Environmental Assessment

AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT & ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES CHAPTER 3
populations with follow-up treatments expected to eradicate those populations before they become
established.
Cheatgrass is the weed species with the greatest chance to spread due to the implementation of fuel
treatment activities. This species is not considered a noxious weed but is considered an invasive
plant. Alternative 1 would have no measurable impact on this species or its habitat because no fuel
reduction treatments would be implemented.
Alternatives 2 and 3, because fuel reduction treatments are proposed under both alternatives, have the
greatest potential of increasing the quantity and distribution of this species. The risk of expanding the
quantity and distribution of this species under both alternatives would be minimized by educating
implementation crews about it thereby allowing them to identify it and avoid activities in areas of
dense patches.
Cumulative Effects - No future vegetation or fuel reduction projects have been identified for the
planning area for at least the next 10 to 20 years. Therefore, there are no identifiable, measurable
cumulative effects under any of the three alternatives.
Most known populations of noxious weeds and invasive plants are associated with the existing
transportation system: particularly system roads but also motorized trails, dispersed recreation sites,
etc. It is reasonable to expect that continued use of these would continue to provide opportunities for
the introduction and spread of these species. The majority of these introductions would be expected
to be associated with recreational or other casual visitors as there are currently no mechanisms in
place to require weed prevention measures and it is unlikely that any would be proposed or
implemented. The risk and potential would be reduced to some degree through continued road
closures and decommissioning as well as the closure of dispersed sites over time. Vehicle use
associated with contractors, permittees, and agency personnel would continue to be required to
practice appropriate prevention strategies and would therefore be less likely to increase the risk of
introduction and/or spread of these species. There is no measurable difference between the three
alternatives.
The proposed change in travel management policy and direction would have no measurable shortterm
effect if either Alternative 1 or Alternative 2 were selected. Implementation of the new direction
would take at least three to five (3 to 5) years. Although there is currently no evidence that current
cross country motorized travel is resulting in an increase in the number or distribution of noxious
weed or other invasive plant populations, the risk would remain and would be expected to increase
given the continuing increase in the popularity of OHV activities. Upon implementation of the new
policy and direction, the risk would be expected to decline and be limited to areas where motorized
travel continued to be permitted.
If Alternative 3 is selected it would have no measurable cumulative effect. The seasonal area closure
proposed under this alternative would preclude motorized cross country travel, but would not result in
any foreseeable changes in authorized activities.
The continuation of grazing in the Cinder Hill, Pine Mountain, and Sand Springs Allotments will
continue to pose a potential threat of introduction and spread of noxious weed populations, under all
three alternatives. Grazing is occurring in the Pine Mountain and Cinder Hill Allotments for the next
10 years, resulting from the Cinder Hill Range Analysis EA and in the Sand Springs Allotment under
the decision resulting from the Cluster II Range Analysis EA. In those documents, livestock grazing
was identified as a vector agent in the planning area in the introduction and spread of existing noxious
weeds. At present, most known populations are located adjacent to existing roads. Current grazing
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