Attachment_3_SLICKEAR_CREEK__EA-Finished_0002.pdf

SLICKEAR/CLAW CREEK

FOREST RESTORATION

ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT

OR-025-08-017

Bureau of Land Management

Burns District Office

28910 Hwy 20 West

Hines, Oregon 97738

October 2008

USDI, Bureau of Land Management

Three Rivers Resource Area, Burns District

Hines, Oregon 97738

FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT

FOR

SLICKEAR/CLAW CREEK FOREST RESTORATION

INTRODUCTION:

Burns District Bureau of Land Management (BLM) proposes to implement fuels management and ecosystem restoration treatments within Slickear Creek and Claw Creek Units (collectively referred to as the project area) in Three Rivers Resource Area (RA). Prescribed fire and silvicultural thinning activities would be the primary management tools.

The Slickear/Claw Creek Forest Restoration Project area is made up of two subunits located in Harney County. Slickear Creek Unit (approximately 6,900 acres) and Claw Creek Unit (approximately 4,600 acres) are located approximately 26 miles north-northwest and 43 miles west-northwest of Burns, respectively (Map 1). Slickear Creek Unit is located almost exclusively within Skull Creek Grazing Allotment with elevation ranges from 4,400 to 5,000 feet (T. 20 S., R. 29 E., Sections 31-35, and T. 21 S., R. 29 E., Sections 2-11 and 14-18; Maps 2 and 3). Claw Creek Unit is located almost exclusively within Claw Creek Allotment with elevation ranges from 4,660 to 5,150 feet (T. 21 S., R. 26 E., Sections 12, 13, and 24 and T 21 S., R. 27 E., Sections 7, 8, and 17-20; Maps 4 and 5). The project would be implemented over a 10 to 12-year period.

Rangeland plant communities represented in the project area are dominated by species such as ponderosa pine, western juniper, mountain big sagebrush, low sagebrush, and stiff sagebrush.

Other important plant communities occurring in the project area include quaking aspen, mountain mahogany, and bitterbrush.

Due to climate shifts, historic livestock grazing, fire suppression, early logging practices, a shift in land-use practices, and absence of other forest management practices, ponderosa pine and western juniper have expanded and encroached upon important plant communities and are out of balance with historical compositions.

Western juniper (addressed separately from all other conifers in this document) is encroaching upon all plant communities in the project area to various degrees. Between 1870 and 1900, rapid increases in juniper density within sagebrush-steppe plant communities coincided with the onset of favorable climatic conditions, major changes in land-use patterns, and decreases in fire frequency and intensity throughout eastern Oregon. A simultaneous increase in establishment of juniper forests in the region occurred between 1879 and 1918. Fire return intervals in mountain big sagebrush-bunchgrass plant association groups varied between 15 and 25 years prior to Euro-American settlement (Miller and Rose 1999). Increasing distribution and density of juniper within shrubland and grassland ecosystems can dramatically impact biodiversity, hydrologic cycles, fauna, and nutrient cycling (Bates et al. 1999). The most frequently cited cultural factors involved in the historic expansion of juniper involve introduction of sheep and cattle grazing at the end of the 19th century. Livestock grazing removed or reduced herbaceous fine fuels from the understory of shrubland plant communities, thereby, reducing fire frequency, intensity, and area burned. Fire suppression also contributed toward the trend of fire exclusion as tactics and technologies advanced over time.

Exclusion of wildland fire combined with early logging methods have also resulted in overstocked ponderosa pine stand conditions, high levels of forest litter, fuel accumulations, increased ladder fuels, and increased proportions of fire-intolerant trees (Hann et al. 1997;

Swetnam et al. 1999). Large-scale wildfires that occur under these conditions can be dangerous, unpredictable events that threaten human life, private property, and cause resource damage.

Forested areas within the project area are overstocked,1 which has resulted in a reduction of grasses, forbs, and shrubs. Ponderosa pine stands in the project area were historically dominated by large, fire-resistant ponderosa pine. Now, the understory and middlestory of these stands are crowded with fire-intolerant, small-diameter trees and canopies are often in a closed condition.

The shift in land-use practices that accompanied Euro-American settlement also transformed the structure and composition of forestland plant communities in the region. Prior to 1890, the fire return interval in lower elevation, fire-adapted forests common to the southern Blue Mountains varied between 5 and 23 years (Agee 1994). The low intensity/high frequency disturbance regime favored development of fire resistant trees such as large ponderosa pine. It also favored development of open stands with scant ladder fuels.

Density and patch size of aspen stands and other riparian species in the project area, have declined due to ponderosa pine and juniper encroachment. In the project area juniper has encroached into many of the stands, but only dominates a small number of aspen sites.

Ponderosa pine has encroached upon almost all aspen stands within the project area and is dominating most of them.

Density, patch size, health and vigor of mountain big sagebrush/bunchgrasses, mountain mahogany, and bitterbrush stands are declining as a result of encroaching juniper and pine trees.

