Duck-to-dog timber sale project environmental assessment

2007·2.5 MB·English

by  Montana.Dept. of Natural Resources and Conservation

DUCK-TO-DOG
TIMBER SALE PROJECT
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT
Department of Natural Resources and Conservation
Stillwater Unit
May 2007
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FINDING
PROPOSED DUCK-TO-DOG TIMBER SALE PROJECT
STILLWATER STATE FOREST
An Interdisciplinary Team (ID Team) productivity and favors the
has completed the Environmental retention and regeneration of
Assessment (EA) for the proposed appropriate species mixes
Duck-To-Dog Timber Sale Project. (desired future conditions
[ARM 36.11.405]).
The project area is located on 11
sections of State land in Flathead − Reduce the potential of
County (see VICINITY MAP [inside wildfires in the wildland
front cover] for their general urban interface between Fort
locations). Specifically, the Steele Road and the
project is located in Sections 14, Burlington Northern/Santa Fe
23, 24, 25, and 36, in T33N, R24W, railroad tracks, in areas
and Sections 30, 31, and 32, in adjacent to Highway 93, and
T33N, R23W. Revenue generated from to other lands and
these lands would benefit the Common homesteads.
Schools, Public building, and
− Harvest 5 to 7 MMbf of
Agricultural College trusts.
sawtimber to generate revenue
After a thorough review of the EA, for the appropriate school
project file, public correspondence, trusts. The sale would also
Montana statutes, State Forest Land contribute a sufficient
Management Plan (SFLMP), and adopted amount of sawlog volume to
rules, I have made the following 3 meet the requirements of
decisions: sustained yield for the DNRC
timber-management program, as
1. ALTERNATIVE SELECTED:
mandated by State Statute 77-
Two alternatives are presented 5-222, MCA.
and were fully analyzed in the
− Improve public access to Dog
EA:
Lake on the east side.
• The No-Action Alternative
− Maintain options for
includes existing activities,
sustained revenue to the
but does not include a timber
school trusts and provide for
harvest.
additional benefits by
• The Action Alternative proposes completing site improvements
to: on existing roads to improve
drainage, water quality, and
− Improve the long-term
safety.
productivity of the timber
stands by increasing vigor, I have selected the Action
reducing the incidence of Alternative with the following
insect and disease requirements and reasons:
infections, and regenerating
• Mitigations and specifications
portions of the stands where
identified in the EA will be
growth is decreasing.
implemented as prescribed.
Actions would be done in a
manner that maintains site • The Action Alternative meets
the PURPOSE OF PROPOSED ACTION, but are not limited to, the
(page I-1) and PROPOSED following:
OBJECTIVES (page I-2); the
− The project does not harvest
specific project objectives are
in identified old-growth
listed on page I-2 of the EA.
stands. (Page I-7)
• The lands involved in this
− The project is designed to
project are held by the State
not harvest where sensitive
of Montana in trust for the
plants exist within wetland
support of specific beneficiary
complexes.
institutions. DNRC is required
by law to administer these − An adequate number of snags
trust lands to produce the and snag recruits will remain
largest measure of reasonable in the area to provide for
and legitimate return over the important wildlife habitat
long run (Enabling Act of and down woody debris to
February 22, 1889; 1972 Montana maintain soil productivity.
Constitution, Article X, (Pages III-34 and 44)
Section 11; and, 77-1-202, − The estimated total timber-
MCA). The SFLMP and associated dollar revenue to the State
rules provide the management is $1,584,866. (Page III-37)
philosophy and framework to
− Haul routes will meet Best
evaluate which alternative
Management Practices (BMPs);
would maximize real income
improvement to access and
while sustaining the production
safety will be made by
of long-term income.
relocating a highway
• On March 13, 2003, the approach.
Department adopted
− The risk of large, intensive,
Administrative Rules for Forest
stand-replacement wildfires
Management (ARM 36.11.401
will be reduced on State
through 450). This project is
lands. (Page III-8)
designed in accordance with
− Water quality and fisheries
these Rules.
habitat would be protected.
• The proposed timber sale
(Pages III-11 through 31)
project contributes to the
Refer to STIPULATIONS AND
harvest level mandated by State
SPECIFICATIONS for a list of
Statute (Montana Codes
common mitigations applied to
Annotated [MCA] 77-5-222).
timber sale projects.
• DNRC is required to salvage
2. SIGNIFICANCE OF IMPACTS
timber damaged by insects,
diseases, fires, or wind before For the following reasons, I find
it loses value to decay, that implementing the Action
provided such harvesting is Alternative will not have
economically warranted (MCA 77- significant impacts on the human
5-207). environment:
• The analyses of identified
• I find that no impacts are
issues did not reveal
regarded as severe, enduring,
information to persuade the
geographically widespread, or
Department to choose the No-
frequent. Further, I find that
Action Alternative prior to
the quantity and quality of
this decision.
various resources, including
• The Action Alternative includes any that may be considered
activities to address concerns unique or fragile, will not be
expressed by the public and adversely affected to a
local government entities with significant degree. I find no
jurisdiction; these include, precedent for future actions
that would cause significant 3. SHOULD DNRC PREPARE AN
impacts, and I find no conflict ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT
with local, State, or Federal (EIS)?
laws, requirements, or formal
Based on the following
plans. In summary, I find that
considerations, I find that an
the identified adverse impacts
EIS does not need to be prepared:
will be avoided, controlled, or
mitigated by the design of the • The EA adequately addresses the
project to the extent that the issues identified during
impacts are not significant. project development and
displays the information needed
• Locally Adopted Environmental
to make the decisions.
Plans and Goals – In June 1996,
DNRC began a phased-in • Evaluation of the potential
implementation of the SFLMP. impacts of the proposed Duck-
The SFLMP establishes the to-Dog Timber Sale Project
Agency’s philosophy for the indicates that no significant
management of forested trust impacts would occur.
land. In May 2003, DNRC
adopted rules concerning the • The ID Team provided adequate
opportunities for public review
SFLMP. The SFLMP philosophy
and comment. Public concerns
and associated rules are
were incorporated into the
incorporated in the design of
project design and analysis of
the proposed project.
impacts.
• Recreational Activities –
Brian Manning
Recreational opportunities will
continue and will not be
negatively affected by the
Unit Manager
proposed project.
Stillwater State Forest
• Precedent Setting and May 14, 2007
Cumulative Impacts – The
project area is located on
State-owned lands that are
“principally valuable for the
timber that is on them or for
growing timber or for watershed
protection” (MCA 77-1-402).
• Taken individually and
cumulatively, the proposed
activities are common practices
and no project activities are
being conducted on important
fragile or unique sites.
• The proposed project conforms
to the management philosophies
of DNRC and is in compliance
with existing laws, rules,
policies, and standards
applicable to this type of
proposed action.
W h1 i8 t em fi il se hs W h1 i8 t em fi il se hs

