Crupina integrated weed management project : final environmental impact statement : Chelan Ranger District, Okanogan and Wenatchee National Forests, Chelan County, Washington

262 Pages·2003·21.7 MB·English

Historic, Archive Document
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aSB612
-W2C78
2003
USDA
United States
Department of
< Agriculture
Forest
Service
November 2003
US
Crupina
Integrated Weed
Management
Project
Final Environmental
Impact Statement
Chelan Ranger District
Okanogan and Wenatchee National Forests
Chelan County, Washington
Responsible Official: James L. Boynton
Forest Supervisor
215 Melody Lane
Wenatchee, Washington, 98801-5933
For Information Contact: Mallory Lenz, Wildlife Biologist
Chelan Ranger District
428 West Woodin Avenue
Chelan, Washington 98816
Phone [phone]
or Jim Archambeault, Project Team Leader: Phone [phone]
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OKANOGAN AND WENATCHEE NATIONAL FORESTS
CRUPINA INTEGRATED WEED MANAGEMENT PROJECT UR.| [email protected] .wA_ , NAL
FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT DE
C 22 2003
CHELAN COUNTY, WASHINGTON
CATALOGING
—ALOGING PpRreEpP |
Lead agency: U.S.D.A., Forest Service, Okanogan and Wenatchee
National Forests
Responsible Official: James L. Boynton, Forest Supervisor
Okanogan and Wenatchee National Forests
215 Melody Lane
Wenatchee, Washington 98801
For Further Information Contact: Mallory Lenz, Wildlife Biologist
Chelan Ranger District
428 West Woodin Avenue
Chelan, Washington 98816
Phone: [phone]
Or Jim Archambeault, Project Team Leader
Phone [phone]
Abstract: The Okanogan and Wenatchee National Forest Supervisor proposes integrated
weed management activities in the middle Chelan watershed. The project includes a range
of weed treatments, including chemical herbicides, to prevent the spread, contain, and work
toward the eradication of crupina (Crupina vulgaris). The No Action Alternative (A) would
not implement weed management activities to deal with the current crupina infestation.
_ Alternative B emphasizes continuation of the current hand-pulling method along with
follow-up cultural treatments and addresses issues related to the use of herbicides. There
would be no chemical or mechanical treatment methods used. Up to a maximum of 100-
acres per year in areas infested with crupina would be hand-pulled. The Proposed Action
Alternative (C) is the Agency preferred alternative. It would use several treatment
methods to implement integrated weed management. Annually, Alternative C would
implement up to a maximum 100-acres of herbicide treatment activities and up to 100-
acres of treatment with a combination of hand-pulling and radiant heat disk. Follow-up
cultural treatments would be included. This alternative would allow use of motorized
equipment (pumps) and mechanical transport (helicopter) in wilderness. Alternative D
was designed to address concerns raised by the use of motorized equipment, and
mechanical transport in wilderness. It includes hand-pulling, herbicide, radiant heat disk,
and follow-up cultural treatments. Annually, about 50-acres of herbicide treatment and
about 100-acres of combined hand-pulling and heat disk treatments would be implemented.
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Table of Contents
Page Number
Summary S-1
Chapter 1
Section 1.1 — Project Overview 1-4
1.1.1 Setting and Scale 1-4
Section 1.2 Current Law and Management Direction and
Guidance 1-5
1.2.1 Wenatchee National Forest Land and Resource
Management Plan 1-5
1.2.2 The Northwest Forest Plan 1-7
1.2.3 Middle Chelan Watershed Assessment 1-9
1.2.4 Interior Columbia Basin Ecosystem Management
Project (ICBEMP) 1-9
1.2.5 Guides to Noxious Weed Prevention Practices 1--11 0
Section 1.3 — Purpose and Need for the Proposed Action 1-11
Section 1.4 — Proposed Action 1-12
Section 1.5 — Responsible Agency and the Decision to be 1-17
Made
Section 1.6 — Public Involvement 1-17
Section 1.7 — Issues 14
1.7.1 Key Issues 1-18
1.7.2 Other Measurements of Change 1-2
Chapter 2
Section 2.1 — Alternative Description 2-1
2.1.1 The Alternatives 2-1
Alternative A (No Action) 2-1
Alternative B (Only Hand-pulling Used) 2-3
Alternative C (Proposed Action Using Hand-pulling,
Herbicides, and Radiant Heat Disks) 2-3