1 Overstocked: Having a tree density in excess of the range of historic variability.

Much of the existing mountain big sagebrush/bunchgrass communities are in an early transitional phase to closed western juniper woodlands. Juniper has also encroached into, and in many cases dominates, mountain mahogany and bitterbrush stands. Ponderosa pine has also encroached upon these plant communities. Historically, higher elevation, forest-fringe ecological sites were open shrub-grassland communities supporting only two to five ponderosa pine trees per acre (Munger 1917; Erickson and Conover 1918). Current conditions support an average of 40 or more ponderosa pine trees per acre.

At the lower fringes of this forest type, ponderosa pine and western juniper have encroached meadows and other areas where conifers were not historically prevalent. There is an increasing realization forests and woodlands of the Blue Mountains have evolved with fire and historical conditions were often more resilient and sustainable than the present condition (Langston 1995).

PURPOSE AND NEED FOR ACTION:

The primary purpose of the Proposed Action is to move toward management objectives described in Three Rivers Resource Management Plan (RMP) within Slickear Creek and Claw Creek Units by reducing hazardous fuels, restoring plant communities, and improving wildlife habitat diversity. The emphasis on treatments in forested areas would be to reduce densities of small diameter trees and duff and litter accumulations. The emphasis in shrublands, woodlands, and riparian areas would be to move conditions toward historic2 species composition and structure while reducing fuels in the vicinity of the towns of Burns, Hines, and Riley, as well as numerous ranches, homes, and dwellings. Burns, Hines, and Riley were identified as communities at risk in the Harney County Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) (2005).

The need for action is western juniper and ponderosa pine have encroached upon important plant communities (as described above) impacting biodiversity, hydrologic cycles, fauna and nutrient cycling. Fuel accumulations have also occurred creating potential for large-scale, high-intensity wildfires threatening human life, property, and natural resources.

Additional Purposes Include:

¾ Reduce horizontal and vertical fuel continuity and loading of forests and woodlands to reduce the chances of a surface fire becoming a crown fire, and a small fire becoming a stand-replacement wildfire. Reducing fuels would not only help protect life, property, and resource values on private and public lands, but would also increase the safety for wildland firefighters.

Supporting RMP Objective: Fire Management Objective 1 (RMP, p. 2-101): As determined through the values at risk analysis, maximize protection of life, property, and high value sensitive resources from the detrimental effects of wildfire.

2 Historic: Refers to a period prior to 1940 throughout this document.

Project Objectives:

- Reduce surface fuels in forested stands from 7 tons per acre to approximately 3 tons per acre.

- Reduce density of understory trees acting as ladder fuel in forests or woodlands so they are spaced at an average of 22 feet within treated stands.

- Reduce woody fuel loading within western juniper encroached mountain big sagebrush communities in the project area. Reduce 1-hour and 10-hour time lag fuels associated with juniper by a mean total of 90 percent and 100-hour fuels by a mean total of 75 percent in treated areas.

¾ Improve vigor and resiliency of fire-dependent ecological communities to wildfire, insects, disease, and other disturbances. Reintroducing fire into shrublands, grasslands, forestlands, and riparian areas would move stands toward conditions that are more stable, support greater wildlife species diversity, and enhance watershed function.

Supporting RMP Objective: Vegetation 1 (RMP, p. 2-51): Maintain, restore, or enhance the diversity of plant communities and plant species in abundances and distributions which prevent the loss of specific native plant community types or indigenous plant species within the RA.

Project Objective:

- Move mountain big sagebrush/bunchgrass plant communities and hydrological conditions within the project area toward historic conditions by reducing live western juniper density by a mean total of 70 percent within treated areas.

Supporting RMP Objective: Forestry and Woodlands Objective 1 (RMP, p. 2-24):

Manage approximately 50,000 acres of available productive noncommercial forestlands and woodlands for the enhancement of habitat diversity, minor forest products, watershed protection, and rangeland productivity.

Project Objective:

- Move pine forest, pine woodland, and pine savannah stand densities, structure, and composition toward historic conditions within the project area.

Supporting RMP Objective: Fire Management Objective 2 (RMP, p. 2-101):

Consistent with the values at risk analysis, maximize the beneficial use of prescribed fire and wildfire to achieve other resource management objectives.

Project Objective:

- Reintroduce fire as a disturbance process in mountain big sagebrush/bunchgrass, and ponderosa pine woodland and forest communities within the project area.

¾ Improve quality and productivity of forage species available to wildlife and livestock in the project area. Bunchgrasses and forbs, important forage for elk, mule deer, antelope, domestic livestock and avian species, have been reduced or are completely absent in plant communities undergoing conversion to juniper woodlands and in closed canopy ponderosa pine forest stands. Key wildlife browse species such as bitterbrush and mountain mahogany are declining under the influence of juniper and pine expansion.

Supporting RMP Objective: Wildlife 7 (RMP, p. 2-74): Restore, maintain, or enhance the diversity of plant communities and wildlife habitat in abundances and distribution which prevent the loss of specific native plant community types or indigenous wildlife species habitat within the RA.

Project Objectives:

- Reduce western juniper encroachment into key wildlife habitat dominated by bitterbrush, mountain mahogany, aspen, or riparian hardwoods by 90 percent within the project area while maintaining habitat values.

