Environmental Impact Statement - Draft Alternatives

Draft version:2/23/99 KJ

Alternative 1 No Action. Continue management under the current Forest pPans as ammended by CASPO and current policy and direction including the interim rule regardin groad construction in unroaded areas.

Elements of Alternative 1:

Defer all SOHAs, PACs and areas deferred in LRMPs from “resource management activities” encompassing DFPZ construction, group selection and individual tree selection as directed under the Forest Plans as amended by CASPO. Allow activities intended to reduce fire hazard to old forests. Implement Chief Dombeck's decision to suspend road construction in unroaded areas. Comply with all applicable Federal law and CASPO interim guidelines.

Accomplish resource management activities at levels identified in Forest Plans as amended by CASPO. Current management includes construction of strategically placed DFPZ's and area fuel reduction treatments and other resource management activities such as thinning identified in CASPO. Roads are constructed to support Forest activities in roaded areas and unneeded roads are obliterated as identified in Forest Plans.

Apply the interim rule regarding road construction and reconstruction in unroaded areas. Manage hazard trees that pose a public safety problem as described in the Forest Plans.

Implement grazing systems that protect riparian areas as described under current Forest Plans.

Provide riparian protection by limiting disturbance in streamside management zones as described in the Forest Plans. Protect and improve riparian areas while implementing other resource management activities. Implement Best Management Practices (BMPs) for water quality protection including watershed effects analysis. Apply PAC fish protection measures ..........(to be developed)

Draft Alternative 2 reflects implementation of the pilot project objectives as stated in the HFQLG Forest Recovery Act and includes the interim rule regarding road construction in unroaded areas.

Elements of the Alternative 2:

Defer “resource management activities” in SOHAs and PACs including DFPZ construction, group selection and individual tree selection as defined in the HFQLG Forest Recovery Act and allow activities intended to reduce fire hazard to old forests. Exclude “resource management activities” including road building in areas identified as offbase or deferred in the Act. Apply Chief Dombeck's interim rule (Press release, Deputy Chief Stewart Statement) regarding road construction and reconstruction in unroaded areas. Comply with all applicable Federal law and CASPO interim guidelines.

Implement DFPZ construction on not less than 40,000 acres but not more than 60,000 acres per year, group selection on .57% of the land area and individual tree selection throughout. DFPZ's are generally linear. The total acreage shall not exceed 70,000 acres each year.

Manage hazard trees that pose a public safety problem as described in the Act.

SAT guidelines shall not apply to any livestock grazing unless the grazing is being conducted in the specific location that contains a resource management activity where the SAT guidelines are applied.

Implement Best Management Practices (BMPs) for water quality protection including watershed effects analysis. Develop a program of riparian management that protects, and where needed, improves aquatic and riparian conditions. To protect riparian systems, establish Riparian Habitat Conservation Areas (RHCAs) as defined by SAT guidelines (“interim boundaries”) to all perennial and intermittent streams and establish Streamside Management Zones (SMZs) as defined by LRMP guidelines to all ephemeral streams. To improve riparian conditions, an analysis of watershed conditions across the pilot project area would be used to initiate riparian restoration proposals and priorities. Key to the riparian restoration proposals are road maintenance, improvements and obliteration, including road closures and decommissioning.

Special management would occur in those watersheds containing threatened or endangered aquatic and riparian species that emphasizes habitat protection, enhancement and monitoring.

Alternative #3 reflects implementation of the pilot project objectives as stated in the HFQLG Forest Recovery Act, includes the views reported to Congress in 1997 from the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, includes advice provided in the May 1, 1998 letter from the Regional Forester to improve conservation options, includes the interim rule regarding road construction in unroaded areas and provides clarification of the resource management activities by the Interdisciplinary Team in response to public comments.

Elements of Alternative #3 that are "similar" to Alternative #2:

Defer “resource management activities” in SOHAs and PACs including DFPZ construction, group selection and individual tree selection as defined in the HFQLG Forest Recovery Act and allow activities intended to reduce fire hazard to old forests. Exclude “resource management activities” including road building in areas identified as offbase or deferred in the Act. Apply Chief Dombeck's interim rule regarding road construction and reconstruction in unroaded areas. Comply with all applicable Federal law and CASPO interim guidelines.

