Dirty Donovan Project - leg.mt.gov

Dirty Donovan ProjectEnvironmental Assessment

Missoula UnitSouthwest Land OfficeMontana Department of Natural Resources and ConservationFebruary 2016

Dirty Donovan ProjectEnvironmental Assessment

Table of Contents

Type and Purpose of Action..................................................................................................... 1 Project Development ................................................................................................................ 3 Impacts on the Physical Environment..................................................................................... 7 Impacts on the Human Population ........................................................................................16 Finding .....................................................................................................................................22 Attachment A - Maps ..............................................................................................................25 Attachment B – Vegetation Analysis .....................................................................................30 Attachment C – Soils Analysis...............................................................................................43 Attachment D – Water and Fisheries Analysis......................................................................56 Attachment E – Wildlife Analysis...........................................................................................79

Environmental Assessment Project Name: Dirty Donovan ProjectProposed Implementation Date: Fall, 2016Proponent: Missoula Unit, Southwest Land Office, Montana DNRCCounty: MissoulaDuration: 2016-2023

Type and Purpose of Action

Description of Proposed Action:

BeneficiaryLegal

DescriptionTotal Acres

TreatedAcres

Sections 2,4,10,12,13,24 T12N

R17W; Section 36 T13N R17W Section 6 T12N R 16W

3,590 2,217

Section 31 T13N R16WSection 6 T12N R 16W 933 152

Action QuantityProposed Harvest Activities

Total Treatment Acres 1, 989Proposed Forest Improvement Treatment

380343

Proposed Road Activities

Project Development

SCOPING:

The areas scoped under the timber sales named; “Dirty Donovan TS” and “Game Changer TS” comprise the project area now named ”Dirty Donovan Project”.

o Confederated Salish and Kootenai“At this time we do not know of any cultural sites that will be

impacted by the undertaking. In the event that cultural materials or cultural modified tees (CMT) are inadvertently encountered during the implementation of this project, we would appreciate being notified”.

o Laurence Bonham

o Guy Bodfish

o Jim Bower

o Sharon Rose

o Kelsey Noack Myers of the Chippewa Cree Cultural Resource and Preservation Department

*See recreation section for additional information

Soils Analysis, Attachment D

Impacts on the Physical Environment Noise (see mitigations).

Wildlife Analysis, Attachment E.Impacts on the

Human Population RecreationWater and Fisheries

Analysis, Attachment C.

Water and Fisheries Analysis, Environmental Effects, Attachment C.

Aesthetics Section.

o Water and Fisheries Analysis, Attachment C.

INTERDISCIPLINARY TEAM (ID):

OTHER GOVERNMENTAL AGENCIES WITH JURISDICTION, LIST OF PERMITS NEEDED: (Conservation Easements, Army Corps of Engineers, road use permits, etc.)

United States Fish & Wildlife Service-

Missoula Public Health, City-County Health Department

Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) -

Montana/Idaho Airshed Group-

Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks (DFWP) -

ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED:

No-Action:

Action Alternative:

Impacts on the Physical Environment

VEGETATION:

Issues and Concerns-

No-Action Alternative

Action Alternative:

Issues dismissed from further reviewThere is concern the proposed project could negatively impact populations of threatened, endangered, or sensitive plant species.

Recommended Mitigation Measures for Vegetation-

FOR COMPLETE VEGETATION ANALYSIS SEE ATTACHMENT B.

SOILS:

Recommended Mitigation Measures for Soils-

FOR COMPLETE SOILS ANALYSIS SEE ATTACHMENT C.

WATER AND FISHERIES RESOURCES ANALYSIS:

Recommended Mitigation Measures for Water & Fisheries Resources-

FOR COMPLETE WATER AND FISHERIES ANALYSIS SEE ATTACHMENT D.

WILDLIFE: (terrestrial & avian including unique, federally listed as threatened orendangered, sensitive, and/or species of special concern):

Recommended Mitigation Measures for Wildlife-

ARM 36.11.411 36.11.414

FOR COMPLETE WILDLIFE ANALYSIS SEE ATTACHMENT E.