- Reduce post-settlement3 western juniper density by 90 percent on low sagebrush/bunchgrass ecological sites targeted to improve sage-grouse habitat.

- Increase forage available to big game and other wildlife on BLM-administered lands in the project area while retaining adequate cover.

Supporting RMP Objective: Grazing Management 1 (RMP, p. 2-33): Resolve resource conflicts and achieve management objectives as identified for each allotment.

Project Objective:

- Increase forage available to domestic livestock on lands within Skull Creek and Claw Creek Grazing Allotments.

¾ Improve riparian and water quality conditions in the project area. Areas of accelerated erosion and increased sediment delivery into fluvial systems within the project area are occurring due to current road locations and conifer encroachment upon riparian areas.

Supporting RMP Objective: Water Quality 1.1 (RMP, p. 2-4): On a case-by-case basis and after adequate public involvement, close and rehabilitate all roads impacting surface water quality and not needed for administration or fire protection on public lands.

Project Objective:

- Improve water quality by reducing sediment delivery into Claw Creek associated with road use.

3 Post-settlement: A period of time occurring after Euro-American settlement in the region.

Supporting RMP Objective: Soil Management 2 (RMP, p. 2-20): Rehabilitate areas with specific localized soil erosion problems and reduce accelerated (human influenced) sediment delivery to fluvial systems.

Project Objective:

- Reduce or slow erosion within Slickear Creek and Claw Creek Units.

¾ Capture the economic value of those trees that are surplus to resource needs. This would reduce treatment costs incurred by the agency and supply raw materials and jobs that contribute to community stability.

Conformance with Applicable Land Use Plans, Laws, Regulations and Policy

This analysis incorporates and conforms to the Three Rivers Record of Decision/RMP management objectives and also conforms to the following documents, which direct and provide the framework for management of BLM lands within Burns District:

(EA) (OR-020-98-05) (1998).

plan to maintain and enhance populations and habitat (2005).

• The Burns Interagency Fire Zone Fire Management Plan (2004). The project area lies entirely within the Silver and Silvies Fire Management Units.

• Four of the five key points set forth within the National Fire Plan (NFP).4

Additionally, the proposal responds to the goals of A Collaborative Approach for Reducing Wildfire Risk to Communities and the Environment: 10-year Comprehensive Strategy.5

Key points of the NFP are:

4 National Fire Plan (NFP): A collection of policies and documents for actively responding to severe wildland fires and their impacts to communities while ensuring sufficient fire fighting capacity for the future (http://www.fireplan.gov).

5 http://www.westgov.org/wga/initiatives/fire/final_fire_rpt.pdf

Goals of the NFP 10-Year Comprehensive Strategy:

• Harney County CWPP founded on the NFP and the related 10-year Comprehensive Strategy in Harney County (PF-IRA-006, DNRC et al. 2005).

The CWPP was completed in 2005 through a collaborative effort with a diverse group of interested parties. The purpose and need of the Proposed Action are in conformance with the CWPP goals of protecting communities, rural residences and structures, grazing lands, recreational lands, and cultural resources. The CWPP recommends that fuels reduction projects focus on Fire Regime Condition Class 3 (Section 10, Fire Management) lands and private landowners collaborate with Federal agencies to make fuels management efforts more effective.

Finally, the Proposed Action is in compliance with State, tribal, and local laws and regulations.

SUMMARY OF PROPOSED ACTION:

The proposal is to utilize various methods of prescribed fire and mechanical treatments to accomplish specific objectives to improve forest and rangeland health. The project area treatment proposals are grouped into four dominant vegetative communities: forest areas (ponderosa pine stands), low/stiff sagebrush flats, mountain big sagebrush-bunchgrasses communities, and aspen stands. Mountain mahogany and bitterbrush communities are lumped in as inclusions with the mountain big sagebrush and ponderosa pine plant communities.

In addition to the mechanical and prescribed fire treatments, approximately 0.75-mile of a rough road that meanders through Claw Creek would either be closed or moved to reduce sediment input into the stream channel. This road is currently a rough, two-track road that runs through the creek bed and dead ends due to topographic features. Twenty-one Project Design Elements (PDEs), for protection or maintenance of specific resource values, have been incorporated into the Proposed Action, as the result of specialist recommendations.

Forested Areas Treatment

There are approximately 1,500 acres within the project area dominated by ponderosa pine-bunchgrasses plant communities. These stands have become overstocked due to absence of fire and other management practices. Other important plant communities occurring within these sites include quaking aspen, mountain mahogany, and bitterbrush. Juniper has encroached upon these plant communities. Objectives in these areas are to improve forest health, reduce hazardous fuel loading and risk of sustained crown fires, and to improve wildlife habitat.

