Chapter 3 Affected Environment and Environmental Consequences Chapter 3. Affected Environment and Environmental Consequences Introduction This chapter describes the existing natural and physical environment of the Wrangell Island project area that may be affected by the alternatives under consideration (Affected Environment). These descriptions are followed by a discussion and analysis of the anticipated direct, indirect, and cumulative impacts of the alternatives under consideration (Environmental Consequences). The analysis in this FEIS focuses on the key issues that highlight significant effects or environmental consequences that may occur from the alternatives under consideration. These issues include effects to timber economics and timber availability, wildlife habitat, scenic integrity and access management. Effects are quantified where possible, and qualitative discussions are also included. The analyses of potential impacts of the alternatives include implementation of applicable Forest Plan standards and guidelines, Forest Service best management practices, and recommended mitigation. Discussions of resources and potential effects use existing information included in the Forest Plan, other project environmental analyses, project-specific resource reports, agency and scientific studies, and related information. Where applicable, such information is briefly summarized and incorporated by reference to minimize duplication. The project record includes all project-specific analysis information, including resource reports, literature cited, documentation of field investigations, and information resulting from public involvement efforts. The Project Area The Wrangell Island ecosystem is a temperate rainforest interspersed with muskegs and influenced by a maritime climatic zone. The topography of Wrangell Island is generally steep and mountainous, with high mountain ridges bisected by broad valleys and creeks. Mountains reaching nearly 3,000 feet in elevation make up much of the island. Numerous small steep streams flow from mountain slopes, lakes, and muskegs throughout the island. Although many mountain streams coalesce in the valley bottoms, few are large enough to develop any substantial floodplains. Roughly half of the island is productive forest land, with the rest being wetlands, forested wetlands, and bogs that developed on poorly drained till underlying a layer of organic soils. The City of Wrangell (population approximately 2,400) is located at the island’s north end and is the largest community on Wrangell Island (ADOL 2016). Thoms Place, located on the southwest coast of Wrangell Island, is a small community with a summertime high population of about 22. Wrangell’s economy was previously based on mining, timber harvesting, manufacturing, fishing, and seafood processing. However, tourism is now playing a larger role in Wrangell’s economy, and the City and Borough of Wrangell are actively seeking diversification and economic growth. Administrative and Ecological Land Divisions The land area of the Tongass National Forest has been divided in several different ways to describe the resources. Divisions vary by resource since the relationship of each resource to geographic conditions and zones varies. Land divisions important for the effects analysis are briefly described. Wrangell Island Project FEIS ♦ 53 3 Affected Environment and Environmental Consequences Land Use Designations The Forest Plan uses land use designations (LUDs) to guide management of National Forest System (NFS) lands within the Tongass National Forest. The Wrangell Island project area includes five LUDs: Timber Production, Modified Landscape, and Old-Growth Habitat, Municipal Watersheds and Scenic Viewsheds (see figure 2). Table 3 summarizes the management emphasis, and provides the amount and percentage of acres for each LUD on Wrangell Island. Chapter 3 of the Forest Plan contains a more detailed description of each LUD. Table 3. Land use designations (LUDs) on Wrangell Island Percentage of Land Use Description Acres NFS land on Designation Wrangell Island Emphasis is sustained, long-term timber production. Timber Timber harvest activities are located and designed to 52,579 46% Production meet timber objectives. See Forest Plan pages 3-116 through 3-121. Emphasis is sustained, long-term timber production while minimizing the visibility of development in the Foreground distance zone. Recognizes scenic values of forested Modified lands as viewed from identified visual priority travel 9,992 9% Landscape routes and use areas (Forest Plan, appendix F) and provides for modifying timber harvest practices accordingly by reducing the effects to scenery. See Forest Plan pages 3-109 through 3-115. Emphasis is sustained, long-term timber production