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

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Final Environmental Impact Statement Rio de los Pinos Vegetation Management Project ♦ Alternative 1 – No Action ♦ Alternative 2 – Full Salvage Harvest ♦ Alternative 3 – Reduced Salvage Harvest (Some proposed harvest areas not treated to reduce potential negative impacts to wet areas) 2.3.1 Alternative 1 – No Action The Council for Environmental Quality (CEQ) regulations for implementing the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requires that a no action alternative be developed as a benchmark from which the agency can evaluate the proposed action. Under Alternative 1, natural processes would be allowed to occur without additional human intervention. No sanitation/salvage of beetle infested or killed timber would occur. New trees would not be planted and no road work would occur beyond normal maintenance. Additionally, activities associated with the action alternatives identified in Section 1.13 under Opportunities also would not occur. Current activities such as livestock grazing and dispersed recreation would continue. The key features of the No Action alternative are summarized below in Table 2.3.1-1. Table 2.3.1-1 Key Features of Alternative 1 Key Feature Description Total Area Treated with Salvage Prescription 0 Acres Area of Small Patch Cuts within Salvage Units 0 Acres Timber Volume-Sawtimber 0 MMBF Timber Volume Fuelwood 0 Cords Steep slopes logged (35-40% conventional) 0 Acres System Road Reconstruction 0.0Miles System Road Spot Reconstruction 0.0 Miles System Road Maintenance 8.7 Miles Existing Road added to System 0.0 Miles Temporary Road Construction 0.0 Miles Re-opening of Old Roads 0.0 Miles Artificial Regeneration 0 Acres Noxious Weed Treatment 3 Acres 2.3.2 Alternative 2 (Proposed Action, Preferred Alternative) Alternative 2 (the proposed action) was designed to address the Key Issue of Forest Condition. The Rio de los Pinos Spruce Beetle Project was initiated due to the existing forest condition within the Analysis Area and as such was identified as a Key issue. Existing Forest Conditions consist of timber stands with a high mortality component due to beetle activity. This alternative would provide an opportunity to harvest products before they are lost (salvage). It would also maintain reforestation of the salvage units through artificial regeneration if needed. This alternative proposes to conduct salvage harvest of dead and infested Engelmann spruce trees 8 inches DBH and larger on approximately 878 acres. Small patch cuts (¼ to 5 acres) Chapter 2 – Alternatives Page 2-2
Final Environmental Impact Statement Rio de los Pinos Vegetation Management Project would be spread throughout the units to maintain scenic integrity. Outside of the patch cuts, all live, uninfested trees not interfering with operations would be left in the salvage areas. After harvest of the dead and dying trees, artificial regeneration would occur on all non-stocked and under-stocked areas. The exact planting area would depend on how well existing natural regeneration meets Forest Plan stocking requirements. This alternative also proposes changes to the Forest Service travel system. After harvest, the Forest System Trail 736 trailhead would be relocated and 0.8 miles of FSR 118.2 would be converted to system trail. Additionally, a separate section of FSR 118.2 would be decommissioned and FSR 118.2G would be opened for long-term trailhead access. If funding became available, the Maintenance Level for FSR 118.2 & 118.2G would be increased to Level 3. These actions would move road disturbance away from the Rio de Los Pinos, improve road drainage, reduce reconstruction costs, and cause a ½ mile net reduction in open road density. The key features of Alternative 2 are summarized below in Table 2.3.2-1. Table 2.3.2-1 Key Features of Alternative 2 Key Feature Description Total Area Treated with Salvage Prescription 878 Acres Area of Small Patch Cuts within Salvage Units 57 Acres Timber Volume-Sawtimber 11.0 to 13.1 MMBF Timber Volume Fuelwood 440 to 524 Cords Steep slopes logged (35-40% conventional) 45 Acres System Road Reconstruction 6.7 Miles System Road Spot Reconstruction 3.4 Miles System Road Maintenance 11.9 Miles Converted/Decommissioned Road 1.2 Miles Temporary Road Construction 0.2 Miles Re-opening of Old Roads 3.3 Miles Artificial Regeneration Up to 75 Acres Noxious Weed Treatment 62 Acres The planned activities by unit for Alternative 2 are presented in Table 2.3.2-2 below. 2.3.2-2 Alternative 2 Activities Unit Number Acres Harvest Treatment Patch Cut (Acres) 1 137 Salvage 11 2 140 Salvage 16 3 284 Salvage 23 4 78 Salvage 0 5 240 Salvage 7 Most of the treatment areas are accessible using the existing transportation system, but some minor specified system road reconstruction would be required to improve safety and to provide for additional resource protection. Fill material for this work would be obtained from an existing gravel pit at the intersection of FSR 118 & FSR 116, or from outside weed-free sources as necessary. Most of the reconstruction/spot reconstruction activities are driven by the watershed restoration opportunities listed in Chapter 1, Section 1.13. Chapter 2 – Alternatives Page 2-3
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