To return these stands to a historical ponderosa pine community, it is necessary to reduce surface, ladder, and continuous canopy fuels in stages (Agee 2005). The proposal is to thin overstocked pine stands and remove encroaching juniper. Several untreated islands would be left to provide quality thermal and hiding cover for wildlife. These islands would be determined during onsite project layout. Approximately 70 to 90 percent or 1,050 to 1,350 acres of these communities would be treated. All juniper trees except those displaying old-growth characteristics or obvious wildlife occupation would be cut and piled. Understory and intermediate and co-dominant overstory ponderosa pine trees would be thinned using variable tree spacing creating basal areas ranging from 40 to 120 feet2/acre. Thinning would retain the largest and best formed trees for overstory retention. If it is determined to be both economically and environmentally feasible, cut conifers could be sold and removed. All slash would be piled either by hand or machine depending on feasibility and resource concerns. All piles would be burned after the vegetation cured (vegetation should cure within 2 years). A prescribed underburn would be conducted 5 to 7 years after mechanical treatments to further reduce ground fuels (litter, twigs, branches <3 inches) in the same stands.

Low/Stiff Sagebrush Flats Treatment

There are approximately 5,700 acres classified as low/stiff sagebrush sites within the project area. Some sites have had some level of juniper encroachment on them. The proposal is to treat some of the low and stiff sagebrush flats encroached upon by juniper. The recommendation to treat the area would be determined by the relative importance of the area for sage-grouse. Areas considered to be suitable for sage-grouse, but currently unsuitable due to juniper encroachment would be given highest priority for treatment. Other areas, such as suitable habitat or probable habitat for sage-grouse, would be determined by the level of juniper encroachment and relative importance. The objectives in these areas are to improve sage-grouse habitat and protect the integrity of the low/stiff sagebrush flats. The proposal in these plant communities is to remove the competitive influence of encroaching juniper. Encroaching juniper trees would be cut and left. Downed juniper may be jackpot burned6 after the vegetation has cured. This determination would be based upon whether or not downed juniper would create enough fuel buildup to create a potential wildfire hazard. Single-tree burning7 may occur on a limited basis as an alternative method to cutting.

6 Jackpot Burning: Prescribed burning of concentrations of woody fuels during the late fall, winter or spring, preferably when the ground is partially frozen or wet. This method would burn the fine fuels, limit the ability of the fire to spread and prevent soil sterilization from excessive heat. It is conducive to maintaining the herbaceous plant species growing under the downed junipers. (For more detail see Appendix A - Activity Descriptions.)

7 Single-tree Burning: Prescribed burning of individual trees during the late fall, winter or spring, preferably when the ground is partially wet or frozen. This method would burn the fine fuels, limit the ability of the fire to spread and prevent soil sterilization from excessive heat. It is conducive to maintaining the herbaceous plant species growing under the junipers. (For more detail see Appendix A - Activity Descriptions.)

Mountain Big Sagebrush/Bunchgrass Communities Treatment

There are approximately 3,600 acres in the project area classified as mountain big sagebrush-bunchgrass plant communities. Scattered ponderosa pine woodlands, mountain mahogany stands, and bitterbrush stands are intermixed within some of the mountain big sagebrush-bunchgrass plant communities. These plant communities are being encroached upon, and in some cases, dominated by juniper. Pine has also expanded, to a limited degree, outside its historical niche within these communities. The objective in these areas is to restore and enhance existing mountain big sagebrush-bunchgrass, mountain mahogany, bitterbrush, and pine woodland communities, to improve wildlife habitat. The management objective in all these communities is to remove encroaching juniper and pine trees. Approximately 40 to 60 percent of the land area made up of these plant communities would be targeted for treatment.

The recommendation to treat a given area would be determined by the level of encroachment and relative importance of the area for big game. The proposal in these plant communities consists of an array of management actions in order to reduce influence of encroaching juniper and pine. The two principal treatments used to treat the majority of these communities would be 1) cutting encroaching juniper followed by jackpot burning after juniper has cured or 2) cutting and piling.

In areas where cutting and piling is the preferred method, piles would be moved away from retained desired vegetation to the extent practical. Piling would be done by hand or mechanized equipment (excavator, feller buncher, etc.). Where ponderosa pine has expanded outside its historical niche, understory thinning, ranging from complete removal to a 22-foot spacing, may occur. All piles would be burned after the vegetation cured.

Lesser amounts of prescribed broadcast burning and juniper/pine cutting and leaving may be employed. The cutting and leaving activity would only be used in sparse fuels where it is determined not to be a hazard. In areas targeted for a broadcast burn, the objective is to burn 40 to 60 percent of the mountain big sagebrush-bunchgrass communities in early or mid-transition toward juniper woodlands and 90 to 100 percent of mountain big sagebrush plant communities in late transition toward juniper woodlands. Any remaining encroached juniper may be cut and jackpot burned within treated areas and within areas left unburned by the broadcast prescribed burn. Mountain mahogany and bitterbrush plant communities greater than an acre may receive some form of pre-treatment prior to any broadcast burning. Pre-treatment would primarily consist of cutting and jackpot burning, blacklining, or cutting and pulling cut vegetation away from mountain mahogany and bitterbrush stands, or piling via hand or mechanized equipment, prior to the broadcast burn. The recommendation to perform pre-treatment and type of pre-treatment would be determined by resource advisors during onsite project layout.

