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

Final Environmental Impact Statement Rio de los Pinos Vegetation Management Project
forest area occurs, Carlson (2008) noted that recent studies and modeling show a potential for
greater water yields. The harvest of trees eliminates interception of precipitation and shading
which slow snowmelt. In addition, understory can be removed and amount of fine and coarse
woody debris is altered. In addition, compaction in skid trails, landings, and roads can affect
overland flow, routing runoff to streams.
These negative effects of skid trails and roads are mitigated by following Forest Plan standards
and guidelines and design criteria in the Watershed Conservation Practices Handbook. Carlson
(2008) cited recommendations from recent studies to mitigate hydrologic effects of beetle
mortality and associated logging including:
Construct, inspect and maintain roads to ensure natural surface and shallow subsurface
drainage remains intact
Upgrade drainage networks on permanent roads prior to salvage logging as necessary to
accommodate expected increases in peak flows
Minimize harvesting in riparian areas and consider wider riparian buffer widths
Retain, where possible, all green vegetation (understory and overstory) both inside and
outside of riparian area.
Plan harvest units at the watershed scale to minimize road density
Leave fine and coarse woody slash on-site in openings where possible to provide
surface roughness which would delay snowmelt, reduce wind speeds (and thus
sublimation), maintain soil moisture and aid in site regeneration
Several of these measures either are being completed as standard implementation of Forest Plan
standards and guidelines or have been adopted as design criteria to the Rio de los Pinos project.
Due to general watershed concerns, additional project design criteria have been added to ensure
protection of stream courses within the harvest areas, including the 7 th level watershed of
concern. These criteria, discussed in more detail below, are simple but effective measures that
include restrictions to where harvest can occur and proven sediment control techniques to
prevent impact to streams from road activities. Monitoring by the Rio Grande National Forest
(“Effective Monitoring-Rio Grande National Forest”, Dobson, 2005) has demonstrated that these
and other standards and design criteria have proven effective in protecting watershed resources.
A no harvest buffer has been established along all stream channels (including the crenulated
network) for 100 feet on both sides of the channel. No heavy equipment would operate within
the water influence zone (100 ft on each side of a channel) except at designated crossings unless
authorized by the Forest Service where site-specific conditions would minimize stream and
riparian impacts. The actual field delineation of the water influence zone in the Rio de los Pinos
analysis area was usually wider than the basic definition noted above as wet seeps and riparian
vegetation areas were included.
Approximately 3.3 miles of existing old roads will require reopening. These roads that have
been closed for some time have naturally revegetated to varying degrees but would need to be
maintained or reconstructed. These roads would be evaluated by Forest Service personnel to
identify erosion and sediment concerns so they can be fixed as part of upgrading operations.
Chapter 3 – Affected Environment & Environmental Consequences Page 3-25