Environmental Assessment

AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT & ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES CHAPTER 3
A wildfire would not be expected to measurably affect individuals or populations of the pumice grape
fern, because its habitat, the pumice flats, contains little or no vegetation capable of sustaining a wildfire
of sufficient intensity or duration to affect those individuals or populations.
Illegal firewood cutting, dispersed camping, and off-road vehicle use pose considerable threats to the
pumice grape-fern in particular, because of the habitat it prefers—open, sandy frost pockets. The threat
comes from soil displacement which then displaces the plants, which are rooted only 2 to 3 inches below
the soil surface (see Figures 3-4 and 3-5). These activities also are a threat to green-tinged paintbrush, but
because it generally prefers habitats with a shrub component, the plants are often more protected, though
by no means do the shrubs confer total protection from these activities which pose a continuing threat to
the well-being of high quality TES plant habitat.
Figure 3-4 Soil Impacts Associated with Off-Road Motorized Vehicle Travel in Pumice Soils, Pumice Grape Fern
Habitat, Opine Planning Area.
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