Biological Assessment for SNFPA SEIS Biological Assessment for SNFPA SEIS July 30, 2003 i Biological Assessment for SNFPA SEIS ii Biological Assessment for SNFPA SEIS Table of Contents I. Introduction .................................................................................................................. 1 II. Consultation to Date .................................................................................................... 3 Background ......................................................................................................................................................... 3 Current ................................................................................................................................................................ 5 III. Current Management Direction .................................................................................. 5 Background ......................................................................................................................................................... 5 Calyptridium pulchellum – Sierra NF LRMP (1992) ...................................................................................... 6 Clarkia springvillensis – Sequoia NF LRMP (1988) ...................................................................................... 7 Orcuttia tenuis and Tuctoria greenei – Lassen NF LRMP (1993) .................................................................. 7 Senecio layneae – Eldorado NF LRMP (1989) ............................................................................................... 8 IV. Overview of SNFPA ................................................................................................... 9 Description of the Decision ........................................................................................................................... 10 B. Mapping (Land Allocations) ........................................................................................................................ 10 Mapped Land Allocations ............................................................................................................................. 10 Locally Determined Land Allocations .......................................................................................................... 11 Map Errata ..................................................................................................................................................... 13 C. Ecosystem Analysis ...................................................................................................................................... 13 Data Relationships in Ecosystem Analysis ................................................................................................... 14 River Basin Analysis ..................................................................................................................................... 15 Watershed Analysis ....................................................................................................................................... 15 Landscape Analysis ....................................................................................................................................... 16 D. Fire and Fuels Management ........................................................................................................................ 18 Fire and Fuels Management Strategies Across Landscapes .......................................................................... 18 Fuel Treatment Objectives: Plantations and Shrubfields ............................................................................... 20 Urban Wildland Intermix Zones .................................................................................................................... 21 Areas Outside Urban Wildland Intermix Zones ............................................................................................ 23 E. Old Forest Ecosystems and Associated Species ......................................................................................... 24 Old Forest Ecosystem Strategy ..................................................................................................................... 24 California Spotted Owl Conservation Strategy ............................................................................................. 30 Northern Goshawk Conservation Strategy .................................................................................................... 33 Fisher Conservation Strategy ........................................................................................................................ 35 Marten Conservation Strategy ....................................................................................................................... 38 Sierra Nevada Red Fox Conservation Strategy ............................................................................................. 40 Wolverine ...................................................................................................................................................... 41 F. Aquatic, Riparian, and Meadow Ecosystems and Associated Species ..................................................... 42 Aquatic Management Strategy ...................................................................................................................... 42 Riparian Management Objectives ................................................................................................................. 46 Willow Flycatcher Conservation Strategy ..................................................................................................... 57 Great Gray Owl ............................................................................................................................................. 61 Amphibians ................................................................................................................................................... 62 G. Noxious Weeds ............................................................................................................................................. 64 H. Lower Westside Hardwood Ecosystems ..................................................................................................... 66 I. Adaptive Management .................................................................................................................................. 67 V. Proposed Action........................................................................................................ 69 B. Land Allocations ........................................................................................................................................... 76 i Biological Assessment for SNFPA SEIS C. Ecosystem Analysis ...................................................................................................................................... 79 D. Fire and Fuels Management ........................................................................................................................ 80 1. Fire and Fuels Management Strategies Across Landscapes ...................................................................... 80 2. Wildland Urban Intermix Zones ................................................................................................................ 81 3. Areas Outside Wildland Urban Intermix Zones ........................................................................................ 82 4. Fuel Treatment Objectives for Plantations and Shrubfields ...................................................................... 82 5. Fuels Treatments in the HFQLG Pilot Project Area .................................................................................. 83 E. Old Forest Ecosystems and Associated Species ......................................................................................... 83 1. Old Forest Ecosystem Strategy: Forest-wide Standards and Guidelines ................................................... 84 2. Old Forest Ecosystem Strategy: Land Allocations .................................................................................... 87 3. California Spotted Owl Conservation Strategy ......................................................................................... 88 4. Northern Goshawk Conservation Strategy ................................................................................................ 90 5. Fisher Conservation Strategy .................................................................................................................... 92 6. Marten Conservation Strategy ................................................................................................................... 93 7. Sierra Nevada Red Fox Conservation Strategy ......................................................................................... 94 8. Wolverine .................................................................................................................................................. 94 F. Aquatic, Riparian, and Meadow Ecosystems and Associated Species ..................................................... 95 1. Grazing Utilization Standards ................................................................................................................... 95 2. Willow Flycatcher Conservation Strategy ................................................................................................. 95 3. Great Gray