Environmental United States Department of Assessment Agriculture Forest Service Breckenridge Forest Health October 2010 and Fuels Project Dillon Ranger District, White River National Forest, Summit County, Colorado Township 6S, Range 77W, Sections 6-11, 13-17, 19-36, Township 7S, Range 77W, Sections 1-9, 16, Unsectioned, Township 6S, Range 78W, Sections 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, Unsectioned, Township 7S, Range 78W, Unsectioned For Information Contact: Brett Crary P.O. Box 190 24747 Hwy 24 Minturn, CO 81645 (970) 827-5182 Environmental Assessment Breckenridge Forest Health and Fuels Project Final October 2010 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 a 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 for 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, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382 (TDD). Environmental Assessment Breckenridge Forest Health and Fuels Project Final October 2010 Table of Contents Chapter 1: Purpose and Need for Action ........................................................................1 Introduction .............................................................................................................................. 1 Project Location ....................................................................................................................... 1 Background .............................................................................................................................. 1 Purpose and Need for Action .................................................................................................. 4 Proposed Action ....................................................................................................................... 5 Treatment Area Selection ........................................................................................................ 6 Forest Plan Direction ............................................................................................................... 7 Decision to be Made ................................................................................................................. 8 Public Involvement .................................................................................................................. 8 Issues ......................................................................................................................................... 9 Chapter 2: Description of the Alternatives ....................................................................12 Alternative 1: No Action ........................................................................................................ 12 Alternative 2: Modified Proposed Action ............................................................................ 12 Alternative 3 ........................................................................................................................... 22 Potential Sale Area Improvement Projects .......................................................................... 24 Alternatives Considered but Eliminated from Detailed Study ......................................... 24 Comparison of Alternatives .................................................................................................. 26 CHAPTER 3: Environmental Consequences ................................................................29 Soils ......................................................................................................................................... 29 Hydrology ............................................................................................................................... 34 Roads/Safety ........................................................................................................................... 40 Wildlife Habitat ...................................................................................................................... 47 Aquatic Habitat ...................................................................................................................... 66 Botany ..................................................................................................................................... 75 Forest Vegetation ................................................................................................................... 83 Scenery .................................................................................................................................... 91 Recreation ............................................................................................................................... 96 Heritage Resources .............................................................................................................. 101 Socioeconomics ..................................................................................................................... 108 Fire and Fuels ....................................................................................................................... 114 Inventoried Roadless Areas ................................................................................................. 125 CHAPTER 4: Agencies, Organizations, and Individuals Consulted ........................132 APPENDIX A: Unit by Unit Prescriptions ..................................................................134 APPENDIX B: Breckenridge Design Criteria ............................................................137 APPENDIX C: Other Forest Management Guidelines ..............................................150 APPENDIX D: Supplemental Hydrology Information ..............................................181 APPENDIX E: Literature Cited ...................................................................................186 Environmental Assessment Breckenridge Forest Health and Fuels Project Final October 2010 List of Figures Figure 1-1 – Breckenridge Forest Health and Fuels Project Vicinity Map ....... 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Figure 2-1 – Northwestern Project Area ............................................................................................................ 18 Figure 2-2 – Southwestern Project Area ............................................................................................................ 19 Figure 2-3 – Northeastern Project Area ............................................................................................................. 20 Figure 2-4 – Southeastern Project Area ............................................................................................................. 21 Figure 2-5 – Alternative 3 ................................................................................................................................. 23 Figure 3- 1 – Visual Representation of Fuel Loading if Trees Fall and are Not Removed ............................... 85 Figure 3- 2 – Stand Clearcut Photo Taken the Year the Trees are harvested .................................................... 88 Figure 3- 3 – Management Areas of the Proposed Project ................................................................................ 97 Figure D - 1 – Watersheds Connected Disturbed Area Analysis .................................................................... 184 Figure D - 2 – Wetlands, Water Bodies, and Stream Analysis ........................................................................ 185 List of Tables Table 1-1 – Management Areas within Proposed Project Area .......................................................................... 8 Table 2-1 – Alternative 2 Units by Harvest Method and Silvicultural Prescription ......................................... 12 Table 2-2 – Proposed Roads for Haul Routes. .................................................................................................. 14 Table 2-3 – Existing Non-System Routes Proposed to be Converted to National Forest System Roads. ......... 15 Table 2-4 – Alternative 3 Units by Harvest Method and Silvicultural Prescription .......................................... 22 Table 2-5 – Sale Area Improvement (KV) Projects (Listed in Priority Order) ................................................. 24 Table 2-6 – Summary of Effects of Alternatives. .............................................................................................. 26 Table 3-1 – Elements of the Human Environment. ........................................................................................... 29 Table 3- 2 – Amounts of CWD and FWD retention required by LMRP standards. ......................................... 31 Table 3- 3 – Road Reconstruction areas ............................................................................................................ 42 Table 3- 4 – Proposed Temporary Roads .........................................................................................................