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

VICINITY MAP (back of front cover)
FINDING
HARVEST UNIT MAP
CHAPTER I—PURPOSE AND NEED
Introduction to Proposed Action....................................I-1
Purpose of Proposed Action.........................................I-1
Objectives of Proposal.............................................I-2
Environmental Assessment Process...................................I-2
Other Agencies with Jurisdiction/Permit Requirements...............I-3
Issues and Concerns................................................I-3
Summarization and Tracking of Issues and Concerns..................I-4
Issues Outside the Scope of the Project............................I-7
Issues Dropped from Further Consideration..........................I-7
CHAPTER II - ALTERNATIVES
Introduction.......................................................II-1
Development of Alternatives........................................II-1
Alternative Descriptions...........................................II-2
Proposed Silvicultural Treatments..................................II-5
Summary of Environmental Effects (table)...........................II-9
CHAPTER III - EXISTING ENVIRONMENT AND ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
Introduction.......................................................III-1
Direct, Indirect, and Cumulative Effects...........................III-1
Vegetation Analysis................................................III-2
Fisheries Analysis.................................................III-11
Watershed and Hydrology Analysis...................................III-24
Soils Analysis.....................................................III-32
Economic Analysis..................................................III-37
Wildlife Analysis..................................................III-39
PREPARERS AND CONTRIBUTORS
REFERENCES
STIPULATIONS AND SPECIFICATIIONS
GLOSSARY
ACRONYMS (front of back cover)

Chapter I - Purpose and Need
CHAPTER I
PURPOSE AND NEED
INTRODUCTION TO PROPOSED ACTION segments of road graveled, and
needed culverts installed to improve
The Department of Natural Resources
existing roads in the project area.
and Conservation (DNRC), Stillwater
All stream crossings on access roads
Unit, is proposing the Duck-to-Dog
would be examined to ensure
Timber Sale Project. The 11
compliance with BMPs; needed
sections of State land in this
improvements would be made.
timber sale project are managed to
provide revenue over time to the PURPOSE OF PROPOSED ACTION
Common School, Public Buildings, and
The lands involved in the proposed
Montana State University Second
project are held in trust by the
Grant beneficiaries (see VICINITY
State of Montana for the support of
MAP [inside front cover] for general
specific beneficiary institutions,
locations). Specifically, the
such as public schools, State
project is located in Sections 14,
colleges and universities, and other
23, 24, 25, and 36, in T33N, R24W,
specific State institutions, such as
and Sections 30, 31, and 32, in
the School for the Deaf and Blind
T33N, R23W.
(Enabling Act of February 22, 1889;
Two alternatives, an action and a 1972 Montana Constitution, Article
no-action alternative, are proposed. X, Section 11). The Board of Land
If the action alternative to harvest Commissioners (Land Board) and DNRC
timber were selected, an estimated 5 are legally required to administer
to 7 million board feet (MMbf) of these trust lands to produce the
timber would be harvested from largest measure of reasonable and
approximately 650 acres. Harvesting legitimate long-term return for
would be accomplished using a these beneficiary institutions
variety of silvicultural treatments. (Section 77—1-202, Montana Codes
The type of treatment selected for Annotated [MCA]).
each stand would depend on the
On May 30, 1996, DNRC released the
existing condition and the desired
Record of Decision on the State
future condition for that particular
Forest Land Management Plan (SFLMP).
stand. Existing roads, along with
The Land Board approved the
short spur roads built for temporary
implementation of the SFLMP on June
use, would access the proposed
17, 1996. On March 13, 2003, DNRC
harvest units. These spur roads
adopted the Forest Management Rules
would be built to minimum standards
(Administrative Rules of Montana
and would be reclaimed after
[ARM] 36.11.401 through 450). The
harvesting activities are completed.
SFLMP outlines the management
Two segments of road would be
philosophy, and the proposal will be
relocated to meet Best Management
implemented according to the Forest
Practices (BMPs) and facilitate
Management Rules. The philosophy
timber harvesting; the relocations
is:
would also improve highway-access
safety and better facilitate future “Our premise is that the best
recreational access to Dog Lake. way to produce long-term
Additionally, the action alternative income for the trust is to
would gain permanent access on USFS manage intensively for healthy
Road 10355 for the State. Ditches and biologically diverse
and surface drainage would be added, forests. Our understanding is