PLAN CONSISTENCY .................................................................................................. 17 1.9 PROJECT RECORD ....................................................................................................................... 17 CHAPTER 2 – ALTERNATIVES, INCLUDING THE PROPOSED ACTION ....................................... 18 2.1 NO ACTION ................................................................................................................................... 18 2.2 PROPOSED ACTION ..................................................................................................................... 18 2.2.1 Native Species Salvage ............................................................................................................ 19 2.2.2 Nonnative Fish and Frog Removal ........................................................................................... 20 2.2.3 Restoration of Native Fish and Amphibians ............................................................................ 22 2.2.4 Monitoring ................................................................................................................................ 23 2.3 MITIGATION FOR ACTION ALTERNATIVES.......................................................................... 23 2.4 ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED BUT ELIMINATED FROM DETAILED ANALYSIS ......... 23 2.4.1 Construction of a Fish Barrier in Redrock Canyon .................................................................. 24 2.4.2 Stock Tank Breaching .............................................................................................................. 24 CHAPTER 3 – ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES ........................................................................ 26 3.1 WATER QUALITY ........................................................................................................................ 27 3.1.1 Affected Environment .............................................................................................................. 27 3.1.2 Environmental Consequences .................................................................................................. 31 Redrock Canyon Renovation Project (FINAL EA) Page 3 3.1.3 Cumulative Effects ................................................................................................................... 33 3.2 HUMAN HEALTH AND SAFETY ............................................................................................... 33 3.2.1 Affected Environment .............................................................................................................. 33 3.2.2 Environmental Consequences .................................................................................................. 34 3.2.3 Cumulative Effects ................................................................................................................... 44 3.3 SOILS AND WATERSHED ........................................................................................................... 44 3.3.1 Affected Environment .............................................................................................................. 44 3.3.2 Environmental Consequences .................................................................................................. 44 3.3.3 Cumulative Effects ................................................................................................................... 45 3.4 AIR QUALITY................................................................................................................................ 45 3.4.1 Affected Environment .............................................................................................................. 45 3.4.2 Environmental Consequences .................................................................................................. 46 3.4.3 Cumulative Effects ................................................................................................................... 47 3.5 VEGETATION ................................................................................................................................ 47 3.5.1 Affected Environment .............................................................................................................. 47 3.5.2 Environmental Consequences .................................................................................................. 48 3.5.3 Cumulative Effects ................................................................................................................... 48 3.6 WILDLIFE ...................................................................................................................................... 48 3.6.1 Terrestrial Wildlife ................................................................................................................... 48 3.6.2 Fish and Aquatic Wildlife ........................................................................................................ 51 3.6.3 Federally Listed and Candidate Species ................................................................................... 58 3.6.4 Forest Sensitive Species (FSS) ................................................................................................. 61 3.6.5 Management Indicator Species (MIS) ...................................................................................... 64 3.6.6 Migratory Bird Species Analysis ............................................................................................. 68 3.7 CULTURAL RESOURCES ............................................................................................................. 70 3.7.1 Affected Environment .............................................................................................................. 70 Redrock Canyon Renovation Project (FINAL EA) Page 4 3.7.2 Environmental Consequences .................................................................................................. 71 3.7.3 Cumulative Effects ................................................................................................................... 72 3.8 SOCIOECONOMIC EFFECTS—LIVESTOCK GRAZING ......................................................... 72 3.8.1 Affected Environment .............................................................................................................. 72 3.8.2 Environmental Consequences .................................................................................................. 73 3.8.3 Cumulative Effects ................................................................................................................... 74 3.9 RECREATION ................................................................................................................................ 74 3.9.1 Affected Environment .............................................................................................................. 74 3.9.2 Environmental Consequences .................................................................................................