AESTHETICS:

Existing Conditions

Example of “hard edges” observed from Hwy 200No-Action Alternative

Direct, Secondary, and Cumulative Effects

Action Alternative

NOISE:

Existing Conditions

No-Action Alternative:

Action Alternative

Recommended Mitigation Measures for Noise-

HISTORICAL AND ARCHEOLOGICAL SITES:

DEMANDS ON ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES OF LAND, WATER, AIR, ANDENERGY:

OTHER ENVIRONMENTAL DOCUMENTS PERTINENT TO THE AREA:

Impacts on the Human Population

HUMAN HEALTH AND SAFETY: Air Quality

Recommended Mitigation Measures for Air Quality-

SLASH BURNING:

Action Alternative

Direct and Secondary Effects

Cumulative Effects

Action Alternative

LOG HAULING TRAFFIC:

Recommended Mitigation Measures for Log Hauling Traffic-

Action Alternative

RECREATION: (including access to and quality of recreational and wilderness activities):

Recommended Mitigation Measures for Recreation-

Action Alternative

Will Alternative result in potential impacts to:

Impact Can Impact Be Mitigated?

Comment NumberDirect Secondary Cumulative

No-Action

Action

X X X YES 1

X X X YES 2

Comment Number 1: Health and Human Safety

Impacts -

Mitigations -

Comment Number 2: Quantity and Distribution of Employment

Impacts –

Mitigations -

LOCALLY ADOPTED ENVIRONMENTAL PLANS AND GOALS (includes local MOUs, management plans, conservation easements, etc.):

OTHER APPROPRIATE SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC CIRCUMSTANCES:

Environmental Assessment Checklist Prepared By:

Name: Scott AllenTitle: Missoula Unit Management ForesterDate: February 19, 2016

Finding

Alternative Selected

For the following reasons, I have selected the Action Alternative without additional modifications:

SIGNIFICANCE OF IMPACTS

Soils-

Water Quality-

Cumulative Watershed Effects-

Cold Water Fisheries

Air Quality-

Noxious Weeds

Forest Conditions and Forest Health-

Log Truck Use of Public Roads-

Visual Quality

Wildlife-

Recreation-

Economics-

Noise-

3. PRECEDENT SETTING AND CUMULATIVE IMPACTS-

MCA 77-1-402

4. SHOULD DNRC PREPARE AN ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT (EIS)?

Need for Further Environmental Analysis

Environmental Assessment Checklist Approved By:

Name: Amy HelenaTitle: Missoula Forest Management SupervisorDate: February 19, 2016Signature: /s/ Amy Helena

Attachment A - Maps

DIRTY DONOVAN PROJECT VICINITY MAP

Name: Dirty Donovan Project Legal: Sections 2, 4, 10, 12, 13, 24 T12N R17W Section 6 T12N R16W Section 36 T12N R16W

Dirty Donovan Project Harvest Units

Dirty Donovan Project FI (Forest Improvement) Units

Attachment B – Vegetation Analysis

Dirty Donovan Project – Vegetation Analysis

Analysis Prepared By: Name: Scott Allen-Forest Vegetation & Jeff Collins-Noxious Weeds

Title: Management Forester, Missoula Unit & Hydrologist/Soil Scientist, SWLO DNRC

Introduction

Issues

No-Action Alternative:

Action Alternative:

Issues dismissed from further reviewThere is concern the proposed project could negatively impact populations of threatened, endangered, or sensitive plant species.

Regulatory Framework

State Forest Land Management Plan

DNRC Forest Management RulesARM 36.11.401 through 456

Montana Best Management Practices (BMPs) for Forestry

ARM 36.11.422

Montana DNRC Forested Trust Lands Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP)

Noxious Weed Applicable Weed Management Requirements

Analysis Areas

Direct and Secondary Effects Analysis Area

Cumulative Effects Analysis Area

Noxious Weeds

Existing Conditions

Noxious Weeds

Standard Vegetative CommunityStand History/Past Management-

197819801983198419851988

Current stand conditions

Table V-1 – Current and appropriate cover types for the Dirty Donovan Project Area.