while minimizing the visibility of developments. Recognizes scenic values of forested lands as viewed from identified Scenic visual priority travel routes and use areas (Forest Plan, 19,197 17% Viewshed appendix F) and provides for modifying timber harvest practices accordingly. Emphasizes the scenic values to a greater degree than the Modified Landscape land use designation. See Forest Plan pages 3-101 through 3-108. Emphasis is to maintain areas of old-growth forests and their associated natural ecological processes to provide Old-growth habitat for old-growth associated resources. Timber 30,929 27% Habitat harvest for timber management objectives is not compatible with this designation. See Forest Plan pages 3-57 through 3-62. Emphasis is to maintain these watersheds as municipal water supply reserves in a manner that meets provisions of the Safe Drinking Water Act and State of Alaska Drinking Water Regulations and Water Quality Municipal Standards, in accordance with Forest Service Manual 413 <1% Watershed (FSM) 2542 and 36 CFR §251.9. Timber production is not compatible with this designation, but administrative use of timber is allowed if the land use designation objectives are being met. See Forest Plan pages 3-51 through 3-56. Total National Forest system lands 113,110 Total lands of other ownership 21,196 134,306 Wrangell Island Project FEIS ♦ 54 Affected Environment and Environmental Consequences 3 Project Area The project area is Wrangell Island itself and is about 134,306 acres in size. Approximately 16 percent of the project area (21,196 acres) includes lands of other ownership. These lands are managed by the State of Alaska, Alaska Mental Health Trust, Sealaska Corporation (tribal), the City and Borough of Wrangell, and private landowners. Value Comparison Units Value comparison units (VCUs) are distinct geographic areas, each encompassing a drainage basin containing one or more large stream systems. Boundaries usually follow major watershed divides. The Wrangell Island project area encompasses VCUs 4750, 4760, 4770, 4780, 4790, 4800, and portions of VCUs 5040 and 5050 (figure 2). Game Management Units Game management units (GMUs) are geographical areas defined by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) to manage wildlife populations. Hunting and trapping regulations govern each unit. The Wrangell Island project area is located in GMU 3, which encompasses Wrangell, Etolin, Zarembo, Kuiu, Kupreanof, Mitkof, Coronation, Deer, Kashevarof, and Woronkofski Islands. Wildlife Analysis Areas Wildlife analysis areas (WAAs) are subdivisions of GMUs and the land division used by the ADF&G for wildlife analysis. The boundary for the Wrangell Island project area and WAA 1903 are identical. Watersheds A watershed refers to the area that contributes water to a drainage or stream and to the portion of a forest in which all surface water drains to a common point. Watersheds can range from tens of acres that drain a single, small intermittent stream, to many thousands of acres for a stream that drains hundreds of connected intermittent and perennial streams. The watersheds used for this analysis were delineated by the US Geological Survey according to a national hierarchy of hydrologic unit codes (HUC). In coastal areas, the ocean is considered the common point, so some of these units drain unconnected streams into the ocean. Inventoried Roadless Areas The 2001 Roadless Rule identified inventoried roadless areas on National Forest System lands and how they are to be managed. Timber harvest and road construction are not allowed within Roadless Areas. There are six inventoried roadless areas on Wrangell Island which comprise approximately 64 percent of the NFS land (71,926 acres) (table 4 and figure 13). These roadless areas are in a relatively natural state; however, there has been past timber harvest and road construction within the West Wrangell IRA. The Wrangell Island Project does not propose timber harvest or road development activities in any 2001 inventoried roadless areas. Wrangell Island Project FEIS ♦ 55 3 Affected Environment and Environmental Consequences Table 4. 2001 Inventoried roadless areas (IRAs) within the Wrangell Island project area IRA Name Area (acres) Central Wrangell 13,394 East Wrangell 7,609 North Wrangell 8,089 South Wrangell 14,203 Southeast Wrangell 18,360 West Wrangell 10,271 Total 71,926 Biogeographic Province This designation refers to 22 ecological subdivisions of Southeast Alaska identified by generally distinct ecological, physiogeographic, and biogeographic features. Plant and animal species composition, climate, and geology within each province are generally more similar within than among adjacent provinces. The Wrangell Island project area is located within the Etolin