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

Final Environmental Impact Statement Rio de los Pinos Vegetation Management Project
Other reasonable and foreseeable actions include recreation activities and livestock grazing.
Wetlands
Potential impacts specific to wetlands were also considered as part of the soils analysis for the
project area. Evaluations concerning the presence, health, and adequate protection of wetlands
were performed by two separate soil scientists as well as the project hydrologist. Locations
which were identified as having wetland protection needs are displayed in Figure 3.7-1.
No past actions have affected the existing condition of wetlands in the analysis area. Harvest
activities have historically occurred around these habitats, but no manipulation has occurred
within them as a result of management activities. As a result, Appendix D, “Disturbances by
Watershed,” shows no Wetlands or Riparian Areas altered within either watershed.
Alternative 1, the No Action alternative, is expected to have no effect upon wetlands. Both
Alternatives 2 and 3 are expected to have minor effect upon wetlands, due to insignificant levels
of sediment and nutrient transportation which may reach the outer edges of these wet meadows.
Increased water yield is expected in all alternatives, including the No Action, due to the loss of
live basal area as a result of the spruce beetle epidemic. Implementation of the action
alternatives is not expected to produce any measurable increase in water yield above the No
Action alternative. Application of project design criteria specific to wetlands will ensure
adequate protection of these habitats, as documented in the Soils Specialist report and Section
3.6. Table 3.6-3, “Effects Checklist,” displays the effects of each alternative upon wetlands.
These actions, when added to other past, present, and reasonably foreseeable future actions, are
expected to have no cumulative impacts upon wetland resources within the analysis area. No
past actions have been identified as having impacted wetlands. No reasonably foreseeable future
actions are planned within the wetlands. Any anticipated minor effects associated with the
proposed action alternatives are expected to have no long term impacts upon wetlands and would
represent no irreversible or irretrievable commitment of resources.
3.8 Threatened, Endangered and Sensitive Wildlife Species
Scope of the Analysis
The scope of this analysis discusses Threatened, Endangered and Region 2 designated
Sensitive terrestrial wildlife. Aquatic species are addressed in section 3.10. The analysis was
conducted for various species at the appropriate scale as follows:
Canada lynx – the Analysis Area is the Rito Archuleta Lynx Analysis Unit (LAU).
All other terrestrial TES species – analyzed within the Rio de los Pinos analysis area boundary
described in Chapter 1, Section 1.4.
Chapter 3 – Affected Environment & Environmental Consequences Page 3-34