Cover Type Current Acres

Current Percent of Project Area

Desired Future Condition (DFC)

Acres PercentPP (Ponderosa pine)

DF (Douglas-fir)

WL/DF (Western larch/Douglas-fir)

LP (Lodgepole pine)

SUBALP (Sub-alpine fir)

NONFOR (Non-forested)

Mixed Conifer

Non Stocked

Total: 4,523 100 4,523 100

See map on following page

WL/DF (western larch/Douglas-fir) DFC-

PP (ponderosa pine) DFC-

DF (Douglas-fir) DFC-

LP (lodgepole pine) DFC

SAF (subalpine fir) DFC-

Non-Forested DFC-

Old Growth

Table V-2 – Old Growth in the Project Area.

Stand ID (as classified by DNRC Stand Level

Inventory)SLI Old Growth

Status Acres*Field

VerifiedOld Growth

Status

Old Growth

Acres of verified Old

Growth

TOTAL 326.5 149.9

*The “field verified Old Growth status” column indicates Old Growth Status following field verification in which all the stands listed in the table were sampled.

Environmental Effects

No Action Alternative: Direct, Secondary and Cumulative Effects

Standard Vegetative Community

Noxious Weeds

Table WS-2 Summary Effects of the Alternatives on Noxious Weeds

Water Quality & Quantity

Impact Can Impact Be Mitigated

? Direct & Secondary Cumulative

No-ActionWeed Occurrence and spread X X NA

ActionWeed Occurrence and spread X X Y

Action Alternative: Direct, Secondary, and Cumulative Effects

Noxious Weeds

Standard Vegetative CommunityDirect, Secondary & Cumulative Effects

Old GrowthDirect, Secondary & Cumulative Effects

Table V-3 –Old Growth acres pre-harvest vs. post-harvest for the Dirty Donovan Project Area

Stand ID Project area current Old Growth acres

Post-harvest project area Old Growth

TOTAL 149.9 149.9

Vegetation Mitigations

Recommended Mitigations and Adjustments of Treatments for the Benefit of Other Resources

ARM 36.11.41136.11.414

VEGETATION REFERENCES

Attachment C – Soils Analysis

Dirty-Donovan Timber Sale – Soils Analysis

Analysis Prepared By: Jeff Collins, Hydrologist/Soil Scientist DNRC 2/16/2016

Introduction

Issues

Analysis Methods & Analysis Areas

Direct, Indirect and Cumulative Effects Analysis Areas:

Existing Conditions

Geology

Slope Stability-Debris flows

Effects of Past Management

Nutrient Cycling & Soil Productivity

Environmental Effects on Soils

No Action Alternative: Direct, Indirect, and Cumulative Effects

Table S-2 Summary Effects of the Alternatives on Soil Resources

Impact

? Direct & In Direct Cumulative

No-Action

X X NA

Action

X X X Y

Action Alternative: Direct and Indirect Effects on Soils-

Harvest effects Slope Stability-Debris flow-

Soils-

Table ST-2 Estimated Detrimental Soil Disturbance for the Action Alternative

Area of Analysis Total Area (Acres) Disturbance Rate (%) Estimated Impacted Area (Acres)

