Final Environmental Impact Statement Rio de los Pinos Vegetation ...

Final Environmental Impact Statement Rio de los Pinos Vegetation Management Project
In summary, this alternative would limit opportunities for local sawmills to benefit from local
resources. The abundance of dead material would provide an ample source of fuelwood for local
residents. Abundant Engelmann spruce mortality may make access for forest users limited and
potentially dangerous as trees begin to fall. Some forest users will likely still choose to use the
area for various recreational opportunities, despite these changing and potentially hazardous
forest conditions.
Alternatives 2 and 3
Alternatives 2 & 3 would have similar effects. Under these alternatives, approximately 8 MMBF
to 13.1 MMBF would be available to the forest industry. Providing this volume would allow
mills in the San Luis Valley to effectively compete for resources because of lower mobilization
and operational costs. Other beneficial impacts would include the increased safety and usability
of the area after harvest is completed compared to the no action alternative, and firewood would
remain abundant under these alternatives.
Depending on the future status of the SRS Act of 2000, these alternatives may also directly
contribute to the social welfare of Conejos County by eventually contributing 25% of the gross
timber receipts back to the State, and subsequently Conejos County to be used for the benefit of
roads and schools (GAO 1998).
Each of the action alternatives creates potential for conflict between loggers and other forest
users. Some forest visitors may choose to use different areas which could negatively impact local
businesses. It should be noted that the Revised Forest Plan states that management emphasis is
placed on wood production, while allowing for other uses. In addition, the Forest Plan states that
Forest visitors can expect to see managed stands of trees in a natural or near-natural forest
setting. Stands would have evidence of management, including tree stumps, slash, skid trails, and
soil disturbance (RGNF Forest Plan IV-27).
These action alternatives, in combination with changes that are occurring naturally on the
landscape, may shift social uses that take place in the project area, bring new users into the area,
or direct current users to different locations.
Cumulative Effects:
This analysis area is within two miles of three active or currently prepared timber sale areas;
these timber sales include Wolf Beetle Salvage, Escarabajo Salvage, and Spruce Park Salvage,
which total roughly 16 MMBF. In combination with these timber sales, the Rio de los Pinos
action alternatives have the potential to add additional time to harvest activities accessed by
Forest System Road 118.1C. Project design criteria have been developed to mitigate and
minimize conflicts between logging and other activities, but conflicts and interactions may still
exist and take place during operational logging periods.
In combination with past, present, and other planned harvest activities, either of the action
alternatives would help the Forest Service to continue its stable and sustainable supply of timber.
Chapter 3 – Affected Environment & Environmental Consequences Page 3-93