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

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Final Environmental Impact Statement Rio de los Pinos Vegetation Management Project The Rio de los Pinos Analysis Area contains stands that have become highly susceptible to spruce beetle infestation due to recent drought conditions and local epidemic beetle populations. Significant spruce beetle activity within standing trees was first noticed in the Analysis Area during the summer of 2007. Field reconnaissance has shown that the spruce beetle infestation has spread through many stands at an epidemic level which is resulting in significant spruce mortality. This proposal is not intended to stop or control the spruce beetle infestation but rather to take advantage of the existing road system to salvage trees killed by spruce beetle to recover economic value, provide a sustained yield of forest products from the RGNF, provide funding to regenerate heavily impacted stands, and create areas suitable for artificial regeneration. It is also intended to create conditions less favorable to spruce beetle infestations in adjacent stands for the next 20 years. The current forest condition represents an unacceptable risk for long-term loss of commercial productivity, especially where the potential for effective treatment is foregone. In the early 1990’s, an analysis of the area was initiated (El Rosa) and scoped. This analysis was not finished and no decision was made based on this incomplete analysis. This area was recently analyzed under the County Line Vegetation Management Project EIS, signed July 18, 2005. Under the County Line analysis, the area we are analyzing in this document was planned for a preventative thinning treatment, in hopes of reducing the impacts of the spruce beetle. A much more severe infestation than predicted has occurred, and the actions proposed for this area under the County Line EIS would no longer be preventative. The preventative thinning did not occur. 1.3 Proposed Action The Rio Grande National Forest proposes to salvage Engelmann spruce trees that have been killed by, or are infested with, spruce beetle. Additionally, we propose to perform ¼ to 5 acre patch cuts across the salvage units to enhance visual resources, and to regenerate areas heavily impacted by the spruce beetle by planting Engelmann spruce seedlings within the Rio de los Pinos Analysis Area. The proposed treatments would contribute toward providing a sustained yield of forest products from the Rio Grande National Forest and would ensure meeting or moving toward Forest Plan Desired Conditions for Management Area Prescriptions (MAP) 5.13 (discussed in detail in 1.7). This proposed action would begin in 2010. Salvage harvesting of Engelmann spruce would occur on approximately 607 to 878 acres. Anywhere from 38 to 60 trees per acre 8” diameter at breast height (DBH) and above would remain in the salvage units for scenic resources. Patch cuts would occur on approximately 60 acres, harvesting both Engelmann spruce and Subalpine fir. Ground-based logging systems would be utilized on the entire area, yielding 8 – 13.1 MMBF (16,000-26,200 ccf) timber volume. After harvest, reforestation would occur on approx. 50 to 75 acres of non-stocked and under-stocked areas. The exact planting area would depend how well existing natural regeneration meets Forest Plan stocking requirements. Chapter 1 – Purpose & Need Page 1-2
Final Environmental Impact Statement Rio de los Pinos Vegetation Management Project Under this proposal, trees 8 inches DBH and larger would be considered for harvest. With the exception of the patch cuts, all live non-beetle infested trees not interfering with operations would be left. Rehabilitation of areas experiencing heavy spruce mortality would occur through natural and artificial regeneration. Most of the treatment areas are accessible using the existing transportation system. Some road reconstruction, maintenance, and reopening one or more old, unclassified roads would be required. During the project, road reconstruction and/or maintenance (pre-haul, during haul, post-haul) would occur on approximately 11.9 miles of classified roads, and up to approximately 3.3 miles of old roads would be temporarily re-opened, then closed at the end of the project. This work would be needed for access, improved safety, and additional resource protection. Maintenance may include grading, culvert replacement, and spot gravel applications over a number of sections of road. Reconstruction may include drainage installation and surface reconditioning and spot gravel applications on native-surface roads. These efforts would reduce erosion from these road sections and the resultant sedimentation. Road reconstruction and maintenance would involve work on Forest System Roads (FSR) 118, 118.1C, 118.1G, 118.1J, 118.1K, 118.2, 118.2D, 118,2E, and 118.2G. Upon project completion, all classified roads that were closed to motor vehicle travel prior to the project would remain closed. Classified roads that are presently closed and old roads that would be reconstructed for log haul would be rehabilitated by subsoiling and seeding according to the project design criteria in Table 2.5-6 in order to reduce resource impacts and to put the road templates back into resource production. 1.4 Analysis Area The Analysis Area covers approximately 1379 acres. It is located along the Rio de los Pinos on the Conejos Peak Ranger District, approximately two miles northwest of Cumbres Pass. (Figure 1.4-1). The legal description is Township 33 North, Range 4 East, Sections 22, 23, 25-27, 34-36, NMPM. Figure 1.4-1 shows the Analysis Area and vicinity in context to local communities and features. Chapter 1 – Purpose & Need Page 1-3
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Final Environmental Impact Statement Rio de los Pinos Vegetation ...

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