Nutrient Cycling & Soil Productivity

Cumulative Effects of the Action Alternative on Soil productivity

Soils Mitigations

References

Soil Interpretations Table S1 Dirty Donovan Timber Sale Project Area

Mapping Unit Name Soil Description Erosion

Potential

Displacement

Hazard

Compaction Hazard

Mapping Unit Name Soil Description Erosion

Potential

Displacement

Hazard

Compaction Hazard

Attachment D – Water and Fisheries Analysis

Dirty Donovan Timber Sale – Water & Fisheries Resources Analysis

Analysis Prepared By: Jeff Collins, Hydrologist/Soil Scientist, DNRC 2/9/2016

Introduction

Water & Fisheries Resources Issues

Regulations, Laws, Rules & Agreements that Apply to Water & Fisheries Resources

Montana Surface Water Quality Regulations

Water Quality Limited Waterbodies and Beneficial Uses

Wallace Creek

West Fork Ashby Creek

Union Creek

Beneficial Uses

Montana Streamside Management Zone (SMZ) Law

DNRC Forest Management Rules and Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP)

Water Resources Analysis Methods and Areas

Sediment delivery

Water Yield

Affected Watersheds

Existing Conditions- Water Resources

Existing Conditions- Water Quality and Sediment Delivery

Sediments

Table WS-1 Comparison of Existing Road density within Analysis Areas

Estimates of road miles were based field reviews and ARC database files

Donovan Creek

Wallace Creek

Ashby Creek/Arkansas Creek

Lower Union Creek/Game Creek

Avalanche hazard

Water Yield

Groundwater Wells in Wallace Creek

Environmental Effects

No Action Alternative: Direct, Indirect, and Cumulative Effects on Water Quality and Quantity

Avalanche hazard-

Surface water recharge to domestic wells-

Direct and Indirect Effects of the Action Alternative on Water Quality and Quantity

Sediments

Table WS-2 Summary Effects of the No- Action Alternative on Water Quality and Quantity

No-ActionWater Quality-Quantity Sediments X X NA

Water Quantity X X NA

ActionWater Quality- Quantity Sediment Delivery X X Y

Table WS-4 Proposed Riparian Management Zone Harvest

Legal Stream Name Fish Presence Lineal feetRMZ Harvest

Acres RMZ Harvest

Roads-

Table WS-5 Comparison of Changes in Road density with Action AlternativeAnalysis Area Drainages Clark Fork

River Donovan Creek

Clark Fork River Wallace Creek

Ashby Creek-Arkansas Creek

Lower Union Creek- Game Creek

Estimates of road miles were based field reviews and ARC database files

Harvest Effects to Avalanche hazard-

Harvest effects to Surface water recharge to domestic wells-

Cumulative Effects & Water Yield

Fisheries Analysis Methods and Areas

Sediment delivery

Riparian Large Woody Debris and Stream Shading-

Fish Habitat Connectivity-

Cumulative impacts-

DNRC Forest Management Rules and Habitat Conservation Plan

Existing Conditions- Fisheries

Fish Presence/Absence

Table Fish-1 Current & Historic Fish Species Distribution within the Watershed Analysis Areas

Donovan Creek0-3.9 miles

Dirty Ike Creek0-3.0 miles.

Game Creek 0-3.6 miles

Arkansas Creek 0-5.4 miles

Species Name Abundance Abundance Abundance Abundance

Sediment

Fish Habitat Connectivity-

Table FS-2 Road Crossings of Fisheries Streams that restrict habitat connectivity

Stream Name Number of Haul Road Crossings

Fish Connectivity Restriction Sediment Source

Fishery Resources - Environmental Effects

No Action Alternative: Direct, Indirect, and Cumulative Effects

No-ActionWater Quality-Quantity Sediments X X

Large Woody debris & Stream Shading X X

Fish Habitat Connectivity X X

ActionWater Quality- Quantity Sediment Delivery X X Y

Large Woody debris & Stream Shading X X Y

Fish Habitat Connectivity X X Y

Action Alternative: Direct, Indirect, and Cumulative Effects

Sediment Delivery

Fish Habitat Connectivity- Effects

Action Alternative: Cumulative Effects

Water Quality & Fishery Resource Mitigations

Water & Fishery References

Attachment E – Wildlife Analysis

Dirty Donovan – Wildlife Analysis

Analysis Prepared By:Name: Garrett Schairer Title: Wildlife Biologist, Montana DNRC

