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

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Final Environmental Impact Statement Rio de los Pinos Vegetation Management Project less equipment and activities in the area will also lessen opportunities for noxious weed spread and/or introduction. There is still a low risk of spread and/or introduction of noxious weeds in the Analysis Area, even without the implementation of the project. The existing road infrastructure within, and leading to the Analysis Area will still be maintained. This will allow for periodic soil disturbance along roadways and heavy equipment activities that may be hosts for weed seed transport. Established noxious weed infestations, if not treated will likely continue to spread and provide a seed source for new infestations. Other activities and users of the area may also be carriers of weed seed and may cause soil disturbance that may contribute to the establishment and/or spread on noxious weeds within the Analysis Area and the proposed haul route. There will also be a certain amount of natural soil disturbance from trees falling, wildlife digging, etc. and natural seed dispersal from wind and wildlife. Additionally, without the project implementation, monitoring of the area would be of lower priority and additional funding that would have been generated by the project would not be available for noxious weed control. Alternative 2 – Full Salvage Harvest This alternative will have a moderate risk for noxious weed spread and/or introduction. There have been infestations of Canada Thistle in and near the Analysis Area. This elevates the potential for noxious weed seed to be available in the soil. Additional soil disturbance besides the normal road maintenance will also occur with the upgrading of the current roads and possibility of borrow material and gravel being hauled in for use on the roads. The increased activity with haul trucks, pickups and heavy equipment will heighten the possibility for transport of weed seed. Soil disturbance from the log skidding operation could be a seed transport possibility and soil disturbance possibility. Log skidding may also present an opportunity for noxious weed establishment in areas out of site from the main roads, which makes it difficult to locate infestations early on. Factors that are contributing to the project presenting moderate risk instead of high risk are: • Canada Thistle is the only noxious weed known to be in or near the Analysis Area. • Canada Thistle is not very common in the Analysis Area • Canada Thistle is very treatable and easy to control if caught early • Project design criteria are in place to lessen the introduction of new weed species and the spread of Canada Thistle. • KV funds are planned for monitoring and treatment of the area after the project is completed Alternative 3 – Reduced Salvage Harvest This alternative will have the same effects as Alternative 2 but with a low moderate risk for noxious weed spread and/or introduction. By not harvesting timber in the wettest areas, the risk is reduced primarily because of these factors: • The wettest areas provide the greatest risk for noxious weed establishment and spread because of the excellent growing conditions • Often times, wet areas or riparian areas preclude the use of many herbicides due to label restrictions, which makes eradication very difficult and expensive Chapter 3 – Affected Environment & Environmental Consequences Page 3-100
Final Environmental Impact Statement Rio de los Pinos Vegetation Management Project Cumulative Effects: There may be cumulative adverse effects to the analysis area from all alternatives due to the potential increase of Canada Thistle and/or introduction of new species of noxious weeds. As explained above, all of the alternatives present a risk to some degree. Irreversible and Irretrievable Commitment of the Resources There would be no irreversible or irretrievable commitment of resources if the proposed action is implemented. 3.22 Cumulative Effects Summary The Council for Environmental Quality (CEQ) defines cumulative impacts as, “the impact on the environment which results from the incremental impact of the action when added to other past, present, and reasonably foreseeable future actions regardless of what agency (Federal or non- Federal) or person undertakes such other actions.” “Cumulative impacts can result from individually minor but collectively significant actions taking place over a period of time.” In other words, cumulative effects are simply the sum total of past, present, and reasonably foreseeable environmental, social, and economic effects of land management activities which, when taken in context of this specific project, affect the conditions and trends of resources and values within the project area and adjacent area of influence. Each resource specialist addressed both the past actions that have affected the existing condition and cumulative effects within their section in Chapter 3. Overall, as described within Chapter 3, past timber sales, roading, and other activities (grazing, camping, hunting...) have helped shaped the Analysis Area into the present condition. Presently, the Analysis Area provides for a wide variety of recreational and scenic activities, provides suitable habitat for numerous wildlife species and contains soils and watersheds in healthy conditions. The vegetative community contains a diversity of plant communities which are well distributed across the landscape. Heritage, social and economic resources are generally limited. Forest condition is in a state of decline, due to the current beetle infestation. Spruce beetle impacts are a new factor which is capable of affecting all other resources in varying degrees. Reasonably foreseeable activities within the Analysis Area are few. Routine road maintenance would occur. With the exception of minor amounts of blow-down salvage, no future timber harvests are anticipated in the immediate future. However, re-entry into previously managed areas, to carry out past Silvicultural Prescriptions, could occur within the next ten to twenty years. There are no private, state or tribal lands within the Analysis Area whose actions would contribute to the cumulative effects. Chapter 3 – Affected Environment & Environmental Consequences Page 3-101
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Final Environmental Impact Statement Rio de los Pinos Vegetation ...

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