Alternative D (Hand-pulling, Herbicides, and Radiant
Heat Disks Used—No Mechanized Support
in Wilderness) 2-4
If
Crupina Integrated Weed Management Okanogan and Wenatchee National Forest
FEIS, November 2003
Table of Contents
Page Number
2.1.2 Features Common to Action Alternatives (B, C, D) 2-5
Weed Prevention Strategy 2-5
Cultural Treatments 2-6
Crupina Treatment Method Criteria 2-6
Crupina Treatment Priority Criteria 2-7
Crupina Treatment Timing 2-7
2.1.3 Mitigation Measures for Action Alternatives 2-7
Herbicide Treatments
(Alternatives C and D only) 2-7
General 2-10
Vegetation Pele
Wildlife 2-12
Heritage Resources 2-13
2.1.4 Other Alternatives Considered but Eliminated
From Detailed Analysis 2-13
Section 2.2 Monitoring 2-14
Project Implementation Monitoring Table 2-2 2-15
Section 2.3 Alternative Comparison 2-16
Table 2-3 2-17
Section 2.4 The Forest Service Preferred Alternative 2-16
Chapter 3
Section 3.1 — The Biological Environment 3-1
3.1.1 Competing and Unwanted Vegetation: Affected
Environment 3-1
3.1.2 Competing and Unwanted Vegetation:
Environmental Consequences 3-3
Alternative A (No Action) 3-3
Alternative B (Only Hand-pulling Used) 3-4
Alternative C (Proposed Action Using Hand-pulling,
Herbicides, and Radiant Heat Disks) 3-5
Alternative D (Hand-pulling, Herbicides, and Radiant
Heat Disks Used—No Mechanized Support
in Wilderness) 3-6
I
Crupina Integrated Weed Management Okanogan and Wenatchee National Forest
FEIS, November 2003
Table of Contents
Page Number
Cumulative Effects for All Action Alternatives
(BYGVorD) 3-6
3.1.3 Native Vegetation: Affected Environment 3-7
Disturbance history 3-7
3.1.4 Native Vegetation: Environmental Consequences 3-8
Alternative A (No Action) 3-8
Alternative B (Only Hand-pulling Used) 3-9
Alternative C (Proposed Action Using Hand-pulling,
Herbicides, and Radiant Heat Disks) 3-10
Alternative D (Hand-pulling, Herbicides, and Radiant
Heat Disks Used—No Mechanized Support
in Wilderness)
Cumulative Effects for All Action Alternatives 3-11
3.1.5 Sensitive Plants: Affected Environment 3-11
3.1.6 Sensitive Plants: Environmental Consequences 3-12
Alternative A (No Action) 3-16
Alternative B (Only Hand-pulling Used) 3-16
Alternative C (Proposed Action Using Hand-pulling,
Herbicides, and Radiant Heat Disks) 3-17
Alternative D (Hand-pulling, Herbicides, and Radiant
Heat Disks Used—No Mechanized Support
in Wilderness) 3-18
Cumulative Effects for All Action Alternatives 3-18
3.1.7 Survey and Manage Plants: Affected Environment 3-18
3.1.8 Survey and Manage Plants: Environmental
Consequences 3-19
3.1.9 Wildlife and Habitat: Affected Environment 3-21
3.1.10 Wildlife and Habitat: Environmental
Consequences 3-23
Effects Common to all Wildlife Species: 3-23
Cumulative Effects Common to all Wildlife Species: 3-24
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Crupina Integrated Weed Management Okanogan and Wenatchee National Forest
FEIS, November 2003
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Page Number
3.1.11 Threatened or Endangered Wildlife Species 3-26
TES WILDLIFE - Gray wolf 3-26
Alternative A (No Action) 3-26
Alternative B (Only Hand-pulling Used) 3-27
Alternative C (Proposed Action Using Hand-pulling,
Herbicides, and Radiant Heat Disks) 3-29
Alternative D (Hand-pulling, Herbicides, and Radiant
Heat Disks Used—No Mechanized Support
in Wilderness) 3-32
TES WILDLIFE - Grizzly Bear
Alternative A (No Action) 3-32
Alternative B (Only Hand-pulling Used) 3-33
Alternative C (Proposed Action Using Hand-pulling,
Herbicides, and Radiant Heat Disks) 3-34
Alternative D (Hand-pulling, Herbicides, and Radiant
Heat Disks Used—No Mechanized Support
in Wilderness) 3-36
TES WILDLIFE - Northern Bald Eagle
Alternative A (No Action) 3-37
Alternative B (Only Hand-pulling Used) 3-37
Alternative C (Proposed Action Using Hand-pulling,
Herbicides, and Radiant Heat Disks) 3-38
Alternative D (Hand-pulling, Herbicides, and Radiant
Heat Disks Used—No Mechanized Support
in Wilderness) 3-39
3.1.12 Summary Effect Determinations for Wolf, Bear, Eagle
3-40
3.1.13 Sensitive Wildlife Species 3-40
3.1.14 Wildlife Management Indicator Species (MIS) 3-43
3.1.15 Northwest Forest Plan Wildlife Species 3-47
3.1.16 Landbirds 3-48
IV
Crupina Integrated Weed Management Okanogan and Wenatchee National Forest
FEIS, November 2003