Implement DFPZ construction on not less than 40,000 acres but not more than 60,000 acres per year, group selection on .57% of the land area and individual tree selection throughout.

Manage hazard trees as described in Alternative #2.

SAT guidelines shall not apply to any livestock grazing unless the grazing is being conducted in the specific location that contains a resource management activity where the SAT guidelines are applied.

Implement Best Management Practices (BMPs) for water quality protection including watershed effects analysis. Develop a program of riparian management that protects, and where needed, improves aquatic and riparian conditions. To protect riparian systems, establish Riparian Habitat Conservation Areas (RHCAs) as defined by SAT guidelines (“interim boundaries”) to all perennial and intermittent streams and establish Streamside Management Zones (SMZs) as defined by LRMP guidelines to all ephemeral streams. To improve riparian conditions, an analysis of watershed conditions across the pilot project area would be used to initiate riparian restoration proposals and priorities. Key to the riparian restoration proposals are road maintenance, improvements and obliteration, including road closures and decommissioning.

Special management would occur in those watersheds containing threatened or endangered aquatic and riparian species that emphasizes habitat protection, enhancement and monitoring.

Elements of Alternative #3 that are "dissimilar" to Alternative #2

Defer “resource management activities” (scheduled timber harvest) in LSOG 4 and 5 areas. Activities intended to reduce fire hazard to old forests would continue.

Follow the May 1, 1998 letter of advice from the Regional Forester.

Strategically place area fuel reduction treatments in combination with generally linear DFPZ's.

Alternative #4 reflects implementation of the pilot project objectives as stated in the HFQLG Forest Recovery Act, includes the views reported to Congress in 1997 from the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, includes advice provided in the May 1, 1998 letter, includes the interim rule regarding road construction in unroaded areas and provides clarification of the resource management activities by the Interdisciplinary Team in response to public comments, provides further avoidance to old forest stands identified as ALSE's in SNEP and reflects a program that is close to historical accomplishment rates.

Elements of Alternative #4 that are “similar” to Alternative #3:

Defer “resource management activities” in SOHAs, PACs, “offbase” and “deferred”, and LSOG 4 and 5 areas. Comply with all applicable Federal law and CASPO interim guidelines. Follow the May 1, 1998 letter of advice from the Regional Forester. Apply Chief Dombeck's interim rule regarding road construction and reconstruction in unroaded areas

Group selection on .57% of the land area and individual tree selection throughout. Strategically place "area" fuel reduction treatments in combination with generally linear DFPZ's.

Manage hazard trees as described in Alternative #3.

SAT guidelines shall not apply to any livestock grazing unless the grazing is being conducted in the specific location that contains a resource management activity where the SAT guidelines are applied.

Implement Best Management Practices (BMPs) for water quality protection including watershed effects analysis. Develop a program of riparian management that protects, and where needed, improves aquatic and riparian conditions. To protect riparian systems, establish Riparian Habitat Conservation Areas (RHCAs) as defined by SAT guidelines (“interim boundaries”) to all perennial and intermittent streams and establish Streamside Management Zones (SMZs) as defined by LRMP guidelines to all ephemeral streams. To improve riparian conditions, an analysis of watershed conditions across the pilot project area would be used to initiate riparian restoration proposals and priorities. Key to the riparian restoration proposals are road maintenance, improvements and obliteration, including road closures and decommissioning.

Special management would occur in those watersheds containing threatened or endangered aquatic and riparian species that emphasizes habitat protection, enhancement and monitoring.

Elements of Alternative #4 that are “dissimilar” to Alternative #3"

Exclude all resource management activities including fire hazard reduction in ALSE's.

Implement DFPZ construction on approximately 25,000 acres per year but not more than 125,000 in the five year pilot period.

Herger-Feinstein Quincy Library Group Forest Recovery Act

Environmental Impact Statement Alternatives