Aspen Treatment

There are several aspen stands found within the project area. All aspen stands within the project area are being encroached upon by juniper, ponderosa pine, or both. The proposal in these treatment areas is to remove encroaching vegetation. Mechanical cutting would be the primary tactic used in these communities. Broadcast burning may be utilized in addition to mechanical treatments or as a substitute for mechanical treatments in an effort to cut down on juniper and pine seedling establishment. Ponderosa pine trees less than 10 inches Diameter Breast Height (DBH) would be cut, limbed, and piled. Ponderosa pine trees in the 11 to 19-inches DBH size range may be cut and limbed. Only limbs would be piled on these trees, leaving the bole to serve as downed woody debris. Ponderosa pine trees greater than 19 inches DBH would either be girdled to provide snag habitat, cut, or left onsite. The largest and true old-growth pine trees would be left onsite. If it is determined to be both economically and environmentally feasible, cut conifers could be sold and removed. Junipers, except those showing old-growth characteristics or obvious wildlife occupation, would be cut and piled. Piling in aspens stands would be done by either machine or hand. Piles and downed juniper would be burned after the cut vegetation has cured, and during a time of year that would reduce damage to soils resource and minimize fire spread. Aspen stands could be fenced to protect aspen suckers from browsing animals. The need for fencing would be determined through monitoring. Big game exclosure fences would be built to Burns District BLM standards, which consist of woven wire from ground to at least 7 feet aboveground. If a big game exclosure fence is determined to be needed, it would be removed after new suckers attain a height where the apical bud is 7 feet or higher or above the reach of most grazing animals as determined by monitoring.

Project Design Elements

1. Protect cultural resource values throughout the life of the project. Archaeological inventory of the proposed treatment areas would be completed prior to any mechanical treatments. Archaeological sites may be avoided within mechanical treatment units and activity generated fuels would not be piled within the boundaries of sites. Sites with combustible components would be protected during deployment of prescribed fire by blacklining resources and use of appropriate ignition techniques. The District Fuels Archaeologist would review burn plans prior to project implementation.

2. Protect Special Status vegetation species throughout the life of the project.

Special Status plant populations would be avoided within mechanical treatment units if necessary. Fire intolerant sensitive plants would be protected during deployment of prescribed fire by blacklining resources and use of appropriate ignition techniques. The District Fuels Botanist would review burn plans prior to project implementation.

3. Protect Special Status wildlife species (fisheries and wildlife) habitat throughout the life of the project. Structures or areas with Special Status Species (SSS) habitat value identified during wildlife surveys would be protected during project implementation. The District Fuels Wildlife Biologist and the Three Rivers Fisheries Biologist would review burn plans prior to project implementation.

4. Sites that lack sufficient understory species, such as fully developed juniper woodlands, or areas burned at a high intensity, may require seeding following a prescribed fire treatment to attain the desired post-fire response. Mixtures of native and nonnative grass, forb, and shrub seed may be applied to designated areas with aerial or ground-based methods. Candidate sites for seeding would be determined on a case-by-case basis as monitoring data are gathered.

5. Livestock grazing would not occur for at least two growing seasons in pastures treated with broadcast burning. An additional season of rest from grazing would be necessary prior to a broadcast burn to allow for development of a fine fuel ignition source. Livestock grazing may not occur in pastures receiving other types of treatments including prescribed underburns, jackpot burns, or other treatments that leave the retained vegetation vulnerable. The decision to rest and how long to rest would be determined by post-treatment monitoring of plant response to the various treatments.

6. No downed ponderosa pine logs greater than 15 inches diameter and no snags greater than 15 inches DBH would be intentionally burned in any unit. Snags may be intentionally created if an area is determined to be snag deficient following mechanical and prescribed fire treatments.

7. The raking of deep duff around old-growth ponderosa pine trees, large snags, large down woody debris may occur prior to prescribed burning if determined to be necessary to retain them.

8. Maintain suitable big game hiding and thermal cover. Ensure mountain mahogany stands and conifer leave islands continue to function as big game cover following treatments. Retain approximately 10 percent of expansion juniper and young pine stands within the project area to provide cover for mule deer and elk.

9. Avoid manual cutting of pine and juniper with old-growth characteristics or obvious wildlife occupation (cavities or nests). Consider protection of such trees during prescribed fire operations.

10. All ponderosa pine stumps greater than 14 inches diameter created during the project would be treated with Borax to guard against the threat of annosus (Fomes annosus) root disease.

11. Two years of goshawk inventory would be performed prior to any implementation of the Proposed Action.

12. Prior to treatment of prescribed fire and mechanical treatment units, noxious weed populations in the area would be inventoried. Weed populations identified in or adjacent to the project area would be treated using the most appropriate methods in accordance with the Noxious Weed Management Program EA/Decision Record

(DR), OR-020-98-05.

13. Risk of noxious weed introduction would be minimized by ensuring all equipment (including all machinery, 4-wheelers, and pickup trucks) is cleaned prior to entry to the site, minimizing disturbance activities, and completing follow-up monitoring, for at least 3 years, to ensure no new noxious weed establishment.

Should noxious weeds be found, appropriate control treatments would be performed in conformance with the Noxious Weed Management Program

EA/DR, OR-020-98-05.