Introduction

Issues

Analysis Areas

Analysis Methods

Coarse Filter Wildlife Analysis

Introduction

Martes americanaAccipter gentilis Troglodytes troglodytes

Analysis Area

Affected Environment

Environmental Effects- Mature Forested Habitats and Landscape Connectivity

No Action Alternative: Direct and Indirect Effects

No Action Alternative: Cumulative Effects

Action Alternative: Direct and Indirect Effects

Fine Filter Wildlife Analysis

Table WI-1 –Anticipated Effects of the Dirty Donovan Project on wildlife species

Species/Habitat Potential for Impacts and Rationale

Grizzly bear

(Ursus arctos)

Canada lynx

Felix lynx)

Yellow-Billed Cuckoo

Coccyzus americanus)

Sensitive Species

Bald eagle

(Haliaeetus leucocephalus)

Black-backed woodpecker

(Picoides arcticus)

Coeur d'Alene salamander

(Plethodon idahoensis)

Columbian sharp-tailed grouse

(Tympanuchus Phasianellus columbianus)

Common loon

(Gavia immer)

Fisher

(Pekania pennanti)

Flammulated owl

(Otus flammeolus)

Gray Wolf

(Canis lupus)

Harlequin duck

(Histrionicus histrionicus)

Mountain plover

Charadrius montanus

Northern bog lemming

(Synaptomys borealis)

Peregrine falcon

(Falco peregrinus)

Pileated woodpecker

(Dryocopus pileatus)

Townsend's big-eared bat

(Plecotus townsendii)

Wolverine

(Gulo gulo)

Big Game Species

Threatened and Endangered SpeciesGRIZZLY BEARIssue

Introduction

Analysis Area

Existing Environment

Environmental Effects- Grizzly Bears

No Action Alternative: Direct and Indirect Effects

CANADA LYNXIssue

Introduction

Analysis Area

Environmental Effects- Canada LynxNo Action Alternative: Direct and Indirect Effects

Table WI-2 –Acres of Canada lynx habitats and anticipated changes to existing lynx habitats under both alternatives of the Dirty Donovan Project

Lynx Habitat Element

Exiting Condition and No-Action

Alternative

Proposed Changes Under Action Alternative

Action Alternative

Individual Tree

Selection (ITS)*

Old Growth Maintenance* Seed Tree*

Pre-Commercial Thinning**

Winter/Mature ForagingSummer/Young ForagingOther Suitable

Temporary Non-SuitableTotal

Sensitive Species

BALD EAGLE

Introduction

Analysis Area

Environmental Effects-Bald EagleNo Action Alternative: Direct and Indirect Effects

FISHER

Introduction

Analysis Area

Environmental Effects-FisherNo Action Alternative: Direct and Indirect Effects

FLAMMULATED OWLSIssue

Introduction

Analysis Area

Environmental Effects-Flammulated OwlNo Action Alternative: Direct and Indirect Effects

GRAY WOLFIssue

Introduction

Analysis Area

Environmental Effects-Gray WolfNo Action Alternative: Direct and Indirect Effects

PILEATED WOODPECKERSIssue

Introduction

Analysis Area

Environmental Effects-Pileated WoodpeckerNo Action Alternative: Direct and Indirect Effects

BIG GAMEBIG GAME WINTER RANGEIssue

Introduction

Analysis Area

Environmental Effects-Big Game Winter RangeNo Action Alternative: Direct and Indirect Effects

BIG GAME SECURITY HABITATIssue

Introduction

Analysis Area

Environmental Effects-Big Game Security HabitatNo Action Alternative: Direct and Indirect Effects

Wildlife Mitigations

ARM 36.11.41136.11.414

Wildlife References

2009. Priority Linkage Assessment: The Hub Conservation Area.

Gulo gulo

Missoula Unit

3206 Maverick Lane Missoula, MT 59804

Persons with disabilities who need an alternative, accessible format of this document should contact the DNRC at the above address.

10 copies of this document were published at an estimated cost of $10.33 per copy.

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