Environmental Assessment United States FY2016-2025 Prescribe Burn Program Department of Agriculture Forest Service Winn Ranger District, Kisatchie National Forest Southern Region Grant, Natchitoches & Winn Parishes, Louisiana June 2014 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 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 TTY). To file a complaint of discrimination, write to USDA, Director of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410, or call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382 (TTY). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. Printed on recycled paper – June 2015 Kisatchie National Forest FY 2016-2025 Prescribed Burn Program Winn District Environmental Assessment TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER 1: PURPOSE AND NEED ............................................................................................ 1 1.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................ 1 1.2 Purpose and Need for Action ............................................................................................. 1 1.3 Desired Future Conditions ................................................................................................. 3 1.4 Decision to be Made .......................................................................................................... 5 1.5 Public Involvement ............................................................................................................ 5 1.6 Summary of Irreversible and Irretrievable Commitment of Resources ............................. 6 1.7 Impact Topics..................................................................................................................... 6 1.7.1 Impact Topics Analyzed in this EA ....................................................................... 6 1.7.2 Impact Topics Dismissed from Further Consideration .......................................... 8 CHAPTER 2: ALTERNATIVES ................................................................................................... 10 2.1 Alternative 1: Proposed Action ........................................................................................ 10 2.2 Alternative 2: No Action .................................................................................................. 18 2.3 Alternatives Considered But Not Addressed in Detail .................................................... 18 2.3.1 Prescribed Burning Combined with Mechanical Treatment Alternative ............. 18 2.3.2 Dormant Season Burning Alternative .................................................................. 19 2.4 Management Requirements ............................................................................................. 19 2.5 Design Criteria ................................................................................................................. 20 2.6 Comparison of Alternatives ............................................................................................. 25 CHAPTER 3: AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES 26 3.1 Vegetation ........................................................................................................................ 27 3.1.1 Affected Environment .......................................................................................... 27 3.1.2 Impacts of Alternative 1: Proposed Action .......................................................... 39 3.1.3 Impacts of Alternative 2: No Action .................................................................... 43 3.1.4 Cumulative Effects............................................................................................... 46 3.2 Wildlife ............................................................................................................................ 47 3.2.1 Affected Environment .......................................................................................... 47 3.2.2 Impacts of Alternative 1: Proposed Action .......................................................... 58 3.2.3 Impacts of Alternative 2: No Action .................................................................... 64 3.2.4 Cumulative Effects............................................................................................... 66 3.3 Soils.................................................................................................................................. 67 3.3.1 Affected Environment .......................................................................................... 67 3.3.2 Impacts of Alternative 1: Proposed Action .......................................................... 73 3.3.3 Impacts of Alternative 2: No Action .................................................................... 74 3.3.4 Cumulative Effects............................................................................................... 75 3.4 Water Quality and Aquatic Resources ............................................................................. 75 3.4.1 Affected Environment .......................................................................................... 75 i Kisatchie National Forest FY 2016-2025 Prescribed Burn Program Winn District Environmental Assessment 3.4.2 Impacts of Alternative 1: Proposed Action .......................................................... 78 3.4.3 Impacts of Alternative 2: No Action .................................................................... 79 3.4.4 Cumulative Effects............................................................................................... 80 3.5 Air Quality ....................................................................................................................... 80 3.5.1 Affected Environment .......................................................................................... 80 3.5.2 Impacts of Alternative 1: Proposed Action .......................................................... 82 3.5.3 Impacts of Alternative 2: No Action .................................................................... 83 3.5.4 Cumulative Effects............................................................................................... 84 3.6 Climate Change ................................................................................................................ 84 3.6.1 Affected Environment .......................................................................................... 84 3.6.2 Impacts of Alternative 1: Proposed Action .......................................................... 85 3.6.3 Impacts of Alternative 2: No Action .................................................................... 87 3.6.4 Cumulative Effects............................................................................................... 87 3.7 Socioeconomics ............................................................................................................... 88 3.7.1 Affected Environment .......................................................................................... 88 3.7.2 Impacts of Alternative 1: Proposed Action .......................................................... 90 3.7.3 Impacts of Alternative 2: No Action .................................................................... 91 3.7.4 Cumulative Effects............................................................................................... 91 3.8 Recreation ........................................................................................................................ 91 3.8.1 Affected Environment .......................................................................................... 91 3.8.2 Impacts of Alternative 1: Proposed Action .......................................................... 94 3.8.3 Impacts of Alternative 2: No Action .................................................................... 95 3.8.4 Cumulative Effects............................................................................................... 95 3.9 Heritage Resources .......................................................................................................... 96 3.9.1 Affected Environment .......................................................................................... 96 3.9.2 Impacts of Alternative 1: Proposed Action .......................................................... 96 3.9.3 Impacts of Alternative 2: No Action .................................................................... 97 3.9.4 Cumulative Effects............................................................................................... 97 3.10 Public Health and Safety ................................................................................................ 98 3.10.1 Affected Environment ........................................................................................ 98 3.10.2 Impacts of Alternative 1: Proposed Action .......................................................