14. Piles and cut juniper would be jackpot burned when soil moisture is high or under frozen soil conditions to reduce threat of soil sterilization and to maintain the existing shrub and herbaceous plant communities to the extent practical.

15. Prescribed burning would follow the Oregon State Smoke Management Plan in order to protect air quality and reduce health and visibility impacts on designated areas.

16. All burns would be planned based on either instructions given by, or in consultation with, the Oregon Department of Forestry and the State Implementation Plan for prescribed fires. Coordination with other prescribed fire projects occurring at the same time may be required.

17. Any road damaged by vehicles or equipment would be restored to its previous standard including maintaining adequate drainage to provide for resource protection.

18. Dispersed campsites identified within the project area would not be intentionally burned during broadcast burn operations. Protection would be considered for leave islands of sufficient size around identified campsites to protect cultural and recreation values.

19. Limit the amount of mechanized equipment in the riparian area. Landings and piles would be kept out of riparian areas.

20. Prior to beginning operations requiring any fuel tanks or fuel handling at the site, the contractor or BLM would develop and submit to the authorized officer a spill contingency plan.

21. The use of heavy equipment will occur under dry or frozen soil conditions to limit impacts.

22. Should post-treatment monitoring indicate that adverse resource impacts are occurring due to use by motorized vehicles, a temporary closure on use of motorized vehicles in areas being affected, may be utilized.

SUMMARY OF NO ACTION ALTERNATIVE:

Under this alternative, there would be no thinning of forestlands, cutting of encroaching juniper and pine in sagebrush communities or stands of mahogany or aspen, application of prescribed fire, removal or realignment of the road alongside Claw Creek, or temporary protection fencing erected around aspen stands. All other current management, such as livestock grazing, under the No Action Alternative would proceed under the Three Rivers RMP and all other relevant policy direction.

FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT:

This proposal is in conformance with objectives and land use plan allocations in the 1992 Three Rivers RMP. Based on the analysis of potential environmental impacts contained in the EA and all other information, I have determined that the Proposed Action and alternatives analyzed do not constitute a major Federal action that would significantly impact the quality of the human environment. Therefore, an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is not necessary and will not be prepared.

Rationale:

The following critical elements of the human environment have been analyzed in the Three Rivers Proposed RMP/FEIS, and are not known to be present in the project area or affected by enacting either alternative, and therefore, will not be addressed further in this document: Areas of Critical Environmental Concern, Flood Plains, Paleontology, Prime or Unique Farmlands, Hazardous Materials, SSS – Plants, Wilderness, Wilderness Study Areas, and Wild and Scenic Rivers. The following critical element is not discussed in the Three Rivers PRMP/FEIS and would not be affected by the No Action or Proposed Action Alternatives:

Environmental Justice: Executive Order 12898 requires that Federal agencies adopt strategies to address environmental justice concerns within the context of agency operations. Implementation of the Proposed Action would not result in disproportionately adverse effects on minority or low-income populations.

Wilderness Characteristics: The issue of impacts to potential wilderness characteristics was raised by the Oregon Natural Desert Association (ONDA) for the project area. BLM reviewed the submitted information as part of updating its original wilderness characteristics inventory.

Using field knowledge and onsite verification (where necessary), BLM determined that its original inventory finding that no wilderness characteristics exist in the project area remains valid. As such, wilderness characteristics will not be analyzed further in this document. Both the BLM's findings and the ONDA-proposed inventory information are available to the public upon request.

The following critical elements are present and are analyzed in the document: Air Quality, Water Quality/Wetlands and Riparian Zones, Migratory Birds, SSS - Fauna, Noxious Weeds, American Indian Traditional Practices, and Cultural Heritage. Noncritical elements which are present and analyzed in this document are Soils/Biological Soil Crusts (BSCs), Vegetation, Wildlife, Fisheries, Grazing Management, Recreation/Off-Highway Vehicles (OHV), Visual Resources, Economic and Social Values, Forestry/Woodlands, Fire Management, and Transportation/Roads.

This chapter describes affected environmental components not site-specifically described in the Three Rivers PRMP/FEIS and all effects including direct, indirect, and cumulative on resources from enacting the proposed alternatives. A distinction between direct and indirect effects is not made and in many cases cumulative effects are only described as effects. All effects are considered direct and cumulative; therefore, use of these words may not appear. For the purpose of this analysis, the term "short term" refers to a period of time that is equal to or less than 15 years. The term "long term" refers to a period of time that is greater than 15 years.

Air Quality:

Air quality in the areas associated with both Slickear Creek and Claw Creek Units currently meets or exceeds air quality standards outlined by the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (ODEQ). Due to the long distance from large metropolitan areas and factories, ambient air quality is generally good with few particulates or other pollutants. No area or community in Harney County is considered a nonattainment area for particulate matter meaning it is not in violation of the particulate (PM 2.5) national ambient air quality standard. Impacts on air quality from the proposal could range from reduced visibility to pneumonic irritation, and smoke odor affecting people in proximity to the project area when such treatments are underway. These impacts are short lived, the greatest impact occurring during the actual ignition phase, lasting from one to a few days depending on the size or number of actual burn units or number of piles to be ignited.

