Environmental Assessment

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AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT & ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES CHAPTER 3 Vegetation treatments proposed in lodgepole pine stands in the southern portion of the planning area in both alternatives would temporary reduce the rate of encroachment of lodgepole pine into existing grape fern habitat by removing some of the adjacent lodgepole pine seed source. The impact would be limited to areas immediately adjacent to treatment areas and would likely not exceed 10 years. Noxious Weeds and Other Invasive Plants Existing Condition: Aggressive non-native plants, or noxious weeds, can invade and displace native plant communities causing long-lasting management problems. They can displace native vegetation, increase fire hazards, reduce the quality of recreational experiences, poison livestock, and replace wildlife forage. By simplifying complex plant communities, they reduce biological diversity and threaten rare habitats. Potential and known weeds for the Deschutes National Forest are listed in Appendix A of the Noxious Weed Assessment (pages 13-14). Noxious weeds are designated by the State of Oregon. There is a group of non-native plants that are also aggressive though are not officially termed "noxious". These species are included in this analysis. President Clinton signed Executive Order 13112 on February 3, 1999 which requires federal agencies to utilize relevant programs and authorities to prevent the introduction of invasive species and not authorize or carry out actions that are likely to cause the introduction or spread of those species unless the agency has determined, and made public, documentation that shows that the benefits of such actions clearly outweigh the potential harm. It also requires that all feasible and prudent measures be taken in conjunction with those actions to minimize the risk of harm. The implementation of this Executive Order is supported by the USDA Forest Service Guide to Noxious Weed Prevention Practices (July 2001). The Guide lists a number of goals and guidelines relevant to proposed timber harvest and fuel reduction activities. A complete list of the relevant goals and guidelines pertinent to this proposal as well as current and on-going activities that support implementation of Executive Order 13112 are listed in the Weed Assessment on pages 9-11. These are also represented in the mitigation measures and management requirements proposed for this project. Manual direction requires that Noxious Weed Risk Assessments be prepared for all projects involving ground-disturbing activities. For projects that have a moderate to high risk of introducing or spreading noxious weeds, current Forest Service policy requires that decision documents must identify noxious weed control measures that will be undertaken during project implementation (Noxious Weed Assessment page 2). Region 6 of the Forest Service (Oregon and Washington) prepared an invasive species environmental impact statement with the final EIS released in June 2005. The Record of Decision for Preventing and Managing Invasive Plants (ROD) was signed in October 2005. It amends the LRMP by incorporating additional standards and guidelines to address the management of invasive plants. Two specifically address prevention of weed introductions into projects. Standard 1 states “Prevention of invasive plant introduction, establishment and spread will be addressed in watershed analysis; roads analysis; fire and fuels management plans, Burned Area Emergency Recorvery Plans; emergency wildland fire situation analysis; wildland fire implementation plans; grazing allotment management plans, recreation management plans, vegetation management plans, and other land management assessments.” Standard 2 states “Actions conducted or authorized by written permit by the Forest Service that will operate outside the limits of the road prism (including public works and service contracts), require the cleaning of all heavy equipment (bulldozers, skidders, graders, backhoes, dump trucks, etc.) prior to entering National 3-64
AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT & ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES CHAPTER 3 Forest System Lands. This standard does not apply to initial attack of wildland fires, and other emergency situations where cleaning would delay response time.” (Weed Risk Assessment, Appendix B page 15). These standards obligate the Forest Service to incorporate weed prevention into planning documents and implementation activities. The Deschutes and Ochoco National Forests are currently preparing an EIS addressing the treatment of invasive plants on both the Deschutes and Ochoco Forests with completion expected later in 2007. The analysis is tiered to the regional invasive species EIS and will provide site specific analyses. The planning area has been surveyed for noxious weeds and other invasive plants fairly regularly since the early 1990s. The presence of noxious weeds was, and continues to be noted, during sensitive plant surveys. These surveys have shown that, with the exception of Pine Mountain, the planning area is largely free of noxious weeds. Pine Mountain has populations of primarily spotted knapweed (Figure 3- 6), but also Canada thistle, bull thistle, dalmatian toadflax, and mullein (an exotic plant). Cheatgrass, an exotic plant, is present at generally low levels across the planning area with localized heavy patches (Weed Risk Assessment page 5). Figure 3-6 Spotted Knapweed (USDA Forest Service) The following lists the location and number of existing noxious weed sites within the planning area. 1. Road 2017-100 corridor. Spotted knapweed. These EA units are adjacent: P302, P303, P305, P310, P346, C302, and C303 (Alternative 3). 2. Road 2017-110. Spotted knapweed and bull thistle. These EA units are adjacent: C305, F36, and F38 (both action alternatives). 3. Road 2017-350. Spotted knapweed. This road accesses a paraglider site. This EA unit is adjacent: F39 (both action alternatives). 4. Road 2017-300. One spot of dalmatian toadflax. These EA units are adjacent: F06, F39 (both action alternatives). 5. Road 2017-540. Two sites of spotted knapweed. Within this EA unit: F17 (both action alternatives). 3-65
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United States Department of Agricul
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Abstract: The Opine Planning Area i
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PROJECT LOCATION CHAPTER 1 Figure 1
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PURPOSE AND NEED CHAPTER 1 commerci
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PLANNING DIRECTION - MANAGEMENT ALL
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PLANNING DIRECTION - MANAGEMENT ALL
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OTHER PLANNING DIRECTION & STRATEGI
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OTHER PLANNING DIRECTION & STRATEGI
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ANALYSIS ISSUES CHAPTER 1 The Opine
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ANALYSIS ISSUES CHAPTER 1 overstock
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ANALYSIS ISSUES CHAPTER 1 Soils The
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ALTERNATIVE DESCRIPTIONS CHAPTER 2
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ALTERNATIVE DESCRIPTION - ALTERNATI
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COMPARISON OF ALTERNATIVES CHAPTER
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COMPARISON OF ALTERNATIVES CHAPTER
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IMPLEMENTATION GUIDELINES CHAPTER 2
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AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT & ENVIRONMENTA
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AGENCIES AND PUBLICS CONSULTED CHAP
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Environmental Assessment

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