United States Department of Agriculture SALMON-CHALLIS NATIONAL FOREST DRAFT ASSESSMENT REPORT Forest Service Salmon- Challis National Forest October 2017 Salmon-Challis National Forest Draft Assessment Report 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. 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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. Salmon-Challis National Forest Draft Assessment Report SALMON-CHALLIS NATIONAL FOREST DRAFT ASSESSMENT REPORT PREPARED BY: Salmon-Challis National Forest 1206 S. Challis Street Salmon, ID 83467 RESPONSIBLE OFFICIAL: Charles A. Mark Forest Supervisor ASSESSMENT REPORT TEAM: Bill Baer Mary Friberg Sandy Kollenberg Glenwood Brittain Bart Gammett Josh Milligan Tim Canaday Brad Gillespie Nick Schade Jessica Dhaemers Tommy Gionet Jessica Schick Katey Driscoll Delilah Jaworski Christine Droske Gina Knudson Salmon-Challis National Forest Draft Assessment Report For further information, see the Salmon-Challis National Forest Web page, http://bit.ly/fpr201821, or contact the forest plan revision team at mailto:[email protected] or 208-756-5100. Contents INTRODUCTION ......................................................................................................... 1 Background .......................................................................................................... 1 Discussion Included in the Assessment .................................................................... 1 What Direction does the Assessment Inform? ........................................................... 2 Public and Governmental Participation ..................................................................... 2 Best Available Science ........................................................................................... 3 ECOSYSTEMS ASSESSMENT ........................................................................................ 4 Terrestrial Ecosystems ........................................................................................... 4 Key Ecosystem Characteristics ........................................................................................ 4 System Drivers and Stressors ......................................................................................... 5 Vegetation Communities and Biophysical Setting ............................................................ 15 Aquatic Ecosystems ............................................................................................. 31 Aquatic Habitats ......................................................................................................... 31 Aquatic Key Ecosystem Characteristics .......................................................................... 31 Aquatic Species .......................................................................................................... 32 Aquatic Invertebrates .................................................................................................. 40 Stressors ................................................................................................................... 40 Riparian and Groundwater Dependent Ecosystems .......................................................... 41 Water and Watersheds ......................................................................................... 74 State Integrated Reports ............................................................................................. 75 Watershed Condition Framework................................................................................... 75 Landscape-scale Disturbances ...................................................................................... 80 Air ..................................................................................................................... 81 Soils .................................................................................................................. 83 CARBON STOCKS ..................................................................................................... 84 Baseline Estimates for Forested Lands ................................................................... 84 Baseline Estimates for Non-Forested Land .............................................................. 84 AT RISK SPECIES ..................................................................................................... 85 Threatened and Endangered Species ..................................................................... 85 Species of Conservation Concern ........................................................................... 90 SOCIAL & ECONOMIC CONDITIONS .......................................................................... 102 Area of Influence ............................................................................................... 102 Conditions and Trends ....................................................................................... 103 Population and Demographic Change ............................................................................ 103 Land Ownership ......................................................................................................... 103 Fiscal Relationship with Local Governments ................................................................... 104 Industry Composition ................................................................................................. 105 Economic Well-Being .................................................................................................. 105 Non-Labor Income ..................................................................................................... 107 Contributions of Forest Resources and Uses .......................................................... 108 Salmon-Challis National Forest Draft Assessment Report Livestock Grazing ....................................................................................................... 108 Forest Products.......................................................................................................... 108 Recreation ................................................................................................................ 111 Wildlife and Fish ........................................................................................................ 112 Mining and Geology .................................................................................................... 113 Water Provision ......................................................................................................... 114 Forest Service Infrastructure and Operations ................................................................. 115 Living with Fire .......................................................................................................... 116 CULTURAL CONSIDERATIONS .................................................................................. 117 Tribes .............................................................................................................. 117 Existing Tribal Rights .................................................................................................. 118 Areas of Known Tribal Importance ............................................................................... 118 Current Conditions and Trends .................................................................................... 119 Cultural And Historical Resources ........................................................................ 120 Historical Context ...................................................................................................... 120 Cultural Resources ..................................................................................................... 121 Site Conditions 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