Water Quality, Wetlands and Riparian:

The proposed project includes portions of Silver and Silvies subbasins. Riparian conditions were analyzed at the 6th-field Hydrologic Unit Code (HUC)8 or 6th level subwatershed. There are five, 6th-level HUCs within the project area.

Streams in the project area have been evaluated for water quality impairment as directed by the ODEQ. Egypt Creek, Wickiup Creek, Claw Creek, and Skull Creek are on ODEQ's 303(d) list of water quality impaired streams for exceeding the 68 ºF water temperature standard for salmonid rearing. No other pollutants are documented in the streams within the project area.

Below are brief descriptions of the current conditions of 6th level subwatersheds within the project area.

8 HUC - Hydrologic Unit Code. A hydrologic unit is a drainage area delineated to nest in a multi-level, hierarchical drainage system. Its boundaries are defined by hydrographic and topographic criteria that delineate an area drained by a river system, a reach of a river and its tributaries in that reach, a closed basin(s), or a group of streams forming a coastal drainage area.

Reintroducing and mimicking natural processes excluded from riparian zones (e.g., juniper and other conifer removal and prescribed burns) should result in a positive vegetation response.

Prescribed burns would be initiated when conditions are conducive to lower intensity burns, which would reduce potential of losing desired riparian vegetation. In burned areas, most herbaceous and root sprouting shrubs would retain their live rooting systems intact and hold the soil in place. Deciduous riparian vegetation with high-fuel loading with potential to burn very hot would be pretreated by manual reduction to reduce fuel loads.

Reducing competition from juniper and other conifers in riparian zones should facilitate recovery of deciduous woody and herbaceous riparian communities to a more historic regime. This would improve watershed stability and function by reducing bare soil and sediment inputs, stabilizing banks, increasing infiltration, and maintaining or restoring proper storage and release of groundwater important for late season flows and temperatures. Water quality would improve with enhanced watershed function where erosion is minimized, sediment inputs are minimized, channel bank stability is reinforced, infiltration rates increase, and potential for groundwater recharge is restored.

By reducing high fuel loads throughout the project area, the risk of a large-scale, high-severity wildland fire would be reduced. Where riparian vegetation appears to be well adapted to low-severity fires, mortality rates are highest when the litter layer and root crowns are consumed by fire (Dwire and Kauffman 2003). High-severity burned areas also experience higher rates of soil loss from erosion, increased peak flows of runoff, greater duff reduction, loss of soil nutrients, and soil heating. If organic layers are consumed and mineral soil layers are exposed, soil infiltration and water storage capacities are reduced (Robichaud 2000). By treating fuel loads within the project area the risk of these effects would be reduced.

Removal of 0.75-mile of road along Claw Creek would improve water quality and riparian condition on Claw Creek. Currently this road is a primary source of excessive sediment found in the stream channel. Removing this portion of the road would trend 0.65-mile of Claw Creek toward Proper Functioning Condition (PFC).

Migratory Birds:

The project area has a variety of plant communities, and thus offers the potential for quality habitat for numerous migratory bird species. Migratory bird species strongly associated with the following habitats are likely to occur or have potential to occur in the project area:

ponderosa pine woodlands, ponderosa pine/juniper woodlands, juniper woodlands, big sagebrush/bunchgrass communities, and low and stiff sagebrush plant communities.

Small isolated stands of mountain mahogany, aspen, and willow also occur within the project area adding to the habitat diversity within the project area. A few migratory bird species of conservation concern for the Great Basin either occur within the project area or potential habitat for these species exists within the project area. These species include golden eagle, Lewis' woodpecker, Williamson's sapsucker, white-headed woodpecker, loggerhead shrike, Brewer's sparrow, and sage sparrow. These species, except golden eagles, are Burns District SSS and will be addressed in the SSS section. Golden eagles use a variety of habitats, and generally nest on ledges along rims, but may nest in large, mature coniferous trees. There are no known golden eagle nest sites within or near the project area. There are many other migratory bird species not of conservation concern for the Great Basin Region that use the project area for nesting, foraging, and resting.

Direct impacts to migratory birds would be minimized by limiting burning operations and mechanical treatments to the fall and winter seasons where necessary and through PDEs. In the long term, migratory bird species diversity and richness would increase as grasses, forbs, sagebrush, and other shrubs are regenerated by the reintroduction of fire in rangeland ecosystems and the mosaic of habitat types it creates. Enhancing stands of aspen and other hardwood habitats would also benefit populations of migratory birds. In forested areas migratory birds such as cavity nesters that prefer large trees would have improved habitat quality at the stands get healthier producing larger trees in the long term. There would be a reduction in habitat quality for birds that prefer dense understories and those that forage and nest in the small size class conifer trees. However, the overall net effect of the Proposed Action would likely be an increase in habitat diversity and an increase in avian species diversity.

Special Status Species - Fauna:

Terrestrial Species

There are no known Federally listed Threatened or Endangered wildlife species found within or adjacent to the project area. There are several SSS that either occur or have potential to occur as their habitat or potential habitat exists within the project area. These species include greater sage-grouse, northern goshawk, northern pygmy owl, pileated woodpecker, Lewis' woodpecker, Williamson's sapsucker, white-headed woodpecker, pygmy nuthatch, olive-sided flycatcher, loggerhead shrike, Brewer's sparrow, sage sparrow, and several species of bats. Other SSS may occasionally occur within the project area, but their occurrence would be considered rare or infrequent.

Greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus), an SSS, and their habitat are known to occur within the project area. The Proposed Action is in conformance with the Greater Sage-Grouse Conservation Assessment and Strategy for Oregon. The Proposed Action would have long-term positive effects on sage-grouse, as sagebrush communities are restored to functioning habitats.

Northern goshawks may occur or have potential to occur in the project area. There are no known nest sites in the project area. However, the project area's forested stands and aspen stands have potential to provide suitable nesting habitat for northern goshawks. The proposal should have immediate and long-term positive effects on northern goshawks and their habitat.

Northern pygmy owl, pileated woodpecker, Lewis' woodpecker, Williamson's sapsucker, white-headed woodpecker, and pygmy nuthatch are forest species that have not been documented in the project area, but are either expected to occur or potential habitat for these species occurs. These species are cavity nesters primarily relying upon large dead and dying trees for nesting. The olive-sided flycatcher prefers open forest with an uneven canopy.

Northern pygmy owl and pileated woodpecker prefer closed canopies, while Lewis' woodpecker, Williamson's sapsucker, white-headed woodpecker, and pygmy nuthatch prefer more open canopies. All generally prefer a more open understory. The Proposed Action would protect existing snags, large downed woody debris, and old-growth trees and promote recruitment of large trees which should benefit these species in the long term. All these species should benefit from opening of the understory. The Proposed Action would also remove a portion of subdominate and co-dominate trees that make up the forest canopy. This part of the Proposed Action should benefit Lewis' woodpecker, Williamson's sapsucker, white-headed woodpecker, and pygmy nuthatch as they prefer more open canopies. It would negatively affect northern pygmy owl and pileated woodpeckers as they prefer closed canopies. However, the variable nature of forest treatments would ensure there are portions of forest where canopy closure would remain high and not affect habitat quality for these species. The olive-sided flycatcher would also be beneficially affected as the Proposed Action would open the understory and promote larger tree growth.

Brewer's sparrow, sage sparrow, and loggerhead shrike are expected to inhabit the project area.

These species nest in habitats with varying degrees of sagebrush density. Habitat quality in the project area for these species has been degraded by juniper encroachment, and in some cases, ponderosa pine. The Proposed Action would cause both immediate and long-term benefits for Brewer's sparrows, sage sparrows, and loggerhead shrikes. Treatments that involve felling of juniper or removal of pine encroaching into shrub-steppe habitat would immediately improve habitat quality for these species. Broadcast burn treatments may initially decrease habitat for these species as both sagebrush and juniper would be consumed by fire, but it should improve habitat quality for these species in the long term as sagebrush is reestablished.

Several Special Status bat species may also be found within the project area. Bat species typically found in forested habitats primarily depend upon large dead or dying trees for roosting.

There has been no documentation of bats species occurring within the project area, but it is likely they occur in the area. Special Status bat species expected to occur in the project area are likely to be not affected in the short term by the Proposed Action. The Proposed Action would protect existing roost trees as well as maintain a suitable prey base. In the long term Special Status bat species may benefit as the Proposed Action would promote larger trees which could potentially become roost trees.

Aquatic Species

Claw and Skull Creeks are the only known fish bearing streams within the project area. These creeks provide habitat for Great Basin redband trout - a Bureau tracking species in Oregon.

This species prefers cold, clear, fast flowing water with clean cobbles and gravels, and spawns during spring. These trout are adapted to dry, hot summers of eastern Oregon and can withstand short periods of time at peak water temperatures of 24 to 27 °C (75 to 80 °F),which would be lethal to most other trout (Bowers et al. 1979). Current population or genetic surveys have not been completed at this time.

Generally, fish species present in the project area are not expected to be adversely affected by disturbances to habitat resulting from project activities. Ground disturbance occurring in uplands would be located sufficient distances from stream channels to avoid introduction of fine sediments.

Reestablishing more natural patterns and processes could lead to restoration of more complex, productive aquatic habitats. Treatment of juniper and other encroached conifers in riparian areas would facilitate recovery of a riparian deciduous community and restore the riparian zone to more historic conditions. Thinning within the riparian zone would accelerate the stand structure toward late successional conditions and reduce the chance of a high severity fire. The existing deciduous component would also be enhanced due to reduced competition with conifers. By expanding the deciduous community, greater bank stability, sediment capture, long-term stream shading, nutrient input, and water storage and release are expected. Late season release of cool groundwater is important for fish survival during low flows. Expanding the riparian hardwood community would also positively affect the aquatic food web. Seasonal inputs of terrestrial insects from riparian areas are an important food source for drift feeding fish species (Young et al. 1997).